The Taste of Night Read Online Free Page A

thin bird legs, pushed up from the dew-wet grass, letting her wings lift her…lift her…over the treetops. She saw Ross swoop ahead of her, then fall back, teasing her, following her despite her pleas.
    He bumped her playfully, swiped his beak against her side, lowered his head and bumped her again.
    They flew side by side, gliding over Millerton Woods,light and shadows over the thick tangle of trees, shivering under the golden moonlight.
    Livvy made a wide turn, wings straight out at her sides, and realized she was flying over Collins Drive now. Her father’s office came into view. The light glowed from the front window. Was he still at work this late at night?
    She swooped higher, away from the little, brick building. I don’t want to see him. He’s not part of my life anymore.
    Flying low, the two blackbirds turned onto Main Street. Livvy landed behind a maple tree and gazed at the people in line at the movie theater. Ross dropped beside her.
    They transformed into their human shapes, hidden by the thick tree trunk.
    â€œYou know, graduation was this morning,” Ross said.
    â€œShut up,” Livvy replied sharply.
    â€œHow are we going to get jobs?” Ross said. “We’re not high school graduates.”
    â€œYou’re so funny,” Livvy replied. “Not.”
    Ross turned to the movie theater. “What’s playing? A vampire movie?”
    Livvy’s stomach growled. She ignored Ross and his jokes. I’ve never fed in a movie theater, she thought. It’s dark enough—and the sound is loud enough to muffle the scream.
    Livvy’s victims only screamed once. They always screamed at the first bite, then gave in to the pleasure.
    â€œOh, no. Oh, wow.” A moan escaped Ross’s throat.
    Livvy turned from the faces in the movie line. “What’s wrong?”
    He leaned forward, peering around the tree trunk. “My family is there. See them? Mom and Dad and Emily.”
    Livvy saw Ross’s sister first, then his parents. “Don’t worry. They can’t see us.”
    â€œI…I want to see them,” Ross said. “Livvy, I’d just like to talk to them for a little while. You know. See how Emily is doing and everything. They think I ran away with you. I want to tell them I’m okay.”
    â€œRoss, you can’t,” Livvy said. “You know you can’t do that. You’ll only upset them. You’ll mess them up even worse.”
    â€œBut—I just want to say hi,” Ross said. “I guess I’m homesick.”
    â€œIt won’t work. Trust me.” Livvy stared hard at him. She could see how excited and upset he was.
    â€œMaybe I feel homesick too. But listen to me. I made a vow,” Livvy told him. “I vowed I’d never go back home. You need to make the same vow. It’s not our world anymore. We’ve chosen a different world. You know. A more exciting life. I…I’m not going to torture myself by trying to drop in on Destiny and Dad and…and…”
    She couldn’t say Mikey’s name. Thinking about Mikey always made her cry.
    â€œI guess you’re right,” Ross said. “But look. My family—they’re going inside the theater. I could just walk over, say hi, and leave.”
    â€œNo. Go away, Ross. Fly away—now. You know I’m right.”
    Sighing, he watched until his family disappeared inside. Then he kissed Livvy on the cheek. “Later.”
    He changed quickly. Raised his wings and fluttered off the ground. She watched him hover over the sidewalk. Then she changed into a blackbird too, turned and flew away.
    I don’t want to hear about how homesick Ross is, she thought. A shudder ran down her body. The air suddenly felt cold. The moonlight sent down no warmth.
    I shouldn’t have brought Ross to this new life. I care about him. I still do. Maybe not like before. But I care about him.
    But he’s too