The Vampire Stalker (18 page)

CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE

 

I
N THE HOSPITAL
, I told Luisa everything, with Katie filling in the parts that I was too weak to explain. Luisa was stunned and furious and relieved that I was okay — leave it to Luisa to experience so many emotions all at once. She sat by my side and held my hand as I got stitches in my neck. Luckily, the hospital staff didn’t pay any attention to our conversation.

Next, the police came. Alexander had disappeared after dropping me off at the hospital. Although he was the hero who had stopped the vampire killer, he couldn’t tell the police who he really was. I answered a few questions, but insisted I hadn’t seen who had staked Vigo.

By the time Katie, Luisa, and I left the hospital, it was dark outside. Luisa’s dad picked us up. On the drive home, we saw that the streets were flooded with people celebrating. Word must have gotten out that the vampire who’d been terrorizing the city was dead. There was no fear anymore. Everyone wanted to party. It was Halloween, after all.

I’d called Mom from the hospital and given a brief
explanation: The vampire was dead and I was fine. When I got home, she and Chrissy surrounded me with hugs.

“Are you sure he’s dead?” Chrissy asked.

“Yes. I saw him staked. Alexander killed him.”

“What a remarkable young man,” Mom said, and Chrissy nodded in agreement.

I went to my room to change. My shirt was covered in dried blood. Instead of putting it in the laundry basket, I put it in the trash. I never wanted to see it again.

I had an overwhelming urge to shower, but I didn’t want to get the stitches wet, so I used a cloth to clean myself up in the bathroom, then I put on fresh clothes. I saw the purple bruises on my arms where Vigo had held me, and I flashed back to those seconds of terror.

The door buzzer went off, followed by a knock a couple of minutes later. I knew who it would be.

When I came into the living room, Mom was hugging Alexander and thanking him profusely. I heard Chrissy say that he could stay here any time he wanted, and she would give him her room. Alexander looked embarrassed by their gratitude, and relieved to see me walk in.

“Amy. Do you feel well enough to go out for dinner?”

“Sure.” It was true; now that I was home and safe, I felt almost normal again. And I was starving.

“Excellent.”

When we stepped outside, the chilly air hit me. It was cold enough to see your breath, and I remembered another frosty Halloween years ago when Mom had tried to fit my costume over my winter jacket. I was glad that there would be trick-or-treating tonight.

When we got into the car, he didn’t immediately turn on the ignition. “I am obliged to you.”

“For what?”

“For agreeing to go on a date with me.”

I smiled. Our first real date. It was about time.

First and last.
My heart ached. It wasn’t going to be easy to spend the next few hours with him, knowing that he would be leaving soon. But we wouldn’t be parting in despair, not anymore. There was hope for Alexander. Hope for all of Otherworld. If Vigo could be defeated, so could Leander. Good had conquered evil in my world, and it could in Alexander’s as well.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“I have somewhere in mind.”

He drove past a group of teens running along the sidewalk, shouting as if their school had just won a sports championship. Their exuberance made us laugh.

“It’s because of you, Alexander. You made this possible.”

“Too many people have died to celebrate this as a victory. I am glad it’s over.”

“Me, too.” It was the biggest understatement imaginable. “Where are James and Hannah?”

“Dining downtown. I thought we could join them later. They wish to make the most of their last night here.”

“Did you ever tell James and Hannah about the Otherworld books?”

“Yes, and they accepted it far more readily than I did,” he said wryly. “I suppose going through the portal had already thrown their sense of reality to the winds. In fact, I think they rather enjoyed the idea of being in those books. You should have seen their faces when they saw the displays at the bookshop.”

“I can’t blame them. I’m sure I’d get a kick out of it.”

When I saw that we were heading for the river, I felt tears come to my eyes. I blinked them back, determined to enjoy every moment of this night.

The place was called Ella’s. It was located on the river’s edge and had twinkling lights lining the roof. I’d never been here before.

“They might have a dress code.” I looked down at my jeans.

“If they don’t let you in, I’ll—” Then he smiled. “I won’t make a scene. I’ll simply drive us somewhere else.”

“Let’s give it a try, then.”

The inside of the restaurant was country elegant with maritime fishing scenes mounted on the walls. It was darker than I was used to, mainly illuminated by candlelight. Because it was so
packed with customers, we didn’t get to sit by the windows, but were shown to a cozy corner table.

We ordered sodas, and the waiter came back soon after with a loaf of bread covered by a cloth. Alexander cut a few slices. “It’s still hot.”

I spread some butter on my slice. It tasted heavenly. “Nice place.”

“You’ve never been here before?”

“No.”

“I asked a few strangers where a nice place to take a date would be. Several said here.”

I blushed. “You didn’t need to go to that trouble. I’d be happy anywhere.”

“I know.”

I took a few more bites of bread. “I haven’t been able to get it off my mind…. You knew what Vigo planned to do, right? That’s why you were at my school.”

“Yes. Vigo knew how I felt about you. He’s no empath, that is certain, but there was clear evidence of what was between us.” His eyes glittered with warmth. “I gave up the chance to kill him to prevent you from being shot by the police. And you refused to ask me to exchange myself for Chrissy. What better way to destroy me than to kill the woman I love?”

He loved me. He
loved
me. I still couldn’t believe it. It was what I’d dreamed about from the moment I’d met him in the
books. But it wasn’t the book character who loved me, it was Alexander himself.

His dark gaze met mine. “Vigo killed all of the people I loved as a child. And he planned to kill the woman I love now that I am a man. It would be an exquisite tragedy, and nothing would have pleased him more.”

“How did you know he was going to strike at the school?”

“Once I studied the schematics of your school and the surrounding tunnels, I became convinced of it. He would have been able to go from the tunnels through the boiler room and into the basement, then take an elevator to any floor of your school. I knew he would have a costume of some kind to avoid exposure to sunlight.” He sighed. “I thought I had it all figured out. What I didn’t anticipate was that I would be spotted by hooligans and chased down the halls of your school. I only wish I had gotten to you sooner.”

“I’m just glad you were there. You said last night that you had the feeling that one of you would die soon. You were right.”

“It was inevitable.”

The waiter returned. I ordered haddock and chips, and Alexander ordered mahimahi. He said he’d never heard of it, but the name piqued his interest.

“How is Hannah coping with Vigo’s death?” I asked.

He looked pensive. “I don’t know. She didn’t cry for him.”

For once, he wasn’t speaking about Hannah with bitterness.

“She’s not evil,” I said.

“No, she isn’t.” He wasn’t admitting that he’d been wrong about her, but it was progress nonetheless. She had done her part to help him stop Vigo, after all.

“I figure you guys plan to leave as soon as possible but …” Even as I said the words, I knew it was a mistake, that I was only making things harder for us both. But I couldn’t help myself. “Maybe you should stay a few more days so that James and Hannah can see more of the city.”

I glimpsed the sadness in his eyes. My heart sank.

“According to Ms. P., the portal has begun to waver. Leaving tonight is the safest option. The portal may not be there tomorrow.”

“I understand,” I said, feeling a wave of despair crash over me. “I’d like to be there when you go through, if that’s okay with you.” I knew that watching him go would tear me apart, but I had to do it.

He raised a brow. “Who said I was going through?” My heart slammed against my rib cage. “I — I just assumed. Are you saying you’re
not
going?”

He took my hand across the table. “It wasn’t much of a life, Amy. You said it yourself. I will start afresh here, in this world of possibilities.”

I couldn’t grasp what I was hearing. I felt joy rising inside me. It was all I could do not to leap across the table into his arms. “I thought you felt you had to go back.”

“Not anymore. I’ve given it much thought. If I return and Vigo does not, it will confirm Leander’s claim that I killed him.
That would enrage his coven. If neither of us returns, it will remain a mystery.”

“That makes sense,” I said, nodding emphatically. Alexander was
staying.
Here. I couldn’t believe it.

“But that is not entirely the reason,” Alexander added. His eyes met mine. “I want to be with you, Amy. I would like to do this again — this thing you call dating. If you are not opposed, of course.”

“No, I’m not opposed,” I said, grinning.

Hannah bounced on her toes as we waited in line, excited to go in and see what our nightlife was like. I wondered if, deep down, she grieved Vigo, or if she had grieved the brother she’d grown up with a long time ago.

When James and Hannah had said they wanted to go dancing, I’d suggested Club Teen Scene.

“Can I let two of my friends know we’ll be here in case they want to come and meet you?” I asked them. “They’re huge fans of yours.”

They beamed, and agreed.

When we got inside the club, James and Hannah took in the place. The flashing lights and pumping dance music must have been like nothing they’d ever experienced.

“Where is the music coming from?” James asked, looking around.

“A … music machine,” I explained. I doubted explaining a DJ’s role would help. “It’s prerecorded.”

“Remarkable,” Hannah said. “And no one is dancing with a partner. Is it considered improper?”

I smiled. “Not at all. See that couple over there? They’re dancing together.”

“They’re not dancing!” James exclaimed. “They’re ruining themselves in front of everyone. How will they ever find marriage partners?”

I laughed. “All of that’s acceptable here, believe it or not. You should try it while you have the chance. No one will know.”

Hannah caught James’s arm. “Why not?”

She walked James onto the dance floor and slipped her arms around his neck. Her movements were graceful, while James watched her with a shocked expression. Then James started to move, trying unsuccessfully to imitate the motions of the dancers around him.

I turned to Alexander. “I hope you can dance better than he can.”

“I’m afraid that James is the dancer of the family. I do not dance.”

“Not at all?”

“No. I’ve always thought it a frivolous activity.”

“Well, I think it’s fun.” I grabbed his hand. “Come on. You don’t have to do anything fancy.”

He didn’t resist when I pulled him onto the floor. I started to dance a little. Alexander just stood there, observing me and the other dancers.

I leaned close to him. “You should move a bit.”

“How?”

“Just nod your head to the beat. And move your shoulders like this.” I showed him.

He complied, doing exactly what I’d done.

“You’re a natural!”

We hadn’t been dancing long before Katie and Luisa showed up. They stood by the dance floor staring at James and Hannah. Laughing, I dragged my friends up to them.

I shouted the introductions. “James, Hannah, these are my best friends, Katie and Luisa!”

“Enchanted.” James bent over their hands. Katie and Luisa were mesmerized.

Hannah gave them a closed-mouth smile and European cheek kisses. “We are learning how to dance like you people,” she told them.

“You’re doing great,” Katie said, and Luisa gave a nod of agreement.

I glanced at Alexander and caught him looking down at me with a tender expression. I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve Alexander’s love, or how it was even possible that we had found each other across the dimensions. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that we were together now.

As it turned out, James was funny. I hadn’t thought so from reading the books — his jokes seemed to fall flat on the page. But in person, it was a different story. It really was all about the delivery.

After we spent a few hours at the club, we went to a diner for snacks and milk shakes.

“That’s it, I’m never leaving.” James gulped his strawberry shake. “Is that not the best thing you’ve ever tasted?”

Katie and Luisa nodded. I could tell they were having the time of their lives. They hadn’t said much all night, or bombarded James and Hannah with questions. They mostly just stared at them. I hoped this night would make up for me keeping secrets from my best friends.

“It’s delicious,” Hannah said. “To think, Alexander will be able to have them every day if he likes.”

“I will not allow myself such excess” was Alexander’s response. “Not after the few first weeks, anyway.”

“I only wish we didn’t have to leave so soon,” James said. “There are many things we could learn from this world, so many experiences we could enjoy.” His gaze rested on Hannah. “But we have work to do.”

“Now that Vigo’s gone, there’s a chance for peace in your world, right?” Katie asked.

“That depends on who takes power,” Alexander answered her.

“I am going to assert my claim to leadership,” Hannah said. “If I am successful, we will have peace.”

Hannah as leader of the vampires? It had never occurred to me. Nor had it ever been mentioned in the books.

It would be perfect. As leader, she could broker a peace with the humans, and Otherworld Chicago would become a very different place. It was so perfect that I was afraid to hope for it.