The Taste of Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Pomp and Circumstance,” the music played at every graduation. And to hear your name called, and walk up to receive your diploma.
    Destiny smiled and waved the diploma at her dad. She could see him wave back to her from the fourth row.
    Kind of exciting.
    But then the kids in her class settled into their folding chairs, sweating under their robes, shifting the caps on their heads. And the balding, scratchy-voiced speaker in his tight-fitting gray suit—an assistant mayor, she thought—began to speak.
    â€œâ€¦The future isn’t only a promise, it’s a responsibility. How will you find your role in the future? By looking to the past. Because the past is where our future springs from…”
    Yawn.
    As he rambled on, his voice faded from Destiny’s ears. And she felt the sadness rise over her, like a powerful ocean wave.
    There should be an empty seat next to me, she thought. A chair for Livvy. Livvy would have been here with me this morning, and we would have been so happy.
    Destiny gazed down the rows of blue-robed kids. And there should be a chair for Ross. Destiny felt a flash of anger. Yes, I had a crush on Ross—and Livvy knew it. And she took him away…where no one will ever see him again. So selfish…so stupid and selfish…
    There should be a chair here for Ross. He should begraduating today. And there should be two more empty chairs, Destiny thought. Chairs for our friends, Courtney and Bree, both murdered by vampires.
    Four empty chairs. Four kids who will not graduate this morning.
    The sadness was overwhelming. Destiny felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. She turned her head away. She didn’t want her father to see.
    Poor Dad. He must be thinking the same things, she told herself. Somehow he’s managing to keep it together. I have to try hard to keep it together too. She glanced down at the red leather cover on her diploma and saw that it was stained by her tears.
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    Loud cheers startled Destiny from her thoughts. All around her, kids leaped up and tossed their caps in the air. Blinking away her sadness, Destiny climbed to her feet and tossed her cap too.
    The ceremony had ended. I’m a high school graduate, she thought. I’ve spent twelve years with most of these kids. And now we’re all going to scatter and start new lives.
    New lives…
    She couldn’t stop thinking about Livvy. No way to shut her out of her mind, even for a few minutes.
    â€œReturn your robes to the gym, people,” Mr. Farrow, the principal, boomed over the loudspeaker. “Don’t forget to return your robes to the gym.”
    All around her, kids were hugging, laughing, talking excitedly. Some jumped off the stage and ran up the auditorium aisles to meet their parents.
    She waved to Ari, hurried to return her robe, then found her dad outside in front of the school talking to some other parents.
    It was a warm June morning, the sun already high in a clear blue sky. Yellow lilies circling the flagpole waved gently in a warm breeze. Families filled the front lawn of the school, snapping photos, chatting, and laughing.
    Dr. Weller turned when he saw Destiny and wrapped her in a big hug. “Congratulations,” he said. She saw the tears in his eyes. She hugged him again.
    â€œWe have to make this a happy day,” he said. “We really have to try, don’t we?”
    Destiny nodded. Her chin trembled. She fought off the urge to cry.
    â€œI have to get to my office,” Dr. Weller said. “But I’ll take you and Mikey out for dinner tonight—our own private celebration. Good?”
    â€œGood,” she replied. She saw Ari and Ana-Li come out of the building.
    â€œIf Ari would like to come with us tonight…” her dad started. He had grown used to seeing Ari around the house at all hours. The two of them got along pretty well.
    â€œI think he’s going out with his family,” Destiny said.
    Dr. Weller