by Patti Larsen
“Yeah. An outdoor party, first of the spring. Can’t wait!”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Can’t wait.”
Alison made a fake-hurt face. “You’ll have fun, Hayle, trust me.”
“Why don’t you want to go, Syd?” Mom seemed genuinely confused. No comment. “It sounds like fun.”
“Don’t worry.” Alison winked at my mother. “I’ll make sure she has a good time. Won’t I, Syd?”
I managed to muster at least basic enthusiasm. “Sure, Al.”
Truth was, I didn’t know why I was resisting. For the first time in my entire life, I actually felt like I belonged somewhere. Of all the little towns we lived in over the years, of all the schools, bullies and messes I came in contact with, for some reason the combination in this one turned out to be right. Of course, being toughened up by a savage attack on my family might have had something to do with it. Especially considering I had a major role in suppressing said attack.
My demon hissed at me and I sighed. Okay, we.
But the prospect of spending an evening with the very people who started out the year to make my life miserable seemed less than appealing. The last party I attended ended with Alison publicly humiliated and the bulk of the partygoers throwing up their guts at my magical suggestion.
Still, I agreed, if only to mollify my new friends, the only real friends I ever had. And because it was far easier to go out on a Saturday night than sit home and listen to my mother badger me about why I was sitting home on a Saturday night.
Go figure.
“Well, you two have a good time.” Mom smiled at Alison. “Syd, try to have fun, honey, okay?”
“Do my best,” I muttered as I grabbed Alison’s arm and physically hauled her away.
“Bye, Mrs. Hayle.” Alison waved a little.
I missed Mom’s farewell as I guided Alison toward the stairs. She sighed a big deep breath and smiled at me as we went up to my room.
“What?” I said as I closed my door behind me.
Alison ignored my question, letting out a squeal of happiness. She planted herself on my bed and immediately started to love up my silver Persian, Sassafras, waking him from what appeared to be a very deep nap. Still, his purr came instantly and he even allowed her to rub his round belly while he stretched and yawned.
“You have the best cat,” she said, planting a kiss on Sassy’s nose. “The best.”
She totally missed the wink the arrogant little fur ball threw my way. If only she knew the real Sassy like I did. The demon boy being punished for all eternity, trapped in the body of a cat for who knows what offense to earn that kind of sentence. Maybe she’d be more selective.
“Yeah,” I said with no enthusiasm. “Want him?”
Alison laughed and continued to rub his tummy as Sassy purred heavily, drooling from one corner of his mouth onto my fresh comforter. Gross. His fat cat paws kneaded the empty air in total contentment.
“Are you kidding?” She said. “I’d take him in a heartbeat.”
“Consider him yours,” I said, sticking my tongue out at the scowl he leveled at me. I ducked into my closet for a heavy sweater and my oversized raincoat. It wasn’t supposed to downpour or anything, but it still sank to chilly at night and I didn’t feel like topping off a wonderful evening by catching pneumonia.
“Seriously, Syd,” Alison said, the exasperation in her voice making me turn around, “I really don’t understand you.”
“Sorry?” I pulled the heavy turtleneck over my head, voice muffled in the collar.
Alison continued to stroke Sassy’s fur, but in silence. It took me a moment to realize she was close to tears. I crossed the room and sat on the other side of the bed, fingers instinctively going for a silver ear. Sassy’s purring became heavier, but his golden-eyed gaze told me he paid close attention to the conversation.
“Al, what’s up?” I tried to ignore my cat and focus on her.
She shrugged a little and gave me a smile, brittle and glassy, putting on a brave face. “It’s just… you have such a great family. Such an awesome mom, a cute baby sister, not to mention Sass here.” She looked back down at him. “You always seem, I don’t know, like you don’t want to be here.”
“You don’t live with them,” I said.
“I wish,” she whispered. My heart skipped. I was really starting to understand how lonely Alison had been her whole life. Despite our friendship of several months, I also realized I never met her parents, despite the fact she met mine. Met them? She spent as much time with my mother as she could wrangle. And my little sister Meira loved her.
“Sorry, Al,” I said. “I know I complain a lot. But seriously, you have no idea. Things aren’t all rosy, you know.”
She smiled at me again, the edge faded this time. “I know, Syd. I just really love your family. And I hope you appreciate them.”
I pointedly ignored the paw swiping at me as Sassy threw in the only means he had to agree with her.
“Most days,” I said.
“Careful what you offer, by the way,” she laughed, humor coming back as the dark mood passed. “I just might kick your butt to my house and let you deal with my mother.” She faked a shudder. “No way. Wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
“She can’t be that bad,” I said.
Alison rolled her eyes at me. “You think your mother is embarrassing?”
I laughed. “Does that mean I get to meet her?”
Alison hesitated before shrugging. “We’ll see. Ready?” She pulled herself up from the bed after one last kiss for Sassy.
“Almost. I’ll meet you downstairs?”
She headed for my door. “I’ll go keep your mom company.”
I looked down at Sassy and stared back into his hard, flat glare.
“Yes?” I said.
“No comment necessary,” he said, righting himself and beginning the compulsive grooming of his right paw.
“Seriously?” I said. “Nothing? Nada?”
He switched paws, eyes half closed as he worked at the pads of his foot. “Don’t you have a party to go to?”
I stood up and shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t give you the chance to lecture me on family responsibility.”
He stopped grooming for one moment and fixed those amber eyes on me.
“I think you already got the point,” he said.
I left him to his bath, hating he was not only getting the last word, but the fact he was right.
Damn it.
***
Chapter Three
When I finally made it to the kitchen, Meira had joined Mom in entertaining Alison. I was met by hushed giggling and forced innocence from all three of them and knew whatever they discussed wasn’t for my benefit. Still, Meira was only nine, so how naughty could it be?
I flushed just thinking about Brad.
Alison’s grin told me she knew exactly what brought on my rosy cheeks and that she planned to torture me with it for the rest of the evening.
Some best friend.
Fortunately, I was saved further humiliation by the arrival of Uncle Frank and his girlfriend, Sunny.
I’m not sure what Alison thought when the pair emerged from the dark basement, but the smile on her face became a little strained and I could tell she was nervous. She always acted that way around them, especially Uncle Frank. But I never knew if she did because he was so boyishly handsome or because she picked up on his undead vibes.
Uncle Frank and Sunny were both vampires. The fact they slept in fancy cupboards in our basement every day didn’t make me love either of them any less. In fact, Uncle Frank had been my only ally in a host of powerful people who never understood my need to be normal. He was my go-to guy when I really wanted to stand up to my mother, and he never let me down.
“Going out tonight?” Uncle Frank flashed me his sweet and stunning smile and immediately toned down the charm when Alison blushed furiously. She barely managed a head-bob, sending her ponytail swinging again and for once, I grinn
ed at her.
“Field party,” I said, hugging Sunny. The flawlessly gorgeous honey blonde felt cold, which meant they hadn’t bothered to help themselves to the blood stored in the basement freezer. I shuddered as her skin touched mine, butter soft but almost hard like stone and with a chill that radiated from her. She pulled away suddenly, as if realizing what she had done, and smiled a sad little smile that didn’t reach her brilliant green eyes.
I hugged her again, hard, until she hugged me back.
“Love you,” she whispered before pulling away. Her eyes sparkled. I always made sure she knew she was welcome and I could only guess how much it mattered to her.
Uncle Frank hoisted Meira up into his arms and bounced her a little. She donned her magical disguise for Alison’s sake, of an adorable, normal, if borderline-beauty queen little girl with heavy black curls and shining blue eyes. She was born with our mother’s looks, whereas I made do with dark brown hair and a handful of freckles.
Unfortunately for Meira, she also inherited a little more than just power from our dad and had to hide her red skin and cute little horns peeking out of her hair, not to mention eyes glowing amber. She rarely had the opportunity to be her real self, something I didn’t have to worry about. I know she didn’t mind, it was just her thing, but I’m sure if she had the choice, she would prefer to look like a demon most of the time.
She squirmed a bit in Uncle Frank’s arms, but without conviction.
“I’m nine!” She said in her most serious.
“I’m Frank,” he said, deadpan. “Nice to meet you.”
She giggled and hugged him before shivering.
“You need to eat,” she said.
Time in the kitchen froze for one heartbeat as every one of us became painfully aware that Alison, normal and happily in the dark, was with us.
Time jump-started again as Mom turned to me. “You two have a nice time.” She reached for Meira and took her from Frank. “Time for bed, miss.”
Meira blushed and I knew she felt embarrassed to have been so careless. She ducked her head, black curls falling over her face.
“Night,” she whispered before sliding from Mom’s arms and running from the room.
Mom kissed first my cheek then Alison’s before following my sister upstairs.
“Well,” Uncle Frank stretched, his movement ending in a huge hug for Sunny, “I think the munchkin is right. Hungry, Sunshine?”
I loved how they both found her unfortunate name so amusing.
“I could use a bite,” she said with a wink at me.
Seriously.
“Be good tonight,” Frank said, leading Sunny to the door.
I mock saluted as he grinned and left, Sunny right behind him. I turned back to Alison who stared after them, almost dazed in her focus.
“Hello? Command to Al?”
She snapped out of it suddenly and blushed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said, pulling on my jacket. “You get used to them.”
“They’re just… so…” She trailed off and shuddered.
“What?” I was really curious. After all, I knew they were the blood sucking undead. I always wondered how other people saw them, normals who had no idea what lurked in their midst.
“Perfect,” she breathed finally. “Flawless. Beautiful. God, my mother would hate Sunny’s guts.”
“Don’t tell me you have a crush on my Uncle Frank.” I tried not to smirk at the thought but Alison shook her head so firmly, I knew I was right the other way.
“He’s gorgeous,” she said. “But there’s just something… creepy… about him. Them. Oh!” She covered her mouth with both hands, eyes huge. “Syd, I didn’t mean creepy! I meant…”
“Creepy,” I said, smiling so she would know it was okay. “Seriously, I get it. They have that effect on people.”
“It’s not just me?” She hugged herself.
“Nope.” I shook my head.
“Are they… okay?” She asked it like she’d wanted to since she met them and only now worked up the courage. Actually having the conversation start itself must have given her the inner clearance to ask questions.
I had to think about it for a second, not sure how to explain away their obvious difference. I finally shrugged to myself.
“Yeah,” I said. “They’re just different.”
Alison decided not to push. Funny how that happens with people outside the power. No one ever really wants to know the truth. Oh they say they do, pretend to dig and burrow into the facts. But when it really comes down to it, even the most hard-core conspiracy theorists don’t really believe in anything outside their ordinary lives. Like magic. And worse things. If they only knew.
So I was relieved to see her back to happy, normal land in Alisonville. And just in time. Headlights flashed across the windowpane in the kitchen door as our drive pulled in.
“They’re here,” I said, cutting the last thread of weird and letting Alison retreat fully back to her ordinariness.
“Wicked!” She was the first to the door and I found I followed her with less resistance than I felt earlier. In fact, by the time I reached the driveway and the minivan parked there, I felt rather happy about the whole situation, though unsure why.
Until part of the reason poked his head out the passenger side window and waved his customary slow-mo wave at us. I knuckle-butted Blood’s offered hand.
“Syd,” he drawled. “Whatup?”
“Blood,” I said. “Yo.”
Blood nodded slowly, a smile spreading across his heavily made-up face, blacked-out eyes and all.
“Peace out. Al.” He repeated the ritual with Alison as the side door glided open. I climbed into the back with a little wave at Pain, Blood’s girlfriend, our designated driver for the night. Not that I planned to drink, the opposite in fact, but she was the only one with a car big enough for all of us.
“Hey, Syd.” Simon pushed back his glasses, unruly black hair in its usual mess. He hunched in the seat next to me, his heavy coat making him seem even smaller. He was easily the tiniest Junior I ever met and I wondered if I should maybe give him some magical help so he could finally grow.
I’m sure he would love that.
“Hey, Simon.” I jerked on my seatbelt on as Alison climbed in and sat next to Beth, the last of our little posse.
“Saw your uncle leaving,” Beth said. Her cute little toque’s knitted ball bobbled off to one side as she leaned forward between the seats to talk to me. Beth had a shiny, happy feeling to her, like she could talk to anyone and be real about it. I really liked her but found her a little too intuitive for her own good sometimes.
“Yeah,” I said, trying to keep the subject away from the vampires, considering I just wrangled Alison out of that whole mess.
“Everybody ready?” Pain’s eyes were as dark as Blood’s, the whites reflecting creepily in the rear-view mirror. She pulled out without waiting for an answer and I suppressed a smirk. I would never tell my emo friend, Goth Pain with her ‘against the world/fight convention’ attitude, that she drove like my mom.
“Simon’s worried he didn’t pass Algebra,” Beth said. I faked a gasp, hand over my mouth.
“Since when does the captain of the math club fail math?” Simon squirmed lower and even smaller in his seat, lenses flashing with the light from passing cars.
“There’s no such thing as the math club, Syd,” Simon said, tiny mouse voice squeaking over my name.
“But if there was,” Alison piped up from the back.
“You’d be it!” We all finished in unison.
Yeah. Old joke. Simon always worried he was failing Algebra, even after getting 100% on a test. What, no bonus-mark?
Sheesh. What was I doing hanging out with an overachiever? He shrugged at me and I could see a small smile on his face even in the dark.
“You’d all be welcome to join,” he said.
Not sure why it came across so funny, but it kept us laughing for most of the rest of the drive.
Turned out we really didn’t have very far to go. My house stood in an old subdivision, close to the outskirts of town, on the only side of Wilding Springs, Pennsylvania never developed. The section of land was willed to the town as a green space and stayed that way. Not like developers were breaking down doors to expand the town anyway. In fact, it always felt like the type of place where people came to get away from the world. It had a surreal 50ish frozen-in-time feel to me, right down to the by-design old-fashioned soda fountain/diner serving as the local kid's hangout. I guess the residents of Wilding Springs just liked it that way.
We turned onto a dirt road, more of a rutted track, and I had a flash of déjà vu. It felt very much like the trail to the coven site on the other side of town and for a moment I shivered. I could only imagine the havoc a pack of wired-up small-town teenagers could wreak on the sacred site my family established. If it hadn’t been for the massive wards and protections set on it, I would have really been worried. But, because of the family magic, normals just didn’t feel right about setting foot on our property and found themselves wandering off in a different direction if they happened to even get close.
In fact, it was at that very site my family was almost destroyed the previous fall by two traitors and their lap dog. Going to the site still gave me weird pangs and pulling into the packed parking area at the field party sort of stirred up those feelings.
Mind you, parking area was a very loose term. After all, a bunch of teenagers couldn’t be expected to keep track of where everyone else parked, could they?
It wasn’t rocket science, but it was a mess.
As Pain eased her way around the casually discarded vehicles, I realized Alison hadn’t been kidding. From the number of cars, it looked like the entire school was there.
“Wow.”
“Told you.” Alison’s voice filled with smirk.
“My first one too,” Simon admitted to me softly.
Pain pulled into a safe ‘space’ as far from other cars as possible and turned off the engine. She spun around in her seat to face us.
“If I get a scratch on the new van, my mom will kill me,” she said.