EPILOGUEAnd just like that, every Daemon crumbled to dust, screaming and screeching like dying birds.Ashterah's chain fell lose and I rose immediately, running toward Kayla and my child. Kayla was crying crystal tears as she hugged me, her hands tight around my neck.My son, when I looked down had gone to sleep. But his venom, his blood had been the secret to killing Ashterah. Starlight knew this and let it happen even though it meant the death of her mother.Cara crawled out of the corner crying. She was holding my mother and Logan had his arms around both of them.Camila was nowhere to be found although later when we searched the damage we found her limp body, bloodied.Later when we cleared the rubbles there were a lot of questions to answer. Mom had to answer the questions about my birth. Cara needed answers to my identity, my child with Kayla. There was so much to know. Some many questions to answer but most importantly there was healing. Will I tell you everything went back
As the plane began to descend I felt the tension that had been in my shoulders all morning leave with a deep sigh of relief. I relaxed visibly. I hadn't realized that I had been desperately holding my breath since the ride to the airport with dad and Camilla, less for the fear of heights and more because I was hoping dad would not change his mind about letting me go. As I sat back on the seat my mind drifted back to why I decided to leave San Frease in the first place. I enjoyed San Frease a lot because I had a lot of friends. That place has been my home for the best part of my life. I had a rich dad, Jackson Hunter, who controlled half the business world. Since mom and dad split when I was very little I stayed with dad because he had the right to take custody of me. He was richer and was able to provide for me, at least that was what the court said, whereas mom could only boast of a house given to her by her ancient grandmother in a rural neighborhood. I don't much about
The plane hit the tarmac with a light bump that jeered me out of my thoughts. The sight of the Will Grant airport was not so welcoming but it felt like home. San Frease was a lot more compared to this heavily packed airport with people swathed in parkas and mufflers and thick sweaters. I already knew what sort of weather to expect but somehow it seemed like my black sweater shirt, thick coat, and wool-lined trousers were too light for the biting cold that was already eating away at my fingers. I tucked my hands inside the safety of my coat for some warmth and it provided a little of it.The plane was flagged down and the passengers were discharged. If I had any doubts about starting a new life in Whisare they vanished the moment I set my foot on the land. The hustling bodies attending to themselves and their families, minding their own business didn't seem to mind having a strange person in town and I was more than happy to begin afresh here. Just myself and mom.As soon as I got
"Away from the weather, we have some disturbing news of another missing person. Tessa was last seen at the Choc-It bar last night. Friends and family are concerned about her. Anyone with any information whatsoever should report to the police..." I woke up to the sound of metal on metal, the sound of people yelling greetings at each other, the smell of freshly baked bread or pie or whatever that aroma was wafting through the open window, and mom's radio with the news report spewing from it. It was all strange and new and so was the bed on which I was laying. My back ached. The bed pressed into my spine and made me uncomfortable. I had a hard time getting some sleep yesterday night and when I finally drifted off I only managed to get a few hours of sleep before opening my eyes to the white-painted ceiling above me.After laying there for some minutes staring at the ceiling I got up and swung my legs to the floor, searched for my slides, and slipped my feet into them. Heading for
The park loomed ahead of us and I could see the orange flames creating shadows on some of the trees around, of people arriving. Mom found a space outside the park for the car. We moved together with the throngs of people who radiated a kind of excitement for the event about to take place. Every family had a basket of something to share.As we moved closer I noticed how large the circle where the fire was built was. The entire area was extremely large enough to take seven houses. Beside the raging fire, people dropped their baskets of food and wine and others helped in sniffing and sampling what the baskets contained. Everyone laughed, every kid present seemed content playing around the fire as if there was a kind of trust between them and the fire.Mom collected the basket from me and went to drop it. To my right, a group of men sat together watching the younger kids run about, one ducking his head to drop a comment about something from time to time. Some worried mothers ran after the
It was another two uneventful days after the bonfire that I finally registered in the community high school, East WhiSare. The snow storm had swept in unannounced yesterday morning, making school or any other outdoor activity nearly impossible. After a breakfast of piping hot chocolate and mom's deliciously buttered toast, I laced my boots and put on another sweater ready for school. The doorbell rang downstairs and moments later I heard voices. Mom's and Cara Evan's.Talking to Cara yesterday was a lot to handle. She's like a living paradox. Shy, one moment, outspoken the next, especially when she spoke against Sam and her friends. The most amusing of all is how red her face became every time our hands brush even the slightest. She is attractive and all but my mind's made up, to avoid the same mistake I made with Camille I need to keep my raging hormones under control. I know it's not the same thing but this is a new start for me, I am walking on eggshells here. "I'll call h
"Hunter?"There was a long-running joke about my name. Since dad was in the business of buying and selling companies, ripping them off their money, some of the people in San Frease liked to call us Hunters scavengers. I looked up and there was a tall, slightly pudgy lady with wavy blonde hair. She was pretty and she had a nice smile but tired brown eyes. "Mrs. Storm will see you now," she said.I smiled in return and followed her down a well-lit narrow hall with 2 well-polished doors and windows on one side, probably offices with educational administrators inside. She led me down the end of the hall to a short flight of stairs that lead to a double door of mahogany with paneled glass at the top. She knocked lightly on the door and gestured for me to go in with a nod. The interior of the office was dimly lit with the shades drawn tight. Somewhere a radiator hummed lightly. I didn't know what to expect but the Principal's office I had in mind was the stereotypica
What is this feeling?This feeling creeping on my skin like a snake leaving a trail of water on a rock.Insidious. Cold.Under the fluorescence of the lights, her eyes reflected flecks of gold in a pool of lime green. Her dark brows lowered over piercing eyes that burned right through my flesh, searing my soul. Her mouth opened slightly. My eyes followed. The tip of her tongue pushed through her lips briefly but just as quickly it was back in the cavern of her mouth. She frowned.The dark head nudged her and the moment was interrupted.Suddenly laughter boomed on our table jerking my consciousness back to the present. Cara was laughing behind her hand. It was Jeff whose laugh interrupted whatever that moment I had with the redheaded Storm was.Heat crawled up my neck, flushing my face red. "What is so funny?""I told you, everyone has the same reaction to them but they are out of bounds for the likes of us." He scoffed. "Who am I kidding, you're a Hunter I bet Kayla would go for you."