Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) by C.A. Kunz Read Free Book Online Page B

shoulder.
    “Will do, Dad.”
    Cat took the long way to the beach. She needed to clear her head, and driving with the windows down and music blasting did just that. She tried not to think too much about her friends or Ryan and just focused on getting to the beach. When she arrived, it was empty. The sky was overcast and there was a light fog that covered the sand and forest ground. “Not really beach weather,” Cat said to herself as she scanned the lifeless area.
    She hurried to the barren clearing and sat on the concrete slab, trying to focus. Looking at the trees surrounding her, she began to wonder what vampire abilities she possessed. Spying a large tree to her right, Cat wondered if she would be able to scale it. If Bartholomew Drake can do it, I should be able to, right? She thought as she readied herself. “Alright Cat, you can do this,” she stated confidently, staring up at the huge obstacle.
    The thought of being a half-vampire was surreal and scary, but Cat was trying to embrace it. She needed to begin honing her skills to prepare for what Ròs told her was coming her way. As she stared intently at the tree, Cat tried to imagine herself ascending it effortlessly. This was her first attempt, and she was hoping for beginner’s luck.
    Bolting toward the tree, Cat leapt into the air, catching her footing on the trunk, and propelled herself upward. Digging her nails into the bark, she pulled herself along. She paused, realizing how high up she was and looked down at the ground. “Holy crap! I did not just do that!” Cat panicked as she started losing her grip and began to slip down the tree, her nails ripping along the trunk. She tried to stop herself, but instead lost her footing and fell to the ground, sending a large dust cloud swirling into the air. Dragging herself to her feet, she began to pick the twigs and leaves out of her hair and dusted off her shirt and jeans. “Okay, one more time!” she announced, determined to do it.
    An hour flew by, and after many “one more time” failed attempts, Cat found herself gazing out onto Oldes Bay from the highest branch of the tree. The wind blew through her thick fiery red hair as she sat there taking in the awe-inspiring scene before her. She wished she could share it with Ryan and her friends.
    Safely back on the ground, Cat gazed at the concrete foundation and thought back to the nightmare she had about a year ago. Hearing a rustling noise behind her, she quickly turned and collided with something, causing her to fall backward. Looking up, she saw it was Ryan.
    “Cat? What are you doing out here?” he asked, reaching down to help her up.
    “I could ask you the same thing,” she said, taking his hand as she stood with his assistance. “And why haven’t you returned any of my calls?”
    “I guess you know how it feels now, huh, Miss Colvin,” he replied dryly. “Besides, I didn’t know how to approach you after that night.”
    “Hey, you can’t just show your fangs to a girl and then expect her to not freak a little. Plus, you ran off without saying a word.”
    “It was either that, or deal with your mother, no offense,” he replied with a grin. Ryan noticed Cat’s gaze return to the concrete foundation in the middle of the clearing. “So, back to my original question, what exactly are you doing here?”
    “I just came here to think,” she answered distractedly, looking at the foundation.
    “Well, I can think of a lot nicer places you can do that instead of this run down bare patch of land, with a shoddy piece of concrete at the center of it.”
    “It’s more than that to me, Ryan,” Cat replied, looking at him.
    “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “This was the last place I was with my mother. My birth mother I mean,” she answered quietly.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
    “Last year, I had this dream…well, really a nightmare. I saw a weathered cabin in this clearing. Inside was a woman frantically shoving clothes into