Temptation (22 page)

Kylie frowned. “I didn't see her yet tonight,” she answered.

“Was she at her house?” Jay pressed.

“Looking for me?” a voice called.

Billy turned, startled. April and Irene stood right behind them. I didn't even hear them come up, he thought.

Jay grinned. “Yeah, I thought you changed your mind,” he told April.

“Not a chance,” she replied. “Let's sit down.” She dragged Jay to a seat in the auditorium.

Irene hurried over to sit with Nate.

“Looks like it's you and me,” Kylie told him. She tossed her long hair over her shoulder and grinned.

Billy glanced at her. “I guess,” he said. He wasn't sure he wanted to be stuck with Kylie. She seemed way too intense. But it wasn't as bad as he expected—Kylie seemed really into the auditions. She barely spoke to Billy as they watched all the kids read.

“Time for the part of Natalie,” Ms. Aaronson finally announced, consulting her clipboard. “Let's see, who's first? Ah, Kylie. You here, Kylie?”

“Yes,” Kylie replied, stepping forward.

“Do you have a last name, dear?” Ms. Aaronson asked.

“Yes,” Kylie answered. “But I never use it.”

Ms. Aaronson frowned, apparently trying to decide whether she should insist on having Kylie's last name. She sighed. “Okay, Kylie with no last name, you're up.”

Kylie glided to the center of the stage, smiling, looking pleased with herself. Wow, Billy thought, she really likes being the center of attention.

“It's so hard being a vampire,” Kylie began. “No one appreciates what we have to go through.” She moaned about how much she needed human blood.

“Pretty good,” said a girl's voice next to Billy. “But she's overacting a little.”

Billy couldn't help laughing. “Don't tell her that!” he said. He turned to see a pretty, black-haired girl standing next to him.

She smiled at him. “I shouldn't be mean. I'm probably just nervous,” she admitted. “I want the same part!”

“Mae-Linn Walsh! You're up!” called Ms. Aaronson.

“Wish me luck,” whispered the black-haired girl. She ran lightly up the steps to the stage.

Wow, she's really cute, Billy thought.

When she began to read, the auditorium fell silent. Mae-Linn paced back and forth, playing the part of someone faced with a major decision. She wrinkled her nose, cocked her head, smiled, frowned. Everyone watched.

I know who's going to be the star of this play, Billy decided.

Mae-Linn finished her reading. She blushed when the kids
began to applaud. Then she climbed down from the stage and walked over to Billy. “You were great,” he told her.

“You really think I did okay?” she asked. “I hope I get the part. It would be fun.”

He studied her sparkling brown eyes. She had such soft, old-fashioned looks.

Billy felt his heart begin to beat faster.

“You doing anything after the tryouts?” she asked.

“Not really,” Billy replied.

“Want to get a Coke or something?”

“Hey, great. I'd love to.”

“I came with two other girls,” Mae-Linn told him. “I've got to let them know.” She disappeared through the curtains at the back of the stage.

This summer is looking better already, Billy decided.

Shifting his gaze toward the seats, he spotted Jay and April leaving together.

“Ms. Aaronson is supposed to announce who got the parts in a few minutes,” Kylie said, coming up behind him.

“Think you'll get the lead?” Billy asked.

“Why? Do you think someone else did better than me?” Her expression darkened. Her green eyes narrowed.

“Uh, no,” Billy answered, a little surprised by her reaction. “I was only asking how you thought it went.”

“I got the part,” Kylie assured him. “No problem.”

“Well, congratulations.” He wondered whether that was the right thing to say. “You were really excellent,” he added.

“Want to take a walk around town, see what's happening?” she asked brightly.

“I can't.”

“Why not?” Kylie demanded.

Her eyes met his. They seemed to grab him, pull him into another place. A strange, dreamlike place. He felt as though he were falling.

He forced himself to look away.

Kylie seemed surprised. And annoyed. “Why don't you want to hang out with me?” she demanded.

“I, uh, . . . I already told Mae-Linn I'd take her for a Coke.”

Disappointment spread across Kylie's face.

“I'm—I'm sorry,” he stammered, surprised at how upset she seemed.

Kylie turned and stalked off the stage.

“May I have your attention,” Ms. Aaronson called. “Here are the names of the people I've selected for the play. Now, I want you to understand that everyone did a wonderful job. But there are only so many parts to go around . . .”

Nate, Jay, and Billy all got parts. So did April, Kylie, and Irene. Billy wasn't surprised when Mae-Linn got the lead role.

But he saw that Kylie looked astonished.

“Hey, we both got parts,” Mae-Linn called happily as she ran up to Billy.

“There was never any doubt about you,” Billy replied.

“You really think so?” Mae-Linn asked shyly.

“You kidding?” Billy replied. “You were amazing.”

She flashed him a dazzling smile. “Ready for that Coke?” she asked.

“Let's go,” Billy answered.

He pushed open the theater door and gestured for Mae-Linn to walk ahead of him. As Billy followed her, he heard a strange sound.

A hissing sound.

Behind him.

The hiss of a snake?

“Look out!” he cried.

Billy spun around, his heart pounding.

The angry hiss had sounded so close.

But he saw no snake on the ground.

Who was that, standing in the theater doorway?

He squinted into the light that flooded out from the theater. Was it Kylie?

Yes, Kylie. Standing there, so still.

Why was she
staring
at him like that?

•   •   •   •   •

Mae-Linn gazed up at Billy.

She looks really cute in the moonlight, he thought.

They drifted along the beach, not really going anywhere. Off to their right, waves crashed against the stone jetty.

“Is that your friend?” Mae-Linn asked.

Billy spotted a couple ahead of them on the beach. He recognized Jay and April, walking barefoot, letting the waves roll over their feet.

The moon disappeared behind a cloud, and April and Jay faded into the darkness. When the cloud passed, Jay and April had vanished.

Wow, Billy thought. Fast worker!

Mae-Linn slipped her hand into his.

I'm not doing too bad myself, Billy decided. They walked in silence for a few minutes.

“I think it's pretty late,” Mae-Linn declared. “Do you know what time it is?”

Billy tried to focus on his watch, but it was too dark to see. “I can't tell,” he replied.

“I'd better get back to the condo, or my parents will be worried.”

“Are you doing anything tomorrow?” he asked. “Do you want to do anything? With me, I mean?”

Mae-Linn giggled at his awkwardness. “Okay,” she replied brightly.

“I'll walk you home,” he told her.

“Oh, don't bother,” she protested. “I live right over there. I'll see you tomorrow.”

She spun a complete circle, her shiny dark hair swinging out behind her. Then she dashed away, disappearing into the darkness.

It is going to be a great summer, Billy decided. A really great summer.

You didn't come here to have a great summer, he scolded himself. Remember the real reason you're here.

Billy took a deep breath and thought about Joelle. He would
never forget her pale face on the sand. Never forget the two red marks on her white throat.

I will
never
forget what the vampires did to her, he swore.

Never.

He gazed down the beach. He wouldn't forget why he was here.

But Mae-Linn was certainly an added attraction.

•   •   •   •   •

“This is going to be a fun summer,” Irene murmured, between the kisses she was giving Nate.

Fun for me, she thought. Not so much fun for you.

They sat on the porch swing in front of Nate's parents' beach condo. Irene kissed him again. The swing rocked gently. Back and forth. Back and forth.

I don't even have to cloud his mind, Irene thought. He's mine. All mine.

“It will definitely be fun,” Nate agreed eagerly. “This is going to be the best summer of my life.”

“I think so too,” Irene whispered in his ear. “This will be a very special summer for both of us.”

He studied her in the moonlight, a gigantic smile on his face.

Such a happy guy, Irene observed. He thinks he lucked out and found the girl of his dreams.

She kissed him gently on the neck.

Then slid her fangs down.

She prepared to sink them into his throat.

The need surged through her.

Hungry, she thought. So very, very hungry.

And now for a sip.

But only a sip. Don't get greedy, she warned herself. A sip. That's all.

Her fangs touched the softness of Nate's neck.

I can taste the nectar, she thought.

Taste it. Taste it. . . .

Irene's fangs brushed Nate's throat.

A shriek exploded in her ear.

Irene jerked away from him, quickly closing her lips over the fangs.

She heard a giggle from behind the swing. Irene twisted around—and found Nate's little sister, Lynette.

Did the brat see my fangs? Irene thought. Did I hide them quickly enough?

“Lynette, what's your problem?” Nate demanded angrily.

“I gotcha!” Lynette cried happily.

Rage bubbled up inside Irene. She wanted to grab the little girl and drink her dry in one gulp.

But she had to stay calm.

She couldn't reveal herself. Couldn't upset Nate.

And couldn't lose the bet with Kylie and April.

But I was so close, she thought. So close to the nectar. She
stared hungrily at Nate. If she stayed for one more minute she would lose control. She would kill Nate and his sister.

With a groan, Irene stood up. She muttered a quick goodnight, and hurried off into the darkness.

At least I don't think the little sister saw my fangs, Irene thought.

Behind her, she could hear Nate angrily scolding Lynette: “Thanks for chasing Irene away. You're dead meat!”

•   •   •   •   •

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Billy wandered through the dungeons of a big castle. The place was filthy. Empty and damp. Moisture glistened on the gray stone walls.

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

The noise came from above him. Someone was up there!

No one will stop me, Billy thought. No one will keep me from my revenge. Slipping the wooden stake from his bag, he started up the stone steps that led to the next level.

He reached the first landing—and stopped. An iron gate blocked his way. He tugged on it. Securely locked.

He spotted a door hidden in the shadows. Stained, splintery wood with rusty iron hinges. He pulled on the door. It creaked as it swung open.

The room was dark and damp. Somewhere in the distance, water dripped.

Billy smiled grimly. This was exactly the kind of place they liked to sleep.

He stepped through the doorway. Spotted them instantly. Four coffins lined up against the wall.

Billy lowered his hands to the lid of the closest one. Be ready, he thought. Be ready for anything.

He slowly raised the coffin lid.

The vampire lay inside. A handsome young man with black hair. A square face.

Billy raised the wooden stake.

No hammer. Can I do it without a hammer?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The noise again. Someone else in the castle.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

The vampire's eyes opened. He snarled.

And lunged for Billy.

Billy jerked awake.

Bang-bang-bang-bang.

He stared around the small bedroom, breathing hard.

Someone knocking on the door. Billy shook his head, chasing away the last bits of the frightening dream. Yes. Someone was at the front door to the condo. Grabbing his robe, he stumbled to the door.

Two police officers stood on the doorstep.

“What's your name?” asked one.

“Billy.”

“Your whole name.”

“Billy Naughton.”

“Were you out with Mae-Linn Walsh tonight?”

“Yeah,” Billy replied, rubbing the last of the sleep from his eyes. “Why? What's wrong?”

“What time did you last see her?”

“Uh . . . about eleven-thirty, I guess.”

“Are your parents here?”

“N-no,” Billy stammered. “They only come up on weekends.”

The two officers stared at him. One was a big tall guy. A walking pile of muscles. The other was a stern-looking woman. Both wore serious expressions.

“Did something happen to Mae-Linn?” Billy asked.

“She's missing,” the policeman declared.

“Where did you last see her?” his partner asked.

“Uh, on the beach.”

“Where on the beach?” she demanded.

“Near the edge of town. Coming from the community theater.”

“Can you show us the spot?” the policeman asked.

Billy nodded.

“Get dressed and come with us.”

Billy peered out from the backseat of the patrol car, watching the deserted town float by. Voices crackled over the two-way radio, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.