The Coffin Club (17 page)

I climbed on top of a discarded box and peeked in the kitchen window. There were no signs of dishes, plates, flowers, or anything resembling the living. The already empty-looking manor now appeared totally vacant.

Frustrated, I ran through the unkempt gardens infested with overgrown weeds. I tried to peer into Alexander‘s attic window, but from my vantage point I couldn‘t get a clear view.

One thing had changed. There was no curtain in the window.

My heart sank. I kicked the corner of the wooden bench.

I had one last shot. I hurried to the garage. The lock had been removed and the door was slightly ajar. When I opened the garage door I was shocked—the Mercedes was gone.

That meant one thing—Alexander and Jameson had already left the manor house.

I wouldn‘t be able to fall into Alexander‘s arms and tell him about my terrifying night or explain that I didn‘t want to become a member of the real Coffin Club without him.

For now, my confession would have to wait.

I unhinged the Dungeon skeleton key from my key ring and symbolically placed it on the floor of the garage.

A streak of lightning lit the sky and I saw something in the garage sparkle. I inched forward to examine it more closely as the thunder crashed around me. I caught a glimpse of something behind a hanging sheet hidden in the shadows. Perhaps it was a coffin or mirrors from the manor house. Protruding from the sheet and catching the moonlight was a shiny silver exhaust pipe.

I inched closer. I pulled back the sheet to reveal whatever was being hidden. I stepped back in disbelief. Chrome frame. Handlebars. It was a motorcycle.

What on earth was it doing here? Maybe Alexander had bought a Night Rod after admiring the bike outside the club.

But I felt heat emanating from the motorcycle as if it had just been ridden.

I took a long breath and discovered something sweet permeating the air. It was the smell of Obsession.

I sensed a familiar presence standing behind me. I glimpsed down at the floor behind me.

A shiny motorcycle boot was blocking me.

I spun around and gasped.

Alexander was looking at me, his soft chocolate eyes staring soulfully into mine. He was wearing a leather motorcycle jacket and pants and holding a purple wig and sunglasses in one hand.

I stood frozen.

My eyes welled up.

―It was you all along.‖ I wiped a tear away from my cheek. ―It was you who saved the Coffin Club—and me.‖

Alexander pulled off his motorcycle gloves and extended his hand, his spider ring almost glowing.

He pulled me into him and wrapped his arms around my waist.

―This is why you had to stay in Hipsterville so long?‖ I asked. ―Not for the art festival but for the Dungeon?‖

He nodded.

―But why the disguise?‖ I asked.

―Jagger and I finally had come to a truce. Not only was it important to me—but to my family. If he noticed I was in the Dungeon, he would have known that once I‘d heard his real intention for the club, I‘d try to thwart his plan. I know it sounds strange, but I found it comforting knowing that Jagger and I were no longer nemeses. If I‘d shown my face, I‘d risk restoring another feud. But someone needed to stop him. And since I couldn‘t, I had to find someone who could.‖

I gazed up at Alexander, realizing for the first time why I‘d been so drawn to Phoenix.

―It‘s time to return home, together,‖ he replied, and kissed me with the intensity of two very mysterious vampires. Then he licked his lips and flashed his fangs and grinned. ―For eternity.‖

I
‘d like to thank the following people for making such a difference in my life and helping make my dreams come true:

My fabulous editor, Katherine Tegen; my awesome agent, Ellen Levine; the terrific Julie Lansky at HarperCollins; my loving parents, Gary and Suzie; my writer-mentor brother Mark, and supportive brother Ben; and my Alexander, Eddie Lerer.

Ellen Schreiber
was an actress and a stand-up comedienne before becoming a writer and moving to her own Dullsville. She is the author of TEENAGE MERMAID, COMEDY GIRL, VAMPIRE KISSES, VAMPIRE KISSES 2: KISSING COFFINS, VAMPIRE KISSES 3: VAMPIREVILLE, and VAMPIRE KISSES 4: DANCE WITH A VAMPIRE. She is also the author of the fully illustrated manga about Raven and Alexander, VAMPIRE KISSES: BLOOD

RELATIVES.

You can visit Ellen at her website
: www.ellenschreiber.com

Also by Ellen Schreiber

VAMPIRE KISSES 3: VAMPIREVILLE

VAMPIRE KISSES 4: DANCE WITH A VAMPIRE

VAMPIRE KISSES: BLOOD RELATIVES

TEENAGE MERMAID