Cryptic Cravings

by Ellen Schreiber

  “Get out of here,” he said playful y as he put on a tight white T-shirt.

  I did my best to tear myself away from my handsome boyfriend.

  “And don’t forget that British accent,” I cal ed back to him as I left his room. “It goes right through my heart!”

  Chapter 17

  Familiar Visitor

  Jameson kindly drove me to the Sinclair Mil –turned-fabulously-macabre dance club. It seemed to take forever as the Creepy Man drove at a zombie’s pace. After I final y arrived I was hanging outside the Crypt with Scarlet when I heard the sound of a motorcycle pul up to the factory.

  “Maybe it’s the police,” I heard one clubster say.

  A purple-haired biker raced through the al ey and parked his Harley.

  “I think that’s Phoenix!” Scarlet said. “What’s he doing here?”

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  “This club isn’t supposed to be open to outside vampires,” she said as if taking offense to her special VIV—Very Important Vampire—status. She stormed after him, and I fol owed close behind, but by the time we reached the entrance he was already going inside.

  “Line cutter!” I heard a few clubsters shout.

  “My best friend dates the owner!” Scarlet shouted back.

  Scarlet grabbed my arm and we quickly ducked inside so as not to make any more enemies than I normal y had.

  I spotted a handsome guy with purple hair talking to Jagger by the dancing cages.

  We pushed through the crowd of dancers and snuck up behind them, eavesdropping on their conversation.

  “I saw the crop circle,” Phoenix said. “So I came to check out your place.”

  “Uh . . . we got rid of that. The plans for the club have changed,” Jagger said.

  “This place looks cool!” Phoenix continued. “What are you serving?”

  “I real y must tel you—”

  “This club might be better than the Coffin Club,” Phoenix said, slapping Jagger on the back.

  “You think so?” Jagger was overcome with the attention. He beamed like a star. “Romeo—get this man a Lethal Injection. It’s the house special,” he said. “So, how did you hear about us?”

  “Like I said before, a crop circle. I figured you were starting a new vampire club. But this town isn’t known for vampires. So I thought I’d come and check it out.”

  “Wel , there are a few here among us. But that’s what I need to tel you about. I made a deal with my buddies,”

  Jagger said. “This club wil be slightly different from the Coffin Club.”

  “What do you mean by ‘different’?”

  It was as if Jagger was afraid to admit that the club would be mortals only. “You think this should be like the Coffin Club, with a Dungeon, too? My friends persuaded me . . . I was a fool to listen. You have to see what I have here.

  Let me give you a tour.”

  I fol owed behind so as not to be too conspicuous. When they passed the Covenant room door, Phoenix stopped.

  “What’s this?” Phoenix asked. “Another club?”

  “That’s not just another club—it is the club. The Covenant,” he said proudly. “More private than the Dungeon.”

  Phoenix’s eyes lit up. “So this is where the vampires are?”

  “Yes. They’l be here.”

  “So you have planned another vampire club? Something you can’t share with your ‘buddies’ but you can with me, your old friend?”

  “It’s only for special members.”

  “Vampires? Does anyone else know?” he pressed.

  “No, it’s a secret. No one knows. I was waiting for a special occasion to open it.”

  “Ah . . . the element of surprise,” Phoenix said.

  “Exactly,” Jagger said.

  Phoenix scanned the crowd of mostly mortal dancers and put his hand on Jagger’s shoulder. “Some surprises are best left undone.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” Jagger said, confused.

  “Look around here, Jagger,” Phoenix said. “This town, this club. It’s ful of mortals. No vampires live here. You could put us al in danger by inviting indiscreet vampires here,” he charged.

  “Wel , a few vampires and their friends do live here.”

  “It’s not safe for you to run a vampire club in a town this smal .”

  “And it’s not safe for you to come to my club and tel me how to run it.”

  “You know what happened between us at the Coffin Club. It can happen here, too,” Phoenix pressured.

  Jagger was real y heated. His face flushed red like the fiery dyed tips of his white hair.

  “You don’t know the truth. That club isn’t meant for you. Maybe in the beginning I thought it would be cool to have a second Coffin Club. But you know, I think this one wil be unique, too. It’s meant as a special club for my friends to celebrate their birthdays in. A surprise. One they’l never forget. You’ve come al this way, and you were lucky I let you in. But this club and the one below are for mortals only,” Jagger said, “unless you are one of my closest vampire friends, which I’m sorry to say you are not.”

  Jagger waited, poised for a fight. But when Phoenix smiled, Jagger’s body relaxed.

  I couldn’t believe it. I’d done so much sneaking in and asking questions, but it had taken only seconds for Phoenix to get more answers than I had in a month.

  “Then I guess my work is done here,” Phoenix said like a cowboy in a Western movie.

  But Jagger continued to soften. It was unlike him to send someone out of his club with a bad taste in their mouth.

  “Second round is on the club as wel ,” Jagger said. “It was good of you to come this far to check us out. Tel your mortal friends about it. And if I do ever open it to vampires, you’l be the first to know.”

  Phoenix made his way back to the bar, sipping his Lethal Injection. I wanted to go and hang out with my boyfriend’s alter ego, but I knew I would look like I was flirting with someone other than Alexander. Several girls sidled up to him and batted their eyelashes at him, doing their best impression of femmes fatales. It took al my strength not to clobber them. I couldn’t tel Scarlet who he real y was, so instead we hung by the bar sipping sodas and discussing Phoenix and Jagger’s encounter.

  “What kind of surprise do you think Jagger has planned down there?”

  “Maybe a big birthday cake.”

  “I love cake,” Scarlet said. “Or maybe he’l turn you into a vampire.”

  “I think that’s Alexander’s job.”

  Just then Phoenix turned around. Hearing the name Alexander was natural to him.

  I winked at him, and suddenly Luna was standing before him.

  “My brother told me about you,” she said. “Would you like another drink?”

  “No, thanks,” Phoenix answered in his British accent. “This one’s plenty.”

  “How about we split one?” Luna tried to entice him.

  I walked up to Luna, who had now linked her arm with my boyfriend’s.

  “Where is Sebastian?” I said loudly. “I thought you two were inseparable. I remember you tel ing me al about your wedding. When is it, again?”

  She shook her head. “There’s no wedding,” she retorted. “I mean, not now.”

  “That’s okay. I was just leaving,” Phoenix said.

  “So soon?” Luna asked.

  “I have some friends to meet at the Coffin Club,” he said.

  “Wil you be back?” Luna asked, flashing her pink lashes.

  “I might. With pretty girls like this one,” he said, putting his hand to my chin, “it wil be hard to keep me away.”

  Luna shot me a deadly gaze.

  Phoenix put his drink on the bar and left the club through a maze of gawking girls. He could have had any girl in the Crypt; he was that magnetic. And I was one of those girls who was hypnotized. I wasn’t sure when I’d ever see Phoenix again. At the last moment, I couldn’t help but fol ow him out of the club. I knew he was not
going to be returning anytime soon.

  My heart was racing as fast as my feet. He was climbing on the bike when I caught up to him.

  “Funny,” I said. “Now that I know who you real y are, I like you even better.”

  “Me, or Phoenix?” he asked.

  “Both.”

  “Maybe now I can get that kiss that I didn’t the last time?” he asked in his sexy British accent.

  Phoenix stood up. His purple bangs hung over his forehead and gently brushed his eyes.

  “It’s okay. No one’s looking,” he reassured me. Phoenix drew me into him. “And don’t worry, I won’t tel .”

  I could feel his leather-clad legs against my naked knees.

  He leaned in and gave me a long, deep kiss. It was so riveting I thought I’d lost al my wits. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was kissing Phoenix or Alexander.

  When we pul ed apart I saw a figure lurking in the shadows.

  Then I noticed blonde dreadlocks.

  “Oh no!” I covered my mouth in shock.

  “I better go.” Phoenix revved up the motorcycle while I took off for the Crypt.

  Sebastian gave me a death stare. His shoulders were tense and his face was fierce.

  “Let me explain—” I started.

  “I can’t believe you—after al Alexander’s done for you? And you do this to him?”

  “It’s not—”

  “With some guy you’ve just met?”

  “I already know him. It’s not like you think. You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

  “So you’ve been seeing him before—and that’s your excuse?”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “So help me!” Sebastian was so hurt. I wanted desperately to tel him who Phoenix was, but if I did, the whole plan would be ruined.

  “It’s not what you think,” I pleaded with him.

  “What’s there to think? You were making out with another guy and you’re supposed to be in love with my best friend!”

  “Please, Sebastian. Don’t—you’ve misunderstood everything.”

  “No, I’ve only misunderstood one thing—you.” He stepped past me and disappeared into the Crypt.

  I felt as awful as if I had cheated on Alexander. Maybe the image was just as bad, if no one knew the truth.

  I would have told Sebastian, but if he had loose lips, Alexander’s cover as Phoenix would be blown. Even the events at the Coffin Club, where it was actual y Alexander who prevailed at getting the vampire club to be civil, would now be known. And the worst part was that Jagger would feel betrayed and double-crossed and the truce would be broken.

  That was something we couldn’t afford.

  I headed back into the Crypt. I tried to dance my feelings off on the dance floor. But when I saw Alexander’s back sitting at the bar, next to Sebastian, I hurried over.

  Sebastian didn’t even turn around. I scooted next to Alexander.

  “Sebastian hates me,” I whispered in his ear. “He has lost al respect for me.”

  “He should. You were kissing someone else!” he said softly.

  “Please, Alexander. It’s not funny. We should tel him.”

  “But what if he spil s it to Luna? I don’t think we can take the chance.”

  “So this is how it wil be?” I asked. “He’l go on thinking I’m cheating on you?”

  “For the time being.”

  “I feel like Trevor,” I mumbled, “but with a conscience.”

  “So, did you miss me?” Alexander said loud enough for Sebastian to hear. “What did you do until I arrived?”

  Sebastian final y turned toward me. “Yes, Raven, what did you do?”

  “I waited patiently for you to come,” I said, giving Alexander a squeeze.

  “Yes, that’s exactly what she did,” Sebastian said. “Waited by herself. Al alone.”

  “Wel , I was going to ask you to keep an eye on her, but you don’t need to do that with Raven,” he teased.

  “I think you might want to start keeping an eye on her,” Sebastian warned. “She isn’t as patient as she looks.”

  Chapter 18

  The Covenant

  The next day Becky and I arrived at school to an unusual sight. Students were buzzing about the Crypt, and I noticed several girls wearing the same T-shirt Becky had given me for my birthday—black with THE CRYPT in white skeleton bone letters.

  “That club rocks!” I heard the Prada-bee say to her friend. Her Crypt shirt was over her long-sleeve button down. “I can’t wait to go again.”

  “I’m going every night,” her friend retorted. She was wearing one, too, but it was underneath her green cashmere cardigan.

  “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 .