by Avery Kloss
“Hey, Brie,” said a voice behind me.
I turned to find Gerry Brevet from English glass. “Hi.” I eyed him, wondering what he wanted.
“Are you going to prom?”
Taken aback by the question, I stared at him. “Um … ”
“I mean, if you’re not going … then it’s … eh … never mind.”
“Are you asking me to prom?”
“I … might be.” He flushed red, and stared at his feet. “If you’re not going with anyone.”
“It’s still more than a month and a half away, Gerry.”
“I thought I’d better get in there sooner than later before someone beats me to it.”
My belly rumbled, which reminded me of lunch. “I’m probably not going.”
“No?” He appeared perplexed by that. “Or you just don’t want to go with me.”
“It’s not you.” I touched his arm. “I’m … happily single, and I probably won’t even go. I'm not really into dances anyway.”
He grinned. “All right.” He seemed to want to say something else, but then thought better of it. “Catch you later!”
Finding the encounter bizarre, I headed for the cafeteria, where I filled a tray with salad and a cup of soup. Spying Maven alone, I headed for her. Steffy and Tara waved to me, but I needed to speak to Maven.
“Hello.” I slid onto the bench next to her. “What’s up?”
“Same day, same … crap.” She tossed a balled up napkin onto the tray. “Why?”
I stabbed the juice box with the end of a straw. “I’ve some news for you. I saw your sister.”
She flinched, and sucked in a sharp breath. “W-what?”
“Reese, right? She’s shorter than you, with long, black hair. She’s pretty.”
“Oh, my God,” she uttered, her eyes wide. “Where is she?”
“Safe—mostly.”
“Where? You have to tell me.” She grabbed my arm. “Where?”
I lowered my voice. “She’s in the basement of the Bad Bone Biker Bar. She’s fine.” Apart from being an out of control bloodsucker, yes … the girl was fine.
“I knew it. I knew that bastard had her.”
“A vampire by the name of Serena turned her, or so that’s what Gabe says. He’s taking care of Reese. He’s feeding her and keeping her away from humans. She’s … a little outta her mind at the moment.”
“I want to see her, please. You seem to have some leverage over Gabe and his gang of dirtbags. I’ve been trying for months to get Flint to get me in there. I even let them feed on me sometimes, but … they won’t reciprocate.”
“Flint’s not a vampire, is he? I’ve seen him in daylight.”
“No, but he does their bidding often enough. He’s … a part of that scene. The only reason I hang out with him is to find out stuff about Reese. It’s never been confirmed she’s there, until now.” She glanced at her hand. “I always feel better when I touch you. I mean, I’m not lesbian or anything, but you … have a cool energy.”
I ate a spoonful of soup. “So I’ve been told.” I glanced at her, seeing the emergence of a happy, hopeful expression. “I’ll speak to Gabe about it, okay? I don’t really know how or when I’ll see him again, but I’ll try.”
“Thank you, Brie.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Did you do your math?”
I rolled my eyes. “Good grief.”
“I just need help on like … the last five.”
“There were only ten equations total.”
She appeared contrite, and offered a weak smile. “My bad.”
I grumbled, “Fine. Let me eat my salad first, okay? Then I’ll show you how to do them.”
“You’re the bestest.”
I gave her a look.
While music played, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, feeling oddly restless. Being a school night and mom breaking up with her boyfriend, I fretted over the opportunity to sneak out of the house again and see Gabe. I needed to speak to him. Why hadn’t he just given me his number?
Annoyed, I slid from the bed, and glanced at myself in a mirror above the dresser. “God, I’m bored.”
I ran a brush through tangled hair, and then ventured over to the window, where I spied the driveway below. Mom had parked the car before the bushes, where it sat in darkness. I longed to steal it and drive to the Bad Bone, but I knew I could not get away with it.
My belly growled, and I decided to go down for some ice cream. I headed for the door, and ventured into the hallway. On impulse, I went into the bedroom nearest the stairs, and glanced out the window, where I glimpsed the branches that swayed on a tree. I had wanted to see Gabe again, but it struck me as odd that he stood below right at that moment, the vampire at a distance from the house.
Excitement rushed through me, the feeling akin to swallowing a handful of grasshoppers. I hurried to another bedroom, and tossed open the French doors to stand upon the balcony. Gabe noted this, as he lifted his chin.
“Hey!” I waved. “What are you doing here?”
“I ask that question … too often myself.”
“Come on up.”
He glanced at the grass beneath his feet. “I would, if I could. There seems to be … an impediment.”
“A what?”
“I can’t come any closer. There’s a … a blockage of sorts. Someone put up a barrier. I tried at the front, but it’s the same thing.”
I remembered Anna. “Oh, yeah. That.”
“You know about this?”
“I’ll come down. Hold on.” I hurried inside, and raced down the steps, where mom sat in the parlor and watched TV. I darted into the kitchen, slipping on a pair of shoes. I ventured out the door, suddenly wishing I had worn a jacket. Cold to the bone, I hurried over to Gabe, who smiled wryly. “Hi.”
“What did you do, Brie? I thought we were … friends.”
“I didn’t do anything. One of my neighbors did this. She’s a witch.”
“Great,” he muttered. Out of frustration, he drove fingers through his hair. “Just wonderful.”
“I met her the other day. I saw her pouring something all over the yard, so I came out to confront her. She was nice, actually. She said she was doing me a favor or something, blessing the house.”
“Putting a spell on it, is more the like. There’s already a damn spell. Now this.” He gritted his teeth. “Blast those stupid witches. Meddling little bitches.”
I laughed at that, finding his anger amusing. “I know you want access to the house. I get it. You have a thing for my ghost. I like you, Gabe. I’m not your enemy.”
“No, you’re not.” He noted how I shivered. “You’re cold.”
“I came out to see you.”
He took off his leather jacket, and draped it over my shoulders. “Here. Let’s take a walk, shall we?”
“Sure.” I was happy to be in his company. We headed for the trees and the cemetery beyond. “I need to ask you a favor.”
“What?”
“My friend Maven wants to see her sister.”
He muttered something under his breath.
“Please? She’d like to see her. There’s no reason why this can’t happen. I told her she’s at the Bad Bone. She knows you have her.”
“You should learn to keep your mouth shut,” he grumbled.
We stood amongst the gravestones, with several in the shape of large crosses. I sat on a flat stone, although it felt cold. Gabe joined me a moment later. The jacket helped to keep me warm, the leather a barrier to the chilly wind.
“If you want to, you can bring her by Friday night.”
“My mom’s not seeing her boyfriend anymore. She might not be going out. I was stealing her car when he took her on dates. Why don’t you give me your number? It would be easier that way, Gabe. I don’t have the power to read minds.”
“Fine.”
He seemed a little off tonight, his expression annoyed. “What’s the matter?”
“I
shouldn’t be here. I … shouldn’t encourage you.”
“I don’t mind.” I reached for his hand, finding it cold. “I like talking to you.”
“That’s the problem. Your eyes get all soft and dreamy. That’s … a problem. You shouldn’t get too attached. It never turns out well for … humans. Being around me is like a curse. I’d hate to see anything happen to you. That’s why I’m pissed with myself for coming here.”
“I can deal with it.”
“True, but you’re still … vulnerable. We don’t know the extent of your powers, and I don’t want to test it, lest something bad happens.” He moved hair out of my eyes. “You’re lovely in the moonlight, Brie. You’re completely at ease with me, even though you shouldn’t be.”
A host of emotions burst to life, affection rising to the top. I hugged him, and squeezed firmly. “I’m glad you came. I was thinking about you.”
“You shouldn’t waste your time like that.”
“It’s not a waste. I want to help you, but you have to help me too.”
“I don’t bargain with humans.”
He tried everything he could to remain aloof and annoying, but I brushed it off, and held him tighter. “I’ll see what I can do about the spell around the house, if you’ll let Maven see her sister.”
“That’s reasonable.” He nudged my cheek with a cold nose.
“So much for not bargaining, huh?” I grinned, knowing I had just won this round. It hadn’t taken all that much either. “I’m going to find a way to get rid of the spell, but I’ve no idea how.”
“You’ve the power to be invisible. Can you not see the possibility in that?”
“To rob a bank in broad daylight?” I teased.
“No, not that, you little vixen. You could slip into your neighbor’s house and find out what spell she used. Do you know anything about magic?”
“Not a damn thing.”
“Find out what was used to create it, and then you work backwards to undo the spell.”
That made a lot of sense. “Okay. I can do it.” Shivering, he held me closer. “You’re not much warmer than the air.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Don’t try to get on my good side.”
I giggled at that. “It’s peaceful tonight.”
“I enjoy a good cemetery. I’ve an affinity for the dead.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Suzie’s buried here, you know. I often visit her grave.” He pointed. “It’s over there.”
“I know. I found it.”
“Some prominent people of Clatskanie as well.”
“And the witch you don’t like, Crystal Flake.”
“Let’s not bring her into the discussion.”
“Well, it’s her granddaughter that put the barrier up.”
“What?” He glanced at me. “Say that again.”
“Anna Flake. She’s the one spreading salt around my house.”
“Ah, for God’s sake! They still have it in for me, after all this time.”
“Because you killed Crystal.”
“She deserved it, trust me.” He shook his head, frowning. “Damn the witches. It was decades ago. They can’t let anything go. I’ve never even met Anna.”
“She’s pretty.”
“Most of them are.”
“Why is that?”
“Supernatural creatures possess certain properties. You’re one of them, you should know. When you became what you are, it enhanced what was already lovely about you, making you truly beautiful.”
I smiled at that. “That’s sweet.”
“With vampires, we attract our prey better this way, by drawing the unsuspecting in. Women find me handsome, which I use to my advantage.”
“By biting them.”
He nodded, a hint of a grin appearing. “Indeed. I can’t exactly go to a grocery store to get what I need. I must eat to survive, otherwise I’d desiccate and suffer.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
We sat in silence for a long moment, listening to the resonance of crickets. I contemplated everything he had said, formulating a plan.
“Brie?”
“Yes?”
“You’ll be careful, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
“I’d hate anything to happen to you.”
“I’m fine, Gabe.” Our eyes met, the moment meaningful. “I’m not afraid. For the first time in my life, I’m actually … happy.”
He nodded slightly. “I’d hate to be the one to ruin it for you. I’m bad luck. The sooner you’re done with me, the better. I need your help in reversing the spell. Then we’ll say our farewells, all right?”
“Nope.”
“Brieanna.” A hint of warning laced his tone.
“That isn’t what I want.”
“You’re not going to be a problem, are you?”
“Maybe.” On impulse, I kissed him, his lips cold.
He stiffened, pushing me away, getting to his feet. “Right then,” he intoned briskly. “I’ll leave my number under the doormat. Good night, Brie. You’d best get inside before you catch your death.”
Disappointed, I watched him stride through the graveyard, where he blended into the night.
31
Despite my having Gabe’s number, he never answered the phone, although I left several messages that week. I grew increasingly annoyed with him. Maven wanted to see her sister, and I had to find a way to break into Anna’s house without being noticed. I doubted they would just leave the doors unlocked. By midweek, I sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, dreading having to go to school. Maybe I could call in sick?
“The furniture’s coming today.” Mom grinned. She had dressed already. “I can’t wait to see what it looks like.”
“It’s all coming together.” They put up the wallpaper yesterday, the parlor and music room transformed by that simple change. “It’s very pretty, Mom.”
“I like it.” She sat across from me, her expression jubilant. “We did a good job picking stuff out. You really helped.”
“You seem super happy this morning,” I said, yawning. “Too happy this early.”
“I was going to tell you about it, but you were already in your room.”
“About what?”
“I met someone at the grocery store last night. We ran outta milk so … well … ” she shrugged, grinning, “you never know when lightning might strike. I guess … magic happens in the dairy aisle.”
I made a face. “You’re picking up strange men in grocery stores now?” I half-teased her about this, finding her behavior amusing.
“He happened to be there. I happened to be there. We got talking. He’s single. I’m single.”
“Or so they say.”
“Well, you have to believe them initially, I guess, until they prove otherwise. We’re going out to dinner.”
“That was fast. When are the wedding announcements being sent?”
She giggled, “Not anytime soon. It’s just a date.”
“Why don’t you post a profile online? You’re pretty, Mom. You’d probably get lots of matches.”
“No, thank you. I want no part of that. I’d prefer to meet people face to face. It’s the only way to know if there’s any chemistry.”
“You can tell that online too.”
“Maybe for you, but I’ll stick to doing things my way.”
I cast a glance at the clock on the microwave. “I gotta get ready to go. I can’t wait for this to be over with. I feel like high school’s just a big babysitting service. It’s kinda a waste of time.”
She sighed, having heard the argument before. “You’ve a few months left. You’ll survive.”
I grunted. “Yeah. I’ll see you later.”
“Have a good day, Brie.”
“I’ll muddle through one way or the other.”
She giggled at that.
I tossed things into a backpack, and le
ft the house fifteen minutes later, where I faced a chilly, grey morning. The sun struggled to burn its way through a thick bank of clouds. Once at school, I listened to a lecture in Psychology class and then a lab in Chemistry, although I burned my finger on a scalding beaker. After US Government, I caught up with Maven, who waited by my locker.
“Hey,” I said, smiling. “What’s up?”
“When am I going to see my sister?”
I opened the locker, and shoved several books inside. “I'm trying. He’s not answering the phone. I can’t get out of my house at night, because mom will know.” I closed the door. “I don’t know. I’m doing everything I can.”
“I can pick you up tonight. Flint’s gonna drive.”
“Great.” I did not exactly relish that idea, but what choice did I have? “Fine. It’s Gabe’s fault for not getting back with me.” We started down the hallway, heading to the cafeteria. “Vampires are super unreliable. I had no idea.”
Maven smiled brightly, her demeanor instantly changed. “There are too many of them in this town. It’s an infestation. I can’t believe my sister’s one of them now. She hung around some bad elements for a while. That’s how she ended up at the Bad Bone. They should burn the place down.”
We entered the cafeteria. “What happened to her shouldn’t have happened. Gabe’s upset by it. He’s doing everything he can to help your sister. She’s … a little rough at the moment. I hope you’re ready for this. It might freak you out. It freaked me out.”
She lifted her chin fractionally. “I’m ready. I need to know Reese is alive and well. Her disappearance shattered my family, Brie. It’s been awful. Mom’s drinking all the time and dad’s … left.” Tears glimmered in her eyes. “They blame each other for everything.”
Feeling her pain, I touched her shoulder. “Hang in there. It’s gonna get better.”
“Not really sure how, because my sister’s a bloodsucker now. She can’t exactly come home and act like nothing happened.”
“But she can after dark, once she’s … calmed down a bit.” We stood in line at a counter, and pushed our trays past food items. I took a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I whispered, “They look just like us, only paler. You really can’t tell they’re different by looking at them. When you touch them, they feel cold. The teeth sorta give it away too.”