Ninth Grade Slays (7 page)

His eye pulsed against his palm. His heart was hammering so hard against the inside of his chest that it seemed one long, continuous beat. He took a step to the left, and Bill and Tom followed suit. Vlad pursed his lips. He had to fight to keep his fangs hidden. “What's your problem?”

Several kids from the party had found their way outside and were watching the scene with intrigue. A few shouted encouragement, egging on the fight, but most watched in stunned silence. No one called for an adult or stepped forward to help Vlad. And where were Henry and Joss?

Tom took a step closer, and Vlad resisted moving backward. “You are.”

Hands closed over Vlad's shoulders and pushed. Bill and Tom proceeded to shove Vlad back and forth like a human Ping-Pong ball. Well, half-human, anyway. Vlad pulled away and made a break for the crowd, but Bill yanked him back by the collar and threw him to the ground. Tom stomped hard on the center of Vlad's chest, and the memory of what it had felt like when D'Ablo broke one of his ribs pierced his imagination. Vlad kicked and tried to wriggle free, but Bill's foot had him pinned. Tom grinned over him and raised his foot over Vlad's face.

In a flash, Vlad was up. He shoved Tom as hard as he could and bolted for the edge of the crowd.

Tom hit the ground several yards away with a thud and swore loudly.

Vlad turned his head to where Tom was lying and raised an eyebrow, astounded at how Tom had flown so far with just a shove.

Henry broke through the crowd and flashed a surprised glimpse at Tom before directing his attention to Vlad. His lips remained silent, but his eyes asked if Vlad was okay. Vlad nodded and brushed the grass from his jeans.

Matthew's mom burst out the back door and, though it was a case of too little, too late, said, “What on earth is going on out here?”

Bill helped Tom up and they hurried down the street, with Tom cradling his right arm in his left.

Vlad watched after them. A slight smirk touched his lips.

Henry tugged on his sleeve, and they tried to slink back into the house unseen, but it was too late. Matthew's mom had spotted Vlad's bruised, puffy face. She brought them inside, wrapped some ice in a kitchen towel, and handed it to Vlad. Then, to Vlad's horror, she picked up the phone. “Hi, Nelly. This is Karen, Matthew's mom?”

Henry sat beside Vlad on the couch and muttered, “What happened?”

Vlad kept his voice low. “They were just being their charming selves. But I handled it.”

Henry's eyes got wide, and Vlad didn't have to read his mind to know that he was going to ask how Vlad had managed to knock Tom down like that, but before he could, Mike Brennan sat down on the other side of Vlad. “I've never seen anybody who could knock that guy on his butt—he's a wall,” Mike said.

Vlad glanced at Henry, who looked equally confounded. Mike chuckled.

Several people smiled at Vlad—as if suddenly realizing that they were in the presence of greatness. Vlad pulled the ice pack away from his eye and touched the bruises with the tips of his fingers. Other than the pain of being beaten up by two of the biggest jerks known to mankind, it was a pretty good moment. He glanced around the room. Meredith was nowhere to be found.

Neither was Joss.

Vlad turned to Henry, to ask if he'd seen his cousin, when the front door opened and a furious Nelly walked in, still wearing her slippers. Henry shrank into the couch. Vlad wished he could follow suit, but there was no use prolonging the inevitable. He stood and handed his ice pack over to Matthew's mom.

Nelly barked, “Car. Now.”

Vlad sighed and, with slumped shoulders, stood and followed Nelly to the car. The doors had barely closed before Nelly raised her voice, causing Vlad to wince with each syllable. “Vladimir, I am so disappointed in you. Fighting? What's next? Biting people?”

Vlad tried to keep his eyes from getting any wider but must have failed miserably, as Nelly's voice went up another octave. “You didn't bite anyone, did you?”

“No.” Vlad looked at the door handle with longing, but it was no use. There was no escaping once they got you in the car. “I wouldn't do that, Nelly. You act like I haven't been hiding what I am for the last fourteen years. I'm not some stupid kid. I know better than to bite people—no matter how much they might deserve it.”

Nelly seemed to weigh this in her mind for a moment, and then in a much calmer voice said, “I don't want you fighting.”

After a moment, she glanced at Vlad, as if expecting a reply. She didn't get one.

Nelly began navigating the car down the street and sighed, the tension in her voice softening some, but not enough to put Vlad at ease. “You
must
be more careful. You could have been hurt.
They
could've been hurt! What if you'd lost control? Right there, in front of all those people.”

“I am careful.” Vlad kept quiet about Tom's wrist, still unsure how he'd managed to send Tom flying. He settled back in his seat and stared out the window, wishing they were home already and that this whole evening were over.

“I can only imagine how quickly people would reach for torches and pitchforks to try to drive you out of town.” Nelly shook her head again as she brought the car to a stop in their driveway. She turned to Vlad and wiped a tear from her cheek.

The pain deep in Vlad's chest was much worse than his eye. Not only had he gotten beat up but he had also just been reminded of what a freak he really was by the one person it was supposed to matter to least.

“What if they tried . . .” Nelly's voice trailed off. “I couldn't bear it. I lost your parents, Vladimir. I can't lose you, too.”

Vlad dropped his gaze to the floor. “That's not going to happen, Nelly. It was just a fight. My secret is safe.”

Vlad's thoughts turned to Eddie, and a peculiar nausea massaged his insides.

Nelly was quiet for a moment, and then sighed in relief. She opened her door and muttered under her breath in an afterthought, “I have a good mind to ground you.”

Vlad raised his eyebrows. He was almost positive Nelly would do no such thing, but he vowed to behave over the next few weeks, just in case. Besides, he felt pretty bad about worrying her so much.

But it was pretty funny watching Bill and Tom run away like a couple of scared babies. And it served them right for picking on someone smaller than them.

Vlad opened his door, and turning his head so that Nelly couldn't see, he cracked a triumphant smile.

7

AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION

MEREDITH STRETCHED HER ARMS over her head and parted her pretty pink lips in a yawn. From the other side of the cafeteria, Vlad sighed and tore his gaze away from her. Across the table from him, Henry and Joss were having their now-usual argument.

“I'm telling you, there's no way Stephanie's sister is a better kisser than Stephanie.” Joss shook his head, cracking a grin.

Vlad stole a sip of Henry's chocolate milk and stayed quiet, trying not to think about how he was the only guy in Bathory High who Stephanie and her sister hadn't kissed. Not that he wanted to kiss either of them.

His eyes found Meredith again.

Henry laughed. “I'm telling you, Joss! Stephanie is a great kisser, but her sister . . .”

Vlad shook his head. They'd been comparing notes for two weeks now, ever since Joss made out with Stephanie one day behind the school, rather than going to detention. It was nauseating.

“Okay then, what makes her better, exactly?”

“Tongue.” Henry grinned, and even the upperclassmen at the table guffawed, slapping Henry high fives.

Vlad looked over at Meredith. Noticing him, she smiled and raised her fingertips in a small wave, but Vlad felt his cheeks flush and tore his gaze away, staring intently at the table instead. He couldn't think of anyone who could leave him so speechless. He dared a glance back and met her eyes. Then, with a deep breath, lifted his hand off the table and waved.

But he couldn't be certain she saw him do it, because Melissa Hart had sat down next to her, drawing Meredith's attention away again.

The argument about who was a better kisser carried on throughout the last part of the school day, giving Vlad an excuse not to contribute to the conversation. What he really wanted to do was to think about how he might apologize to Meredith, if he were brave enough, and to reflect on Eddie and whether or not he'd changed his mind about Vlad since the Halloween party. Vlad shivered at the thought.

After the last bell rang and Vlad stepped outside, flanked by Henry and Joss, he squinted up into the too-bright sun and adjusted the strap of the heavy backpack on his shoulder. “Today's the day. I'm calling Meredith.”

Henry said, “No offense, Vlad, but you've uttered that exact phrase every Friday since the first day of school. And you still haven't called her.”

Vlad chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully. “Well, today's different.”

Joss and Henry flashed him similar looks of disbelief.

Vlad sighed. They were probably right. After all, today really wasn't any different from any other day, apart from being a Friday, which was probably about the best day of the week, next to Saturday. He still had no idea what to say to Meredith. But it's the thought that counts.

After a quick walk home, Vlad made his way up the steps and in the front door, and then dropped his backpack near the stairs with a thump. “Aunt Nelly? You home?”

Nelly called from the kitchen, “In here, dear.”

Nelly was by the counter, ripping fresh green herbs into bits and adding them to the pot on the stove. She wiped her hands on a towel and handed Vlad a thick, parchment envelope. “This came for you earlier.”

Vlad stared at the envelope for a moment and then smiled. Just the pick-me-up he needed.

He took it from her, tore the envelope open, and sat at the table to read.

Dearest Vladimir
,

It is with high spirits that I sit down to write this letter. I may have a solution to your recent mind-controltroubles
,
but let me first express my great enthusiasm with your recent telepathic success! Your telepathy seems to be developing wonderfully
,
Vladimir. I couldn't be more proud. However
,
reading the minds of young ladies is certainly no way to get to know women at all.

Now
,
on to the reason that I am writing today.

I've already spoken to Nelly and she has granted permission for you to join me in December
,
when I travel to Siberia
,
Russia. We will travel to visit with an old
,
very dear friend of mine (and your father)
,
by the name of Vikas. Do you recall my mention of the oldest vampire I know? This is him. I've arranged for Vikas to act as private tutor to you during our week-longstay. If he can't teach you how to influence the thoughts and actions of those around you
,
no one can. I know that you will make me very proud
,
Vladimir. And
,
though he has passed on
,
I'm certain that your father would be proud as well.

While in Siberia
,
I will have further business to attendto. This business concerns you
,
Vladimir
,
as well as the incident that occurred last spring in Elysia. I will explain further when I see you. Attached you will
find a list of what to pack for our trip. I look forward to seeing you in December!

Yours in Eternity
,

Vlad read the closing again and then looked up at Nelly. “When did you talk to Otis?”

Nelly glanced at the calendar. “Oh, I'd say it was about a week ago.”

He threw Nelly an incredulous glance. “Why didn't you tell me he called?”

“You weren't home, sweetie. And I didn't tell you that he'd called because I knew how upset you'd be that you missed his call.”

Vlad pursed his lips in a frown. It was the second time in three months that Otis had conveniently called while he was at school. “So I get to go with him over break?”

Nelly smiled. “We'll need to go shopping first, but yes. You can go.”

Vlad tucked the letter inside his pocket and, reaching into the freezer for a bag of A negative, allowed himself a smile.

Vlad squinted up, blocking the glow of the streetlights with his hand. Otis was standing on the edge of a very tall building, looking down at him with wide, panic-stricken eyes. Blood dripped from a cut on Otis's forehead. He wiped it away with his sleeve, smearing it across his pale skin. “Vladimir, run! Run and don't look back!”

But Vlad wasn't about to turn his back on family. He focused hard on his body and willed it upward, shooting higher and faster than he ever had before. He stepped nimbly onto the building's roof and pulled Otis back from the edge. Otis shook his head and pleaded through his tears. “Please go, Vlad. You have no idea what he's capable of.”

Vlad looked across the rooftop to the shadowy figure standing there. He squeezed Otis's shoulder. “This isn't your fight, Otis. It's mine.”

But then Vlad was hit in the side and knocked to the ground. His knee smacked the tarred roof and cracked audibly. He winced and swore aloud.

Vlad glanced up at his uncle and saw Otis's eyes grow wide. He looked back to the shadow man, but his vision blurred and turned red, like blood.

He gasped, and the scene before him went black.

Sitting up in bed with beads of cool sweat clinging to his forehead, Vlad kicked the sheets from their tangled place around his feet. He shook the nightmare from his thoughts and glanced at the clock. It was two in the morning, still black as pitch outside. He slipped on his clothes quietly before grabbing his shoes and sunblock—just in case he was out later than he planned to be—then slid the Lucis into his back pocket and slipped out of his bedroom door to the library. Once he made it downstairs, he stopped in the kitchen to grab a snack and then went outside without waking up Nelly, or Amenti, Nelly's fat, fluffy, black cat.