Love Bites

“So where is this Prince Charming?” Scarlet asked.

The faint sound of a guitar wailing screeched from the Mansion.

“Is that your boyfriend playing?” Scarlet asked tentatively.

“No—that’s his friend.”

“I hope he kisses better than he plays,” she teased.

The three of us laughed.

A figure was standing by the window. I knew Alexander would eventually wonder where I’d gone.

Within a moment, Alexander and Sebastian were hanging out on the back steps.

Both girls’ mouths dropped when they saw the handsome pair.

“Which is the available one?” Onyx asked softly.

“I don’t care—they are both gorgeous,” Scarlet declared. “Raven—you don’t mind sharing, do you?” she teased.

“Onyx and Scarlet, this is my boyfriend, Alexander.”

“Wow—you are so lucky!” Scarlet whispered to me. “We should have been hanging out here instead of at the

Coffin Club.”

Alexander blushed and shook both of their hands.

Sebastian cleared his throat. He was frustrated he wasn’t getting any attention.

“And this is Sebastian,” I said. As if on cue, both girls held their hands out to him. He took each one and tenderly kissed them. Each girl giggled.

“I hope that’s just a prelude of what’s to come,” Scarlet said.

The girls broke their gaze with Sebastian and he gave Alexander the thumbs-up sign.

“Would you like something to drink?” I asked.

“Uh. Sure. I guess I’ll have a soda.”

“No, we have the real thing,” Sebastian said, pointing to the bottle on the table.

“Transylvania 1972,” Alexander said as Jameson came outside to assist us.

“I heard that was a good year,” Sebastian said.

“Why don’t you sit here,” I encouraged Sebastian, deliberately placing him between the two girls.

Alexander stuck a corkscrew in the bottle and turned it slowly. He pried the cork and it easily slipped out.

Jameson began filling the goblets.

“It’s rare to find something authentic—outside the Coffin Club,” Scarlet said. “In a bottle, anyway.”

We all laughed.

“Well, you are in rare company,” Sebastian flirted.

As Jameson continued to fill the goblets, Alexander poured me a soda and then himself one.

“You can have some,” I said. “Don’t miss this on account of me.”

But Alexander politely refused.

Sebastian held the goblet to his nose and took a deep breath in.

“Um…perfect,” Sebastian said. “I think it’s a mixture of A positive and AB negative.”

“Wow—you are quite the connoisseur,” Onyx praised. “I can never tell.”

“Here’s to us.” Sebastian raised his glass and we all clinked ours together.

I watched as the three vampires put the blood-filled goblets to their lips and sipped as if they were consuming a rare vintage wine.

“This is delicious,” Scarlet said. “Very smooth.”

“We are just happy you joined us,” Alexander said. “We know you came a long way.”

“It was worth it,” Scarlet said.

“Very smooth,” Onyx added. “Yet sweet. Just like you,” she said, her eyes locking with Sebastian’s.

Surprised by her remark, she began to giggle and spilled a bit of her drink.

I had to remind myself that some Romanian’s hemoglobin, not fermented grapes, had just dripped on my friend.

“She can’t hold her blood,” Scarlet playfully scolded. “I tell her that all the time.”

“I guess I drank it too fast,” Onyx said.

Red liquid dripped down her neck and began leaking toward the lace border of her neckline.

“Here, let me,” Sebastian said, wiping the spillage with his napkin.

There was a moment between Onyx and Sebastian. He was doting on her as he had Becky. Our plan was already working. I gave Alexander a quick wink.

Scarlet sensed competition. And though the two girls were best friends, it was obvious Scarlet didn’t want to be the one without a vampire. She leaned her elbow onto Sebastian’s shoulder, her bracelets dangling next to his goatee.

She tapped her fingers against his brown and blond dreadlocks as if they were batting eyelashes, then brushed her plum-colored fingernails along his neck.

“No recent marks…,” she noted.

“Interesting,” Onyx said, almost scorned.

“And you?” Sebastian asked Scarlet.

“It isn’t polite to ask a girl, is it?” she asked coquettishly.

“Well, I just thought.”

Scarlet displayed her wrist. Two purple marks were embedded on her slight, chalk white arm.

“But it didn’t really mean anything,” she confessed. “He wasn’t nearly as handsome as you.”

“Or as clever,” Onyx added.

The girls were intoxicated by Sebastian’s charm, and he was relishing the attention.

I figured this was mine and Alexander’s cue to leave the three single vampires alone.

“Alexander, I think we left a few snacks in the house,” I said.

“Oh yeah,” my boyfriend agreed, taking my hint. “I’ll help you.”

But before we could rise, Scarlet stopped us. “Where is everyone else?”

“Oh…they’ll be coming later,” Sebastian said.

“Yeah. We just wanted it to be us for a little while,” I added.

“Then sit down and enjoy yourselves,” Scarlet insisted.

Alexander and I returned to our seats. I guess the girls expected a Mansion-size party. I couldn’t break the news to them that they were the guest list.

“How about we crank up the tunes,” Sebastian suggested.

“Yes, we love to dance,” Scarlet said.

Sebastian turned up the music and the five of us rocked as hard as we could.

“It looks like you’re having a great time,” I said to Sebastian as I danced next to him.

“I am.”

“Do you think you’d like to ask one of them out?”

“I guess.” But Sebastian’s voice wasn’t confident. Even though he was having a blast, I sensed Sebastian was still carrying a torch for Becky.

The music’s volume suddenly lowered. We stopped to discover Jameson standing by the sound system.

“Complaints from the neighbors?” Alexander asked, concerned.

“Alexander,” Jameson announced, “you have some guests.”

“Guests?” I asked.

Alexander was just as confused.

“I’ll only be a moment,” he said, excusing himself.

“I guess they’re here,” Scarlet said. “We’ll chat later.”

I was curious what guests were arriving. Since Onyx, Scarlet, and Sebastian were engaged in conversation, I, too, excused myself.

I sped through the kitchen, down the long, haunting hallway, and found Alexander at the front door. I couldn’t tell whom he was talking to, so I sneaked up close and peered out.

I spotted Becky’s truck in the driveway.

What was she doing here? Was she in trouble?

It was then I noticed Trevor’s Camaro parked behind the truck.

I wedged myself between the entranceway and Alexander to find Matt fuming at the foot of the stoop.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “Are you all right?”

Matt, normally upbeat and smiling, was brandishing a frown. Behind him was Trevor and a team of soccer snobs.

“What are they doing here?” I asked Alexander.

Matt glared at me coldly.

“It’s okay,” Alexander said to me.

“Where’s Becky?” I asked. “Is she all right?”

“I thought you were my friend, Alexander,” Matt said sternly.

Alexander didn’t move. “I am,” he said calmly. “What’s this all about, Matt?”

“Your houseguest.”

“He’s out back.”

“Well, he better stay there.”

“Is something wrong?” Alexander asked.

“You bet. Your best friend has been hitting on my girlfriend,” Matt challenged.

Alexander shook his head. His best friend had gotten him into a mess. “That’s just Sebastian’s way. He didn’t mean any harm.”

“Did you know that after Sebastian met Becky at Hatsy’s he texted her all night?” Matt asked.

“Not at the time. I’m not with him every minute.”

“Sebastian sent the flowers to Becky. Not Raven. Did you know that?”

“No—or I would have stopped him.”

“But you did find out.”

“Yes.”

“So were you going to tell me?”

“There wasn’t a need to. We had it resolved.”

“Really? Did you know he had the nerve to show up at her house?”

“He did?” Alexander said. “I thought he bumped into her in town.”

“And all the time you both were laughing and encouraging him,” Matt said, annoyed.

“Now, take it easy. I never laughed, and I most certainly didn’t encourage him. It was just the opposite.”

Now I was mad. It was one thing to accuse me, and now Sebastian, of causing trouble, but quite another to accuse Alexander. “You have it wrong, Matt. Alexander—”

“It’s okay, Raven,” Alexander said, trying to calm me down. “I understand you might be mad, Matt. But it’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“And to think I included him at Hooligans.”

“You are misunderstanding what happened.”

“Am I?”

Matt stepped forward.

I was ready to pounce on anyone who charged at Alexander—though he was quite capable of defending himself.

Alexander held out his arm. “It’s okay.”

“Now you’re having a party,” Matt said. Then he fixed on me. “And Raven—you don’t invite your best friend?”

Trevor stood behind Matt, arms folded, smiling gleefully.

“What’s he doing here?” I charged. “I thought you weren’t his shadow anymore.”

“He’s the one who told me,” Matt said. “Seems Trevor is a good friend after all.”

The soccer snobs surrounded Alexander. I rushed in, but Alexander held me at bay.

“I don’t think you know who you are dealing with here,” I said to the gang of athletes.

Alexander appeared concerned for Matt’s situation, but he wasn’t worried about the threat from the others.

He was confident in his own power, and I knew he wouldn’t use it unless it was to defend me.

“Is Becky with Sebastian?” Alexander asked.

“No—she’s with me,” Matt said.

“Then isn’t that your answer?” Alexander assured Matt. “After all the texts, the flowers, and the visits, she’s still with you.”

Matt’s anger changed to relief. He even broke a smile.

Sebastian suddenly appeared beside us. “What’s going on?”

When he saw Matt, he knew he must have found out about his feelings for Becky.

“I’m the one you have a beef with,” Sebastian said. “This isn’t about Alexander.”

“I know that now,” Matt said.

“Let’s talk calmly,” Sebastian urged.

“I know how you feel about Becky—but I’m the one who loves her,” Matt suddenly proclaimed.

Becky hopped out of the truck. She raced to Matt and clutched him around the waist. He’d declared his love for her in front of everyone. She gazed up at me with an almost thankful smile.

I was surprised by Matt’s sudden passion and proud that he was standing up for Becky. However, I didn’t want this conflict to continue.

“And just so you know,” Sebastian defended, “Alexander ordered me to leave the Mansion.”

“He did?” Matt asked.

“But I was the one who wanted to stay in town. Raven and Alexander went out of their way to arrange a party for me—to find my own Becky. So they really are better friends to you than you might think.”

Matt was speechless.

“Yeah—so you might have Becky,” Sebastian began, “but I have Raven and Alexander.”

Matt was stunned. “I feel awful,” he said.

“I do, too,” Becky added.

Matt glared at Trevor. “You started this, didn’t you? Just like always.”

But Trevor’s attention was on a few cars that had pulled up to the Mansion’s gate.

Within a few minutes, vehicles began to line the street.

Students came up the driveway and the lawn, decked out in their Saturday-night best and carrying bags of beverages.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“You know how news travels in this town,” Trevor said. “Everyone likes a party. Not just you guys.”

“Where’s the coffin guy?” a Pradabee asked.

“Is that him?” another asked, pointing to Alexander. “He’s gorgeous!”

“I wonder if he has a dungeon,” the Pradabee commented. “Or a secret room. I wouldn’t mind if he locked me up in one.” The pair laughed and followed the others to the backyard.

“What are we going to do?” I asked frantically. “Call the police?”

“No—it’s fine.” Alexander beamed.

Alexander surveyed his uninvited guests and their festive mood.

“Well, we don’t have enough drinks,” I said. “I mean, the non-Romanian kind.”

“Doesn’t seem to matter. Looks like they are bringing their own,” Alexander commented.

Sebastian lit up. “Now, this is a real party. This is what we’re missing by being homeschooled. Look at these girls. They’re all hot!”

We arrived in the backyard to a full-fledged happening. The backyard began to fill up with every teen in town.

“Here’s some liquor,” a soccer snob said, holding the unfinished Transylvania 1972.

He lifted it to his lips and leaned back to take a huge swig.

“No—” I yanked it out of his hands. “That’s an import!” I chastised. I grabbed the goblets and carried them into the house like a seasoned waitress.

As I exited, I met an anxious Jameson in the doorway, examining the expanding party.

“Miss Raven, what has happened?”

“We had a few party crashers.”

“A few? More like a hundred. I must go to the basement. I know we have more stock.”

“Not the cellar, Jameson,” I said. “It’s not that kind of party.”

“Of course, I meant in the downstairs pantry.” Jameson fretted. “Oh, I wish I had time to prepare!”

I’d watched plenty of movies. Couples using pieces of furniture and empty bedrooms for makeout sessions while others used the furniture as coasters. I didn’t want the Mansion trashed and, more important, Alexander’s and Sebastian’s identity revealed. “Don’t let anyone in the house,” I told Jameson before he started off. “If they find Sebastian’s bed…”

“I understand, Miss Raven.”

Just then two girls came up to the door.

“Which way to the bathroom?” one asked.

“That way,” I said, pointing to the street. “There is one at the gas station. Or, better yet, I bet there’s a golden-

seated one at your home….”

The girls glowered at me and returned to their boyfriends.

“I’ll stand watch as soon as I get back,” he said nervously. Jameson wasn’t the only one upset. I returned to find my party—like my life—out of control.

Couples were mashing. Some were hanging out by the fire pit. Others were dancing.

I spotted Onyx and Scarlet hovering on either side of Trevor. The girls were fawning over his beefy physique.

Where was Sebastian? The girls were supposed to be drooling over him. But none of the vampires seemed interested in the others at this point.

I stormed through the crowd and toward the girls. Scarlet pretended to arm-wrestle with Trevor and then turned his wrist to examine it.

I saw Scarlet’s fang catch the light of the fire pit. Onyx’s onyx tattooed fang sparkled when she grinned.

Trevor was in heaven. But if Onyx and Scarlet had their way, he might be somewhere else.

Scarlet lifted his wrist to her mouth.

“Scarlet!” I called. “Onyx.”

“Not so fast,” Trevor warned, holding Onyx by the waist. “They are doing just fine. You aren’t the only one interested in threesomes.”

“First of all, I’m not. And second of all, this isn’t that kind of party.”

“Is jealousy the only emotion you feel?” Trevor charged. “Even in front of Monster Boy?” he said. “But it appears he’s already busy,” he said, gesturing to a few girls who were talking to Alexander. “But don’t worry.

You can join in with us…. I won’t tell.”

I wasn’t pleased that my schoolmates were fawning over my boyfriend, but I had more urgent matters to attend to.

“Save it for school.”

I wrangled the girls away from Trevor and whispered in Onyx’s ear. “He’s not a V.”

“Not a V?” He had overheard me. “What does that mean? Virgin?”

“Oh, really?” Onyx said softly.

They were shocked.

“Funny, we both sensed he was,” Scarlet whispered. “It’s not the first time we’ve made a mistake,” she said, alluding to me.

“Remember why I invited you guys—for Sebastian,” I urged.

But Scarlet wasn’t walking away. She was charmed by Trevor and continued to hold on to his hand.

“You can have Sebastian,” she said in a low voice to Onyx.

“She can’t like Trevor,” I said. “That’s not an option. Remember what we discussed,” I warned through gritted teeth. “No one gets—”

“Don’t worry, Raven. She’s just having fun,” Onyx said, stopping me. “And I plan to do the same.” Onyx flipped back her jet black locks and disappeared into the crowd.

This party was getting out of hand. Vampires mixing with unsuspecting mortals. I had to make sure no one was bitten—especially Trevor Mitchell.

I looked to Alexander and Sebastian for help. Sebastian was now talking to the girls who were interested in

Alexander, and Alexander was entranced by his rocking party.

I turned to go back to Trevor and I bumped into Becky.

“I’m so sorry, Raven,” she said. “Can you forgive me?”

“Uh, yes—but I have something else I have to deal with right now.”

“Please—listen,” Becky pleaded. “You’re the one who always talks about being in trouble, but I’m the one who keeps getting you there. You are my best friend. Now and always—and I don’t want anything to get in the way of that.”

“I hated not telling you about the party,” I said. “I did feel like a sneak. But I had to protect you.”

“I totally understand. You and Alexander are so kind to Sebastian—and to me. And look what we’ve done.

We brought Trevor and the entire school to the Mansion.” Becky sat on a bench lined with plastic skeletons.

“I’m so ashamed.”

“It’s okay, Becky.” I gave her a hug. “Alexander’s having the time of his life. Babes dancing in his backyard.

Jocks hanging out. It’s an image I never imagined. It’s a blessing, really. He’s so isolated being homeschooled, and now he’s more popular than Trevor.”

Becky managed a small grimace. “You don’t hate me?”

“Of course I don’t hate you. You’d have to do a lot worse than bringing Trevor to the Mansion for me to not like you. But speaking of Trevor—I have a major issue to address. Can you help me?”

“Of course.”

Just as I began pushing past the crowd to separate an embracing Trevor and Scarlet, all heads turned toward the back stairs.

I saw a sight I thought I’d never see. I was completely unprepared.

Descending down the Mansion’s back stairs as if a soft halo of light were around her was a gothic fairy girl with candy-pink-colored hair perfectly woven into two braids and wrapped in Wednesday Addams-style black bows, wearing an offbeat Alice in Wonderland dress with black-and-white tights and pink combat boots.

She was as beautiful as she was cute, as fragile as she was confident. Her frame was that of a whimsical angel with the wings of a devil. And everyone at the party was spellbound.

It was Luna Maxwell.

I hated how beautiful she was. She had perfectly porcelain skin, and her glossy pink lips sparkled like tiny stars. Her presence lit up the crowd. She drew everyone’s attention like a starlet.

The crowd was hypnotized. Sebastian was mesmerized. For a moment, even Alexander was transfixed.

And looming right behind her was her twin brother—Jagger, Alexander’s former nemesis—sporting familiar bleached-white hair with bloodred ends, a freakishly frightening Joker T-shirt, and red Doc Martens.

Our party had officially spun out of this world.

How was I going to hold all these vampires at bay from mixing with the mortal students of Dullsville? How were we going to keep their Underworldly identity a secret? And if their cover was blown, how was I going to keep Alexander from having to leave Dullsville?

My blood boiled and my flesh flushed. I felt dizzy and queasy. The voices and music became muddled, and everyone suddenly seemed very far away.

I was sure I was falling.

Then the world went black.

16

Spin the Bloody Bottle

I opened my eyes to find myself lying flat on the grass. Alexander was kneeling beside me. A large circle of familiar faces—Becky, Matt, Onyx, Sebastian, Scarlet, Trevor, Jagger, and Luna—were staring down at me.

The stars shimmered and a full moon hovered above them.

It had to be a dream.

I closed my eyes again.

“Let’s give her some air,” I heard a girl’s voice say.

“Did you drink too much?” another asked.

“Did she take something?”

“Did she OD?” someone else said.

My mouth was dry. I couldn’t form a word in my defense.

“I’ll take her to a doctor,” Alexander said, alarmed.

“Here, drink this,” Becky said, handing me a soda. Alexander helped me sit up, and I gulped down the bubbly liquid as if I hadn’t drunk for days.

Scarlet held a bag of ice on my head.

“Did you eat something odd?” Becky asked like a ponytailed Florence Nightingale.

“No—I haven’t eaten anything,” I replied, weakened.

The crowd of well-wishers stopped fussing.

“What?” Alexander asked. “You haven’t eaten?”

“I didn’t have time. I was decorating for the party all day.”

“Not even breakfast?” Scarlet asked.

“No.”

“Then no wonder you fainted,” Becky said.

Alexander signaled to Sebastian, who took off for the Mansion.

My boyfriend swept me up in his arms and carried me to the table. He gently let me down in a wrought-iron chair and held my hand while I drank my soda. A few moments later, Jameson pushed a small cart through the crowd of partygoers. The scent of marinated steak was intoxicating to the mortals and euphoric to the vampires.

A thick, juicy steak was placed before me. All the vampires, including Alexander, almost salivated.

“I’ll do that,” Scarlet said as I began to cut into the bloody steak.

“It’s for Raven,” Alexander said gently.

The vampires watched with envy as I tore into my meal. As I wolfed down the steak and began to regain my strength, Alexander began to address the next issue we had on our hands—bloodsucking party crashers.

The candelabras lit Jagger’s menacing ice-green-and-blue eyes. His sister stood behind him, basking in the glow of stares from the male partyers.

“I don’t remember inviting—” Alexander said.

“Some girls have looser lips than others,” Jagger said.

Onyx appeared ashamed.

“Perhaps it’s time we mingle,” Scarlet said. She led Onyx into the crowd.

“We didn’t think you’d mind,” Jagger said to Alexander. “Now that we are friends.”

Alexander was skeptical. Though their feud had ended when Alexander returned Jagger’s weakened brother, Valentine, to him, Alexander wasn’t expecting his longtime nemesis to instantly replace Sebastian.

“Friends?” Alexander said.

“Yes,” Jagger said. “One can never have too many, right?”

“I suppose you are right, but—”

“There really is safety in numbers,” Jagger urged. “Besides, we have so much in common: Romania, vampires, and Raven.”

“Raven?” Alexander asked suspiciously.

“I saw a lot of her recently,” Jagger proclaimed, referring to my attendance at the Coffin Club. “She fit right in.”

“I heard,” Alexander said.

“No one knew she was any different. Did she tell you?”

“She didn’t have to.”

“I was hoping to see her there again,” Jagger continued. “It seemed she got on as well as any of the members there.”

“She is planning on being here,” Alexander said.

“I was hoping you’d come back,” Jagger said to me. “But since you didn’t, this way we’ve come to you.”

“How sweet,” I retorted.

“I think we’ll be fast friends, Alexander,” Jagger said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted. There is so much we can learn from each other.” Jagger gestured to the party. “There is safety in numbers. We could use more members and, with your help, perhaps start a club here.”

“Out of the question!” Alexander said.

“Nothing you have to decide now, my friend,” Jagger said calmly. “But imagine…If all these mortals were just like us, then think of what could be—what we could do. A town in which you don’t have to hide out in a

Mansion, all alone.”

“I think it’s time you leave,” Alexander demanded.

“But we just got here,” Jagger said. “You’re right. I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m just a visionary, that’s all.

Nothing you need to commit to this minute. Besides,” Jagger continued, “we came to party. And Luna was very eager to see Raven.”

“So how have you been, Raven?” she asked, über-polite. “Besides lying flat on your back,” she whispered in my ear.

Luna was still bitter toward me for fooling her into believing I was a vampire. And even more so because

Alexander had jilted her at the covenant ceremony back in Romania and he had found happiness with me.

However, seeing Luna standing here today, glowing like an angel, I couldn’t imagine him ever leaving her.

“Alexander,” Luna said in a soft, sexy voice. “It’s great to see you.” She showed off her dress for him. A group of jocks ogled her as she twirled around. “It’s amazing how much a person can change in just a short time, isn’t it? I’m sorry for you that things in your life have remained the same.”

Alexander wasn’t pleased with her taunting.

“Yes, doesn’t my sister look great?” Jagger said. “This lifestyle suits her. She’s been dying for it since she was born.”

“I’m glad you are so happy,” Alexander said. “That’s all I ever wanted for you.” He turned back to the party.

Luna took Alexander’s comment as a slap in the face instead of a heartfelt sentiment. She couldn’t mask her scorn and turned her venom on me.

“I see you’ve managed to fool some other girls, too,” she said, referring to Onyx and Scarlet.

“They like me for who I am,” I said.

“But do you like yourself as you are? Or, at the end of the day, do you really wish you were more like me?”

Luna was right. She had the one thing I didn’t have—she was a vampire.

“I have everything you’ve always wanted,” she bragged.

“Except Alexander,” I snapped back.

“Well, when you can be here for an eternity, everything is possible. I just need time.”

I wasn’t happy with her insinuation.

“When he sees my potential. Perhaps what he is missing from a relationship with you…Who knows what he might do?”

With that, she and Jagger joined the other partygoers.

“Alexander,” I said, getting his attention, “Luna isn’t over you. She still can’t be trusted.”

“Her bark is worse than her bite.”

“I’m serious. She’s still in love with—”

“Hey,” Sebastian said, suddenly by our side. “This party is killer!”

“You think so?” I asked.

“It’s not what I planned. I’m even amazed.” Alexander beamed.

“This mansion is going to be party central,” said Sebastian. “The girls think you are a rock star, and I don’t mind taking your leftovers.”

I glared at Sebastian.

“I mean, taking them off your hands so you can be alone with Raven.”

A band of jocks bumped into the tomb-shaped table, knocking it over. Alexander rushed to help steady it.

“There is no reason you need to be cruising this crowd,” I told Sebastian. “There are two perfect and single girls—that were just meant for you,” I said as the ultimate matchmaker. “Onyx or Scarlet.”

“I know, Raven. They are beautiful, but there aren’t any sparks.”

“What do you mean? You just met them. And now you are totally ignoring them. You need to spend more time with them.”

“It’s just something I feel—or rather don’t feel. And by the way it looks, they don’t seem to be bothered.”

Trevor was talking to Jagger, and Onyx and Scarlet were by their sides.

“Well, maybe I’m not meant to be in love,” he said. “Maybe I’m supposed to just have fun. And is that so bad?”

I was a major failure at matchmaking.

“This was not supposed to happen!” I said. “None of this was supposed to happen!”

I ditched Sebastian and was heading toward Alexander when Becky jumped in front of me.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“This night has gone all wrong,” I said frantically.

“No it hasn’t. Look! Everyone is enjoying themselves. You might be having the best party Dullsville’s ever seen.”

“Sebastian was supposed to like Scarlet or Onyx and he doesn’t like either,” I rambled, “and to top it off, Scarlet seems to be struck by Trevor—gag me—and Onyx is smitten by Jagger.”

“It’s nice that they came to town for your party.”

“Jagger and Luna weren’t invited. Remember? You weren’t even invited.”

Becky laughed. “Raven, you’ve brought the whole town together—even a neighboring one.”

“But I didn’t want to. Even Jameson is freaking out.” He was standing guard outside the kitchen door. “I have to do something. I know…” I took out my phone. “I’ll call the police. A noise complaint and a few squad cars are enough to drive everyone back to their sprawling estates.”

Becky stopped me. “Raven—then Alexander’s party will be a bomb. Look at him.” Alexander was joking with the group of jocks as they replaced the items on the table. He was as content and happy as he’d been when he was out with Sebastian and me. “Wouldn’t you rather the party be a hit than have your boyfriend stuck in his attic room forever alone?”

I weighed my friend’s thoughts heavily.

“Then what should I do?” I finally asked.

“How about have some fun—like everyone else? Why should you be the only one moping?”

Becky didn’t understand the severity of the situation. And it wasn’t something I could delicately break to her over the sounds of pounding music. However, it was Alexander’s mansion, and if Alexander was having a blast, then it wasn’t my place to break up the party.

Alexander was now hanging out by the fire pit with Matt, Sebastian, and several soccer snobs. I was approaching him when I overheard a few cheerleaders talking to him.

“Are you the painter in the article?” one asked.

“Uh…yes.”

“I like to model,” another told him.

“Do you do nude portraits?” the first one asked.

The girls all laughed.

I was steaming! My blood began to boil and my whole body raged.

“There is only one model I use,” Alexander said. “And her name is—”

“Raven,” they said in unison.

“Yes,” he said.

A warm feeling flooded me.

“Perhaps you should get to know her,” he said. “She’s a great girl.”

The girls all turned their noses at him and walked away. I snuck up behind my boyfriend and gave him a huge embrace.

“There you are,” he said. “I was just talking about you.”

“You have groupies,” I said. “Sebastian was right.”

“No I don’t,” he said humbly.

He drew me close and kissed me by the open flames.

“I never dreamed we’d have a hit on our hands,” I said.

“I never did, either,” he said.

Jagger and Onyx and Luna joined us by the fire pit.

“Jagger Maxwell,” Sebastian said, a drink in his hand. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. This is the last place I’d imagine bumping into you.”

Jagger moved in close, out of earshot of the soccer snobs and Matt.

“Alexander and I have to make up for lost time. I thought now was as good a time as any to begin our new friendship.”

“Alexander is really picky about who he hangs out with,” Sebastian said protectively.

“I’m sure he is.”

“Rumor is you haven’t returned to Romania,” Sebastian said.

“I started a club a few towns over. I’ve been talking to Alexander about possibly starting one here.”

“This town could really use a club,” Sebastian said.

Jagger’s blue-and-green eyes lit up. “Then you might be the one to help me.”

“I love clubs. And you’re right—this town could be a perfect place to open one.”

“You don’t know what he’s really talking about,” Alexander warned.

“Perhaps we can go into business together,” Jagger said to Sebastian.

“Maybe…”

Luna yawned and appeared bored.

“Luna,” Jagger said, seizing the opportunity. “I want you to meet Alexander’s best friend.”

“Alexander’s best friend?” she asked, perking up. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“No, I think I’d remember,” Sebastian said, tonguetied.

“She grew up on a different time schedule than we did. But now we are all finally the same,” Jagger said.

“Luna, Sebastian might be interested in starting a Coffin Club here.”

“No he’s not,” Alexander said. “He doesn’t know what you are talking about.”

Sebastian was lost in Luna’s spell, even though she was somewhat intimidating.

“Any friend of Alexander’s is a friend of mine, right, Alexander?” Luna flirted.

“Let’s hope so,” Sebastian said.

“Suddenly this party doesn’t seem so insipid after all,” she commented.

I tried to block Sebastian from Luna. “I think Jameson needs our help in the kitchen.”

“Jameson can find someone else,” Luna said, gazing at Sebastian. “It’s a party, the night is young, and I’m out for blood…. Would you like to dance, Sebastian?” Luna asked.

“Are you kidding?” Sebastian looked as if he would have breathed in garlic if Luna had asked him.

“So tell me what it was like growing up with Alexander,” Luna said, leading him to the dance floor.

Jagger smiled a mischievous smile. “Onyx, would you like to dance?”

Onyx acted as if she’d just been struck by Cupid’s bow. “Of course,” she said, and followed Jagger.

“Alexander—what do we do?”

“How about we dance, too?”

When we arrived on the dance floor, Alexander and I kept a watchful eye on the others. But after a few songs, we got distracted by our own connection.

“This was the reason to have a party,” Alexander said, kissing me. “For us.”

I was so lost in his eyes. I’d gotten so sidetracked that I wasn’t allowing myself to enjoy the very thing I’d been dreaming about all my life: Alexander Sterling.

“I still want to be like you,” I said. “I want to be with you. Forever.”

Alexander pulled me into him and laid a dizzy-making kiss on my lips—so passionate and tender, my knees shook.

Luna bore a gaze that blazed through us.

Becky and Matt applauded, and we got a few whistles.

Alexander and I embraced, and Luna left the dance floor.

“How about a slow one?” Matt suggested. He fiddled with the sound system until he found a song he liked.

The four of us danced, joined by Dullsvillian student couples.

When the song was over, I was jolted out of our romantic entanglement.

The Pradabees were with the other Pradabees, and the soccer snobs were mixing it up with the cheerleaders.

Trevor was flirting with Scarlet, and Onyx was hanging next to Jagger.

“Where’s Sebastian?” I asked.

“He’s probably in mortal babe heaven,” Alexander said. “I appreciate all you’ve done for him.”

“Me? It was nothing.”

One other partygoer was not accounted for. Luna was missing. That could mean only one thing. Trouble.

It was late. Bottles and trash littered the backyard of the Mansion. Alexander and I forced our way through the reveling students. A large crowd had gathered around the gazebo. I pushed through to find Luna, several soccer snobs, and Sebastian sitting in a circle.

In the center, resting on its side, was the empty Transylvania 1972.

The students, unbeknownst to them, were playing a deadly game of spin the bottle.

“We have to stop them,” I said.

“The game seems quite uneven. She must be up to something,” Alexander said.

The crowd was hooping and hollering, and several guys had formed a line vying for a seat in the circle.

“We’re waiting our turn,” a guy said to me.

Luna spun the bottle, and it landed on a soccer snob.

“On the cheek, please,” she said.

“Are you kidding? Forget it.” He got up and walked away.

She spun again. It landed on another soccer snob. “On the cheek, please.”

He gently gave her a slobbering kiss on the cheek, to the crowd’s delight. She made a face and wiped it off with her sleeve.

Luna twirled the bottle again. It landed on Sebastian.

“On the cheek, I know,” he said.

Luna made a deadly stare at Alexander, then gazed at Sebastian. “On the neck, please,” she said coyly.

Sebastian was stunned, and the crowd cheered.

She stood up and flipped back one of her pink Wednesday Addams braids to expose her porcelain flesh.

Luna put her waify arms around Sebastian’s waist.

“We have to stop this,” I said to Alexander. “He’s going to bite her!”

“He better not!” Alexander charged forward, but the cheering crowd grew larger, blocking our path to the gazebo.

Sebastian grinned and began to lean in to Luna.

I squeezed myself in between a pair of petite cheerleaders.

Sebastian smiled, revealing two shiny fangs. Luna’s eyes closed and she leaned back with delight.

“No!” I screamed.

I jumped between Sebastian and Luna, but at the last moment someone pulled me back.

It was Jagger.

“What are you doing?” voices from the crowd yelled at me.

Alexander and I were mortified. Sebastian was smiling, and Luna was holding her neck, grinning.

She removed her hand. Tiny drops of blood trickled down her neck.

Sebastian turned to me and Alexander, his eyes hazy and his fangs red. He wiped his hand over his mouth and pulled Alexander close.

“I think I’m in love,” he declared. “And this time it’s for real.”

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank Katherine Tegen, Ellen Levine, and Sarah Shumway for their expertise and guidance in my career.

I’d also like to thank my wonderful family, Dad, Mom, Mark, and Ben, my in-laws, Jerry, Hatsy, Hank, Wendy, Emily, and Max, and my best ghoul friends, Linda and Indigo.