Temptation (2 page)

“Yeah. Just evenings,” Lucy replied brightly. “Town is filling up. I'm glad.”

“Me too,” Jessica said, holding up a maroon top.

“Not your color,” Lucy said helpfully. Then she added, “Your hair's so great. Mine's always a mess. It curls up because it's so damp here.”

“The damp air is good for your skin,” Jessica said, pushing the maroon top back into place, then moving her hand down the rack. Jessica's skin was pale and flawlessly smooth and creamy white, her best feature.

The almost-translucent skin contrasted with her dark brown eyes and her full red lips. The long cascades of red hair framed her high cheekbones and made Jessica appear very dramatic, very sophisticated.

“It's so nice to see people in town,” Lucy said, straightening a stack of oversize T-shirts. “Sandy Hollow is so
boring
in the winter.”

“
Yeah.
It's like living in the Antarctic or somewhere,” Jessica agreed.

“What are you doing this summer?” Lucy asked.

“Just hanging out, I guess,” Jessica told her. “What do you think of this?” She held up a short, navy blue sundress with a halter top.

“Well, what are you looking for?” Lucy asked, giving the T-shirts one last pat and walking up to Jessica. “Something a little dressy?”

“Not too dressy,” Jessica said thoughtfully, holding the sundress up. “I have a blind date tomorrow night.”

Lucy giggled. “A blind date? Wow. Do people still do that?”

Jessica's dark eyes lit up. “I sort of got talked into it—you know. A friend of a friend said there's this really nice guy, and—”

“What's his name?” Lucy asked. “Do I know him?”

“Gabriel Martins,” Jessica replied. “Everyone calls him Gabri.”

Lucy shook her head. “Don't know him.” She took the navy blue sundress from Jessica and studied it. “Try it on. It'll probably look fabulous on you. You're so tall and have such great long legs. You really look like a model.”

Jessica laughed. “Lucy, you really know how to make a sale!”

Lucy blushed. “No. I mean it, Jessica. Really.” She handed it back, and Jessica hurried to the dressing room to try it on. She scrambled out of her jeans and sweater and pulled the sundress on. It fit perfectly.

“There's a mirror out here if you need it,” Lucy called.

“That's okay. It fits great,” Jessica called out.

A few minutes later, having bought the dress, she waved good-bye to Lucy and headed out onto Main Street. Across the street some teenagers were piling into the Pizza Cove. Next door, the Mini Market was crowded with shoppers choosing food to stock their houses. Cars honked as drivers looked for parking places on the narrow street.

Summer, here I come! Jessica thought happily, gripping her plastic shopping bag tightly as she crossed Main Street, mission accomplished, and headed for home.

•   •   •   •   •

Gabri Martins was tall and very thin, with a pale, narrow face, straight black hair swept back from his forehead, intense, black eyes, and a broad, friendly smile that didn't seem to belong on such a serious face.

He's really good-looking, Jessica thought as he approached in his black denim jeans and pale blue T-shirt, stepping under the flickering lights of the marquee of the Harbor Palace, the town's only movie theater. The smile on his face seemed to indicate that he liked Jessica's looks as well.

She had arrived at the theater first, feeling nervous and uncertain. How will I even know which one he is? she had wondered. As the line of laughing, chattering summer people filed into the theater, Jessica waited under the marquee, nervously straightening her new sundress, asking herself why she had let herself be talked into a blind date.

After a while she realized she was the only one still waiting. The movie must have started, she told herself, glancing at the big clock outside the Mini Market. Gabri isn't even going to show up.

But then he stepped under the marquee lights and flashed her his open, friendly smile, and her nervousness melted away. “Sorry, I'm late,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her inside.

It was dark and warm inside the theater and smelled of cats
and mildew. Jessica stumbled in the aisle, her eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness. Gabri caught her before she fell.

Good move, Jessica, she scolded herself. Way to make a good impression. Now he knows you're a clumsy ox!

They sat in the back row. Jessica found herself glancing at Gabri every few seconds, too distracted to concentrate on the movie. His dark eyes glowed in the flickering light of the movie screen. His expression remained serious even though the movie was a comedy.

About halfway through the film, he leaned close to her and whispered, “Do you like this movie?”

“Not really,” she answered honestly.

“Let's go,” he said, standing up immediately, smiling reassuringly at her.

A few seconds later they were back outside. The air smelled fresh and salty. Narrow wisps of dark clouds snaked across a full moon hung low in the sky, so low it seemed to hover over the shingled roof of the darkened barbershop across the street.

Swanny's, the ice-cream parlor and video-game arcade next to the movie theater, was packed with young people. A line had formed at the outdoor take-out window, people standing in clusters of two and four, talking and laughing as they waited for cones and milk shakes.

“Want to get something?” Gabri asked, pointing to the line.

Jessica shook her head. “Not unless you want to.”

“Why don't we check out the beach?” he said. “It'll be quieter. We can talk.” His dark eyes seemed to capture hers. As she stared back at him, she felt hypnotized by him.

“Uh . . . okay,” she finally replied, forcing herself to snap out of it.

He must think I'm a real jerk, she thought glumly. I'm usually so self-assured, so confident. Why do I feel so awkward, so unsure of myself with him?

They walked along Dune Lane, which meandered from town across the tall, grassy dunes down to the beach. It was a short walk, about ten minutes. The low, bright moon with its shadowy wisps of cloud seemed to move with them, leading the way.

After sliding down the dune, they took their shoes off and stacked them beside a clump of grass. The sand felt cold and soft and wet under Jessica's feet. She slid her toes in, enjoying the sensation, enjoying the fresh, salty air, enjoying the white moon that sent a trembling path of light across the billowing ocean waves, enjoying sharing it all with someone new.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “It smells so clean,” she said happily, wrapping her bare arms around her chest as if hugging herself.

“Are you cold?” Gabri asked, his voice suddenly concerned.

She opened her eyes to see him staring at her. “I like your dress,” he said. “I just thought you might be cold. I mean . . .”

She shook her head. “Know what I feel like doing? I feel like running.”

Before he could reply, she took off, running along the shore, her bare feet kicking up clumps of wet sand, the rush of the waves in her ears, the ocean wind lifting her coppery hair.

It took her a while to realize that Gabri was right beside her, matching her stride for stride, moving over the sand as effortlessly
as she. His dark eyes searched out hers, his arms outstretched as if he were about to take flight.

She turned and headed away from the water, her feet pounding the sand. He soared with her, grinning, staying at her side, now a step behind, now a step ahead.

Without a signal, they both plunged headfirst into the soft, grassy dune, tumbling together happily, both laughing as if they were little children, rolling in the sand, the high grass soft against their skin.

When they finally stood up, still laughing, not the slightest bit out of breath, brushing sand from their clothes, he took her hands.

And pulled her close.

He looked so handsome under the low, low moon.

She knew he was going to kiss her.

She wanted him to.

He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. Those dark, intense eyes, so serious, so hypnotic. Those eyes said it all.

And before she realized it, his arms were around her.

His face drew close. Closer.

She stared into his eyes and once again came under their spell.

And then she saw his mouth open.

And the pointed fangs emerged.

So bright and sharp, sparkling in the moonlight.

Gently, so gently, Gabri tilted her chin up.

And dug his fangs deeply into her pale, tender throat.

Jessica groaned. She raised her hands to Gabri's shoulders and shoved him away.

“Hey—” he cried out, startled by her strength. His fangs still gleamed in the shadowy moonlight.

“You idiot!” Jessica snarled, pushing him again. “I'm an Eternal One too!”

“Huh?” Gabri took a step back, bewildered.

Jessica's eyes widened, glowing red embers against the darkness. Her fangs lowered, curling down toward her chin. She laughed scornfully. “Idiot,” she repeated, shaking her head, her long, thick hair swinging behind her.

“Well, how was I to know?” Gabri asked angrily, his features tightening in a dark scowl.

The light faded from Jessica's eyes. “I bought a new dress and everything,” she muttered.

“Well, why didn't you say something?” Gabri asked, crossing his slender arms in front of himself.

“What was I supposed to say?” she cried heatedly. “Hello. Nice to meet you. I'm an Eternal One. How about you?”

He groaned and kicked at the sand, avoiding her stare.

“A blind date,” Jessica muttered. “I should've known better than to go on a blind date with a townie.”

“You wasted my whole night,” he said peevishly, his arms still crossed.

“Boo-hoo,” she replied nastily. “Break my heart, why don't you? You really are pitiful, you know? Is that how you do it all the time? Have someone arrange blind dates with poor, unsuspecting girls? You're too pitiful to get a date on your own?”

“Why don't you shut your fangs?” Gabri snapped, staring out over the water. “I'm not the pitiful one.
You're
the one who agreed to go on the blind date. I can't believe you. Acting so sweet and innocent.”

Jessica laughed. “I
am
sweet,” she insisted. And then she added coyly, “But it's too late for
you
to find that out.”

Gabri uttered a cry of disgust. “But I
need
the nectar!” he cried, turning to her. “Without the nectar, I'll perish.”

“Where'd you get that line? Out of an old horror movie?” Jessica joked, shaking her head. She repeated it in a high-pitched, desperate voice, imitating him meanly. “Without the nectar, I'll perish.”

“You're not funny. You're pitiful,” he said softly. “Really.”

The wispy cloud trailed away from the moon, and the beach
brightened as if someone had turned on a light. In the white light, Gabri aged a hundred years.

He has a teenager's face, like mine, Jessica thought, studying him. But his skin is so pale and brittle, stretched so tightly over his bones. And in the light his eyes are old—ancient and evil.

“Listen, Gabri,” Jessica said, softening her tone a bit, “I need the nectar too, you know. It's been a long, cold winter here.”

She pushed her hair back over her shoulders as a group of teenagers, carrying drink coolers and Boogie boards, walked past. One of the boys, a straggler, stopped to stare long and hard at her before hurrying to catch up to the group.

“Guess this dress
isn't
bad,” Jessica said, smoothing the front of it with both hands. Her eyes followed the boy who had stared at her. “Fresh blood,” she said hungrily.

“Fresh blood,” Gabri repeated in a low voice that barely carried over the wind. “Fresh blood all up and down the beach—and I end up with you.”

“Sucker,” Jessica said.

He scowled again.

“Idiot—that was a
joke
!” she cried, shoving him playfully into the dune. “Don't you even have a sense of humor?”

“Don't shove me again,” he warned, his tone turning menacing. He seemed to float up from the sand, weightless like a kite, and hovered over her. “I don't have a sense of humor, not where the nectar is concerned.”

“Back off, will you?” she yelled. “I don't care if you're an Eternal One or not. You're the biggest jerk I've ever met.”

He stared at her coldly as if trying to decide how to react to her, as if trying to decide what to do to her.

He's trying to frighten me, Jessica thought.

Well, he's got a surprise coming. He can stare at me all he wants. I don't scare easy. And if he tries anything, I'll slash him to pieces.

She and Gabri slid into the shadows as two boys walked by their dune. The boys were hurrying to join a group of kids who had started a small bonfire down the beach.

“Fresh blood,” Gabri said, his voice a whisper. “Maybe it isn't too late. Maybe I haven't wasted the whole night with you.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked, not even trying to keep the mockery from her voice. “Try to get another blind date?”

He ignored her. “I need the nectar,” he whispered, not bothering to hide his desperation. “I
need
it.” Then, raising his arms above his head, he began to spin.

Clouds drifted over the moon, casting the dunes in total darkness. The ocean roar picked up. The wind swirled in wide circles.

Invisible in the dark swaying dune grass, Gabri spun. When the clouds drifted away and the pale light filtered down again, and the ocean hushed, and the wind calmed, he emerged as a bat, purple and black. The dark animal eyes stared down at Jessica with the same intensity, the animal mouth open, revealing pointed fangs covered in white drool.