She decided to quit while she was ahead.
"Well, welcome to our community," Ms. Oxford said with a brief smile. "You can have a seat now."
Kula slipped into the first empty chair she saw. It happened to be next to the tall guy she had seen earlier with the appealing dark eyes. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She tried to read into that, wondering if it was just a friendly smile or if he might be attracted to her. Why not? she thought. She didn't consider herself beautiful on the scale of some girls, though she'd been told often enough that she was attractive. But she certainly thought she was pretty enough to appeal to boys, unless they were looking for particular features that she didn't possess.
Her attention was diverted when the teacher began talking and reminded her that she had fallen behind and would need to make up for it. Kula knew she'd have to do extra homework for a while, but didn't think it would be too difficult.
After class, she filed out with everyone else. Kula was studying her class schedule when she heard her name called.
"Hey," he said.
It was the guy with dark eyes whose name she still didn't know. Guess he must be interested at least a little, she thought.
"Hi," she said back.
"What's your next class?"
"Foundation art."
"Do you know how to get there?"
"Not really," she said.
"I can show you a short cut," he said.
"Okay." She was happy to keep the conversation going a little longer, even if en route to class.
"By the way, my name's Eriq Pratt."
Kula smiled. I like the sound of his name, she thought. "Nice meeting you, Eriq."
"Same here," he said.
They started to walk and she found herself wondering if he was a vamp, mainly because of his piercing eyes.
Eriq looked at her. "So you're from Cheyenne, huh?"
"Yep. How about you? Were you born here?"
"Nope," he said. "I'm from Denver. Moved here with my dad and stepmom three years ago."
She grinned. "So we were basically neighbors."
He flashed straight, white teeth. "Yeah, I guess we were."
Kula could imagine that they might have even seen each other during one of the times she had visited Denver. They rounded a corner and arrived at the classroom.
"Thanks," she said and asked, "What's your next class?"
"English."
"That's my third period," she told him.
"Maybe we can study together sometime," Eriq said.
Kula interpreted that as meaning he liked her and wanted to hang out. "Sure, I'd like that."
"Cool," he said. "Bye."
"Bye," she told him and immediately wondered if he had a girlfriend: Or had he been waiting for a new girl to arrive in town? Someone like me? she mused.
* * *
Eriq Pratt glanced back as Kula entered the classroom. She was stunning with beautiful hair, brown eyes, and a nice figure. She had that girl-next-door appeal. There was nothing to suggest she was a vamp and he suspected that, like him, she was human.
He had never dated a vampire before, but would not object to it, especially if she looked like Kula. Right now, he wasn't looking too far ahead, since he had only recently broken up with his last girlfriend who had cheated on him.
Besides, for all he knew Kula had a boyfriend back in Cheyenne. In fact, it was hard to imagine that she wouldn't have one. So he had probably already struck out there.
But that didn't mean they couldn't be study partners. Or something more.
He headed to class, trying to think positive even while turning his attention to the English test he hadn't spent much time studying for. It was one of his bad habits, believing he could ace anything he put his mind to.
The same confidence applied to getting girls to like him. Or at least those he was attracted to. Like Kula. But pulling her away from another guy she was in love with might be challenging even for Eriq. He was up for the challenge, though. Just as he was up for the challenge of attending a school where vampires coexisted. Whether or not it could work without blood being spilled was still undecided.
So far, so good, he thought. Meaning there was less need to focus on human-vampire hostilities and more time to devote to getting along with his parents.
And seeing if there was something there he could build on with Kula.
* * *
After fourth period math, Kula went to her locker. She had her work cut out for her to get up to speed. At least they hadn't made the move a month into the school year.
With her thoughts occupied with schoolwork and Eriq, she ended up fumbling with a notepad and it fell to the floor. Before she could pick it up, another hand grabbed the notepad.
She looked into the face of a male student with dark hair parted to the side and gray eyes.
"Sorry, didn't mean to catch you off guard," he said.
"It's fine," she said as they both stood upright. She noted that he was even taller than Eriq. Next to him was a girl who was slightly shorter than she was, with blue eyes and shoulder length red hair.
He handed Kula the notepad. "Here you are."
"Thanks," she said.
"I'm Ivan and this is Amelia."
"Kula," she introduced herself.
"Haven't seen you around," he said.
"It's my first day."
He grinned. "That explains it."
"We've only been in town a few weeks," Amelia said. "We're siblings."
"Oh." Kula grinned awkwardly.
"It's okay," Amelia said. "I know we don't exactly look like brother and sister and it throws most people off."
Admittedly, Kula never would have guessed they were siblings. Being an only child, as far as she knew, she wished she had a sister or brother to share things with, even if they looked as different as night and day.
"So how's it been so far?" Ivan asked her.
"Good," Kula responded. "I'm just trying to get my bearings and my classes together."
"Well, if you need any help getting around or want someone to hang out with, let us know," he said.
"Thanks," Kula said. "I will. Right now, I have to get to fifth period."
"Same with us," Amelia said. "But different classes. See you around."
"Yeah," seconded Ivan.
"Bye," Kula told them and headed off in the opposite direction. She hadn't known what to expect at her new school, but so far it seemed like most people—or vamps—were friendly. She wondered which category Ivan and Amelia belonged to. Was there even such a thing as sibling vampires?
* * *
Ivan Livingston looked over his shoulder at Kula as she walked away. Then he turned to Amelia. Though she wasn't really his sister, they were like blood relatives since they belonged to the same powerful Dracula clan of vampires.
As did Kula, though she didn't know it yet.
"Must we wait to tell her?" Amelia asked, raising her eyes to meet his.
"We have to," Ivan told her. "Aside from giving her time to get acclimated to her new surroundings, it's our duty to do as we're told and wait for the right moment to spring on her that she's half vampire."
"You're right," Amelia said. "Something tells me that the sooner she can be herself, the safer she'll be."
Ivan nodded. "I agree. In the meantime, keep an eye on her."
Amelia cocked a brow. "What about you?"
"I'll do the same," he assured her, knowing it was their assignment and they would both do well to remember that. But it didn't mean they were forbidden from pursuing their own interests while they were students at Transylvanica High, which pleased him, considering his attraction to the rival clan vamp beauty, Jacquelyn Brossard. He was happy that the feelings were reciprocated in kind, and had been off and on for some time.
* * *
Read the entire COUNT DRACULA'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER, available in print, eBook, and audio.
# # #
The following is an excerpt from
DANGER IN TIME: A Young Adult Time Travel Mystery
by R. Barri Flowers
Chapter One
Rachel Crane sat in her room ruminating, as she often seemed to do these days. She was only six years old when her sixteen-year-old sister, Brooke, died in a car accident ten years ago to the day, devastating Rachel. Not only had Brooke been the coolest sister in the world, but the one person Rachel could count on to cheer her up whenever she felt down.
Since then life had been anything but satisfying...
Rachel lost her mom to lung cancer two years after Brooke's death. Catherine Crane had been a heavy smoker since her teen years and it caught up with her. Rachel believed her mother ultimately lost her will to live after losing Brooke, having never been the same afterward.
Three years later, Rachel's dad got remarried to a woman named Virginia. Rachel was convinced Virginia resented her because she got too much attention from her father. Whereas Rachel believed she didn't get enough attention from him with Virginia occupying much of his free time.
Rachel could never imagine anyone ever taking her mom's place, no matter how hard she tried. Not that Virginia had tried all that hard, seemingly content just being her dad's second wife, with Rachel simply left to tag along.
She often thought about Brooke, who had been her best friend. She wished they had been able to have a normal life as sisters for years to come, instead of having it cut short due to tragedy. By most accounts, she looked a lot like Brooke had at sixteen as biracial siblings. Both had long, curly, dark brown hair, a caramel complexion, were slender, and about five-six. The only real difference was Rachel had her mother's jade eyes, while Brooke had their dad's sable eyes.
Rachel was sure her boyfriend Duncan would think Brooke was hot had she been alive today. If only. She longed for the chance to have a real sisterly conversation with Brooke to talk about guys, school, and other teen issues. Even now she imagined how much fun it would be if she could somehow magically go back in time and reunite with Brooke now when they were the same age. Yes, it would be weird, but somehow she knew they would find a way to make it work.
So much for wishful thinking. No such thing as time travel, except in Hollywood, novels, and people's vivid imaginations like hers.
Rachel glanced around the small room in the Lake Melrose, Oregon house she'd grown up in. It had once been Brooke's room and Rachel remembered the posters of celebrities she'd hung everywhere and the big pink teddy bear Brooke had kept since she was a little girl. Since then many of Brooke's things had been packed away in the attic, as though waiting for her return, long forgotten by everyone.
Everyone except Rachel, who considered the attic her private hideaway for chill time and keeping her sister's memory alive.
Rachel grabbed some tees and shorts, stuffing them into the bag atop her bed. She was being forced to spend the summer at her grandmother's house in Brenport, Washington, some two hundred miles way.
It was not that she didn't like her Nana—who was always telling her wild and colorful stories about growing up in the Pacific Northwest—but Rachel had no desire to spend her last full summer before graduating from high school away from home. Unfortunately, she didn't have much choice in the matter. Virginia had convinced her dad it would be good for Rachel to bond more with her grandmother before time ran out.
Rachel thought it was more likely that Virginia wanted to get rid of her for the summer so she could have her father all to herself. Being susceptible to Virginia's sneaky influence, he had fallen for it.
I'll just have to make the best of the situation. At least I'll be able to text Duncan and my friends whenever I get bored.
Beyond that, Rachel hoped Duncan would be able to get away from his summer job with the family landscaping business to visit her. She doubted the same could be said for Elaine, one of her best friends, since she too had been banished and would spend the summer in Utah with her father, his live-in girlfriend and her three bratty kids.
After filling the bag with probably more clothes than she needed, Rachel pressed down hard and managed to zip it shut, just as she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in."
It opened and Virginia stood there, hand on hip. There was a smug look on her fudge-toned face.
"You about ready, or what?" she asked. "The bus leaves at three o'clock sharp. Wouldn't want you to miss it."
Of course, you wouldn't. That would mess up your plans.
Rachel sneered, but resisted a curt response, figuring she'd only upset her dad. Virginia had won this round. Someday it would be different. She would just have to wait her turn.
"I won't." Rachel pulled the bag off the bed, realizing it was heavier than she thought when it hit the floor.
"Give that to me." Virginia practically pried her hand loose and grabbed the bag. "Go get the lunch I prepared. You can eat it along the way."
I don't think so.
Their tastes in food were about as different as night and day. Whenever she could avoid Virginia's high calorie, fatty meals, Rachel usually did. This was definitely one of those times.
She skirted past Virginia, thrilled to see her stepmother laboring with the bag.
Downstairs, Rachel nearly ran into her father in the hall between the living room and kitchen. He was tall, with a walnut complexion and a bald head that he shaved every day.
Edwin Crane gazed at her amusingly. "I thought we'd have to drag you to Nana's house kicking and screaming. Now it looks like you can't get out of here fast enough."
"So not funny." She made a face and wondered if there was a glimmer of hope he might reconsider. "Can't I stay here this summer? Please, Dad?"
"We've been over this numerous times, Rachel. Your grandmother is counting on your visit. She's not getting any younger and, with Brooke gone, you're all she has left."
Rachel frowned. His comment made it seem like she was strictly second string or simply better than nothing at all without Brooke around to take the lead.
As though he sensed she might have taken his words the wrong way, Edwin amended them somewhat. "You know you're Nana's pride and joy, Rachel. Brooke will always have a special place in her heart as the first born, but you're her baby!"
"What about you?" Rachel batted her curly lashes. "Or has Nana forgotten you're her only child?"
Edwin chuckled. "I try to never let her forget, but she has a magical connection with you that I couldn't even come close to matching."
"Enough already, I'll go." She knew he was laying it on a bit thick to guilt trip her into going to visit Nana happily. Rachel swallowed her resistance.
"You'll thank me someday when your grandmother, bless her heart, is dead and buried."
"But till then, I'd rather not." Rachel sneered, resigned to her fate.
He grinned. "Fair enough."
They both looked up and saw Virginia struggling with the bag.
Rachel snickered. "I think she needs your help, Dad."
Edwin's brow furrowed. "Let me get that, Virginia, darling—"
Rachel went into the kitchen. Ignoring the lunch Virginia had packed, she strode across the hardwood floor to the refrigerator. She grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, and took a giant gulp.
Before Rachel hit the road, there was something important she needed to do. Water bottle in hand, she ran past her dad and stepmom toward the stairs.
"Why are you going back up there?" Virginia asked.
"I forgot something," Rachel lied. "I'll be right back."
She ignored her protests and continued up the stairs. On the second floor, Rachel raced down the hall and opened the door to a utility room. Inside, she yanked at the rope hanging from the ceiling till stairs came down that led to the attic.
She climbed up them.
The attic, which had only been partially finished, was dusty and cluttered. Rachel had created several little paths to the eyelid windows overlooking the lawn and street below. She stood at one window, remembering when she used to do the same with Brooke
. They would tell ghost stories or pretend they were in another time and place.
Rachel looked in one corner of the attic at the boxes piled atop one another marked as Brooke's clothes, shoes, toys, and other miscellaneous items. She had gone through them numerous times, touching things that had once belonged to her big sister. Rachel even wore some of Brooke's clothes that were fashionable again today and fit her perfectly.
Oh, Brooke, I wish we were going to Nana's house together like we used to. Better yet, I wish I didn't have to go at all this year. If you were here, we could just hang out together at home, the mall, or wherever.
Rachel wanted to cry at the thought, but checked herself. Some people might think she had gone a little loco being too sentimental over her long dead sister.
Maybe I do need to let go after ten years of grieving. Brooke would want that. Wouldn't she?
Rachel was positive Brooke was watching over her from heaven, wanting to see at least one of them make it past sixteen years of age and experience all the things that came with growing old.
"Well, guess I'd better get going," Rachel spoke aloud to Brooke, as though she were in the room. "Dad and Virginia are probably having a fit right about now, not wanting me to miss that bus to Nana's house. Guess I'll see you when I get back!"
Just then, Rachel heard what sounded like something falling on the floor. At first she thought it might only be the creaking sounds that sometimes invaded the house like an angry spirit. Then she wondered if it might be a mouse. Yuck. The thought of being nibbled on by one of those creatures freaked her out. She looked behind her, expecting to see the little critter scurrying by.
Instead, Rachel saw what looked like an antique gold pocket watch attached to a chain lying by her shoes. Glancing up, as if expecting to see a ghost who had dropped the watch, she saw only the support beams. They gave no clue of where the watch had come from.
This is so weird.
Rachel put her bottled water on the windowsill and reached down to pick up the watch. Opening the case, she noted it had an unusual sixty second clock that was prominent and ticking, with an inset of the time in roman numerals near the top and a date at the bottom. Her eyes widened when she realized the current month and day were correct, but not the year. It read: June 26, 2001.
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