Ignis (Book 2, Pure Series) by Catherine Mesick Page A

shaken up by the fact that it was Annamaria who had been attacked by a vampire.   I tried to pay attention in class, but my thoughts kept wandering back to her.
                What if she was only the beginning?
                The rest of the day passed in a blur, and I felt a sense of relief when I heard the final bell ring.   I hurried to my locker, and when I shut my locker door, Charisse was standing on the other side.
                I couldn't help jumping a little.   "You startled me, Charisse."
                Charisse was grim.   "I want you to do something for me.   This has gone far enough."
                "Is something wrong?"
                "Katie, I want you to come home with me right now."
                "Ordinarily, I'd be glad to," I said.   "But I have to get home.   William is coming over for dinner tonight.   GM and I have to get everything ready."
                "Your grandmother won't mind if you're just a little late," Charisse said firmly.   "I just need you to see something.   Then I'll drive you right home.   It'll only take a few minutes—I promise."
                I was puzzled.   "You want me to see something?   What is it?   Can't you just bring it in tomorrow and show me then?"
                Anger flickered in Charisse's eyes.   "I can't bring it in tomorrow.   And I can't tell you what it is—you have to see it to understand.   This is really important to me.   And it's important to you, too."
                I felt a flash of irritation.   "Charisse, tonight is important to me.   I want this dinner to go well.   I want GM and William to like each other."
                Charisse just stared at me steadily.   She continued to look angry, but there was something else there too—was it fear?
                "You're sure it will only take a few minutes?" I asked.
                "I'm positive," Charisse said.
                I sighed.   "Fine."
                The day had grown even colder since the morning, and as I followed Charisse out to the student parking lot, our breath rose up into the air as frosty white vapor.   We got into her car, and I shivered in the car's frigid interior.
                Charisse started the car and pulled out onto the road in silence.
                I glanced over at her as we drove.   There was tension in her hands as she gripped the steering wheel, and her lips were pressed into a grim line.   I felt myself growing concerned for her.   What could be at her house that had her so upset?
                We pulled into her housing development, and she parked the car in a cul-de-sac.   I glanced around—we were several streets over from her house.
                "Why are we parking here?" I asked.   "Is there any reason we can't park at your house?"
                "Leave your stuff here," Charisse said.   "It'll be safe.   I'm just taking my keys."
                She got out of the car, and I followed her.
                "We're going to have to sneak up to my house" Charisse said grimly.   "Just follow me and try to be quiet."
                "Charisse, are you okay?" I asked.   "You're acting really odd."
                "I'm acting odd?" Charisse's lips curled into a mocking semblance of her usual smile.   "You should see what's going on at my house."
                Charisse led me across several streets and then into someone's backyard.   She crouched down against the side of the house and motioned for me to do the same.   We could see into Charisse's yard from our vantage point.
                "Charisse, what are we doing?" I whispered.   "Why don't we just drive up to your house like normal people?"
                "I don't want my mom to know I'm home yet."
                I was