Rylie Cruz 2 - How to Date a Vampire (17 page)

I looked to Jennifer and back to him.

“Sure, that would be very nice of you. Thank
you.”

“No problem. Just one moment and I’ll get
it.” He hurried toward the back of the store.

“Do you think this guy knows what he’s
talking about?” Jennifer whispered when she thought he was out of
earshot.

I shrugged my shoulders. “He certainly is
interested enough. I guess it’s worth a shot to look at the book.”
I frowned. “He does seem a little too interested though, doesn’t
me?”

“Just a little.” Jennifer pinched her index
finger and thumb close together. “It’s a weird hobby, I guess.”

He emerged from the back room with a giddy
smile on his face. “Here it is.” He held the book as if it were a
fragile egg. “Please bring it back when you’re finished. It’s a
rare book and hard to find.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted the responsibility of
taking this guy’s rare book. If I lost it, he’d probably hunt me
down. I’d had enough vampires, voodoo, and supernatural for the
day. All I wanted was to take a relaxing bath, maybe enjoy a steak
with Jack by my side. But the day had only just begun and the
reality was I had a long day of searching for Jack ahead.

He handed me a raggedy-looking leather book.
It looked as if it had been read a million times. Did he have the
thing memorized? He probably slept with it like a teddy bear.

“I’ll take good care of it.” My voice
probably didn’t sound overly confident. But I couldn’t make the
book any worse unless I ran over it, then set fire to it. “I’ll
bring it back soon, after I’ve had a chance to look at it.”

I wasn’t confident that it would tell me
anything different than I already knew. And if he’d read it so many
times, couldn’t he just tell me the important parts that I needed
to know?

I held the book tightly in my hands. “Thanks
again.”

He looked as if he might cry as Jennifer and
I walked toward the door. “You’re welcome and good luck.”

I’d need
it.

J
ennifer and I made
our way inside our building and I was glad to be back in my safe
haven, but it would be short-lived. As soon as Jen and Stephen
left, I had to get a move on—out there amongst the vampires all by
myself. Maybe at some point I should stop being so stubborn and ask
for help from others instead of attempting to do everything on my
own. But if anything went wrong I only had myself to blame; I
didn’t want to drag others into my problems.

The water had turned off for the shower, so
I knew they’d be gone soon and I’d start my mission. As much as I
didn’t want to see her leave, I was ready to get this vampire hunt
started. They were messing with the wrong werewolf. I placed the
voodoo paraphernalia on the table.

Jennifer snapped me out of my musings when
she said, “She’s up to her old tricks. What does she want now? If
Stephen comes out and sees her, she'll be arrested.” She pointed
out the living room window.

“What does she want now?” I massaged my
temples.

Jennifer motioned toward the sidewalk again
where Lily stood waving her arms. “Doesn't she know how to use a
phone or, I don’t know, a crazy idea like come to the door?”

“I have no inkling what goes on in that
brain of hers. I think she has multiple personality disorder or
something.”

“She has something going on.”

I raised the window. “What is it, Lily?”

“You said you were going to help me plan my
wedding.”

“Um, no. I don't remember saying that. I'm
pretty sure I told you I didn't do that kind of stuff. Once I make
a match, then...”

Oops, that was right. I hadn't made a match
with her. She'd gone ballistic when the guy I fixed her up with
didn't want her. Did I really need to remind her of that little
detail? But she was dating my next-door neighbor now, maybe she'd
forgotten all about her former were-soulmate. Her words, not
mine.

“I do know some wedding planners. I can give
them a call,” I offered.

“You are going above and beyond for this
woman. You need to tell her to take a hike,” Jennifer said from
over my shoulder.

“I'd love to tell her to take a hike, but
she's unstable. I figure humoring her is the only way.”

She shrugged. “If you say so.”

“I can't afford a freakin' wedding planner.
Are you stupid?” Lily yelled.

She was pushing the limits of my anger. I
didn't want to get furry right now. “Okay, but you do plan on
paying me to plan your wedding, right?” I smirked.

Her face grew red. Actually changed colors.
I thought she might bust a vein right there on the sidewalk. “You
have got to be kidding me. You screwed me over and you owe me.
You're lucky I didn't sue you before. Now plan my freakin' wedding
or I'm going to take a flea collar and choke you with it.”

“That's it. She's insane,” Jennifer
said.

“I think we established that a long time
again,” I said to Jennifer from over my shoulder. “The only thing
you're going to be doing with a flea collar is removing it from
your as—”

“Rylie.” Jennifer coughed and I looked
around. She motioned over her shoulder. Stephen stood behind
us.

“Is there a problem, Ms. Cruz?” he
asked.

“Look, if you're going to date my roommate
the least you can do is call me Rylie.”

“Okay. Is there a problem,
Rylie
?”

“Nope. No problem at all.” I smiled.

“Get down here, you flea-bag.”

I shut the window, cutting off her rant.

“Are you ready, Jen?” Stephen picked up her
luggage.

She nodded. “Are you going to be okay,
Rylie?”

I reached out and squeezed her again. “I’m a
werewolf, remember?” I winked.

“Don’t forget to add the powder over the
amulet like the priestess said.” Jennifer warned with the point of
her finger.

I saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

Jennifer jutted a hip and placed her hand
squarely on it. “Don’t patronize me. That lady knows what she’s
talking about.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I repeated.

Jennifer frowned and stared. “Rylie. Rylie.
Rylie. What am I going to do with you?”

“Continue to be my best friend?” I laughed
and squeezed her shoulders.

She chuckled. “You know I will. Oh, I almost
forgot. Here are my car keys if you need to use it. Stephen’s
driving me until things calm down.”

“Thanks.” I took the keys from her hand.
This was more serious than anything I’d ever been through. I’d
never put Jennifer in this much danger before.

Jennifer smiled and walked with Stephen out
the door. I hoped she wasn’t moving out for good. After I grabbed a
few things from my bedroom, there was one last thing I knew I had
to do. Add the new powder to the amulet.

I’d contemplated not wearing the amulet when
the priestess had first given it to me. With a lot of coaxing from
Jennifer, I’d finally decided to give it a try. I don’t know if it
was the power of suggestion, or if it really had any influence on
my curse. Either way, I was grateful for any help I could get.

The black bag with the powder for the amulet
sat on the table, waiting for me to use it on the necklace. The
pull to it was powerful as if it had a voice of its own. I still
didn’t know what to do with the voodoo stuff. I walked over to the
table, then slipped the amulet from around my neck and set it
down.

If I used the powder on the amulet, it would
be pure luck if it turned out correctly. I’d been wearing the
amulet regularly since I’d done the initial spell. It had appeared
to help with the curse for a while, but now maybe it was losing
some of its power. Maybe it was time for a little refresher?
Something told me that wasn’t the way the whole voodoo thing
worked, but I digress.

I studied the necklace. A silver pendant
with intricate details dangled from the middle of a string of
alternating red and black opaque beads. The design was almost like
a snowflake and very pretty. I had no idea of the pendants meaning,
but I was sure it had one.

Maybe I hadn’t worn it long enough and the
power of it just wasn’t fully developed yet. I should’ve put it on
when the priestess had first given it to me. Maybe things wouldn’t
have turned out so badly if I had. Was I starting to believe in the
voodoo stuff? If a curse was real, so was voodoo.

Could I really break the curse for good
someday? Even if I did manage to stop the hex someday—and that was
a big maybe—life would never be the same now.

A surge of energy radiated from the amulet
moving in an invisible line through the air and into my body.
Again, it was as if the amulet talked to me. After slipping the
pouch of powder from the bag, I cleared my throat, and readied
myself to begin.

The priestess had said belief was the key
for the magic to work. So I cleared my mind and thought of only a
positive outcome for Jack and Uncle Ernie. I blocked out all noise
and only concentrated on the good images that ran through my
mind.

With my eyes closed, I sprinkled the powder
on top of the amulet. It seemed like a strange ritual, but what did
I know? Everything in my life was strange. Nothing made sense.

After I’d scattered all the contents over
the amulet, I waited. And waited. Where was the magical feeling? I
felt the same surge of energy from the necklace, but was that
enough? Wasn’t there supposed to be more with the new powder added?
Extra strength on something?

My breathing steadied until I became fully
aware of its rhythm with the clock on the table next to me. They
were in perfect harmony with one another—a precise cadence. But
still nothing spectacular happened. I wasn’t sure what I’d
expected. There needed to be more. More than just a feeling. I
wanted special effects. A twirling wild wind. Perhaps a few
lightning bolts to match.

Since apparently nothing special was going
to take place, I picked up the amulet and slipped it back around my
neck. The same awareness that I always felt when I wore it
returned. In the back of my mind I was always aware that the
necklace was there around my neck, as if it guarded me. I know that
may sound unbelievable, but it was the only way I knew to describe
the feeling.

All I could do was count on it to work like
before. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part, but it was
all I had. and I needed something to count on in this crazy world.
I brushed off the excess powder back into the bag, then made my way
to the door. It was time to get out of there and find Jack. I’d
wasted too much time as it was.

My hand had just met with the knob, when a
knock rattled the wood frame, and I stopped in my tracks. I wasn’t
sure answering the door was such a good idea, but what if it was
Jack. I’d have to take my chances. When I inched the door open, I
instantly regretted my decision. It wasn’t
Avon
calling.

The vampire had a deathly pallor and hollow
cheeks. His dark hair was parted down the middle and slicked back
on both sides into a thin ponytail. From the moment I opened the
door, his dark eyes fixated on me, conveying his intention.

“May I help you?” I asked, not hiding my
discontent.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” A line
furrowed his brow.

“I don’t invite strangers into my home.” I
pushed the door forward and he placed his foot out, stopping me
from shutting it.

“Look, I’m not playing games with you all
anymore. I know you and your minions have Jack and I intend on
finding him. And I swear to you, if you so much as hurt one hair on
his head, you all will regret it for the rest of your long,
miserable lives.” I pushed the door forward, attempting to close it
and let him know that our conversation was officially over.

“You’re awfully sassy for a werewolf.” He
gave an impish grin, exposing his fangs. He put his foot across the
threshold, letting me know that as far as he was concerned the
conversation was not officially over.

“Not nearly as sassy as I’m going to be if
you don’t remove your foot. I’m tired of your empty threats and
bullying.”

Not sure which sentence set him over the
edge, but his lips curled back in a sneer as he pushed the door. I
went tumbling backward, landing with a thud against the hardwood
floor. Perhaps they weren’t empty threats after all. He stepped
closer, then hesitated before releasing another wicked leer my way.
The rubber bottoms of his big black boots squeaked on the hardwood
as he lunged in front of me. He glared and licked his cracked lips.
He grabbed at me, wrapping his palm around my arm. Within a second,
he was on top of me. He was stronger than I’d imagined.

I pushed at his hard chest, but he pinned my
arms down. “I won’t let you rip my throat out.” It was so hard to
change into werewolf form with a vampire on top of you. Go
figure.

“You know, when I was turned many years ago,
it was perfectly acceptable to rip someone’s throat out. It was
just one of those things. Now everyone throws a fit if I as much as
scratch someone’s neck. So sensitive.”

“Back off Satan’s Spawn.” I glared at
him.

“Your blood probably tastes like cheap
concession-stand food anyway. You know, like the greasy corn dogs
at the county fair.”

“Why don’t you turn into a bat and flap
away, Grandpa Munster.”

“I’ll suck you dry. But I’ll do it slowly so
you suffer.”

“You’re a sick bastard.”

“Why, thank you. How sweet of you to
notice.” An evil glint flickered in his eyes.

“I’m not scared of you. Take your little bat
wings and fly away.” Okay, I was a little scared. A lot scared.
Whatever.

Chapter Twenty-Three

How to Date a Vampire, Rule #23:

Don’t ask if having sex with a vampire will
make you a vampire. It won’t.

I struggled to break free. His fangs would
be in my neck within seconds. A slight terror flooded my body. His
fangs gleamed under the light, and suddenly, I was a lot more aware
of their potential harm if he sank them into my veins. I didn’t
want to be this guy’s midnight snack. His jet-black eyes grew
darker and his milky white face even paler.