"I'm used to distracting people, just not on purpose. I hope everything goes smoothly. The whole school will be on sacred ground with two vengeful vampires."
"Bring some garlic just in case, and I'll take my antidote."
"I don't want to give you another shot," I said.
"Hopefully, you won't have to."
17 Graveyard Gala
Shortly after sunset Alexander and I walked up the lonely road that led to Dullsville's cemetery. Although I wasn't actually a vampire, I felt like I was. I'd convinced twin vampires I was as undead as they were, I was on the arm of the most handsome of vampires, and I was going to party with a bunch of other ghouls. I was happy to be me—vampire or not.
I was dolled up as Elvira, in a long black dress with shredded spidery sleeves and a slit racing up my leg, exposing black mesh tights. Long black plastic fingernails flashed from my pale fingertips. My jet black hair was teased up like a fountain, the ends falling down over my shoulders. I revealed as much cleavage as I could manage to squeeze out in a recently purchased push-up bra. I'd also bought Alexander the last Grim Reaper costume left over from Halloween merch at Jack's department store. It was a black hooded costume with a skeleton mask and a plastic scythe.
"You look stellar," Alexander said, his midnight eyes sparkling as we walked together. "I can't believe I'm with you."
It was a dream come true for me to be strolling down the street holding the bony skeleton hand of the Grim Reaper—and even doubly dreamy that it was really my vampire boyfriend.
Cars lined the street leading up to the cemetery. At the far end of the road, parked alongside a Dumpster, I saw Jagger's hearse.
I was as excited as I was nervous to implement our plan.
When we turned the corner to the cemetery, Alexander said, "I brought my antidote. Did you bring your garlic?"
I stopped dead in my tracks. "I knew I forgot something!" I exclaimed. "It's in my night stand. We have to go home," I pleaded.
"We don't have time," Alexander warned. "The ceremony could be over by the time we'd return."
We reached the iron gate and climbed over the fence. When we were safely on the cemetery ground, I saw a sight I'd never seen before—and one thing we hadn't planned on. The graveyard was filled with Grim Reapers.
"How will we ever find Trevor now?" I asked. "It will take forever!"
My heart sank as I stepped over cans of soda littering the graveyard. I bent down to pick up an empty can.
"We don't have time for that now," Alexander said again. "If we don't get to Trevor in time, the caretaker and the rest of Dullsville will have to worry about more than empty cans and bottles."
We passed a Grim Reaper who was talking to a werewolf. "Trevor?" I asked, but the Angel of Death shook his head.
We passed ghosts and ghouls dancing and drinking among the tombstones.
Sitting on a wooden bench was a familiar witch holding hands with Michael Myers.
"You are quite the spooky pair," I said.
"Raven," the witch said as the two rose. "I'm so glad you came."
"Wow, that is some dress," Matt said from underneath his hockey mask. "Maybe you could get a costume like that for Becky."
My best friend turned devil red.
"This party is great," Matt continued. "The whole school is here."
"We're looking for Trevor. Have you seen him?" I asked.
"No. Word has it that he's going to be in some medieval ceremony by the tombs in just a few minutes."
Then I noticed Luna a few yards ahead, placing a flower at the base of Alexander's grandmother's monument.
"Do me a favor; if things get weird, will you go home?" I whispered to Becky.
"We are partying in a cemetery," she said. "Things are already weird."
I gave Becky a quick hug, and Alexander and I headed for the monument.
Luna stood up. She was beautiful—like a gothic prom fairy. She glowed in a ghostly white tattered prom dress, with a pink wrist carnation and combat boots. Her soft hair flowed over her shoulders like a waterfall; her frost white complexion, highlighted by heavy indigo eye shadow and pale pink lip gloss, glistened softly.
"Trevor said you weren't coming," Luna exclaimed, bouncing over to us like a butterfly. "But I knew you'd come."
"We weren't invited," I said, "but I wouldn't let that stop me. I wouldn't want to miss your covenant ceremony for the world."
"Look at what you missed in Romania," she said proudly to Alexander. She was beautiful as she giggled and did a flirty spin, modeling her tattered dress for him.
Alexander wasn't amused.
"Where's Trevor?" he asked. "Is he getting cold feet?"
"No, but he thinks I have his cold. When we met here tonight, I started to feel ill.
Sweet, really. A vampire with a cold," she said with a grin. "So he went to his car to get me cough drops. He's dressed as the Grim Reaper," she remarked in a spooky voice.
"I know," I said. "So is everyone else."
"Stay here with me," Luna begged, taking my hand.
"We'd better find Trevor," I told her. "We need to start the ceremony before the cops get wind of this party."
She relaxed her grip. "You're right," she said. "Please hurry."
"Alexander, would you stay with me?" she asked sweetly.
I grabbed my boyfriend's arm. "Alexander has to come with me. I'll need him to help me find Trevor."
"Man, she really must still like you," I said as we walked past the tombs. "I had to pry her bony fingers off of you."
Alexander and I headed for Trevor, but we didn't know where to begin. The graveyard was full of Angels of Death.
We saw two Grim Reapers playing spin the bottle with a few cheerleaders dressed as red devils.