Kissing Coffins vk-2

by Эллен Шрайбер

  "There can be risk anywhere. It's not exclusive to vampires. You just have to be careful."

  "But I don't want you to be near danger in any world."

  "I won't if we are together," I argued.

  "I don't want you to think you have to change who you are to be with me," he said earnestly.

  "I know that," I assured him.

  "Or ask that you change."

  "That's why you left Dullsville," I realized out loud. "You were afraid I'd want to become a vampire."

  "Yes. But there was a more imminent danger presiding. A vampire with white hair."

  "Jagger."

  He nodded.

  "Then why did you go to Hipsterville?"

  "Hipsterville?" he asked, confused.

  "That's what I call it," I confessed with a grin.

  "Of course," he said with a laugh. "I got word from my parents that Jagger had found an apartment in ‘Hipsterville’ and was searching cemeteries in neighboring communities for my grandmother's monument. Once he'd found it, he would know which town I was living in."

  "That was what the note meant," I remembered. "A warning that Jagger was on his way to find you. To seek revenge."

  "What note?" he asked, confused.

  "In your room," I confessed.

  "You snuck into the Mansion after I left?"

  I flashed him a cheesy grin.

  "I should have known," he said, and smiled back. Then his playful tone turned serious. "But more important than finding me, he may have found you."

  "Well, he did, but that was my own fault."

  "I was going to head him off at the pass before he came to Dullsville—confront him before he confronted me. Jameson and I found an abandoned manor house so we could hide while I made my plan. But I didn't plan on one thing."

  "I'd follow you?"

  "I saw the most beautiful girl climbing down the backyard tree."

  "That was you in the attic window?"

  "Yes."

  "So why didn't you—"

  "I kept a close eye on you. I had to, didn't I?"

  "So why is Jagger out to get you?"

  A sharp howl came from the screen, distracting Alexander from my question.

  "We need to get you to the cemetery—to sacred ground," Vladimir warned. The handsome professor led her through the dark, marshy woods, riddled with fog. Vladimir held Jenny close as the howling sounds grew louder.

  Alexander and I were fixed on the movie.

  "How can we be together," Jenny asked, "if I'm not a vampire?"

  Suddenly the TV screen went black. Alexander placed the remote he was holding on the coffee table.

  He stood up and held his hand out for me.

  "How can we be together?" I asked, rising.

  "How can we not be?" he reassured me. Alexander grabbed my hand, and I reluctantly followed him out of the Mansion and toward my house. I felt like a kid at Disney World at closing time.

  The night air in Dullsville felt fresher than ever, the dark sky clearer, the wet grass crisper. "So why was Jagger seeking revenge?" I asked.

  "It's a long story," he said, with a yawn.

  Alexander seemed so content forgetting the past, our hands entwined as we walked side by side. But I wouldn't rest until I knew.

  "I have all night. And you have 'til sunrise."

  "You're right," he said, as we walked down the street. "It was about a promise I never made."

  "A promise?" I asked.

  "To take a girl for all of eternity."

  "What girl?"

  "Jagger's twin sister, Luna."

  "He has a twin?"

  Alexander nodded.

  "Well, who made the promise?" I questioned aloud.

  "My family did the year the three of us were born."

  “Like an arranged marriage?"

  "It's more than marriage."

  "So why Luna?"

  "When she was born, it was said she didn't respond to the darkness but seemed to flourish in the light. She refused to drink anything besides milk. Desperate, her family took her to a local underground doctor who pronounced her 'human.'"

  I laughed. Alexander didn't seem to find it funny.

  "It just sounds strange to me, that's all," I said, as we turned a corner.

  "Well, it wasn't funny to the Maxwells. They were devastated. Luna had to live her life in daylight, while her family lived at night. She never even bonded with Jagger. At the time of the agreement, my family and his were very close. It was understood that when Luna was eighteen, we'd meet for a covenant ceremony and unite together for eternity, ensuring her a place in the vampire world."

  "So what happened?" I asked, as we cut across the lawn through Oakley Woods.

  "As I grew up, my family traveled and our families became distant. Because Luna and I lived in different worlds, I never even knew her. When it came time for the ceremony, I had seen her only a few times. She didn't know me, and she was going to be with me forever?"

  "Well, you are quite handsome," I said coyly. "So what did you do?"

  "When it came time to kiss her for eternity, I leaned over and kissed her good-bye."

  "That must have been hard for you, being a vampire and all," I whispered.

  "I was doing it for both of us. Of course, the Maxwells didn't see it that way. They felt that I had spurned Luna, therefore offending her entire family. They were outraged. My parents quickly arranged for me to come here with Jameson and live in my grandmother's Mansion."

  "Wow. It really had to have been tough following your heart when it went against your vampire community," I said. "And even more difficult to have been forced to leave Romania because of that decision."

  "When I saw this raven-haired beauty trick-or-treating from my attic window, I knew I'd rather spend an eternity alone waiting to see her again than spend one with someone I didn't love."

  Just then we reached my front door. Alexander gave me a long good-night kiss.

  "Tomorrow after sunset," I reminded him.

  "And not a second later," he said.

  Alexander waved to me as I opened the front door. I walked inside and turned around to wave good-bye.

  He had already disappeared, just as I knew he would.

  14 Changeling

  “It's after midnight," my dad warned as I tiptoed past him watching ESPN in the family room.

  "Dad, I'm sixteen. It's a weekend."

  "But this is—" he began in a stern voice.

  "I know, your house. And I'm your daughter, and until I'm on my own I'll live by your rules."

  "Well, at least you were paying attention."

  "You've been saying it to me since I was two."

  "You've been sneaking out since you could walk."

  "I'm sorry, it won't happen again," I said.

  I handed him his soda that was sitting on the coffee table and gave him a good-night hug.

  "I'm glad you had a good time at Aunt Libby's," he said. "But I'm also glad you're back home."

  "Me, too, Dad. Me, too."

  Exhausted, I crawled into bed without even removing my rain-dampened clothes. I switched off the Edward Scissorhands light on my nightstand and licked my lips. Alexander's kisses still lingered on my mouth. I curled up with my Mickey Malice plush, wishing I were holding Alexander instead. As I lay in bed, I tossed and turned. I couldn't wait for tomorrow's sunset.

  Moments later, I felt a presence stirring in the quiet. I glanced around, but all the shadows were from the furniture. I checked under my bed; even a bat couldn't squeeze between all the junk I had stashed underneath it. I opened my closet door, but the only clothes I found were on hangers or strewn on the floor. I tiptoed to my window and pulled back the curtain, looking out into our backyard.

  "Alexander?"

  I saw a darkened figure walking away from the house, into the night.

  "Good night, my love," I said, pressing my hand to the window.

  I returned to bed and fell asleep.

  The next morni
ng, I awoke with a jolt. Yesterday's events seemed like a dream.

  When I rose in my stiffened clothes, I realized that those events were real.

  "Why are you still in your outfit from yesterday?" my mom nagged when I entered the kitchen. "Don't they talk about proper hygiene in health class?"

  I wiped my haggard eyes and stumbled to the bathroom. I peeled off my day-old clothes and stepped into the shower.

  Warm water flowed over my pale skin. My black nail and toe polish looked stark against the clear white tub and tile that surrounded me.

  I was back in Dullsville and Alexander was in his Mansion. We could finally live our lives together. But my boyfriend was a vampire and his nemesis had come to hunt him down. I'd never thought Dullsville could be so, well, not dull!

  My whole life had changed in just a few days. For sixteen years I'd been living the same monotonous existence. My greatest concern had been finding black nail polish in a pastel town. Now it was getting through a sun-filled day alone while Alexander slept peacefully in his Mansion. We wouldn't be able to go for afternoon bike rides, meet after school, or spend our weekend days hanging out.

  It was hard to imagine that I wouldn't ever be able to share sunlight with him. I was beginning to have doubts that I could handle this new world.

  "It was a blast! I bought you this," I said, and handed Becky a package as we sat on the Evans Park swings.

  She opened a Hello Kitty journal. "Cool. Thanks!"

  "They have the best stores ever! And I went to a place called the Coffin Club. I met this weird guy.”

  “Really? Matt and I just went to the movies.”

  “If I tell you a secret, a super-duper colossal secret, do you promise not to tell anyone?"

  "Can I tell Matt?" she asked eagerly.

  Matt, Matt, Matt—who cared about Matt when I was bursting to tell her about my encounter with Jagger and the truth about Alexander.

  "Why are we talking about Matt when I have the biggest news of a lifetime?"

  "Well, you always talk about Alexander," she barked back. Her porcelain cheeks flushed ruby red. "And I listen to you all the time. Just 'cause you went away and had exciting things happen doesn't mean I didn't, too."

  I was surprised by Becky's outburst. It had been only a few days since she had hooked up with Matt, but if she felt for him half of what I felt for Alexander, I'd have to understand her intensity. Becky had always been so mousy. Now that she had her own beau, she had become more confident. Our relationship had changed. We had never had anyone before but each other.

  "Fine," I said, reluctantly. "You're right. I'm glad you are going out with Matt. Someone as awesome as you should have an awesome boyfriend."

  "Thanks, Raven. Now, what were you going to tell me?"

  I paused, debating if she could handle the vampirey info.

  "Is Matt going to show up here again?"

  She nodded. "He's right behind you."

  I guess I had my answer.

  "So, Monster Girl, how's Monster Boy?" a male voice called as I left the park. I glanced around to find Trevor in his red-and-white soccer uniform.

  "I thought I was done with you. Are you always going to be in my face?" I asked.

  "As long as you wear black I will be. Have you two made any Monster Babies yet?" he asked.

  "No, but when we do, I'll be sure to name one after you."

  I walked away, and Trevor continued to follow.

  "How do you do it? Play soccer, spend your daddy's money, and annoy people, all at the same time?" I asked.

  "I could do more than annoy you, if you'd let me," he said, coyly fixing his green eyes on me.

  "So that line isn't working on the cheerleaders anymore?"

  If Trevor had ever truly bothered me before, he was now just a pest given what I'd recently been through.

  "I still think there's something fishy going on in that mansion," he said, unrelenting.

  "Give it a rest."

  "Don't you think it's strange that Alexander's never seen during the day?"

  "I wish you weren't seen during the day. Besides, he's homeschooled."

  "My mom told me she spotted that freaky butler man hanging out at the butcher."

  "Yeah. That is strange. The butler eats food. Who knew?"

  "He requested 'the freshest, bloodiest meat you have.' "

  "Would you prefer they drink your blood?" I teased.

  He looked at me in shock.

  "Get a life," I said. "Maybe your mom should be paying attention to you more and gossiping less."

  "You leave my mother—"

  "I really don't have time for you or your mother anymore. Maybe it's time you get a new best friend," I said, and walked away.

  15 Nightmare

  Impatient, I arrived at the Mansion before sunset. Jameson's Mercedes was once again parked in the driveway.

  I sat on the uneven front steps, picking at the dandelions and weeds growing between the cracking cement. The door slowly creaked open.

  Jameson greeted me.

  "I'm so glad you're back," I said, squeezing his bony frame.

  "I am, too, Miss Raven. I missed the Mansion and our favorite guest."

  "I missed you, too. And I know one fabulous lady who was bummed that you were gone…"

  "Miss Ruby?" he asked, his eyes coming alive.

  "Are you going to call her?" I asked.

  "After what I've done? I couldn't."

  "You have to! Besides, it wasn't your fault. Just tell her you were unexpectedly called out of town."

  "She'd never forgive me. And she shouldn't."

  "Ruby loved the flowers. Besides, there's a carnival this weekend. She'll need a date. And you'll need one, too."

  I could see Jameson pondering the decision, excited about seeing Ruby again, but unsure if he could muster the courage to call her.

  Alexander bounced down the grand staircase, wearing black jeans and a black HIM T-shirt. He gave me a long hello kiss.

  "That was sweet of you to come by last night," I said, in his arms.

  "I didn't come by," he said, confused.

  "You didn't? I saw a guy in my backyard."

  Alexander looked worried.

  "I bet it was Trevor," I guessed. "I saw him after school. I think he still blames me for his plummeting popularity."

  "If you need me to talk to him, I will."

  I'd always defended myself from Trevor. It was refreshing to finally have someone who would stand up for me. "You are my superhero!" I exclaimed, and gave him a hug.

  "I found this really cool place."

  "Cool place? In Dullsville?"

  He grabbed my hand and led me out of the Mansion and down the street.

  "It's so ironic that the rumors Trevor started turned out to be true," I said to my vampire boyfriend.

  "About me, or you?" he teased.

  "I mean, I thought you were…then I didn't. But then I did. And then when I totally didn't again, I found out you were."

  "Now I'm confused. Am I? Or am I not?"

  "That is the question." I squeezed his hand.

  "I just don't want to lose you or put you in danger."

  "I love danger."

  When we passed Dullsville's cemetery, I wondered where we were going.

  "Just a little bit farther," he assured me.

  I would walk to China if Alexander were by my side. I had so many questions burning inside me, I didn't know which to ask first.

  "Did you grow up with Jagger?"

  "Our families were close when we were born. I think he was jealous of Luna. With her living as a human, he knew what he was missing—school, sports, friends. He is scrawny, but I think he really dreamed of being a jock like Trevor. I kind of feel sorry for him. He wasn't able to find something he enjoyed, besides revenge. But then my family traveled. My parents were bohemians, and we really never fit in with our kind. We were what was known as vampire vegetarians."

  "Cool. So how do you survive? Connections with th
e butcher?" I joked, referring to my conversation with Trevor.

  "How did you know?" he asked, surprised. "We also have family who have ties to blood banks."

  "Uh…I just guessed," I replied. "My parents were hippies, too. They wouldn't eat anything with eyeballs. But they traded their hippie threads and beaded satchels for Armani suits and briefcases, and they drive their BMWs past PETA protesters on their way to work."

  "Sounds like our parents would make great friends."

  "Just like us."

  Alexander squeezed my hand.

  "I sometimes wonder what it would be like if you changed me. We could stay up all night long, fly into the night, and be bonded for eternity."

  "I've imagined what it would be like if I were born like you. We could go to the same school, lie out in the sun, have picnics in the park. I'd be able to see us reflected together in a mirror. I'd fill my walls with pictures of us at the beach."

  "We share similar dreams."

  "You're a human who wants to be a vampire, and I'm a vampire who wants to be human."

  I gazed up at Alexander with empathy. I hadn't realized he felt as alone in his own world as I did in mine.

  "It's just over there," he said, pointing to an abandoned barn across the train tracks.

  The red barn had seen better days. Boards from the gray roof and side were missing, like teeth on a smiling kindergartner.

  We stepped through the door frame. The door was missing, but the wooden beams that held the barn together still remained intact. Vacant stalls stood on one side, an empty hayloft on the other. Alexander grabbed a gas lantern that hung from a hook on the wall and turned it on. He took my hand and led me toward a darkened corner.

  "Are we going up into the hayloft?" I asked coyly.

  "Follow me," he said. "Don't be afraid. They won't bite," he said with a laugh.

  "Who's they?" I wondered. I imagined a family of vampires, hiding out in the stable. Maybe long-lost relatives of his.

  I held his hand hard as he pulled me into the corner of the abandoned barn. I could see two slanted eyes staring back at me from the corner. I stepped into the moonlight to discover a powder white mama cat with a litter of snowball white baby kittens—and there in the mix by herself was one teeny black cat.