Vampire in Denial Read Online Free

disaster.
     
    She almost wanted the attackers to find her. Wouldn't they get a surprise? Except none of her human friends knew anything about her vampire heritage. If they had, they'd have run screaming long before now.
     
    They waited under the bright lights as parents came to collect their kids. Each left in a flood of tears and excitement as the story was repeated over and over again. Finally, Jared and Tessa stood alone. She glanced around. "It's getting late. Are you sure your parents are coming?"
     
    "No. They aren't," he said. "I was hoping everyone would leave so no one would have to know."
     
    "What's up?"
     
    "My family is a little different. And I don't have any parents. I live with my uncle. He figures if I go out alone, then I should be able to get home alone."
     
    "Then you're walking home?" Tessa grinned. Maybe this wasn't such a bad end to her evening, after all.
     
    "Oh, yeah."
     
    "So am I. I lied. My brother isn't coming to get me. Everyone is out for the evening, so no big deal," she said, glancing down the street in the direction of her home. "I'm heading this way. Where are you going?"
     
    "Down a block, then left for another block. Let's go. I'll walk you home first."
     
    "Such a gentlemen." With the moon shining down on the deserted parking lot, the recent harrowing scene seemed like a nightmare they could now laugh about. She linked her arm through his as they walked and talked, tickled at the unexpected bonus end to her evening.
     
    Halfway home, she heard another sound. Remembered fear slammed back into mind. She spun around in time to see a wave of blackness cover her. A blow slammed the side of her head, sending her to the ground. She cried out. "Jared, look out!"
     
    Pain exploded at the side of her head for a second time. The world disappeared briefly as blackness surrounded her. Agony clawed through her brain. Groaning, she tried to straighten, hearing the voices around her.
     
    "What the hell! Why doesn't she stay down?"
     
    Another blow slammed into her, this time catching the arm she'd lifted defensively. Shards of agony slid from her wrist to her elbow. She screamed in a blend of pain and fury. Drawing on her primary heritage, she opened her mouth to scream.
     
    "Shit!"
     
    Just like that the attackers disappeared. She staggered to her feet, moaning at the sledgehammer pounding inside her head. She stood, closed her eyes briefly against the throbbing and waited for the world to stop spinning.
     
    Where was Jared? She opened her eyes and searched everywhere. Jared was gone.
     

CHAPTER TWO
     
    T essa slammed through her front door, her hand to her chest, screaming, "Mom! Dad! Where are you?"
     
    "Honey, what's the matter?" Her mother met her in the hallway, a dishtowel in her hand. A frown marred her perfect forehead.
     
    Her father came running from the direction of the office. "What's wrong?" He took one look at Tessa and raced over, grabbing her arms. "What happened?"
     
    Tessa gasped for air, tugging her injured arm away to hold it protectively against her chest. Her head boomed from the inside. "We were attacked," she gasped, "by vampires."
     
    "What!" Her parents exchanged shocked glances before turning back to stare at her.
     
    "Are you sure?" barked her father.
     
    Tessa gave him a withering look. "Yeah. I think I know what a vampire is, Dad."
     
    "Tessa, watch your mouth," her mom warned, then glared at her husband.
     
    Taking a deep breath, Tessa tried to calm her frustration. What was it about parents that made them ask a million questions instead of taking action? "Sorry."
     
    "Now tell us what happened. From the beginning," her mom said.
     
    Words tumbled over each other as Tessa related the series of events from the time she and her friends had left the movie theater. She'd only half-finished when her brothers walked in and she had to start at the beginning again.
     
    "It happened just a block from here?" Her dad's frown thundered across his face.