I wanted to throw up. The monster was flirting with my brother like she was a typical teenaged girl. I truly hated her just as much as my brother was truly smitten.
“Maybe we can hang out again next weekend?” he asked.
She pushed her hair behind her ears and nodded. “Yeah. I was thinking about checking out that new club, Nightshade.”
“Don’t you have to be twenty-one to get in?” I asked.
She smiled. “Yeah, but I can get you in. I know how to bribe the bouncers. In fact, I know a couple of them.”
I’ll bet.
“That sounds awesome,” smiled Nathan.
“You should come, too,” said Celeste, turning back towards me. “I’m sure it will be a blast.”
“I have plans,” I answered, quickly.
“Right,” said Nathan. “You’re coming, too, Twerp. You need to get out more. You’re turning into a paranoid old lady and you’re not even out of high school. Plus, I’m sure Duncan will be tagging along.”
I snorted. “I doubt Duncan will go if he finds out I’m going.”
“I doubt that,” said Celeste, opening the front door. “I think Duncan has a thing for you.”
“Maybe once, but not anymore,” I muttered as Nathan walked her outside. He probably hated me and I didn’t blame him one bit.
***
We didn’t see our mother until almost nine o’clock Sunday night. She was paler than ever and looked so thin, her clothing practically hung off of her.
“Mom,” scowled Nathan as she removed her long, brown coat. “You don’t look well. Isn’t that sheriff feeding you?”
She removed her sunglasses and laughed. “He’s actually a wonderful cook. I just haven’t been very hungry lately.”
“Jeez, I wonder why…” I mumbled.
“What was that, Nikki?” she asked.
I cleared my throat. “Nothing. How are your eyes doing?” I answered.
She sighed. “Still very sensitive.”
Nathan shook his head as she walked by him towards the steps. “Mom, you’re skin and bones. I’m making you a sandwich,” said Nathan. “Maybe two.”
She yawned. “I’m really not hungry. I just need a shower and some rest.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Well then take some vitamins or something. You’re scaring me.”
She smiled. “Thanks for your concern, ‘dad’, but I’m fine.”
I stared at her and thought about how much she’d changed over the last couple of months. Not all of it had been bad, in fact, I’d never seen her so happy in my life. It was her health that I was worried about; that and the fact that she was only a few steps away from being one of those Roamers.
After she went upstairs, Nathan turned to me. “I’m really worried about her. First the eye thing and now she’s skin and bones. Maybe she has some kind of virus or something?”
I sighed. “You’re so blind.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he asked gruffly.
I leaned forward. “She’s been bitten by a vampire. I can’t believe you don’t remember any of this stuff.”
He looked at me with disgust. “Don’t start this again.”
I brushed him away and went upstairs to my room. His ignorance was so frustrating and it was clear whose side he was on.
Celeste’s.
Because it looked like I was on my own with everything, I decided to do some more research on vampires. As I grabbed the book from the den and began reading it, there was a soft knock on my door.
“Nikki?” murmured my mother.
“Yes?”
She walked in, sat down at the edge of my bed and cleared her throat. “I wanted to let you know that Caleb and I are going out of town next weekend.”
A cold fist wrapped around my heart and began squeezing; I could barely breathe. “What?”
She smiled. “We’re going to Vegas.”
“Vegas?”
Her eyes began to sparkle. “Yes, and I’m so excited. I’ve always wanted to go!”
“You can’t,” I whispered hoarsely.
Her face fell. “What do you mean?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Mom, you can’t go away with him. He’s…”
She frowned. “He’s what?”
I knew she’d be pissed but I had to fight for her and the rest of my family. I didn’t want Caleb turning her into a full-fledged vampire. “He’s a vampire.”
She groaned. “We’ve been through this before. You know, I think Nathan is right; you need to talk to someone about this paranoia of yours. It’s not healthy.”
“Mom –” I argued.
“No,” she shook her head. “This is getting to be way out of hand. I’m going to make an appointment for you sometime this week. I mean really, Nikki, a vampire? Caleb?”
“Well,” I pointed towards her neck, which I noticed was covered. “How do you explain those marks on your neck?”
“What marks?” she asked, pulling her green turtleneck away from her skin. “You mean these hickies?”
I stared at her neck in horror. There were indeed red circular marks on her skin, but they weren’t from bites. “Hickies? What are you guys, sixteen? Come on, mom, I’m talking about the bites from last summer. Remember those?”