Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses 8)

"Alexander--"

"And now you, Luna, Sebastian, Onyx, and Scarlet."

He stood up and thought for a moment as he put the chair back bythe table. "But it seems to me that you would want this to be a place for you--to hang out with the ones you really want to be with," he said. "Really want to be."

I fantasized for a moment, imagined myself immersed in a world of vampires, dancing and sipping blood-filled drinks. It was an eye into the Under world that I wouldn't get by attending Dullsville High but only by partying with vampires and being accepted as one of their own.

"I know . . . but a club full of and attracting more vampires is not good for everyone else. My parents--my brother.The towns people."

"They'll never know we're here. Unless you tell them."

"I'm not going to tell anyone." I was miffed that he'd even insinuate that I'd be a blabber mouth after I'd kept the biggest secret from anyone--that my boyfriend was a vampire.

"I think it's risky enoug has it is--with all of you hiding out in this factoryit raises suspicion and fuels gossip. I don't think it's a good idea to add to the mixby inviting new vampires."

"Then what's the point of the club? What kind of business would I be running? Besides, I have a few things planned for this club to make it even more special."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"A mortal club would be special all on its own. I don't think you truly understand how amazing it would be for us to have a place to dance," I said. "There isn't one here. Nothing for anyone to do.And you'd still make a fortune.

There's a lot of extra money these kids into wnare willing to spend. Why would you want anything to get in the way of  that?"

"I'm not sure I like people telling me what to do," he said, getting in my face. "Especially people who want to be a member of this club--for eternity."

I'd pushed Jagger too far.

"Does Alexander know you're here?" he asked.

"Yes, I do," he said from behind me.

I was as startled as Jagger was. I whipped around to find Alex ander standing next to me.

"You wouldn't want anything to jeopardize our truce, would you?" Jagger asked.

"And I'm sure you wouldn't as well,"Alexander shot back.

The ten sion was thick. I wasn't sure which vampire was going to budge first.

Jagger softened. "Your girlfriend was just convincing me how she could help me out."

I turned to Alexander, awaiting his reaction. Iwasn't about to let onto Jagger that Ihadn't toldAlexander yet about assisting him in fixing up the club.

"Yes, I think it's a good idea for her to help decorate," he said.

Jagger was pleased. He had two antagonists all at once interested in his endeavor.

"Here, let me show youaround," he said proudly. "With the girls pitching in and cooperation from my suppliers for the Coffin Club, this club will be up and running in a few weeks. It doesn't take anytime to set up a rave--all you need is music and a place to invite people. But I want this to be more than a simple place to party. I want it to be a place to belong.

"We'll have a stage, a dance floor, a bar, and as the club expands, so will we," Jagger said, giving us a tour of the factory and his vision of the Crypt.

"What is this door to?" I asked, moving to a door on the far side of the room and twisting the knob. I'd seen on the blue prints that it led to the Covenant. It was locked.

"Nothing," he said, guiding me away.

Perhaps Jagger had had a change of heart. With Sebastian, me, and now Alexander on board and telling him not to invite more vampires to Dullsville, he might not want anything to jeopardize his success.

"So you aren't planning on spreading word about the club to vampires?"Alexander asked.

"I think Raven's right," Jagger replied. "Whyshouldn't Ifill the club withmortals?" he said witha wicked grin.

I wasn't sure if I'd reallyconvinced him or not. But especiallynow that Jagger had explained the plans for the Crypt,Ireallycouldn't wait until it opened.

"I'm glad you'll be part of the club," Jagger said. "You will be the first onthe invitationlist, Raven. I wouldn't want it anyother way."

Chapter 9 - Freak Factory

As soon as the torture of another dreadfully monotonous Dullsville High day was over, I raced to the Sinclair Mill. Nothing was going to stop me from helping Jagger and his cryptic clique from decorating the decadent dance club. When I made my way inside the decaying building I saw that Jagger had already marked the floor with glow tape where the stage, dance floor, and bar would be. While the vampires slept, I swept, removed empty cardboard boxes, and cleared away any debris that would get in the way of the quick renovations. By the time the sun set and the vampires awoke, I was exhausted.

Alexander greeted me with a kiss and Javalicious coffee, and I sat on a box sipping it and watching as Onyx and Scarlet and the vampires worked. Scarlet drank her own piping hot latte. But instead of cocoa beans, hers was brewed with blood. I rested my weary head against Alexander's shoulder. In this environment, unlike any other in Dullsville, I was accepted as one of the "in" crowd - and I was in my element - hanging out with vampires and helping decorate a nocturnal dance club. I looked on as a truck backed into a loading dock and a few guys that looked more dead than alive loaded chairs, lighting equipment, and a pool table into the factory.

Alexander kept a watchful eye on the incoming boxes, making sure that there were no nefarious items or clues about whether Jagger still planned on opening the Covenant. Sebastian did his best to help, but Luna clung to him, keeping his hands busy. He often got caught up in talking to Alexander and had to be nudged back to work by Jagger.

As the evening wore on, it was clear that there was only one person who didn't contribute to the transformation: Luna. The wispy fairy girl draped herself on a chair like a princess and, when breaks were taken, canoodled with Sebastian or asked him to fetch her bloody lattes. Several times I caught her fingering Sebastian's dreadlocks but staring at Alexander. I felt she was up to something, but what, I wasn't sure.

The following day at school, Becky and I were having lunch by the flagpole while waiting for Matt to join us. She was biting into a sandwich and I was picking at my organic peanut butter one. "Have you heard any more about that club?" Becky asked out of the blue. "I hear rumblings all the time, but no one has any concrete information. I was wondering where it's going to be and when it's going to open." I had to tell Becky what I knew about the club - leaving out, of course, the vampire element. The rumors about the club echoed off the walls of Dullsville High, and it wasn't right to keep her in the dark any longer.