Read Online Drop Dead Demons by A Kirk, E - Free Book Online Page B

of you and that’s what I’m doing.”
    “We don’t need a babysitter,” Luna protested.
    M waved a hand over Luna’s Gothic ensemble. “You’re morgue make-up says you’re not getting enough attention at home.”
    Mom came in from the backyard with Oron on her hip and fresh flowers in her hand. “I like her vampire look. Makes me feel tan. Leave her alone, M. And Luna, be nice.”
    “Ugh!” Luna stomped out. “Why can’t we just lock her in the garage?”
    M snorted. “If only.”
    Mom watched Luna go. “What’s her problem?”
    I chuckled. “M blocked her from the Internet last night.”
    “Just the social networking sites. She was  supposed  to be doing homework. Speaking of children misbehaving.”   M looked down at me. “Where’s the nervous gervous from next door?”
    “Tristan?” I shrugged. “Home, I guess. Why?”
    “He didn’t spend the night scouring the world for my identity.”
    I sighed. “You promised you wouldn’t spy on my friends’ computer activity.”
    “I haven’t. Mostly because I can’t. Yet. They have an impressive firewall.” She dumped oatmeal into a bowl with a dull plop and handed it to me. “But I do get an alert when anyone attempts to investigate me. Been getting one a couple times a day from that jumpy brat since the day I showed up. Decent little hacker. Thought he’d try looking longer than a few weeks.”
    “I’ll relay your disappoin—” I choked on a mouthful of breakfast, fatally forgetting the gag-worthy flavor of M’s concoction. It stuck to the inside my mouth, thick as cement and just as tasty.
    “I don’t want you relaying anything.” Porridge hung like dog drool off the wooden spoon M pointed in my direction. “Because I don’t want you to talk, kibitz or socialize in any way with any of them. I’ve checked around. Those Hex Boys, as they’re called, have a bad reputation. Danger follows them and it already caught you in its wake in Los Angeles. Almost got you and Luna killed at the concert hall.”
    Mom shook her head at my aunt. “The explosion wasn’t the boys’ fault.”
    She was right on that score. I had blown up the building. The boys had been the heroes that averted disaster.  
    “They saved my girls, so be nice, M,” Mom said.
    “What about her grades?” M asked. “I hacked into the school’s system and ever since she’s been here, spending time with those boys , her GPA has plummeted.”
    “That’s got to be illegal!” And downright rude. But she wasn’t wrong. At Mom’s questioning, borderline testy look, I said. “It’s not the boys. I started here in the middle of the year and was already behind because I missed so much at my old school because I was…recovering. Then I missed school here because of the coma and…” I shrugged. “I’ll get them up. I promise. Please, give me a chance.”
    The explanation was partially true, and hopefully my pathetic history of horror would deflect her anger and suspicion and bring on the protective mom mode.
    Her eyes softened.
    Man, I’m good.
    “Fine,” she said. “But if your grades aren’t improved by the mid-semester progress report, we’re getting a tutor and you’re grounded, with no social life, until they are.”
    M made an exasperated noise. “Okay, forget about the waste of her education. You’re telling me you’re not worried about your  daughter  hanging around with six  boys  with dubious reputations?  And  dating one of them who looks at your daughter with… that look?”
    My brow creased. “What look?”
    “Oh, please,” Aunt M scoffed. “ That  look. And not to mention  that  smile. Hungry,” she growled the word, “and hot enough to make a nun’s panties spontaneously combust.”
    Lucian choked, laughter spewing juice out his nose. I glared at him as the blood rushed to my cheeks.
    Aunt M gave me a meaningful look. “And you’re no nun, sweetie. I’m just saying.”
    “Mom!” I was beginning to seriously sympathize