Read Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) for Free Online

cabin had looked from her nightmares. Tears flowed freely down her face as she realized this was the last place she had been with her mother. Slouching, with her chest down to her knees, Cat rocked back and forth crying for the parents she never knew.
    Ryan pulled up quickly into the parking lot as Taylor and a woman with bright red hair, whom he didn’t recognize, were opening their doors. He immediately realized what she was.
    “Beckford, what are you doing here?” Taylor asked, anger present in his voice.
    “What’s wrong with Cat?” Ryan ignored his question.
    “None of your business, that’s what, now just leave!”  Taylor’s face reddened as he started toward Ryan.
    “Now you two, let’s settle down.  Hello, I’m Ròs Cowan, and you are?” she asked blocking Taylor’s path.
    “Ryan Beckford.  I’m Cat’s boyfriend.”
    “Yeah, but you’re not wanted here right now!” Taylor tried to reach around Ròs for him only to have her push him back gently.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ryan. I’m Catherine’s aunt,” Ròs said, lightly shaking his hand. “She’s just a little upset at the moment. And Taylor needs to go and find her, don’t you Taylor?” she asked, looking pointedly at him.
    “Yeah, but I’m going alone!” he responded, glaring at Ryan.
    “Of course. Ryan and I will just wait here for you, if that’s okay?” Ròs smiled reassuringly at Taylor. Without another word, Taylor made his way down the path and followed Cat’s fresh footprints in the sand.
    “So, you’re Catherine’s boyfriend, huh? And a fellow vampire, I see. Don’t look surprised my dear, I can smell it on you,” Ròs said as she watched Taylor walking toward the woods. Turning her attention to Ryan, “You care deeply for her, don’t you?” Ryan nodded. “I can sense it. You will keep her secret, I have no worries about that. If I did, I would have already killed you by now,” she laughed at the look on Ryan’s face. “I am only kidding…well, kind of.”
     “Cat? Cat?” Taylor quietly whispered trying not to scare her. She lifted her head to look at him and Taylor’s heart sank as he saw the pain in her eyes. As he joined Cat on the concrete foundation, he pulled her into his arms and held her as she sobbed loudly into his shirt, not caring that it was quickly soaked. He stroked her hair until she was pacified.
    “Sorry about your shirt,” she whispered.
    “Yeah, you should be,” he said, and then hugged her to him again. Cat was overwhelmed with the love he was projecting. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought he’d be the one to come and comfort her.
    Taylor chuckled. “You know, Cat, growing up, I resented Mom and Dad for bringing you into our family. Man was I jealous, and of course I even hated you a little at times. But you’ll always be my little sister. This last week I’ve wanted to just bust into your room and tell you how selfish you were being. But now I realize, you were hurt and feeling alone. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
    Cat leaned her head against his shoulder, “I think I needed that week, especially with what was unloaded on me tonight. I mean, they told me I’m a Childe ! A half-vampire! How the hell is that even possible? Don’t I scare you, Taylor?”
    He laughed. “Well, you don’t see me running do you?”
    “So you knew? They told you?”
    “Yeah, they told me. Oh, and believe me it took me awhile to come to terms with it. But I did, because like I said, you’re my sister.”
    “I can’t believe Sam and Rachel took me in knowing that I was a freak.”
    “Well, they did, so just deal with it. Now, being half-vampire aside,” he said matter-of-factly, “I know you have a huge decision to make. Ròs and Trevor want to take you away, but we want you to stay here. Whatever you decide, I’ll have your back.” Cat smiled up at her brother. “But know this, if you leave us, a hole will be left. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. I