It took a moment before I could inhale again. My body was limp and my legs like buttered noodles. Phoenix hopped off his bike and extended his hand to me, but I refused. I still didn’t know who this guy was. Maybe Phoenix wanted me to be the Dungeon Mistress.
He didn’t grab my hand or lean in to bite me. He actually looked quite surprised.
Dragon resurfaced and, along with a large group of club members, gathered Jagger’s crew together and repossessed their club keys.
Scarlet and Onyx ran over to me. “It’s okay. Phoenix saved you. He’s restored order to our club.”
The crowd began chanting, “Phoenix, Phoenix” as the two girls helped me straddle the sleek bike.
“I still have the Master Key,” Phoenix announced with a thumbs-up to the crowd.
Everyone cheered.
I looked out into the crowd of immortals. They, like me, just wanted a place to hang out and be the insiders for a change.
The music began to blast and many cheered, kissed, or started to dance.
Onyx gave me a tight squeeze and I hugged her back as hard as I could. “Come back, please,” she said, flashing her onyx-jeweled fang. “You have a lifetime membership.”
“Keep in touch,” Scarlet said. “You have my number. Just remember to call after sunset. My—”
“…parents hate to be woken up during the day,” we said in unison. Then we both giggled wildly.
I glanced around the Dungeon—the dance floor, the bar full of blood drinks, the hollowed-out graves and tombs used for life as much as for death in my world. I’d never been in a truly Underworldly environment, and I didn’t know when or if I’d ever be in one again. I’d been surrounded by cold-blooded vampires who, I learned, surprisingly, were warmhearted. I’d found the club of my dreams—the only one I’d ever really wanted to belong to. Phoenix handed me his helmet and I placed it on my head. I wrapped my arms around his studded leather jacket and smiled at Scarlet and Onyx, now in the company of their dates. The members retreated, rocked to the music, and waved.
Phoenix started the engine and I held on to him with all my might as he drove off through the labyrinth of dark, winding catacombs and out a secret exit.
Phoenix sat on his motorcycle as I unlocked Aunt Libby’s bike outside the library. I sensed his gaze as I wrapped the heavy metal chain around the Schwinn’s seat.
Phoenix was leaning back against his bike, his motorcycle boots crossed at the ankle and his black leather pants hugging him hard like cellophane. His leather jacket was open, revealing a black T-shirt, and his arms were folded. Purple hair flopped over black sunglasses, and the moonlight cast a shadow against his pale face. He was staring straight at me—just like he was when I’d seen him illuminated in the Dungeon.
I didn’t know what to say. Phoenix had saved my life.
And I wasn’t sure when I’d see him again, or if I’d ever.
“I can’t thank you enough—,” I said from a safe distance.
“Well, you can try,” he said coyly.
I smiled and playfully rolled my eyes. “I told you, I have a boyfriend.”
For some reason I sensed that it didn’t matter to him whether I surrendered to his advances or not. I almost felt that he preferred I didn’t. He appeared to be the kind of guy who was comfortable living in the shadows while the other guy got the girl.
“I was wrong about you,” I confessed. “You were much more benevolent than I imagined. I’m sorry I misjudged you.”
He nodded. “That’s all right,” he replied. “I misjudged you, too.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes. You were much more trouble than I imagined.”
We both laughed. I knew I should have felt happy that Phoenix had saved me, but instead I felt really sad knowing I might never see my new vampire friend again.
I had started to straddle Aunt Libby’s bike when I quickly climbed off and leaned it against the rack. I raced over to Phoenix and wrapped my arms around him, giving him a long, tight squeeze. I must have surprised him, because he didn’t hug me back. Then I felt his leather-clad arms around me. He hugged me, too, as if it were for the last time.
I hopped on Aunt Libby’s bike and sped away, not once glancing back. When I passed Main Street and turned the corner, I heard the familiar roaring sound of a motorcycle racing off into the night.
14
Secrets Revealed
As I pedaled back toward Aunt Libby’s, I was overtaken by a flood of emotions. I’d come here to Hipsterville for one reason only—to reunite with my boyfriend. However, once I’d gotten my wish, I’d defied his one request—I had returned to the Coffin Club without him.
Not only did I discover an intoxicating and dangerous underground world of vampires in the Dungeon, I had been one bite away from belonging to the Underworld for eternity—all without my beloved Alexander.
After falling in love with Alexander, it wasn’t just that I wanted to become a vampire—I wanted to become one together.
Yet I immersed myself in a world that my own boyfriend himself felt like an outsider in. Was that what Alexander wanted for me? Or for himself?
I coasted downhill and replayed the last week in my head. I thought I was being investigative and mature when perhaps I was only being reckless.
And if Alexander ever found out about my Dungeon adventures, I wanted him to hear it from my own lips. I wanted him to know that if and when I became immortal, he’d be the one on the other side of my neck.
I felt as if I’d betrayed Alexander. I was ashamed and disappointed in myself. I had to confess to Alexander all that I’d done. I had to let him know I’d been so close to joining his world but that without him it meant nothing.
Alexander was right to buy me a ticket out of town. He always knew what was best for me, and I’d taken the wrong path. Instead of taking a turn to head to Aunt Libby’s, I veered left toward Lennox Hill. It began to rain.
I sped through the growing puddles and steered through the long street to the cul-de-sac that the manor house sat on.
I pedaled up the driveway and leaned the Schwinn against a small gate. I ran along the uneven rock path and banged against the front door.
No one answered. I stood back. I didn’t see anyone lurking in the main room or attic room windows. Lightning flashed as I ran alongside the house and around to the back door. I pounded my fists on the door, droplets of rainwater bouncing off.
I climbed on top of a discarded box and peeked in the kitchen window. There were no signs of dishes, plates, flowers, or anything resembling the living. The already empty-looking manor now appeared totally vacant.
Frustrated, I ran through the unkempt gardens infested with overgrown weeds. I tried to peer into Alexander’s attic window, but from my vantage point I couldn’t get a clear view.
One thing had changed. There was no curtain in the window.
My heart sank. I kicked the corner of the wooden bench.
I had one last shot. I hurried to the garage. The lock had been removed and the door was slightly ajar. When I opened the garage door I was shocked—the Mercedes was gone.
That meant one thing—Alexander and Jameson had already left the manor house.
I wouldn’t be able to fall into Alexander’s arms and tell him about my terrifying night or explain that I didn’t want to become a member of the real Coffin Club without him.
For now, my confession would have to wait.
I unhinged the Dungeon skeleton key from my key ring and symbolically placed it on the floor of the garage.