A Sampler Pack

by Jill Cooper

Chapter One

  Her foot pumped the brake pedal, but still the bus would not be slowed. It would not be stopped. They were on a crash course with death and destruction.

  Natalie’s least favorite D words.

  The tires were long blown out on the yellow school bus. Its rims mulched a groove into the pavement and vibrated against the brake pads. Out of control, it veered left and accelerated until it rode up on its right-side wheels, the left wheels leaving the ground.

  The bus driver was slumped on the floor, and in his place behind the steering wheel, Natalie gritted her teeth. The teenage girl shouted, “Hang on!” Her knuckles gripped the steering wheel, turning the speeding bus wildly to the right.

  Her classmates screamed and jostled in their seats. Apparently, they didn’t appreciate her high-speed tour through the mountains of Meadow’s Creek.

  Why don’t these buses have seat belts anyway? Natalie wondered to herself. There was no time to consider the answer. Just as she rounded the corner, a pedestrian stepped out into the middle of the street.

  Natalie swerved to avoid hitting him and narrowly missed the oncoming traffic. “This is the type of stress that causes wrinkles,” she muttered. Her pulse raced and the palms of her hands were sweaty. The bus jolted as it clipped the sidewalk, nearly ramming into a wooden bench.

  When she’d left her house with café mocha in hand that morning, the last thing on Natalie’s mind was being cast in the “Speed” reboot. She let out a slow breath, beads of sweat clinging to her forehead, and kicked her boot to the brake. Except for a lot of squealing, nothing happened; the bus continued at top speed—right toward the high school.

  Natalie could use a day off from homeroom and bad cafeteria food, but not like this.

  She glanced down at the unconscious bus driver. “I really wish you were doing this.” With a rushed breath, Natalie throttled into neutral and applied the emergency brake.

  Metal squealed against metal, and the steering wheel vibrated in her hands. The vibration traveled up her arms and down her spine like she was at the loudest rock concert in history. When she cranked to the left, the gears gave a high-pitched whine and smoke began to waft through the heat vents. The metal fought against her with everything it had, and Natalie just prayed she’d be strong enough.

  The metal grinding itself into mulch was loud, but the students’ screams were louder. Fearing for their lives, their voices reached a new fevered pitch of wails and sobs. The bus spun, spiraling toward Meadow Creek High.

  Natalie had spent half her high school career training for situations like these, but her stomach still churned, spinning out of control with vertigo. She could barely make sense of her surroundings but heard the bristle of tree branches and felt their twigs scrapping against her cheek. She swatted at them and held her arms up defensively as the bus lurched forward.

  The front bumper caught on a fire hydrant and yanked the bus to an abrupt halt just inches from the school wall. The bus rocked onto two wheels before slamming down onto its final resting place, moaning like a dying t-rex.

  The school was close enough to touch. Outside smelled like freshly cut lawn, but it was just the bus using its rims to till the earth. Natalie Johnson’s landscaping bus, at your service. She lowered her shaking arms from her face and took a deep breath, removing the keys from the ignition for some reason.

  Her eyes trained on the fire hydrant. Everyone knew you weren’t supposed to park next to one of those, especially in a loading zone. I sure hope I’m not getting a ticket for this. As if my day isn’t going bad enough.

  “Everybody okay?” Natalie’s voice was unsteady. The question sounded false to her; of course no one was okay.

  Her classmates since elementary school remained seated. Some were green, others held their hands to their faces like they might puke, while a few clung to each other in terror. Marcy, a girl from homeroom, sobbed into her bundle of magazines repeating, “I’m not ready to die.”

  Natalie stood on jelly legs and faced the group. “Everyone, we’ll be okay—”

  Thump. Thump. She was interrupted by a noise from above.

  She gazed up and saw the roof vibrate from the weight of something heavy above her head. He was still on the roof. Natalie charged off the bus before she even realized she was moving. Her strides were unsteady, like a toddler taking its first steps, but by the time her feet met the grass, she was sprinting after a man wearing a fedora.

  “Arrivederci, my darling Slayer!”

  “Morach!” Natalie charged across the open field. Her lungs expanded, filling with much-needed air, and gave her the boost she needed to charge behind the school in search of the maniacal fiend. They said all heroes needed an arch nemesis, and he was hers. She hadn’t asked to be the chosen one; sometimes it made life difficult, but never boring.

  Morach the Great was in her sights now. He disappeared behind some trees, and Natalie charged ahead, the low branches scratched at her cheek. Her hands swept them away while hidden inside the bush, a low growl warned her off. Natalie backed up with caution, her hand reaching into the lining of her fashionable jacket, searching for her weapon.

  The demon flew out from behind the trees in a menacing airborne attack that was sure to draw attention. It wasn’t Morach, but one of his many pets, released to slow her down so he could make his escape.

  Natalie dodged left and kicked the beast in the stomach just as it was about to land on her. It fell onto its back inside the leafy evergreens.

  “Usually, I’d show off my witty prowess to you, but since it’s almost class time, I’m gonna kill you and get it over with. And contrary to popular belief, pointy sticks can kill just about anything—not just vampires.”

  She lunged, piercing through the beast’s shirt and flesh with her wooden stake. It slid in like a knife into warm butter. With a final push and a guttural grunt, Natalie snapped the demon’s sternum. She yanked the stake free, its tip dripping with black liquid, and backed away to avoid the spray of blood.

  The fact that demons liquefied when you killed them made cleanup easier, but if you got their blood in your cashmere, it was never coming out. Plus, the stench left Natalie wishing she couldn’t smell at all.

  The demon howled, grabbing at its wound. Its feet liquefied into a puddle, but it didn’t stop there. The effect rippled up its body until it was nothing but a pile of mucus jelly. It gave a giant squirt into the air before settling into the grass.

  Footsteps came from behind. Natalie pivoted and greeted who she expected, Mark Glovin, with a bunch of books in the crook of his arm. He wasn’t just her mentor and trainer; he was also her Social Studies teacher.

  “Hey there, kid. I didn’t realize you had a bus pass.” He ripped off a pink slip and handed it to her as they walked toward the school.

  “Detention? Seriously? This is some sort of joke, right? You know what I just did.”

  “Bah!” Mark licked his lips in that way he did before he listed all her mistakes. Natalie hated his lists. “Let’s see.” He pointed straight ahead. “Destroyed a lawn, a windshield, and those kids are going to need therapy until they’re grey and senile. If they live that long. With your generation, it’s certainly not guaranteed.”

  A scream from a teen being helped off the bus diverted her gaze. “I am walking to school from now on. I am walking!”

  Natalie cringed. “All in a day’s work, right?”

  Mark laughed and Natalie knew she was off the hook. “You going to tell me what happened?”

  “Only if you make a formal request in writing.”

  Mark rolled his eyes. “Not that again.”

  “I saw the bus while making a sweep of the city. It was going mega fast.”

  “Mega?” Mark snorted. “I’m glad I’m not your English teacher.”

  “Anyway, turns out guess who hijacked it? So I made a front door through the windshield. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I do have a driver’s permit. And in my defense, fire hydrants make great buffers.” />
  Mark picked a piece of glass out of her hair while he gave a deep laugh. “And Damien? What happened to him?”

  Natalie’s blue eyes fogged over. “Don’t know. What else is new, right?” Damien was her sometimes-kinda-would-be-boyfriend. “If he owned a car, it would make chasing vampires easier. I think someone needs to clue Damien in that it’s no longer 1912.”

  “He’s just worried about his carbon footprint,” Mark stated.

  “And I’m worried my academic life is going to cut into my social life, but I still go to school.”

  “Why do you think Morach wanted a bus full of kids?”

  She stepped back, sizing Mark up. “What’s with the non-linear line of questioning today?”

  “What do you expect when danger strikes before I’ve had my first pot of coffee?”

  “Sorry, next time I’ll tell Morach to reschedule. Whatever he wants, we can be sure it won’t involve bunnies or kittens. Well, except that one time when it did. I’m still having nightmares.” Natalie shuddered at the thought.

  “He said he was taking us for a ride,” put in Josh Duncan, a freshman Natalie recognized from the bus. She knew he was a freshman by using her super deductive reasoning skills—he had a backpack. She remembered when she still used a backpack; that was before things got all ‘You have a destiny to fulfill.’ Now she had a locker and a chest full of pointy weapons.

  “Did he say where?”

  Josh shook his head but changed his mind and nodded. “It made no sense.”

  Natalie crossed her arms. “Try us.”

  “Okay.” Josh shrugged. “He said we were going up to Killington. That something was keeping us trapped here, like a force field. He was going to use the bus to ram it. Crazy, right?”

  Mark looked just as lost as she felt and mumbled, “That would never work unless he attached some steel beams to the front.”

  “He was…” Josh searched for the right words, “…kinda green. And his nose was really pointy. He had some sort of skin condition, or something.”

  “Or something,” Natalie answered. “Thanks, Josh.” She returned her attention to Mark as the freshmen made his way toward the school. “Sounds like this week our big mystery is entitled ‘Force Fields and other titillations by Morach the Great.’”

  The bell rang over the loudspeakers. “And it sounds like you have to get to first period,” Mark said.

  Natalie groaned. First period was science lab, and just thinking of science lab made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. It had been like that since going up against a mad scientist at the beginning of the school year. Her stomach tingled, and deep inside she felt pressure, like a giant cat was rolling beneath her organs and growling. Funny, she didn’t remember eating a lion for breakfast.

  “You don’t need to say it,” Mark said. “I know how fast your metabolism burns through food thanks to your strength abilities.”

  “I don’t think I’m hungry,” she replied as she saw a shadow on the grass just around the corner of the school, almost like it was lurking. Her heart quickened with recognition of its hunky form. “Actually, maybe I am. I’ll catch up with you, Mark,” Natalie said as she patted the lapel of his jacket.

  Mark huffed. “Teenagers,” he sighed.

  When she rounded the corner, she saw him—six feet two inches of dreamy brooding dark warrior-ness that made her skin quiver and her heart leap with manic excitement. And that was just how she thought of him when she wasn’t being dramatic.

  Just seeing him made her relax, even though she hadn’t been aware until now that she was tense. He could draw her attention and gaze no matter where he was in a room, or whatever it was they were doing. Just to be in his presence made left her in awe. She might have been a high school senior, but Damien was so out of her league.

  It didn’t matter though. It seemed that he’d wanted her since the first moment they’d seen each other.

  Damien swaggered over to her like he’d been cast in his own “Underworld” movie. His tanned face was covered in day-old stubble, and he was definitely easy on the eyes. He appeared to only be a few years older than her, but Natalie suspected he was far older, and not just from the wrinkles that creased around his eyes when he laughed.

  With each step he took, her heart quickened. He had a strong jaw, a prominent brow, and he had the most intense eyes she’d ever. He smelled spicy in a very good way, and it made her want to snuggle up to him.

  “Your time was well spent I hear. The bus and students are all safe. Too bad about the lawn.” He chuckled at his own joke, but then his face fell. “What’s the matter?” A soft hand cupped her chin, and it made her heart quiver with desire.

  Still her eyes were haunted and sad. “I just wish you were around when I really needed you. I could have met my maker today. We all could have. And what were you doing?”

  “I wasn’t pricing sofas.”

  He needed a new line Natalie thought. This one was tattered and out of date.

  “Morach’s minions were in this school setting booby traps in the metal shop. For what, I haven’t figured out, but the point is, I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you. When are you going to trust me?”

  Natalie didn’t know the answer to that; she didn’t know why she didn’t trust him. “He’s up to something. Talked about a force field keeping us prisoner here.”

  Damien snorted. “News to me. I just left Meadow’s Creek this morning. I needed to stock up on some grain-free quinoa bagels.”

  Natalie’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “Eww. Still, something about it makes my stomach tingle. And it’s not your blasphemous bagels. I might need your help.”

  “All is forgiven between us then?” Damien asked.

  Natalie felt that he was trying to change the subject, so she let him. “I guess it is handy having a sidekick. Saves me from trying to clone myself.”

  “I am no girl’s sidekick,” Damien scowled.

  Natalie considered that with a toss of her head. “You look like a sidekick. Act like the sidekick. Scream bloody murder like a…”

  “I killed two demons. They were big and very scary, but I never screamed. Never.” His eyes narrowed and his voice was a rumble of thunder.

  “Except for that time last week,” Natalie pointed out with a wave of her finger.

  “That wasn’t a scream. It was more of a yelp.”

  She smirked. “This all proves why I work alone. Sidekicks are just too argumentative.”

  Damien snorted. “You always say that, but we still work together.”

  “Because you’re always stalking me.” Natalie huffed but took his hand in hers.

  He put his hand on her waist and pulled her closer, making her heart quicken into a flurry of punches. “What are you doing?” she asked softly, crossing her wrists behind his neck.

  “Convincing you how well we work together.” Damien spoke in a low growl, and it sent shivers up her spine. His lips were warm and soft as they repeatedly met hers. Natalie couldn’t help but close her eyes and get lost in his tender embrace. His hands gripped her back with urgency, and she ran her hands through his hair, forcing him closer to her.

  Mouths parted, and his breath was hot against her neck, breathing desire into each pound of her heart. She loved him—she did—but most of the time, she still didn’t trust him. Her blue eyes searched his. “Where did you really go?”

  “I would have come to you if I’d known the danger you were in,” he said quickly like he didn’t need to think of an answer. “Will you ever trust me completely?” he asked with real concern in his voice, as if it weighed heavily upon him. Natalie was sorry for that.

  “I trust you as much as I can under the circumstances.”

  “And the circumstances are?” Damien asked as he held her close, keeping his hands on her hips.

  She tilted her head and studied him. His blue eyes were so intense, but she loved getting lost in them. “You’re a half-demon warrior. I never know what side you’re on.”r />
  Damien’s mouth swung open and lines of frustration creased around his eyes. “Yours. Forever.”

  Her eyes gazed past him at the school. Scowling, she broke the embrace and drifted away from Damien. The wall shimmered, almost like a still pool of water under a full moon. It started out with a single glowing pinprick but expanded into a spinning radiant globe. The edges were gold while the center was a deep radiating blue that reminded her of the ocean. Natalie reached her hand out to touch it, and as her fingers grazed the orb, it exploded with thunder.

  The wall faded as if it were being demolished, but there was no debris, no sound, nor cloud of smoke. For a moment, she could see inside into the library, with teenagers scattered about just like the ones she knew, only different. In a blink of an eye, the wall reappeared as if Natalie had imagined it all.

  But she wasn’t imagining the mocking laughter all around them. It was the hushed voice of an old man, raspy from a propensity for too many cigarettes. Sudden pain overtook her. She moaned and grabbed her stomach like she’d been punched. Her breath was suddenly labored, and when she looked up, Damien grabbed her arm.

  “Natalie, what’s the matter?”

  “I think I’m going to need the school nurse. Don’t let her stick me with anything funny.”

  Natalie collapsed onto the ground and heard jeering all around her as the grass and the trees fell away into a pixilated haze.