Maybe Alexander would get worried and come find me.
We sat at the tomb-shaped table. A Romanian bottle was chilling on ice, and the twinkling candelabra was still dripping hot wax.
“So how’s the Coffin Club?” I asked. “I miss it.”
“It’s the best,” Onyx said.
“There isn’t anywhere we’ve found that’s like it,” Scarlet added. “And since Phoenix usurped Jagger’s authority and made the club about us and not him, it’s been running smoothly. But we haven’t seen Phoenix at all. It’s quite odd.”
“We thought you might have seen him,” Onyx began, “since you got on so well with him.”
“I haven’t seen anybody.”
“Not even Jagger?” Onyx asked.
“No—and for that I’m grateful.”
“Really? I think he’s kind of hot,” Onyx confessed.
Scarlet and I were surprised by her admission of admiration for the alluring, but menacing, vampire.
“I mean in a lonely sort of way,” Onyx continued. “I think he might just be misunderstood….”
“So…,” Scarlet said. “You’re dating a vampire. Then you’ll become a vampire, too!” Scarlet was beside herself with glee.
“Uh…we’re waiting for the right time,” I answered.
“But don’t you want to be like us?” Scarlet asked.
“Of course,” I replied. “It’s been my life’s dream.”
“Then what are you waiting for—”
“It’s a big decision,” Onyx defended. “I don’t know that I’d turn someone. It is a lot of responsibility.”
“I would!” Scarlet said. “It’s in our blood.”
“To change someone’s life forever?” Onxy proposed. “We were born into this. We didn’t have a choice. And for Raven, it would be changing everything about her life as she knows it. It is something that should be thought through really carefully. Not so casual or in the moment,” Onyx argued, reassuring me. “It’s okay, Raven, to take your time.”
“There is nothing wrong with being a vampire,” Scarlet said.
“I didn’t say there was,” Onyx retorted. “But would you want to be mortal—if you found your true love?”
Scarlet thought for a moment. “I guess you’re right. It is a big decision.”
I smiled in agreement. It was hard—these two girls took for granted a lifestyle I wanted so badly. They weren’t becoming vampires because of someone they loved or something they wanted to be—they were vampires because they were born vampires.
It was then I remembered why I’d invited them.
“Speaking of true love…,” I began. “I’ve got a really great guy I want you to meet.”
“Yes, tell us about Alexander’s friend,” Onxy said.
“He’s really hot,” I repeated. “And he’s looking for someone special.”
“We’re special,” Scarlet said.
“Exactly! That was what I was thinking.” I scooted close. “He was enamored with my best friend,” I confided. “Only, she’s mortal and has a boyfriend. And I don’t want anyone in this town being bitten before me,” I joked.
“Yes, that wouldn’t be fair,” Onyx said.
“I’d die if some cheerleader showed up to a game with fangs,” I told them.
“That would be wrong on so many levels!” Scarlet snorted.
“She wouldn’t be deserving,” Onyx said. “Not like you.”
“So I thought it would be wonderful if he could meet a nice vampire girl,” I went on. “And Dullsville is short on those.”
“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.”