Melabeth the Vampire (27 page)

"Or they’re just all afraid of ghosts," I said with venom.

Michael smiled. "I’m not afraid of no ghost; look, I am just telling you about what I have heard and read. Personally I have no real experience in dealing with magic users of any kind. Alice and Ezra know a lot more about them than I do, and they don’t trust your friend, but I will give him a chance, and, yes, it is because they are all afraid of ghosts, and Necromancers.”

"Why… why will you give him a chance?" I questioned his motive.

Michael stared right into my eyes. "I will give him a chance… because I trust you, and if you say he is okay, that’s good enough for me."

Well that was good of Michael. Now we were staring into each other’s eyes. He was so good looking, and now there was a lot more to him than before.

He moved closer.

My mind was moving a million miles per hour. What about David?

David who? Is he going to kiss me?

We were so close now. Michael moved his head to the side.

I was sure he was moving in for the kiss. I closed my eyes.

Was I going to let him kiss me?

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Lea said as if she had caught us about to start a forest fire.

Michael pulled back and said. "Talking… you're up. Are you going to join us swimming?"

"Doesn’t look like there's much swimming happening," Lea muttered under her breath.

Then she said, a little too loud and a little too sweet, "I would love to join you."

And, with that, she jumped into the pool, and swam over and sat right between us. This is going to be a hoot. About the same time that Lea had made herself comfortable, the hags, Alice and Charlotte came out to join us.

Alice looked at Lea with daggers. Charlotte was smiling at me. Damn, I can’t stand her power; she knew that I wanted him to kiss me.

Then I suddenly felt all ashamed; I almost cheated on David. In a way I did. I cheated on him in my mind; if it weren’t for Lea I would have kissed him. Well, it’s not like me and David, are steady or anything. I don’t even know if he thinks I am his girlfriend.

In fact he could be dating someone else… he could be in a pool right this moment with another girl. That made me so mad. I am going to kick David’s ass if he is with another girl. Great… now I am mad at David for something that I almost did.

Charlotte broke into my self-loathing by saying. “Lea… did you want go shopping with me and Alice?”

“No thank you, Charlotte. I would like to stay in tonight.” Lea responded with an angry look.

Alice just said what everyone was thinking. “Let’s just force her to go. So Melabeth and Michael can have more time alone. I think they were about to kiss.”

“No…” me and Michael both said at the same time.

Then we both started to state our reasons that we weren’t about to kiss; at the same time, we both stopped talking when we realized the o
ther was trying to speak. We looked at each other and started laughing.

Then Michael said. “Enough of the dating game. I have a plan to help Melabeth with her Devon problem.”

“What’s a Devon problem?” Lea asked.

Michael said. “I will fill you in later. The first part of my plan is that Melabeth needs to go and see David tonight. Charlotte, could you let Ezra know that Melabeth will be taking the night off?”

Alice looked at him, and threw her arms up in the air. “Go see David. That is the stupidest plan I have ever heard.”

Charlotte added,
“It’s the ravings of a madman.”

Lea said in the happiest voice I have ever heard come out of her mouth. “This is a great plan, and I fully support it.”

Michael was laughing, “You all need to get hobbies, other than worrying about my love life. There is more to this plan than Melabeth hanging out with David. I need to get together with Ezra and get some fake ids, one for Melabeth and one for me.”

Alice said. “Now that sounds like a better plan. You both get id’s, and I will plan a trip for you two. What were you thinking… Europe? Oh I know… Hawaii?”

Charlotte chimed right in. “They wouldn’t need many clothes in Hawaii. Good choice Alice.” She high fived Alice.

Michael went on like they hadn’t spoken. “Melabeth, you need to plan with David. You and me are about to go to school. It’s been so long since I have been to high school; this might even be fun.”

“What about me?” Lea whined.

Charlotte answered like a mother scolding her. “You can’t take the sunlight. You can’t get out of bed before five in the afternoon. And you can’t even control yourself; God forbid some kid has a nosebleed in class.”

Michael looked at Lea and quickly took her by her shoulders, then looked into her eyes. “Do not let those two upset you.” It was a little late for that; tears slid down Lea’s face. Michael quickly added. “I will be going as her older brother.”

Alice stomped her foot. “She cries, and now you have to be Melabeth’s brother at school. Don’t you think that will bring unwanted attention on you two?”

Michael looked at Alice with what the hell are you talking about face. “We look alike. We are both white with blonde hair, and we both live at the same house, and it would be easier and safer if we traveled back and forth to school together. How would that bring unwanted attention to us?”

Alice threw her hands
up into the air, and said, “Because Michael… it will be scandalous when a sister and a brother are making out all day, every day.”

Lea got out of the pool. “That’s it… I am leaving.”

Michael pleaded. “They’re just teasing. Don’t let them run you off.”

Lea was already leaving when s
he turned around and looked at Michael. “I can handle teasing. Let me ask you a question. Have you been kissing Melabeth this whole time? Have you been rubbing her breasts while you talk? I know you haven’t, but that’s what I have been seeing. I have had all I can take of Alice’s teasing.”

With that she flashed to the door and ran into the house.

Charlotte let out a breath. “Well, Alice you have done it this time. You better come inside with me. We need to have a talk.”

Alice gave her a strange look. “Why? What do we need to…? Oh, we need to leave them alone. Ok, Charlotte, let’s go.”

With that, Alice and Charlotte started to walk back to the house.

Michael said in a nasty tone. “You’re not funny Alice, Charlotte. You two need to stop screwing with Lea.”

Both Alice and Charlotte went into the house, laughing.

I looked over at Michael. “We live in a madhouse. Poor Lea, should we… go check on her?”

“I will. You get ready. In a little bit you and me will go see David.”

“Oh… we are both going?”

Michael smiled at me, but the smile didn’t touch his eyes. “Don’t worry, I plan on dropping you off. I need to go to town. We will need some school supplies and a few odds and ends, and, if I don’t take you out of here, Alice and Charlotte will do their best to stop you.”

I laughed. “And their best is pretty damn good.”

With that, we both got out of the pool. I went over and picked up a towel so I could dry off. When I turned around, I caught Michael staring at me, only he was staring at my ass or he would have noticed that I had turned my head, and now I was looking at him. When his eyes met my eyes, he quickly turned away.

He let out a laugh, and then simply said. “Busted.”

I stared at his ass for a minute; I had to do it; it was only fair. Then I said, in a teasing voice, “Don’t let it happen again.”

“Never, it’s a couple of hours before dark. We will leave then. Do you mind if I invite Lea?” Michael asked.

I did, but I shouldn’t have. I was off to see David. I felt conflicted, but I answered the only way I could. “No, I don’t mind. It will be fun, plus she needs a break from Alice and Charlotte.”

“Ok, I will meet you at your room when we’re ready.”

And with that, Michael wrapped his towel around his waist. Then he dropped his wet bathing suit on the ground. Using his foot, he flung the shorts onto the back of a chair. He went through the door and headed down the hall toward his room, and the whole time all I could think was. Fall towel, fall.

I went back to my room and dressed. Half an hour later I started to brush my hair. I had finished putting on my makeup and was thinking about putting my hair into a braid. There was a knock at my door.

I knew it was Alice. “Come in Alice.”

Alice glided through the door; shutting it behind her. She came up behind me and took my brush from my hand. She started to gently brush my long hair.

“I was thinking about braiding it.”

“That would be pretty; I’ll help.” With that Alice started to work through my hair.

After a few minutes of working with my hair, Alice said. “I had a chance to talk a little bit more with Michael. He explained his plan to me. It should work, but both of you better be really careful.”

“Thank you Alice, for everything.”

A mirror sat upon my makeup dresser. It was one of the four pieces of furniture in my room. There was a bed, dresser, night stand and a makeup desk with chair. The room itself was rather large and painted a light green. Lots of dark wood trim ran along the base boards and ceiling.

I could see Alice in the mirror; after I had thanked her, she smiled as she continued with my hair.

She had braided halfway down my hair when she spoke. “Charlotte is hopeful about you and Michael. She feels your desire for him, but lots of women desire Michael. She doesn’t think about that, or chooses to ignore it. There is a difference between love and desire. Do you have feelings for Michael?”

I thought about it for a minute. “It’s hard not to desire Michael; you’re right about that. When I first met him, I desired him, but I did not like him. He was such an ass to me, but the more I have got to know him… well he’s not so bad. Then there is David… he is beautiful too, not as good looking as Michael but he’s still good looking, and I have had so little time with him. Yet I have these deep feelings for him, and I don’t even know why?  So I guess, to answer your question, I don’t know, but I don’t think I am in love with Michael… but I am not sure if I am in love with David either.”

Alice was quiet for a moment before she answered. “I really don’t care who you choose. I don’t even care if you take both of them for lovers. Let me tell you what I care about.”

I was a little taken aback by her attitude and the comment about taking two lovers. All I could say is. “Okay.”

“Through the mirror Alice stared into my eyes. “Don’t let David control you. I don’t believe you understand the power of a Necromancer. I don’t believe he understands his own power, and don’t fall in love with Michael. I do believe, if you did, he might fall in love with you back.”

“And
what’s wrong with that?” I asked defensively.

“Your future is uncertain, but the two things I see happening will never fit into Michael’s life. One, you die in your search for revenge. Michael is weak when it comes to the heart, and I don’t believe he will survive another heartbreak, and two, you spend your time destroying all your enemies. This might take years of battle. Michael does not have the heart of a warrior. What would you have him do as you ran around hunting your enemies? Sit at home maybe?”

Alice was right. Of course it brought one fact to my mind. I can’t go kissing on David, or Michael. Both of them deserve more. I sat quietly as Alice finished my hair.

She stood back and admired her work. “You’re breathtaking.”

“You’re right… about Michael, and David.”

Alice walked around me so that she was now standing in front of me. “Take David as a lover. It’s alright to break a few hearts but not Michael’s. He can’t handle it.”

“You only say that because you don’t care for David.”

At that, a smile spread across Alice’s face. Then her face became really serious. “Michael is coming to get you. Do not tell Charlotte about what I said about Michael. I would have to kill you. Her heart is set on you two being together.”

With that, she headed toward my door and opened it. Michael had just reached the door; his arm was in midair about to knock.

Alice giggled. “She’s all yours. Have fun tonight.” With that, she slid past Michael. Then she skipped down
the hallway singing, “Melabeth and Michael sitting in a tree…”

*                     *                   *

Michael had an 89 GMC Jimmy. It was two tones, blue and silver. I sat in the back seat, Michael and Lea sat up front. It wasn’t a long ride and most of it was listening to Michael talk about the plan. It was a simple one. Michael figured, with David’s help, we would fit right into the Goth crowd.

I guess Goths were loners and most of the time came from broken homes, a perfect subject for someone to victimize; it also helped that, with all the Goth makeup, no one would notice us being vampires. I think Michael was worried about Devon himself.

Devon would know what vampires looked like, and we don’t know how many other teachers may be in The Order. So, we would try to learn as much about Devon as we could by getting close to him first. Then we would lure him to a place and time of our choosing.