Ritual

by Alex Duval

  Jason didn’t answer. Sienna’s family organized the ball every year. It was basically her party. Of course he was interested.

  “I finished my star chart yesterday while you were busy working out,” Dani went on. “Which you totally shouldn’t be doing, by the way.”

  “I called and checked in with the doctor. She said light exercise would be okay,” Jason protested. “And I only used five-pound weights.”

  “Anyway, the ball is on a great day for me, astrologically speaking,” Dani said. “It’s a perfect romance day!”

  “You know all that stuff has no scientific basis,” Jason said. “I don’t think you should count on it. You might be disappointed.”

  Dani ignored him. “Mom said I can go dress shopping with Kristy after school, so I don’t need a ride home today,” she told him. “In fact, I’m supposed to meet Kristy before first period to figure out what stores to hit, so can you step on it?”

  Instead, Jason took his foot off the gas. There was a string of brake lights up ahead, all of them snaking in a line toward the gates of De Vere High. He slowed to a stop behind the car in front of them.

  “How long do you think they’re going to keep up this new security thing?” Dani asked, squinting into the sunlight to try to get a better look.

  “Probably until they find the guy who attacked Dominic,” Jason said.

  “And you,” Dani said. “You got attacked too, remember?”

  “How could I forget? Anyway, that’s two students attacked. Makes sense they’d want to be careful.”

  “Neither one of you was attacked at school, though,” Dani said doubtfully. “It seems a little extreme.”

  The buzzing of a small motor cut through the air, and Adam appeared on his Vespa, driving back along the line of cars. When he saw Jason, he stopped.

  “You’re going the wrong way,” Jason told him.

  “I know. The Vespa finally comes in handy!” Adam grinned. “I don’t have to sit in traffic waiting to make a U-turn. I can just scooch through the cars and take this baby on the shoulder.”

  “It’s still illegal,” Dani grumbled.

  “We’re all waiting to turn around?” Jason asked. “I assumed it was the usual ID check line.”

  Adam’s face grew serious. “I guess you haven’t been listening to your radio, then,” he said. “School’s closed.”

  “What? Why?” Jason cried.

  “There’s been another murder. Scott Challon.”

  “Oh, my God!” Dani gasped, her face paling.

  Jason had a sinking feeling that he knew what was coming next. “How did it happen?” he asked.

  “Crossbow bolt to the heart,” Adam confirmed, shaking his head. “They found his body first thing this morning. And since all the victims so far are DeVere High students, Detective Tamburo wanted to sweep the school for anything that might lead to a suspect.”

  “I see Maria’s car up ahead,” Dani said. “She drives Kristy in to school in the mornings. I’m going to call them.” She pulled out her bright yellow cell phone and dialed.

  “Going to DeVere isn’t the only similarity between the victims,” Adam said, lowering his voice as Dani launched into a conversation on her cell. “Dominic and Scott were both V. You know my theory about this.”

  Jason nodded grimly. Suddenly Adam’s vampire-hunter theory didn’t seem so off-the-wall. What were the chances that a serial killer had accidentally chosen two vampires as his victims? “Okay, maybe you have a point,” Jason said quietly. “But that still doesn’t explain the attack on me.”

  Adam shrugged. “You were a mistake.”

  Dani flipped her cell phone shut. “I’m gonna go get in Maria’s car,” she announced, taking off her seat belt. Kristy says we can all go to her house and study since school is closed.”

  “Study what? The best fashions for a formal masked ball?” Jason teased her.

  “Maybe.” Dani shot him a smile and climbed out of the Bug. He watched her run along the line of cars, waving to a few people she knew. Finally she climbed into Maria’s Land Rover, which was next in line to make a U-turn in the high school’s wide driveway. Jason waved as they turned around and headed the other way on the divided highway, then inched his car up a little bit as the line moved forward.

  Adam kept pace with him on the Vespa.

  “Does Tamburo have any leads on the Challon case?” Jason asked.

  “Not a one,” Adam replied. “And my dad says Tamburo was on the scene within minutes of the attack Between you and me, I think he’s getting desperate.”

  Jason moved the car up farther in the line. “If it’s a vampire hunter, that means the other vampires are in danger too,” he said thoughtfully.

  “Yup, it means Sienna is in danger,” Adam agreed.

  “I didn’t say Sienna,” Jason protested.

  “But you were thinking it.” Adam revved the Vespa like it was a Harley-Davidson. “You’re next for the U-turn, my friend. Wanna hit Eddie’s for a breakfast burrito?”

  “Sure. I’ll meet you there.” Jason had reached the school gates, where a cop was directing traffic. As he drove the Bug through the circular driveway, he caught a glimpse of a few police officers roaming the grounds. He wondered what they could possibly be looking for. The killer wasn’t a student, was he?

  Then Jason was back out on the Pacific Coast Highway, heading for Eddie’s. And he wasn’t the only one. By the time he got there, the small restaurant was packed with kids from school. Jason found a parking spot and headed inside to snag a table while waiting for Adam. He was hoping Sienna might be among the crowd; it wouldn’t hurt to give her a heads-up about the possibility of a vampire hunter, and it wouldn’t hurt just to see her face, either. Any Sienna time was good Sienna time.

  Except when she was surrounded by people who didn’t like him.

  Like Zach and Van Dyke, who were sitting on either side of Sienna at one of the small tables near the window. Erin sat across from them, completely blocking Jason’s access to Sienna. He’d been meaning to pull her aside to tell her Adam’s theory, but that was impossible now.

  And a quick scan of the room showed him that the only table open was the one right next to the vampires.

  “Great,” he muttered. Van Dyke had been giving him the cold shoulder for days, and Zach was never particularly friendly. He didn’t feel like being anywhere near them right now. But it didn’t look as if there were much choice. Squaring his shoulders, Jason went over and sat down. He caught Sienna’s eye and nodded hello.

  “Hi, guys,” Jason said, including the whole table in his greeting. He didn’t want to make a big show of singling out Sienna.

  “Hey, Jason,” Erin said. The guys didn’t answer, and Sienna just gave him a little wave.

  Mercifully, Adam showed up at that moment, barreling over to join Jason at the table. “Excellent work,” he said. “Ocean view and everything.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Jason hadn’t even bothered to look out the window. He’d been too busy trying not to stare at Sienna. He flipped open his menu and studied it.

  “… body was still warm when the cops arrived,” Van Dyke was saying. “The killer must’ve just left.”

  “You’d think they could find him, then,” Erin said.

  “It’s not like he was right there, though,” Zach put in. “He shot the crossbow bolt from a distance. He was probably a mile away before the police showed up.”

  “Funny how I keep hearing the same conversation everywhere I go,” Adam said to Jason. “My dad and the other cops, all the kids at this place. Everyone’s trying to figure out who this killer is and why they can’t find him.”

  “But you think you know the answer,” Jason said.

  “Well, not really. I don’t know who he is. I just think I know what he is,” Adam replied. “Although I haven’t mentioned my theory to Detective Tamburo.”

  “Maybe you should mention it to them,” Jason said, gesturing to the vampires’ table. “If you’re right, they
’re in danger. And I don’t think they have a clue.”

  “I’m on it.” Adam yanked his chair closer to Erin’s, making the metal legs screech against the stone floor. “So, listen, amigos,” he said, interrupting the vampires’ conversation. “Have you guys considered the fact that this killer might just be after … special people?”

  Zach, Van Dyke, and Erin stared at him blankly. Sienna smiled a little.

  “I’m sorry?” Zach said politely.

  “This crossbow-carrying freak might be deliberately hunting certain types of people,” Adam said. “You know, beautiful people. Special people.” When they continued to look confused, he rolled his eyes. “Dentally enhanced people.”

  Erin and Van Dyke exchanged a worried look as Adam’s meaning finally got through.

  “It’s okay,” Sienna said quickly. “We’ve known Adam forever. We can trust him.”

  Jason was surprised that Adam was being so blunt about the whole thing. He knew that Zach and Sienna were aware that Adam knew their secret, but he didn’t think Adam had ever told any of the vampires that he knew the truth about them. And yet, here he was, going head-to-head with Zach himself.

  Zach stared at Adam for a long moment. Jason thought he looked as if he was trying not to laugh.

  “I’m trying to help you,” Adam said. “You need to be careful. I think this killer could be a … hunter.” He lowered his voice. “A vampire hunter.”

  Jason searched their faces, expecting to see alarm. Instead, Erin and Van Dyke rolled their eyes and grinned. Sienna chuckled, and even Zach smiled.

  “Well, we, er, appreciate your concern,” Zach said. “But you’ve got this one wrong. There’s no such thing as a vampire hunter.”

  Sienna leaned forward. “Er, there’s no such thing as Santa, either, Adam. I’m sorry to break it to you,” she teased.

  “Santa’s overrated, anyway,” Adam quipped back. “But you know, most people think there’s no such thing as vampires. And they’re wrong.”

  “But if the vampires say there’s no such thing as a vampire hunter, you might want to believe them,” Zach pointed out.

  “Okay,” Adam replied, unconvinced. “But somebody has managed to kill two of you in less than a week. I’m just sayin’.”

  “Two vampires. Two DeVere Heights students. Two guys who were both into Green Day Who knows why Dominic and Scott were both targeted?” Van Dyke put in. “But I can tell you it wasn’t because of some medieval vampire-hunter guy.”

  “I don’t think they existed even then,” Erin said. “I think they were always a myth.”

  Adam shot Jason a can-you-believe-this look, and Jason shrugged. One thing held learned since moving to Malibu was not to get involved in too much vampire stuff. Every time he’d got pulled in, it had meant only one thing: trouble.

  “Relax. You’ve given them a heads-up. I guess these guys can take care of themselves now,” he told Adam.

  “True.” Zach gave Jason the smallest of smiles. Then he stood up. “Let’s go, Van Dyke. We’re late to meet Brad.”

  Immediately a chill fell over the table. Jason felt like everybody was looking at him—and at Sienna—to see how they responded to the mention of Brad. He did his best not to change the expression on his face, but he felt a flush creeping up his neck. Did every single person they knew think that he and Sienna were having a thing?

  Van Dyke stood up and made a big show of saying good-bye to everyone except Jason. Once he and Zach were gone, Erin turned to Sienna with her eyebrows raised. “Adam and I can leave too, if you guys want to be alone,” she teased.

  “No!” Sienna said quickly.

  “Nuh-uh,” Jason replied at the same time.

  Their eyes met, and they both laughed.

  “We’re friends,” Sienna said. “That’s all. Right, Jason?”

  “Right,” he confirmed.

  “Right,” Erin said, a tinge of sarcasm in her voice. “How’s the weather there in Denial Land?” she murmured, but she was smiling.

  Adam tried not to laugh.

  Jason decided to ignore them. But Sienna was embarrassed. “Actually, I better go too,” she said. “I have to pick up the place cards from the calligrapher.”

  “Place cards?” Jason queried.

  “Yes. For the masked ball,” Sienna explained.

  “That’s not still going ahead, is it?” Jason asked in disbelief.

  “Are you kidding?” It was Erin’s turn to sound incredulous. “Of course it is.”

  “I just thought with another murder …” Jason let his sentence trail off.

  “Important people are coming from all over to go to the ball. They’ve spent a lot of money on the tickets. And it’s all for charity. We can’t just cancel it,” Sienna explained.

  “That’s true, I guess,” Jason said, realizing he still had a lot to learn about the Malibu way of thinking.

  “You’re still coming, aren’t you?” Sienna asked, sounding just the slightest bit anxious.

  “Of course I am,” Jason replied. “We all need something to cheer us up, and the ball will probably do the trick.” And besides, Jason thought, would I miss seeing Sienna in her element? Not a chance.

  ELEVEN

  After school on Tuesday, Jason headed straight for the pool. One day off from swim practice was enough. He had to be there to support the team, because, hey, he was on the team, and he wasn’t going to let Brad and Van Dyke edge him out.

  “Jason!” Dani’s voice echoed through the emptying hallway. “Wait up!”

  He turned to see his sister jogging toward him, her auburn hair swinging wildly.

  “I can’t drive you home until later,” he told her when she reached him. “I’m going to practice.”

  “I don’t need a ride. I just wanted to ask you a favor,” she said breathlessly. “I’m going shopping with Kristy for a dress.”

  “Okay. So what’s the favor?”

  “I need you to back me up tonight at dinner,” Dani said. “Kristy’s parents gave her a budget of seven hundred dollars.”

  “For what?”

  “The dress,” Dani said impatiently. “And I know Mom and Dad are gonna flip when I ask for that much. So you have to help me convince them.”

  Jason whistled. “Where are you going to shop? The Diamond-studded Dress Store?”

  “I’m not saying I’ll spend that much. I’m just saying that if I find the perfect dress and it’s as expensive as Kristy’s, I want to be able to buy it.” Dani crossed her arms over her chest, a sure sign she was going to be stubborn about this. “I mean, Dad makes tons of money now. So what’s a few hundred bucks—”

  “Seven hundred.”

  “Okay, seven hundred bucks to him?” Dani went on. “Besides, it’s important. Sunday night is a big romance night for me, astrologically speaking. I have to look my best.”

  “There is absolutely no way Mom will ever let you buy a dress that expensive,” Jason said. “Whether I back you up or not.”

  “Please?” Dani begged. “She listens to you more than me. She thinks you’re the responsible one.”

  “I am the responsible one,” Jason said.

  “So you have to help me.” Dani smiled brightly.

  “I’ll think about it,” Jason promised. “But right now I have to get to practice.” He gave her a wave and headed off toward the locker room.

  As soon as he stepped inside, he could feel the tension in the air. Nobody was worried about how to dress for the charity ball here, they were all too busy worrying about the psycho crossbow killer.

  “… Tamburo obviously thinks it’s somebody we know,” Harberts was saying. “He interviewed me again today.”

  “Maybe he suspects you,” Priesmeyer said. Jason knew he was joking, but there was an edge to his voice.

  “Well, I know I didn’t do it.” Harberts slammed his locker shut. “But there have to be some clues that are leading to a student at DeVere. Why else would the cops be focusing the investigation here?”
<
br />   Jason kept quiet. If he didn’t say anything, there was less of a chance that his teammates would ignore him. Or at least, if they were ignoring him, he wouldn’t have to have it rubbed in his face. Brad wasn’t here yet, but Van Dyke was digging through his locker right next to Harberts.

  “I think it’s TJ Warwick,” Van Dyke said. “He always hated Dominic. Remember when Dom beat him up in ninth grade?”

  “Dominic beat everybody up,” Harberts replied. “That was his favorite thing to do. He even tried to beat up Jason, remember? And even if TJ hated Dominic, why would he go after Scott?”

  “Yeah. It doesn’t make sense,” Priesmeyer said. “There’s no point in all of us turning on one another, it will just make everybody paranoid.”

  The door swung open, and Brad walked in. Jason made a beeline for him, leaving the other guys to speculate about potential murderers they went to school with.

  “Hey, Brad,” Jason said, intercepting him near the doorway. “Listen, I wanted to tell you I’m sorry to hear about you and Sienna—”

  “Oh, please,” Brad interrupted. “You didn’t get enough of a kick from going behind my back with Sienna? Now you’re going to lie to my face?”

  “I’m not lying,” Jason protested. “And I didn’t go behind your back with Sienna.”

  “Freeman, you’ve been after Sienna since the first time you saw her,” Brad spat. “You think I’m stupid? Well, now you’ve got her. Congratulations.”

  “I don’t have her. I’m not with her,” Jason insisted. “I’m not denying she’s beautiful, but—”

  “Curt!” Brad cried suddenly, cutting Jason off mid-sentence. “You made it!”

  Jason turned to see a tall guy, who seemed to be made entirely of muscle, slapping hands with Brad.

  “Yeah, and you owe me big-time,” Curt said with a grin. “Don’t think I like leaving my own school in the middle of the year to help out your sorry butt.”

  Brad clapped him on the shoulder and turned him toward the other guys on the team, leaving Jason alone by the door. “Everyone, listen up,” Brad called. “This is Curt Tungsten, from Santa Monica. He’s agreed to come live at my house for the rest of the season so he can go to school here and, more importantly, help us out on relay.”