Curiosity.

For an unknown reason, Kylie sensed that whatever Holiday had to say, it was going to explain things. And Kylie desperately wanted an explanation.

"Okay," Holiday said, and offered everyone what appeared to be a relax-everything-is-cool kind of a smile. Nevertheless, it was going take more than a smile to convince Kylie.

"What I have to say is going to be a relief to most of you, because deep down you've known that something was ... different. Some of you have known it al your life, some of you have only recently come upon your destiny, but either way, this is probably going to be a shock." Holiday's gaze shifted to Kylie. "You guys are here because you are special. Gifted."

Holiday paused and Kylie waited for someone to ask the question, and when no one did, she blurted it out. "Define special."

"We've al read about the supernaturals, thing of legends, and from childhood, we're taught that they don't exist. The truth is that they do exist. Not everyone in the world is alike. And some of us are a lot more different than others. Some of us were born like this, some of us were changed. But no matter how this happened to you, if you are here it is because this is your destiny. It was chosen for you."

"Wait a minute," Kylie said before she could stop herself. "What are ... I mean, are you saying that ... that things like ... like-"

"Vampires exist?" Pierced Guy asked. "Oh, shit. I knew I wasn't crazy. That's why I got real y sick."

Kylie had to swal ow to keep from laughing. She'd been about to say things like angels, but this was ... it was stupid. The boy had obviously done too many drugs. Everyone knew that ... that vampires and crap like that didn't exist.

She waited for Holiday to correct the guy. And then waited some more. During that second delay, Kylie remembered how cold Pale Girl's touch had been. She remembered Blond Boy's ever changing eye color, she remembered Miranda's disappearing toad. No. She refused to let herself start to ...

"That's right, Jonathon," Holiday said. "They exist. And yes, you were turned last week."

"I knew they weren't just dreams," said the other girl. "The wolf I dreamed of. It was real."

Holiday nodded.

"No." Kylie held up her hand and shook her head so hard that blond hair brushed back and forth across her face. "I'm not going to believe this."

Holiday met Kylie's gaze. "I'm not surprised that it's you, Kylie, who finds this the hardest to believe."

"What am I?" blurted out the other sandy-haired girl.

What am I? The girl's question vibrated in Kylie's head. Not that she had the least bit of desire to ask it herself. She didn't believe in this crap. I do not believe.

Holiday smiled at the girl and gave her a soft accepting look. "Your birth mother was fairy. You have healing gifts. And I know you have suspected this."

The girl's eyes widened with what appeared to be relief. "I healed my little sister, didn't I? My parents thought I was crazy," she said. "But I knew I'd done it. I felt it when it happened."

Holiday gazed at her with sympathy. "That is sometimes the hardest part of this. Knowing what we know and not being able to share it with others. But very few ordinary humans can accept us for who we are. This is part of the reason you are here-to learn how to deal with your gifts and how to live in a normal world."

Kylie's mind raced. She recal ed the strange things that had been happening-the return of her night terrors and ... Soldier Dude, the stalker that only Kylie seemed able to see. Panic started to unravel her logic. She closed her eyes and desperately tried to wake herself up. It had to be a dream.

"Kylie?" Holiday's voice had her opening her eyes. "I know this is hard for you to accept."

"It isn't just hard. It's impossible. I don't believe-"

"But you are scared to ask, aren't you? Scared to ask the reasons you are here, because deep down, you know you belong here."

I know that neither my mom or dad want me. That's why I'm here. "I shouldn't be here," Kylie snapped. "I haven't been having dreams of wolves. I have night terrors. I'm hardly able to remember my dreams. I haven't been bitten by a bat, and I haven't healed anyone."

"Vampires and werewolves are not the only supernaturals that exist." Holiday paused and then pressed her palms together in front of her. "What do you want, Kylie? Proof?"

Chapter Seven

"Yeah, proof would be good," Kylie said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. "But now you are going to tel me that you can't give me that, right? You're going to tel me some little speech about how I have to believe in it anyway, right?"

"No, actual y, I planned on giving you the proof." Holiday's voice held an odd kind of calm that made Kylie take a deep breath. It also scared the bejeebies out of her. What if Holiday was tel ing the truth? What if ... Kylie recal ed how cold the pale girl was on the bus. No way. She was not going to believe in this. Vampires and werewolves existed in fiction, not in real life.

The woman pul ed a cel phone from her jeans and made a cal . "Can you send Perry into the office classroom? Thanks."

She placed the cel back in her pocket. "Now, al of you are welcome to stay and see this. Or if you'd like to go on out, each of you have a mentor waiting out front. They are here to answer your questions."