3 Vampireville (8 page)

Exhausted, I walked into my darkened bedroom and switched on my Edward Scissorhands lamp. I almost jumped out of my skin. Sitting on my bed, appearing more sinister than ever, was Jagger. I let out a scream. That only made the creepy teen smile. "Raven? What's wrong?" my mom yelled up from downstairs. "Nothing," I yelled down to her. "Just stubbed my toe." Then I whispered to Jagger, "What are you doing here?" "Bats can sneak in anywhere. You should know that by now." "I want you out of here!" I demanded. "I won't be long. Luna had a lovely chat with you. She's very excited. She thinks she's found a new best friend." "Well, maybe she has." "She said you girls talked about all sorts of girly things. Boys. Hair. Vampire bites." I caught myself in my dresser mirror's reflection and stepped back. Jagger played with the nightstand light switch. On. Off. On. Off. "Stop that!" I warned. Something was missing. "Where's Nightmare?" I heard scratching coming from my computer desk file drawer. I raced over and opened it up. "Nightmare!" I said, picking up my black kitten. "You poor girl." "Odd," he said, leering at me. "She doesn't hiss at you." "She doesn't hiss at Alexander either," I said, gently stroking her fur. "She has taste." Jagger lay back on my bed, placing his red Doc Martens on my bedspread. "This is a cozy bed." "Get your feet off of there!" I scolded, pushing his shoes off. Jagger leaned across the bed and pulled up the comforter from the floor. "Where is your coffin?" he asked. "Not under here." He rose and slithered over to my closet. He slowly opened my closet door. "Not in here," he remarked. "Maybe you're hiding it under your dress," he said with a wicked grin. "It's in the basement." "Funny. I didn't see it down there." My blood boiled. I felt enraged. Jagger had been slinking around my house with my family inside. "It's hidden. Now get out�" "Sure, but can you show me something?" "The door? Or the window?" I opened the curtain and lifted the window. Jagger remained still. "Some of Trevor's friends said you showed up at school. Curious, really. A vampire risking the sunlight." "You'd believe a bunch of soccer snobs? They spread more rumors than the National Enquirer." "Well, then," he said, sizing me up with his mismatched eyes, "I have noticed their penchant for gossip." I felt a sense of relief, but only for a moment. "At the drive-in I distinctly remember Alexander bit you on the neck. Blood dripping down your neck like a wild river, the sweet smell permeating the air. But Luna said she didn't see a wound. Maybe I could take a peek." "You can leave. Now." He stepped closer, his ice blue and green eyes piercing my soul. "Show me your fangs and I'll show you mine." "I only show Alexander," I said, inching back. "What a waste, really." He took another step, pinning me against my computer desk. "So how do you like living this lie?" "Lie?" "Yes, it is a lie," he said, staring straight into my eyes. As if he were going to read my soul. "Pretending to be something you're not." I gasped and looked away. My heart stopped. I bit my black lip. I reached behind me, stretching my fingers across my computer desk in hopes of grabbing something to use as a weapon. At any moment Jagger was going to look into my eyes and hypnotize me and drag me back to Dullsville's cemetery. I fingered Billy Boy's two-ton encyclopedia. "I think you enjoy being deceitful," he said, gently touching the vampire's kiss necklace. "Making believe to your family that you are still mortal." I breathed again and released the book. There was a knock at the door. "I need my encyclopedia." "Billy�go away." "You borrowed it two months ago!" "Billy. Billy�go away," I said sternly. Jagger stepped back and I raced around him. Billy Boy opened the door. I turned around. The curtains were gently blowing. Jagger was gone. "Is something wrong? You never call me Billy." I closed the window, rushed over to my brother, and gave him a quick hug. "I never thought I needed to." 13 Gothic Fairy The next evening, as I turned the corner to walk up Benson Hill, I saw a shadowy figure standing by the gate. Never one to retreat, I crept up the broken sidewalk slowly. I didn't want to be startled by Trevor or Jagger. As I got closer, I saw a gothic fairy girl with long white-andpink-streaked hair leaning against a tree. "Luna�what are you doing?" "Raven," she said, bouncing over and giving me a huge squeeze. "I thought I'd find you here." "But I'm meeting Alexander," I said, almost apologetically. "I know, but I thought we could chat for a few." "I don't want to keep him�" I looked up toward the Mansion. The attic window was dark. "Well�maybe just a sec." We sat on a few rocks outside the Mansion's gate. "Trevor has a history test. I won't see him until this weekend. Jagger told me he saw you last night," she confessed. "Did he tell you where he saw me?" I charged. "In your bedroom." "He can't do that again. He could scare my family." "You did that to Trevor. You snuck into his room." Luna had a good point. "That was different. I have a reputation." "Jagger is a tricky one," she said with a hint of pride. "He's been teaching me so many things since I've been turned." "Well, I hope they are good tricks," I warned. "I love your purse," she said, touching the handle of my Corpse Bride clutch. "Can I see?" "Sure." No one, not even Becky, ever got excited about my clothes or fashion accessories. I was proud to share it with her. She placed it on her arm and modeled it. "So gloom! I love it." "Thanks. I ordered it online. Maybe I can get you one." "I'd kill for one," she said eagerly. "Got any candy? I gave my last piece to you yesterday." "I should have some gum." Luna unzipped the purse. "Be careful, it's a mess in there," I warned. "Wouldn't be cool any other way," she said with a smile. I leaned back and watched the stars twinkling overhead. Luna pulled out a pack of Gabe's Grape Gross-Out Gum. She removed two sticks and returned the pack to my purse. I didn't mind her rooting around. I didn't have anything to hide in there. Or did I? "What's this?" she asked, pulling out Ruby's compact. My heart stopped. "What do you need a compact for?" Luna asked skeptically, holding the white plastic compact and stroking the red ruby R. "It's an heirloom," I said, trying to reach for it. "An heirloom?" she wondered aloud. "It doesn't look that old." Just then a Mustang drove up the road and stopped in front of the Mansion. I grabbed the compact and purse and ran to the car. "Matt! Becky! How are you guys doing?" "Hey, Raven, what's up?" Matt asked. "Hi, Beck," I said, smiling. Luna inched up next to me. "Hi, Beck," she said, also grinning. Becky's smile was strained. My normally amiable best friend looked at me with disdain. "I thought you were hanging out with Alexander," Becky said. "I am; I'm just on my way in." "We just had to have a girl chat before," Luna chimed in. I was annoyed. There was no need for Luna to try to make Becky jealous. "I better go see Alexander now," I finally said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Becky." "Yeah," she said. I stepped away from the car. Luna put her arm around me and waved at Becky. Becky politely waved back. The Mustang headed down the windy road. Alexander had warned me about the motives of Jagger and Luna. "Bye, Luna," I said, heading for the Mansion as she waited by the street. This time I was the one to disappear. 14 The Invitation The next day the usually early-bird Becky was late. I had showered, eaten, dressed, redressed, and was sitting on the front steps, my hoodie tied around my waist, writing Alexander love notes. I was ready to call the school day off when she finally drove up my driveway. I got into her pickup, and she barely said hello. "Where were you?" I asked. "Did you oversleep? Or get halfway to school and realize you didn't pick me up?" Becky didn't answer but continued to drive toward school. After a polite conversation with her responses being "uh-huhs," "sures," and head nods, I'd had enough. "So what's up with the silent treatment?" I finally asked. "Nothing," she said as she turned the truck onto the road that led to school. "Aren't you feeling well?" "I'm feeling fine." "Then why are you mad?" "I'm not mad," she said, and turned up the radio. I turned the radio off. "Okay. Let me have it. What's up?" Becky pulled into an empty spot next to the senior parking lot and turned off the engine. "It just seems odd," she began softly. "You left Hatsy's as soon as our order arrived. Then shortly afterward Jagger and Luna left too. I heard you hung out with Luna at the park. And it was like you were best buds last night outside the Mansion." "She's not my best bud." "I know you have way much more in common with her," she continued. "The gothic clothes. The dark music. She probably loves vampires, too." "Is that what this is about?" If there was anything worse than the jealousy between sweethearts, it was the threat of a new best friend. "You've found someone more like you," she said as she got out of the truck. "I don't want someone more like me," I said as we walked toward school. "I want someone just like you." In all the years Becky and I'd been friends, she never judged the clothes I wore or the music I listened to. Becky never asked me to be anything but myself. "You want to know the truth?" I asked. "Of course." "You are right, I owe you that." Becky and I went into the side entrance and snuck underneath the staircase. "All right, here goes." Becky looked anxious, as if I were going to hit her with "Yes, I've found a new best friend. Good riddance." "This is top secret stuff," I began. "Go on." "All right." I took a deep breath. "Here goes. Luna and Jagger are vampires," I began in a whisper, "and they are trying to turn Trevor into one. We left Hatsy's because Alexander and I were trying to remove their coffins from Henry's treehouse, forcing them back to Romania." I sighed, feeling a sense of relief at finally being able to share my darkest secrets with my best friend. Becky studied me. Then she burst out laughing. "You expect me to believe that?" "Well� " "I guess it was better than saying Luna and Jagger are friends of Alexander's from Romania," she said, "and you felt obligated to help out." "Yeah," I lied. "Sweet, but anticlimactic." The two of us laughed. "I'm sorry. I just got a little jealous," she said. "I'm sorry I made you feel that way. We'll always be best friends." "Forever," she confirmed. "For eternity," I added with a smile.

I was shoving my notebooks in my locker, which was filled with pictures of Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, and HIM, and stickers of black roses, spiders, and coffins, when I noticed Trevor passing out red flyers to the soccer snobs and cheerleaders. He was also taking pictures of them with his camera phone. I wasn't aware Trevor had returned to school. I stepped back into a doorway so Trevor wouldn't spot me. The bell rang and the crowds began to disperse. A red flyer fell out of the goalie's notebook as he stepped into a biology classroom. Curious, I grabbed it. In black letters the flyer read:

Graveyard Gala Covenant Ceremony ~Dare to dance among the dead~ Date: This Saturday Time: Sunset Attire: Nightmarish costume Be there or be dead

I'd spent a whole lifetime partying alone at Dullsville's cemetery. Now all of Dullsville High was going to be at my hideout. And I wasn't even invited? "Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, Monster Girl?" I heard Trevor say from behind me. "What's this?" I asked, shoving the flyer in his face. "Jagger's hosting a party. It'll be the blowout of the year! I'm coming as the Grim Reaper. You're lucky. If you were invited, you could just come as yourself." I gave Trevor a snarled look. "Who is going to have a covenant ceremony?" "Luna and I will be king and queen of the covenant. Like a medieval prom, in ominous costumes. It's a sexy Romanian ceremony I'm sure you've never heard of. When I accept the honor, Luna's going to kiss me in front of the whole school. It's going to be a total freakfest. But since you're not on the guest list," he continued, "you'll have to read about it in the school newspaper." He grabbed the flyer out of my hand as a cheerleader and a soccer snob stepped in front of me. Just then Trevor aimed his cell phone at them and a flash illuminated the hallway, momentarily blinding me. When my eyes finally adjusted, Trevor and his cohorts disappeared into the crowd of students. I stood in the hallway, motionless, surrounded by the sounds of closing lockers and classroom doors. This had been Jagger's plan all along! The only way he could lure someone as conservative as Trevor to the sacred ground of a cemetery was the promise of a monster-size party and a never-ending lip-lock. The already pompous soccer snob would be sealing the deal with the gorgeous "new hottie" in front of the whole school. Trevor just didn't realize the deal would last an eternity. "Raven," I heard Becky call from behind. Becky and Matt pushed through the crowd of students and caught up to me. "Did you hear about the Graveyard Gala?" she asked. "Seems like you would be the one handing out invites, not Trevor." "I know. And to top it off, I'm not even invited. Not like I've ever been on the A-list before, but this is at a cemetery. My dream party!" "I thought you would freak out!" "Since you told Trevor to hit the road, the three of us are probably the only ones not invited." Then I spotted a red flyer poking out of Matt's algebra textbook. "You were on the guest list?" I asked, horrified. "The whole soccer team is invited," Matt said. "But you're not going, are you?" I asked. "I have to," Matt confessed. "I don't want to be the only one in the locker room who wimped out." "And you?" I said, turning to my best friend. "Matt needs a date," she said apologetically. I felt betrayed. Everyone at Dullsville High was going but me. Even Becky. More important, though, I was worried about Becky�I didn't want my best friend on sacred ground with vampires. "Well, Becky, you can't go," I said, sounding like her parent. "Cemeteries make you nervous." "I'll be there to protect her from any wayward ghosts," Matt said, putting his arm around my smiling friend. Then I remembered the cemetery's caretaker and his dog. "Old Jim will be there with his Great Dane, Luke," I warned Becky. "There won't be trouble," Matt said. "Trevor has assured everyone that on Saturday nights Old Jim has a barstool with his name on it at Lefty's Tavern." "Promise me you'll come," Becky pleaded. "I'd feel better if you were there, too." "You thought I wouldn't be there? And miss the chance to crash a party?" I said, opening a classroom door. "Only in my nightmares!" 15 Dreadful Dinner I waited impatiently at the Mansion's front door as the sun fell into the horizon. Hues of lilac, lavender, fuchsia, and pink brushed across the sky. I wished I could share it with Alexander. Soon I heard the Mansion locks opening and saw the iron doorknob turn. Alexander, handsomely dressed in a black-and-gray pinstripe silk shirt, black dress pants, and silver-flamed Gibsons greeted me. "You look gorgeous," I complimented, stepping inside. "I've got major news!" "So do I," Alexander said quickly. He gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek and closed the door behind me. A delicious smell of grilled steak permeated the entranceway. "Me first," I began, excited. Jameson hurried out from the kitchen carrying a serving tray of seasoned red potatoes. He placed it on the dining-room table, which was set for four. "Hello, Miss Raven," Jameson said brightly, greeting me. "Allow me to take your jacket." Confused, I reluctantly unzipped my black Emily the Strange sweatshirt hoodie. "Everything is ready," Creepy Man said, taking my hoodie and hanging it in the hallway closet. "All we need is the guest of honor." "What's going on?" I asked. "We need to talk�" "Jameson invited Ruby to join us for dinner." "Us?" Alexander nodded. "What a nice surprise," I said with a cheesy grin. Normally I would have been ecstatic to be included in a dinner party at the Mansion with Alexander, the creepy butler, and the fabulous Ruby White. But we didn't have time for pleasantries and pastries when we had to think of a new plan to foil Jagger and Luna. "I want everything to be perfect," Jameson said, straightening the black lace tablecloth. "I thought it would be easier if Miss Raven were here too. Miss Ruby might feel more comfortable in the Mansion." "I don't mean to be rude," I whispered to Alexander as Jameson headed back to the kitchen. "I know, it's a surprise to me, too. I barely had enough time to get you these," he interrupted. Alexander picked up a pewter vase with three black roses and handed it to me. I melted. I looked into his caring midnight eyes. For a moment I forgot about any other vampires except for mine. "We have to talk," I said. "Jagger is�" Just then there was a knock at the Mansion door. Jameson burst out of the kitchen holding an elegantly wrapped white orchid and headed for the door. "I'll get it; you two settle in�" I couldn't settle anything. My heart was racing. My mind was restless. My stomach was doing flip-flops. Jameson opened the front door. Ruby stepped inside, dressed in white pleated dress pants, a tailored cotton-colored blazer with a white lingerie top, and cream Prada pumps. She was clutching a Coach bag and a bottle of white wine. Ruby's eyes lit up when she saw Jameson holding the flower. She nervously giggled as the odd couple exchanged the orchid and the aging Chardonnay. "A white orchid!" she exclaimed. "Jameson, you didn't have to go to all the trouble," she said, her voice melting. "A rare flower for someone as rare as you�," the skinny butler complimented. Ruby's eyes lit up and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Creepy Man's deadly complexion turned bright cherry red. "Hello, Raven," she said, giving me a quick hug. "I'm glad I get to see you again so soon." "I know, isn't this wonderful?" I agreed with a Cheshire cat grin. "Thank you, Alexander, for having me over," Ruby continued. "I've always wanted to see the Mansion from the inside." "Jameson can give you the grand tour," Alexander hinted so we could get a chance to talk. "After dessert," Jameson said. "I left something upstairs, Raven�," Alexander began. "It will have to wait," Jameson ordered. "Dinner is served." Alexander and I had no choice but to follow Ruby and Jameson into the dining room. Several candelabrum and silver candlesticks gently lit the darkened room, revealing a long oak table covered with a black lace tablecloth. Antique china, pewter goblets, and ancient silver utensils were set in front of each chair. Crystal glasses were filled with water. A few cobwebs still hung from the corners of the gigantic ceiling. The heavy red velvet drapes seemed to have been hanging there since the Mansion was built. Ruby must have felt as if she were going to have dinner with the Munsters. Jameson stood at the head of the table and offered an antique chair for Ruby while Alexander pulled out the adjacent chair for me. I could get used to this. I felt like I was at a five-star restaurant. Normally at home, Billy Boy and I were on top of each other, fighting for the chair by the TV. Alexander sat across from me. With the Frankenstein-size oak table and a huge white flowered centerpiece between us, it would be impossible to whisper my findings to him now. Jameson uncorked Ruby's bottle and began to fill her goblet. I could see his hands shake as he tried not to spill any wine on her perfectly pressed ultraswank white outfit. Alexander grabbed a red bottle sitting on a serving cart next to him and poured red liquid into his glass. Ruby signaled Jameson to stop pouring her wine. "I didn't know you were serving steak. You can save this bottle for another time," she offered. "I'll just have what Alexander's drinking." Alexander and Jameson paused, gravely glancing at each other. "Uh�I think you'd prefer your Chardonnay," Alexander suggested. Jameson grinned a toothy grin. "Alexander's on a strict vitamin regimen. That's his special drink." "It's like drinking blood," I whispered, rolling my eyes. Ruby wrinkled her forehead. "Then I'll stick with what I have," Ruby said. We began to drink our various libations while Jameson kindly placed well-done steaks in front of Ruby and me. Jameson then set a plate before Alexander�an almost rare filet, the meat oozing bloodred juice. As Alexander, Jameson, and I began to eat our dinners, Ruby intently watched Alexander eat his juicy steak like she was watching a juggler swallow fire. "That's how they eat steak in Romania," I whispered. "I've been to Romania," she quietly responded. "I guess I must have visited a different region." I glanced at Alexander, who was eating quickly. A nervous Jameson barely touched his food. Ruby ate slowly, savoring her dinner. We made unbearable small talk and complimented our chef on the meal. The candles flickered. Shadows danced about the room. The wind howled through the trees. With the four of us sitting around the table, I felt at any moment we were going to hold hands and perform a s�ance. All that was missing was the Ouija board. The wax slowly dripped from the candlesticks. Drip. Drip. Drip. Like the ticking of a grandfather clock. This evening could go on forever. "This Mansion is very�historic," Ruby said, trying to find a polite word. "Have you seen any ghosts?" "Just my grandmother," Alexander said. Ruby choked on her wine. "Excuse me?" "This house used to belong to Alexander's grandmother," Jameson tried to explain. "But we never�" "So you've really seen her?" I asked eagerly. "She wanders through the halls at night," Alexander said in a low voice. "In fact�she's standing right behind you!" I laughed, but Ruby jumped up from her seat as if she'd just seen the ghost herself. Alexander and Jameson immediately rose from their chairs. "I didn't mean to frighten you," Alexander apologized. "Are you all right?" Jameson asked, offering her water. "Alexander gets these ideas�" Ruby was embarrassed. "I'm just not used to being in a house that's�" "Haunted?" I asked. "Large," she corrected. "And dark; I usually have all the lights on," she said with a forced laugh. "We can light more candles," Alexander offered. "Please. Sit, sit. And not another word," she said.Jameson slowly returned to his seat and we continued eating our dinners. "So, Miss Raven, anything unusual happen at school?" he asked, politely trying to redirect the conversation. "Other than that I showed up?" My dinner mates laughed as if grateful for some comic relief. "Well, a guy at school was talking about sneaking into the cemetery." "The cemetery? That sounds like something you'd do," Ruby said with a laugh. "He's not just sneaking in," I said, and then turned to Alexander. "He's going there on a date." "Who would take a date to the cemetery?" Ruby asked, horrified. Then Ruby eyeballed me and the other gloom-and-doom diners dressed in black around her. We all stared back. "Not me," I burst out. "I wouldn't be caught dead," Alexander admitted. "Poor taste!" Jameson proclaimed. We quickly returned to our meals. "Miss Raven, maybe I should have asked if you discussed anything usual," Jameson said nervously. I politely laughed. But I had more info I had to share. "Did I mention he's planning to kiss his girlfriend next to a coffin?" I said to Alexander. Ruby cleared her throat. "More water?" Jameson asked, clearly worried we were upsetting his guest of honor. "I'm fine," she answered. Alexander stared off behind Ruby and started pointing. "Now are you going to tell me you see a ghost behind me?" she asked. Alexander shook his head. "It's worse." "I'm not falling for your tricks again," she said with a grin. "Don't move," Alexander said, putting his napkin on the table. Ruby slowly turned around. Hanging from the red velvet curtain right above her was a bat. She wasn't even fazed. "I bet it's made out of rubber," she said, and got up. Jameson called out, "Miss Ruby!" My eyes bulged. Alexander rose. "I'll show you," she said confidently. Just then Ruby reached for the bat. All at once, it spread its wings wide and took off. Ruby let out a bloodcurdling scream so loud I had to cover my ears. The disgruntled bat flew around the room as Ruby hid behind me, continuing to shriek. "Does it have blue and green eyes?" I asked, shielding her. "Who cares about its eye color!" she yelled. Alexander tried to grab the bat, but it only flew higher. "I'm going to faint!" she hollered. "I'm really going to faint." Jameson and I helped a trembling Ruby away from the dining room and into the sitting room. "Is it in my hair?" she asked, now sitting in a green Victorian chair. "No," I reassured her. "Where did it go?" "It's in the other room. Alexander is going to catch him." "Are there more?" she asked, her shaking hands covering her head. "No, they live in the attic tower, far away from this room." Jameson tried to comfort his date with a glass of water. "I wonder how he got down here." "I almost touched it!" she exclaimed. "I almost touched a rat with wings!" Alexander came into the room holding a balled up linen napkin. "He's completely harmless, see?" Alexander asked, innocently opening the napkin. Two beady black eyes stared back at us. Ruby let out another bloodcurdling scream. "Please take it away!" a haggard Jameson pleaded. "Aww, he's cute," I said as Alexander walked out to the kitchen to set it free. "I guess this means you're not staying for dessert," Jameson said. "I'm stuffed, really," Ruby said, still in shock. "Besides, I have to open the office tomorrow." She rose from her seat. "I understand," Jameson responded, his head hung low. He retrieved Ruby's purse and the flower from the hallway table and handed them to her. "Thank you," she said quickly. "The orchid is beautiful. The dinner was delicious." Still shaken, Ruby headed for the door. "The evening didn't go as I had planned," Jameson confessed sorrowfully, following her. "You are used to the finer things, Miss Ruby. I was wrong to think�" "That's okay," she said softly. "I understand." I knew Jameson
had invited Alexander and me to dinner to make Ruby more comfortable. Instead we spent the whole evening talking about cemeteries and coffins. I felt awful. "Please don't blame Jameson," I begged. "It's my fault Alexander and I talked about creepy things and spooked you. Jameson is a perfect gentleman." "It's nobody's fault," she reassured. "I guess we were all a bit nervous." "Then how about dinner tomorrow night?" I suggested. "Well�," Ruby began hesitantly. "At a bright, trendy restaurant with upbeat music?" I continued. "That might be nice," she relented. "Just the two of you," I said. "Just the two of us," Jameson eagerly agreed. "And no mention of coffins, ghosts, or flying bats," I added. "Well�it's a date," Ruby concurred with a smile. Jameson opened the door for Ruby. He turned back to me and smiled a skinny-toothed smile and winked. "From now on," I overheard him say to Ruby as he walked her to her car, "the only bats you'll see is when I invite you to a baseball game." 16 The Grim Plan Alexander and I grabbed the savory desserts Jameson had made�placinta, fried sweet dough filled with chocolate�and headed up to the privacy of his attic room. "Trevor is taking Luna to the cemetery?" Alexander immediately asked, shutting the door. "Jagger is planning a Graveyard Gala on Saturday night," I blurted out as we sat with our placintas on his mattress. "It's a gothic costume party with the highlight of the evening being a covenant ceremony. Instead of luring Trevor to sacred ground alone," I started, too excited to dive into my treat, "Jagger is inviting Dullsville High. Luna is going to bite Trevor in front of everyone�only no one will know what's going to happen, not even Trevor himself." "How will he not know what's going on?" "Trevor thinks he's going to be kissed by Luna, not bitten." "They are going to be wearing costumes, right?" Alexander asked. "Yes, Trevor is going as the Grim Reaper. It will be dark and all the partygoers will be wearing masks. While they drink, dance, and make out, Luna will finally have her long-awaited covenant ceremony. No one will know what is really happening." "Then we have to stop Trevor from going," Alexander said, picking at his dessert. "He wouldn't miss this for the world. He will be the star of the show." "Then we have to tell him what the ceremony really is." "He'll never believe me. Besides, they've already passed out flyers. With all of Dullsville High on sacred ground, Luna could easily take someone else." "Then she'll have to believe she is with Trevor." "Believe? Who will she really be with?" "Me. I'll be dressed as the Grim Reaper, too. I'll be covered from head to toe. Luna won't know the difference." "But you told me if a vampire takes another on sacred ground, then they are theirs for eternity. I don't want her to bite you and then I lose you forever." "I don't either," he said, and squeezed my hand. "But when I take off my hood, she'll know Trevor has gone." "Where will he be?" "Safe, off sacred ground. At some point you'll have to distract him and lead him out of the cemetery," Alexander explained. "I'm used to distracting people, just not on purpose. I hope everything goes smoothly. The whole school will be on sacred ground with two vengeful vampires." "Bring some garlic just in case, and I'll take my antidote." "I don't want to give you another shot," I said. "Hopefully, you won't have to." 17 Graveyard Gala Shortly after sunset Alexander and I walked up the lonely road that led to Dullsville's cemetery. Although I wasn't actually a vampire, I felt like I was. I'd convinced twin vampires I was as undead as they were, I was on the arm of the most handsome of vampires, and I was going to party with a bunch of other ghouls. I was happy to be me� vampire or not. I was dolled up as Elvira, in a long black dress with shredded spidery sleeves and a slit racing up my leg, exposing black mesh tights. Long black plastic fingernails flashed from my pale fingertips. My jet black hair was teased up like a fountain, the ends falling down over my shoulders. I revealed as much cleavage as I could manage to squeeze out in a recently purchased push-up bra. I'd also bought Alexander the last Grim Reaper costume left over from Halloween merch at Jack's department store. It was a black hooded costume with a skeleton mask and a plastic scythe. "You look stellar," Alexander said, his midnight eyes sparkling as we walked together. "I can't believe I'm with you." It was a dream come true for me to be strolling down the street holding the bony skeleton hand of the Grim Reaper�and even doubly dreamy that it was really my vampire boyfriend. Cars lined the street leading up to the cemetery. At the far end of the road, parked alongside a Dumpster, I saw Jagger's hearse. I was as excited as I was nervous to implement our plan. When we turned the corner to the cemetery, Alexander said, "I brought my antidote. Did you bring your garlic?" I stopped dead in my tracks. "I knew I forgot something!" I exclaimed. "It's in my night stand. We have to go home," I pleaded. "We don't have time," Alexander warned. "The ceremony could be over by the time we'd return." We reached the iron gate and climbed over the fence. When we were safely on the cemetery ground, I saw a sight I'd never seen before�and one thing we hadn't planned on. The graveyard was filled with Grim Reapers. "How will we ever find Trevor now?" I asked. "It will take forever!" My heart sank as I stepped over cans of soda littering the graveyard. I bent down to pick up an empty can. "We don't have time for that now," Alexander said again. "If we don't get to Trevor in time, the caretaker and the rest of Dullsville will have to worry about more than empty cans and bottles." We passed a Grim Reaper who was talking to a werewolf. "Trevor?" I asked, but the Angel of Death shook his head. We passed ghosts and ghouls dancing and drinking among the tombstones. Sitting on a wooden bench was a familiar witch holding hands with Michael Myers. "You are quite the spooky pair," I said. "Raven," the witch said as the two rose. "I'm so glad you came." "Wow, that is some dress," Matt said from underneath his hockey mask. "Maybe you could get a costume like that for Becky." My best friend turned devil red. "This party is great," Matt continued. "The whole school is here." "We're looking for Trevor. Have you seen him?" I asked. "No. Word has it that he's going to be in some medieval ceremony by the tombs in just a few minutes." Then I noticed Luna a few yards ahead, placing a flower at the base of Alexander's grandmother's monument. "Do me a favor; if things get weird, will you go home?" I whispered to Becky. "We are partying in a cemetery," she said. "Things are already weird." I gave Becky a quick hug, and Alexander and I headed for the monument. Luna stood up. She was beautiful�like a gothic prom fairy. She glowed in a ghostly white tattered prom dress, with a pink wrist carnation and combat boots. Her soft hair flowed over her shoulders like a waterfall; her frost white complexion, highlighted by heavy indigo eye shadow and pale pink lip gloss, glistened softly. "Trevor said you weren't coming," Luna exclaimed, bouncing over to us like a butterfly. "But I knew you'd come." "We weren't invited," I said, "but I wouldn't let that stop me. I wouldn't want to miss your covenant ceremony for the world." "Look at what you missed in Romania," she said proudly to Alexander. She was beautiful as she giggled and did a flirty spin, modeling her tattered dress for him. Alexander wasn't amused. "Where's Trevor?" he asked. "Is he getting cold feet?" "No, but he thinks I have his cold. When we met here tonight, I started to feel ill. Sweet, really. A vampire with a cold," she said with a grin. "So he went to his car to get me cough drops. He's dressed as the Grim Reaper," she remarked in a spooky voice. "I know," I said. "So is everyone else." "Stay here with me," Luna begged, taking my hand. "We'd better find Trevor," I told her. "We need to start the ceremony before the cops get wind of this party." She relaxed her grip. "You're right," she said. "Please hurry." "Alexander, would you stay with me?" she asked sweetly. I grabbed my boyfriend's arm. "Alexander has to come with me. I'll need him to help me find Trevor." "Man, she really must still like you," I said as we walked past the tombs. "I had to pry her bony fingers off of you." Alexander and I headed for Trevor, but we didn't know where to begin. The graveyard was full of Angels of Death. We saw two Grim Reapers playing spin the bottle with a few cheerleaders dressed as red devils. "Trevor?" "Over there," one said, pointing her pitchfork toward the front of the cemetery. "I'll wait a few minutes and double back as Trevor," Alexander said. "Make sure he gets out of the cemetery grounds. And I want you to stay away, too." "So you can stand up there on sacred ground alone with two vampires?" "I can't protect both me and you." Alexander lifted his skeleton mask from his face. His charcoal eyes sparkled. He leaned in and kissed me. "I'm going to double back now," he said, replacing his mask. I waited for a moment and watched as the man of my dreams confidently, and selflessly, set forth on our mission. "Trevor!" I called as I ran through the cemetery. I caught up with one reaper. "Trevor?" "No, but I'm sure he's around," a girl's voice mumbled. I raced toward the front gate. I looked for any Grim Reaper carrying cough drops. Then I wondered, maybe Luna was making up the story. Maybe Trevor had been at the ceremony the whole time. "Trevor?" I desperately asked a Grim Reaper heading straight for me. "Yes, Monster Girl?" He crossed his arms, his heavy, billowy sleeves hanging down. My eyes lit up. Now that I had Trevor, I had to get him off sacred ground. "I finally found you!" A stone-cold skeleton mask stared back at me. "Uh�Luna is still not feeling well," I rambled. "Allow me to escort you to get her cough drops." I took his white skeleton hand and tried to lead him toward the gate. The Angel of Death didn't follow. Instead he held up a pack of vitamin C with his bony hand. He turned away from me and headed for the ceremony. I raced after him. "I've been trying to tell you," I began. "Luna isn't the girl you think she is. She's not some nice straight-A cheerleader. She's going to double-cross you."