Read Online Almost Everything by Tate Hallaway - Free Book Online Page A

or were similarly afflicted.
    Blood was everywhere.
    I stumbled and slid in the gore, but I managed to get to my feet. Then I ran. Oh my God, I ran. The sunlight had sapped all of my vampire superpowers, but I didn’t need them. Horror compelled me forward. I just wanted to get away—very, very far.
    My own stomach threatened to rebel at the odor that seemed to cling to me. The copper tang of blood was heavy and everywhere, but there was also something in the stink that smelled rotten and spoiled, like meat left out too long.
    My sock squelched on the pavement, leaving a bloody footprint. I hazarded a glance over my shoulder. There were no vampire pursuers or pukers. …
    I slowed to a trot and looked back at the cave. There was no sign of anyone, only a dark stain on the tracks that was easy to mistake for an oil spill. Hunching over, I breathed hard. Adrenaline pumped through my veins. Tears stung my eyes. My dad nearly had me killed. Holy crap. I hardly knew what to think of all that. He said they wouldn’t eat their own kind, but I wasn’t sure he had much control of his people anymore.
    Despite the heat, shivers racked my body.
    This was awful. I had to fix this somehow. Even though they’d acted like beasts, these weren’t total strangers. I’d never really made friends with any vampire other than Elias, but I felt a certain kinship with them—you know, like the people at school you pass in the hall.
    At leastI hadn’t recognized anyone at court tonight. But what if that meant those vampires had broken from the hunger, left the kingdom, and become nosferatu?
    My stomach lurched again, and I clutched at it. Clenching my teeth, I willed myself not to barf. How could my dad let this happen? Was he truly insane?
    Though it was still early, a few cars sped by, heading into downtown offices. How was I going to get home? I couldn’t take the bus looking like this. Besides, I was sure there was a “no shoes,” or in my case, single shoe, “no service” policy. And, of course, everything below the knee of my jeans was covered in blood—not exactly inconspicuous.
    It was moments like these that I wished I had a regular boyfriend. It would be really nice if I could call someone who would ride to my rescue.
    I supposed I could try to wake up Bea. She’d come, no hesitation. But I would have to endure a barrage of questions I wasn’t sure I wanted to answer, not the least of which was, “Why the heck even go there in the first place?”
    My stomach twisted at the thought of recounting the scene I’d just endured. Bea already fell firmly in the witch camp. I doubted her impression of vampires would improve after I explained the chasing and barfing.
    Right now I really needed someone who would understand how I felt, even though I myself wasn’t entirely sure what that was. I was extremely mad at my father, but I was scared for him too. I couldn’t believe he could turn on his own daughter. At the same time, it had seemed clear to me that the hunger had screwed him over something fierce. I couldn’t blame him—not entirely.
    I pulledout my phone and looked at the time. It was just a few minutes past five. My fingers punched the area code for Bea’s house, but then they stopped. Snapping the phone shut, I crammed it back into my filthy jeans.
    She would just tell me I’d been naive and that I should expect animalistic behavior from vampires. She might even say something stupid about how much better off we’d all be if I hadn’t destroyed the talisman and the vampires were under witch control and slaves again. Then I’d have to hate her. Plus, I had to start considering future car karma too. I’d owe Bea one seriously inconvenient ride at a ridiculously early hour. I sighed. It wouldn’t take me that long to hoof it, or limp it, as the case might be. I should just cowboy-up and walk, even though it was uphill the whole way.
    Besides, I told myself that I was really enjoying the fresh air after the dank of the