Vampire (12 page)

“Are you all right?” Brandon was still staring, and she nodded. “Honest? You're sure?”

“Yes. Just please get those things out of my room.”

“I'll see what I can do.” He started up the stairs, paused, and looked back over his shoulder. “You know, if I really
was
Dracula, all I'd have to do is say the word, and they'd obey me and all fly away.”

“Then why don't you try it?”

“Okay, here goes.”

She heard her bedroom door open, and then his exclamation of disgust. For a moment there was silence, then his voice boomed out, “Be gone!” As she waited expectantly, she heard a flurrying sound, and then his rapid footsteps back down the stairs.

“Well?” She sat forward as he gave a sheepish grin.

“Well … they must have known I was an impostor.”

“Great.
Now
what are we going to do?”

“I can't figure out how they got in.” He frowned. “But maybe—if we can get the screen off—they'll go back outside. I don't suppose you could stir them up a little, could you?”

Darcy's look was reproachful. “I already did that once tonight. What should I do now? Wave my arms and scream? Wave a big towel around?”

Brandon snapped his fingers. “Great idea! I'll get the screen off, and we'll go after them with towels!”

Darcy's eyes narrowed. “You're kidding. Aren't you?”

“Got any better ideas?”

“Well, moving might be a consideration at this point.”

“Come on, where's your spirit of adventure? Now, let's see … we need some
big
towels—something to put distance between us and them.” His voice faded as he disappeared into the bathroom, and she heard him slamming cabinet doors. “Where's Jake keep his towels?”

“You know him better than I do,” Darcy mumbled, but she was already heading into Jake's bedroom. “I'll look in here.”

The whole thing came back to her as she walked through the door.

In her mind she saw Jake again, covered with blood, tossing something into the closet.
What were you doing, Jake … and who was here with you?
She felt frightened even being in the room, and as she opened her mouth to call Brandon, she noticed how the closet door wasn't closed all the way.

Darcy reached out and pulled it open. There was a pile of dirty laundry on the floor, and as she knelt to examine it, she spotted something on the back wall that made her freeze.

It looked like the outline of a door.

Puzzled, Darcy worked the hangers apart and ran her hands over the wall. It felt solid enough, but when she gave it a timid knock, the sound was hollow.
That door on the fire escape?
She'd guessed it might open into Jake's room, and now it looked like she was right—

“Darcy, where'd you go?” Brandon yelled. “Did you find any towels?”

Darcy jumped back guiltily. “Uh … I think so.” As she shoved the clothes back in place on the rack, she heard something fall with a loud click onto the floor.
Oh, great, something must have fallen from a pocket
.…

“Damn!” She could still hear Brandon moving around in the next room, so she leaned down across the laundry pile and fumbled along the floorboards. Just as she was about to give up, her fingers closed around a thin, cylindrical object, and she sat back on her heels, holding it up into the light.

It was a lipstick.

Frowning, Darcy turned it over in her hand, inspecting it closely. It was a cheaper brand, not the kind her mother would have insisted on, and the cap was cracked and dirty. She pulled it off and twirled the base. The lipstick was a garish red and had been worn down almost level with the top of the tube—flat—instead of tapered at one side.

“Darcy?”

Flustered, Darcy tossed the lipstick back into the closet and jumped up.

“Oh, there you are—hey, I found these in the kitchen.” Brandon started for the stairs and motioned her to follow. “You know, I've been thinking, maybe it's not such a good idea, you going up there again. Once I get that window open, I can probably handle it myself.” He threw her a sly glance. “So
what
if I get bitten? So
what
if I die of rabies?”

“Oh, please”—Darcy gave him a push from behind—“spare me the martyrdom. I wouldn't dream of sending you in there alone.”

“Wow. What courage. What fortitude. What—”

“Lunacy. The two of us and a room full of bats.”

They stood together, eyeing her bedroom door.

“Or I could do the really sensible thing,” Brandon mused.

“What's that?”

“Call Kyle in the morning and have
him
help me.”

“That
is
a sensible thing.” Darcy nodded. “Are you hungry?”

“Always.” Brandon followed her back to the kitchen and slouched into a chair as she rummaged through the refrigerator. “Okay, let me guess. No food.”

“Doesn't he ever eat?” Darcy shook her head. “I don't think I've ever seen him eat since I've been here. What does he live on anyway?” She let the door swing shut, then stood a moment, staring at nothing, debating whether or not to tell Brandon what she'd witnessed in Jake's room that evening.
Maybe it's nothing.… I shouldn't jump to conclusions … just because I don't understand
.… Aloud she said, “I wasn't even thinking straight once I saw those bats, Brandon. I shouldn't have called you.”

“Sure you should have.”

“No, I feel really silly now for having done that. It was nice of you to come over, but you don't have to stay.”

He did his best to look crestfallen. “You mean I'm dismissed? Just like that?”

She smiled. “Free to go.”

“Hmmm …” He pretended to be deep in thought, and then a lazy grin crept across his face. “I don't think I want to go. So now you're stuck with me.” His eyes traveled over her again, his grin widening as she blushed.

“Brandon … stop doing that.…”

“Stop doing what?” he asked innocently. “My eyes are tired. When my eyes are tired, I can't control them. They just look where they want to look.” He reached out and caught her around the waist, his expression sobering. “You sounded really scared when you called tonight. Are you sure it was just the bats?”

Darcy's glance was quick. “Why do you say that?”

He was quiet for a long minute as his dark eyes searched hers. “Just a feeling, I guess,” he said quietly and pulled her toward him. “It's not easy being the new kid.”

“No”—she tried to smile—“but it's not just that.'

“What, then?”

She gestured vaguely toward the ceiling. “Why would someone put bats in my room? And leave a dead rat in my bed?”

She felt him tensing beneath his calm exterior. “You think someone …
did
that? On purpose?”

“Well, they're not things that just
happen
to people, are they?” Darcy sounded defensive. “Not just your usual run-of-the-mill coincidences?”

“But … why?” He looked genuinely astonished, and she pulled away.

“You sound like Kyle. That's just what Kyle said when I told him about Elliott.”

“What about Elliott?”

“I keep seeing him. In crowds, I mean. Watching me.”

Brandon stared at her. “Elliott. Watching you.”

“Oh, forget it,” Darcy grumbled. “I never should have said anything.”

“Yes, you should.” Brandon reached out again, but she turned neatly out of his reach. “You should tell me whatever's bothering you—”

“And who are you? Dr. Dracula, the famous psychologist?”

“Hey, Darcy, come on, if you're upset about something—”

“I'm upset about a lot of things.” Her chin lifted stubbornly. “Like Jake, for starters. He calls those monsters downstairs his
family
, for God's sake. And tonight he said he was going to bed, and he's not even here.”

“Well, so Jake's a little unusual.”

“Unusual?” Darcy gaped at him. “
Unusual?” Now
…
I'll tell him now—

“Calm down, will you? You're getting upset over nothing.”

“Yes, I'm upset. I think someone's trying to hurt me.”

“Hurt you?” Brandon grew quiet, his eyes lifting in a sidelong glance. “Who'd want to hurt you, Darcy? Besides Liz, I mean.”

He said it so matter-of-factly that Darcy's retort died on her lips. As she locked eyes with Brandon, she saw the uneasy look on his face, and then his eyes lowered to the tabletop between them.

“I know she does,” Darcy said then, barely a whisper. “I think you'd better go.” She went into the living room and sat down stiffly at one end of the couch. She picked up the remote control and turned on the TV, then stared at the screen as a black and white movie came into focus. On the screen a woman ran for her life through a foggy forest. From the fog came the howl of a wolf … and from the kitchen behind Darcy came the soft approach of footsteps. Darcy kept her eyes on the movie, and Brandon sat down beside her.

“You've got to understand Liz.” He sighed, and Darcy shook her head.

“I think I've gone above and beyond understanding—”

“You have. I swear you have.” His hands went up in a gesture of defeat. “Liz is the center of her own universe, and she expects to be the center of everyone else's. See, even at home it's always been Liz is the smartest and Liz has all the potential and Liz has all the promise and the sun rises and sets on Liz. I mean, poor Kyle … he's the rebellious one 'cause he rides a motorcycle and wants to be a musician.
He
never gives them any trouble, but he's the disappointment and Liz is the star. Liz gets anything she wants. Liz deserves the best. So how could she be any different than the way she is?” He shook his head slowly. “And when Liz gets stood up to … or disappointed … the gods get very angry.” He stole a look at her, and she began to smile.

“You're so accepting of everyone, aren't you? You and Kyle both. Of Jake … of Elliott … you're not judgmental like so many people are. Like I am.”

He shook his head at her. “Are you kidding? Kyle maybe, but not me. I mean, half the time I'm ready to kill Liz, she drives me so crazy.” He thought a moment. “What I'm trying to say is, I understand the way she is, but that doesn't make it okay.”

“I don't know why I'm letting her upset me so much. I'll just have to be better about it.”

“Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. Liz has it out for you, no doubt about that. And that's probably my fault.”

“But Jake gave me her job—”

“But I,” Brandon began, then looked away, his voice uncomfortable. “I mean …
I
… thought you were pretty great when I first saw your picture.”

“My picture?”

“Yeah, Jake showed us all your picture before you got here. I guess your mom sent it in a letter sometime to your aunt.”

“I didn't know that.”

“I guess he wasn't exactly thrilled about you coming. He really didn't know what he was in for.”

“I can imagine.”

“Hey, don't let Jake get you down. I don't think he's had much love in his life. I've never heard him mention a relationship in a positive way. I don't think he can handle feelings very well.”

Darcy just looked at him, guilt and confusion flooding through her.

“Yeah, Jake's all right,” Brandon mumbled. He gazed at the TV screen where a vampire was unfolding himself from a long, black cape. “And … you know …
I
care about you, Darcy. And Liz knows it.”

For a moment the only sound was from the television … impassioned breathing as the vampire leaned closer … closer … to the woman's throat.…

Darcy felt Brandon beside her … his soft warm breath caressing her ear … her neck.…

She closed her eyes and lost herself in his kiss.

15

T
he first thing Darcy saw when she woke up was Brandon's shoulder beneath her cheek. They were still sitting on the couch, propped against each other where they'd fallen asleep talking, and daylight was streaming through the window.

The second thing she saw was Liz standing in the doorway.

In that split second Darcy thought she knew what it must feel like to get struck by lightning. She bolted upright, excuses spinning through her brain, and Brandon toppled over on his face, mumbling into the cushions. At that instant Jake wandered out of the kitchen and nodded in Darcy's general direction.

“I can handle surprises,” he said, deadpan. “Like never knowing what I might find when I come home.…”

Darcy had the eerie sensation of being trapped in a horror scene just like one of the statues in the Dungeon. A sign flashed through her mind:
SUMMER VISITOR TORN TO PIECES BY VICIOUS REDHEAD.
Jake stopped in his tracks and flashed a guileless smile at the door. He looked like he was enjoying himself immensely.

“Why, Liz—I didn't hear you knock.”

As Brandon's eyes fluttered open, bringing the whole room into focus, he turned his head into the pillows and groaned.

“Oh, no.…”

Liz looked positively livid. Darcy had never seen the girl's face such a perfect match for her hair. As Liz's eyes burned into her, Darcy mumbled the first thing that came into her mind.

“Bats,” she said, and some remote part of her brain couldn't believe how stupid that sounded. “He just came over to get the bats out of my room.”

“Bats,” Jake echoed, going back into the kitchen. “Now, that's one I haven't heard.”

“It's true!” Darcy blurted out. “Bats—
everywhere!
” To her horror she saw Kyle's head appear over Liz's shoulder and a slow grin spread over his face.

“'Morning, Darcy. 'Morning, Bran.” Kyle said, and Brandon groaned again.