Turning eighteen is an exciting time for most girls. It means
finally being considered a legal adult, having more freedom and
a wild birthday party. For Haven Vigano, it means no longer
being able to move around in the daytime, immortality and a
craving for human blood.
Haven is a Dayling, but in three weeks she will Cross Over into
the world of Nightlings. Unfortunately, an ancient group of
Nightling hunters called The Holy Sect of Mântuitors are hunting
down and killing her kind. Between her growing attraction to
Philip and Sébastien’s jealousy towards her human crush, times
were a lot simpler when she felt indifferent toward everything and
everyone.
The thought of my upcoming birth day wouldn’t leave my mind. I placed my arms
behind my head as I closed my eyes and focused on pleasant memories. Most of
them were of me alone with a good book, but a few were of being around family
and friends. None had to do with being around people outside of my world. Being
on my families estate, only dealing with the people closest to me, would be all I
needed after my eighteenth birthday.
I must have dozed off for a moment, because she was standing over me when I
opened my eyes, and the moon reflected behind her. Angela still lay beside me on
her back, obviously asleep. But she didn’t seem to care about her kid sister at the
moment; instead she stared directly at me, “time to wake up pequeña princesa.
You need to get ready for a party.”
Slowly I sat up on my elbows. “I know you’re insane Sophia, but are you also
delusional?”
She kneeled down beside me. “Since my little sister is starting real school soon,
Nigel and I are going to take her to this party we heard about. Give her and
opportunity to check out the locals at play.” Sophia leaned in closer to me,
causing my entire body to uncontrollably shiver as she whispered. “You don’t
have a choice in this chica.” She reached over and shook Angela awake while
continually staring at me. I hated Sophia thinking she scared me, even though she
did scare the crap out of me, but it was a major blow to my pride how much she
knew she scared me. Angela looked over to her sister. Finally, Sophia turned to
face Angela. “Time to go party with your soon to be class mates. Get up, take a
quick shower, get dressed in something slutty, and let’s go introduce the students
of Lexington High School to their future queen.” She smiled at both of us, before
she stood up and walked away.
Angela groggily looked over to me. “What?”
The fear finally left my body. A frown covered my face as I looked in the direction
Sophia had walked away in. “Hell! She is dragging us to hell!” Angela gave me a
confused look. “We’re going to a high school party.” Why couldn’t I have simply
died from a heat stroke while I slept? Because I’m Haven Vigano, and my luck
doesn’t work like that.
A few hours later we were making our way up a long driveway towards the party,
and I was thinking about making a run for it. I was fast enough, not to mention the
only real light source came from a half moon looming above us in a starless night
sky. On top of that, Sophia wore her favorite high heels; the ones that formed a
thin spike at the end, and made it seem as if she walked on her tiptoes. I felt that
those god-forsaken shoes gave me a good chance of getting away before she
caught me, and I would have taken that chance, if my other cousin Nigel, hadn’t
kept glancing back at me every time I thought about dashing towards our estate.
We stopped at the front door of Eliot Little’s two-days-until-back-to-school-party. I
could hear music pulsating out of the den, a type of techno hip-hop blend.
Glimpses of blue and red lights flashed out of a window. My body tensed. Every
cell inside of me screamed for an escape route. I couldn’t believe the jock had
disco lights for his house party.
Sophia knocked on the door, a moment later the door opened with a short,
muscular guy standing in the entrance.
The jock stumbled a little as he tried to gather himself. His eyes were barely open,
and he reeked of alcohol. His short, black hair hung disheveled over his forehead.
He held a beer can in one hand, while using the other to gain balance on the side
of the doorframe.
“Yo, haven’t seen you around here before.” He slurred out as he gazed at Sophia.
Her black eyes gleamed as she stared at the inebriated jock. A playful half smile
slowly crept across her smooth, innocent-looking face. I’d seen that look before. It
had gotten us into as much trouble as it had gotten us out of. But, it never failed in
achieving whatever task Sophia conjured it up for.
“We’ve lived up the block for a little over two years. Never made the time to make
the rounds. Making the time now.” Sophia moved her long black hair behind her
ears. She allowed her seductive gaze to fully light up her beautiful Spanish face.
“You’re Eliot right? The man of the house?” She spoke with a slow rhythm.
Eliot almost fell over with excitement. His eyes became glazed with longing. His
entire body stiffened. He had no idea the game being played on him. Nigel knew,
which is why he quietly laughed at the enthralled football jock. Personally, I just
wanted to get this over with so I could go home.
Stumbling again, Eliot quickly re-gathered himself. “Yeah I’m the man of the
house. And you and your friends are invited to my party.” He moved out of the
way for us to enter; never once taking his eyes from Sophia’s as he closed the
door behind us.
Teenage kids grinding against each other filled the first floor of the house. I’d
never gone to a teenage party before. I’d only read about them and seen them on
TV or in movies. I thought Hollywood exaggerated what went on at these events, I
had no idea how tamed the Hollywood versions were compared to the real thing.
A few kids were scattered around making out. I saw an area where belly shots
were taking place. And of course, no party would be complete without the triple-
kiss being performed in front of a crowd of cheering onlookers. I’d learned about
the triple-kiss from Angela, who swore she’d never participated in one, but saw
them on MTV Spring Break.
“Okay, I’m ready to leave now. I came, I saw,” I quickly shook my body, “I danced.
See you guys back home.”
Sophia stepped in front of me. The flashing lights bounced off her face, giving her
skin a slightly unnatural porcelain glow. She locked her shimmering black eyes
onto mine. Unlike Eliot, she wasn’t trying to seduce me. Instead she tried to
intimidate me. And as much as I hated to admit it, it worked. “You’re going to stay
here with us, mingle, and have some fun. In a few weeks, Haven, you’ll be like me.
But for now, you’re more like them. So enjoy it while you can chica.”
I stared back into Sophia’s eyes, trying not to show the fear building inside me. “I’
m nothing like them. And I’m never going to be like you Sophia.”
“Three weeks until your eighteenth b-day. Looks like someone has already
started Crossing Over. Are we getting a little feisty there Haven?” Nigel said with a
lopsided smile.
I turned from Sophia to face him. His skin also had a slightly porcelain glow to it.
His frosty blond hair sat perfectly on top of his head. His light blue eyes gleamed
with playfulness. He seemed as relaxed as always. I gave him a frown before I
turned back to Sophia.
“Why am I here anyway? I thought this was supposed to be about Angela?”
She placed her left arm around her kid sister’s shoulder, pulling her in closer to
her body. If I hadn’t known any better, the embrace would have seemed
comforting, almost loving. However, the malice in Sophia’s eyes always gave her
true nature away. “It is about me mamacita. And she wants you to stay. Isn’t that
right Angela?”
I looked at Angela hoping for her to say the words to excuse me from this torment.
Instead, I got the top of her head as she stared at the floor; her telltale sign when
she’s about to say something you don’t want to hear.
“It’s true. I’d feel better if you were here with me Haven.” Angela mumbled. Sophia
kissed Angela on the jaw before she released her.
Sophia stalked up to me, only stopping inches from my face. I could feel her
slightly cool breath, and taste her unnatural scent as a chill gradually entered my
body, leaving me frozen in place. “While Nigel and I check out this place for some
after party fun, I want you to take Angela around for some introductions.” As she
spoke, Sophia slowly leaned towards me, bearing her perfect white teeth while
gazing longingly at my exposed neck. I tried to move. The fear flooding inside of
me left me petrified in place. Sophia giggled before kissing me on the jaw, and
then disappearing into the swarm of dancing teenagers with Nigel.
"This story was simply wonderful. I loved the
fact that Madison created a new world for the
vampires, something new that I haven’t read
before. The characters were well developed
and I truly enjoyed Haven and Phillip’s love
story." –Ana, Reviewer for Once Upon A
Twilight
"Anyone looking for a vampire story that's a
little different might want to give Dayling a try."
–LAS Reviewer "The Long and the Short Of It
Reviews
"this book was a great read. it had all one
could hope for and more. It'll leave you
THIRSTY for more!!!!" –kyra
"I love vamp books and this one is just down
my alley. Definitely a good read for these cold
winter nights." –B&N review
Fiction-Young Adult/Urban Fantasy
Available in Print & e-book
December 2010
$12.95 / $3.99
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-15-9
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