“Nope, I’m not doing this. Don’t take advantage of my feelings, Reagan.”
Silence hung between us. “It’s cold, Ben,” I said. “Let’s go home.”
“It’s not as cold for us as it is for Annabelle,” Ben bit out.
Ben’s words threw a wrench in my gut. I knew he was right about Annabelle.
Ben obliged me and drove us both back to the mansion.
I sat in the kitchen with Ben and my Aunt Jennifer. Ben explained to Jennifer what he saw.
“These murders appear to be random,” Ben said.
My Aunt Jennifer shook her head. “Nothing is ever random, especially not murder.”
“What about serial killers?” I asked. “Sometimes their kills are random. Sometimes it’s all about the opportunity for them.”
My Aunt Jennifer regarded me. “Castle Heights was relatively quiet until recently. We’ve worked hard to eradicate this town of evil.”
“What do the police say?” I asked.
My Aunt Jennifer grimaced. “I’m good friends with the Police Chief. Not that I should be telling you this, but he has no leads. Listen, Reagan, you’re not going to like what I’m going to say, but with these murders going around, and your powers being weakened, I don’t think that it’s such a good idea for you to stay alone in the Dracul manor.”
“The killer won’t go there,” I said.
“How can you be so sure? We have no idea who the killer is,” Ben said. “He could be watching his victims. It’s clear that he targets girls and women.”
“All the more reason for you to be cautious, sweetie,” my Aunt Jennifer said to me.
Ben twirled a pencil in between his fingers. “There was a lady found outside of Hattie’s Bar and Grill last night. She worked for Hattie as a waitress. They found her dead in the dumpster this morning. It appears that the killer has become insatiable. The frequency of the murders has certainly increased.”
“How do you know that?” my Aunt Jennifer asked.
“There was an article about it in the Castle Heights Daily.”
My heart quickened at the mention of a daily paper. For some reason, I had always had this dream to work for a newspaper. Sure, there were those who said that traditional journalism was dying, but I for one loved a good newspaper. My mother always brought them home with her when she worked at the grocery store some time ago. I used to write my own newspapers, making up new stories about fairy-tale lands and storybook characters. Sometimes I made up people. “I’m going to go use the computer in the library,” I said.
“You should really let me buy you a computer, Reagan,” my aunt said. “For school.”
“I’ll earn the money for a computer on my own. But I appreciate you allowing me to use the one here in the house. Say, Ben, do you still have that paper? I’d like to take a look.”
“Sure. It’s in my room on my bed,” Ben said.
“Care if I go into your room alone and get it?”
“Help yourself. Just stay out of my underwear drawer.”
“I’ll try my best,” I said, frowning.
The doorbell rang just as I was about to leave the room.
“I’ll answer it,” my Aunt Jennifer said.
“Are you going to be okay?” I asked Ben. I placed my hand on his shoulder. He brushed it off. “I’ll be fine,” he said.
“I’ll be in the library if you need me,” I said. I was a little hurt that Ben pushed my hand away, but I understood that he was upset with me because he had feelings for me, and I wasn’t reciprocating them in the way that he wanted.
“Yeah, you’ll be there if I need you, but for how long,” Ben murmured.
I walked out of the kitchen without giving Ben an answer.
“Dimitri!” I said after I practically ran into him.
Dimitri swept the dark hair which hung over his forehead to the side. “I went by the school to pick you up,” he said.
“The school released us early. There was a murder.”
“I heard.”
I grabbed Dimitri’s arm. It was hard and muscular. I leaned in and whispered to him, “You wouldn’t happen to know who is responsible?” I asked.
“Dimitri, can I offer you some tea?” I heard my Aunt Jennifer ask. I let go of Dimitri’s arm and stepped back.
“No, thank you, ma’am,” he replied.
“Don’t call me ma’am. That makes me feel old,” my Aunt Jennifer answered.
“Sorry about that,” Dimitri said with a sheepish grin.
When my Aunt Jennifer left us alone in the hall, Dimitri leaned in and whispered, “How would I know who is responsible? Just because I’m a vampire doesn’t mean that all I know about is killing. We don’t even have to kill humans anymore for survival if we don’t want to. I mean, some are purists, especially those who follow my father. They wouldn’t be caught dead drinking synth, but that’s the exception, not the rule. Most vamps just want to fit in with everyone else.”
“Do you think werewolves are responsible?”
“You mean lycans? They aren’t the killers you think they are either. At least as a group,” Dimitri said. “You go to school with vampires and lycans. Surely not all of them are murderers. Otherwise, you’d probably already be dead by now. Look, do you know how old Castle Heights is? Do you know how long vamps and wolves have walked together with humans?”
“No, how long?” I asked.
“A long time. I think non-humans have shown a great deal of restraint.”
“Then who is doing this?”
“Could be anybody with any sort of background,” Dimitri said.
“My Aunt Jennifer says that I shouldn’t housesit for you since there’s a murderer on the loose. She says she doesn’t think I should be alone.”
“I actually agree with her,” Dimitri said.
“You do?”
“Yep, which is why I actually came by to fire you.”
“Fire me?”
“Uh huh.”
I crossed my arms. “Well, that’s rude,” I said.
“And reasonable. Look, I’d like you to stay alive, okay?”
“Is that so? That’s why you used me for bait.”
“That’s before I knew you,” Dimitri said.
“Before you knew me? You don’t know me now.”
“And I’d like to change that.”
“And how do you propose we go about that?”
“Dinner and a movie. Nobody will mess with you while you’re with me.”
I thought about Ben. I thought it would be insensitive for me to go out on a date with Dimitri while Ben sulked in despair. I also felt pretty bad myself. To think that poor Mrs. Bright had lost her daughter.
“I can’t tonight,” I said. “Maybe when you get back in town?”
Dimitri bit his lip like he was thinking it over. “I understand. It was a crazy day. Your aunt’s on alert, huh? Hell, the whole town is probably on alert. All right. When I get back in town then.”
“Thank you for understanding,” I said.
Dimitri grabbed my chin gently, the way people did in movies when they were about to kiss someone. My stomach dropped. He stared deeply into my eyes. “Promise you won’t leave me hanging when I come back, yeah?”
“I promise,” I whispered.
“Let’s hug on it then.”
“Uh, okay,” I said.
Dimitri wrapped his enormous arms around me. I buried my face in his hard chest. He smelled good. Not dead at all.
Someone cleared their throat loudly. I jumped out of Dimitri’s arms.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” Ben said.
“You’re not,” I said. “We were just saying goodbye.”
Dimitri grinned at Ben while Ben scowled. “Later, Reagan,” Dimitri said as he strolled towards the door.
“Bye,” I said to Dimitri. “Have a safe trip.”
“Yeah, have a safe trip,” Ben said. His voice dripped with condescension. “We wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
I hurried after Dimitri and opened the front door to let him out of the mansion.
“Bye pretty girl,” Dimitri said before he tipped his head and zipped out into the night.
“I don’t see what you see in that guy anyway,” Ben said later that night when we were sitting on the sofa watching television.
“Who said I see anything in him?” I asked before I threw back a handful of popcorn mixed with M&Ms.
“I can tell by the way you’re making goo-goo eyes at him that you like him.”
“I don’t even know him.”
“You’re mesmerized by his sexy vampire charm aren’t you?”
“No,” I said.
“Liar. I’ve been alive long enough to know that girls dig the supes.”
“Are you jealous?” I asked.
“No,” Ben said. “Why would I be jealous?”
“You’re a cute funny guy,” I said. “So yeah, why be jealous. Plus you’re alive. I’m sure you don’t have any trouble finding someone to go out with.”
“I may not have trouble finding someone, but that’s not the point. I’m looking for the one, not someone.”
“Ben, you’re only eighteen years old,” I said. “I think you have time to find the one.”
“Actually, I think I don’t,” Ben said. He changed the channel on the television.
He stopped flicking the channels when he landed on the news. “Crown prince Heath is searching for his bride,” the newscaster said. “There will be a ball held at the Chastain mansion on February 1st. Special invitations have been extended for those invited to attend.”
“Oh, brother, the prince. Don’t make me gag,” Ben said.
“Do you like anyone lately, Ben?” I asked.
Ben crossed his arms. “No, not really,” he said.
“I wonder what the ball will be like.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
“You’ll go with me, right? You’ll be my date?”
Ben slid upward on the couch. I thought I saw a smile. I nudged him. Then I tickled him.
“I’m not ticklish,” he said.
“Oh, I bet you are. I bet you have at least one tickle spot.” I started to poke around.
“Maybe I do. But I’ll never tell you where it is,” Ben said.
“Come on, tell me.”
“Tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.”
“I don’t know if I have one. No one has ever tickled me,” I admitted.
“Hmm,” Ben said.
“I think I’m going to go to bed,” I said.
“I’m staying here,” Ben declared.
I stood up but hesitated to walk out of the sitting room. I wondered if Ben was avoiding bed because of what he saw earlier that day.
“I have an idea,” I said.
Ben faced forward still looking at the t.v. “What’s that?”
“Sleepover in my room. You can crash on the chaise lounge or sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor.”
Ben turned around. “Will there be snacks and gossip and scary stories?” he asked. “Oh, squee.”
“Ben!” I shouted.
“It’s okay, Reagan. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me. I can handle myself. I’ll go to bed soon. I’m not tired right now.”
“Okay, fine, but if you change your mind, the offer is open all night.”
I thought about giving Ben a kiss goodnight on the cheek but decided against it. I didn’t know what I was going to do about Ben and me.
I bumped into my Aunt Jennifer on my way up the long staircase. “How’s Ben?” she asked.
“Sulky. Sad. Disturbed. I don’t know exactly.”
“Ben’s going through a tough time right now. Seeing Annabelle in the girl’s locker room shower today like that didn’t help.”
“What was wrong with him before?” I asked, playing innocent.
“He’s in love,” my Aunt Jennifer said.
“In love?” I asked, lowering my eyes.
“The ball is coming up. You have to be there, so I thought maybe you and I could go dress shopping tomorrow? What do you think?”
“Dress shopping?”
“Yes, and don’t give me any nonsense about how you can’t allow me to buy you a dress. You’re a part of our family, and there are appearances to be maintained for the purpose of our family’s social standing. So I will not take no for an answer.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but you’re starting to sound like my mother,” I said.
My Aunt Jennifer clutched her pink pearl necklace. “Oh, Dear. Please never say that again. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I never want to be lumped into the same category as your mother. No offense, but that woman is impossible to deal with.”
“So then why did you ask her to come back to Castle Heights?”
“Some things shall remain a secret for as long as possible. This town was built on the back of secrets, and that is the way it shall stay, but suffice it to say that your mother plays a very big part in maintaining the safety and prosperity of this town. It may not look that way, but it is so. Dresses tomorrow. Maybe milkshakes?”
“Okay,” I said. “After school.”
“Oh, that dreadful school.”
“Not too long ago, you said it was the best school around,” I said.
“Forget that. Be on alert at all times. Someone has got to talk to the principal about getting some better security.”
I wondered just who was going to police the girl’s locker room. No one could be everywhere all the time without infringing upon student privacy. Although, I decided for myself that maybe avoiding the girl’s locker room and bathroom might be a good idea.
I said goodnight to my aunt and trudged upstairs. I laid in the bed that night imagining what it would be like to go to a royal ball. I thought of all of the fairy-tale movies I had seen. I pictured myself in an elaborate ballgown being asked to dance by the prince. I would have to hurry up and leave the ball before the prince figured out who I was—the only girl in Castle Heights ignorant of her own identity.
I wracked my brain. Why did the people around me have the names of famous novel characters. Why did I have powers? Why was my hair so long? Why did it grow back so rapidly? Why was my power connected to my hair? Was there something I could glean from the pages of a book?
I hopped out of bed in the middle of the night and tiptoed to the household library. I found the book Grimms’ Fairy Tales. I snatched the book off of the gilded table on which it sat.
The book sprung open, and the pages of the book turned on their own. Startled, I dropped the book to the floor.
5
Something told me to leave the book where it laid.
And I did, but it was the laughter in the room that surprised me, scared me, and overtook me then. I turned around to see what was behind me.
A creature with the top half of a man, but the bottom half of a spider tapped a few of its spider feet on the floor. His human arms came together. His face was pale, with no color at all.
“My daughter,” the creature said.
I stepped back.
“Get back, Anansi,” my mother hissed. “Step away from my daughter.”
“You mean our daughter,” he said.
“You promised. You promised to stay away, but instead you made that deal with Dracula,” my mother hissed. Her hair was in disarray. She wore a black robe wrapped tightly around her petite body.
“I made no such deals with anyone. I am a god. I have no need for deals.”
“That’s not so, and you know it!” my mother shouted
The spider creature claiming to be my father scurried towards me. I stumbled back. My butt hit the floor.
“I shall take her with me and train her in my way.”
“No, you won’t. You can’t have her,” my mother said.
“I will take her. I will,” the creature said. His white eyes flicked back and forth unnaturally.
I managed to get up. I scurri
ed to my mother and hid behind her.
My Aunt Jennifer pushed past the both of us. She cast her hands in the air.
The creature laughed.
“Go away. You are not welcome here,” my Aunt Jennifer said.
“You retreat from war, and you think it is over. I am busy. Your time is but seconds to me. We shall commence what we started sooner or later.”
My Aunt Jennifer’s fingers emitted a green light, but light danced around the shape of the creature without changing a thing.
The creature laughed again. “There are more parts of my plan which need to fall into place before I take her. But I’ll be back.”
And just like that, the air was sucked out of the room for a second, and the creature was gone from the library.
My Aunt Jennifer’s eyes traveled to the floor. She lifted the book with her hands without touching it, and chains and locks manifested around it. She threw the book back upon the shelf.
“Who was that?” I asked. I was covered in sweat. I didn’t feel too much like myself anymore. “He said that he…he said that he is…”
“It’s true,” my mother said. “He is your father. The god of stories.”
My mother’s hair was white throughout. Something had happened to her. I reached out to her. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it only for a brief second.
“The god of stories?” I asked.
“Have a seat. This is going to be a long conversation,” my mother said.
I walked over to the largest couch in the room and sat down.
“You had to choose the most powerful purveyor of stories to sleep with,” my Aunt Jennifer said, rolling her eyes. “If there was ever a social climber, you are it,” she said to my mother.
My mother gave her the middle finger.
“This place is story,” my mother said. “Victorian stories, stories from our era, the era that the Grimms were born. Once upon a time, your mother and I defeated your father with the help of the others after we unleashed the stories at this place. We wanted to release our stories from Anansi’s grasp, but they were catalogued with other Victorian stories, and so here we are, in Castle Heights. Hence Dracula, hence the Van Helsings, the Fausts, and the Grays, and many more. All the creatures from these stories exist here. That is why there are vampires, lycans, and shapeshifters at your school. Hence why there is a prince and a ball. And you.”
Castle Heights: Crown of Glass Page 5
