Vampire (10 page)

“You're shaking all over.” Brandon's voice was deep and steady. “I didn't mean to scare you.”

“Well, you did,” she said, and the flowers were in her hand, and Brandon was wrapping her fingers around them, oh, so gently. “You really did scare me, Brandon.”

“I'm sorry.” And his lips closed over hers, a long sweet kiss, and he pressed her tightly against him. “I'm sorry, Darcy,” he said again softly. “I'd never—ever—want to scare you.”

12

N
ice flowers,” Kyle said, eyeing Darcy's carnations. “Bet you got them at the market.”

“How'd you know?” Darcy glanced at him curiously. She laid her bouquet on the table and tried to move her chair farther away from the Club's crowded dance floor.

“Oh … let's just say it was a hunch,” Kyle said. And then, almost as an afterthought, “Better not let Liz see them.”

Darcy felt her heart sink, and Kyle turned away, trying not to smile.
I wonder how many times Brandon's bought flowers for Liz … or for how many other girls
.… She stared at the flowers, suddenly wishing she could slip them discreetly under her chair. When she lifted her eyes, Kyle was looking at her again, but then glanced off.

“Who's that guy at the bar?” Darcy whispered.

Kyle tried to turn inconspicuously. “What guy?”

“There. He keeps looking over here like he's watching me.”

Kyle slid a glance in the stranger's direction, then leaned closer to Darcy. “I don't know … one of Jake's buddies, I guess. I've seen him in here before.… I've also seen Jake throw him out.”

“He looks like a real creep.”

“He probably is. Pretend you don't notice him, and maybe he'll leave.” He turned back to her with a smile. “Still up for the concert tomorrow night?”

“Sure,” Darcy said, not feeling up to it at all. She nodded an absentminded thanks to Brandon as he put a Coke down in front of her and slid into an empty chair.

“What concert?” Brandon asked, then snapped his fingers. “Oh, no! I forgot that jazz group was playing! And I've got a stupid rehearsal!”

“Just meet us there after,” Kyle said. “They always run late.”

“But I bet I'll miss most of it,” Brandon grumbled.

“Ah, the sacrifices one must make for one's art.” Kyle ducked as Brandon tried to punch him. “And speaking of art, how
is
the Count today?”

“Here I am, in all my …
gory
.” Brandon's eyebrows went up and down, and Kyle groaned.

“Your humor is too
grave
for me.”

“Oh, yeah? Well,
fangs
a lot.”

This time it was Darcy who groaned, and they both eyed her indignantly.

“Well, what's the matter with her? Some people would
die
for our company.”

“Of
corpse
.”

Unable to stand it any longer, Darcy started to laugh, and the boys joined in. The next minute the table grew uncomfortably quiet as they all looked up to see Liz standing over them. Darcy felt an instant knot in her stomach and stared miserably at the wall, trying to make the flowers disappear through desperate wishing. Liz was staring at the carnations with a frosty smile.

“Yours?” she asked Darcy.

Darcy heard her own voice from a long way off. “Yes.”

The other girl's smile grew colder and tighter. “How sweet. Kyle's always been the thoughtful one.”

Darcy saw a muscle move in Kyle's cheek, but she couldn't tell if he was bracing himself for an attack or hiding a smile—or both.

“I went to the theater.” Liz stared imperiously down at Brandon. “I didn't see you.”

“I wasn't there,” Brandon replied. “And those flowers aren't from Kyle.”

Kyle pursed his lips in a silent whistle and fastened his gaze to a spot on the wall.

“I see.” Liz's hand lowered to the top of Brandon's head, moved down the length of his ponytail … tightened … and steadily pulled. Brandon's head bent slowly backward until his eyes looked up into hers. “I think,” Liz said icily, “we should talk.”

Brandon's dark eyes flashed. He forced his lips into a mocking smile. “How about now?”

“That would be fine,” Liz said sweetly.

Darcy looked away as Liz started for the door and Brandon pushed himself up from the table with a sigh.

“Just ask yourself,” Kyle advised, “what Dracula would do in a situation like this.”

Brandon rolled his eyes. “He wouldn't waste his appetite. She'd just be a quick hors d'oeuvre.”

Kyle grinned over at Darcy as Brandon disappeared through the crowds.

“Wow. You've really made an enemy, and you haven't even tried.” And then, at the look on her face, he leaned over, contrite. “Hey, I'm sorry. Believe me, it doesn't take
anything
for Liz to hate you. She doesn't have any friends.”

Darcy felt both angry and near tears, and she took a long swallow of Coke. “Why does she act like that?”

“'Cause she's the queen bee at home. My parents have made her believe she can have anything she wants and everything she doesn't have.” He gave a tolerant smile and reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “You feel like riding?”

“Where?”

“I don't know. Anywhere. You like motorcycles?”

“I've never been on one. They look dangerous.”

“Not mine.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “Let's get out of here.”

“But maybe I should tell Jake—”

“I'll tell him. Just wait for me by the door. Hey, don't you want your flowers?”

“Uhhh … actually they look really nice here. I think I'll leave them.”

While Kyle headed off to Jake's office, Darcy pushed her way through the crowds and out the front entrance. The damp air felt good as she stood there on the sidewalk. Pulling her clothes away from her body, she fanned herself, turning her face up to the sky. A light drizzle still hung in the air, and the street lay around her, a gray illusion. She lifted her hair from her neck and let her eyes wander over the fog.

And then she saw him.

A thin face … lanky blond hair … the dark glasses like two deep holes where his eyes should have been …

“Elliott …”

She turned back and felt Kyle's arms go around her, and with a startled cry she jumped out of his grasp.

“Okay! Okay!” Kyle held up both hands, his eyes wide. “No touching! I promise!”

“No!” Darcy grabbed his arm and tugged him out to the curb, gesturing toward the foggy street. “Look! It's Elliott! Over there by that building!”

Kyle looked all around the deserted street and sidewalks, scratching his head. “Darcy—”

“He was here,” Darcy said, dismayed. “He
was!
Just like he was there the
last
time you didn't see him!”

Kyle nodded, his shoulders moving in an amicable shrug. “I mean, Elliott's working—”

“Across town,” Darcy finished. “At his night job. But what if he's not? What if he's not even there tonight? Then would you believe me?”

“Okay.” Kyle began walking. “Okay, if it'll make you feel better. My bike's right over here. We'll drive over to the station and see if Elliott's there.”

“No.” Darcy stopped, shaking her head. “No, you're just humoring me.”

Kyle thought a minute … ran one hand through his hair. “But, hey, wouldn't you love to prove me wrong? Liz
delights
in it.”

Darcy stared at him, feeling a smile creep across her face. “Actually, I would.”

“Spoken like a true female.” Kyle grinned. “This way, m'lady. Your trusty steed awaits you.”

“Steed?” Darcy laughed.

“Yeah.” He looked down at her, poker-faced. “If it was Brandon, then it'd be your trusty stud, but since it's only my bike—”

She gave him a playful shove and followed him to where he'd parked.

It took about twenty minutes to go across town. As they pulled into the gas station, Darcy saw Elliott working in the garage, and her heart sank. Kyle stopped the bike, and Elliott came out, wiping his hands on a dirty rag.

“Hey, man,” Kyle greeted him. “How's it going?”

“Okay,” Elliott mumbled. He was staring at Darcy, but she ducked her head and pretended to examine the helmet she'd taken off.

“How come?” Elliott said.

“How come what?” Kyle returned pleasantly.

“You're here.”

“Just showing Darcy around town.” Kyle slid off and unscrewed the gas cap. “Realized I needed to feed this thing. Figured I'd stop and say hi.”

The other boy nodded and turned toward Kyle, his thin hands working slowly … steadily … into the dirty rag they were holding. There was a long streak of grease down one of his cheeks, and sweat glistened on his high, wide forehead.

“I didn't leave that light on,” he said to Darcy, and she glanced up in surprise.

“I didn't come here about that, Elliott.” She shook her head. “Forget about it.”

“You shouldn't be here,” Elliott said, and Darcy jumped as he put his hand on her arm.

“She's with me,” Kyle said easily.

“This is a bad part of town,” Elliott went on patiently. “Murders happen here.”

“It's okay,” Kyle reassured him. “She's fine.” He replaced the hose and dug into his pocket. “I need some change.”

Elliott's head moved in the direction of the office, and Kyle mouthed “I'll hurry” as he started in. Darcy again concentrated on her helmet strap, but felt Elliott's hand return to her arm. When she looked up, he had taken his glasses off, and his wide, pale gray eyes were only inches from hers.

“I was right,” he mumbled. “Wasn't I.”

A coldness crept through her, yet she managed to hold his stare. “About what?”

“You know.” His expression was blank. “The murder.” One finger raised until it was level with her chin. “You know. It really happened.”

“Elliott—”

“And I remembered. About the ring. Kyle and Brandon thought it would look good in Brandon's play. Maybe they took it.”

“Are you talking about me?” Kyle clapped Elliott good-naturedly on the shoulder and winked at Darcy. “Some friend you are. I can't turn my back for a minute—”

“We were talking about rings,” Darcy said. “Did Brandon borrow a ring from the Dracula exhibit?”

“No …” Kyle looked puzzled. “He decided he didn't want to use it after all.”

“We were talking about murder,” Elliott murmured. “You should believe me when I say things will happen.”

Kyle saw Darcy's anxious face and shook his head with a patient smile. “No more talk about murder, okay, Elliott? No more talk about the future.” He swung one leg over the bike and checked to make sure Darcy was holding on tight. “There's only one thing about Darcy's future we both know for sure, right, Elliott? That Brandon will find
some
way to be in it.”

Elliott's mouth lifted tentatively at the corners, and he put his sunglasses back on. “I know
your
future, too. But you won't like it.”

Kyle regarded him curiously and let out a soft groan. “I don't need this tonight … what is it?”

“They're auditioning a new drummer. I heard them talking about it.”

Kyle leaned his head upon the handlebars and groaned even louder. “I knew this was going to happen! But why is it happening to me?”

“They don't know that I know.”

Kyle sighed and looked up again. Darcy could see the hurt in his eyes.

“Are you positive?”

“I'm positive.”

“Well, this ought to make my parents happy,” Kyle said softly. He revved the motor and gave Elliott a sad smile. “Thanks, man. See you around.”

Elliott stood there silently and watched them leave.

After a long while Kyle seemed to shake himself back to attention. “Satisfied?” he yelled back over his shoulder.

“About what?”

“Elliott.”

“He could have gotten there ahead of us, couldn't he?” Darcy yelled back.

She felt him shrug, but he didn't answer, so she buried her head against his back. Through his T-shirt she could feel the hard flow of his muscles as he guided the motorcycle through town, and suddenly she didn't care where they were going—she didn't want to care about
anything
—she just nestled tighter against him as the misty night flowed over her, lulling her into a safe, easy calm.

Without warning the bike stopped, and Darcy lifted her head to peer over Kyle's shoulder. Ahead of her she could see a girl walking alone down the street, and it took her a minute to realize it was Liz. As Kyle pulled up alongside, his sister cast him a ferocious glare.

“What's going on?” Kyle asked. “Where's Brandon?”

“Get out of here!” Liz yelled. “Leave me alone!”

“Come on, Liz.” Kyle kept up with her while Darcy looked on apprehensively. “You shouldn't be out here alone—where's Brandon?”

“How should I know! We had a fight in his car, and the jerk let me off in the middle of nowhere! I've been walking for miles!”

“Liz—will you just stop—”

“He's probably hoping the Vampire gets me!” Liz seethed. “And wouldn't that make him happy if I got my throat cut—wouldn't that make him happy if I died—”

“Come on, don't talk like that—” Kyle reached out one arm, but she slapped it away.

“Just because I hit him!” she said furiously. “Well, he
deserved
it! I told him I wanted flowers, so we had a fight, and he
insulted
me—”

“Where is he now?”

“How should I know! Who
cares?
He had it coming!”

“I doubt that.” Kyle sighed. “You're lucky he didn't decide to drop you
ten
miles from here.”