Almost To Die For Part 8

"Your dad . . . he hunts for the coven now, I bet," I said. What had Bea's dad said? Something about how the vampires were their responsibility? More mysteries. I was beginning to feel like every new bit of information came with its own set of questions.

"Yep, he does," Nikolai said. Again his tone betrayed no emotion and he watched me almost as carefully as he did the road. "I'm his apprentice. My d.a.m.n destiny."

This was the second time Nikolai made it sound like he wasn't too excited about being a vampire hunter. Was I supposed to bond with him about that? What if he was testing me, trying to figure out which side I would ultimately fall on?

Thing is, I didn't really know. The vampires I'd met all seemed completely undeserving of the reaction they got. Ramses hadn't done anything to provoke the coc.o.o.n-from-h.e.l.l spell. Elias seemed so . . . naked, but not, well, otherwise dangerous. Meanwhile, my supposed friends all got super judgmental and cruel when it came to vampires.

I wanted to be direct since Nikolai seemed to appreciate that, but something warned me off that approach this time. Instead, I asked, "The vampires--they're not human. Are they hard to kill?"

After watching for traffic, we turned out onto the county highway. "Well, they hate our magic. They can't fight it, unless they're willing to spill blood. Their own." He gave me a sidelong look, and I wasn't sure what it meant. "At least that's what my dad says. He's the guy you should really talk to, and believe me: he loves to go on about the good old days in Russia and the Great Uprising."

Somehow I knew we weren't talking about anything I'd read in my history books. "What was that?"

"Honestly, I tune a lot of it out," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "But somehow the vampires figured out that they had their own kind of magic, blood magic, which would counter our own. A long-ago vampire king sacrificed himself to a hunt and broke the spell of binding our ancestors used to keep them at bay."

"Wow." I was sure I wasn't supposed to, but I found myself thinking how n.o.ble that vampire king had been.

Nikolai didn't seem to notice, however. "The binding spell still remains in all of them. So when we hunt, we tap that spell, and then plunge a magical dagger in their heart."

When he mimed stabbing, I jumped a little.

"Don't worry. You might not be a True Witch," Nikolai said, "but unless the Elders say otherwise, you're still in the coven. We don't go after our own, no matter what."

Well, there was a comforting thought. At least I didn't have to worry about being stabbed by Nikolai's dad in my sleep. For now, at least, as Nik so clearly implied. How much longer until we reached the city? I suddenly felt really vulnerable out in the open of the cornfields and prairie.

At least I did until I saw the flash of white out of the corner of my eye. Something was pacing us. No deer could run that fast. But I pretended not to see it, and even though I wasn't entirely certain it was a vampire, I secretly smiled. Elias had said he would protect me. Maybe he really meant it.

I didn't want Nikolai to notice, though. Quickly, I distracted him. "It's kind of obvious that I don't know anything about vampires. What's the big deal, anyway? I mean, my mom, uh, dated one. They can't be that bad, can they?"

Even in the dark I could see Nikolai's arched eyebrow and hardening look. This was the sympathy I wasn't supposed to show, I could tell. His voice was cold as ice. "They're blood-suckers, Ana. They are the enemy I've trained my entire life to defeat."

I ignored the threat in his voice and tried to sound breezy and light when I asked, "So they kill people for food?"

Nikolai didn't have a ready answer for that, at least. His fierce mask crumbled a little as he fumbled for the words. "Well, not exactly. If you ask them, they babble on about a mystical hunt or something, but my dad says they're predators who will even kill their own."

I was glad Nikolai couldn't see my face pale.

He seemed to be inspecting me again anyway. "I don't even know how we let it happen. I mean, if it's true, what they said, that you're half vampire."

I didn't much like the look he was giving me and, moreover, I didn't know what to say. After all, I had no idea how Mom and Ramses ever got together either, especially considering how Mom reacted to Ramses today. So I looked out the window at the corn and alfalfa fields pa.s.sing by at sixty miles an hour, hoping to see another glimpse of my other-earthly protector.

I started when Nikolai put a hand on my knee. His palm was warm, but firm. It seemed gentle, imploring, and full of concern. But he pulled it back quickly. So fast, in fact, that I didn't get a chance to say that I sort of liked his touch; I'd just been surprised.

"Hey," Nikolai said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. It's just hard to imagine a vampire and a person, you know, together. It's sort of like hearing that a lion and an antelope had a baby."

"Nice a.n.a.logy," I sneered sarcastically. "I don't feel insulted at all."

"I should probably stop talking," he admitted sheepishly with a little laugh. "Open mouth. Insert foot."

He seemed honestly embarra.s.sed, and it wasn't like I couldn't get where he was coming from. Like he'd said, all his life he'd been trained to destroy vampires. It must be hard for him to imagine making love, not war, as it were.

A flush heated my face as the image pa.s.sed through my brain. I glanced at Nikolai shyly from under my lashes. It was so confusing how I felt about him. He was awfully good-looking and clearly into me, but he made me nervous too.

"Don't stop talking," I begged. "It's nice to finally get some information. Even if I don't really like what I hear."

"I suppose that's why your mom never said much. She didn't want to hurt your feelings."

"I suppose," I agreed, but I wasn't entirely convinced. I figured Mom was just embarra.s.sed about her past. Or completely hated Ramses and would rather not even think about him. Anyway, I didn't really want to talk about Mom. My mind, instead, remembered the way Elias moved so freely through the trees. "Do they have some kind of kins.h.i.+p with nature or something? Vampires, I mean. And why no clothes? I always thought they'd be into tuxes and stuff."

The onslaught of questions apparently made Nikolai laugh. "One at a time," he said with a chuckle. "Vampires hunt naked, like animals. It's part of the ritual. Some people say they do that because they can transform into wolves, but I don't buy it. It violates the law of conservation of ma.s.s."

"True enough," I said. "Plus that would be magic and they can't do magic."

"Mostly," Nikolai agreed. He slowed down to stop at one of those lonely stop signs on the prairie where you could see the empty traffic lanes going on for miles in all directions.

Mostly? I considered that and then said, "There's the blood magic. Plus, they seem awfully comfortable in the woods. They must be okay with nature magic."

I thought about my own skill in the garden. Was that from my dad's side, as it were?

"I don't really know," Nikolai said with a shrug. "Most of my experience is theoretical, you know. Tonight was the first time I'd seen one--more than one--so close."

We accelerated back up to speed as Nikolai manually s.h.i.+fted gears, the engine gunning like a race car the whole time. We'd gotten to the US highway, and things quickly started to feel like city again. Nikolai's car merged into a stream of vehicles. Billboards bathed in harsh electric light rose up over rooftops and noise barriers.

"They're a little spooky," I admitted, thinking of the way they'd circled us and laughed like a pack of ravenous hyenas.

"The entire coven was totally freaked. I thought we were going to die."

"Do they hate witches or something?"

Nikolai glanced at me. "Just a little," he said, but his tone was sarcastic.

Well, if Mom's reaction to Ramses was any indication, the feeling was mutual. It seemed a bit more than some kind of longstanding feud, like the Montagues and Capulets of Romeo and Juliet. So much for the hope that Mom and Ramses were romantic star-crossed lovers.

"You're thinking pretty hard about something," Nik said. "It's funny. Everyone thinks you're so quiet, but I can tell--you've just got a lot going on inside. It's something I've always liked about you."

Was that a compliment? Did he just call me smart? Was smart s.e.xy? And "always"? Did that mean he'd noticed me before tonight? "Uh. I guess."

"No, no, it's a good thing. Trust me," Nikolai said, his eyes flicking between me and the now heavy traffic. "You don't just say whatever comes into your head like some girls. And you don't waste a lot of time with small, meaningless talk. When you finally make up your mind to speak, it's usually something different and interesting."

Now he was calling me weird? But he liked it?

"Like with my tattoo, everybody always asks, 'Did it hurt?' like, what, they thought I went to some brand-new pain-free artist? I mean, how dumb are most people?"

Yet it was one of the first things I'd said. "But it looks so raw, it only makes sense people would ask."

He shook his head. "You're being too kind. It's not that they say, 'It looks like it still hurts,' like you did. They just say whatever dumb c.r.a.p flies through their head. No thought at all to how it might come off."

I hadn't really considered all that, but I was just as happy to be done with vampires for the time being. Minneapolis's downtown skyline rose in front of us, a collection of tightly grouped skysc.r.a.pers and several smaller, beautiful churches. The basilica, in particular, always impressed me with its carved white marble walls and copper-domed roof, green with oxidation, illuminated in the bright spotlight.

When I looked back, Nikolai was smiling. "You know what else I like about you?"

I was afraid to ask, since so far he seemed to appreciate my dorkiness, not one of my usual top-ten awesome things about myself.

"You're not afraid of silence. So many girls just chatter to fill the void. Like your friend Beatrice. Does she ever stop talking to think?"

"That's not fair," I said quickly in defense of my best friend. "Bea is very outgoing. She's very smart about people and funny too. I think she likes you, you know."

The highway curved and pretty soon the bulk of downtown was in the rearview.

"I know," Nikolai said with a snort of disgust. "It's pretty obvious. Not a subtle bone in her body, is there?"

Well, it was one of Bea's shortcomings, I had to admit. "No, not really."

"I was wondering," Nikolai said, sneaking another glance at me. "You want to get coffee sometime or something?"

Oh G.o.d. He was asking me out on a date.

Ten.

As my heart pounded clean out of my chest, he continued. "It's just that a couple of friends of mine like to go bowling at this really funky alley. I think you'd appreciate it. It's quirky, but a lot of fun. You get these goofy shoes, and the whole place smells of popcorn and alley grease. Anyway, I'd love to take you. You know, if you want to come sometime?"

Bowling with his friends? That actually sounded kind of cool. "Yeah, I'd like that," I agreed.

"Great. So, can I call you?"

"Of course. Uh, where's your phone?"

He pointed to the cup holder that held his cell. I opened it up and, after a few seconds, figured out how to save my number in his directory. It was kind of a big step. I'd never given my number to a boy before.

Oh, what was Bea going to say? I'd just totally stolen Bea's boyfriend, even if he clearly didn't think he was. As if she didn't have enough reasons to hate me right now.

We crossed the Mississippi River, a ribbon of darkness in the electric glimmer of the city, and soon Nikolai had exited on Dale and headed into my neighborhood. Thanks to Mom's superpowered wards, we actually drove past my own house. Twice.

"That's weird," Nikolai said, peering up at the darkened Victorian, as I unbuckled myself. "What's up with the cloaking device?"

"Dad, remember? Mom freaked out when he came by, and, like, disappeared us. Bea almost couldn't find us either and she's been over a million times."

"Wow," Nikolai said.

I hesitated with my hand on the door latch. I thought I should probably just go, but he had my number now and I wondered if, maybe, he might try to kiss me. Should I let him?

I looked at him hopefully for a few seconds. When he s.h.i.+fted slightly in his seat, I completely chickened out. I flung open the door and nearly jumped onto the sidewalk. "Thanks for the ride. I had a great time."

"Me too," he said, his elbow leaning on the steering wheel. He picked up his cell. "I'll call you about bowling, okay?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'd really like that."

I managed to say good-bye without being too much more of an idiot, and he waited at the curb like a gentleman until I turned the key in the lock and stepped inside.

Well, I thought, clutching my keys and Nik's CD to my chest in excitement. At least tonight wasn't a total loss.

IT WAS ALWAYS STRANGE COMING into the house when it was empty. Naturally dark and cavernous, it seemed doubly so at night when no one was around.

"Mom?" I called into the house, and then, just to make sure, "Dad?"

No answer from either. Since I hadn't seen Mom's car out front, I was expecting the house to be quiet, but it always paid to be certain. Quickly locking the door behind me, I kicked off my shoes next to the parson's bench. I scurried upstairs to the safety and comfort of my own room. I didn't want to be exposed when Mom came home. Who even knew what kind of mood she'd be in, but I couldn't face any more talk of vampires or Initiations. I just wanted to be normal.

To that end, I started to strip out of the clothes I'd chosen. Realizing I still had Nikolai's CD, I set it next to my laptop on my desk. Then I chucked the halter and jeans into the growing pile in the hamper in the bottom of the closet. I stood for a second in my underwear and bra trying to decide what to wear--and what Nikolai saw in me.

My figure was pathetic. You could count my ribs, and I didn't have enough on the top or the rear for my tastes. Still, Nikolai sure had found plenty to stare at. I guessed my legs were pretty nice, but . . . well, maybe some guys liked the stick-skinny thing? I did look a bit otherworldly with my ultrapale skin and mismatched eyes.

Of course, turns out, I actually was a vampire princess. Jeez. With a sigh, I shrugged into my comfiest pair of jeans and my old, tattered Sailor Moon T-s.h.i.+rt. I smiled at the cartoonish figures on my chest, thinking of Taylor, remembering our obsession with the show way back when. I should probably try to mend fences. I needed all the friends I could get now.

Flipping open my phone, I sent Taylor a quick text, just saying hi. And then two seconds later another that said, "Sorry."

While I waited for a response, I went over to my desk and sat down in front of my laptop. I switched on the lamp and inspected the CD more closely. It was clear he made it just for me. Another personal gift. I felt really honored.

I looked at the picture of the band again. It was hard to believe that was Nikolai. He looked so grown-up and, uh, well, superhot.

Nikolai was always cute, but he'd clearly gotten all glammed up for the cover shoot, and the look he gave the camera was downright smoldering.

My phone tweedled. It was Taylor. Apparently, she was over at some friend's house gaming. The usual.

What did Taylor know about Nikolai? She knew about his band, but what about him? He'd graduated, what, last year, but I thought she might know some of the people he hung around with. Wasn't one of the guys in his band in our cla.s.s? I texted a bunch of quick questions, and then set the phone down on the desktop.

I carefully removed the CD from its case and slid it into the laptop. It took only a second for the player to launch, and suddenly the room was filled with the pounding of speed-metal guitar.

Not my usual taste--I mostly went for the more funky, edgy alternative sound of Animal Collective--but I listened carefully, fascinated to hear Nikolai's singing voice.

I almost didn't hear the phone beep. I checked. It was Taylor; she did remember Nik and thought he was wicked hot. Did I know he was in a band?

I had to laugh. Hadn't she told me six times today at school? I wrote back that I was listening to his CD right now.

Through the computer speakers, Nikolai's voice resonated. It was much stronger and richer than I would have expected. He was good. I was very impressed.

Taylor sent back a "squee," and wanted to know how I'd scored a copy so soon. There was supposed to be some kind of unofficial release party at Nikolai's apartment next week. It was a house-party type thing to help promote their self-produced alb.u.m. Taylor implied it was even hard to get tickets to that.

Before answering, I picked up the CD again. Nikolai was certainly a dark horse. Even though we saw each other at witchy events, he'd never mentioned all this band stuff. Maybe he didn't want to seem like he was bragging? Of course, Bea had known. Bea stuck to Nikolai's side like glue whenever he showed up at events. I tended to leave her to her flirting, and found other people to hang with when she was going all batty-eyelashes at him. I was sort of embarra.s.sed on her behalf and, anyway, no one likes to be a third wheel.

I texted Taylor a simple question: "Will B. be jealous?"

It was hardly less than ten seconds before Taylor replied. "Oh h.e.l.l, yeah."