The Night House by Rachel Tafoya Page A

And I’m willing to bet that she’s waiting for a reason to stop.”
    Like I was waiting for a reason to stop . She doesn’t have to say it.
    “It’s not that crazy,” Shiloh adds in a quiet voice. “Just knowing someone cares can be enough to stop a person from doing something stupid.”
    Ally’s eyes burn into me. I turn to her and slowly reach for her arm. “Ally, I appreciate your concern, but…I just don’t know if I can. You have to understand that I have limits.”
    Her lips thin. “Don’t talk down to me; I’m not a kid anymore.” Her gaze softens. “Sorry, it’s just…I wouldn’t push you if I didn’t think you could do it. This girl sounds like…I don’t know, like what you’ve been waiting for.”
    I don’t know if it’s because of Ally’s determined stare, or the pity I feel for this girl in my head, or the fact that I’ve always wanted to know why I have this power, but I make a decision.
    “I need to sleep,” I say.
    Both of their moods drop like stones. It feels like I’m sinking. They think I’ve given up.
    “I’m too tired to go out and find her now,” I finish.
    They both sigh happily. Shiloh punches my arm. “I knew you had it in you.”
    Ally takes Shiloh’s elbow as they leave, his heart racing at her touch. Ally’s heart is racing too, for different reasons. She believes in me.
    Slowly, I crawl into my bed and stare at my arms. The scars are almost nonexistent, and I trace one of the pale lines down my wrist.
    That was a long time ago, but I remember it so well. The whole time I was bouncing around foster care, I just thought about how my biological parents would have dealt with my scars and me. Would have they have understood? Did they feel this power in me as a baby? Were they repulsed? Or scared?
    With this girl in my head, all my scars feel fresher than ever. I don’t know how she ended up this way, but I know one thing for sure: No matter how infinitesimal it is, there is a chance that I could help her.
    I’ve felt her pain before.

Bianca
     
    The hive is already buzzing when I wake up. I fumble my way into the tiny little kitchen we all share. Some of the girls hustle right by me like I’m not there. Others bump into me, staring coldly.
    Citrus stings my dry hands as I peel an orange. Most of the girls are indifferent toward me, but some of them don’t particularly like me. Everyone else is here to make money, but I couldn’t care less about that. It makes them think I don’t deserve to be here. Not to mention I’ve stolen a client or two from some of them.
    The ice water gives me goosebumps as I fill up a glass to take to my room. A container of pills—vitamins mostly—awaits me. Iron supplements are very important in this line of work, but sometimes I forget, like last night. Then I take a shower in one of the two bathrooms we all share. I wish I could make the water piping hot, but if I do that, I could pass out. Blood loss plus a long nap and a hot shower equals blackouts in the water. Still, it feels good in here.
    When I’m dressed, I knock lightly on Alex’s door.
    “Come in,” she calls. I open it to find her hiking up her thigh-highs.
    “Help your sister out,” she says. I rush over and clip her tights to her garter belt. Then she stands up with her hands on her hips. “I need new underwear. Seriously.”
    “Finn couldn’t care less what’s under the dress,” I say, climbing onto her bed.
    “Clever Bee. I have William coming in an hour. I never know what to wear for him.”
    “He’s the fighter, right?”
    She nods. “He thinks he’s hot stuff just because he can beat up other vampires. I mean, he is gorgeous, but he’s also kind of clueless. He wants to be treated the way human athletes are. It’s like, ‘sorry I didn’t catch your fight on TV, but humans don’t know about vampires. Also, you think animal prints are cool.’ ”
    I can’t help but laugh. “The longer they’re alive, the less they understand about