by Minda Webber
“Young love,” Bea sighed.
I knew she really wanted to find a special guy for her boyfriend, but so far nobody was smart enough. Or inventive enough for her.
“You’ll meet somebody,” I said firmly. She would. She was too pretty, too smart, too loyal and caring. Of course, if the boyfriend happened to know American history pretty well, it would certainly be a bonus. Too bad we didn’t know any other descendants of the American Revolution.
“The odds are in my favor, I hope,” Bea replied, as Dagan walked out of the large formal living room, where he had been closeted with his grandfather. His expression was grim. Bea, noticing his expression, walked off to speak with Hart and Zoe. They were sitting on the stairs in the massive foyer.
“I can’t believe he did what he did. No matter how my grandfather explains the testing of young Dracula blood, it’s still wrong and I can’t make him see reason. I tried, but all he did was curse and told me to get gone.”
Go figure. The Prince of all Vampires didn’t take kindly to being told that he was in the wrong. “He’s Dracula. I guess he’s used to having his own way.”
“You could say that.”
“Did you have any luck with talking him out of calling our parents?” I asked, although I already knew the answer.
“No. Adrian has already called them. They are on their way to pick you up.” Dagan looked miserable. “I’m sorry. Now all of you will be in big trouble for helping me.”
“It was our choice,” I replied, and reached over and took his hand. “It’s not your fault. We all knew what we were doing. At the time I thought I was in the right, but now, I’m just sorry we’re all going to be in trouble for not telling our parents. They won’t like that we were in danger and didn’t tell them.”
Dagan squeezed my hand. “I hate that your parents are going to be mad at you. You were magnificent coming to my rescue. I wasn’t worried when they carted me off like a bag of flour, because I knew that you would come running. I was terrified for you, and proud of you. You’re like nobody I’ve ever met before. Believe me, I’ve met many people being a Dracula.”
“I couldn’t leave you to be tortured and killed by….” I stopped. I couldn’t let him be kidnapped by his grandfather; it was silly, ridiculous and cruel. I frowned. “Your grandfather needs a swift kick in the ass. It’s so lame that he kidnapped you, that he sent werewolves and vampires after us. You even came close to being killed that first night in the funeral home.” I sounded indignant and I was. “My friends got hurt!”
“I told him that,” Dagan said then shrugged. “But he wasn’t the one to send the vampires to the funeral home. That really was a rogue band of vampires who were out to capture me and ransom me back to him.”
I thought about it. “It makes sense. After all, that’s who we thought were after you anyway, the rogue groups. Well,” I said philosophically. “At least you passed the test with flying colors.”
“So did you.” He leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was hot and hard. I caught a hint of anger and a bunch of desire mixed in with this touch of his lips. He broke away. “I’m sorry about him testing you to see if you’d be a fitting bride.”
“But you’re not sorry that I passed?” I asked. I didn’t really think he was, but I wanted to hear him say it.
“You know better.” He kissed me again, more tenderly this time. When he drew back I could see a fierce light in his blue eyes. “If I can’t have you, I don’t want anybody else. I know neither of us is ready to get married. You’re not out of high school and you’d probably feel funny being the only cheerleader married to a vampire. Also, I know we are both going to college. Then there is the fact that I have a lot to learn about being a vampire before I even think of settling down. Still, I’m glad you passed the test. As far as I’m concerned, my grandfather can keep trying out candidates for my bride for all the good it will do him. Because when the time comes I will be choosing my own.” He smiled at me and I have to admit the smile was a bit wicked.
“Well, one thing I can say, being around you is never dull. Here I thought I lived a life of excitement and adventure being a Frankenstein.”
He laughed along with me. “Oh no, throw my grandfather into the mix and you get danger, adventure and life-and-death situations almost weekly.”
I started to say more but the ringing of the doorbell cut short my-less-than flattering remarks made about Dracula. Unfortunately, it was Debbs’ mom. Her dad was still in Europe, at the Vampire Executioner’s Convention.
Regally, Dracula came out to greet her personally while she glared at him, us and most of all at Debbs. Dracula and Mrs. Van Helsing went into the formal living room to speak. I heard shouting, but I couldn’t make out the words, even though I tried. I noticed Bea had moved over directly in front of the door trying to listen as well. What can I say, our genetics pre-program us for rampant curiosity.
Some minutes later, a small angry woman, with a large stake still clutched in her hand walked out the door. In the foyer she grabbed Debbs by her ear. I know, I have never seen any parent grab a child by her ear, but Debbs’ mom did, dragging Debbs out of the house. All the while she promised vile forms of retribution-like polishing every bit of silver, gold or any kind of metal in their house, cleaning out the chimney-while it was being used, and cooking breakfast for the next forty years for Debbs’ brothers. Which doesn’t sound like much of a punishment, but the way they eat is scary. Debbs’ would have to get up at five in the morning. Every morning, to just cook enough breakfast to get them through till lunch.
While Debbs’ short mother (she isn’t above five-foot-five) was haranguing Dracula, Zoe’s parents arrived, along with Seth’s father. After the Van Helsings less than distinguished leave taking, the others went inside. Things were much quieter with the Arabus and Ushers.
I learned later that Dracula had regaled them of tales of his youth when he had been friends with the Ushers’ ancestors and had stayed at their home on many holiday occasions. He had also visited the tomb of Ramses and had been close friends with Isis of Egypt, both relatives of Seth’s parents. Seth’s father was pleased to learn that his son had fought for what he believed in and saved his girlfriend. Even though he broke his restriction. Knowing that he was going to be in more trouble with his parents, he never the less went on to fight for what was right. And that was only right, Seth’s father felt. Seth’s parents left as quickly as they had entered.
The Ushers came out next. They took Zoe by the hand and walked her out of the door quietly just as Hart’s uncle came barging into the room. He grabbed Hart and hugged him, tears in his eyes. Hart was almost crying too. Then Uncle Joe started cussing a blue streak and threw back his poncho and pulled his six-shooter out.
He was, I hate to say, actually sober, but I was amazed that he had treated Hart as emotionally as he had. May I also say that it was a good thing the six-shooter pointed at Dracula’s head didn’t go off.
Aware of the danger, but unafraid, the Prince of Darkness merely smiled and spoke elegantly about how brave and what a grand marksman his nephew was. The wily old Devil also complimented Joe Hyde on what a fine job he had done in training Hart to shoot. Dracula even had the gall and the good sense to ask if Hart’s uncle was related to Clint Eastwood. The gun went back into Uncle Joe’s holster while Dracula and Uncle Joe had a shot of whiskey together. You’d think it was some wild west western. Joe Hyde left with his nephew, his arm clasped around his shoulder.
I raised an eyebrow at Dagan. “Talk about smooth as glass, your grandfather is full of it.”
“What a great politician he would have made. I think he reminds me somewhat of Thomas Jefferson,” Bea remarked. “I’ve never seen anything so bad go so right so fast. Clint Eastwood….” Bea had to stop because she was giggling. Her giggles were cut short when a hard knock sounded on the door.
Adrian answered and Bea’s stepmother and father suddenly appeared in the doorway, both wearing expressions as dark as the blackest of bl
acks in a black hole. But Dracula, being the consummate ambassador of diplomatic skills that he was, walked out to greet them.
He then proceeded to regale the Franklins with his meeting with Ben Franklin in London. Yes, Dagan’s grandfather had diplomatic skills that would have put James Monroe and even Ben Franklin himself to shame.
Dagan’s grandfather spoke to the Franklins for at least twenty minutes and when they left, Mrs. Franklin was smiling smugly as she remarked to Bea about a story Dracula had just told her about Ben. I was relieved. At least Bea would be allowed to associate with me again. I had worried that her stepmom would cry that I was a bad influence.
I looked at Dagan and grinned. “I think I’m beginning to like your grandpa.” I changed my mind about two seconds later when my parents walked inside the foyer. Their expressions were wary, hurt and angry. I wasn’t invited into Dracula’s lair like the others. As I anxiously waited, my parents spoke with Dracula until the first rays of sunshine crossed the horizon and Dracula had to retire to his coffin.
On the way home as I sat in the back seat of our car, I learned that my dad was furious that Dracula had put us all in danger. My mother was ready to stake him herself. But then Dracula talked about the past and the Frankensteins he had known. He had cited how brave and clever they were and what great scientists, a tribute to mankind and monster kind. The Prince of Darkness also explained that he had chosen me to be a candidate for his grandson’s bride.
This set my father off on a tear that I was too young and certainly not ready for marriage. He also told Dracula that arranged marriages were outdated and rather retro. But then, Dracula had said that I was just one on the list of candidates, which of course infuriated my father more as he exclaimed that no one could make a better bride than a Frankenstein Bride.
Wearing a slight smile, my mother explained this to me on our drive home. She started to laugh, saying that Dracula had gotten the best of my father. For my father went from raging that testing his daughter was dangerous and deceitful, to ranting at Dracula for having more than one name on his bride’s list. My father, of course, didn’t think it was funny, and I had the bad sense to laugh, until he turned to me and explained my punishment. I think I would rather have cooked breakfast for Debbs’ brothers than suffer my ignoble fate.
EPILOGUE
Most of us missed the Halloween dance and we heard they crowded the floor. Unhappily, I can’t get out much any more, and neither can most of my close friends. Debbs and me are both on restriction until the New Year. Zoe gets off restriction the week of Christmas, while Bea is grounded until her stepmom’s birthday at the end of January. After that, Bea can’t go anywhere with us after dark.
Hart, who never gets grounded, is grounded until Thanksgiving for risking his life. It is Hart’s first time, and I think deep down he is kind of proud of his uncle caring enough to give him some boundaries. Seth, who figured that since he broke restriction he was going to be in so much more trouble, actually got off light. His father was so proud of his courage that he let him off being grounded four days early. Of course, he doesn’t have anybody to hang out with, except Jason after school.
I feel sorry for Seth, since Jason is being a horse’s ass about everything. He says he doesn’t care that he didn’t get to meet the Prince of Darkness, but I know he’s lying. Jason’s also being hateful to me and super critical, because I’m in love with Dagan. So I basically don’t talk to him much right now.
The other people I’m still mad at are Carol and Robbie. We got them back for their cemetery ghoul plot. Bea made up a ghoul corpse that looked real and stank. We set the invention in Carol’s new car. Ha! She didn’t take it well. She actually threw up and so far she’s had her car detailed at least two times since the incident. I hear it still smells.
We got Robbie back, by putting itching powder in her cheerleading uniform, her gym uniform and all the shoes she had at school. Then we hung a sign on her locker. ‘Scratch, it’s what dogs do.’ Needless to say she shredded the sign like it was spaghetti. She also scratched a lot.
Bea had been voted Pumpkin Queen for the Halloween Dance, so her mom did actually let her go for an hour to the dance, accept the Pumpkin Crown, and then come home. The rest of us stayed home thinking of the dance.
Since the Halloween Dance is the funnest dance of the year, we had picked out our costumes two months in advance. Hart had been going to go as a Blue Avatar. Debbs had thought to go as Isis, an Egyptian goddess, while Seth was going as the Mummy. What a shock. Instead, Seth went over to Debbs’ house and watched scary movies.
Bea went as the Statue of Liberty and Jason went as Dracula-isn’t that telling? I had decided to go as a gypsy. I know, it’s a pretty tame costume, but I had found this great swirling skirt of black, red and gold and I thought I looked great in it. Even though I’m grounded, I wore it for Halloween anyway, because at the Frankenstein house everybody dressed for the holiday occasion. Since I was grounded and couldn’t leave the house, Dagan got to visit with me and my family. After we all ate pizza, with the exception of Dagan, Dagan took me out on the back porch.
Suddenly, music came from within, the sounds of a slow dance by the old group Chicago. My mom loved them. And she was a bit of a romantic as well.
Dagan asked me to dance. So our first dance was beneath the moonlight under a starry sky, with the love of my life in my arms. I’m pretty sure my parents were watching me from the window of the den, along with my brother and sisters. Still, we danced to the sound of ‘Wishing You were Here.’
It was romantic and a little corny. I loved it. Every minute. It also turned out to be a bit prophetic. For as the seasons began to change, so did locations for some. As the hazy wet of winter closed in on my city, Dagan had to leave San Antonio. He left a little over a week after our Halloween dance. He was going to travel with his grandfather to Transylvania. He had a great deal to learn about the serious business of being a vampire of the Dracula line.
So, a month later, I’m learning what it is like to have a long- distance romance with a royal vampire prince. We talk almost every night by e-mail or text. But hey, I’m only human. I miss him. I’m lonely and I can’t even go riding around with my friends after school, or go digging up bones in the graveyard. But I’ll persevere because that is what a Frankenstein does. We have long stood strong against villagers chasing us with burning torches. Stood tough against being reviled with ugly name-calling. Stood stoically when lighting strikes and burns up our newest reanimated creation. Frankensteins never cry over spilt milk or spilt lab beakers. We don’t get all out of whack just because we’re stuck at our stupid home for like forever. We just go on persevering, because it’s in our genes, and I don’t mean Levis. We don’t’ complain, well, not all that much. So, what else can I tell you?
I’m a Frankenstein.
Being grounded is cruel and unusual punishment.
Having a long-distance romance with a vampire prince just sucks the big time!
Table of Contents
Chapter One
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER Three
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER Seven
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURtEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXteen
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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