As he finished, I laughed. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”
He smiled uncomfortably. “Well, yeah. I mean, that wasn’t easy.”
“All I want is you,” I told him. “Ever since I met you, I’ve never felt so good.”
“And you’re all I want,” he said. “You’re the sweetest vampire I've ever known.”
Like a record playing the greatest love song in the world, our fangs locked and our tongues spun. We gently bit each other; not so hard as to draw blood, but just enough to feel it. And oh, it felt incredible!
I laid my head on his shoulder, peering up at the starry sky and enjoying his alternating warmth and coldness.
“The sky is so awesome,” he said. “There’s so much stuff out there we don’t know about.”
“Have you ever seen a blue planet?” I asked. “Or heard anything about one?”
“Hmmmm…no. Why?”
I said I was curious, but no more than that. I couldn’t let him know what I'd discovered in the observatory. That was my secret, and I couldn't share with anyone.
As our romantic night continued, Brett went quiet again.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He sighed. “I totally believe what you said about me meaning the world to you. And that’s great. But don’t you want stuff? I wish I could buy a lot of things. I wish I could buy you and my parents everything you all wanted. And get me everything as well.”
I admitted to him that I really wanted new clothes, a haircut that made me look like a vampire, a tattoo of any kind, and an expensive three-dimensional lava lamp.
He laughed. “Well, we do have a lot in common.”
“Yeah,” I returned.
He was quiet for a moment, then said: “Would you like to meet my parents this evening?”
Happy and honored, I said that I'd be delighted to.
“But remember, don't expect a mansion,” he told me while we walked hand in hand back down the hill. “Or the best bloodfeast you ever had.”
We reached his car. But just as he was opening the door, a group of unwanted idiots approached.
“Well, look who it is! Janice’s hobo boyfriend.”
I scowled at Rob. His beefy, tattoo-covered friends surrounded Brett’s car.
“It’s a shame,” Rob taunted. “Just look how pathetic you both are. No tattoos. No piercings. And cheap clothes that would make even a vampire bum laugh.”
I was actually interested to see how Brett would react. Surprisingly, he remained silent.
“Quick!” Rob told me. “Leave now, Janice, before you become homeless and pregnant and have to feed your babies to bloodsucking Hela Rats.”
At last Brett said something. “Leave my girlfriend alone,” he growled.
Rob got in his face and bared his fangs. “You’re no good for her,” he snarled. “She’s much better off with me.”
They glared at each other. Brett popped out his fangs too. I feared they were about to rip each other apart.
Rob broke the short silence. “Let’s settle this the way real vampires are supposed to. That is, if you’re even a vampire to begin with, freak. I challenge you to a blood spar. First vamp to draw blood wins. If you draw first, then I’ll leave you and your stupid girlfriend alone. But if I win, she’s getting another date with me.”
He pushed his way into Brett’s face again.
I wanted to jump in between them, but something stopped me.
BLOODY TROUBLE
“Well, what’s it gonna be?” Rob yelled.
Brett stepped back and opened the car door. “Come on, Janice,” he said. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
While we climbed inside I heard more laughter and insults coming from Rob and his punk friends. But I was proud of Brett for staying out of trouble. He'd done the right thing.
“You probably think I’m a wimp,” he said as we drove away from the goons.
I told him exactly how I felt. He smiled. Now all I could think about was that he'd called me his girlfriend. But how could we be boyfriend and girlfriend? We hadn't kissed on the grave. Not that this changed my feelings. Whatever we were, I loved him regardless.
“Well, on to my folk’s house,” he said.
Enthusiasm rose as we passed through a dense neighborhood of little homes. This was shattered by a sudden popping noise. Brett swerved and came close to smashing into a streetlight.
“What the hell?” he shouted.
He stepped out of the car. I followed him.
Both back tires both had multiple holes in them and were completely destroyed.
“How did this happen?” Brett muttered.
As he investigated further, something flew out of one of the holes and went right into my face. The ghastly flying insect had four eyes, tiny but vicious looking teeth, and a needle-like nose. Then it landed on my arm. Before I had a chance to knock it away, it jammed its nose deep into my skin. I felt shrilling pain.
Brett quickly swatted the burrowing insect and killed it. Part of its guts were still sticking to my arm.
“You okay?” he said, sweating some blood.
“Yeah. What the hell was that?”
“That’s a Grinder. They come from Bloodwood Forest. They can grind their way through anything, including our skin. And they love our blood.”
Brett scanned his destroyed tires. “Stay back and get down,” he warned.
He tapped sharply on both wheels. Almost immediately a swarm of grinders flew out, whizzing around and passing dangerously close to Brett while he swatted at them. After circling around a few times, they eventually flew away.
“It’s all safe now,” he said.
After surveying his tires one more time, Brett banged his fists against the car. “Dammit! Those creeps must have done this.”
“Look,” I said, spotting a letter taped to the bumper.
Brett snatched it up and read what was written aloud. “Hope your casket on wheels enjoyed getting grinded. Next time, it’s gonna be you.”
He crumpled the letter and threw it hard to the ground. “I knew I should have bloodied him up when I had the chance.”
I tried my best to calm Brett down. But it didn’t work.
“New tires are going to cost me a fortune.”
“Well, you can take the train to see me then,” I said.
“I know,” he responded. “But I hate the damn train. A vampire loves his car, you know.”
In a weird way, it was kind of nice to see him mad. It brought out the macho vamp in him. Meanwhile, he said we were pretty far from the nearest train station.
“I’ll try to beg a tow truck driver for a ride,” he said.
Brett made a call on his cell. Then he cracked a smile.
“We got a ride.”
While we waited, I told him everything I knew about Rob.
“He really likes me,” I said. “I don’t know why.”
“He wants you because he knows you are more beautiful than any vampire he’s ever been with,” Brett said. “But he better not lay a nail on you. If he does, he'll drink his own blood.”
I laughed with Mr. Tough Guy. Then we kissed again.
The tow truck driver arrived, a lean vampire with a ring of tattoos around his neck.
On the way to his parent’s house, Brett offered to treat me to a haircut. I blushed. Then, knowing that he didn’t have many Carns, I gratefully declined.
“Oh come on,” he begged. “I really want to treat you. I mean, it won’t be the most expensive haircut in the world. Please don’t make me feel cheap.”
I gave in. “Okay, fine. You can treat me.”
The tow truck driver drove us through the same seedy neighborhood I'd seen before when approaching the Gothic spires of downtown. The tiny, drab houses were smaller than those in my neighborhood, and we passed several loner vampires walking about in the street, isolated and probably cold.
Turning down another street, Brett told the driver to stop at a diminutive black house.
“Here it is, Janice. I told you it wasn’t much.”
Brett’s house appeared something like mine, though much smaller. Waiting for us at the door were his parents. They gaped at me like I was wonder vampire.
“Well how are you, young lady?” said a middle-aged woman.
Brett introduced me to his mother, Pam. She was wearing a scarlet shirt together with a fancy necklace made up of skulls. I also noticed her pretty eyes and the crimson highlighted tips of her dark hair.
“I cooked us a wonderful dinner,” she said. “You’ll love my bloodbeans and serpentine.”
A male vampire approached. “I’m Naz BloodCut, Brett’s father.”
As he shook my hand, I noticed that each one of his fingers was sporting a large black ring. He was tall and burly, though some of his skin was dry and flaky. And in spite of his size, there was something a bit frail about him. I wondered how old he was. Perhaps not so young?
Though the interior of the cramped house was less than impressive, there were some nice surprises, like a television that was bigger than Mr. FreeCut’s, and a sizable lava lamp that glowed an emerald color.
We squeezed around the teeny round table. I was on top of everyone and could barely move my arms without touching another plate or arm. However, I didn’t mind being on top of Brett. All the same, I was tempted to ask how they could afford lots of rings and a nice TV but not a decent dining table.
Pam passed around the pot of blood beans and serpentine. My mouth watered a greenish liquid as I gazed at the beans and meaty sausage smothered in a sweet smelling gravy of blood.
“So what do you think of my cooking?” she asked.
“It’s great,” I replied, and really meant it.
After a few degrees of eating, I was bombarded with questions, questions, questions.
“So how do you make your Carns?” Naz asked me, which I guessed was another way of asking what kind of job I had.
“I’m a sales clerk at Vampire Supermarket.”
“Really? Are you a student at university as well?”
“No. My father is kind of poor and I have to support him.”
Hmm. I was telling another lie; but a lie that could potentially come true because I wanted to help Mr. FreeCut in the same way Brett did with his father.
“Ah,” Brett’s mother said. “You’re just like our boy. How very sweet. You couldn’t have met a nicer guy. Every week he returns the favor and helps us out. He bought me my necklace. The TV set too. And the pretty lava lamp.”
“Brett also helps us get medicine,” Mr. Naz added. “I suffer from Skinthenogly, a disease that causes me to age quickly. Because of that I can’t work. Brett buys my pills for me every week. I couldn’t have a better son.”
Brett blushed. I decided not to tell his parents about my accident and adoption. But I did mention that if I was successful at my job, I could have a chance of becoming a manager.
“Well, that’s good,” Mr. Naz said. “Anything less and you won’t survive. Everything is just so damn expensive in this unfair world we live in. Good blood and good medicine is only for the rich. It's a crying shame.”
He became highly emotional, shooting out his fangs. “It's two thousand Carns for a decent car! Two hundred for pills! Four hundred for a comfortable coffin! And you can't get anything like a good tattoo for less than two hundred! Everything is so unfair!”
He pummeled his fists on the little table.
“Calm down, Dad!” Brett said. “You’re going to get sick!”
His father took a few deep breaths and gradually relaxed. “I’m sorry. I meant what I said, but I’m sorry for the way I said it.”
“The world is made up of more than possessions, Dad,” Brett told him.
“You’re right. And I should be grateful for having a son who cares so much about me.” For a moment the hint of tears glistened in Mr. Naz's eyes.
Tensions quickly eased and we continued our conversation.
“You are so different, Janice,” Mrs. Pam said. “And that’s good. In the past our boy would bring home snobby, tattoo covered vampire whores. You’re a river of fresh blood.”
I thanked her for her sweet compliment.
We talked some more, and it was soon time for me to say goodbye.
Brett walked me to the nearest train station, making sure I stayed safe crossing through the neighborhood. Clutching my hand at the station, he didn’t seem to want to let go.
“You told Rob that I was your girlfriend,” I said. “Is that true? I thought we had to kiss on the grave. We haven’t done that yet.”
“I know we haven’t,” he replied. “So technically, we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend. But I love you so much, it feels as if we are.”
I asked him when the kiss on the grave was coming.
“Soon,” he said. “I promise. Well, goodnight, baby.”
We kissed again, slow and sweet. Our fangs gently nipped at each other’s tongues, once again sending shock waves of bliss through our cold veins. Hot.
I arrived home feeling incredible.
“So how did your date go?” Mr. FreeCut inquired.
“Fine. He’s so wonderful. You’re gonna have to meet him.”
“I'd be glad to, Janice.”
We chatted for a while. I loved talking to him, and soon we got onto the subject of fireball.
“Fireball…what a blast,” he said. “When I was younger I used to play all the time at the recreation center. I got so good that I entered the annual fireball contest.”
“So what exactly is that?”
“It happens every year at the ancient Dungeon Complex. The best players who make it through the two underground layers are allowed to play in front of a giant crowd of thousands.”
“Oh,” I said. “What are the underground layers?”
“There are two underground layers at the Rec Center that you have to pass through in order to qualify. The second layer is more difficult than the first.”
“I didn’t know about that.”
“Well, one day I’ll go over there with you and show you. Come to that, I'd love to play you in a game. That would really bring back some memories.”
“Why don’t you come join me tomorrow night?”
He hesitated. “Won’t your friends be there? I don’t want to intrude.”
“It’s okay. Besides, you can meet Brett.”
In another life or world it would have felt funny to ask a parent or caretaker to hang out with friends. But not Mr. FreeCut. And what the hell was I thinking anyway? Another life or world? This was my life. My only life.
We discussed Garlic Moon, the suns, and the mysterious heavens above. I asked him if he knew of a blue planet.
“I don’t know of any specific ones,” he said. “But there could be millions of them out there in the heavens. Some vampire scientists even believe there may be life on other planets.”
“Really,” I said, perplexed.
“Yes. There are so many fantastic things to explore and discover. You've got that chance now, Janice. Do it. Don’t wait until you’re old like me.”
Noticing the green skin on Mr. FreeCut’s face, I guessed that he was telling me the truth. Don’t wait too long to seek out your dreams.
That night, I laid my head down in my comfortable coffin, happy and content. Tomorrow would be another challenging day at work, especially since I’d be on my own.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, I saw a masked figure peeping at me through my window. I rushed outside and saw a letter underneath a stone on the window sill, just like before.
There was no sign at all of the creep who'd delivered it.
MORE SECRETS
I searched all over for the masked messenger, but found no one. I wished the freaking coward would show himself; I was so furious I wanted to scream. But I couldn’t. I did not want Mr. FreeCut to know anything about the secrets I was discovering.
In spite of my anger, I was still curious. After returning t
o my room I opened the letter and read the longer than usual message.
'It’s time to get to business, Janice. You’ve already discovered one major secret. You have two remaining. You’re lucky to have the ability to learn something that’s so important to your well being. The first part of the next secret is located in a very unexpected place. You have to access the private train of a very powerful organization that you know little about. But you’ll discover a lot if you continue your search. There is a tunnel that leads to the train track. It’s secretly located behind a wall in the second underground floor of the fireball Recreation Center. But to get to the second floor, you have to enter the annual fireball contest. There is a statue of a gargoyle against the left wall. Pull on its right claw three times. Then the left claw twice. After that, yank on the right claw three more times. If the order is correct, the tunnel will open. Then go forth through it.'
I placed the letter in my purse. I really didn’t want to bother with this nonsense any longer. But I was intrigued, all the same.
The next day I woke up ready for work.
When I arrived, I couldn’t wait to get off because Brett was going to treat me to a hot haircut that evening. I was so looking forward to seeing him, and to getting my new hairdo. I’d finally look like a vampire. After that it would be fireball practice with Brett, great friends, and Mr. FreeCut as well if he still wanted to come. Could things have gotten any better?
I ran into Mira. She looked wonderful with her hair twisted in spikes and knots, together with highlighted tips of frosty silver. I wanted to look like her. And I was determined to keep my job and earn enough Carns to do so.
“You’re on your own today,” she said. “But I’ll be nearby. If you need help, just let me know. Please though, don’t scream for help when you’re in the air. It’s rude to customers.”
I set off down the long aisle, passing through the canyon of women’s clothing towering above me. But the giant shelves did not hide me for long. A family of four soon came over and started asking tons of questions.
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