Synthetic: Dark Beginning by Shonna Wright

perfect moment she’d imagined a thousand times over in another life. “You can put me down now.”
    “You look like you're sick. How the hell did you do that?”
    “I guess that's what happens when assholes tackle me.”
    “So you did it on purpose?”
    Kora hesitated.  “You're the first asshole I've encountered so I don't know—must have been adrenalin.”
    “I just wanted to talk.”
    Kora struggled out of his arms and onto her feet. “You could have said so.”
    “And would you have listened?”
    She stumbled and he caught her arm. “Probably not.  I've never had that sort of speed before.”
    “I inspired you.”
    “Frightened me is more like it.” She jerked her arm away from him and sat on a nearby rock.
    Vaughn crouched down beside her. “Any broken bones?”
    “I’m fine. What do you want?”
    “You’re the one who was following me. I should be asking you that question. Dr. Kimura wasn’t kidding when she said you’d have blue hair.”
    Kora spun the name Kimura through her brain until it stopped on a Mirafield scientist who’d requested to visit her several times over the years.  Kora didn't mingle with fans, but Dr. Kimura was fairly accomplished before she retired.  Not a total idiot like most of the scientists at Mirafield.  “You’ve spoken with her?”
    “Just yesterday, strangely. Should we consider ourselves lucky that you’re here of all places?”
    “I’m working on a project for Ruby.”
    “Then I guess the answer is no, we shouldn’t be happy you’re here.” He collapsed onto the ground across from Kora and she did her best not to look at him. “Dr. Kimura said that you built me. Is that true?”
    He chewed on a piece of grass as he drilled his eyes into her. Kora struggled to remain calm but his presence unsettled her.  “I think so. Gus found some notes about you and they were in my writing. That’s why I’m here.”
    “Checking me out.”
    “I wouldn’t put it that way.”
    “That’s what it looks like to me.” Unlike her, Vaughn was enjoying himself. “So you don’t remember me?”
    “My memory starts when I woke up at Mirafield ten years ago. I suffered amnesia.”
    He digested this in silence, his eyes never leaving her face. “So what are you doing for Ruby this time?”
    Kora shrugged. It was no use beating around the bush. “I’m building her a synthetic vessel.”
    “What a romantic way to put it—a vessel.  I like that.  It’s another vampire, isn’t it?”
    She wanted to think of something clever and sarcastic to say back to him, but ended up just nodding her head.
    “From the look on your face, I’d say you’re not into this plan?”
    “It’s a total nightmare.”
    Vaughn laughed.  “I think it’s kind of sweet, you coming back here every ten years to add another member to the coven. I haven’t even introduced myself.  I’m Vaughn.” He held out a hand with long fingers. Kora pulled her own hand out of her pocket and moved it through the air until it hovered before his. He took it gently and a knowing smile spread across his face. “You were watching me from up on the hill, weren’t you?”
    “You knew I was there—I heard what you said to that little girl.”
    “Did you like what you saw?”
    She knew he was referring to how she’d spied on him and Berta, but she wasn’t going to let him intimidate her.  She tried to pull her hand away but he held onto it.  “Not really. I don’t like watching people get tortured and punched.”
    He let go of her hand. “That was just Joshua. Everyone beats on him and most of the time he deserves it.”
    “No one deserves to be choked and hit.”
    “He’s a worthless asshole who does nothing around here but make a nuisance of himself.”
    “And who are you to decide worth? Maybe Joshua is worth more than you.”
    All the blood drained from Vaughn’s face. “It's because he's human and I'm not, isn't it?”
    That had a lot to do with it, of course, but Kora wasn't about