Chapter One

I'm sitting in the park reading Blood and Chocolate. It has been my distraction for the past few hours as I wait for my best friend Halli to get out of class. My phone buzzes as I stand up. It's a text from Halli. *wat r u up 2?* I smile and walk to my car. *nothin' just reading my book.* I open the door and sit in the warm driver's seat. *wanna go for lunch before someone is stuck in the sun…again… and needs help* I giggle. *sure. Where to first?* *ill meet you…at…Starbucks… lol … call me* I smile and get in the car the rest of the way. I start up my Porsche Cayman S and put on the headset that has dialed Halli.

"It's Halli, talk to me." Boredom seeps through every word. I laugh a little.

"Love the greeting. What do you have planned this time?"

"Getting coffee… it's amazing." She laughs. I go along with her.

"What else do you have in mind?" I am in the parking lot. The park I was sitting at wasn't too far away.

"Well, later I have to go pick up the new Dark-Hunter that Ash is shipping in for Mardi gras."

"Really? Sounds like fun." I say sarcastically.

"Wanna come?" She bites back. I watch her flip into the parking lot. I sigh.

"I asked for that one. Sure. I'll tag along." I hang up and get out of my car.

"Yo Sara!" I hear Halli shout behind me.

"Hi Halli!" I wave to her. She waves back and walks over.

"So, Nick and I went out last night."

"So?" I raise an eyebrow expectantly at her, smiling. She laughs.

"We didn't do anything. He is like a brother!" She shakes her head at me. "Let's go get caffeine."

"Suuure he is." I tease.

"He is…" She turns a bright red which is a dead giveaway.

"Then why are you bright red when you are just friends?" I use air quotes. Halli is still bright red when she orders her coffee.

She turns to me, "We are!"

I order my coffee. "I see a bunch of BS if you ask me."

"You know nothing." She glowers.

"If it makes you happy." I pay for both coffees.

"I have to get Otto's truck. I'll see you later. Find out when that chopper lands!" She takes her coffee and runs out the door to avoid more. Great, she is taking my boyfriend's vehicles. I get into my car and head home. I feel slight agitation as I call Mike, our helicopter pilot.

"Yo?"

"Where are you?" My voice is slightly icy.

"Oh. It's Sara." He laughs. "Love you too, babe. Thanks for letting me know it was you." His voice is dripping with sarcasm.

"I love it when you guess which one of your girls it is…" There's more ice and deeper annoyance.

"I'm about fifteen minutes out. Who is picking him up?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Just get him to point B."

"Oh yes I do. Just tell me Sara."

"Who do you think?" I wish I owned a 'duh' stamp.

"If you're calling then Halli forgot again."

"There you go. It appears that you will be meeting both of us there. I'll see you when you land. Later" I hang up on him. I'm more irritated than I started. I pull into our driveway. I see Halli in the truck. I park, bail out of my vehicle, and jump into the truck as she starts it up and heads out.

"Eta?" She watches me buckle up.

"Fifteen minutes."

"Let's go."

Somewhere in New Orleans…

Ash is walking down the street with Talon.

"So who are these two new squires?" Talon sounds very business-like.

"They are inseparable. Halli you've probably heard about. Sara is the newest one in town. She's quite the smart ass and mischievous. If you don't piss her off, you'll keep your limbs."

"Halli is pretty insane. She blew up a building for bad service." Talon seems surprised.

"Sara is very calm about her anger until the end. I hope you don't experience it for yourself…" Talon shakes his head.