The Taste of Night Read Online Free Page B

sentimental. He’s too soft.
    I thought he was strong, but he isn’t. He always seemed so confident. I can still see him with that strutting walk of his, moving down the halls at school, flashing that great smile. I used to wait for him to come by. I had such a major crush on him.
    But now…he’s weak. His attitude is wrong. He’s not thinking right.
    He’ll get himself killed. I know he will.
    Hunger gnawed at her, interrupting her thoughts. She glanced down and saw flashing lights on a big, square building.
    Where am I?
    Sliding on a wind current, she let herself down and recognized the dance club: Rip.
    Oh, yes. Lots of fresh talent here. Kids hanging out in the dimly lit parking lot. Lined up at the entrance. Lots of dark corners, and the woods close behind the parking lot.
    Lots of older guys getting trashed at the bar and looking to hook up.
    How perfect is that for a hungry vampire?
    And there below her she saw Suzie and Monica at the entrance, chatting with two guys, about to go in.
    Excellent.
    Livvy dropped to the gravel path at the side of the building. She could hear the throbbing beats from inside, hear laughing voices, the roar of a crowd.
    Yes, yes, yes. I’m so hungry.
    I’m sure some lucky guy will be happy to come to the woods with me.
    She transformed into her human body, brushed a few feathers off the front of her jeans, tugged down the top of her top to look sexier—and hurried to meet her friends.

chapter seven
THE EVIL AT HOME
    â€œAS YOU LEAVE THIS HIGH SCHOOL WHERE YOU HAVE spent four wonderful years of growth and learning…As you go forth into the world—no longer students—you must realize that the world belongs to you now. Your generation will decide where we all go next. You will be the ones to shape the future. You will be the ones…”
    Destiny tuned out as the graduation speaker droned on. She wiped her sweaty hands in the folds of her blue robe.
    â€œIt’s so hot in here,” she whispered to the girl next to her. “When can we take these things off?”
    The flat blue cap, tilted over her head, felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds. Destiny knew it was going to leave a permanent dent in her hair. Sweat streamed down her forehead. Would the cap leave a blue stain on her skin?
    She glanced at the rows of robed kids on the stage. As they all gathered in the auditorium this morning, her friends had been bursting with excitement about graduation. Ana-Li May was practically flying , swirling around in circles, making her graduation robe whirl around her.
    Fletch Green, Ross’s best friend, gave Destiny such a big hug, he accidentally knocked her cap off her head. “Do you believe I graduated in only four years?” he exclaimed. “My parents predicted six!”
    Ari Stark seemed excited too. He greeted her with a kiss. “Freedom!” he shouted. “A few more hours, and we’re outta here! Freedom! Freedom!” He started a chant, and a few other kids joined in.
    A sad smile crossed Destiny’s face. She knew why her friends were so happy and excited. They really were getting out of here, out of Dark Springs. They were going away to college. In a few months Ari would be at Princeton in New Jersey. And Ana-Li would be off at Yale being brilliant the way she always was.
    And I’ll be here, Destiny thought, unable to fight away her sadness. I was accepted at four schools, including Dartmouth, where I really wanted to go. But no. I’ll be here, living at home, going to the dinky Community College.
    But what choice did I have? How could I leave Mikey, my poor, troubled little brother? How could I leave Dad? They both need me so much now…now that Livvy…
    She wanted to be excited and happy. Graduating from high school was a major thing in your life. It was supposedto be a day you’d never forget.
    And it was kind of thrilling to march slowly down the auditorium aisle in time to