MARK BY A HALF BLOOD

-

ndy Moran looked out the window, her breath catching as she took in th

new home, she

Cindy stepped off the bus, the cold biting through her sweater as mist curled around her

shade

olding a dark umbrella. Her hair was silver-gray, pinned neatly in a b

the woman said

dn't seen each other in nearly ten year

unt Martina said sharply. She turned a

untain town, not some horror film. But then a

gate hidden behind a thick curtain of trees. Ivy twisted around the black ba

I'll be living?" C

ply unlocked the gate with a silver

like hollow eyes staring back at her. The roof was steep and jagged, its corners curling

r creaked ope

and the chandelier hanging above the foyer swa

floor. The first is mine. The third..." She stopped, turning slowly

dy asked,

question the rul

isappeared into the dark hallw

-

Cindy coul

s full of yellowing novels-but it smelled like something had died in the walls.

lanket up to her nose, a

he hea

tst

ate. Just out

ody f

ck of her door. But nothing came. No knock. No sound. J

iptoed to the door, holding he

lway wa

't come from this floo

third

e was forbid

-

e Cindy a cold breakfast, pointed to the small town map, and told h

Santa Fe-a quiet town with old buildings, strange antiqu

said hi. Even the trees seemed to lean toward h

ding, following a narrow path that twisted through the

e heard

ep. Not

nd ran-but tripped over something

hen she

s chest bleeding, deep claw marks across his side. His skin was

me," he

him, stunned.

me. Please. Don't.

n he pa

-

ath thick vines. She didn't know why she was helping him. She didn't know who-or

from a nearby creek, using pieces

before he ope

roggy. "You shouldn

y n

re part of this,"

of w

e of his lean, scarred body. Hi

human,"

nked. "Ex

ampire and werewolf.

le

s in the house, the forbidden third floor, the way people looked at he

ur name?"

burning gold under the

.Ae

-

g him in the cabin. She didn't know what she was doi

mansion, Aunt Martina w

s icy. "Wher

ng around,"

ed. "You didn't speak

N

of things that don't belong. Yo

t, she walke

he stairs, glancing up. Her ey

ow what was h

s starting

the only monst