Vampire's Valentine

by Rosette Bolter

  VAMPIRE’S VALENTINE

  Rosette Bolter

  VAMPIRE’S WEDDING IS NOW AVAILABLE!

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C5X7N22

  CHAPTER ONE

  Prudence Blythe’s reflection appeared in the duck pond, holding something in her hands. A pink envelope with her name scrawled on it fell from her grasp into the water. It remained there for some time. Floating along.

  She was still holding the card. Big, bright and red. Gold letters. Silver glitter. Inside the card, her name again. His name at the bottom. And some garbage in between it.

  Prudence began tearing the card into shreds as her best friend Christine Miles came rushing over.

  “What are you doing?” Christine cried. “Don’t do that! Not into the…”

  Prudence emptied her hands of the pieces of cards, and let them fall into the pond.

  “There,” she said, turning.

  “I hope no one saw that,” Christine said, peering over her shoulder. “You’ll get us chucked out.”

  “Oh no, tragedy,” Prudence said sarcastically.

  “Wow, you’re like totally pissed. I thought you said you didn’t take Valentine’s Day seriously.”

  It was true. Prudence probably had said that.

  What she’d meant though was that she didn’t give a fuck about Valentine’s Day. Especially not when her boyfriend stands her up in front of everyone. And then breaks up with her over the phone when she calls to say she’s not happy.

  Prudence had found the card in her locker at school that morning. She’d been so pleased he’d made the effort to surprise her like that, even though they’d probably soon meet up between classes, and they definitely were going out that night with friends to celebrate.

  He’d known from the start he wasn’t going tonight. Which was why he avoided her at school, and made sure she got the card so that everything would be okay.

  She wondered how long it had been since he wasn’t into her.

  “Today was supposed to be a good day,” Prudence muttered.

  “Oh,” Christine slowly nodded. “You guys broke up.”

  “He broke up with me.”

  “What? What an asshole.”

  Prudence sat down on the grass. “Did you see it coming?”

  “Me?” Christine said defensively. “No. Why?”

  “It must have been obvious to some people. It seems bleeding obvious to me now.”

  “Are you like … full on sad?”

  Prudence shrugged. A cold breeze moved past her.

  “Do you need to cry? Do you … I can give you a hug or –”

  “No, no, no,” Prudence said tonelessly. “It’s probably for the best anyway.”

  “Did he say why?”

  “Why…?”

  “Why he dumped you?”

  “I don’t know. We just yelled at each other. It … shouldn’t even come to that. He should be here. He must like someone else or something.”

  “I thought it was just a family thing.”

  “Family thing … hasn’t his fucking family ever heard of notice?”

  “Alright,” Christine murmured. “Don’t shout at me.”

  “Sorry.”

  “What do you want to do then?”

  “What’s everyone else doing?”

  “Well, we’re going to the restaurant later.”

  “Great.”

  “I think they’re still exploring the grounds. Elliot mentioned that maze he wanted to check out.”

  Prudence nodded. “Alright.” She stood up. “Don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

  “No way,” Christine smiled. “Just … sucks it happened today, of all days.”

  “I know right. But maybe … it was meant to be. I mean, you never know what’s around the corner do you?”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  Prudence glanced back to the pond.

  The remains of the card and envelope had vanished.

  “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go find that maze.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Outside the entrance to the maze there was a poster on display. It read:

  Find the Valentine’s Day Trophy at the centre of the maze to win a free dinner for you and your Valentine

  Pink and purple hearts had been penciled in around the writing.

  Christine took a step back and then turned to her friend. “This maze doesn’t even look that big. How hard could it be to find the centre?”

  “Not hard at all I expect,” Prudence replied. “All you have to do is run your hand along one side of the hedges and eventually you’ll come to it.”

  “I thought that was how you find your way out.”

  “I don’t really know how it works,” Pru confessed. “Maybe they have stuff to trick us in there.”

  “Well, come on. Let’s take a look.”

  They set off into the maze together. Pru went to the closest hedge and stood on her tip toes to see if she could see over it. No such luck.

  “So did you see Scott at school today?” Christine asked as they walked along.

  “No, I told you that already,” Pru replied. “I heard others saw him. I think he was avoiding me.”

  “What do you think he’s doing? Cheating on you with someone?”

  “I have no idea,” Pru said. “Maybe he’s too lazy for a girlfriend.”

  “Yeah, because being with you is so much work.”

  “I know right. But look, I don’t want to talk about him. I’m over it. And I’m over dating as well. I should just focus on my exams and then see what happens once I have some real time on my hands.”

  “Cool,” Christine nodded.

  “Not that I’m saying you being with Dane is a problem or anything. You do what works for you.”

  “I didn’t take it that way at all.”

  “Just making sure.”

  They stepped out into a clearing where their friend Elliot and his boyfriend Perry appeared to be trying to lift something.

  “Perry, what are you doing?” Elliot cried out. “You’ll hurt your fingers.”

  “No I won’t,” Perry said from below. “I’ve done this before. You just have to help me.”

  “Hey guys, what are you doing?” Pru said, approaching.

  “What does it look like?” Elliot said. “We’re taking the trophy.”

  As she inspected closer she saw what it was exactly that they were trying to lift.

  “That’s not the trophy!” Pru exclaimed. “That’s a bird bath!”

  “Have you got it?” Perry asked. “Have you got it? It’s coming.”

  Elliot moved in to support the side of it while Perry continued to push it up from the ground. Elliot then slipped, and the bird bath came crashing on top of him, spilling its water everywhere.

  “Stop it!” Elliot cried on the ground. “I’m drowning!”

  Pru and Christine helped Perry move the bath away from him.

  “You idiots,” Christine gushed. “You complete and utter tools.”

  “It’s his fault,” Elliot said. “We should have just taken a photo of it.”

  “Anyone can do that,” Perry replied. “And I thought we got to take it home.”

  “Did you even read the sign properly?” Pru asked. “It said the trophy was at the centre of the maze.”

  “We are at the centre of the maze,” Elliot and Perry said together.

  “You idiots,” Christine said shrilly. “The entrance is just around the corner. Do you see? Come on, I’ll show you.”

  She grabbed Elliot’s hand first pulling him up from the ground, then Perry’s. She then led them round to where she and Pru had come from.

  Pru stared down at the fallen bird bath. The water on the ground had almos
t completely dried.

  “I still say that’s the trophy,” Perry said as they walked back. “There’s nothing else in here.”

  “Did you try getting to the centre?” Pru asked.

  “No, no, no,” Elliot said. “That was just to throw us off. There is no centre of the maze. At least not officially.”

  “But that doesn’t make any sense,” Pru said.

  “I bet you dinner you can’t find it,” Elliot challenged.

  “That’s tempting,” Pru chuckled. “But if I find it, dinner’s free anyway.”

  “Well, I bet you –”

  “Come on, Elliot,” Perry interrupted. “We said no gambling. Remember?”

  “It’s not gambling,” Elliot retorted. “I’m just proving to Miss Know-it-all that she’s no smarter than –”

  “Alright,” Pru said defiantly. “You can buy me dinner next time if I find it.”

  Perry glared at her.

  “Jesus, suck it up Perry,” Christine said punching him in the arm. “I swear some time you carry on like an old woman.”

  “I know, right,” Elliot quickly agreed. “That’s what I was just saying –”

  “Dane’s looking for you, Chrissy,” Perry said. “He was here just before.”

  Christine looked to Elliot.

  “We just said you were up at the restaurant,” Elliot said.

  “I was with Pru. We were –”

  “Go on,” Pru said over her. “Go find him.”

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Looks like I’m helping these guys fix up their trophy,” Pru said. “Oh, and I have to solve this maze.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Now she was alone. Finally. At last. She could be honest with herself.

  Prudence found a corner within the maze to crouch down, and hold her fists to her eyes.

  She hated this. Just hated it.

  Because her mind was telling her everything she was supposed to know, understand, feel. Scott didn’t mean anything. His treatment of her was proof enough. He wasn’t special at all. She hadn’t even … they hadn’t…

  Pru sighed with relief. Those many nights she’d spent with Scott alone … there had been some close calls. He wasn’t that pushy or anything. It was easy to tell him to slow down. But it would have been just as easy to keep on going. And then she would have been violated even further.

  It wasn’t just Scott though. It was everything around her. With school ending just a little further down the road, it was the first time in her life she didn’t know where she’d be in one year. She couldn’t even make a reasonable guess.

  Sure there were potential futures she wanted. That’s what all the hard work had been for. But there were no guarantees with any of it. There wasn’t even a guarantee that Christine and her would be friends anymore.

  And that’s why she was sad about Scott.

  Feeling somewhat adjusted, Pru got back to her feet just as a young couple, man and woman, walked past her holding hands. Searching for that elusive centre presumably.

  Or perhaps they were just looking for a way out.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Pru was feeling much better by the time she found her own way out of the maze. Dane and Christine were hovering near the car park, not too far from the pathway up to the teahouse and restaurant. She thought she could see Elliot and Perry walking up there as well, though they didn’t seem to have taken the birdbath with them.

  Pru glanced back to the maze, with mild annoyance. She thought she’d find the centre for sure. Instead all paths had led her here, and it was time to leave the adventure. When she looked back again Christine was walking over and Dane was moving in the other direction.

  “Any luck?” Christine asked.

  “None,” Pru answered. “I wonder if they’ll let us know where it is when we get up there.”

  Christine nodded. “Yeah… I have some, rather delicate news to share with you.”

  “Spit it out.”

  “I don’t know why exactly, but Scott’s supposed to be coming down after all.”

  “What?” Pru said angrily. She checked her phone to make sure he hadn’t tried calling her. “How do you know that?”

  “He was talking to Dane.”

  “About me?”

  “I don’t … think so.”

  “Is he trying to get back with me? Does he want to talk?”

  “I don’t know. I think he just wants to hang with Dane.”

  “Oh sure,” Pru muttered. “That’s gonna be real fun.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “Just … tell him to fuck off. For me. Tell him to get lost.”

  “Alright. If you think that will work.”

  Pru took a step past her friend. She could see where Dane was now. She could see Scott’s car was pulling in.

  Before she knew it, Scott was out of the car and running towards them.

  “Son of a bitch,” Pru hissed.

  “What does he think he’s doing?” Christine exclaimed.

  “Hey!” Scott shouted. “I’m here!”

  “Get fucked,” Pru muttered. She turned to Christine. “I’m so outta here.”

  “Wait,” Christine said reaching out for her.

  But Prudence had already started to run.

  Back into the maze.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Scott was chasing after her. There was no moment for pause – no point where she could actually consider what she was doing. It was all in reflex. The reason behind her running was getting smaller and smaller with every tired step her body forced itself through – and yet, now she had begun she had to keep going.

  But he would not give up so easily.

  Athletic, agile, and saddled with a passionate temperament, once Scott had begun his reckless pursuit of her, she knew he would stop at nothing until she was found. Although the maze’s twisting and turning nature was to Pru’s advantage, she herself soon became lost and wasn’t sure whether Scott was behind or in front of her.

  But she could still hear him. She could hear his feet smashing against the gravel.

  Eventually Pru did come to a stop, as she had ultimately run into a dead end. She turned around and there he was, ten meters down the pathway, facing in the opposite direction. But not moving. Was he looking for her? Or was he listening?

  Pru continued to step backwards, into the maze’s hedge. The leaves surprisingly gave way to her with little resistance. Just as Scott was about to turn to face her, she forced herself all the way through … until she reached an opening on the other side.

  Slowly, Prudence turned around.

  The clearing before her was circular and paved, filled with potted plants bringing a wide range of colors to her eyes. She could see there was a small pond in the centre.

  As Prudence approached it cautiously, a small boulder began to gently surface in the pond. On top the boulder, underneath a glass case there was a sparkling gold ornament.

  She crouched at the edge of the pond to look at it, and saw the depiction of a woman and man holding up a golden heart above them.

  She gave a sad chuckle.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day,” someone said behind her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The words gave Pru such a fright she almost lost her balance and fell into the pond. When she was able to steady herself, she turned around half expecting Scott to be there, leering over her. But it wasn’t Scott. It was someone she’d never met before.

  “Looks like you win the trophy.”

  Pru got back to her feet.

  The stranger in question was sitting at a small garden table opposite an empty chair, turning the pages of a magazine. He was a man of about twenty seven or eight years old – way too old for Pru to have any interest in – though she could still see he was very beautiful to look at. For a moment she felt embarrassed, as though she shouldn’t have come through here disturbing him – but then she wondered, what exactly was it that he was doing?

  “Are y
ou just going to stand there looking stupid?” he asked without looking up. “Or are you going to introduce yourself?”

  “What?” Pru mumbled. “I’m … I’m just walking around the –”

  “Maze, yes, that’s what everyone’s here for,” he interrupted. “So will you kindly tell me something I don’t know? For instance, your name.”

  “Prudence.”

  “Now, come and join me Prudence, so you don’t look so horridly out of place.”

  She hesitated a moment, but then realized that hiding out from Scott here mightn’t be such a bad idea. She walked forward to the empty chair and sat down on it.

  The man looked up at her slowly.

  “I’m Bastian,” he said. “Bastian Cane.”

  “Hello,” Pru said softly. “Are you … waiting for someone?”

  “Could be,” he said mysteriously. “Perhaps I was waiting for you.”

  Pru gave a weak smile.

  “I was wandering through the garden at home actually, and before I knew it, I had stumbled upon this strange little place. Naturally, you might think one would just turn around and go back to one’s predetermined agenda… But then I remembered it was Valentine’s Day. And I decided to keep an open mind.”

  He paused a moment to look at her. She nodded, feigning interest.

  “Unfortunately, it has been a long day and I haven’t met anyone other than you, though I did get a chance to think about a few things. My most intriguing question though is – was my garden playing a practical joke on me today, or was really just supposed to find you…?”

  “Me?” Pru said after a moment. “You don’t mean me?”

  He looked her up and down. “It’s true. You would need some work. And you’re far too young aren’t you? You’re just a child.”

  Pru cleared her throat. “I’m eighteen years old actually. Which makes me an adult.”

  Bastian stared at her. “No, it doesn’t.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN