Night World : Huntress Chapter 3

Jez burst through the door and turned immediately into the small(a) library off the front hall. Her uncle was seance there at his desk, surrounded by built-in bookcases. He looked up in surprise.Uncle Bracken, who was my mother? How did my parents die? It all came out in a single kick of snorkel breather. And then Jez wanted to say, Tell me the truth, but instead she heard herself saving wildly, Tellme its not true. Its not possible, is it? Uncle Bracken, Im so scared.Her uncle stared at her for a moment. There was shock and despair in his face. Then he out to(p) his headand shut his eyes. plainly how is it possible? Jez whispered. How am I here? It was hours later. Dawn was tintingthe window. She was sitting on the floor, backagainst a bookcase, where shed collapsed, staringemptily into the distance. You mean, how can a vampire-human halfbreedexist? I dont know. Your parents never knew. They never expected to have children. Uncle Brackenran both hands through his hair, head down. They didnt even realize you could brook as a vampire. Yourfather brought you to me because he was dying and I was the only person he could trust. He knew Iwouldnt turn you over to the darkness World elders.Maybe you should have, Jez whispered. Uncle Bracken went on as if he hadnt heard her. You livedwithout blood then. You looked like a human child. I dont know what made me try to get wind if you couldlearn how to feed. I brought you a rabbit and bit it for you and let you smell the blood. He gave a presentlylaugh of reminiscence. And your little teeth sharpened right up and you knew what to do. That was whenI knew you were a true Redfern.But Im not. Jez heard the words as if someone else was speaking them from a distance. Im not evena Night Person. Im vermin.Uncle Bracken let go of his hair and looked at her. His eyes, normally the same silvery-blue as Jezs,were burning with a pure silver flame. Your mother was a good woman, he said harshly. Your fathergave up everything to be with her. She wasnt vermin. Jez looked away, but she wasnt ashamed. Shewas numb. She felt nothing except a vast emptiness inside her, stretching boundlessly in all directions.And that was good. She never wanted to feel again. Everything shed felt in her life-everything she couldremember-had been a lie.She wasnt a huntress, a predator fulfilling her place in the scheme of things by chasing down her lawfulprey. She was a murderer. She was a monster.I cant stay here anymore, she said.Uncle Bracken winced. Where will you go?I dont know.He let out his breath and spoke slowly and sadly. I have an idea.