-Kurai-
Synopsis
Shay has everything a high school girl could ever need. A nice house, nice parents, and some pretty awesome friends that keep her balanced. With a relatively normal and happy life in her hands, how can she give it up so easily? So willingly? It's the kind of life that she's always dreamed of living. She's the Princess in all of those fairytales, only this seems more real.
When a series of events unfold in front of her at school one day though, Shay finds herself torn between the two lives she lives. The peppy, rich girl from Southern California and the kill in cold blood Hunter that she grew up to be. Having escaped that life two years ago, Shay never thought she'd have to go back to it. When six people in Kentucky turn up missing though and her oldest brother is on that list, Shay isn't left with many other choices. Not wanting to make much of a scene in her departure, Shay leaves unnoticed by her aunt, uncle, cousins, and her closest friends. They don't need to be dragged into the life that she used to live, so the less they know about the affair, the better it'll be for everyone involved.
She returns to her hometown expecting to find the rest of the Hunters just as they were before she left. But what she finds instead astounds her beyond comprehension. It's one problem after another to worry about, but Shay's still determined to get the rest of the Hunters on her side. Either they'll accept her back into the fold with open arms and help her in her quest for her brother, or they'll cast her out for leaving unannounced two years previously. Whichever they choose, Shay only hopes they make the right choice. Not only for those disappearing, but also for her brothers sake. And if they don't, she'll go to the ends of the earth to figure out the disappearances. There's something preternatural in those mysterious disappearances, and it'll be up to her and the Hunters to find out what it is.
Excerpt
“What are you doing back, Shay?” the voice is familiar. I should know that voice because I was the one that brought her into this world. If not for me, she wouldn’t know of the Hunters or anything supernatural, well…except the vampires, but even then, there’s no guarantee she would still be alive.
“I need to talk to Grey,” I say evenly. I’m not afraid of her even though I know my life is in her hands. If she was smart, she wouldn’t try using that knife on me.
“He’s not here,” Kimi responds. “Now go home. You have no business here.”
“Actually, I do. And if you’d remove that knife, I’d be happy to explain myself.” this is me being sarcastic and cold. My old Hunter instincts are coming back to me almost too easily. Soon, it’ll be almost like I’ve never left at all.
“Do you think I’m stupid? You of all people should know better then that.” Kimi argues, pressing the blade further into my neck for emphasis. I can feel a warm trickle of blood, but I don’t try to flinch away from it. “I’m going to tell you one more time. Go home, Shay.”
“I. Can’t.” I growl irritably.
“Bullshit. What made you want to come back then?” Kimi asks. “Surely it can’t be because you’ve missed us. Or can it? Or maybe after two years of living a ‘normal’ life you all of a sudden realize how much you want your old life back? I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you can’t come back. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you left. You knew what the stakes were then, and I’m sure you still know them.”
Do you know what’s worse then being held with a knife to your throat? It’s knowing that the one person you brought into this life…The one person you risked everything for has turned against you. I’d always hoped that even after I’d left that Kimi might still find it in her heart to forgive me. Besides Grey and Maddix, she was the only other one I considered a friend here. Now though, it looks like that’s all changed as well. She’s just as cold as the rest of them. What have I done to her? Created a monster, that’s what.
“Kimi…” if sarcasm and irritation won’t work, maybe a little bit of logic will. “This isn’t about me or even about you. It’s about Maddix, all right?”
This stops her dead. I can feel the pressure of the knife at my throat loosen a little, and I can feel her breathing steadily from behind me. I’m on the right track. “…What about him?” she asks.
“I think he’s in trouble.”
It’s all that needs to be said, because just after this, she shoves me away from her. I spin instinctively to face her, and I find myself looking in familiar emerald eyes. They’re swimming with worry, but just as quickly as I see it, it vanishes it. She schools her features into a neutral expression while still looking at me. “Follow me.” it’s all that she needs to say.
