Chapter 6
The house was much smaller than my parents’ in Rochelle, but I liked it. It was cozy. Taking a quick walk around to check out the surroundings, I noticed one thing—Sue was clean. Everything was spotless and in its place. But I suppose if you lived alone with no kids and no pets, there’d be no one to mess anything up but you.
I wondered if she liked living alone, and why she did. I lifted up a few framed pictures on a table in the living room. Sue with an elderly couple. I guessed her parents. Sue with a woman who looked just like her, but was a little younger. That must be her sister.
The furniture was plain and clean. The most prominent color in the house was beige, or varying levels of it. I’m sure some were called taupe or khaki. It was all beige to me. The only color was in the pillows on the furniture. Bright, non-matching cushions were neatly places across the surface of the beige couch. So
Maybe Sue was somewhat adventurous, but didn’t want to get too carried away. The kitchen was pretty much the same. I glanced in the pantry. It was neatly stocked with low-fat and healthy items. If I still cared about food, I’d end up eating out every night. Blech!
There was a small family room down a few steps from the kitchen, containing a couple of couches, a TV, and a desk with a computer. Back up the steps were three tidy bedrooms, one of which was clearly Sue’s. It had pale blue walls and a queen-sized bed with a white coverlet.
The remaining two bedrooms contained small twin beds. One of them was lined with bookshelves. I glanced at the titles as I walked by, dragging my fingers along the book spines. Sue had her own home library, complete with a large selection of romance novels. The curtained window looked out onto the back yard. I liked this room. As long as she didn’t mind me sleeping in the same room as her books, I was going to take it. And if she did mind, well, I supposed I could take care of that as well.
Two trips to the car later and I was all moved in. I loaded the fridge with my blood supply and sucked down a bag while I waited for Sue to come home, discreetly hiding the empty in a plastic bag in the closet. I’d have to find a Dumpster to ditch those in later. I made sure the fridge was locked tight and shoved the key in my pocket. I really hoped the compulsion would hold out. I sat on the edge of the bed staring at the four walls. It was so strange being in someone else’s house. Here I was, the intruder all over again.
I lay back on the bed and pulled Drake’s number out of my pocket. I still had to go get myself a phone. The front door opened and I shot up. I hovered in the doorway, watching the hallway.
“Vicky?” I heard Sue ask from the living room.
“Yes, I’m here.” I stepped into the hallway.
“Did you find everything okay? Do you need any help moving things in?” she asked as I made my way down the steps.
“Yes, Aunt Sue, I did. I’ve already got everything in. Is it okay if I stay in the room with the bookcases?”
“Sure, that’s not a problem.” She looked at me a little blankly. “Would you like some dinner?
“Um, sure, that sounds nice.” I was full, but if it made this insane situation more normal to sit and eat some food I didn’t need, so be it. I sniffed the air, picking up key lime pie, mangoes, and broccoli.
Luckily, those were not my favorite foods, so I think I’d have to be starving to even consider having a taste. Okay, was I seriously just thinking about eating my new aunt? I have to remind myself that this situation was too easy to come by and I better not screw it up.
“How about a nice stir-fry?” she asked, throwing open the pantry door.
“Stir-fry would be great! Do you like to cook?” I asked. I had to get to know her a little bit in case people asked me questions.
“I enjoy it, but I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m any good at it.” She chuckled. “I promise the food won’t kill you.”
Not much would. Unless she tried to stake me with a head of broccoli. That might do it.
I set the table while I grilled her about family members, names, ages, current locations, drug habits, whatever. I had to know who my troublemakers were going to be. The two siblings, both living out of state on opposite coasts, shouldn’t be a problem. She had a bit of an edge to her voice when she mentioned them. It didn’t sound like they spent any time here. Something about being too busy with their lives and careers to be concerned about Sue.
They each had a couple of kids, who never came to visit and always forgot to thank Sue for any birthday or Christmas gifts she sent. The only possible obstacle was Sue’s parents. She told me they lived one town over and she, being the only child still around, was saddled with the task of being at their beck and call. Lucky for me, they didn’t leave the house much, so all I had to do was command Sue not to tell them about me.
After munching through some boring stir-fry that did nothing for my appetite, I cleared the table.
The doorbell rang.
“Hi, Ms. Rendall. My mom asked me to drop off your pan. She said for me to tell you thanks.”
That voice was way too familiar.
“Vicky?”
My heart dropped into my stomach. I turned around and found myself looking at Drake, standing in Sue’s very doorway. “Um, hi, Drake! How are you?” I stuttered.
“I’m good, just heading out to pick up my check from work. I had no idea Ms. Rendall was your aunt. Small world!”
Sue stood in the doorway. “She’s staying with me awhile. I suppose we have to get you signed up for school, right?” She raised her eyebrows at me.
“Yep, Drake was telling me about Bartlett High. Sounds like a nice place. So, uh, Drake, do you live around here?” I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the answer.
“Yeah, just three houses down. How crazy is that?” He shrugged his broad shoulders.
“That is definitely crazy.” I tried not to gasp. Three houses away. Too close. Maybe I could be like those vampires from The Lost Boys and float outside his window, and beg him to invite me in. Lucky for me, I didn’t need an invite like those other vampires did.
“Where did you two meet?” Sue looked back and forth between us like she was watching a tennis match.
“I met her at work the other day. She came in while she was waiting to move in here.” Drake’s hand fidgeted with the edge of his pocket.
“Yeah, I owe him a dinner. I’d forgotten my wallet that day and he spotted me the money.” I grinned.
“Hey, um, if you’re not doing anything, do you want to go with me? I mean, it’s not exciting, but if you want to go for a ride.” He faltered a little, running his hand through his hair.
Sue waved at us both. “Go on, go hang out, I can clean up the rest.”
“Are you sure?” I wasn’t confident I could handle being in a car with him. What if his chocolaty goodness overwhelmed my currently under-control cravings? He raised his eyebrows, looking hopeful. How could I say no to that face?
“Sure, let’s do it. Let me grab my bag.” I ran up the steps, nearly falling flat on my face, and grabbed my purse from the bed. I glanced at the fridge, hoping I had enough in me.
“You’ve got an awesome car,” Drake said, running his finger along the hood. I tried not to giggle at his car. It was not a Mustang. Far from it. It was a tiny little Hyundai. It certainly did not match the driver. He was tall, lean, handsome, striking even. The car was tiny, black, and shaped like a jelly bean. Definitely not a chick magnet.
“Yeah, it’s nice. But it does suck down a lot of gas.” I climbed into the front seat of the jelly bean.
“This one most certainly does not suck down gas.” He laughed as he pulled in his legs and tried to fit in the driver’s seat. His head brushed the roof. “My dad calls this the coffin, because if I had an accident, they wouldn’t be able to get me out of it, so I’d have to be buried in it.”
Buried in it. My eyes widened. I could promise him
one thing—the jelly bean was much bigger than a coffin.
“Oh, hey, I’m sorry, I totally forgot about your parents. That was not cool,” he said, obviously misunderstanding my silence at his joke.
“Oh, no, no, it’s nothing. I was thinking about something else. It’s all good.” I patted him on the arm in the attempt to make him feel better about it. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and I wondered if I could ever tell him the truth. Maybe. I’d have a better chance with him than with an adult, I bet. I caught hints of his scent across the car. Chocolate brownies. So far the blood I’d drank earlier seemed to be doing the job because my fangs stayed where they belonged.
“No worries though, I am saving for my own car. I’m hoping to have enough soon.” He smiled at me and I melted just slightly.
“What are you going to get?”
“I’m not sure just yet. But something that’s not the jelly bean.”
I giggled.
“So, I didn’t get your last name the other day. What is it? Or are you like Cher and you just go by Drake?”
“No, I do have one. It’s Monaghan. It’s Irish. My family is all from there.”
“Ooo, nice. Ireland always seemed like a cool place to me.”
“Oh, it is. Lots of potatoes and lots of rain.”
“And how about you? Are you Vicky Rendall?”
“No, actually, I’m Vicky Hernandez. My mom is Sue’s sister.”
“Oh, that makes sense. Did you get all moved in? I’m guessing the room was ready?” He maneuvered the car through the quiet Bartlett streets. It was only eight in the evening. In that way, it definitely reminded me of Rochelle. After the evening rush, if you could call it that, there was no reason for anyone to be out and about in town. He drove towards Route 59, where the hotel and Lou’s was located and traffic did increase a little. This road seemed to connect all the local suburbs, so it had a fair amount of cars on it.
“Yeah, the room is really nice actually. It’s got a ton of bookcases, I love it.” I smiled in the dark.
“Do you like to read?”
“I enjoy the occasional book. I never had much time for it before.” I paused, almost saying before I died. “At my old school, I was involved in a lot of activities or whatever and it kept me pretty busy.”
He swung into Lou’s parking lot.
“And what were you involved in? Chess club? Math team?” He chuckled.
“Not quite. I was involved in soccer, theater, and student council. We planned all the dances.” I thought back to that time like it was a hundred years ago now. I didn’t know that girl. Soccer practices after school, decorating the gym for dances. I didn’t have any of that anymore. I wasn’t sure who I was now.
“Oh, well, I’m a bit of an underachiever compared to that then. I go to school and I work. I play a little guitar, but nothing I would torture anyone with. And on occasion, when I’m in the mood, I can throw down a mean poem.” With a quick smile, he opened his car door and I opened mine, meeting him on the sidewalk in front of the pizza place.
“You write poetry?” I stifled a giggle. “I would have never guessed.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand, I’m quite the tortured soul.” He teased as we walked in the door. “But if you play your cards right I might just let you read some of it.” He raised his eyebrows and tried to make a serious face.
I snorted.
“Hey Becky.” He waved at the girl behind the take-out counter. “Got my check?”
A scent hit my nostrils and the hair on the back of my neck instantly stood on end. It was strong, overpowering the scent of pizza and people, a jumbled mix of varying foods that I liked. My brain pushed that aside, focusing only on the one that was out of place. The one that was just like mine.
Becky handed Drake his check and I grabbed his arm.
“Are you ready to go?” He looked concerned, and I wiped my face clean of whatever emotions were plastered all over it.
“Um, yeah,” I said. We had to get out of there immediately. “Hey, remember we talked about me getting a cell phone the other day. Do you know anywhere around here that we could get one?”
I dragged him out the door and out to the parking lot.
A tall, dark someone stood next to the car. There were no woods around, meaning no giant stakes to push him through. “Come on, let’s go this way,” I said, grabbing Drake’s arm and leading him around the back of the strip mall.
“Where are we going Vicky? Are you okay?” he asked, dragging his feet a little. This was not a time for slowing down.
“It’s nothing, I, uh, I just want to see something.”
We rounded the corner into the alley.
“Ah, Vicky, I’ve found you at last.” His voice hissed through the air around us.
I skidded to a stop, a chill vibrating down my spine.
“Whoa, Vicky, do you know that guy?” asked Drake.
“No.” I instinctively pushed him behind me. “Go back to the car, Drake.”
“What’s going on?”
“Yes, Vicky, why don’t you tell him?” the vampire asked. My gums vibrated, trying to force my fangs out. Drake could not see this. “Oh, that’s right, you don’t even know, do you?”
We had no chance of outrunning this guy, if the speed of the last one was any hint. I might alone, but Drake didn’t have a shot in hell.
The vampire strolled closer. He wore a black pea coat over dark jeans. His hair was as dark as the first vampire’s, but his face was much different. At least, I hoped, they weren’t related or anything.
“There’s no need to run, I just want to talk to you.” His voice and his tense stance betrayed his words.
“I think it’s pretty clear she doesn’t want to talk to you dude,” Drake said from behind me as he struggled against my arms to get around me.
“I think it’s pretty clear that you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, blood bag,” the vampire spat.
“Oh, yeah, that’s a good one. Blood bag. Where did you manage to pick up such awesome insults?” He laughed. “Come on Vicky, let’s go.”
“Your companion irritates me, Vicky. You will come with me. Now. Or maybe your friend won’t be walking out of here alive. I could use a snack.” He leered at Drake and picked at his front fang.
“Whoa dude, what’s with the teeth?” Drake asked, trying to get a closer look.
The vampire made a move. He was so quick I could hardly keep up with him. I grabbed Drake and dragged him with me. He definitely slowed me down, but we were still able to move fast enough to get out of his way.
“How did you do that?” Drake gasped, as I shoved him behind me again. There would be time for explanations later.
“You’re much faster than we anticipated,” the vampire hissed again.
“Than who anticipated?” I shouted, my heart pounding.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, if you’d just hold still,” he said, eyeing Drake behind me. “Your friend smells delicious.” He pause and sniffed the air. “Chocolate brownies, I think.”
“What the hell is he talking about, Vicky?” Drake whispered behind me. “We need to get out of here.”
“What do you think I’m trying to do here?” I snarled. “Sorry. Just let me figure this out.”
“I’ve had enough of this playing around, Miss Hernandez. Either you come with me now, or I will eat your friend. And I do believe I’ll enjoy every last drippity drop.”
“Forget it, I’m not going anywhere with you. And if you made me this way, I can promise I’ve got more than a few problems with you.” I stood up a little straighter, my fangs out. At least Drake couldn’t see them from behind me.
“My orders were to bring you back in one piece, but I suppose they can always sew things back on.” He leapt through the air.
Something in me took over. I ran stra
ight at the spot that I anticipated he would land. I crashed right into his rock-hard body. It slowed me down for a second. Without thinking, I grabbed his hair—a bit of a challenge as he was taller than me—and pulled as hard as I could. A tearing sound punctuated with a loud crack rang through the alley. Warm, foul smelling blood sprayed across my face as his head separated from his neck, my fingers wrapped in his now blood-coated hair. My eyes were glued to the bloodied head that swung from my fingertips. His body collapsed into a pile of dust at my feet, his head took a little longer. It aged rapidly and then the flesh began to rot and fall from the bone. I dropped it in disgust and kicked it. It rolled for a few feet and then collapsed into a second pile of dust.
I closed my eyes, and urged my fangs to return to their resting place. My heartbeat slowed, returning to a more normal state. This was a huge mess. And if this pile-o-dust cost me a friend already, I’d be sure to dump what was left of him in a port-a-potty.