Kiss of the Vampire

by Terry Spear

  Levka tried to jerk off his shirt, but shrill stabs of pain streaked through every nerve.

  Ruric helped him to change. “I couldn’t read her mind. She’s like Cassandra. She must be telepathic, I think, but very controlled. And despite what you say, I know you want her.”

  ***

  With the curling iron, Caitlin curled her hair again. For the first time on the cruise, she was really interested in how she looked. Before, she didn’t care. None of the spoiled rich guys on the cruise had interested her. But Levka, jeez, she didn’t even get his last name, there was just something about him that drew her attention. She couldn’t put her finger on why she was so intrigued by him. For a moment, she forgot how much she hated being on the ship, sharing a room with Alicia—who was hogging the bathroom again—and dreading being around the other high school kids. Now she was hoping she’d catch a glimpse of Levka at dinner. Maybe he’d even go to the comedy show afterward, and she’d see him there.

  She let out her breath in exasperation. She had to keep an eye on Alicia.

  Unfortunately, the ship’s staff hadn’t filled the pool with water earlier, so Alicia was acting like a grizzly. Caitlin glanced at her watch. They had two minutes to get to dinner.

  “Alicia, it’s time to go.”

  “Go without me. I’ll be right up.”

  Caitlin leaned against the wall. “I’ll wait.” She could imagine Dylan and her foster sister slipping off to his room, or even their own, while she went to dinner, and they never showed up.

  Alicia threw the bathroom door open and stormed past her. “My parents were not serious about you watching every move I make. They only pulled this so you’d go on the cruise. You are such an idiot, you know? And I mean that in a nice way.” She shoved the door open and stepped into the hall. “They wanted their privacy and with you hanging about, they weren’t going to get it. That’s why they send me on all these trips; don’t you get it?” She stalked up the stairs.

  Caitlin hurried after her, half wondering if what she said was true. But then knowing Alicia, she often twisted things to suit her own purposes. Yet the idea her foster parents felt Caitlin was a nuisance nagged at her. Her parents had always taken family vacations with her and her sister. The idea that parents would send their kids off for separate vacations seemed foreign to her, and it made her wish again that she was with her own family. She couldn’t dwell on that now, yet the sound of the ship splashing through the waves, the smell of the fishy water, and the stiff, salty breeze tugging at her hair, all reminded her of their final days together.

  She blinked the tears away and caught up to her foster sister.

  When they reached the formal dining area, a man dressed in a tux led them past tables covered in white table cloths. Mirrors lined the walls, making the large dining room appear even more expansive. A few small tables were situated opposite the eight-person tables, she figured for honeymooning couples.

  Alicia pointed at a two-seater table. “That’s what I want to sit at with Dylan tomorrow night.”

  As long as Caitlin could still watch her, it didn’t matter to her. “Sure.”

  The man motioned to a table where Levka sat in his wheelchair, and his three friends were seated around him.

  “Oh, no,” Alicia said. “I specifically asked to be seated with seven of my friends.”

  “This is the arrangement, miss, and it cannot be changed tonight,” the man said, with a thick Serbian accent and an edge to his voice.

  Levka looked up from his menu, and his eyes widened when he saw Caitlin. She wanted to smile at him, but he didn’t seem pleased to see her. He quickly looked at his friends, all who were smiling like she was the best thing they’d seen in years. The redheaded guy jumped up from his chair and offered it to Caitlin so she could sit between Levka and him, while Alicia continued to argue with the guy in the tux.

  “Excuse me,” the blond said, taking hold of Alicia’s hand. “Have we met?” His blue eyes captured hers, held them.

  She stuttered something unintelligible, then he led her to a seat across the table from Caitlin and sat next to her.

  “Hey,” Dylan said, rushing to join her, “I thought we had a table of our own. Who are all these guys?”

  The blond motioned for him to take a seat on the other side of Alicia. “Sit, please.”

  Caitlin couldn’t believe Alicia would shut up and behave for once like an adult. Dylan hesitated, giving all the guys the evil eye, then sat next to Alicia and jerked his napkin into his lap.

  One more girl joined them, Lynne Raven, the one that goaded Alicia—more than any of her friends—to give Caitlin a hard time. She sat in the only open seat between the redhead and Dylan.

  “I thought we had our own table.” Lynne gave Caitlin a disparaging look. “I thought we made sure only the right people sat with us.”

  So, Alicia and her friends had planned to exclude her from their table at dinner. Caitlin gave Lynne a small smile, glad they hadn’t gotten their way.

  “I’m Ruric.” The redheaded guy bowed his head to Caitlin.

  “Stasio,” the blond guy said. “Who apologizes most profusely for dropping his backpack on your feet earlier today.”

  Caitlin smiled at him. “It was no big deal.”

  “Arman,” the brown-haired guy offered and bowed his head slightly.

  They all seemed genuinely pleased she’d joined them, and it couldn’t have made her feel any more welcome. Since no one else introduced themselves, she said, “That’s my foster sister, Alicia, her boyfriend, Dylan, and her friend, Lynne.” She didn’t bother with last names because the guys from Texas didn’t either. “And this is Levka,” she said, touching his arm.

  Lynne snarled her lip. “Sweet.” She turned to Alicia. “So, are we swimming later?”

  Alicia stared blankly at her.

  Caitlin frowned, not sure she could handle sitting poolside. She’d so hoped to go to the comedy entertainment.

  “What did you want to do tonight, Caitlin?” Ruric asked.

  Everyone looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

  “I thought the comedy show would be fun.”

  Dylan smiled.

  “But I’ll watch Alicia swim.”

  Instantly, Dylan’s expression turned sour.

  Lynne tilted her cosmetically-reduced nose up. “You’re scared of the water.”

  Caitlin couldn’t help that she was terrified of the water, but she didn’t want her new friends to know she was seeing a psychiatrist for it. Squaring her shoulders, she said, “That’s old news, Lynne.” She felt Levka and his friends still watching her and felt totally naked, like she could have no deep, dark secrets around them.

  Alicia didn’t say anything, which wasn’t like her at all. What was wrong with her? Normally, she would have agreed with Lynne and made a sarcastic comment to back her up.

  The waiter came to the table, explained the special for the evening, and everyone ordered their dinners.

  When he left, Stasio turned to Alicia. “Wouldn’t you rather see the comedy show following the meal?”

  Alicia stared at his entrancing blue eyes, and Caitlin held her breath.

  Stasio asked Alicia again, “Wouldn’t you?”

  Chapter 4

  When Stasio asked Alicia again if she wanted to go to the show, Caitlin was sure she would say no. Instead, Alicia nodded.

  Dylan blew out his breath. “You hate those comedy shows.” Putting his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer. “We’ll go swimming together.”

  Stasio’s blond brows rose. “She wants to go to the show. But why don’t you go swimming with…” He looked over at Lynne. “…her.”

  “All right with me.” Lynne raked her fork through her mashed potatoes. “But Alicia’s his girlfriend. So if you think you’re going to make the moves on her…” She shook her head.

  “She’s going swimming with me, and that’s final.” Dylan slugged his soda down.

  Stasio smiled, the look handso
mely arrogant and decidedly menacing. Yet, Caitlin couldn’t help worrying that Stasio was getting way over his head on this. Dylan had tons of mean-hearted friends on the ship, any of whom wouldn’t have any regret about throwing Stasio overboard if Dylan asked them to.

  She suspected Stasio was trying to get Alicia to go along with seeing the show so that Caitlin could see it, and not because he was interested in Alicia. There was no way Caitlin wanted him hurt over her. Was he still feeling guilty over dropping the bag on her feet?

  “It’s okay, Stasio. I’ll go another night.” Caitlin tried to give him her most convincing smile.

  Levka leaned back in his wheelchair and stared at Alicia. “The comedy show sounds good.” He wore a stern face and didn’t seem pleased, more forced into the situation than anything. And he didn’t look Caitlin’s way, just watched Alicia.

  Arman shook his head.

  Ruric grinned and raised his water glass in a salute. “To stellar performances.”

  “Right,” Stasio said. “You know the jesters always performed at medieval castles to entertain, and they’ve found laughter aids the digestion. So after we eat, the comedy show will be perfect.”

  Arman set his napkin on the table. “You can drown if you swim right after you eat.” He gave Dylan a pointed look.

  “We’re going swimming,” Dylan growled.

  Wait-staff brought the first course of the meal to the table, and everyone grew quiet while they ate their salads or soup. All but Levka, who drank only water.

  Caitlin was dying to know what was wrong with him, but as much as she wanted to know, she felt it rude to ask. Then she had a brilliant idea. She’d ask either Ruric or Stasio, maybe later tonight, if they managed to get Alicia to the comedy show without Dylan sending a hit squad to change their minds.

  She shook her head. Anytime during the long voyage, Stasio and his friends could be at risk. It wasn’t worth it so that she could watch the show to get her mind off the volumes of water surrounding her.

  Reaching for her drink, she nearly had a heart attack when Levka shoved it into Dylan’s lap. “Sorry,” Levka said, though Caitlin didn’t think he was at all.

  “You freak!” Dylan hastily wiped the ice and soda off his lap.

  Levka’s action could only escalate the problem with Dylan, though part of her wanted to cheer Levka on.

  She planned to tell everyone, convince everyone, she wanted to watch her foster sister swim once they finished their meal. But after Dylan wolfed down the dinner special, some kind of fish, he clutched his stomach and ran out of the dining hall.

  Lynne, who had the same meal, pushed her plate away and didn’t eat any more of the fish. Levka and his friends had eaten the beef, and she and Alicia had the chicken, but none of them had gotten sick on their meals. Thank God for small miracles.

  Once they finished eating, Stasio asked, “Ready to enjoy the entertainment?”

  Lynne threw her napkin on the table. “I guess since you’re not swimming, I’ll go with you, Alicia.” She didn’t seem thrilled about the prospect.

  Neither did Alicia. She just went along with it like she was Stasio’s puppet girlfriend. Caitlin had never seen her so quiet and manageable. She loved it.

  Levka was back to his brooding self.

  She prayed the comedy show would be truly funny and worth the trouble it might cause.

  ***

  Levka hoped his friends were enjoying their matchmaking efforts for the time-being because once he was well enough, it would be his turn to get back at them.

  Ruric communicated with him telepathically in private, “She’s terrified of water, Levka. We’re doing her a big favor.”

  All right, Levka couldn’t argue that. He recalled the way she’d trembled when she’d worn the lifejacket during the lifeboat drill and the comment her foster sister made to her about needing a psychiatrist once the cruise was done. Had Alicia wanted to swim because she knew how much the water frightened Caitlin? How could her foster parents be so cruel as to send her on a cruise?

  “What was up with her soda?” Arman asked.

  Levka watched as Caitlin took her seat at the end of the row so he could sit next to her in his wheelchair. “Her drink was drugged. Dylan slipped something into it when he thought none of us were looking.”

  “Bastard,” Stasio said.

  Levka glanced at Caitlin. Seemingly forgetting for the moment they were at sea, she smiled and laughed at the comedian’s jokes. Ruric seemed more amused that she was having a good time than anything. Alicia stared blankly at the show. Lynne folded her arms and scowled. Levka imagined she didn’t get half of the jokes. Stasio seemed to enjoy the show as much as Caitlin. Watching behind them, Arman appeared to be looking for Dylan or some of his buddies to arrive.

  “Can I get three volunteers from the audience?” the comedian asked, with a distinctive Irish accent.

  Six female teens jumped up from their seats and waved their hands.

  Stasio twisted his blond hair into a ponytail, then made his way down the stairs to the stage to join in on the fun.

  Levka gave Ruric a warning look. He shrugged when the comedian chose two girls and motioned for Stasio to come up on stage, though he hadn’t needed the invite.

  Ruric said privately to Levka, “I cannot always keep Stasio under control. You know that.”

  Levka frowned. “Convince the comedian you want to join them.”

  “It’s too late for that.”

  The comedian had Stasio and the two girls sit and face the audience, then said, “With your permission, I will hypnotize the three of you and have you do something that isn’t too terribly embarrassing.”

  The audience whooped and cheered.

  “What’s your name, miss?” the comedian asked.

  “Marissa.”

  “Marissa, I want you to watch this crystal sphere, relax, breathe deeply, allow your eyelids to grow heavy, and close.”

  After learning the other girl’s name was Chelsea, he had her do the same. Then he walked over to Stasio and said the same.

  All three volunteers sat with their eyes closed while the comedian asked the audience, “What should we have them do?”

  “Take off their clothes!” a teen guy yelled. The theater exploded with cheers.

  “We have to keep it G-rated, folks.” The comedian grinned, then walked over to Marissa. “Isn’t the gentleman seated over there cute? Wouldn’t you like to kiss him? Why don’t you walk over and kiss him?”

  The audience sat in silence.

  Marissa didn’t move.

  The comedian cleared his throat. “Despite what some people would have you believe, you can’t hypnotize someone to do what they don’t want to. Is Marissa’s boyfriend in the audience?”

  A guy stood up and whooped.

  “See,” the comedian said, pointing at the guy. “That’s what’s causing Marissa’s reluctance. You’ll have to leave the theater.”

  Everyone laughed.

  The boyfriend smiled, shook his head, and sat back down.

  “Okay, well, Marissa will dance with Stasio and, Stasio, you will dance with Marissa. You both may open your eyes and join each other.” The comedian motioned with his hand and a waltz began to play.

  Stasio rose from the chair, as wooden as Marissa did.

  Levka would have to put a tighter leash on him.

  Stasio took Marissa into his arms and danced across the stage, one of the best dancers Levka knew of any time period. But before the music ended, Stasio led her back to her seat and held his hand out to the comedian.

  The comedian frowned. “You haven’t finished the dance.”

  “Dance with me.”

  The audience roared. Levka propped his elbow on the arm of his wheelchair and rested his head in his hand. Arman folded his arms. Ruric grinned.

  For a minute, the comedian seemed to resist, then he accepted Stasio’s hand and waltzed around the floor with Stasio for several minutes as graceful as he’d danced two-hundred
years earlier. When the music ended, Stasio said, “Now you will dance with the other young lady.”

  The comedian did as he was told and once the dance ended, Stasio said, “You may take my chair and continue with your show.” After bowing to the audience, Stasio walked off the stage, while the crowd went wild with cheering.

  “Showoff,” Ruric said. “Wish I’d thought of it.”

  Stasio retook his seat while Caitlin smiled at him. “You did a great job.”

  He gave her a satisfied smile and bowed his head to her, but Levka couldn’t help feeling perturbed. Caitlin would surely assume Stasio was using hypnosis on her foster sister now that she saw his act.

  When the show ended, Stasio asked Alicia, “Did you want to take a walk on deck or return to your room?”

  Alicia just stared at him.

  Stasio tried again. “You’re tired and want to return to your room?”

  Alicia nodded.

  Caitlin took a deep breath. “We’ve had a long day.”

  Lynne shook her head. “I’m going to find some friends who aren’t going to bed before it’s even midnight.” She stormed off.

  “There’s a band playing in the lounge downstairs. Do you want to listen to them?” Ruric asked Caitlin and Levka.

  “I better go back to the room if Alicia’s going,” Caitlin said.

  “Alicia,” Stasio said, “you’d like to see the band, wouldn’t you?”

  Levka rolled his eyes. Caitlin was no dummy and would soon, if she hadn’t already, realize what Stasio was doing.

  Alicia nodded.

  “We’ll go down for about a half hour,” Levka said, “but then I need to get some rest.”

  Arman’s eyes widened. “Are you all right, Levka?”

  “Yes, quit worrying about me.” Arman’s fussing over Levka was bad enough when they were alone but in front of Caitlin it made him feel more than inadequate.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Caitlin asked, her voice concerned. “You do look tired.”

  “He’s fine.” Ruric wheeled Levka the rest of the way into the dimly-lit lounge.

  A band played a medley of instruments including pipe whistles and stringed instruments in one corner, and passengers seated on the low-backed cushiony chairs sipped drinks. Behind the band, colorful fish swam in a tank of saltwater.