Dead Is Not an Option

by Marlene Perez

  She was wearing a skirt and a T-shirt with cut-off sleeves. Today's tee read PLEASE DON'T FEED THE DEMONS.

  "He and Natalie are taking a little vacation," she said. "Manfred's cooking while Slim's gone."

  "When will they be back?"

  The disappointment I felt must have shown, but Flo misunderstood the reason. "Don't worry, they'll be back before your commencement ceremony. And I'm watching Balthazar."

  She pointed in the direction of the jukebox. There he was, curled up against Lil.

  I was beyond disappointed. Graduation was two weeks away, and there's no way I'd be able to break the enchantment without Natalie. Lily and Bam had waited this long. It looked like they'd have to wait a little while longer.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The next couple of weeks were filled with senior finals, awards night, and picking up my cap and gown before the commencement ceremony. Finally, it was the day before graduation and I was kind of at loose ends for a change. Mom shooed me out of the house.

  "Go on," she said. "Your father and I want to cook the food for your graduation dinner."

  "I can help," I said. "Besides, Mom, I already told you that we could just go out to eat."

  "I'd rather cook here," she said. "Every restaurant in town will be packed with graduation parties."

  I couldn't convince her, so instead I reached over and snatched an apple slice.

  Mom smacked my hand. "That's for the pie. Why don't you go find that cute boyfriend of yours?"

  "You're sure I can't help with anything?" I asked.

  "Go ahead," Mom said. "Have some fun with your friends and Ryan before everyone leaves for college."

  Sam was babysitting Katie, and Sean and Ryan were off on some guy bonding thing. I drifted into Slim's and took a seat at the counter next to Flo. Today's tee read the fouR pretty ponies of the apocalypse. So much for a kinder, gentler Flo.

  "Present from Vinnie?" I asked. I gestured to her shirt.

  She grinned. "Nope," she said. "I bought it. One for me and one for him."

  "I like it," I replied.

  "No plans for today?" she asked.

  "Not really," I said. "I feel kind of in limbo."

  "I have something that will cheer you up," she said. She hopped down off the stool. "I'll be right back."

  While I waited for Flo to come back, I went to say hi to Lil. I fished for some change and deposited it into the machine.

  "I've had a lot going on lately, Lil," I said. "But I haven't forgotten you. We found your engagement ring! Hopefully now the spell will work."

  Her response was to play "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" by the Animals.

  "I promise," I said. "Besides, I'm staying right here in Nightshade. Even if Circe won't cooperate, I'll find a way to free you. Balthazar too."

  Flo came back holding an envelope, which she presented to me with a flourish. "It's from Slim and me. Your graduation present."

  "You didn't have to!" I said. "Thank you."

  The melancholy strains of Chris Isaak's "Graduation Day" floated through the air.

  "We wanted to," she said. "And besides, you don't even know what it is. So open it already."

  I ran my finger along the flap and opened the envelope. Inside was a handmade card and a check. The amount made my eyes bug.

  "Flo, I can't take this," I said. "It's too much."

  "Daisy, we appreciate everything you've done. Honestly, we wish it was more," Flo said. "Slim mentioned he hoped you'll consider taking a cordon bleu—level cooking course somewhere. Either this summer or after you finish college."

  "The new chef at Wilder's said he was starting a cordon bleu class this summer," I told her. "Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug.

  Flo squirmed away, but she had a big grin on her face. Her tattoos swirled and danced, like they were pulsating with happiness.

  "Disgusting," I heard someone snort.

  I'd heard that voice before, but I couldn't place it. I whipped my head around, but I couldn't tell who'd spoken.

  There was one stranger in the restaurant though. She sat at the counter with an untouched cup of black coffee in front of her. She wore a wide scarf that covered her hair, enormous round sunglasses, and a white trench coat that covered most of her body. She looked like a celebrity who was trying to go incognito and failing. I was certain it was the same woman I'd seen with Sam's dad.

  "We've had a lot of out-of-towners in the diner lately," I commented.

  "It's been great for business," Flo said. "But there have been a few unusual customers."

  It was like we'd been overrun by the CIA or something. Lots of women and men in dark suits and sunglasses, who sat in the corner and carried on low-voiced conversations, which they halted whenever someone approached them.

  "Maybe they're paparazzi," I suggested. "After all, Circe is back in town."

  She laughed. "Maybe."

  I went back home to rearrange my cap and gown and to try on Grandma's graduation dress one more time.

  Graduation day finally arrived.

  The graduation ceremony was scheduled for indoors, in the gym at sundown, to allow the more nocturnal citizens to attend. We gathered in the drama room to don caps and gowns over our dressy attire. I wore Grandma's white dress with the daisies under my crimson robe but picked practical flats for my feet.

  Despite the anticipation, our graduation went smoothly. I spotted Sam's father sitting a few rows ahead of my family. He was with the mystery woman I'd seen in the diner earlier.

  As if she felt me staring at her, the woman turned around. I could sense her stare even through those dark sunglasses. Normally I didn't invade the thoughts of total strangers, but something about her bugged me, so I did a little fishing.

  I'd just found her in the sea of thoughts when I very distinctly heard Oh no you don't, right before a blank wall slammed down and concealed her mind from mine. Startled, I turned my attention back to the ceremony. I'd been so busy trying to figure out who the woman was that I missed most of the valedictorian's speech. I was thrilled to see Lilah up there and tuned in just in time to hear her closing statement.

  "To quote the great Dr. Seuss, 'The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.'"

  The audience laughed, and then when Lilah saw a few parents wiping away tears she said, "There's one more quote from the doctor that I'll leave you with. 'Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.'"

  Lilah received a standing ovation, and then it was finally time to get our diplomas. Mr. Amador called our names alphabetically, which meant Sam's name was called before mine. She received her diploma with her usual grace and gave the audience an impish smile as she turned her cap's tassel to the other side.

  I, on the other hand, was my usual less-than-graceful self and nearly tripped going up on the stage.

  I looked out into the audience and saw the faces of my family. Mom beamed proudly, and Dad made his best effort not to look sad and nearly blinded me with his hundred-watt smile. Nicholas and Rose clapped loudly, and I caught Poppy wiping away a tear when she didn't think anyone was looking. Grandma Giordano let out a piercing whistle as I shook hands with Principal Amador.

  It was dark when the graduating class trooped outside for the traditional cap toss. I threw mine up in the air with a sense of accomplishment. I'd made it through high school. College would be a cinch after the things I'd been through. If I ever made it in, that is.

  A bunch of people were invited back to our house for dinner. I'd invited Sean and Samantha, but her dad was taking Sean and his whole family to Chanticlair's, which was a very expensive restaurant in San Carlos.

  Mom and Dad had made antipasto, cioppino, and fresh crusty bread.

  "This looks delicious," Mr. Bone said.

  Nicholas and Rose held hands under the table.

  Liam and Poppy sat on opposite sides of the table, but he watched her with a goofy smile
on his face

  "Liam, how were finals?" I asked him.

  He looked surprised that I had initiated a conversation with him, but answered politely. "Grueling," he said. "But Poppy made sure I put in enough study time."

  I'd finally confessed to my parents about my lack of admittance, so it was a relief not to have to hide that I was pretty much a question mark until the UC Nightshade Admissions Office finally sent me a letter.

  "I wonder how many other students are biting their nails?" Dad said as we sat around the table.

  "Plenty," Chief Mendez said grimly. "There are at least a thousand students who haven't had their admittance to UC Nightshade finalized."

  "Do they have any clues about who hacked the computer system?" Dad asked.

  "They think it was someone who works there," Chief Mendez said.

  "I have a mind to call and give someone a piece of my mind," Grandma said.

  "It's okay," I said. "Something will work out. The new chef at Wilder's is starting up a cordon bleu program. Maybe I'll try that."

  "I'll pay for new copper pots," Grandma said.

  After we ate dinner, Dad said, "And now for the grand finale." He disappeared into the kitchen and came back wheeling a dessert cart with an enormous three-tiered cake. Frosting daisies cascaded down the sides, and congratulations, daisy! was written in yellow on the top.

  "That's why you guys shooed me out of the house," I said. "You two were baking my cake."

  "It looks lovely, Mrs. Giordano," Liam said.

  "Each layer is a different flavor," Mom said. "Let's cut into it."

  Ryan and I took our cake and wandered out to the front porch. We sat in the swing and fed each other bites of cake. The perfect ending to a delicious dinner.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The next night was Grad Night, which was held at the Black Opal, an all-ages club in Santa Cruz. Half of Nightshade was going to be there. This year's event was supposed to be more spectacular than any in previous years.

  We were lucky that the vampires and shifters had finally realized that neither side was responsible for the horrific death and attacks of the past few months. The arrest of the woman known as Trinity St. Claire did much to soothe the paranormal population.

  Ryan picked me up early.

  "Are you ready?" he asked.

  "Yep," I said. "But I'm not sure if I can stay up all night."

  He laughed. "We'll have to see about that."

  "I hope they're serving coffee," I commented.

  "They are," he said. "And beignets."

  Grad Night had a New Orleans theme, and I was looking forward to some authentic Creole food. Slim was catering the event, and he'd been doing menu test runs at the café.

  The other thing I liked is that I didn't have to dress up for the event. I was wearing my most comfortable pair of jeans, a cute top, and high-tops. At the last minute, I added the locket that Ryan had given me for my seventeenth birthday.

  Ryan wore jeans, a dark green T-shirt, and sneakers.

  "Are Sam and Sean riding with us?" he asked.

  "They're meeting us there," I replied. "Sam had a last-minute wardrobe change to deal with."

  The Black Opal had been transformed into New Orleans at Mardi Gras—that was clear from the full-size Mardi Gras float parked out front. I spotted my father's pink T-bird in the parking lot. It still made me cringe when I saw that car, but it made my father happy, so I couldn't bear to tell him its history.

  My parents were at the front door with armloads of green, gold, and purple beads. My father draped a bunch of beads around my neck and then kissed my cheek. "Congratulations, graduate," he said. His voice wavered a little, but his smile was bright.

  I gave him a hug. "I didn't know you were going to be here tonight."

  He still didn't like to be in large crowds. Or around other people, except for immediate family, which was a result of his confinement at the hands of the Scourge.

  "Are you kidding?" he said. "Nothing could keep me away."

  "Thanks, Dad."

  "We'll see you later," Mom said. "And have fun."

  I grabbed Ryan's hand. "Can you believe this place?" I said.

  "It's pretty cool," he admitted.

  I spotted Samantha and Sean at a table with a bunch of the cheerleaders and their dates.

  "Let's go talk to Sam," I said.

  "You guys see each other all the time," Ryan protested, but with a smile. "When do I get a little alone time?"

  "Later," I promised. I squeezed his hand. I'd find a way for a little alone time, even in a crowd this size. His stomach growled loudly. "We should feed you first," I said.

  Rose and Nicholas were working the buffet. I spied Poppy and Liam and Grandma and the count, but I didn't see Ryan's dad anywhere.

  "I thought your dad was going to be here."

  He shrugged. "He said he had something to take care of. He'll be here."

  "What do you want to try first?" I asked him.

  "I've been thinking about those beignets all day," he said. "Let's eat dessert first."

  "I could use a cup of coffee," I admitted.

  We followed Ryan's nose toward the dessert bar, but before we could get there, Sam spotted us.

  "Daisy!" Sam shrieked when she saw me. She ran over to us.

  "Isn't it great?" she said, gesturing to the awesome spectacle of Grad Night. She wore a new pair of designer jeans and a purple top from the Tête de Mort boutique, along with about eight strings of beads around her neck.

  At the dessert bar, I was shocked to see Circe Silvertongue frying up beignets. I knew she was up and around, but I had no idea she'd be at Grad Night.

  "What is she doing here?" I hissed.

  "I don't know," Ryan said. "Penance?"

  When it was our turn in line, Circe handed me a beignet with a frosty smile. "Daisy."

  "Circe," I said. "I'm not going to turn into a pig if I eat this, am I?"

  "Only those who have truly hurt me become pigs," she said. "You, I would make an annoying little gadfly, which I would take great pleasure in squashing."

  The little bit of pity I'd felt when she alluded to how much Balthazar had hurt her evaporated at her last comment.

  "You have my pig," Circe said.

  "He's not yours. Or a pig," I said. "At least, not for much longer."

  Ryan took my hand. "Let's go before you say something you'll regret."

  We sat around munching on delicious food, but dread gnawed at my brain. Something wasn't right. For one thing, I didn't recognize half of the Black Opal staff, and Ryan and I had been to the club many times to see Side Effects May Vary play.

  "There's a mask-decorating station!" Ryan said. He dragged me over to the table and decorated a mask with huge bright green feathers, gold glitter, and fake pearls.

  "Are you really going to wear that?" I laughed despite my worries.

  "You bet," he said. He put it on and continued to wear it as we wove our way through the crowd.

  Penny and Tyler were posing for photos underneath a giant purple and green balloon arch, so we went to have our photo taken too.

  As we posed for the camera, Ryan put his hands on my shoulders and rubbed them. "Why so tense?" he said. "You've been edgy all night."

  "I don't know," I said. "Sixth sense maybe?" I didn't want to ruin the evening by telling everyone that an inexplicable sense of dread had been building since I walked into the Black Opal.

  Sam overheard us. "Should we add premonition to your powers, Daisy?"

  I forced a laugh. "Of course not," I said. "I'm just being foolish. I'm so used to things going wrong that I don't know how to cope when they don't."

  A four-piece jazz band started playing on the main stage, and we drifted over to watch them. There was so much to do and see and eat that I didn't think I'd have much trouble staying awake after all.

  A bunch of little kids were there, volunteering with their parents. Sean's sisters and his parents were all working the ring-the-bell
strong-man game, and we went over to say hi.

  "Show me how strong you are," I teased Ryan.

  He picked up one of the mallets and struck a pose, flexing his considerable muscle.

  All of Sean's little sisters giggled at his antics, even Jessica.

  I'd finally shaken my bad mood, shedding it like a second skin, and I was able to enjoy our graduation party. Even overhearing Penny Edwards's mom bragging about Penny's admittance to Arizona State didn't pop my happy bubble.

  "What do you want to do now?" I asked Ryan.

  My boyfriend whisked me into a dark corner. "This," he said. He gave me a sweet kiss and then another. We passed a very enjoyable half hour before I put a hand to his chest. "We should get back to the party," I said. "Mom and Dad are chaperoning, and they'll freak out if they notice I'm gone."

  He sighed. "I guess you're right. I just got back into your dad's good graces."

  We rejoined the party and hit the candy buffet, which was exactly what it sounded like. Every sweet imaginable in the Mardi Gras colors of green, purple, and gold.

  We each took a cupful of candy and sat down at a table with Penny, Tyler, Sean, and Samantha. The feeling I'd been trying to ignore for weeks was back again, building inside me, no matter how hard I tried to shove it away and just be happy.

  "I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air," I told Ryan quietly.

  "I'll go with you," he replied.

  "No, it's okay," I said. "I just need a second or two of quiet. The noise in here is getting to be too much for me." I slipped outside.

  I saw Spenser Devereaux move stealthily in the parking lot. He was acting weird, like he didn't want anyone to notice what he was doing. I looked around, but nobody else seemed to think it was odd. On impulse, I followed him.

  He made his way to his car, a newer-model BMW, which was parked near my father's pink pride and joy. He glanced around, and I ducked into the shadows, feeling slightly foolish. He was probably just getting something out of his car.

  I started to turn away, but then curiosity got the better of me. What was he getting? A graduation present for Sam?

  It was hard to see in the dark, but I heard him chuckling to him self as he popped the trunk. Then he walked to my dad's car and fumbled with a key ring before inserting a key into the trunk of the T-bird. After he popped the trunk, Mr. Devereaux went back to his BMW, picked up something heavy wrapped in what looked like trash bags, and dumped it into my dad's car. He had to shove the package down before the trunk lid would close.