Silverthorn Read Free Page B

could vanquish them…or potentially massacre a wide swath of concertgoers. But I had practiced my abilities and trusted my skills in tight quarters, so I followed my instincts and didn’t think twice about making a mistake. That notion propelled a current of heat through my chest. It rushed into my shoulders, and raced down my arms. The pressure hit my wrists and built in my hands.
    Just as they reached the stage and grasped the plank of wood we stood on, I raised both hands. Within that second, I once more considered the crowd and if I missed my target. Nevertheless, if I didn’t respond immediately, the vamps would attack, overpower me, and kill me within five seconds.
    I disregarded my fears and focused on the three vamps. I channeled my power, doing my best to call upon the exact amount of force needed to defeat them. A second later, a stream of flames shot out of my palms and slammed into the three vampires, whose panicked, shrill screams were barely heard above the pounding drums, rumbling bass, and the squealing guitar licks erupting from the PA system behind me.
    The vamps stumbled off the stage and plunged to the concrete, the flames skittering up their clothes, lighting them up.
    This time, the crowd backed up, pressing tight against each other to avoid the three vamps who spun around between the stage and the guardrail, ricocheting off each other like the iron balls bouncing around a pinball machine. As one, the concertgoers grew still. Shocked and confused, they looked on in terror, which prevented them from making a sound or even moving.
    The flames ate away at the vamps and sapped their inhuman power as they crawled along the cement for a few moments before their strength gave out.
    When the vamps finally lay still, Brandon pounded the drums one last time at the same moment Nolan hit his last power chord, the sounds of their instruments stretching across the now silent venue. The vamps ruptured into a curtain of dust before the flames incinerated them.
    As the sound in the amps died, the crowd remained quiet for one second, two, three, four seconds…and then one person clapped tentatively as though unsure if he or she had chosen the appropriate response for what that person had witnessed. A moment later, another person clapped. Then a third. And a fourth. Someone whistled. It prompted another to shout his approval. A second later, the entire crowd erupted into applause. They pushed the guardrail toward the stage with excitement, obviously thinking that they had just watched the grand finale of an unexpected and spectacular encore.
    Dozens of people still held their phones overhead, having obviously recorded what just took place, others raised their phones as well and snapped pictures of our band.
    My friends flanked me. While our band stood a few feet above the fans that pushed their way up to the stage, we smiled and waved. I glanced at Kendall, who avoided eye contact with the audience by allowing her bangs to shield her face, not yet comfortable with all the attention: she loved playing live and hearing the fans, just not seeing them watching her. Having suffered tremendous bullying as a teenager, she still felt awkward with so much attention. Brandon revealed a wide grin and lifted his arms, twirling his drumsticks between his fingers before flinging them into the crowd. Finally, Nolan, the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes upon—surveyed the crowd with a slight grin, taking in the moment, revealing that the accolades were only a starting point, since he believed our band had the talent to become global superstars.
    I grabbed the microphone. “Thank you, Chi-Town! We are… Salem’s Curse , and we’ll see you next time!”
    It was our first concert as a band. And based on the crowd’s reaction, it might not be our last. The band knew the audience enjoyed our music, since they cheered during and after every song. But were they more excited about the flurry of activity the vampires brought