Vampire Kisses 9: Immortal Hearts (24 page)

“No—” Becky said. “She was waiting for Alexander!”

“You can’t do that!” Sebastian yelled to Trevor.

“This got out of hand!” Becky said. “I’m sorry, Raven, I only told Matt about tonight.”

“Well, word travels fast in a small town, Monster Girl,” Trevor said, drawing me close to his side.

“Let go,” I said to him, “or I’ll be going for
your
jugular!”

Trevor looked at his new audience—who were only a few yards away. It was hard to make them out from the flickering lights surrounding us. But when our eyes adjusted, it was clear. Everyone was stunned and didn’t know what to do. My nemesis was brimming with confidence and pride. Then he looked at me. “I’m going to prove to you and everyone else that it’s me you really want.”

Trevor grinned madly and showed his fangs. He leaned back, ready to bite my neck. I was ready to kick, punch, and scratch my way out when I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Jagger and Sebastian rushing toward us.

All of a sudden a force from behind me pushed through us, and Trevor was thrown a few yards away from me and was lying by a tombstone as I fell back on the ground.

I looked up when a strong hand reached out to me. On it was a familiar spider ring.

I was overcome with emotion. “Alexander!” I exclaimed.

He appeared out of the night, shined a brilliant smile, and took my hand. Alexander was as gorgeous as I’d ever seen him. His black hair flopped over his chocolate-colored eyes and hung down seductively. He was a magnetic presence in a dark silk suit, blood-red tie, and matching pocket handkerchief. He helped me to my feet and gazed at me in my dress.

He really examined me and lit up with delight. “You are breathtaking,” he said. “I couldn’t hI cned madlave imagined you any more beautiful than you are now.”

I was so pleased with his reaction and stared up at the handsome vampire before me.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked.

“I am now,” I said, squeezing his hand.

“It was supposed to be just us,” he said with a sweet smile as Jagger and Sebastian returned to the watching crowd.

“I know. I guess everyone found out. But there was one person who I didn’t ever think would be here.”

We both looked to Trevor, who had just gotten back on his feet.

“Don’t even think about it—” Alexander said to him angrily. Then he looked at me with soft and engaging eyes. “I have had just about enough of other guys trying to turn you, Raven. There is only one vampire who will,” he said confidently. “The one who you were always meant for—me.”

I melted inside. Alexander was as dreamy as ever.

“I want to ask you one more time,” he said, pulling me close. “Is this what you truly want?”

“Yes!” I assured him.

“It’s not too late to turn back,” he said.

“Don’t even think about it.”

He smiled an alluring smile. I could think of nothing else but being with him forever.

My hands began to shake, but Alexander took them in his and drew me closer still.

“No!” Trevor cried. “Don’t!” He fell to his knees, his right hand opening, revealing two fake fangs.

Trevor hadn’t been turned. I should have known. He was just trying to stop me from being with Alexander.

For a moment, I felt for my nemesis, who had tried to declare his love for me and prove to everyone that it was he whom I belonged with. But I didn’t belong with him. And that kiss that we had just shared was, for me, a kiss good-bye.

I glanced at the crowd of friends all warmly watching me. Becky, with joyful tears in her eyes, leaning against a handsome Matt; Sebastian, with his arm around Onyx; Luna, holding hands with Romeo. Scarlet looked as happy for us as she was angry at Trevor. Jagger, whose elbow rested on Valentine’s shoulder, gave us a friendly nod. Then I saw a familiar threesome: my brother, Billy, with his best friend, Henry, and a grinning, adorable Stormy.

fotine height="0em"><

div>

Alexander nodded to his sister, and she and Becky came toward us. Stormy sprinkled the flowers around us and the coffin, and Becky fanned out my dress. Then they both stepped back.

Alexander said a few beautiful words in Romanian, and we both sipped from the goblet.

Then I gazed up at Alexander—my gothic prince, my knight of the night. My true love.

He looked into my eyes and I knew the time was right. This moment we both were ready. And we both beamed happily.

“I will love you for all of eternity,” he said.

He gently brushed a few strands of hair away from my shoulder. Chills danced along my flesh from his touch. He smiled and drew me close, then leaned in to me. He slid his fangs against my neck ever so slowly, causing my heart to race in anticipation. Then, as if they were always meant to be there, his fangs gently pierced my neck. They slid into my flesh like a thousand kisses on wanton lips. It was as if he was breathing new life into my veins. I felt euphoria soar through my whole being. My skin tingled, my senses were heightened, my heart flooded with love. Then, when he drew my blood as his own, I could feel him breathe me into him. It was truly magical, like he was drinking in my soul. I couldn’t have imagined such an amazing feeling and here it was, coursing through my every cell. We were finally one. I wasn’t undead. In fact, I felt more alive than I ever had before.

I was electrified. I was filled with true love.

He smiled a brilliant smile and licked the remaining blood from his lips. I could smell it. It was sweet, like honey. And suddenly I craved his blood, as if in his veins flowed the most delicious nourishment.

He squeezed my hands affectionately, and he then leaned in to me again and we kissed for an eternity. We both were consumed with bliss.

As we drew apart, I realized I could hear noises that I hadn’t detected before, the sounds of birds and bats far away. The moonlight was brighter than I remembered, and I could feel it dancing on my skin. And I could see through the night—dusk instead of complete darkness—trees and tombstones once out of view after sunset were
now visible.

I slid my tongue gently along my teeth and I felt something I’d never felt before—two pointy fangs. I was overcome with joy.

Alexander and I were connected in a much deeper way than we ever had been. I was truly bonded to him, as if our two hearts beat in rhythm and our blood circulated in harmony. It was like being one. We embraced, and then he held me in his arms. I melted against him and gazed into his dreamy eyes as he joyously gazed back into mine, cherishing what he did for me—what he did for us.

We turned back to our friends and family, who appeared as haapp’t ppy for me as I was. I knew I was the same person—but I was transformed. I was now a vampire.

Once again I remembered the time my kindergarten teacher had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I had told her emphatically, “A vampire.” If only she could see me now.

This was the life I’d always wanted and the life I was thirsting to live. And I couldn’t wait to begin it as a vampire in the Mansion on top of Benson Hill with my true love, my handsome and mysterious vampire, Alexander Sterling, for all of eternity.

Acknowledgments

I
would like to thank my wonderful editor, Katherine Tegen, for guiding my career and for being so invaluable to me and the Vampire Kisses series.

My fabulous agent, Ellen Levine, for your insight and expertise.

My awesome editors, Sarah Shumway and Julie
Lansky.

And my in-laws and friends for your support: Jerry, Hatsy, Hank, Wendy, Emily, Max, Linda, and Indigo.

About the Author

ELLEN SCHREIBER
was an actress and a stand-up comedienne before becoming a writer and moving to her own Dullsville. She is the author of
TEENAGE MERMAID, COMEDY GIRL
, and a series about a hot and heroic werewolf and the girl who loves him, beginning with
ONCE IN A FULL MOON and MAGIC OF THE MOONLIGHT
. She has written eight other books about Raven and Alexander, including
VAMPIRE KISSES, VAMPIRE KISSES 2: KISSING COFFINS, VAMPIRE KISSES 3: VAMPIREVILLE, VAMPIRE KISSES 4: DANCE WITH A VAMPIRE, VAMPIRE KISSES 5: THE COFFIN CLUB, VAMPIRE KISSES 6: ROYAL BLOOD, VAMPIRE KISSES 7: LOVE BITES, and VAMPIRE KISSES 8: CRYPTIC CRAVINGS
. She is also the author of the fully illustrated manga series about Raven and Alexander,
VAMPIRE KISSES: BLOOD RELATIVES and VAMPIRE KISSES: GRAVEYARD GAMES
. You can visit her online at www.ellenschreiber.com.

Visit
www.AuthorTracker.com
for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors and artists.

Praise For

Vampire Kisses

An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

“All in all, a good read for those who want a vampire love story without the gore.”

—
School Library Journal

“As in her
Teenage Mermaid
, Schreiber adds some refreshing twists to genre archetypes and modern-day stereotypes.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Horror hooks such as a haunted mansion, a romantic teenage vampire, and a dark heroine who wins against the golden guys make this a title that readers will bite into with Goth gusto.”

—
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Schreiber uses a careful balance of humor, irony, pathos, and romance as she develops a plot that introduces the possibility of a real vampire.”

—ALA
Booklist

Kissing Coffins

Vampire Kisses 2

“Raven is exactly the kind of girl a Goth can look up to.”

—
Morbid Outlook
magazine

“Readers will love this funny novel with bite!”

—
Wow
magazine

Vampireville

Vampire Kisses 3

“A fun, fast read for vampire fans.”

—
School Library Journal

Dance with a Vampire

Vampire Kisses 4

“This novel, like the first three, is never short on laughs and shudders. Alexander is as romantic as ever, and Raven is still delightfully earthy. Schreiber again concocts a lively and suspenseful story that ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger. Fans of the series will be anxious to find out whether Raven’s relationship with Alexander will survive.”

—
VOYA

“A good choice for Goth lovers and fans of romantic vampire stories.”

—
School Library Journal

Other Works

Also by Ellen Schreiber

VAMPIRE KISSES

VAMPIRE KISSES 2: KISSING COFFINS

VAMPIRE KISSES 3: VAMPIREVILLE

VAMPIRE KISSES 4: DANCE WITH A VAMPIRE

VAMPIRE KISSES 5: THE COFFIN CLUB

VAMPIRE KISSES 6: ROYAL BLOOD

VAMPIRE KISSES 7: LOVE BITES

VAMPIRE KISSES 8: CRYPTIC CRAVINGS

VAMPIRE KISSES: BLOOD RELATIVES

VAMPIRE KISSES: GRAVEYARD GAMES

ONCE IN A FULL MOON

MAGIC OF THE MOONLIGHT

TEENAGE MERMAID

COMEDY GIRL

Credits

Front photo © 2012 by Valentina Kallias

Copyright

HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Vampire Kisses 9: Immortal Hearts

Copyright © 2012 by Ellen Schreiber

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

www.harperteen.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Schreiber, Ellen.

Vampire kisses 9 : immortal hearts / by Ellen Schreiber.—1st ed.

p. cm.

Summary: The relationship of Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, is tested when his younger sister, Stormy, comes to town.

ISBN 978-0-06-207008-1 (trade binding)

EPub Edition © APRIL 2012 ISBN 9780062070104

[1. Vampires—Fiction.] I. Title. II. Title: Vampire kisses nine. III. Title: Immortal hearts.

CIP

AC

12 13 14 15 16 LP/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1