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were another way, but learning to defend yourself is important. Of course, I hope the curse will never come to fruition, and after you turn sixteen, you should do everything you can to prevent it. But until then, I want you to learn some basic survival skills in case the worst happens.”
    Anxiety rushed through Lucette’s body, increasing her heart rate and making her queasy. She feared the consequences if her father ever found out about this deception.

    If you were Lucette, what would you do?
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    OPTION A: Lucette should go along with her mother’s lie. She’s always longed to train as a slayer, and as terrifying as she finds her curse, someday she might be the only one awake at night to defend herself and protect her family. Isn’t it her duty to learn? The Vampire Slayer Academy is the best place to study. If you think Lucette should choose option A, go to section 2: The Academy (page 43).
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    OPTION B: Lucette should refuse to lie to her father. With time, he might become reasonable and agree she needs slayer training. Avoiding this lie, she has a better chance of keeping the peace, and if she causes another fight between her parents, she’ll never forgive herself. If her father finds out about the lie, he might never forgive Lucette and her mother. If you think Lucette should choose option B, go to section 3: Big Secrets (page 77).

Section 2
    THE ACADEMY

    L ucette fumed. She had only been at the school for a week, but so far her classes, beyond the regular school stuff such as math and history, had been more like charm school than slayer school. Grooming? Flirting? What was the point? The only “point” she cared about was the one she could drive through a vampire’s heart.
    â€œNow, class,” Miss Eleanor began. A statuesque woman with light blonde hair and way too much makeup, the teacher stuck out a hip and set her hand on it. “Flirting is crucial to our cause and it’s the best tool to lure vampires into our traps. The creatures are very amorous and have little self-control, making your beauty a lethal weapon.”
    Lucette clenched her jaw and her fists.
    Miss Eleanor swept a hand out in a broad gesture.“Girls, it’s your duty as a slayer to use your feminine wiles against these horrible animals.”
    Lucette pounded a fist into her thigh, then lifted it and accidentally hit the underside of her desk. The sharp sound reverberated throughout the room.
    â€œLucy,” Miss Eleanor said sternly, “if you insist on disrupting class, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the room.” She wrinkled her heavily powdered nose.

    â€œFeminine wiles?” Lucette murmured to herself. “Ridiculous.”
    â€œIf you’d like to ask a question, please stand,” Miss Eleanor said, and the entire class turned back to stare at Lucette.
    She shot to her feet. “I didn’t register in the academy to use feminine wiles.” The phrase itself was stupid. “I came here to learn to be a slayer—to kill vampires. When do we get our stakes?”
    The other girls, all much shorter, curvier, and prettier, burst into laughter, covering their mouths with their hands, as though doing so negated their rudeness.
    A girl with curly blonde hair said, “She’d have more luck attacking vampires than luring them.” She leaned toward her brunette friend across the aisle and whispered, “Flat as a board!” The two giggled. They’d established their roles as teacher’s pets when they easily mastered mascara application in grooming class.
    â€œAnd those eyebrows!” the brunette said, her ringlets bouncing. “She’s like a wild animal!”
    â€œNow, girls,” Miss Eleanor said to her pets, “Lucy may not be as mature as you, but she could be quite striking. That bone structure—”
    Lucette pounded her fist on the desktop. “Who cares how I look?” She had realized years