Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses 8)

"This townisn't filled withvampires," Sebastiansaid. "Not like the other one, anyway."

"This townneeds a place to dance," Jagger said. "For everyone to come alive--at night."

Sebastiancouldn't argue withthat. "Iagree--there isn't anything to do inthis town."

"And thenthe vampires will flock here. Like we did.Alexander, Luna and me, and now you. Mortals above and vampires below. The Coffin Club was a success and this one will be, too. We are sitting on a gold mine here in this abandoned factory."

"The CoffinClub Two?" Sebastiansaid.

"Ialreadyhave a name for it: the Crypt."

"But are the preppygirls inthis towngoing to want to hang out at a place called the Crypt?"

"Ihave ways to entice them besides the name alone," he said ina creepybut sexytone.

"And vampires?" Sebastianasked skeptically.

"The mortals won't evenknow they're here. Besides, Ihave surprises planned for this club."

"What kinds of surprises?" Sebastianwondered.

"If Itold you, thentheywouldn't be surprises, would they? Besides, that's weeks away. We have a club to build first."

"What aboutAlexander?" Sebastianasked.

"He canbe a partner, too. But I'm not sure if he's the type to owna club. He's veryprivate."

"He is mybest friend. Ifeel funnyabout this--without him being onboard."

"Is your best friend, or was?" Jagger challenged. "Well, you'll have a place to stayhere as long as youlike."

Sebastian paused for a moment. He was the type that traveled constantly, his coffin covered with stickers from countries and cities around the world. It was something Icould tell he was contemplating--a place to call home.

"But there is more of a vampire culture inbigger towns, am Iright? Here it's justAlexander.And let's be clear. I think he likes it that way. Ithink we should respect that," Sebastiansaid.

Jagger cracked his knuckles, trying to mask his frustration.

"He escaped everything," Sebastianadded. "Persecutionfrom mortals and persecutionfrom . . ."

"My family?" Jagger sat up. "The irony, youmean. That he'd travel so far away from my family and ultimately we'd wind up settling here, too?"

"Youguys have a truce."

"I know. He helped mybrother, Valentine. WhenValentine was weakened and alone,Alexander cared for him and returned him to me. I'm not suggesting we restart that feud. But does that meanthat what's good forAlexander is good for us, too?" Jagger asked pointedly. "Do we have to live our lives around his? Besides, maybe a vampire club is just the thing he needs. He won't be so alone onthat hill withonlya butler to attend to his needs."

"I'm just saying. Iknow he's still mad at me for what Idid to Luna at his party. Iknow he thinks it jeopardized his existence here.And more of us coming to town--the kind that might be like me and act onimpulse . . . it wouldn't be good for anyof us."

"You were just being you. Just being us." Jagger leaned in. Evenfrom far away, his blue and green eyes were piercing. "Ican't help it ifAlexander's more . . . restrained. He should have bittenRavena long time ago. Why let it drag on?"

Just then my foot slipped and I knocked over the empty soda can on the window pane.

"What was that?" Iheard Jagger say.

"Ithink someone is outside."

I held my breath. Alexander did, too.

Alexander and I stood against the wall. A pigeon was walking along the window ledge.

Alexander tossed a twig near the bird. Startled, it flapped its wings wildly and flew off past the window.

"It's just a pigeon,"Iheard Sebastiansay.

Alexander cupped his hands and helped me up again.

"Youshouldn't be onedge," Jagger said. "Why are you so worried? It's just a club."

Sebastian thought, then finally spoke. "But it's a club with vampires--in a place that has been inhabited by only one. Alexander fights every day to be who he is and do the right thing. Just because you and I might be more a like? That doesn't mean he's the one that's wrong."

Jagger now was the one riffling his fingers through his white locks.

"I really want to run this past him," Sebastian said.

"And what's he going to say, yes? Besides, you can't tell him you've been hanging out here with me and Luna."

Sebastian hung his head low.

"Don't despair," Jagger said. "It's going to be awesome. Music blasting, drinks flowing, dancing until dawn.

Beautiful girls everywhere. What's not to like?"

Sebastian's face lit up inthe candlelight.

The Crypt sounded like the kind of club I'd want to hang out in. Just like the CoffinClub--but onlya few miles from my house. I bit my lavender lip in excitement.

"I know he's mad at me . . ." Sebastiansaid, "but Istill have his back."

"He'll see the club once it's open," Jagger said, rising. He put his arm around Sebastian. "It won't be too long.

We'll decorate at night. Ihave ways of getting these things settled veryquickly."

Sebastian bit his black nails.

"Just think it over," Jagger said, slapping Sebastianonthe back like a coachdoes to a football player. "You have a place to stay, a new best friend, and . . ."

"A girlfriend," a sweet, ethereal voice said.

Just then pink hair bounced in from behind the shadows.

Luna was dressed ina wickedlycool frock--a pink mini-dress withblack spiderwebbed tights. Her perfectly straight baby pink hair appeared as soft as something out of a shampoo commercial.

Sebastian shot up.

She took his hand and pulled him into her. They shared a kiss that probably would have gone on forever if Jagger hadn't cleared his throat.

"It's Luna," Iwhispered toAlexander. "Now we should go in--"

Alexander helped me back to the ground and Itold him what I'd heard. He shook his head. "We need to wait," he said.

"Really?" Iwas surprised byAlexander's suddenchange incourse.

"Yes," he said. "But not for too long. I'm always getting Sebastianout of predicaments. Maybe this time he needs to figure things out himself."

"But what about this new club?" Iasked. "It will be here, inDullsville."

"That we will have to fix. But Idon't have to at this moment."

We heard the sound of a car driving over the gravel. Alexander pulled me back into an alcove.

A white Beetle painted to look like a skull drove past us and parked. Scarlet and Onyx hopped out of their car.

"Ithink it will be funto hang withthem here for a little while longer," Onyx said.