In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete First Season: Episodes 1-5 Read Online Free PDF Page A

Well, hello to you too, Snow Pea,” Alisha said with a forced smile. “You have to sit in the front today, so put on your hat. As you can see, the back is occupied.”
    Vanora rolled her eyes, climbed in, pulled on her seatbelt, and hugged her sister. Alisha gave her a kiss on the cheek before shoving a wide brimmed hat onto Vanora’s head and tilting the brim down.
    Vanora twisted in her seat and stared into the backseat, which was overflowing with deep, red velvety roses. Their sweet perfume filled the car to the point of being overwhelming. “These are for the vampire, aren’t they?”
    Alisha concentrated on maneuvering past the few remaining buses parked on the curved drive and directed her car toward the iron gates. “We’ll talk about it later.”
    “I may be a kid, but I’m not stupid. These are for the vampires, right?”
    Her older sister sighed, rubbed her nose, and didn’t answer.
    “I saw it myself. I know that it is real, Alisha,” Vanora said sullenly. “All day I have been trying to forget, but I can’t.  I’m really afraid, Alisha.”
    “ Snow Pea, we need to be calm,” Alisha said in a soft, firm voice. She took Vanora’s hand firmly in one of her own. “All day I keep thinking that this can’t be real. That it’s not happening.”
    “ You saw it too, Alisha!” Vanora wailed. “You did!”
    “ I’m not denying that, Snow Pea, we both saw that thing, and yes, the roses are to protect us. I also bought several crosses. You can sleep in my room if you’d like tonight. In fact, I would prefer it.”
    Vanora stared at her sister with large, fearful eyes. “I don’t want to be alone in my room.”
    Alisha turned out of the drive and rubbed her brow wearily. “We are going to put the roses in my room and hang the crosses in the window and on the door knobs, but when we get home, I’m going to try to get into the mausoleum and deal with it.”
    “ Are you going to kill it like in the movies?” Vanora asked in a quivering voice, pulling one of her long ivory braids over her shoulder.
    “ I don’t know if I can.” Alisha reached into her purse and pulled out a long, sharpened stake. “I got this at the lumberyard. If I can get into mausoleum, I will try to kill it. I’m not sure if I can go through with it though. I don’t think I can kill anyone.”
    “ I’ll help you, Alisha.”
    “ You’re so sweet, Snow Pea,” Alisha said with a smile. “But I think I have to kill the Vampire because little girls shouldn’t have to hurt anyone. And stop chewing on your hair,” she added pulling the tip of Vanora’s braid from her mouth.
     
    The Socoli sisters ran across the large sprawling lawn down to the mausoleum nestled in a circle of oak trees. The long, leafy boughs hovered over the tomb, casting dark shadows that danced over the white surface. Even in the bright afternoon sun, the atmosphere was menacing.
    As Alisha approached the imposing Gothic building, she slowed and took several deep breaths.  Maybe it was her sister’s youth, but Vanora seemed far less afraid than Alisha. The little girl’s fingers clutched the brim of her hat tightly while she stared at the grim building with an enraptured expression.
    “It’s kinda cool that monsters are real, but I don’t like this monster,” Vanora said matter-of-factly. “Anyway, the sun is out. It can’t hurt us now.”  She patted her sister’s back soothingly. “Don’t be scared.”
    Then why am I so damned scared? Alisha thought. She hugged Vanora tightly. “I’m trying, Snow Pea.”
    The creature knew they were outside the crypt. Alisha was certain of that. The evil emanating from within the mausoleum was so tangible her hair stood on end. A dark, ominous force thrust against her, trying to make her flee. The pressure was so great, she felt as though she was going to collapse. Slightly lightheaded, she laid her hand over her hammering heart.
    “Snow Pea, stay outside.”
    “ I want to help kill it,” Vanora