by Avery Kloss
Gabe drove a black Land Rover, the car parked with the engine on. He approached us after we left the house, because the spell kept him at a distance. Holding out a hand, he smiled at my mother. “Hello, Mrs. Thompson. It’s good to meet you.”
She blinked, and shook his hand. “Um … yes. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She gave me a look, which betrayed her surprise. “Have we met before? You look … familiar.”
“I might’ve helped you change a tire once.” He grinned.
“Oh, yeah.” She nodded, smiling. “I remember now. Thank you so much.”
Gabe wore black slacks and a black leather jacket, his hair neatly combed. A hint of spicy cologne lingered, the scent caught in the wind. He opened the door for her.
“We’ve an eight o’clock reservation. We’re just gonna make it.”
“I can sit in the back. I don’t need to sit in front.”
I got in behind Gabe, and said, “It’s okay, Mom.”
She declined to argue further, and settled in the passenger’s side. Affixing the seatbelt, she glanced at me over her shoulder. “New car smell.”
Gabe closed the door, and backed up with one hand on the wheel. “Did a little shopping yesterday.”
“Nice.” I grinned, amused by my mother’s reaction.
“So, I don’t mean to be nosy, but Brie says you’re twenty-three?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’ve a bit of an accent.”
“I’m originally from England.” We entered the street a moment later. “My parents … immigrated in the 80’s.”
I knew that was a lie.
“And you own a business in town?”
“Just on the outskirts. The Bad Bone Bar. It’s an unsavory place. I can’t recommend it.”
Glancing at him in the rear-view mirror, I saw his grin.
“I see. And you’ve lived here all your life?”
“I come and go.”
We arrived at the Italian Restaurant a moment later. Gabe parked near the front door, because a spot had just opened up. He helped my mother out, and smiled at me.
“After you, ladies.”
I felt his hand at my lower back. His proximity gave me a thrill. “What do you think so far?” I whispered.
“Your mom’s a nice lady.”
“You’re not gonna feed on her later, are you?” I whispered.
He made a face, and murmured, “Absolutely not. Family members are strictly off-limits.”
I laughed at that. I always felt as ease with him, because he was fun to be around. Once seated at the table, I smiled at Gabe over the menu, and wondered how he would fake eating tonight. Mom cast inquisitive, yet suspicious glances between us. After the appetizer arrived, Gabe pretended to sip wine, eyeing me with a hint of humor.
“So, how on earth did you two meet?” Mom chewed a stuffed mushroom, her expression rapturous. “Oh, that’s delicious.”
“Do you want to tell her the particulars?”
I nearly choked, having just drunk soda. “Um … no.” He had saved me from a suicide attempt, that night feeling like it happened a million years ago. Shame and regret settled uneasily upon my shoulders. I hated to be reminded of the incident. “We met at the library,” I lied, shrugging.
Mom eyed me dubiously. She clearly did not believe that. “Right.” She had a sip of wine. “You went into his bar, didn’t you? You and Maven. I know you’ve been sneaking out.”
I feigned indignation. “I’d never do that.”
“I’m sure the food’s amazing here,” she murmured. “But there sure is a lotta bullshit at this table.”
Gabe chuckled, “She did sneak into the bar. That is how we met.”
“I did not!” I shot him an angry look. “Gabe.”
He cleared his throat, and glanced at the menu. “I love eggplant parmesan. It’s been an age since I’ve had it.”
Mom, although curious over the whole situation, seemed to relax, her facial features softening. Having another sip of wine, she stared at Gabe, asking, “You’re not married?”
“No, ma’am. Not yet.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“I’m only twenty-three.”
“You come across as older, but you do look very young.”
“I try to be polite.”
“Your accent is nice.” She shrugged, settling into the chair. The waiter took our order, and brought out another bottle of white wine.
“It used to be stronger. I’ve lost a good bit of it over the … years.”
When my mother wasn’t looking, Gabe tossed his wine into the vase that held white daisies. I found that amusing, knowing he could not eat or drink anything. When the meal came, he dropped food into a napkin, pretending to eat, even lifting the fork to his mouth. Mom seemed oblivious, focusing on her meal, remarking on how delicious it tasted.
After we had eaten, mom and I ordered cake and coffee, and waited for it to arrive. “So, what are your plans, Gabe?”
“I’m thinking about taking Brie to prom.”
I gasped, because we had not even discussed it. “I wasn’t going to go.”
“Have you been before?”
“No.” I made a face. “It’s not really my thing.”
“I’d like to take you.”
“You would?”
“Yes.” He smiled steadily, his teeth sparkling in the candlelight.
“Um … okay. I have to get the tickets then. I almost missed the deadline.”
Mom grinned, clearly pleased by this turn of events. “We can dress shop. Any excuse to go to Portland, right? I’ve more furniture to buy anyway.”
Gabe sat back, his smile contagious. “It’s settled then. Prom it is.”
42
On my feet for hours, I sipped an ice coffee, while mom drove, and music played from the radio. I had finally found a gown, and mom bought several rugs and two new beds for the rooms upstairs. She smiled behind black sunglasses, the edges of her eyes crinkling.
“You totally loved that, didn’t you?”
“I did,” she said. “I love your dress.”
“It’s okay.”
“Just okay? It’s beautiful.”
“I probably should’ve gotten it in red, not white.”
“The white looks amazing on you.”
I chose an off-the-shoulder asymmetrical dress that ended just below the knee. One arm had a sleeve. “I look like I’m getting married.”
“It’s perfect. I really didn’t think you’d go to prom at all, but I’m so glad you are.”
“Because you want to take pictures and post them all over Facebook.” I wasn’t on that site or any other, but mom enjoyed sharing everything with family and friends. “Can I get a newer phone?”
“I’m thinking about it. Maybe when you graduate. You know why I didn’t want you to have it. I was really worried you’d get yourself in worse trouble. Social media can be toxic. You were so vulnerable. I wanted to protect you.”
“I’m not interested in posting about every moment of my life. I just want to be able to text and use the Internet.”
“You’ve really blossomed these last couple of months. I can see the change in you. You’re happier, and it shows.”
“Stop it.” That was embarrassing.
“And let’s talk about that boyfriend of yours.” She whistled. “Wow.”
“You like him.”
“What’s not to like? He’s handsome, successful, smart, and apparently rich. He’s almost too good to be true.”
Oh, boy. If you only knew. “He is amazing.” I grinned, refusing to think of anything negative, not caring that Gabe was a vampire. We all had our … issues. I wasn’t an angel myself, wreaking havoc in the family for years with all the drama and mental health problems.
“Why don’t you invite him over? You both can hang out in the house. I don’t mind.”
The spell Anna cast kept him away, the witch and I striking a deal, although I hadn’t fulfilled my end of the bargain yet. “Can
we use the carriage house?” As it stood several yards away, Anna’s spell would not affect it.
“I actually finally found the key to the place. Now that the house is looking good, I need to have a peek at it. I can rent it in the future, or you could move into it, if you want.”
“We should check it out. It could be my apartment, maybe.”
“I keep forgetting you’re going to be twenty this summer. Time really flies.” She nodded, and sighed. “Let’s take a look at it tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
After arriving home, I carried several shopping bags to my room, hanging the prom dress in the closet with a pair of white, high-heeled shoes. They would kill my feet, but they were perfect. I took the phone out, flipping it open to make a call, and waited for Gabe to pick up. Since it was nearly sunset, he should be awake by now.
“Hello, Brie?” he said, sounding tired.
“You awake yet?”
He sighed deeply. “In an hour I would’ve been.”
I giggled, “I found a dress.”
“You went shopping?”
“I did.”
“I’m glad. You’re safely home?”
“Yes, of course.” He had not found Thorn yet, who seemed to have fallen from the face of the earth. None of his vampire associates knew where he had gone. “I want to see you.”
“I’ve a bar to run, honey. I can’t get in your house anyway. I kinda regret having the spell back. It was nice being with you. I liked watching you sleep.”
“When you find Thorn, things will be better.”
“There’s a chance he’s gone. That’s a trademark of his. He comes and stirs up trouble and then disappears. When things are settled and I’m happy, he resurfaces and ruins everything all over again.”
“Are you happy?”
“It’s not something I want to admit, but yes, I am.”
“I’m happy too. I’d be even happier if you came and got me. I could hang out with you in your office.” A lengthy silence ensued. “I can take care of myself. I won’t cause trouble.”
“I shouldn’t.”
“But you will, right?”
“I’ll get you once it’s fully dark, okay?”
“Yes!” I shouted. “Awesome. I’ll be waiting.”
“You’re determined to get under my skin,” he muttered.
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
He laughed, “Oh, yes you do. I’ll be over in a bit.”
“I’ll wait.”
After hanging up, I slid from the bed and found a new pair of jeans, pulling them over my thighs. Not only had I found the perfect dress today, but also I would spend time with Gabe. Glancing in the mirror, I got a shock then, because I saw someone I did not recognize, the face entirely different, yet it belonged to me.
“What the hell?” I touched my cheek, although it was not what I saw in the mirror. A woman stared back at me, her hair long and blonde, her eyes light blue. “Suzie?” What was happening? The image slowly faded, where I saw my own face again. “Wow, that was weird.”
It had been weeks since the last ghostly encounter, but this one left an indelible impression. It was like she wanted to share in my happiness or something, morphing into me. I shrugged it off, understanding these odd occurrences came along with the house, the spirits within restless.
After getting dressed, I waited for Gabe downstairs, and watched out the parlor window for the first sign of his headlights. I saw them a few minutes later. Mom came into the room wearing pajamas.
“You’re going out?”
“Gabe’s picking me up.”
She settled on the sofa with a bowl of ice cream. Reaching for the remote, she said, “Don’t be too late.”
“I won’t.” I hurried for the door, and donned a jacket from the closet. “See you later.”
“Okay, honey. Have a good time.”
“I will.” I slipped from the house, and approached the car. Finding it unlocked, I got in, and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Hello.” I sniffed. “You smell nice.”
“I’ve not eaten,” he intoned, his eyes drifting over me. “You smell … delicious.”
“You better get yourself a blood bag, buddy. I’m off the menu.”
“You’d be so tasty.” The car went into reverse. “Too bad I can’t feed on you.”
“That’s gross,” I giggled.
“Your mom knows where you’re going?”
“I’m with you. You made such a good first impression. She likes you.”
“That’s nice, I guess. I can’t say I’ve met all that many moms. I usually … don’t date.”
“Aren’t we passed the dating phase yet?”
That question seemed to stump him. “I’m not ... sure. We’re together. That’s all I know.”
I glimpsed the town through the window, most of the shops closed, and few vehicles about. Once on the highway, the forest loomed on either side, the woods filled with old-growth cherry trees. A truck passed by a moment later.
“You’ll be bored tonight, I’m afraid. Clive’s recovering from food poisoning, and I’ll have to help.”
“I should learn to bartend.”
“No,” he stated firmly. “You’ve your whole future ahead of you, whatever you choose to do. You shouldn’t limit yourself.”
“Bartending’s a profession, Gabe.” I grinned, warming to the subject. “What if I have this uncontrollable urge to mix drinks?”
He laughed at that, although the smile fell at once. “What on earth?” He stared straight ahead, and frowned.
I saw the problem right away, a woman standing in the road up ahead, our headlights illuminating her. As we drew near, Gabe slowed, and the person came into view. Her shirt, torn in places, hung from her thin frame and she did not wear pants, only a dirty pair of underwear. Long, dark hair framed her face, her arms and legs filthy. She appeared to have been in the woods for some time, not wearing shoes. With the cold, she had to be frozen all the way through.
“This is … problematic.”
I glanced at Gabe. “What’s the matter with her? Is she crazy? Suicidal? She shouldn’t be in the middle of a highway. She’ll get run over.”
We slowed to a stop, and the woman hissed at us. She jumped onto the hood of the car, her face before the windshield. Baring sharp-looking teeth, I gasped, recognizing her. “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! That’s Maven! Holy heck! Maven’s a vampire!”
“Lock your door!”
I did as I was told, as Gabe exited the vehicle. “W-where are you going? Are you crazy?” I screamed, suddenly terrified for his safety.
Maven pounced at once, attacking my boyfriend with feverish abandon. Her teeth sank into his throat. She let go a second later, and vomited at his feet, the sound echoing.
I heard him say, “Well, hello there, newborn. I don’t taste all that good, do I?”
He pulled his belt free, and grasped her arms, although she fought like a wild cat, hissing and trying to bite him. After he seized her wrists and held them together, he bound them tightly. He dragged her to the back of the car, where the door rose, making a beeping sound. Tossing her inside, he closed it securely. Maven hissed and made screeching noises, her face pressed to a metal mesh barrier. She flailed around and pounded on the glass. Not once did she utter anything intelligible, sounding like a wild, rabid animal.
After Gabe got in, he shrugged, and grinned sardonically. “Wasn’t expecting that.”
“Good thing you have that barrier thing.”
“It’s for off road driving, so stuff doesn't fly around, but, yeah, we need it.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I guess that answers the question of what happened to Maven, huh?”
My friend hissed at us, baring pointy teeth. “She smells.”
“Looks like she’s been in the elements for a while. Thorn must’ve turned her. It’s the only explanation.” Seeing the lights of a car coming, he pressed the accelerator. “He did that on purpose.”
“W
hy?”
“To hurt you. To get to me. He knows she’s someone you care about.”
“Poor Maven.”
“Reese will have a friend now, I guess. Won’t they be a pair?”
“But she’s in this horrible stage. She’s worse than an animal.”
“For a while.”
I sighed, and leaned against the seat. Maven pounded on the glass and rattled the metal barrier, all the while hissing angrily, not happy to be confined. The person I once knew had changed forever.
“This sucks.”
“You never should’ve gotten involved with me. I tried to warn you. I bring bad luck. I told you you’d regret it.”
“You’re not bad luck, Gabe.”
“I am.”
I felt wretched in that moment, my happiness from earlier had vanished. Something needed to be done about that horrible vampire, who was determined to ruin Gabe’s immortal life. Why did he have to turn my best friend into a bloodsucker? What if he did that to my mother? That thought brought out a cold sweat, which dampened my forehead. I suddenly felt ill, my stomach turning over.
“I’m gonna do something about this,” I said softly. “I’m not going to let that monster ruin my life.”
“Then I suggest you and your mom move away—far away.”
43
Miller and Gabe chained Maven to the wall in the basement of the Bad Bone Bar. My friend hissed and tried to claw the men, fighting the bonds that held her wrists and ankles. A hard gleam flickered in Gabe’s eyes, his posture rigid. He wasn’t happy in the least. Maven’s sister, Reese, appeared in the doorway.
“That’s just great,” she muttered, glaring angrily at Gabe. “How could you do this to my sister?” Dressed in jeans and a top, she wore her hair in a messy bun.
“I didn’t.” He stood with his hands on his hips, while anger radiated from him, the energy palpable. “This is Thorn’s doing.”
I stood just outside the room, because it wasn’t safe to enter. Feelings of guilt and anger washed over me. I could not believe my best friend was now a vampire.
“I’m going to have to tell my mom something,” said Reese. “She’s gonna miss graduation. How the hell is she supposed to finish high school when she can’t go out in daylight?”
