ReVamped Page 4

  “Oh, actually…” I began.

  Hannah looked back and forth from me to Hunter, her eyes widening in delight. “So it is true! I can’t believe it!”

  “Can’t believe what?” I asked.

  “Well, I heard a little rumor that a tough vampire chick was coming to town to train some new guardians,” she said, looking at me expectantly.

  “Uhh…”

  “It is you! Oh, wow! When you were at the diner today, I totally didn’t connect it together because you’re really young and so pretty and—” she paused to take a breath; an action, I noticed, she didn’t engage in very often. “I was heartbroken when I heard the Fab Five had left. I actually had a little fling with one of the guys, believe it or not. It was mostly one-sided—on my side, actually—but it’s all okay now because there are five new vampires to take their place.”

  “Four,” I corrected, not quite sure why I bothered with such a minute detail. Most likely, I was just content to be able to slip in a word.

  “Five, silly! Hunter here, good luck with him; Sophie, the poor sweetie really needs to get out more often; Brooke, ugh, she’s such a skank; the newbie Seth, he’s gonna need a lot of work; and, of course, Sebastian. Now there’s a guy who could have fit right in with the Fab Five. Between him and Ethan, I’d say that Angel Creek is suddenly very blessed!”

  “Sebastian?” I was certain that I had received instructions regarding only four vampires. I quickly flipped through the files on the tablet, searching for a fifth name. Nothing.

  Seeing my puzzled expression, Hannah put her finger in the air. “Wait right here!” she exclaimed as she ran back into the diner. A few minutes later, she returned, waving around a piece of yellow notepad paper.

  “Here!” she said, handing it to me. “This is all the info I managed to collect on Sebastian. It’s not much, he’s kinda a secretive guy and doesn’t socialize with anyone, but you should pay him a visit. Anyway, I gotta get back to work. I can’t wait to tell Ethan all about this.”

  Before I could ask her not to say anything to anyone, she was already gone. I was sure that, by tonight, all of Angel Creek would know about me.

  Despite being intrigued by the mysterious fifth vampire, I resolved not to look at the paper Hannah had given me. One crisis at a time, I figured, scanning Seth’s file for his address.

  “Don’t be late for our meeting!” I shot Hunter a warning look as I headed back to my car.

  Seth’s parents’ house was a plain, two-storey structure located on the periphery of town. It blended in with the rest of the residential cookie-cutter properties, except for its bright red welcome mat, greeting the guests in both English and in Chinese. The doorbell yielded no answer, but as in most small towns across the country, especially now that vampires were known to protect the residents, the door was unlocked. I chuckled, thinking that if this was a Hollywood film, I would require a formal invitation to enter.

  I made my way through the deserted first floor, reveling in the elegant, yet simple décor of the dramatic red walls, colorful oriental rugs, and dark, lacquered wood furniture. Picking up on the strong scent of garlic, I followed the trail all the way into the basement. The small underground room was damp and stifling, putrid fast-food cartons and pizza boxes strewn all about.

  A dark-eyed, spiky-haired teen appeared from a shadowy corner. He lunged at me; clutching a wooden stake in one hand and holding onto a clove of garlic in the other. His face was stern and brave, but his big hands trembled in fear.

  “Th-that cheer skank sent you, didn’t she?” he wailed, waving the stake around frantically. “Stay away demon! Or else!”

  “Or else what?” I asked calmly in an attempt to lighten to mood. I had to admit that watching the vampire newbie do the stake and garlic dance was a little amusing.

  “Or else, I’m going to stake you!” Seth yelled, lunging at me with the sharp wooden object. In one smooth move, I disarmed him of his weapon, pinning his hands against the wall.

  Seeing the terror in his eyes, I released his hands and offered him a kind smile. “Hi, Seth. My name is Dawn and I'm here to help you. Please have a seat.” Even though he had at least a hundred pounds on me, I lifted him with ease, gently placing him onto the least soiled part of the couch.

  “Due to an unfortunate incident with an air-headed cheerleader, you are now a vampire,” I explained. “Congratulations.”

  To my surprise, Seth placed his hands over his face and began to sob. “My life is ruined!” he cried.

  “Please don’t cry,” I urged over his loud wails. “A make-out session with a cheerleader could have led to worse results,” I joked, but my attempt at humor had no effect on the young vampire.

  “I’m sorry,” I said more softly. “I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I know that you must be very confused right now, but I’m here because you’ve been summoned by the Vampire President to become a guardian of this little town.”

  Seth pouted, but his tears ceased. He was now looking at me with more interest.

  “It’s not so bad, I promise. I’ll help you polish your skills and become a great vampire—just like a video game hero.”

  Suddenly, Seth perked up. “I’m gonna be a hero?” he asked, wiping his eyes.

  “Yes, you will.” I smiled, breathing a sigh of relief at his abrupt mood shift. “Now, you must have already noticed some changes in your strength, right?”

  To my dismay, his face fell. “Negative.” He shook his head. “I’ve become even weaker than before.”

  “Oh?” The news caught me by surprise. After the initial twenty-four hour period following the transformation from human to vampire, most new vampires experience an improvement in strength, speed and agility. Other, more exciting perks, develop over time.

  “My brother and his friends can still beat me up.” Seth touched his side, wincing in pain. “They’re five,” he added under his breath.

  Oh, great! This team just keeps getting better and better, I thought.

  The more time I spent in Angel Creek, the less thrilled I was becoming with the prospect of the assignment.

  “We’ll work on that later,” I said, motioning for him to follow me. “We need to meet the other recruits now.”

  Seth nodded dutifully. He rose off the couch with enthusiasm and gave me an army salute. Immediately, he dropped back onto his seat with a heavy thud. His face was bone-white, paler than the complexion of even the most ancient vampires. Tiny beads of sweat formed under his lip and hairline.

  “You look starved. What have you been eating?”

  Seth bowed his head sheepishly, looking over at the piles of empty pizza boxes and crumb-filled chip bags scattered around the room.

  I sighed. “Carbs aren’t going to cut it anymore.” Thankfully, I had come prepared. “Drink this,” I said, passing a can of the popular carbonated blood drink, Blood Cola, to the fledgling vampire.

  A few years ago, vampires could only get blood from live human donors and blood banks, but now, bloody snacks were sold in every convenience store and gas station across the country. In fact, last year, the company that originally manufactured Blood Cola was bought out by one of the largest, most popular soft drink conglomerates in the world.

  “You can be assured that no humans were harmed in the making of this lunch,” I smiled encouragingly as Seth took a sip. “Unlike Brooke, most vampires can and do live without hurting people.”

  Seth shuddered at the mention of Brooke’s name, but looked slightly stronger after the quick snack.

  “Ready to go?” I asked, raising the window blinds and getting ready to climb through the small opening. My goal was to sneak Seth out of the basement and minimize the risk of running into his parents at the front door—whatever it took to avoid having to explain his sickly state. The sun’s weak rays spilled into the room, causing Seth to recoil away in pain.

  “Ow! That hurts!”

  I quickly drew the blinds, drowning out all the light. “Sorry, I haven’t dealt wit
h a newbie in a while.” I tore a head of garlic from the long string on Seth's table and handed it to him. “Here, eat this. Four to five cloves a day will protect you against the sunlight.”

  He looked at me, dumbfounded. “You’re kidding, right?”

  I grinned. “The vampire world works in mysterious ways.”

  On the way to meet the others, I decided to take a quick detour to the location Hannah had scribbled down for me. There was no mention of a vampire named Sebastian in my assignments files, causing my interest in the enigmatic fifth vampire to peak.

  I was surprised to find that Hannah’s directions led deep into the woods, only about a mile from our training base. I parked the car at an entrance of a long, winding driveway, devoid of an actual address, but matching the description of the place in Hannah’s notes.

  I ordered Seth to wait in the car and slowly made my way up the dirt path in the direction of what I had hoped was Sebastian’s residence. The longer I walked, the darker and more daunting the clouds above became. Finally, with a booming crash of thunder, the sky tore open, releasing a fresh downpour of cool rain. This time, it was faster and heavier, pummeling against Hannah’s note and drenching her small, neat writing. I considered turning back and meeting with Sebastian another time, but my curiosity got the best of me.

  I examined Hannah’s note, squinting to make out some of the smudged words.

  Sebastian York is a twenty-one year-old Scorpio. He has gorgeous light gray eyes, the color of sparkling glaciers. His midnight-black hair is slightly curly and just long enough to make you daydream about running your fingers through his locks. He’s super tall and really, really hot. Just try to peel your eyes away from all those lean muscles! Yum! He’s brooding, mysterious, strong, and self-deprecating (or at least he seems like the type)—the perfect vampire!

  I had to stop myself from reading the rest. Hannah’s report on Sebastian was a little over-the-top for my taste. Not to mention, much too unbelievable. I scrunched up the soaked paper and tucked it into the pocket of my jeans. I smiled to myself, thinking that the bubbly redhead had a promising career ahead of her as a writer of cheesy romance novels.

  The hike through the forest led to a secluded clearing. The trees parted, revealing a striking building, more akin to a grand mansion, than a house in the woods. While made in the same style as the buildings in town, the three-storey structure had a stately, regal air about it. Clad in white stone with Grecian temple-inspired columns towering across its entire façade, it very much resembled the majestic inn on the grounds of the Angel Creek Park.

  The driveway finally came to an end and I found myself next to a luxury antique car. Its cherry-red hood was propped wide open, so it took a moment before I noticed that there was a figure tinkering with the machinery underneath. He wore a pair of loose, black pants, the muscles on his bare back flexing as he strained to tighten something with a metal wrench.

  Hannah’s words flashed through my mind as I stood frozen in place, observing Sebastian’s profile. My gaze traveled along his tall, lean body, to his face, gliding over his sharp angular jaw and high cheekbones, and, finally, finding a resting place on his dark locks. Embarrassed by my unexpected attraction to the vampire in front of me, I sharply looked away, thankful for the cooling sensation of the wet raindrops against my skin.

  Suddenly, Sebastian sensed my presence. His entire body tensed as he spun around, the wrench firmly grasped in his hand, ready and poised for an attack. The moment his eyes fixed on me, he froze, a look of sheer terror seizing his face. The metal tool fell out of his hand, hitting the cobblestone with a loud clank. The noise seemed to break the spell he was under. As his gaze connected with mine, the look of horror that came over him just moments before, immediately vanished.

  “Sebastian?” I asked breathlessly, unnerved by his startling reaction.

  He didn’t reply. Instead, he continued to examine every inch of me with his cool, gray eyes. My entire body blazed under his scrutinizing stare, but despite the uneasiness, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him. The strong wind frantically tugged at my hair, as if trying to snap me out of my trance. In spite of nature’s best efforts, I simply stood there, locked in an unnerving staring contest with the mysterious vampire. A deafening clap of thunder shook the earth, causing me to jump, and startling Sebastian back to his senses.

  “Who wants to know?” he finally responded. There was a sharp edge to his smooth voice.

  “My name is Dawn,” I said, attempting a smile. “I’m here on an assignment from the Vampire President to train the new guardians of Angel Creek. Since you’re one of the five vampire residents, I thought you’d want to know about the mission and take part—” I paused abruptly, distracted by the angry scowl forming across his face.

  Another earsplitting roar of thunder sounded before he spoke. “Not interested.” he said curtly, his eyes still intent on me. He was boldly exploring my face, his gaze slowly traveling down my body.

  “Dawn, did you say?” he asked curiously, his voice a little less brisk.

  I nodded, crossing my arms in a self-conscious effort to shield myself from his gaze. “So can we count you in?” I asked hopefully.

  “No.”

  “What do you mean no?” I asked in disbelief. I was quickly becoming annoyed with the shirtless, ill-mannered vampire.

  “No. Nope. Not interested. Is that clear enough for you?”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really—no.” He turned away, waving his hand in my direction as if to let me know I was dismissed.

  “Why?” I asked, stretching out to grab his arm. Thankfully, he had moved just before I could reach him, as mid-grab, I realized that touching Sebastian was a bold move that I had not fully thought out.

  He turned around to face me, the feverish look in his eyes causing me to take a slight step back. “I don’t really embrace this whole vampire fad. I’m not interested in anything related to vampires, being a vampire or serving the Vampire President. Got it?”

  “What about your obligation to protect humans?” I questioned.

  “I’m not interested in humans either, not even the sad, vulnerable ones so many vampire idiots fall for. You could say, I'm only interested in myself.” He smirked, his tone once again reaching sub-zero temperatures. “So, if you wouldn’t mind leaving, I’d love to get back to work.”

  “But, but…you can’t do that. When I tell the President that you’re here, he’ll order you to join the group.” I was grasping at straws.

  All of a sudden, Sebastian charged toward me, thrusting his face into mine. He was so close our noses almost touched. As I raised my eyes to meet his, the raindrops from his glistening locks dripped onto my forehead. I resisted the temptation to blink as droplets of water fell onto my eyelashes, not wanting to show him any weakness.

  “For the past century I’ve been doing exactly what I want, when I want. I don’t owe anything to any human or vampire—especially not the President. Now, leave before I make you leave!” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Fine!” I yelled, pressing my fists tightly against my legs in an effort to prevent myself from striking him. “But, just so you know, you’re a really sucky vampire.” I mentally kicked myself for the lame retort, also chastising myself for having wanted this aggravating snob to join the group.

  “Please don’t come around here anymore.” With those final words, Sebastian stormed off into the house, slamming the heavy door behind him. I was left alone on the wet driveway; feeling confused, angry, and somewhat excited by our meeting.

  That evening, nestled in the small, cozy cottage in the depths of the Angel Creek forest, I glumly surveyed the vampires gathered around the dining room table. Hunter was resting his head on the linen tablecloth, struggling to stay awake. Every so often, he would succeed in lifting his heavy lids and focusing his eyes on me, only to instantly retreat into his intoxicated coma. Sophie sat to Hunter’s right, her forehead scrunched tightly as she squinted at the
tiny print of her historical fiction novel. Her pupils moved at lightning speed as her eyes traversed the pages of the book, hungrily devouring the story. Across from them, Brooke was polishing her nails with a sharp, pink file. She paused after each stroke to carefully inspect her nails and ensure that she was creating the perfect shape. Seth sat at the foot of the table, a large head of garlic in his hand. He peeled off a clove and popped it into his mouth, wincing as the bitter flavor reached his taste buds. All the while, he shot dirty looks in Brooke’s direction.

  Drawing in a deep, calming breath, I launched into a short speech I had prepared earlier in the day. “Congratulations new vampire recruits! The four of you are now the official guardians of Angel Creek. This is both a great honor and an important task. Are you ready to band together and work with me?” I asked with as much excitement as I could muster.

  “Hmm?” Hunter murmured, raising his head.

  “Y-Yes.” Sophie whispered.

  “Okay,” Brooke said. “But it better make me super popular.”

  Seth narrowed his eyes at Brooke. “As long as I don’t have to work too closely with her.”

  It was the best I was going to get, I realized.

  “Tomorrow morning we begin our train—” Before I had a chance to finish my sentence, a sudden blur of movement in the woods caught my attention. I only saw it for a split second, but it was enough to convince me that someone was lurking outside. Someone had found our secret location.

  Not wanting to panic the recruits, I casually made my way to one of the dining room windows. Wiping away layers of dust that clouded the glass pane, I pressed my forehead against its cool surface, scanning the horizon for the origin of the activity. It was difficult to make out through the thick sheets of rain, but right at the edge of the forest, concealed by the shadowy trees, stood a tall, dark silhouette. From its frame alone, I could not tell if it belonged to a human, a vampire, or some other being altogether. I was only sure of one thing—it was watching us. I rushed outside to investigate, but by the time I had reached its hiding spot, the stranger had vanished into the darkness.