On top of the jet-black cushion lay a long, swirling piece of gold jewellery studded with deep-set, glinting gemstones, from white, black and yellow diamonds to pigeon-blood rubies. Two golden serpents lay ensnared, apparently as a single piece . . . but in actuality, as the chart in the back of the glass case showed, the two serpents came apart at a single twist. Then, the yellow-gold serpent would form a bracelet while the white-gold serpent became an ornate ring.
‘The Jewellery of the Two Sisters,’ Mr Daniels breathed. He reached out as if to touch the glass case, and visibly stopped himself just in time. ‘I can’t believe I’m really seeing it with my own eyes.’
Brendan coughed. ‘So . . . you’ve heard of it before?’
His father couldn’t seem to look away from the ensnared serpents. ‘I’ve heard the legend,’ he replied. ‘It’s said that these pieces originally belonged to two va– that is, V sisters. The serpents represent the two qualities that are most important to any of our kind – discretion and power.’
He drew a deep, reverent breath, and dropped his voice to a thread-like whisper that only another vampire could hear. ‘Almost a thousand years ago, the two sisters were sent away on a vampire crusade. They divided the two pieces between them as a symbol of their desire to one day find each other. But only one sister returned with her half of the jewellery. The other sister was never found. And according to legend, her ring was left discarded beneath a pile of crumbling stone.’
Sniffing, he dropped his head. ‘Sorry.’ He shook his head, keeping his eyes averted. ‘That story has always got to me, every time I’ve heard it. And to actually see the pieces now, making it all so real . . .’
‘Of course,’ Ivy murmured.
It got to her, too. How could it not? The idea of being separated from Olivia forever . . . it was unbearable.
And to think, just over a year ago, I still thought I was an only child! Ivy gave a rueful smile. I am so thankful to have been proved wrong on that.
But that wasn’t – couldn’t be – her main concern. Right now, she just had one big question . . . the same question she could see in Brendan’s eyes:
Would Mr Daniels’s spontaneous monologue soften him up for the surprise they’d prepared? Or was everything about to explode in their faces?
‘I’ve always loved that story, too.’ Carla spoke behind them, her voice soft. As Mr Daniels spun around to face her, she smiled tentatively. ‘Ever since our father first sat us down and told it to us. Do you remember? It was on a steam-train journey to California.’
But Marc Daniels still hadn’t said a word. He was staring at his sister, his face completely unreadable. Ivy shot a quick, questioning look at Brendan – who only shrugged, looking just as baffled as she felt. Was his dad outraged? Too furious to speak? Or . . .?
The chiming sound of a fork tapping a glass filtered through the noise of the crowd, making everyone fall silent.
‘May I have everyone’s attention?’ Charles Vega stood in the centre of the room, smiling broadly. ‘I’d like to give my most sincere thanks to all of you for making the effort to visit the museum today. I hope you’ll all put the word out so that everyone in Franklin Grove knows we have no need to leave town to experience a bit of majestic culture. We draw quite a lot of culture and wonder to our own community, right here – because this is a magical place, without a doubt.’
As the crowd began to clap, Charles inclined his head graciously, but then he held up his hand for silence. ‘These artefacts on display,’ he said, ‘are not just motionless pieces of clay or gold and silver, brass and stone. They are alive – alive with the history that they have seen and the history that they remember. Through them, we might remember it, too.’
His gaze passed over the crowd. ‘History teaches us many vital lessons, often different ones each time. Perhaps the most important lesson, though, is that history is just that . . . history. The past is the past, and we can only remember it – sometimes fondly, sometimes not. But, whether those memories be positive or negative, we can always learn from them. In fact, we must learn from them – because . . .’ his voice deepened, echoing around the spellbound room, ‘. . . our history shapes our hopes for tomorrow.’
The room erupted into applause, and warm pride rose in Ivy. Just look at my dad!
Charles wasn’t the stressed-out, panicky panicker he’d been all week. Now, he was back to being the charming, confident man Ivy had grown up knowing – except, he was using the kind of grand, airy and vague language that she usually only heard from Olivia’s adoptive dad!
Ivy grinned at the thought, but it didn’t diminish her pride. There was absolutely no doubt that Charles had meant every word he’d said . . .
. . . And Marc Daniels obviously felt it, from the deep, raw emotions running across his face.
‘A toast!’ Charles called. ‘To everybody at this museum!’
Carla Daniels’s lips wobbled. She hadn’t looked away from her brother for an instant. ‘Everybody?’ she whispered. ‘Marc?’
Brendan’s dad looked at her and shook his head wordlessly.
Oh, no! Panic almost choked Ivy. It didn’t work?
Then Brendan’s dad lunged forwards to wrap his sister in an enormous hug. He looked as if he might never let her go.
Ivy felt her eyes well up even as Brendan grabbed her hand and squeezed it hard. Across the room, she could see Maya gazing, spellbound, at the sight. Ivy might be forcing back her own happy tears, but Maya wasn’t even trying – her tears slipped freely down her face as her lips curved into a joyous grin.
Ivy tucked her head into her boyfriend’s shoulder and sighed happily as she watched the reunion before her.
No wonder Olivia enjoys meddling so much!
The sky outside the long museum windows was already darkening by the time the exhibit finally started to wind down. As Olivia watched, a long line of patrons filed past Charles, taking turns just to shake his hand. He really is the king of the hour, she thought affectionately, as their praises filled the air.
‘What a marvellous exhibition that was!’
‘There’s been nothing like it here before.’
‘Amazing!’
‘Come on,’ Olivia whispered to Camilla, as she grabbed her friend’s hand to pull her through the crowd.
But Lillian beat them to her bio-dad. ‘Congratulations, Charles,’ she said, giving him a warm embrace. ‘This really is even more impressive than I’d expected.’
‘Thank you, darling.’ Charles smiled at her. ‘I just wish I could figure out exactly what to do with the South Wing next.’
Aha! Olivia cleared her throat, stepping forwards while Camilla hung behind. ‘Dad, didn’t you mention before that you didn’t think there should be any more space devoted to artefacts? I’m sure you said’ – in one of your loooong monologues earlier this week! – ‘that the existing wings gave more than enough room for exhibitions already.’
‘Well, yes.’ Charles sighed. ‘But what else can be done in a museum?’
‘Well . . .’ Olivia straightened her shoulders, running through the speech she had been practising – this was no time for improv! ‘Isn’t the South Wing really just a big empty space right now?’ She gave him a meaningful look. ‘It doesn’t look like a museum . . . so, therefore, can it really be called a museum?’
Her adoptive dad would surely have been proud of her making such a vague – but very important-sounding – statement!
Charles frowned. ‘I suppose you have a point,’ he said. ‘But, my dear daughter, I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I hardly think it would be appropriate to turn a former museum wing into a diner, or whatever it is that you might be suggesting.’
Olivia laughed as she took her bio-dad’s arm. ‘That’s not what I was thinking at all. Just tell me . . .’ She narrowed her eyes as she launched into the question she’d prepared. ‘What is a museum for? The first thing that comes into your mind.’
But she couldn’t help the way her hand tightened on
his arm with nerves as she waited for his answer. Oh, please let me know my bio-dad – and my stepmom – well enough to be right about this!
Charles raised his eyebrows. ‘The first thing that comes into my mind . . . art!’
Yes!
Olivia did silent cheers as he continued: ‘A museum is a house of art – the finest art of yesterday.’
‘Mm-hmm.’ With an effort, Olivia kept her voice calm. ‘But is that all?’
Lillian jumped in, just as Olivia had hoped she would. ‘A museum is a record of art – all kinds of art, from all different points in time.’ She smiled fondly at her husband. ‘Charles said it himself, in his inspiring speech – our history shapes our tomorrow.’
‘Exactly!’ Olivia couldn’t help bouncing on her toes, despite her sparkly kitten heels. ‘So . . . is there any reason the South Wing of this museum can’t be a house of tomorrow’s art?’
‘Hmm.’ Charles narrowed his eyes as he looked down at her, amusement and curiosity mingling in his expression. ‘How exactly do you plan to pull that off? Without going for a joyride in a time machine, that is.’
Olivia looked to Lillian. ‘What do you think?’
‘Well, what if . . .’ Lillian’s face lit up with gathering excitement. ‘Oh, yes! Charles, what if you converted the South Wing into a Creative Space for local artists? A workshop where talented, young, local people could be creative in a relaxed environment?’
Please, please, please say yes! Olivia urged her father silently.
For a long moment, Charles was silent, his face furrowed in thought. Then a smile spread across his face. ‘What an absolutely perfect idea. But we would need someone to run it. Who would be good at that? Hmm . . .’
‘Good question,’ Olivia said brightly, using every bit of her dramatic training to keep her expression blank as Lillian gave a visible twitch of frustration. ‘Who could possibly run that workshop?’
‘Well . . .’ Charles rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, apparently thinking out loud. ‘Who do we know who’s smart, talented, creative and responsible . . . not to mention good with young people? Now, that’s a real puzzler.’
Oh, come on. Olivia stared at him. In the corner of her eye, she could see her stepmom’s face turning utterly expressionless. Lillian was clearly having to work hard to hide her own feelings right now, but she shouldn’t have had to.
Is my bio-dad really that dense? Olivia wondered.
Then Charles’s face broke into a grin, and Olivia realised that he’d been joking the whole time.
‘Oh, come now,’ he said. ‘We all know the answer, don’t we?’ He turned to Lillian. ‘Who could possibly be better than you, darling? And not only that – the two of us could collaborate on the design for the space!’
Lillian’s face broke into a beaming smile. ‘I’m having so many ideas for what we could do! The films we could make, the screenings we could put on – of course we’d have to have a Local Film Group, where movie nuts could talk all day about films . . .’
Behind Olivia, Camilla let out an excited yelp at all the movie talk.
The sound made Lillian turn around with a quick smile. ‘Camilla, I assume you’re in? I don’t think I could do this without a helper.’
‘Yes!’ Camilla almost knocked Olivia over as she barged past to clutch hands with Lillian. Suddenly, words were spilling out of her, breaking through all the shyness that had held her silent until then. ‘I have been so desperate for a place where I could be creative with structure!’
Lillian nodded firmly. ‘I want to hear all of your ideas. Come find a quiet corner with me, and we’ll brainstorm.’
She started to pull Camilla away . . . then paused to pull out the cellphone from her handbag. ‘I just have to call someone first . . .’
She’s calling Harker to turn down his offer, Olivia realised, with a bittersweet pang. She knew exactly how that kind of phone call went.
Where was Jackson right now? And how long would it be before they were really together again, for more than a scattered week here or there?
Olivia sighed.
She hated that Lillian had to turn down this opportunity . . . but a talented filmmaker like Lillian would always get new opportunities in the future. Olivia was sure of that.
As her bio-dad turned back to receive the congratulations of the crowd, Olivia felt a familiar hand curve around her arm. Ivy stood behind her, holding hands with Brendan and beaming.
‘We heard it all,’ Ivy said. ‘Everyone’s making incredible plans for the future, huh?’
‘Including my dad and Aunt Carla,’ Brendan said, and shook his head in wonder. ‘And we’re not moving to Pine Wood.’
‘I’m so glad!’ Olivia reached out to grab his free hand and Ivy’s at the same time. ‘Well, we all knew this exhibit would be a hit, didn’t we?’
‘Always,’ Ivy said. ‘But I have to say, as much as I admire Dad . . .’ She shook her head, grinning. ‘Even I wasn’t expecting such a fabulous outcome!’
‘How could you not, when we were both involved?’ Beaming, Olivia released Brendan’s hand to wrap him and her sister in a group hug. Together, they’d found a way to keep everyone they loved exactly where they belonged . . . here in Franklin Grove, with them.
And now that everything was all settled . . .
‘It’s time to solve a new mystery,’ Olivia whispered to her twin. ‘Because I can’t wait another minute to start looking for those vintage fashions hidden somewhere in this museum!’
Ivy laughed. Brendan groaned. But there was no question in Olivia’s mind that they would find the hidden fashions together . . . because when she was with her twin sister, nothing was impossible.
FROM: [email protected]
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Visiting!
Hi Ivy! I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Sophia is going to be on an exchange programme, and will be visiting Tokyo for two weeks. I am the student who will be swapping places with her! My name is Reiko, and I am so excited! I’ve never been to America before.
I’ve been emailing Sophia ever since our schools told us about the exchange, and she has told me lots about you – you sound like the coolest girl, and I can’t wait to meet up. I hope we have time to hang out when I’m in Franklin Grove! What sorts of things do you like to do in your spare time?
I like sports – which I’ve always played, ever since I was very small. I started with soccer and I still love it, but it’s hard to play with non-vamps. Especially boys – they HATE IT when any girl is stronger and faster than them. Although, I must admit, I do like to watch them sulk after I outsprint them – or try not to cry after I’ve knocked them to the ground! Now I play tennis mostly – as you can imagine, I am the undefeated REIGNING CHAMPION at my school!
But that is why I’m so very excited to visit America – all the sports! You must go to games all the time, right? Basketball, baseball, soccer – so much choice! You MUST take me to a game with you – I will watch anything! And if there aren’t any games on, maybe we can have one of our own? I’m bringing my tennis racket, because Sophia tells me the school has a court. It will be great to play against someone who can keep up with me.
I can’t wait to see you. I think you and I are going to have SO much fun!
Reiko!!!
Sink your fangs into these:
MY SISTER THE VAMPIRE
Switched
Fangtastic!
Revamped!
Vampalicious
Take Two
Love Bites
Lucky Break
Star Style
Twin Spins!
Date with Destiny
Flying Solo
Stake Out!
Double Disaster!
Flipping Out
MY BROTHER THE WEREWOLF
Cry Wolf!
Puppy Love!
Howl-oween!
Tail Spin
My Sister the Vampire
15 Secrets and Spies - My Sister the Vampire Page 10