Alethea has always been awkward - eccentric, even. On a typical day she spends her time cloistered inside a tiny apartment hiding from the world she doesn't really understand. When her therapist encourages her to push herself outside her comfort zon...
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"I would have expected a bit more decorum in front of your parents, but we can do this the hard way I suppose," Moroi said, standing and turning to face me.
My parents stared at me with confused and alarmed looks, and I realized too late just what I had done. If I had kept quiet, asked to speak to Moroi alone, I could have kept them out of this. Now they would be concerned about me and start asking questions that could get them hurt – or killed.
"What on earth is going on here?" my mother asked, as if she had read my thoughts and just had to get involved. "How do you two know each other?"
I cringed and tried to think of a way out for them. "Listen," I began, hoping they would listen. "I need you two to leave the house."
When they made no move to leave I added, "Now!"
My father squared his shoulders and I could tell from the resolute look on his face that he wasn't going anywhere.
"Thea, who is this man? Do we need to call the police?" he asked, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.
"I need you to leave, Dad. You and mom. Right now," I repeated, staring down a grinning Moroi. He looked almost amused by the whole situation.
"Listen to your daughter," Moroi told them without taking his eyes off of me. "If you don't I'll have to kill you. And honestly I don't feel like cleaning up the mess."
"We aren't going anywhere," my mother snapped, marching over to stand beside me and glaring at Moroi. "And I think you should explain yourself. Or leave."
I pushed her behind me and looked at my dad. In my mind I pleaded with him to understand how dangerous the situation was and how crucial it was that they leave immediately. I jerked my head toward the back door and said, "Dad, please. I will be fine, but I need you and mom to leave. Please."
"You know we can't do that, sweetheart," he replied, giving me a sad smile. "You're our little girl. We aren't going to just abandon you."
"Pity," Moroi snarled, and before I could blink he had my father pinned against the opposite wall, his neck bared and fangs an inch from the skin.
"NO! Wait! Please!" I begged, rushing forward. "You can have whatever you want! Just please, leave them out of this!"
A soft thunk behind me drew all of our attention. My mother had fainted, and her phone had slipped from her fingers that had been poised to dial 911.
"Look," I indicated to the vampire. "She isn't any threat to you. And if you let my father go he won't be either. You and I can leave here and discuss whatever you came here for."
Moroi turned to me slowly, his hand still clenched around my father's neck. "I came here to kill you and your phoenix friend, but his scent isn't anywhere in the house. Peculiar, since the two of you were so close in purgatory."
