Cryptic Cravings (7 page)

“I don’t know,” Scarlet said. “We are always in danger. It’s part of being a vampire in a mortal world.”

“But here you could be one of the few—the special ones.” I tried to convince her.

“But it’s hard to meet other vampires,” Scarlet said. “The Coffin Club is special for us. It’s a place to be ourselves and not have to hide. Do you know how hard it is to hide every waking minute of every waking night?”

I didn’t answer as she stared at my outfit.

“Of course you don’t,” she said. “You are bold and outspoken. Everyone in this town knows you are different. You are yourself. I don’t think you realize how hard it would be for you to be a vampire. That there would only be a few mortals you could know. That you couldn’t be your whole self in public, like you are now.”

It was one of the parts of being a vampire that I thought would be the hardest for me. I’d spent my life being truthful about who I was, what thoughts I had, my style and tastes. Final y getting the bite of my lifetime would change al that in an instant. But at this moment, we weren’t real y talking about me being a vampire, and I needed to fight to make this club Jagger was opening a safe one for Dul svil e.

“I total y understand and get your position,” I said. “But in this town, the Crypt wouldn’t be like the Coffin Club. In Hipstervil e, everyone is accepted for being a hippie, a goth, or whatever. They’re even embraced for being different, and no one digs any deeper. Dul svil ians fear the kind of people they don’t find in their country club on the back nine, tennis courts, or cigar bar. I real y can’t stress enough that the vampire part of the club here would not be like the Dungeon. It can put your existence in jeopardy. You have to believe me—you know I’m in love with a vampire. His needs come before my own. I want what’s best for him and al of you.”

Scarlet softened and gave me a hug. “We real y were lucky when you arrived at the Coffin Club. If only al mortals were like you, we wouldn’t have to hide at al and our world would be much better.”

“Maybe we should say something to Jagger?” Onyx asked shyly.

“That would be awesome,” I chimed in. “But he doesn’t have to stop the entire club—just the vampire part.”

It was then I realized that what I said might be hurtful.

“But what would be the point?” Scarlet asked, offended. “Mortals have their clubs everywhere.”

“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean that about you. I meant nefarious vampires,” I said in an apologetic tone.

“I know . . .” she said.

“But truthful y,” I went on, “we don’t have a club here. The Crypt could be that club, and you could be there, too. But other vampires? That’s the part that won’t work.”

Onyx and Scarlet thought for a moment.

“Wel , I can’t tel him what to do,” Scarlet admitted. “But maybe Onyx can.”

“Me?” She made a sheepish face. It was evident she adored Jagger far too much to be able to stand up to him.

“What about Trevor?” Scarlet asked.

“He can’t know about any of this. Not vampires. Not Alexander. Not you,” I said. “We must make a pact,” I said,

“that we al wil do our best to persuade Jagger to open the Crypt to mortals only—and VIVs—Very Important Vampires. You guys, Sebastian, Luna, and of course, Alexander.”

We al put our pale hands out, one on top of the other, our wicked nail polish disappearing in the darkness. “We promise,” we said in unison. Then we released our hands.

“And maybe, someday—you’l come in as a mortal and leave as a vampire?” Scarlet teased.

“That would be awesome!” I beamed. I had a few more minutes before I was to meet Alexander, so I could talk with the girls before I headed to the Mansion.

“So what’s it like living at the factory?” I asked them.

“It’s fun,” Scarlet said. “We miss the Coffin Club because there were more vampires to hang out with. But we were hoping that this one . . .” She paused. “But now that you told us,” she continued, “I see your point.”

“And Scarlet likes being close to Trevor,” Onyx blurted out.

“Does he know that you’re a vampire?” I asked.

“No!” she said. “I don’t kiss and tel .”

Scarlet kissing Trevor. The thought was too much for my stomach to take. I knew that Trevor was going to be unfaithful to my friend. I didn’t want her to be used like so many of his girls.

“He’s not al that you think he is,” I said.

“Hot? Gorgeous? Athletic? Rich?” Her face lit up like she was surrounded by candlelight.

“He’s trouble,” I said.

“I’m al about trouble.” Scarlet laughed.

“We wish you were a vampire like us so you could hang out at the Crypt ful time,” Onyx said.

“I do, too,” I agreed dreamily. “And what’s the scoop on Sebastian and Luna?” I asked. “Does he real y like her?”

They nodded in unison.

“And does she real y like him?” I asked.

“She acts like she does,” Scarlet began. “Always fawning over him and flashing her pink eyelashes. She gets on my nerves.” Then she looked at Onyx. “But she could be your future sister-in-law, Onyx Maxwel !” Scarlet teased.

Onyx blushed.

“Wel , I always felt something odd about her,” Scarlet said seriously. “Like I can’t trust her.”

“Me too,” I said.

Scarlet and I had a common bond. She was feisty and strong and didn’t let the average person—or vampire—get in her way. If she wanted something, she went for it, and any obstacles in her way were just a minor inconvenience.

And I knew she was honest and good-hearted. I was just unhappy that her romantic affections were for Trevor. If her heart was set on it, convincing her not to go after Trevor would be like convincing Jagger not to open the Crypt.

“We gotta run,” Onyx said. “We have to get back to Jagger.”

“So when are you coming to the Crypt?” Scarlet asked.

“It’s not open yet,” I said.

“I know, but we’re starting to decorate tomorrow night.”

“Then I’l be there!” I said with a wicked grin.

* * *

“Alexander won’t let you in?” I asked Sebastian.

“I haven’t had the courage to knock yet. I’m not sure what I’m going to say.”

“Al you have to do is say something.”

“I tried—last night,” he said. “But you already knew that.” He shot me a look that reminded me of the moment he caught us sneaking around the mil .

“What you did last night—that made a huge difference,” I said. “Alexander knows you have his back.”

“What did you hear?” Sebastian asked.

“That there is going to be a new club,” I said.

“Yes . . .”

“It’s going to be in the factory,” I added.

“Uh-huh,” he acknowledged.

“And that it’s open to mortals and vampires,” I told him.

“Oh.” Sebastian bit his black fingernail.

“Are you seriously game for that?” I asked.

“Wel , since I’m a vampire, I guess that’s fine for me.” His dreadlocks shook as he laughed.

“You know what I mean.”

Sebastian sighed. “Of course, I don’t think it’s a great idea for this particular town. But Jagger is so convincing and Luna is hypnotic. I’l do anything she asks.”

“Do you know anything specific about the underground club? What it’s cal ed?” I hinted, wanting to see if Sebastian had any goods on the plans for the Covenant.

“No,” he said. “I just know he wants to make this club like the Coffin Club.”

“You know that it’s a real y bad idea to open it to outside vampires.”

“I can see it would be a problem.”

“And you need to know, Alexander is against it.”

“He is?”

“Yes! He has lived in peace in this town since he arrived. And it isn’t just about him. He’d never sacrifice the good of al for what’s good for him. That’s not in his nature. But he loves my family and his new friends here. He doesn’t want to put them in harm’s way.”

“And you?”

“I agree. It could be a catastrophe. If the Dul svil ians run you al out of town, you don’t lose anything. But me and Alexander? We lose everything. And what if a vampire comes here and does what you did to Luna to some unsuspecting mortal girl? And what if everyone sees it? How do you think this town would respond?”

“It is real y complicated, isn’t it?” he asked.

“No, it’s quite simple. The Crypt should be a mortals-only club. Then everyone could be safe—and you and Onyx and Scarlet could live here, too. Real y close to your best friend.”

“That would be cool,” he said with a smile.

“Jagger wants money and he wants power. He isn’t seeing what is already here. A smal town with a close-knit, albeit boring, community. But for you, Alexander, and the girls, it’s a great haven.”

“Yes, otherwise we could make this town be like any other.”

I was happy that Sebastian seemed to be on the same page as Alexander and me. Because of Sebastian’s laid-back nature, I had figured he might be swayed by the crowd he hung around with at a given moment. Although I had a feeling he would ultimately be in favor of a safe and mortal club, just like his best friend.

“What were you going to say to Alexander when you came to the Mansion last night?” I asked.

“That I messed up again. Last time I crossed the line with Becky, and now, I made him mad by biting Luna. But I just couldn’t help myself. I was caught up in the moment. I’m not the kind of vampire Alexander is.”

But some things weren’t so different between them now. I could have told him that Alexander had taken my blood, shared his coffin with me. That the vampire things Alexander and I shared were very meaningful. But it wasn’t my business to tel our secrets to Alexander’s best friend.

“And I want to convince him that my feelings for Luna are different,” Sebastian added.

Oh boy, I thought. That was not what I wanted to hear.

“A girl wants to be special,” Sebastian said. “I tend to like a lot of girls. First Becky. Now Luna. If we’d been dating, you would have become a vampire a long time ago.”

The idea penetrated me. If I’d been with a different vampire, I might already be one by now.

But that wasn’t what I wanted—to be turned by a vampire’s desire alone. I wanted it to be special, permanent, and romantic. And I wasn’t the kind of girl to settle, either. Especial y since I’d fal en in love with Alexander.

“Alexander’s looking for the right girl. Other vampires would bite a girl and never see her again.”

That did sound horrible. To be changed and then abandoned. “Have you done that?” I asked.

“No, but I’ve been close.”

I hung on his words.

“Alexander changed his life for you,” he said. “He didn’t return to Romania when he could have. He fought to buy his house so he could continue living here to be close to you.”

Hearing Sebastian say how much Alexander cared meant the world to me. I’d always wanted to do the changing, but Alexander had changed for me.

“I just know with Luna, this time it’s for real,” he said.

“How can you be so sure?”

“She’s amazing. She’s beautiful and sexy. I can’t take my eyes off of her.”

I didn’t care to hear how wonderful Luna Maxwel was. “Would you change your life for her?” I chal enged. “Never travel to al those cities without her?”

Sebastian thought. “Yes. I think I would.”

“Then I think you love her,” I said through gritted teeth.

Although I wasn’t crazy about Alexander’s best friend fal ing for the one vampire I couldn’t trust, it was better than him turning his affections toward Becky again. I would have preferred for him to fal for Scarlet or Onyx, but no amount of my morbid matchmaking seemed to make that happen.

My cel phone beeped and I noticed I had a text from Alexander.

Where are you? What’s taking you so long?

I texted back, Meet me at your front door.

The front door slowly creaked open.

Alexander looked surprised to see Sebastian standing next to me.

“Dude—” Sebastian said. “It’s time I final y . . .” he began.

He waited for Alexander to say something—anything—but my boyfriend remained silent.

“How about another game of Medieval Knights?” Sebastian said. “You can get even with me in the virtual world.

The best two out of three wins.”

A huge smile came over Alexander’s face. He pul ed the front door wide open and Sebastian sauntered inside. I gladly fol owed the two upstairs to the Mansion’s TV room.

That was it—no groveling or tearful reunions. No hugs or major blowouts. Just a face-to-face, over-in-a-minute reconciliation between two childhood best friends.

I sketched my ideas for the Crypt while two vampires battled out their angst against each other with computer-generated swords.

There were a few things I felt good at: sneaking into mansions, getting in the face of brazen bul ies, and decorating in the style of the macabre.

I wanted to share my ideas with Jagger because I was sure that I could help out with the opening of the club. I could design, decorate, or even clean. I didn’t care. I’d sweep floors if I had to. When I worked at Armstrong Travel, there wasn’t anything I wanted to do—and I was being paid. However, for a chance to be part of the Crypt, I’d be wil ing to do anything—wel , almost anything—for free.

The next night, before I headed to the Mansion to spend time with Alexander, I raced to the factory to plead my case for joining the Crypt’s crew.

I found Jagger in one of the main factory rooms pacing and talking on the phone. When he caught sight of me, he quickly ended his cal .

“I guess Sebastian told you we were here?” he asked.

“I figured it out on my own,” I said triumphantly. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“Yes?” Jagger seemed pleased. He dusted off an old chair and offered it to me. “Please sit down.”

I obliged and took a seat.

“What can I do for you?” he asked intently. If Jagger wasn’t so nefarious and creepy and Alexander’s onetime enemy, he would actual y have been sexy. His white hair was jagged and edgy, and his mismatched eyes were intense and mesmerizing. And there was something attractive about the word “Possess” that was emblazoned across his upper arm.