Ivan knocked vigorously on the Dyebuko's door, whacking the doorknocker so hard, that if he had not been so distraught and anxious to get out of the dark of the night, he would have been worried about breaking it. He looked frantically about him while he waited for someone to answer the door he was still banging on. Visions of vampires danced around in his head, like evil little sugarplums planting nasty thoughts. The door opened with a fast sweeping motion that caused Ivan to nearly jump right out of his skin.
“Sir,” he said, looking at Latianna’s father. “I know it’s late, but if you will please let me in, I can explain,” Ivan said, looking around frantically once more. Mr. Dyebuko let Ivan in instantly, for which Ivan felt very grateful.
“Now, tell me boy, what’s the excuse for you coming here so late in the night and disturbing my good bloody mary?” Ivan didn't know where to start, or what Mr. Dyebuko would think of him, but little did he care what was thought about him, as long as his beloved Latianna was safe and sound, protected from the vampires.
“Ivan!” Latianna exclaimed. Her voice was music to his ears. There was no one he wanted to tell more about this abnormal night of the extraordinary discovery of the vampire race, than her.
“Latianna, I’m charmed,” he said, kissing her outstretched hand. This made Latianna giggle, and Ivan forget for just a small moment, while lost in her laughter, all about the troubles that lie in his life on this mysterious, dark and stormy night.
4
Friday morning came at last. Ivan had experienced a terrible night. His mother woke him at 6:30 in the morning to go to school. Chad remained locked in his closet. This predicament only being because he had not yet concluded what to do with him. Chad, though thoroughly disgruntled, did not argue. He knew how much of a threat he could be at school or even just at home. Besides, it was dark in the closet and, just as Ivan suspected, vampires did not like the sun. At least half vampires could go out in it - he was not one-hundred percent sure about whole ones, having met Alice when it was dark out - but it did hurt their eyes and made them feel drained and even more compelled to kill.
Chad was asleep when Ivan checked on him once more before going to school that day. When Ivan was driving to school, he found himself thinking about Latianna, wishing that he could see her again today. But, he knew that he could not miss one more day of school or his teachers would call his parents, in which case Ivan would be in a whole heap of trouble. Besides, not seeing Latianna was not that big of a burden, after all, he would see her tonight, at the dinner party. Ivan wondered what the dinner party would be like all the way to school.
5
Mrs. Penn was crying on Mr. Penn's shoulder that morning. She sobbed hard, and Mr. Penn attempted to wipe the tears from her eyes, but it was a pointless task. They re-appeared faster than they were wiped away. They decided to not go to the dinner party later that night. The disappearance of their son, Chad, made the third disappearance in three days. To their knowledge, nothing like this had ever happened in Riverwolf Pass before. It was not very surprising to the townspeople, except maybe Thelma, that Kurt and Alice escaped together; they were bad kids, the kids who sneaked out at nighttime and did not get good grades. Chad’s disappearance surprised them all. Chad was a good kid, a strapping young man with a future, a hope for college, and so smart that he could perhaps one day be a lawyer if he wished so.
Chad’s disappearance got the attention of the whole, entire town. And that, is when the dinner party that night stopped being the only thing talked about in Riverwolf Pass. For that day, there was a lot of talk about Chad, the new family, the disappearance, and last and least, the dinner party that would be hosted later that evening.
6
Ivan could not focus in school that day. His thoughts were dismal on vampires and how to find the head vampire. He needed to know how to change Chad back to human, and that was going to be a very difficult task. He knew that he would not find them walking about in the daytime. No matter how many books or TV shows there were these days about how vampires can walk in the sun, Ivan knew that it was the biggest myth there was. Vampires couldn’t walk out in the sun! It was part of the curse of being a vampire; they had to sleep all day long and could only come out in the night. There was no avoiding it, no magic rings to save them, no sparkling when the sun shown down upon them, and no werewolves to lift the curse. There was absolutely no way that vampires could be out roaming the streets in broad daylight. Ivan would have to begin his search at nighttime.
After thinking hard through several of his classes, he came up with an idea of when the vampires were going to strike against the whole town. Alice, Kurt, and the attacked Chad were all part of the beginning… a buildup to total destruction upon the town of Riverwolf Pass. The real attacks would take place tonight, at the dinner party. Of course, it was perfect! Nearly the whole town would be there…. or at least everybody of importance would. It was the perfect time to turn the town of Riverwolf Pass into a vampire refuge.
But, who devised this diabolical and most evil plan? Surely it was not the Dyebukos. That would be too obvious. Besides, he already saw Latianna out in the daylight, and if they were vampires, they would have known Ivan to be so clever, with all the reading he does. They would have changed or killed him right away. No, the Dyebukos were just a distraction to make people think they were behind it. Vampires were smart, and they knew how to think very deviously. Whoever these vampires were, they wanted the people of the town to assume the Dyebukos were behind all the mysterious acts happening in town. It was the perfect cover up plan. A new family moves to town… three mysterious disappearances… a dinner party… it all matched up. The Dyebukos were being framed. He had to warn them! But he very well could not do so. He was in school. Not to mention he didn't know whom the culprit was.
Ivan walked down the halls of his school towards his locker. It was the beginning of his 5th period. His heavy lunch sat in his stomach like a brick. He couldn't take it anymore, he had to do something. He tossed his backpack into his locker, it slammed against the back of the metal locker with a hard thud and everybody turned to look at him. His cheeks went red and he then slammed his locker shut, not bothering to get his Algebra 2 book. He wasn't going to go to class. He had to warn Latianna and her family about the vampires and the dinner party. He could not rightfully try to warn them at the actual party. By then, it would be too late. Not to mention the vampires might be able to hear him. Ivan had read in a several books and seen in various shows and movies that vampires had better hearing than humans. And if they heard him, what would they do to him? Would they track him down and kill him without a second thought? Were vampires really that viscous? He thought they could be...
Ivan hated the drive up to the new Dyebuko Manor. The road was treacherous beyond explanation and he was fully aware that one wrong move, one sudden jerk on the steering wheel, and he, along with the car, would suddenly be totaled.
The mansion was looking glorious that day. The sun shown down upon the manor, revealing not one spot of dust or rot. The new coat of paint really did wonders to the house. The windows were so clear that Ivan would not have realized they were there if he didn’t know better. When Ivan approached the door, he noticed that even the wolf-faced doorknocker appeared to be smiling. The whole house and its aura was gleaming, waiting anxiously for the unsuspecting guests that would arrive for the dinner party that night.
He banged on the door thrice, and stepped back, praying that Latianna would answer the door. She might be the only one who would actually believe him about there being vampires in Riverwolf Pass. He wanted to come to her last night, but something had stopped him. He could not place his finger on what exactly, but he found himself wishing that he came to her last night, no matter how late it was. Oh well, at least he was there then.
Latianna answered the door and looked happily surprised to see Ivan standing there in the doorway. She wore her hair pulled up into a messy bun, and she wore an apron around her wai
st. Ivan assumed she was cooking for the dinner party that night.
“Ivan Harvey!” she exclaimed, beaming. “What brings you here so early?”
“Latianna, I have to talk to you,” Ivan said urgently. Latianna put a finger up to her lips and glanced quickly at the kitchen, and then back at him.
“Ivan, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until the dinner party, I have lots to get done in preparation for it,” she said, winking and stepping outside. Ivan felt confused, his eyebrows scrunched together and he tilted his head to the side. But he went along with it.
“Very well, Latianna, I shall see you later tonight,” Ivan said, doing his best not to sound confused, only look it. Latianna smiled and nodded as she took his hand, and they ran off into the field together, not daring to speak a word until they were safely there.
“What was that about?” Ivan asked, nervously. Wouldn’t her parents notice that she was gone, even if she'd said those things?
“Ivan, there is something I have to tell you, something I need you to do your best to understand,” Latianna said. She looked down at her feet, and bit her lip. It was silent for a minute whilst Ivan’s mind twirled with thoughts about what Latianna would say. He noticed that she kicked at a rock beneath her feet.
“Latianna, there is something I have to tell you too, though you may think I’m crazy. But, Latianna, you are in grave danger. Everybody in town is, myself included,” Ivan said.
“I know,” she replied, looking up at Ivan with wide, terrified eyes. Ivan felt his heart lurch out to her when he saw the tears inside her eyes as she looked up at him. “You told me last night. Oh, Ivan, I’m not the one in trouble... you are.”
“What are you talking about, Latianna?” Ivan asked, wrapping her slender body up in his arms. He thought hard for a second or two, but no longer. “I didn’t come here last night, Latianna, I was going to… but… but… something stopped me,” Ivan said, pushing her back a little so he could look into her eyes. That only caused him more pain and fear inside, to see her cry that is.
“Ivan,” she said, her voice so smooth and calming. “I need you to think, and think hard! What happened last night?” she peered into his eyes, not allowing him to break contact. Within five seconds, Ivan remembered everything. He remembered locking Chad in his closet. He remembered driving up to the old mansion. He remembered sitting down with Latianna and her family. He remembered telling them about the vampires and Chad. He remembered a lot of confusing stuff happening afterward. He remembered Latianna begging to save his life. He remembered Latianna telling him to run away and never come back. Very last of all, he remembered Mr. Dyebuko sitting him down and looking into his eyes.
“He compelled me to forget, didn’t he?” Ivan asked, his heart beating loudly now. Latianna nodded. “You-you’re the vampires, aren’t you? You’re the ones planning to kill everybody at the dinner party, aren’t you?” Ivan asked, taking a few steps back. “I thought you were being framed,” his voice trailed off weakly.
“No, Ivan wait!” Latianna begged, falling to her knees in the soft green grass.
“You’re a vampire, Latianna. You were using me, you’re going to have a murder party, kill everyone… it’s a dinner party for vampires… and we’re the food! Who's the head of your clan? You better tell me, or I'll slay you right here and now!” Ivan threatened, grabbing her arm and squeezing it so tight that it made her skin even more pale around his fingers.
“No, Ivan, it’s not like that,” Latianna said, sobbing. She jerked her arm away from him and revealed finger marks on her arm. She gingerly rubbed it. “I don’t want to kill, I don’t want to be a vampire. I am only a half vampire. That is why I can go out in the sun. My parents are the vampires. I have to kill and drink blood before I become one of them,” Latianna said, crying harder now. Ivan walked toward her, unable to bear the sight of her crying.
“Shh, it’s okay, I’m here,” Ivan said, picking her up into his arms, and soothing her. His stomach was in a knot and he couldn't believe how he'd screamed at her. His own words echoed in his ears and he wondered how they could escape his lips.
“You can’t come tonight Ivan, you have to run away from this town and never come back.”
“I’ll take you with me,” Ivan said, standing up and holding her hand. “We’ll run away together, and escape this life.”
“We can’t. You can’t take me,” Latianna protested, dropping Ivan’s hand and turning away from him.
“Why not?” Ivan asked, running his fingers down Latianna’s smooth, blond curls.
“I can’t go with you because I’m a half vampire. I can only go so long before I kill someone. It’s been sixteen years, Ivan, and I’m bound to kill someone before too long.”
“Sixteen years? You can last that long?” Ivan asked, astonished.
“Only if you’re me, I guess. I am the only documented one who has lasted longer than a month. It’s because my heart is good, and I don’t want to kill or become a vampire or have an immortal life on any level,” Latianna explained, turning back around to face Ivan with her tear stained face. “I was bitten by my father when I was three. I don't age as quickly as humans. Yet I still age, unlike full vampires. I'm truly nineteen years old, it's been sixteen years since my father bit me, wanting me to be his little girl forever. Oh, will you ever forgive me?”
“Who do I have to kill to turn you and the other half vampires back to a full human?” Ivan asked, willing to do anything for this girl.
“My father,” Latianna replied with a stern look upon her face. “I don’t expect you to do it, Ivan, you don’t have to,” Latianna said, holding Ivan’s hand in hers.
“I will for you, Latianna, if you promise me one thing,” Ivan said, holding his head high.
“What’s that?” Latianna asked, her eyes softly coming back to normal as she stopped crying.
“If I am to kill your father, and make you human again, I want you to promise me that you will run away with me. We’ll leave this town and go far away, to a place where nobody knows us, and forget about this night all together,” Ivan said, gently kissing Latianna’s hand. He thought it would add a nice touch to the maudlin moment the two were sharing together, but it only made her giggle.
“I promise,” Latianna said without a second thought.
They laid there for a few long minutes, just holding each other in their arms, both thinking hard.
“Why don't you want to become a vampire, Latianna?” Ivan asked, the reality of what he had to do was finally setting in.
“I saw what a beast it made my father. When he changed me, I screamed, and he didn't even care. I knew at that moment, I never wanted to be like him again,” Latianna said, her words thoughtless and her voice airy.
“How did he do it?” Ivan asked, pulling her closer to him.
“An intrusive question!” she snapped, jolting back into reality.
“If I'm going to kill him, I should at least know,” Ivan explained, kissing her forehead gently.
“I'm sorry for yelling,” Latianna said, tears rising to her eyes again. “It's a painful memory.”
“I know, I know it must be,” Ivan comforted. “If you expect me to do this, you must tell me, you have to trust me that much.”
“Very well,” Latianna said, sitting up and dabbing her eyes with the corner of her sleeve.
“Thank you,” Ivan said, rubbing his thumb in circles on her palm.
“I was three years old and my best friend, Nicole was over for the night. We were both so excited, it was my first sleepover with her. I had no idea it would be the last,” Latianna said, pausing for a moment to let the tears subside. “I know we were only three, but I trusted her more than anyone. We were best friends, and I feel as though we still would be if it weren't for my father.”
“What happened?” Ivan asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
“Nicole went to get a glass of water from the kitchen. I said
I wasn't going to go with her because I was going to stay in my room and guard the candy that we had. She was fine with it. I was lining up the stuffed animals when I heard screams from the hallway. I opened the door and saw my father holding her up by her arms. I screamed for him to stop, but he only laughed at me.”
“Shhh, it's okay,” Ivan said, running his fingers through Latianna's hair as she cried some more. After a minute, she continued her story.
“He pulled her close to him and I saw his face change and his fangs appear, then he sunk his teeth into her.”
“You mean he actually fed off of a three year old girl?” Ivan asked, his eyes wide and his temper raging. Latianna nodded her head and started to cry again.
“The worst part was.... she was, she was.... she wasn't wearing any clothes!” Latianna cringed and Ivan's blood turned hot, he could feel his skin burning and his heart racing.
“Her limp body fell to the ground and I heard her skull crack against the hardwood floor. I screamed and screamed and nobody cared. My father laughed at me and called me a scaredy cat,” Latianna shuddered and her voice became softer.
“It was wrong of him to do that, Latianna, I can't express how mad I am at him,” Ivan said, not saying the curse words and anger that was on his mind. He couldn't blow up in front of Latianna like that, it would only wreck her more.
“He grabbed my arm and I screamed in protest. I can still see his yellow gleaming eyes looking at me before he sank his teeth into me. After he was done nearly killing me, he brought his lips close to my ear and whispered 'young ones taste the best.' I can still hear those words ringing in my ears. He told me to go out and kill someone, but I couldn't do it. I never have been able to do it and I never will be able to,” Latianna said, throwing herself into Ivan's arms. He stroked her hair and gently rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
“Is he the one who did that to your face, the bruise you had last time?” Ivan asked, but as soon as he did, he regretted it.
“Yes,” Latianna's soft voice came out. He continued to hold her as she cried.
The two shared one long kiss before they departed for the afternoon, with promises to see each other again that night, and later run away together.