Wonder: A Soul Savers Collection of Holiday Short Stories & Recipes by Kristie Cook Read Free Book Online

not know Mindy’s new plans for the day.
    “Um, well,” Mindy stammered as her mind raced. “I’m, uh, I’m just going to go for a walk around the city, take in the holiday a different way, and, I guess, find some poor Norman who needs some company tonight so he doesn’t kill himself.”
    Jewels’ gaze flitted over to the couch, where her Norman lay snoring, his hand tucked into the waistband of his jeans. At least he’d been able to enjoy Mindy’s Thanksgiving dinner before she’d ruined it all.
    “Just stay away from my Norman,” Jewels said, and she turned back for her bedroom. She looked back over her shoulder as Mindy made her way to the front door. “You still have the invitation, though, right? You can always change your mind.”
    Mindy nodded, although she didn’t have the invitation with her. She wouldn’t be going to the feast. She still hung onto the need to make this day as normal and as traditional as possible.
    Except how she traveled.
    Nana—and the rest of her family—lived outside of the city, and Mindy no longer had a car. She could take the train and the bus, but she figured they ran on a holiday schedule, which meant she’d never make it to Nana’s in time. She didn’t have a choice. Once she reached the edge of the city, she slipped into the woods, hiked her skirt above her knees, and ran at vampire speed. She laughed to herself as she jumped the twenty-five feet to cross a stream. This gives new meaning to over the river and through the woods .
    As she came closer to Nana’s, however, anxiety began to replace the hope she’d been feeling since making her decision. She hadn’t seen her family in nearly a year, since last New Year’s Eve. She’d left on a bad note, fighting with them about wanting to go into the city for the New Year’s celebration. They didn’t think it safe ... and they were right. However, they warned her about being mugged or drugged and raped. Not about being attacked by a vampire and turned. Of course, they wouldn’t know anything about such fantastical things that shouldn’t exist. But here she was. That was exactly what had happened to her, and she hadn’t been able to come home since. She couldn’t even call them. Her sire had said they needed to believe she was dead. She hoped they simply believed she’d run away—and that they’d accept her again, at least for one night. But what if they didn’t?
    Still keeping to the woods, she passed the small town where she’d grown up, and slowed as she approached Nana’s farm a few miles outside of town. A line of cars filled the long driveway. Although still several hundred yards away, Mindy could already hear the laughter and chatter coming from inside the house. Everyone was there—Mindy’s mom and uncles and their families, her sisters and their boyfriends, a couple of babies. Her two older sisters, already married before Mindy left, had been talking about babies. Had they already had them?
    Sorrow filled Mindy at this thought. She could be an aunt and hadn’t even known. And after tonight, she’d never see any of her nieces or nephews again. She’d never watch them grow up, go to their sports games and birthday parties, be a bad influence on them when they reached their teenage years. She’d be the aunt nobody ever talked about. The black sheep every family had. The one they’d pretend didn’t even exist. Because she really shouldn’t exist.
    They needed to believe she was gone for their own safety, Mindy knew. Just this last time and never again. Although Mindy was glad she still held on to a tiny bit of her humanity, she’d never bring herself to go to the Amadis. She didn’t believe for one minute what they promised and couldn’t imagine the horrors they’d put her through, if they even allowed her to live. No, she’d always be Daemoni, even if it meant losing all of her humanity. So she only had this last chance to say a real good-bye to her family.
    She snuck over to the house,