Finding Midnight Read Free Page A

saw no further movement. She wrote it off
as new place jitters and the breeze that was picking up
outside.
    After she ate and cleaned up, she grabbed a
blanket off the back of the sofa and settled in with a book. The
candles flickered as air leaked from the old tin flue. The silence
was amazing and even a little scary. After spending all her life in
an orphanage, silence was something she could never get enough of.
Now it was almost too quiet. It had been a long day with
graduation, work, moving into a new home, and finding her best
friend was dating a vampire, so not long after starting her book
she found her eyes heavy and her new pillow calling.
    A double-sized bed seemed enormous compared
to a lifetime in a twin bed and she enjoyed spreading out. She was
painfully aware of every noise and shadow that as the wind made the
trees sway and moan, but sleep won out in the end.
    *****
    The next morning, Summer found a note on the
dogmobile.
     
    Ms. Raine,
    I would appreciate if you would not park
your atrocity of an auto in front of the manor gate. If you must
drive it, then please park at the side gate, out of sight. The side
gate can be found off the small dirt road to the right of the
property. If you must have visitors, please see to it they too park
at the side gate. I would rather not see or hear any such
things.
    I also expect you will be starting on my
garden immediately, since it is part of the agreement. Please stay
to your side of the property. I don’t want you snooping in my
business.
    Regards,
    Ms. M. Midnight
     
    What a lovely welcome to my new home ,
Summer thought as she chuckled. She climbed into the SUV and headed
for work.
    As usual, Summer and Tori walked to the park
on the corner for lunch.
    “So how was your date with the vampire?”
Summer asked.
    “Perfect,” Tori purred. “The more I learn
about him, the more I find him incredibly intriguing.”
    “Of course it doesn’t hurt that you’ve been
in love with vampires since you were five,” Summer interjected.
    “Yeah. That helps.” Tori giggled. “It’s not
like the movies at all, no coffins, no capes, no garlic. I mean he
was born just like you and me. Who knew? It’s nothing like I
expected.”
    “Why? Are you disappointed he doesn’t want
to bite your neck?” Summer said in a very bad Transylvanian
accent.
    “Ha ha! Very funny. It’s just different. So
how was your first night at the manor?”
    “Good,” Summer said without much
enthusiasm.
    “Good? Not fabulous, amazing or
wonderful?”
    “No. Just good.”
    “Did something happen?”
    “No. I mean, well, no. I just had a weird
dream…I guess it was a dream.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I thought I saw a shadow walk by the
bedroom window a couple of times, but I’m not sure. I think it was
just a dream or something.”
    “Hmm,” Tori said, rather worried.
    “I know that ‘Hmm.’ That’s your
worried/distrusting ‘Hmm.’”
    “It’s just when Nick picked me up yesterday
he was acting very odd.”
    “Odd for a vampire? How would you know?”
    “You’re hysterically funny today,” Tori
said. Summer giggled. “But seriously, he asked me a bunch of
questions about the manor and old Lady Midnight and he seemed
concerned.”
    “What did he say?” Summer asked.
    “He asked if you knew any ‘old souls.’”
    “‘Old souls?’ Did you tell him I am now
neighbor to about a hundred old souls in my very own
graveyard?”
    “He didn’t think he was sensing the dead. In
fact he wasn’t sure what it was and he said he had never sensed
anything like it.”
    “Does he often get these ‘senses’?” Summer
joked.
    “No, I mean, he can tell when another
vampire is near, but he really seemed concerned for your
well-being,” Tori said.
    “Well, now that is something, but I’m sure I
will be fine. Maybe he’s just sensing Ms. Midnight. She left me a
lovely note on the car this morning.” Summer reached in her pocket
and handed Tori the note.
    “What