Tempest (#1 Destroyers Series) by Holly Hook Page B

her
life.
    “Fine.” Her voice sounded like she’d
swallowed some helium. Calm, stay calm . Now to find
something normal to say. “I got a lot of homework to do ahead of
time.”
    “Did you and Serena get to go to the beach
today?” He opened the cupboard and shoved a can of green beans in
between two cans of peas. His tone gave away his suspicion.
    “No. We were at her house doing homework.”
Janelle shuddered. Thank God he was facing away from her. He was
trying to prod to see what she knew, so it was best to sound
stupid. She forced her way to the fridge and poured herself a glass
of orange juice, then made herself to take a seat at the table. The
air had grown thick. Heavy. She couldn’t breathe.
    Her dad took a seat opposite her and adjusted
his watch. “You’re awfully quiet.”
    “I don’t feel very good today. I didn’t sleep
too well last night.” And I just found out you want me to turn
into a hurricane and kill a bunch of people. That’ll do it,
too.
    “Well, maybe you should go to bed early. I
want you well rested for the trip.” Her father shot her a smile.
Didn’t he understand what he wanted to make her do? “Our flight
leaves Monday morning and we’ll spend our first day sightseeing
around the islands. Tuesday we’ll go shopping. Wednesday we do the
scuba diving lesson. You’re in for a surprise that day.”
    Janelle choked on the orange juice, nearly
spitting it out onto the table. Now she’d blown it. “Surprise? What
surprise?”
    If her father knew anything, he sure didn't
show it. “Well, it wouldn’t exactly be one if I told you.” He
stared at her with his gray eyes, almost prodding, and for one
sickening moment Janelle imagined the center of Hurricane Lucas
swirling inside them.
    Category 3 storm.
    Janelle pulled her mouth into a smile, the
hardest thing she had ever done. “I can’t wait.”
    5 billion dollars worth of damage.
    Her dad opened up one of his computer
magazines. Conversation over.
    Killed 13 people.
    Janelle crept over to the sink and dumped out
the rest of her orange juice, holding back tears. Her stomach
churned like she might throw up. “I’m going to lie down. My head’s
pounding.” That part wasn’t a lie.
    “Sure thing. I’ll be in the study playing
online in a little while.”
    Janelle made her way down the hallway and to
her room, leaving behind the father she thought she knew. She
closed the door behind her as a cry of revulsion escaped her
throat. No matter where she went in the house, she had a killer to
run into. But at least Gary wanted to help her escape becoming one
herself.
    “So…how are we getting out of here?” Gary’s
voice floated out from the crack under the closet door.
    “Well, I can’t leave right now. But I’ve got
him fooled. He thinks I’m looking forward to the trip. We should
make a run for it after dinner. That’s when he’s in his study. I’m
going to be the first to break this stupid law.”
    Gary didn’t speak for almost a full minute.
Then he spoke, his eyes soft and determined at the same time. “I'll
help you, Janelle. Nobody’s done it before to my knowledge, since
the Elder Council makes sure of that, but you might have a chance
since they don't seem to know your address. They’re the ones who
put our names on that list, by the way. They’re obsessed with the
Natural Law.”
    “And what’s that?” It was best to know as
much as possible before setting out. A pang gripped her stomach as
the thought hit her. She was leaving, at least for now. There were
no other choices.
    “They say that Tempests were made by a
storm god and that he gave us these rules we had to follow a long
time ago. And they suck. Thanks to them I was forced to change.” A
groan crept into his voice. “I think that whole story was made up
to keep Tempests in line, but do you want to hear the legend? My
mom told it to me before I got taken away.”
    Taken away? Had Andrina actually kidnapped
Gary? She almost asked him, but