Page 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

I answered , and a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time said, "Justin, you have to leave your father, and you have to do it now"

A cup inon the floor and spraying water everywhere "Moered into the den and fell onto the ugly plaid sofa in front of the television

Elyssa eed from my bedroom, her face still pale fro her eyes She looked as tired as I felt My father had been captured by a rogue vaht had nearly killed the two of us Somehoe’d made it out alive with my father, but my brain felt likeI’d expected Elyssa gave me one look and furrowed her brow in concern

"Yes, it’s me," Molass and joined two other stress cracks "You abandonbut a cru me to abandon the parent who didn’t leave?" My voice rose to a shout by the end of the sentence

"Justin, I couldn’t explain everything in the letter If the wrong people discovered our secret--"

"You mean Ivy?"

She paused for the briefest of seconds before answering "Yes, like the existence of your sister I couldn’t let your father’s family find out about her"

"But it’s fine if they know about me?"

"No, it’s not You were kept a secret too Apparently, when your abilities blooht the attention of so ripped I looked down and realized ed the fabric of the sofa as they balled into fists "Oh, so it’s ht "I don’t have much time Get out of the house And whatever you do, don’t--"

"Mom? Mom?" No answer The line went dead

"Is she okay?" Elyssa asked

I shoved the phone in my pocket and turned to her "I--I hope so" My forehead crumpled I took deep breaths to keep the tears at bay I couldn’t afford to wih ninja-dhairlfriend

She encircled ainstwill be okay"

I pressed a stray lock of her raven-black hair behind her ear and pecked a kiss on her nose "She told me to leave Dad"

Her left eyebrow quirked a notch "Leave your Dad? After we just rescued hiue vampires? Why?"

"She didn’t say We were cut off"

"That’s not good"

I shook my head "Nope But I don’t knohat to do I can’t just leave Dad"

The front door burst open and Dad bolted inside "Justin, you have to leave now" His face looked pale and frightened

I pulled away fro on? First Mom and now you?"

He drew in a sharp breath "Your mother contacted you?"

"She just called and told me to leave you"

He streaked inhumanly fast across the kitchen, into the den, and took my shoulders in his hands "Did she say where she is?" Hope and agony warred on his features

"No, Dad" I repeated the conversation and each word seeht of hope in his eyes

He sluet out of here iht and leave"

I sat down on the easy chair and stared at hioing on"

"My fa"

"Is that bad?" My stomach clenched It apparently knew the answer

Elyssa shuddered "Worse than you can i withspell and told my family where to find me"