The Demon Hunter by Kevin Emerson Page A

The fact that Phlox was even taking the surface streets was new this summer. In the past, she’d have preferred the sewers, except on the coldest, dreariest nights, which she loved to walk in. Now, they used the streets almost everywhere they went.
    Oliver had once asked: Why are we going this way? and Phlox had replied: The fresh air is good for our skin. This was technically true, although the vampires kept their sewer tunnels warm and dry as well. But Oliver had accepted his mother’s lame explanation because he knew the real reason that they weren’t using the tunnels: Phlox was avoiding other vampires, and their judgment. Like what Seth had said. The Nocturnes didn’t just have Oliver, the problem child, anymore. Now they were the problem family.
    â€œSo,” said Phlox, “a new school year.”
    â€œPretty much,” Oliver grunted.
    â€œAre the kids still making fun of you about your human friend?” Oliver felt a stab of frustration, noting how Phlox didn’t use Emalie’s name, even though she obviously knew it. But whatever, at least she wasn’t angry about Emalie anymore, even if, like Sebastian, she didn’t exactly sound happy about her either.
    â€œA little,” Oliver replied.
    â€œAnd have you seen Bane this evening?”
    â€œNot in the twenty minutes since school.”
    Phlox was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again, Oliver understood why she’d wanted him to come along to Harvey’s. “Has he seemed … okay to you lately?”
    That was a funny question. When did Bane ever seem okay? But Oliver could tell that Phlox was worried. He wondered if she suspected Bane’s involvement, or at least presence, at the zoo. “Not really,” Oliver answered honestly. “He’s been more of a jerk than usual.”
    Oliver expected a scolding word in response, but Phlox only sighed. “You’d tell us, wouldn’t you, Ollie, if you knew that he was up to something dangerous? Even if he asked you to keep it to yourself?”
    Oliver almost laughed. “Why would he ever tell me anything?”
    Phlox smiled, yet it didn’t douse the worry in her eyes. “Well, he’s certainly been mute around us.” She left it at that.
    Oliver thought again about the zoo murder. Should he mention something now? But what? He didn’t really know anything about whether Bane had been involved, and the more time went by, the less likely it seemed. And anything he said would lead Phlox back to Bane, and Bane, along with his annoying fists, back to Oliver.
    Besides, they were nearing Harvey’s, and Oliver had his question to ask. It had been on his mind since he’d talked to Seth. “Mom …” He tried to remember back to how Emalie had helped him talk to his dad at Hades’ Well. She’d found the right questions to ask, the right way to ask them. Oliver wished she were here now, but she wasn’t so he just blurted it out: “Why us?”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Phlox replied, though Oliver was pretty sure that she’d heard him.
    â€œWhy us? Like, why do I have to be the prophecy kid? Or why did you and Dad have to be the parents of the prophecy kid? I mean, why not some other family?” Oliver had been going over this in his head all night. The prophecy said that a demonless vampire child would come along, but it didn’t say when, or who. Half-Light had decided to take matters into their own hands and create one. So, why had Phlox and Sebastian been chosen by Half-Light?
    Phlox didn’t answer for a moment. Ahead, a possum lumbered across the street.
    â€œWell,” she said finally, “we applied.”
    â€œApplied?”
    â€œYes.” Phlox spoke slowly, like she was choosing her words carefully. “Half-Light asked for applicants from within their associate and senior staff. Sebastian was just barely high enough up the ladder. The procedure was