Cryptic Cravings (18 page)

“How did they get those?” I asked Becky.

“I don’t know,” she said, just as bewildered as I was.

Several other students we passed as we headed to our lockers had Crypt shirts, but even those who didn’t were blabbing about the fantastic time they had at the new club.

I was so pleased that even though I was stil looked at as an oddbal , we were al sharing in the same joy that was the Crypt.

Now that Alexander (as Phoenix) was key in cementing Jagger’s mortals-only club policy, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that my fel ow students, family, and townspeople were in no immediate danger from unknown vampires. Maybe Scarlet, Onyx, and Sebastian would be staying in Dul svil e. It would be a dream for me to spend time with them and Alexander in the darkened hours. Even Jagger and Luna, who were far from what I’d cal best friends, could be a nice addition to this town. Jagger had made a fantasy of mine come true—and I had to give him major props for that.

And by the number of Crypt T-shirt–wearing students, Jagger could be next in line to my own nemesis, Trevor, in being Dul svil e’s most popular.

I opened my locker.

“Can you believe that tonight is final y your joint birthday party?” Becky said.

“I’m so excited, I can’t wait. I wish we could just skip the school part and head straight to the club. But you know I wish that every day.”

She laughed.

“But seriously, I can’t even concentrate. I have a test third period and al I can think about are tombstones.”

“What are you wearing?” Becky asked.

“I’ve tried on a mil ion things. I can’t decide between a minidress and a corset one.”

“I can’t believe that out of al the students, we get invites for the party. And you are the guest of honor,” Becky gushed.

As we shut our locker doors, I walked proudly down the hal way, knowing I was going to open the Covenant just for us.

When we turned the corner, I bumped into Trevor, who was wearing a black Crypt T-shirt.

“Where did you get that?” I asked.

“I’m al out. Too bad I only have the one I’m wearing. Want to swap shirts? We can change here,” he suggested with a wink.

“Thanks, but it would be best for al of us if you kept your shirt on.”

The truth was Trevor had the best physique in school, but I wasn’t about to tel him that. Besides, he already knew.

“So are you going to wear that special bracelet?” Trevor whispered as Becky got a quick drink at the water fountain.

I didn’t say anything. My usual stinging barbs would have been funny but not total y appropriate. Trevor had given me a present—a real one. And to slam him would have made me a heel.

“Thank you,” I said. “It was beautiful.”

He was surprised at my sincerity.

I felt like hugging him. It was the right thing to do. I know he would have wanted a kiss, but I wasn’t about to get sick to my stomach.

Trevor looked like he didn’t know what to do. He was ready to slam me back, but since I had said something nice, he was speechless. He just grinned awkwardly and walked away.

“Hey, Trevor,” I cal ed.

“Yeah?” he asked, stopping. He stood with his hands on his hips, probably sure this time I was going to hurl a major verbal assault. He grinned like a champion.

I scurried up to him and before he could move, I hugged him. I hugged him so hard, I could feel his heart racing.

For a moment I locked my hands together behind his back, like one hugging someone they real y cared about would. I’d caught Trevor off guard.

He didn’t know what to do. For a moment he didn’t return my hug. Then he softened, as if he’d waited al his life for this display of affection. Just as he drew his arms around me, I stepped back.

Trevor smiled a bigger smile than I’d ever seen.

It was the least I could do. I was so excited about the party that even pressing my body against my nemesis to show my gratitude wasn’t going to spoil it.

“Now I have to burn these clothes,” I said to him as Becky caught up to me and I slipped inside my classroom.

Becky showed up at my house wel before sunset. We modeled our outfits and tried out different hairstyles. She looked stel ar in a black cami with a demi sweater and violet rayon skirt.

The doorbel rang as I was stil trying to squeeze on my final outfit.

“They’re here!” Becky said excitedly.

It wasn’t like she never saw Matt. She saw him every day at school and on many evenings. But every time he arrived, she was just as thril ed as the time before. And I couldn’t blame her. My heart pounded out of my chest every chance I got to see Alexander.

“Girls,” my mom cal ed from downstairs. “Your dates are here!”

I laced myself into my lavender monster boots, and Becky helped zip me into my black minidress and fix my barrettes. Since I’d gotten behind the time, I would have been a mess without her smoothing touches.

We descended the staircase like debutantes. Alexander and Matt were awaiting us, with huge smiles and in handsome club attire.

“Can I take a picture?” my mom asked.

“Mom!” I said, total y embarrassed. It wasn’t enough that my boyfriend was a vampire and wouldn’t even show up in the photo, but my mom making a fuss was more unbearable.

“Your dad is stil at work,” my mom said. “He’d hate to miss this moment.”

“Oh yes, please, use my phone,” Becky said. “I’l send you the pics.”

I didn’t even try to get out of it. Becky and Matt squeezed next to Alexander and me. We smiled as if Alexander were going to show up after al .

“Say cheese,” my mom said.

Alexander squinted when the flash went off.

“Are you okay?” my mom asked.

“Just something in my eye. It was great seeing you, Mrs. Madison,” Alexander said, giving my mom a polite kiss on the cheek. “Now our car awaits.”

We gave quick hugs and good-byes to my mom as we walked out the front door and to the driveway, where Jameson was waiting with a limo.

“You are kidding me!” I screamed.

“Only the best for the best,” Alexander said.

Becky and I continued to scream and giggle as we got in the back of the limo and headed to the Crypt like celebrities on their way to an awards show.

I arrived with my boyfriend and friends at the Crypt. I was excited to final y have the party celebrating Alexander’s and my birthdays that Jagger had talked so much about. I wasn’t sure what he had in store for us, but I knew it would be something special. The club was open to al its usual customers, but our party was going to be somewhere else in the club. I wasn’t supposed to know the location, but I’d learned from Phoenix that we were final y going to see the Covenant after al .

We al mil ed about on the main floor until Jagger said it was time for the party. Becky approached me and seemed gravely concerned.

“What’s up?” I asked. “It’s party time.”

“Nothing . . . it’s just something that I’ve been weirded out by for a while.”

“Did I do something?”

“No—it’s not you. It’s—”

“Tel me.”

“I want to show you this,” Becky said. She led me into an alcove away from dancing clubsters. She held out her phone. “Remember the picture I took at the soccer field again of Sebastian? He didn’t show up in any of the pictures. He’s clearly missing.”

“That’s al ?” I asked. “Yes, that’s weird. But maybe there is something wrong with your phone.”

“I got to thinking. Maybe the rumor wasn’t just a rumor.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Al the signs. For so long now. I can’t believe you—of al people—haven’t noticed.”

“What are you saying?” I asked my best friend.

“These are the pictures of the workers I took before Jagger told me not to take pictures.” She showed me her phone again. There were no workers in view.

“Maybe they were out of the frame,” I said.

“Everyone? Al the pictures I took of you are perfect.”

“Maybe it’s time to buy a new cel phone. I think we have to get back—”

“And then this one.” She took out a camera from her purse. “I used my camera this time. I took it tonight. It is of Jagger, Luna, and Sebastian.”

“You weren’t supposed to take pictures. . . .”

She held out the camera, shaking in her hand.

There wasn’t anyone in the picture.

I didn’t know what to say.

“Maybe it’s the lighting?” I tried.

Becky’s face was determined. “It’s not the cel phone. It’s not the camera. It’s them!”

“Becky, you aren’t making sense—”

“That’s why Sebastian bit Luna at Alexander’s party. That’s why I’ve only seen them during the night and why they don’t go to school. They can’t. They are—”

“I have to get back—”

She reached into her purse again. “Then it won’t matter if I throw these cloves of garlic on the dance floor.”

I imagined it then. One by one, Alexander, Jagger, Luna, Sebastian, Onyx, and Scarlet breathing in the garlic fumes and gasping for breath. Al laboring to get fresh air. Final y each one, fal ing to the floor. . . .

I reached for her purse. “No—you can’t! You have to take that out of here! They won’t be able to breathe!”

Becky was stunned by my reaction. Her face turned ghostly white. She pul ed out an empty hand.

She could barely breathe herself. “Raven, I don’t have any garlic. . . .”

I covered my mouth in horror.

“So it’s true,” she said faintly.

My best friend knew—about Jagger, Luna, Sebastian, Onyx, and Scarlet. And if I couldn’t prove her wrong—or worse, lie to her—then it would be only moments before she realized the truth about Alexander, too.

My head swirled with excuses. The camera doesn’t work, it’s the lighting . . . but when I opened my mouth, no words came out. Instead I nodded, as if I’d been waiting for her to tel me those words forever. In fact, I must have been. She was my best friend and I’d kept the biggest secret from her—something I’d never done. And now she’d found out on her own, and I couldn’t keep the secret any longer.

Her lower lip quivered and she wobbled in place.

“Becky?” I put my hand on her shoulder.

Becky began to succumb to her dizziness. Her knees buckled and she started to fal .

I quickly grabbed her with both hands, trying to keep her standing.

“What’s wrong with her?” a clubster asked.

“She feels faint,” I said. “Let’s give her some air.”

I held her up and guided her over to the bar, then helped her sit down.

“We need some water,” I said.

I hugged my best friend. “It’s okay, Becky. You’l be okay. We’l be okay.”

The bartender put a glass of water on the bar.

“I’m not thirsty,” she said, pushing it away.

“Drink it,” I said, handing it to her.

Becky gulped it down.

For a moment we girls sat in silence, processing what had just happened. Becky had just learned my boyfriend’s true identity and now I had to deal with my best friend holding this secret knowledge.

“I’m scared, Raven. I’m real y scared.”

Tears began streaming down her face. Her house of Hel o Kitty cards was fal ing down in front of me. I was left breathless.

“And this picture, too,” she said, scrol ing her phone. “It’s the one your mom took tonight with me and you and Matt and Alexander. Only Alexander isn’t in the picture.”

I couldn’t speak nor look at the picture my friend was holding out, shaking in her fingers.

“So, does that mean—Alexander, too?”

I didn’t answer.

“It’s funny, real y. I’ve never seen him in the daylight. Not once. And those pictures from the Snow Bal , he didn’t turn out, and now tonight. . . .”

I nodded.

I knew she was frightened. For her, for me, for us. For the town. Even for Alexander.

“You tried to tel me once underneath the staircase at school. But I laughed at you.”

“I would have laughed, too.”

“Is it possible to be a good vampire?” Becky said.

“I think Alexander’s proof.”

Matt raced over. He noticed Becky’s pale complexion. “What’s wrong?”

“Becky feels faint,” I said. “I think you should take her home.”

“But they’re going to have your celebration,” she muttered.

“You’ve had enough for tonight,” I said. “Matt, do you mind?” I asked. “I think she needs some rest.”

“I don’t want to leave,” she said. “I want to stay. I want to know everything now.”

“What do you want to know?” Matt said. “What is she talking about?”

“I want to know more about vampires,” Becky said. “And Raven knows everything there is to know.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Matt asked.

Becky looked at me with a knowing smile. “I don’t want to be left in the dark anymore.”

I insisted Matt sit with Becky while she continued to drink her water and I went to find Alexander.

“I have to tel you something,” I said when I final y found him by the club’s entrance.

“It wil have to wait. Jagger wants us to join him for the VIP party.”

Jagger unlocked the Covenant door and waved us over. Becky and Matt trailed behind.

We walked down darkened, crooked wooden steps. When we reached the bottom we could clearly see the room Jagger had been hiding.

Twinkling tombstones lined the wal s and morbid music played. “Happy birthday!” everyone cheered.

Sebastian, Luna, Scarlet, Onyx, Jagger, Trevor, and a few others who must have been friends of Jagger’s from the Coffin Club applauded.

“And look at this. A covenant altar. Perfect for parties,” Jagger said.

A wrought-iron, spooky spiderweb-designed trel is was beautiful. Underneath it lay a coffin with two antique pewter goblets adorned with bats.

“We are going to have a ceremony tonight. Just for kicks,” Sebastian said. “A mock ceremony to unite us with our girlfriends for eternity. I’m going first, then it’s your turn.”

“Are you kidding?” Alexander asked. “That is cool.”

I kind of liked the idea. A mock covenant. Alexander and I could practice what it would real y be like to have the ceremony and for me to be turned without it being a reality. Like posing for a picture with a wacky facade at a theme park. However, I’d be the only one in the picture.