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know, Mom, vampires are out of
control—"
    "No," her mom shook her head, keeping her
eyes wide. Her pupils were so dilated with adrenaline that her eyes
looked almost black except for a narrow sliver of yellow-green.
"Not the vampires, Kira, them. The conduits. I'm taking you away
from these people. From their rules and traditions. I'm saving
you."
    Her eyes began to glaze over, filling with
water as more tears dropped down unnoticed.
    "Mom, they won't hurt me."
    "They already have, Kira, don't you see. They
pushed me away because I wasn't strong enough. They're the reason
my brother is dead, because he didn't conform to their rules. And
now you. They let you live just to change their minds years later?
They're afraid of you, of anything new and different. And I won't
let them have you." She shook her head back and forth.
    "Mom," Kira gripped the steering wheel over
her mother's hand, holding her cold fingers and trying to keep the
car steady. "Mom, I'm safe. I'm right here with you. Nothing is
going to happen to me."
    The blood began to flow back into her
mother's fingers.
    "Mom, slow the car down."
    She eased her foot off of the pedal. Kira
shifted her weight over the gear stick, wrapping her arms around
her mother's trembling torso.
    "Shh, it's okay," she soothed.
    The car slowed to a stop and they rolled
almost imperceptivity through the gate. But Kira felt the sun fill
her veins as they passed through the invisible UV barrier thrumming
across the entrance, blocking vampires. The two of them were
outside of Sonnyville, finally escaped from conduit lands, and it
was enough for her mother to break. Heaving sobs filled the car and
hands clutched Kira, gripping her tight and pulling her into her
mom's body.
    "Oh Kira, I was so afraid," she cried.
    "I'm alive, Mom. I'm not going anywhere," she
said and ran her hands through her mother's hair, the same way her
mother used to do for her when she was scared or upset.
    "Every time I look at you, I see your father.
In the way you laugh, in your open and loving smile, in the
brightness shining from your eyes. You remind me so much of him,"
she said quietly, speaking just loud enough for Kira to hear. "I
can't lose you too."
    "Mom," Kira said, leaning back to meet her
gaze, "I love you and I'm not going to let anyone hurt me, conduit
or vampire, I promise."
    She nodded.
    "Let's go back to my grandfather's house. We
can get a cup of tea, talk about everything. I'll answer any
questions you have about what I've been doing."
    "That would be good." Her mother nodded again
and Kira eased back into the passenger seat, still holding onto her
mom's warm hand. She put the car back into drive, pressing slowly
down on the petal to turn the car around.
    "I love you," Kira said.
    "I love—"
    Metal crunched, screeching in protest as the
door was ripped free from the moving car. White hands grabbed her
mother's shoulder, wrenching her from her seat before she even had
time to scream. Kira gripped her hand, holding onto her fingers for
as long as a she could before they were tugged hard and slipped
free of Kira's hold.
    "Mom!" Kira screamed.
    Reaching for her seatbelt, Kira unbuckled and
forced her door open. Without thinking, she dove out of the car,
rolling on the ground and scraping against rough asphalt. Behind
her, the car screeched, swerving wildly, and smacked into a tree.
But Kira's eyes were on the forest.
    "Mom!" She yelled, listening for any scream
to tell her where to run. Bringing a flame to her palm, Kira sent
her power out into the woods, hoping to hear a vampire squeal.
    Silence.
    The car door was still on the ground, left
like a mangled toy. Kira rushed to the spot, looking for any sign
of life. Under the ripped wires and torn metal was a spot of
blood—fresh, red and most definitely human.
    Toward her left, Kira spotted another dark
shadow in the grass, just beyond the edge of the road. More
blood.
    "Mom!"
    Still no sound of life.
    Kira pushed past the branches, walking off
the