The AV boy rescued the mic from the floor and, standing, caught sight of my stakes. He dragged a hand through his hair and groaned.

“Oh man, is this another vampire attack?”

Before I could even process his question, the windows high above the gym floor shattered, all at once, on every wall, like an explosion. Glass rained down on the packed gymnasium, and right behind, dropping from each window, an Elder vampire, clad in black hunting gear—though this was less of a hunt than an ambush.

For a moment, there was only the tinkle of glass, followed by an instant of silence. Then someone screamed.

Thirty-Five

Something Strange & Familiar

The gym was filled with screaming, scrambling humans, and the Elders slid easily among them, biting, drinking, dropping them into comas. It was a punch in the gut to see how effortless it was, and my stakes felt small and stupid in my fists. Still, I clutched them tight. I might be powerless. But I wasn’t alone.

“Fight,” I ordered the twins. “Aim for the chest.”

“But shouldn’t we get out of—”

“They barricaded the door,” I said. “I guarantee it.”

“Our parents are outside,” Sophia said, tearful.

“Then maybe they got away,” I lied. There was likely a much larger group of vamps outside, taking care of any stragglers. This was a strategically planned operation. The Elders would not be sloppy.

“Don’t worry, Soph.” Sydney reached for her sister, but Sophia was yanked suddenly, violently backward. A vamp had her by the neck, fangs out and poised to strike.

Sydney let out a wail so primal, the sound of it carried above the others, standing out in the cacophony of screams. Then she lunged at the vampire holding Sophia, hands clawing at his face. But instead of scraping down his skin, her nails caught only smoke.

Through the smoke, Reg’s face appeared, his stake still raised where he had struck.

Next to him, Lina was similarly armed, her coffee shop apron still on, the front pockets filled with stakes.

Reg blinked as the smoke evaporated. “Found Lina.”

“Your idea?” she asked me.

“Yep.”

“’Bout time.”

“What is happening?” Sydney asked, arms wrapped tight around Sophia.

“There’s no time to explain,” I said.

“It’s vampires,” Reg said.

Okay, so maybe there was time for that.

More Elders were sailing through the high windows, and one landed right next to Lina. She stuck one arm straight out to the side, her stake landing square in his chest, without even sparing him a glance. He was gone in an instant, his smoky remains floating right back out the window he’d come in.

Lina twirled the stake in her hand. “So, you got a plan here, princess?”

“I didn’t really get past the show up with lots of spiky things and hope they hit the road step,” I admitted.

“They’re so fast,” Sophia exclaimed as one sped by.