Cryptic Cravings (6 page)

“Yes, Phoenix,” I said, recal ing Alexander’s purple-haired alter ego who convinced Jagger to keep the Dungeon a secret. “I was crazy about him as wel . Not like you, I mean. But like you.”

Then it hit me.

“What if he came back?” I wondered aloud. “What if Phoenix made sure that the club remained only mortal?

Except for you, Sebastian, and the others, of course. But the Covenant would remain closed.”

Alexander thought for a moment.

I was sure this was a great idea. “Phoenix was able to keep peace when Jagger was trying to make the Coffin Club nefarious and bring in more vampires,” I said. “Phoenix stood up against Jagger, with the club members by his side, and forced him to keep the clubsters happy by keeping it a secret and civil club. He can do the same here by keeping it mortal.”

“I’m not so sure . . .”

“And if Jagger doesn’t want to listen, Phoenix could threaten to go back to the Coffin Club. He could shut down that club—Jagger’s flagship location. Jagger wouldn’t let anything jeopardize the Coffin Club again. Phoenix is ultimately the only one with real power over Jagger.”

Alexander fiddled with a dandelion in the grass.

“I’d love to see him again,” I said, taking another approach. “That sexy purple hair. That hot rod motorcycle. Those tight black pants. And now that I know it’s you,” I said, sidling up to Alexander, “I might even be able to give him that kiss he was looking for.”

“Hey, don’t be cheating on me with me,” he teased.

“Oh, it would be so cool. The Crypt. Dancing together and hanging out with Scarlet and Onyx. Dul svil e has come alive since I met you.”

I rested my head on his shoulder as I fantasized about the Crypt; Alexander was lost in thought, too. I’d put a lot of ideas in his head. I decided to change the subject.

“Our birthdays are just around the corner,” I said. “Becky wants to know what we’re going to do.”

“We should celebrate them together,” he offered.

“That’s what I said!”

“We could throw a joint party,” he suggested.

“Real y? That would be the best birthday ever!”

“And I think I know just the place,” Alexander said. “It’s cal ed the Crypt.”

The fol owing day, Becky caught up to me after Language Arts class.

She ran up and grabbed my arm, bursting to tel me major news. “I heard that Dul svil e is getting a new club!” she said.

I was shocked. Gossip traveled so fast in Dul svil e it was scary. But this breaking news had found its way to Becky particularly fast. I had to wonder if Jagger was spreading it himself.

“What did you hear?” I asked.

“Just that there’s going to be a club—for us!”

“A club? Here?” I acted surprised, but real y I was. Not that there was going to be a club—but that the word was out about it already.

“Yes. And you don’t have to be twenty-one to get in. It’s going to be awesome!”

“Did you hear where it’s going to be?”

“No, but as soon as I find out, I’l let you know.”

The irony was that Becky was tel ing me about the club I should have been tel ing her about al along. She was going to scavenge for information that I already knew. I felt guilty not tel ing her, but until I knew for sure about Jagger’s true intentions, I didn’t want to add gossip to the mil .

“I can’t wait,” Becky said. “It wil be fun to have a place to hang out and dance with Matt.”

I froze. My innocent best friend was planning on coming to the club—the one that Jagger would be inviting unknown vampires to?

“You can’t go—” I blurted out. “I mean, I don’t think it wil be your type of club.”

“Why not? It’s open to everyone.”

That’s the problem, I thought. Mortals and vampires, too.

Would I have to protect Becky from the modern vampire world forever? It appeared I would, at least for the near future.

“I’m just saying,” I began, “if the popular crowd is hanging out there, then it’s not going to be a fun place for us.”

“It’s supposed to be awesome. Matt and his friends wil be going. I’m sure it wil be fine—we can hang with just us.

We’l just keep to ourselves. And besides, clubs are dark and loud. I’ve seen them on TV.”

“Did you hear that there’s going to be a place to rave?” a Prada-bee a few lockers away said to her friend.

“I’ve heard about it,” the friend said. “But I don’t have any info.”

“It would be so cool. We don’t have anywhere we can dance. At least not without a fake ID.” The Prada-bee laughed a snorty laugh.

“Where is it going to be?” her friend asked.

“I heard it’s going to be in that abandoned church.” The Prada-bee spoke in a whisper.

“I was told they’re renting out the country club on Friday nights,” her friend gushed.

“Who is ‘they’?” the Prada-bee asked.

I leaned in.

“I heard they’re going to have it in the graveyard. Surely you’d show up,” Trevor said, spotting me eavesdropping.

“Last to know, as usual?” he asked.

I didn’t even bother with a response.

“Perhaps another highly anticipated event you won’t be invited to?”

“What? You have to be invited?” I asked, breaking my short silence.

“For the opening, of course,” my nemesis said. “They aren’t going to let just anyone in.”

“They are my friends, not yours,” I said. “Believe me, I can make sure you don’t get past the bouncer.” I shut my locker.

“Don’t be so sure,” he said. “I’m on the VIP list.” He slithered up to me so close I could smel the peppermint gum he was chewing. “And if there is a new hot spot club, you’l be needing a date,” he said coyly. He took my hand and before I could withdraw it, he wrote his number on my palm.

Becky passed me hand sanitizer and I did my best to rub it off.

So the Crypt’s grand opening was by invitation only? Jagger was kil er on getting the buzz started. He hadn’t even started to decorate. By the time he did open, he’d have the whole high school lined up around the block waiting to get in.

And I wasn’t sure that was such a great thing after al . The students here would be exposed to unknown vampires.

Once the drinks were flowing and the heat of the dance floor kicked up, who knew which of these mortals would be hanging out with, kissing on, or being driven home by vampires from other towns? And though most of the students had contempt for me and had made my life here in Dul svil e hel by either ignoring or teasing me, I couldn’t let their materialistic lives be in danger. And if anyone in this town was going to fal prey to a handsome vampire, it was going to be me.

Becky and I were hanging out on the soccer field’s bleachers shortly after the sun set. I was doodling in my journal, drawing pictures of what I wanted the club to be like and ideas for gifts for Alexander’s upcoming birthday. I was set to meet him in an hour, after he’d awoken and had dinner. I was kil ing time by doodling as the soccer snobs competitively kicked the black-and-white bal up and down the field against the opposing Tigers.

“Remember when we were here at the game with Sebastian?” Becky asked, referring to when Alexander’s best friend first arrived in Dul svil e.

“Uh-huh . . .”

“I took a picture. Of you and him.”

“Yes . . . I remember,” I said. Then it hit me what Becky had just told me.

“Wel , the weirdest thing happened. I was flipping through the photos on my phone and he’s not there.”

“You must not have saved the picture,” I said. “I do that al the time.”

“No—that’s not what I mean. He isn’t in the picture.”

That was what I was afraid of. “You probably moved it,” I told her.

She picked up the phone and showed me. “Look.”

I saw a picture of me, smiling and angled, as if I was leaning my body against someone. Only there wasn’t anyone else in the picture.

“Isn’t that odd?” she said, perplexed.

“Wel . . . maybe he shifted out of view.”

“I don’t remember him doing that.”

“Or maybe you moved the camera. That happens to me all the time.”

“I know. But the way you are sitting—if he had moved, you would have fal en over. And there is stil this space. And if I moved—then there wouldn’t be al this blank space where he’d been. I can’t figure it out.”

“Looks like they are going to score . . .” I said, attempting to change the subject.

“Don’t you admit it’s weird?” she stressed.

What was I going to say? You took a picture of a vampire. What do you expect?

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I thought you of al people would freak out. It’s almost like out of a scary movie.”

Becky shoved the picture in front of me again.

“Yes. It is weird. But I’m sure he just moved away at the last minute. That’s al .”

I returned to doodling in my journal.

“I guess,” Becky said. “But I’m saving this picture. I was hoping to have a picture of Sebastian. At least I have a cool one of you.”

The game was over and I saw Trevor hanging out by the trees. He was resting his arm against a trunk and was posing in a seductive way that led me to believe whomever he was talking to was of the female persuasion, and of the pretty kind. It was unlike Trevor to be secretive with his women, so I became curious. As he continued to talk and pose, the girl remained hidden in the shadows. After a few minutes I noticed something il uminated by the field lights—bright scarlet hair—the kind that came from a bottle, not used on any of the girls at our high school.

“Where are you going?” Becky asked as I leaped over the bleachers and raced down the metal stairs.

So that’s who’s leaking the info. Jagger must have put her up to it, I immediately surmised. If Trevor’s on board, then Jagger is sure to have a crowd. Jagger knows Trevor wil tel the whole school, along with the whole town.

“Oh, Scarlet!” I said.

She looked surprised to see me, and stepped even further back into the shadows. Trevor also seemed taken aback by my presence.

Just then Matt cal ed to him as the team headed toward the gym. Trevor paused. It was odd for him to have two goth girls in his company. He was used to being surrounded by preppy, conservative types. He was reveling in his rebel ious attraction to us.

“I’ve got to go. . . .” Trevor said reluctantly. I knew he wanted to stay with us, but it would have to remain a fantasy for him.

The way he lingered in front of us by the tree, it was as if he wanted to kiss one or both of us, but he wasn’t brave enough to make a move on Scarlet in front of me. And he knew if he kissed me, I would slug him.

“Is that Trevor’s number?” she asked, noticing the smudged digits on my palm.

“Yes, and I tried to burn them off. I told you—he’s not what you think he is.” I paused for a moment.

When we were alone, I said to her, “After Alexander’s party, you al just left.”

“Yes. I’m so sorry it ended so quickly.”

“So, are you in town long? Wil the others be joining you?” I asked with pretend innocence.

“I can’t lie to you, Raven. We’re al stil here.”

I was so relieved my friend was confiding in me about what I already knew. I would have hated for her to have turned out to be a false friend. She had accepted me as a vampire, and then when she found out my true identity, she accepted me for being a mortal. She was a better friend to me than I’d been to her. And because she and Onyx didn’t have the history with Alexander or the cunning actions and animosity of Luna, they were the type of vampire girl friends I’d longed for al my life.

“I was so sad when you guys left,” I said. “I knew you had to, but I was real y bummed. I am relieved knowing you’re stil here.”

“I wish we could hang out,” she said sincerely. “But don’t tel Jagger you saw me if you run into him. Please.”

“I won’t,” I said. I hated that he had a hold on her. He was providing her and her best friend with room and board, and I’m sure she didn’t want to jeopardize that. But I wanted to hang out with them and didn’t want him to get in the way of my fun. “Why don’t you and Onyx meet me tonight at the cemetery?”

“Yes, that’s a great idea! We can have some girl time!” she said, giving me a hug.

Then Scarlet disappeared into the night.

I cal ed Alexander and explained I’d be a little late for our date since I wanted to meet Onyx and Scarlet at the cemetery. He agreed it was a good idea to get information from the girls and invited me to the Mansion when I was finished. Though I was excited to spend some time with Onyx and Scarlet, I pined for any missed hours not spent with Alexander, since we were separated for al of the daylight hours.

When I arrived at Dul svil e’s cemetery I found the grimmest sight; deep within the graveyard I spotted two goth girls sitting on tombstones, their legs dangling over the headstones—one wore white-and-black striped tights, the other torn black tights.

When they noticed me they both rushed in my direction.

“It’s so great to see you, Raven,” Onyx said.

“Jagger told us not to tel you we were here—” Scarlet blurted out. “For Sebastian’s sake, he said. We shouldn’t have listened.” Scarlet was remorseful.

“But he’s giving us a place to stay—” Onyx said defensively.

“And Onyx has a major thing for him,” Scarlet blurted out.

“I do not!” Onyx retorted.

“Don’t lie.” Scarlet was brazen.

“So what’s the real deal?” I asked.

“Jagger plans to open a club cal ed the Crypt,” Scarlet said as if she was sharing breaking news.

“Wil it be like the Coffin Club? With a secret dungeon?” I asked.

Onyx nodded.

“He’s hoping to invite vampires from around the area,” Scarlet shared.

“There aren’t vampires around this area,” I said. “It’s only Alexander.”

“Wel , Jagger wants the Crypt to eventual y be as big as the Coffin Club,” Scarlet said.

“But it’s just not a good idea,” I urged. “Not in this smal town. Everyone knows everything and they al gossip. It wil be harder to conceal yourselves,” I warned.

“We are good at being secretive,” Scarlet reassured me. “It’s our life.”

“I know,” I said. “It’s one thing to go underground in a bigger city. But here? People wil find out easily—then you’l al be in danger,” I told them.