The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Twelfth Grade Kills (30 page)

“Of curse.” Joss patted his back too and as they rejoined the group, he said, “Think Eddie Poe will show up to collect his diploma?”

Vlad blinked up into the sky. “It’s pretty sunny today, so I doubt it. Besides, from what I’ve heard in Elysia, I think he sticks pretty close to Em ever since his transformation.”

October tilted her head in fascinated curiosity. She’d been asking a lot of questions about Elysia ever since Vlad told her to remember what had happened. “Are they a couple?”

Vlad shook his head. “No. Eddie’s more like an annoying pet, from what I understand. But at least he got what he wanted.”

“What’s that?”

“To be special.”

They all lined up then to walk in their caps and gowns, to parade in front of the parents and staff, and collect their diplomas. Vlad was more than ready for it.

At the sight of movement to his right, he turned his head, his fake smile morphing into a genuine one. “I thought you’d decided to sleep in or something.”

“And miss my last day of high school? No friggin’ wary.” Snow beamed. She looked so pretty, even prettier since her transformation.

“So what took you so long?”

“Sunscreen. I was ready on time until I remembered that I needed to apply sunscreen. Man ...” She sighed heavily, dramatically. “Does it get any easier?”

“No. But at least you have company.” Vlad kissed the back of her hand, inhaling her scent. Roses. Life. And something darker now, something fitting. Snow was a vampire.

He recalled her moment of transformation, how he’d thought she’d died. But that was what Otis had shouted back to him, something crucial that he hadn’t heard.
“She’ll die before she turns, Vlad.”

Funny how mishearing things—or not hearing them at all—can really screw things up.

Vlad squeezed Snow’s hand and turned his eyes to the stage. Meredith Brookstone, the class valedictorian, was giving her speech, but Vlad didn’t really care. He’d heard those words before, full of hope and wonder at what the coming days will bring. But Vlad didn’t wonder about that. He knew that whatever would come, he would face with his uncle, with his friends. He knew that whatever was going to happen, he was ready for it.

Snow beamed at him and Vlad’s heart skipped a beat, almost stopping. His entire body froze with fear.

Without her even being aware of it, Snow’s eyes flashed iridescent green.

Vlad gasped, not knowing what it meant, and not knowing what the future might bring.

H
eather
B
rewer was not your typical teen growing up. and she’s certainly not your typical adult now. She believes that teens are the answer to the world’s problems. that spiderwebs are things of beauty, and that every occasion calls for black nail polish. When she’s not dressing in black, she’s dressing in black ... and counts herself lucky to be the supreme ruler of the Minion Horde. Heather doesn’t believe in happy endings... unless they involve blood. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two children. Visit Heather at
www.heatherbrewer.com
.