Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses 8)

He took my hand. "I think we've seen enough. We'll have to talk to Jagger now. We have to stop him from opening the Crypt."

"Do we really?" I asked, my breath leaving my body in frustration as Alexander led me out of the cornfield. This was one time I didn't want to follow Alexander to where he was going. * * * "He was with me the whole time," Onyx defended when we confronted Jagger back at the Crypt with our discovery. "The whole time?" Alexander pressed. "Well, most of the time," she said, resigned. "He went to Javalicious to get me coffee." "And how long did that take?" Alexander asked. This time Onyx didn't answer.

"But he made one of those crop circles in a cornfield near the Coffin Club," I said. "Now one shows up here, too? It can't be just coincidence."

"Yes, it can," Jagger said. "I really don't think it was him," Onyx said. "If she said it wasn't, then it wasn't," Scarlet said, defending her friend like I would have defended Becky. "Were you here?" I asked cautiously. I didn't want to get into a catfight with Scarlet. "Well . . . no," she admitted softly. "You were with Trevor?" I asked. I shook my head. Scarlet rose with a huff. Jagger was offended. "You don't believe me, huh?" "And I saw a bat," I said. "I think it was you." Sebastian shifted back and forth uneasily. "That was you?" Alexander asked. "You flew over the Batemans'?" "I wanted to see what everyone was talking about," Sebastian said sheepishly. Alexander turned his attention back to Jagger. "This club has to remain mortal. No ifs, ands, or buts." "I don't like your tone." Jagger folded his arms. "I don't like yours either," Alexander retorted, facing his onetime foe. I wasn't sure if fists were going to fly. "We can shut you down as easily as we can help you in making your club a success," Alexander threatened. "You think I am dependent on you to make this a success?" Jagger asked. "Bringing in unknown vampires to this town isn't good for anyone," Alexander said. "Especially you." Suddenly Jagger was interested. "How would it bother me?" he wondered.

"What if they draw unwanted attention to us? All of a sudden hundreds of vampires descending on this town. Hanging out at Hatsy's Diner. Wandering around the cemeteries. You don't think anyone will notice?" "They notice us enough as it is," Sebastian chimed in.

"And how do you think the town will react to this new population?" Alexander asked. "With open arms? Don't you see how Raven is treated in this town - just for the way she dresses? You think they'll embrace all these vampires you plan to have attending your underground club? You saw how careless Sebastian was. It only takes one to spoil

it for the rest. Then you'll lose it all." Sebastian scratched his dreadlocks awkwardly. Jagger looked grim. "But if it's just a safe dance club," Alexander went on, "that is something this town desperately needs." Jagger's mood brightened. "And that's what I'm here to provide." Everyone seemed skeptical of Jagger's easy change in attitude. "How can we count on it?" Alexander asked. "You can have my sworn oath. In blood." Jagger smiled.

Alexander paused as if he was trying to read Jagger for any underlying deception. When Jagger didn't flinch, Alexander extended his hand.

Both vampires shook on the deal. "Now someone has to fix that crop circle," Alexander said. "If someone flies over it - they'll be looking for your club," I told Jagger. "Anyone in town could have done it," Jagger said. "Well, we know one person in town who is going to fix it," Alexander responded emphatically. Jagger rose and picked up his keys.

It was exhilarating to be a part of the motley mobile club. Passing motorists stared at us as we drove from the factory through the winding roads that led to the Batemans' farm. Cars were still parked on the narrow road outside the Bateman home. We all parked a half-mile away and waited in our cars, killing time until the coast was clear.

"Do you really trust Jagger?" I asked Alexander. "Do you think now he really will keep the club for mortals?" "I'm not sure. He's a sneaky guy. There is no telling what he'll do. Even with all the talks we've all had with him, he was stillplanning on making this a vampire club."

"What should we do?" I asked as several visiting cars from the farm headed home.

"I don't think we can let our guard down," he said. "I think we still have to watch his every move. And if you see or hear anything, let me know." One by one the cars left the farm and eventually the Batemans' house lights went dark.

Scarlet and Onyx remained in the skull Beetle parked in a grassy hideaway, ready to honk if they spotted the lights switch back on.

I followed the vampire guys to the fence until Alexander stopped me. "You stay here just in case. You can be our lookout."

I hated not to be in the middle of the action, but I knew that I was needed at my station. I climbed up the wooden fence, and from my vantage point I saw part of the crushed crops. I waited as Jagger, Sebastian, and Alexander headed through the field. Jagger attempted to erect bent stalks, but it was a useless mission.

"Something has to be done," I heard Alexander say. "But what am I supposed to do?" Jagger huffed. "Figure out something," Sebastian charged. "We have to stop them before they come," Alexander said. "This has to be fixed, somehow." Sebastian pulled out a few instruments he'd packed underneath his jacket. "I have an idea," Alexander said.

In less than an hour they'd fixed the circle by making an "X" through it. This way it would be clear to any low-flying vampires that Dullsville wasn't a place for them to visit.

Alexander, Sebastian, and Jagger headed back toward me. I ran ahead to tell the others. I saw Luna in the front seat of the Mustang, chomping on gum and reading a magazine.

"They're finished," I said. "Great," she said, leaning on the car door. "I can't stand any time away from my Sebastian." I started off for Scarlet's Beetle when Luna stopped me.

"Do you mind doing me a huge favor?" She batted her eyelashes at me. She held out the magazine, her bony, pale arm in sharp contrast to the darkness. "Could you stick this in the back of the hearse for me?" Normally I wouldn't want to do anything she asked of me. That was one favor I was willing to do. I was all about hearses.

I opened the back of the hearse and placed the magazine on the flatbed when I noticed something that wasn't a coffin - a long plank and more than a dozen feet of rope.