Fledgling (The Vampire Manifesto, Book Two) by Rashaad Bell

was back in Dakota’s bedroom. Kidnaped? Forced into a van? Whoever these people are, it’s not Homeland Security. There’s only one individual I know affiliated with the government that would even be searching for my identity...
    Colonel Hawking.
    “What’s going on?” Dakota asked.
    “Bad business.” I replied. “We have to get you and your mom out of here.”
    Dakota appeared mystified. “I don’t understand.”
    “Those men…” I explained. “…you and your mom are in danger.”
    “Dakota!” Mrs. Theia called out. “Can you come down here?”
    I grabbed Dakota by her hand. “Whatever those men ask you, just tell them.”
    “What do they want?” She was whispering, walking backward towards the door.”
    “Dakota!”
    “They want me.” I whispered back.
    I could tell she didn’t comprehend what was happening as she left the bedroom. I did a slow circle trying to think. If Hawking was here…no, don’t even think about it. I reached for my back pocket, grabbing for my cell phone, except it wasn’t there. It was in my other jeans; I hadn’t switched anything in my pockets over to these. Not that it would work anyhow, not after that tumble I took earlier. I moved back towards the door, creeping along, trying to get a bead on the situation.
    Dakota was downstairs now. “Yeah mom, what’s up?”
    Mrs. Theia passed her the photo. “These gentlemen are with Homeland Security.” She said. “Do you know this girl?”
    Dakota took the photo, giving it a good once over. “Yeah, well, kinda.” She handed the picture back. “Her names Madison.”
    “Do you know where she lives?” Barcel asked. “How can I locate her parents?”
    She shrugged her shoulders. “I dunno.”
    “What about her last name?” He questioned.
    “I dunno.” She repeated again.
    Barcel didn’t seem like he was buying it. “You don’t know her last name?”
    “I just met her.” She explained. “Tonight. We walked on the beach, kissed for a little bit…”
    “Dakota!” Mrs. Theia didn’t seem to like that last part.
    Dakota just rolled her eyes. “Oh please mom, we’ve had this conversation before, get over it already.”
    “You just met her tonight.” Barcel repeated. “Right. Of course.” He turned towards one of the other Agents. “Call it in.”
    One of the men pulled out a cell and stepped into the kitchen.
    “Why are you guys looking for her?” Dakota asked. “She in trouble or something.”
    “Or something.” Barcel replied. He looked over to the Agent in the kitchen. “Status report?”
    I strained to listen harder; I wanted to hear what they were talking about on the phone, but it was only a sequence of beeps on the other end.
    “Everything’s a green light.” The Agent made his way back into the living room. “Just waiting for YBR transport and we should be good to go.”
    Something wasn’t right. Where had I heard that term before? YBR transport?
    Yellow Brick Road transport…
    Barcel pulled out a small handgun and fired once; shooting Mrs. Theia once in the forehead, blood splattering the wall mounted TV behind her. The Agents gun didn’t even make a sound when it was discharged. Dakota turned, watching her mother’s body propel backwards, slamming against the wall, a dark streak of blood following her head as she slid down the wall to the ground. Agent Barcel was turning his weapon on Dakota now…
    I was downstairs, my fingers wrapping around Barcel's gun hand as I spun into his body, my back flush against his chest. I forced a change in the weapons direction just as he fired, shooting the Agent on Dakotas left who was closest to the kitchen in the chest. I repositioned his arm again and pulled the trigger, shooting the Agent that was situated just behind her on her right in the throat. I spun away from Barcel, taking the gun with me and fired directly in the center of his head, then turned again and aimed the gun at the last Agent by the door. Everything happened so fast he was