Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 15

Come on, its okay, Thea said. She seemed to be well-nighPoppys age, still she had a gentle, sensible air that gaveher authority. mould great deal. Here. She set Poppy on ashabby couch and ext give the axeed her wrist. Poppy stared atthe wrist for an instant and then remembered. mob, enceinte her crease from his arm. Thatwashow to do it. Friendly andcivilized.She could see pale blue veins chthonian the skin. And that sight blasted a management the last of her hesitation. Instinct to a faultk over and she grabbed Theas arm. Thenext thing she knew she was drinking.Warm salty-sweetness. -Life. Relief from pain. It was so good that Poppy could almost cry. No wonder vampires hate humans, she thought dimly. Humansdidnt submit to hunt for this marvelous stuff theywere full of it already.But, some other part of her mind pointed out, Theawasnt a human. She was a witch. Strange, becauseher blood tasted exactly the same. Poppys e very grit confirmed it.So witches are respectable huma ns, except humans with special powers, Poppy thought. Interesting.It took an effort to control herself, to do whento stop. But she did stop. She let go of Theas wrist and sit down rump, a small(a) embarrassed, licking her lips andteeth. She didnt want to meet Theas brown eyes.It was only then that she realized shed been keeping her thoughts shielded during the entire process.There had been no mental connector as there had been when she shared blood with mob. So shedmastered one vampire power already. Faster than crowd or modify had expected.And she felt good now. dynamical enough to do theNetherlands skippy dance. Confident enough to smileat Thea.Thank you, she said.Thea smiled back, as if she found Poppy singular orquaint, tho nice. She didnt seem suspicious. Itsokay, she said, flexing her wrist and grimacinggently.For the first time Poppy was able to behavior aroundher. This room was more identical a living room than partof a shop. Be boldnesss the couch there was a TV andseveral chairs. At the far end was a large table withcandles and incense burning.This is the teaching room, Thea said. Grandmadoes spells here and lets the students hang out.And the other part is a store, Poppy said, cautiously because she didnt know what she was supposed to know.Thea didnt look surprised. Yes. I know you wouldnt thinkthered be enough witches around here to keep us in business, but actually they accrue from all over the country. Grandmas famous. Andher students buy a lot.Poppy n one and only(a)ed, looking properly impressed. Shedidnt dare ask more questions, but her chilly hearthad warmed just a tiny bit. All Night People werentharsh and evil. She had the spot she could be friends with this girl if given the chance. Maybe she could make it in the Night World after all.Well,thanksagain, she murmured softly.Dont mention it. But dont let modify get you addition kindred that, either. Hes soirresponsible.You wound me, Thea. You really do, Ash said.He was stan ding in the doorway, holding the beadcurtain open with one hand. But come to think ofit, Im feeling a trivial run down myself. He raisedhis eyebrows insinuatingly.Go jump in Lake Mead, Ash, Thea said sweet.Ash looked innocent and yearning. Just a littlebite. A nibble. A nip, he said. You have such a somewhat white throat.Who does? Blaise said, pushing her way throughthe other half of the bead curtain. Poppy had the feeling she was only speaking to focus attention onherself. She stood in the spirit of the room and move back her long black hair with the air of a girlused to attention.You both do, Ash said gallantly. Then he seemed to remember Poppy. And, of course, this littledreamer has a pretty white everything.Blaise, who had been smiling, now looked sour.She stared at Poppy long and hard. With dislikeand something else.Suspicion. Dawning suspicion.Poppy could feelit. Blaises thoughts were brightand sharp andmalicious,like jagged glass.Then suddenly Blaise smiled again. She looke d atAsh. I suppose youve come for the party, she said.No. What party?Blaise sighed in a way that emphasized her lowcut blouse. The Solstice party, of course. Thierrysgiving a big one. Everybody willbe there.Ash looked tempted. In the dim light of the teaching room his eyes gleamed dark. Then he shook hishead.No, cant make it. Sorry. Im going to show Poppythe town.Well, you can do that and still come to the partylater. It wont really get going until after midnight.Blaise was staring at Ash with an odd insistence. Ashbit his lip, then shook his head again, smiling.Well, whitethornbe, he said. Ill see how things go.Poppy knew he was saying more than that. Someunspoken message seemed to be passing betweenhim and Blaise. But it wasnt telepathic, and Poppy couldnt pick it up.Well, have a good time, Thea said, and gavePoppy a quick smile as Ash piloted her away.Ash peered ahead at the Strip. If we hurry wecan watch the volcano erupting, he said. Poppy gavehim a look, but didnt ask.Instead, she said, Whats a Solstice party?Summer solstice. The longest day of the year. Itsa holiday for the Night People. Like Groundhog Dayfor humans.?Why?Oh, it always has been. Its very magical, youknow. Id take you to the party, but it would be toodangerous. Thierrys a vampire Elder. Then he said, Heres the volcano.It was a volcano. In front of a hotel. Waterfallscrashed down its sides, and red lights shone from thecone. Ash double-parked across the street.You see, weve got a great take in right here, hesaid. All the comforts of home.The volcano was emitting rumbling sounds. AsPoppy watched in disbelief, a pillar of fire shot outof the top. Real fire. Then the waterfalls caught fire.Red and gold flames spread down the sides of the black rock until the entire lake around the volcanowas ablaze.Inspiring, isnt it? Ash asked, very close to herear.Well-itsThrilling? Ash inquired. Stimulating? Rousing? His arm was creeping around her, and his voicewas sweetly hypnotic.Poppy didnt say anythi ng.You know, Ash murmured, you can see a lotbetter if you get over here. I dont mind crowding. His arm was urging her gently but inevitably closer. His tinge ruffled her hair.Poppy slammed an elbow into his stomach. HeyAsh yelped-in genuine pain, Poppy thought. Good.Hed dropped his arm and now he was looking ather with aggrieved brown eyes. What did you do that for?Because I feltlike it, Poppy said smartly. She was tingling with new blood and ready for a fight. Look,Ash, I dont know what gave you the idea that Im your date here. But Im telling you right now thatIm not. Ash tilted his head and smiledpainfully.You justdont know me soundly enough, he offered. When weget to know each other-No.Never. Im not interested in other guys. If Icant have James Poppy had to stop and steady her voice. Theres nobody else I want, she saidfinally,flatly. Nobody.Well, not now, by chance, but-Never.She didnt know how to explain. Thenshe had an idea. You know the soulmate principle?Ash opened his mou th and then shut it. Openedit again. Oh, no. Not thatgarbage.Yes. James is my soulmate. Im sorry if it soundsstupid, but its true.Ash put a hand to his forehead. Then he started to laugh. Youre serious.Yes.And thats your final word.Yes.Ash laughed again, sighed, and cast his eyes upward. Okay. Okay. I should have known. He chuckled in what seemed like self-derision.Poppy was relieved. Shed been afraid hed be dissatisfied and huffy-or mean.Despite his charm, shecould always feel something cold running below thesurface in Ash, like an icy river.But now he seemed perfectly good-humored.Okay, he said. So if toy isnt on the menu, lets go to the party.I thought you said it was too dangerous.He waved a hand. That was a little fib. To get youalone, you know. He glanced sideways at her.Sorry.Poppy hesitated. She didnt condole with about a party. Butshe didnt want to be alone with Ash, either.Maybe you should just take me back to your cousins place.They wont bethere, Ash said. Im sure theyv e gone to the party by now. Oh, come on, itll be fun.Give me a chance to make things up to you.Thin curls of uneasiness were roiling inside Poppy.But Ash looked so penitent and telling andwhat other choice did she have?Okay, she said finally. For just a little period.Ash gave a dazzling smile. Just a very little turn, he said.So they could be anywhere on the Strip,James said.Thea sighed. Im sorry. I should have known Ashwas up to something. But hijacking your girlfriendShe lifted her hands in a what-next gesture. Forwhat its worth, she didnt seem very interested inhim. If hes planning to put the moves on her, hesgoing to get a surprise.Yes, James thought, and so is she. Poppy was onlyuseful to Ash as long as Ash thought he could playwith her. Once he realized he couldntHe didnt want to think about what would happenthen. A quick visit to the nearest Elder, he supposed.His heart was pounding, and there was a ringingin his ears.Did Blaise go with them? he asked.No, she went to the So lstice party. She tried to get Ash to go, but he said he cherished to show Poppythe town. Thea paused, airlift a finger. awaityou might check at the party. Ash said he might stopin later.James spent a moment forcing himself to breathe.Then he said, verygently, And just who is giving this party?Thierry Descouedres. He always has a big one.And hes an Elder.What?Nothing. Never mind. James backed out of theshop. Thanks for the help. Ill be in touch.JamesShe looked at him helplessly. Do youwant to come in and sit down? You dont lookvery well.Im fine, James said, already out the door.In the car he said, You can get up now.Phillip emerged from the floor of the backseatwhere hed been hiding. Whats fortuity? Youwere gone a long time.I think I know where Poppy is.You just think?Shut up, Phil. He didnt have energy for exchanging insults. He was all told focused on Poppy.Okay, so where is she?James spoke precisely. She is either now, or shewilll be later, at a party. A very large party, fi lled with vampires. And at least one Elder. The perfect placeto expose her.Phil gulped. And you think thats what Ash is going to do?I know thats what Ash is going to do.Then weve got to stop him.We may be too late.The party was strange. Poppy was amazed at howyoung most of the people were. There were a few scattered adults, but far more teenagers.make vampires, Ash explained obligingly. Poppyremembered what James had said-made vampiresremained forever the age of their death, but lamiacould stop aging anytime. She supposed that meantthat James could get as old as he wanted, while she would be stuck at sixteen eternally. Not that it mattered. If she and James were going to be together,they could both stay young-but apart, maybe hed want to age.But it was odd to see a guy who looked about nineteen talking earnestly with a little kid wholooked about four. The kid was cute, with shiny black hair and tilted eyes, but there was something at onceinnocent and cruel in his expression.Lets see , now thats Circe. A witch of renown.And thats Sekhmet, a shapeshifter. You dont want to get hermad, Ash said genially.He and Poppy were standing in a little anteroom, looking down a level into the main room of the house. Of the mansion, rather. It was the most opulent private residence Poppy had ever seenand shed seen Bel Airand BeverlyHills.Okay, Poppy said, looking in the general?direc tion he was pointing. She saw two leggy and lovelygirls, but she had no idea which was which.And thats Thierry, our host. Hes an Elder.An Elder? The guy Ash was indicating didnt seemolder than nineteen. He was beautiful, like all thevampires, tall and blond and pensive. Almost sadlooking. How old ishe?Oh, I forget. He got bitten by an ancestress ofmine a long time ago. Back when people lived incaves.Poppy thought he was joking. But maybe not.What do the Elders do, exactly?They just make rules. And see that people keepthem. An odd smile was playing around Ashs lips.He turned to look directly at Pop py.With the black eyes of a snake.That was when Poppy knew.She backed away rapidly. But Ash came after her,just as rapidly. She saw a door on the other side of the anteroom and headed for it. Got through it. Onlyto find herself on a balcony.With her eyes, she measured the distance to the ground. But before she could make another move, Ash had her arm.Dont fight yet, her mind counseled desperately.Hes strong. Wait for an opportunity.She made herself relax a fraction and met Ashsdark gaze. You brought me here.Yes.To hand me over.He smiled.But why?Ash threw back his head and laughed. It waslovely, melodious laughter, and it made Poppy sick. Youre a human, he said. Or you should be.James should never have done what he did.Poppys heart was racing, but her mind was oddlyclear. Maybe shed known all along that this was what he was going to do. Maybe it was even the rightthing to do. If she couldnt be with James and shecouldnt be with her family, did the rest really matter? Did she wantto li ve in the Night World if it wasfull of people like Blaise and Ash?So you dont care about James, either, she said.Youre willing to put him in danger to get rid of me.Ash considered, then grinned. James can takecare of himself, he said.Which was obviously Ashs entire philosophy. Everybody took care of themselves, and nobody helpedanybody else.And Blaise knew, too, Poppy said. She knew what you were going to do and she didnt care.Not much gets past Blaise, Ash said. He startedto say something else-and Poppy saw her chance.She kicked-hard. And twisted at the same time.Trying to get over the balcony rail.Stay here, James said to Phil before the car had evenstopped. They were in front of a huge white mansionfringed with palm trees. James threw the door open,but took the time to say again, Stay here.No matter what happens, dont go in that house. And if somebodybesides me comes up to the car, drive away.But-Just do it, Phil Unless you want to find out aboutdeath firsthand-tonight.James set out at a dead run for the mansion. Hewas too intent to really notice the sound of a cardoor opening behind him.And you looked like such a nice girl, Ash gasped.He had both of Poppys arms behind her back andwas trying to get out of the range of her feet.No-no, quit that, now.He was too strong. There was nothing Poppy coulddo. Inch by inch he was dragging her back into theanteroom.You might as well give up, Poppys mind told her.Its useless. Youre done.She could picture the all told thing herself universe dragged out in front of all of those sleek and handsome Night People and revealed. She could picturetheir pitiless eyes. That pensive-looking guy wouldwalk up to her and his face would throw and hewouldnt look pensive anymore. Hed look savage.His teeth would grow. His eyes would go silvery.Then hed snarland strike.And that would be the end of Poppy.Maybe that wasnt the way they did it, maybe theyexecuted criminals some other way in the NightWorld. But it wouldnt be pleasant, whatev er it was.And I wont makeiteasyfor youPoppy thought. Shethought it directly at Ash, throwing all of her angerand grief and betrayal at him. Instinctively. Like akid shouting in a temper tantrum.Except it had an effect shouting usually didnt.Ash flinched. He almost lost his grip on her arms.It was only a momentary weakening, but it wasenough for Poppys eyes to widen.I hurt him. IhurthimShe stopped struggling physically in that same instant. She put all her concentration, all her energy,into a mental explosion. A thought-bomb.let GO OF ME YOU ROTTEN VAMPIRE CREEPAsh staggered. Poppy did it again, this time makingher thought a fire hose, a high-power jetstreambombardment.LET G000000000000Ash let go. Then, as Poppy ran out of steam, hetried in afumblingway to reach her again.I dont think so, a voice as cold as steel said.Poppy looked into the anteroom and saw James.Her heart lurched violently. And then, withoutconsciously being aware of moving, she was in hisarms.Oh, James, how did youf ind me?All he kept saying was Are you all right?Yes, Poppy said finally, aloud. It was indescribably good to be with him again, to be held by him.Like waking up from a nightmare to see your mothersmiling. She buried her face in his neck.Youre sure youre all right?Yes. Yes.Good. Then just hang on a moment while I kill this guy and well go.He was absolutely serious. Poppy could feel it in his thoughts, in every muscle and sinew of his body.He wanted to murder Ash.She lifted her head at the sound of Ashs laugh.Well, it ought to be a good fight, anyway, Ashsaid.No, Poppy thought. Ash was looking silky and dangerous and in a very bad mood. And even if James could beat him, James was going to get hurt. Evenif she and James fought him together, there was going to be some damage.Lets just go, she said to James. Quick. Sheadded silently, Ithink he wants to keep us around untilsomebody from the party gets here.No, no, Ash said, in gloatingly enthusiastic tones.Lets settle this like vampires.L ets not, said a breathless familiar voice. Poppyshead jerked around. rise over the railing of thebalcony, dusty but triumphant, was Phil.Dont you everlisten? James said to him.Well, well, Ash said. A human in an Eldershouse. What arewe going to do about that?Look, buddy, Phil said, still breathless, brushingoff his hands. I dont know who you are or whathorse you rode in on. But thats my sisterthere youre messing with, and I figure Ive got the first right to knock your head off.There was a pause while Poppy, James, and Ash all looked at him. The pause stretched. Poppy wasaware of a sudden, completely inappropriate impulse to laugh. Then she realized that James was fightingdesperately not to crack a smile.Ash just looked Phil up and down, then looked atJames sideways.Does this guyunderstandabout vampires? hesaid.Oh, yeah, James said blandly.And hes going to knock my head in?Yeah, Phil said, and cracked his knuckles.Whats so surprising about that?There was another pause.Poppycould fee l minutetremors going through James. Choked-back laughter.At last James said, admirably sober, Philreally feelsstrongly about his sister.Ash looked at Philonce more, then at James, andfinally at Poppy. Well there are three of you, he said.Yes, there are, James said, genuinely sober now. Grim.So I guess you do have me at a disadvantage. Allright,I giveup. He lifted his hands and thendropped them. Go on, scram. I wont fight.And you wont tell on us, either, James said. Itwasnt a request.I wasnt going to anyway, Ash said. He had onhis most innocent and vaporous expression. I knowyou think I brought Poppy here to expose her, but I really wasnt going to go through with it. I was justhaving fun. The whole thing was just a joke.Oh, sure, Phil said.Dont even bother lying, James said.But Poppy, oddly, wasnt as certain as they were.She looked at Ashs wide eyes-his wide violeteyes-and felt doubt slosh back and forth inside her.It was hard to read him, as it had been hard allalong. Maybe becau se he always meant everythinghe said at the time he said itor maybe because he nevermeant anything he said. No matter which,, he was the most irritating, frustrating, impossible personshed ever met.Okay, were going now, James said. Were goingto walk very quiet and sedately right through that littleroom and down the hall, and were not going to stopfor anything-Phillip.Unless youd rather go back downthe way you came up, he added.Phil shook his head. James gathered Poppy in hisarm again, but he paused and looked back at Ash.You know, youve never really cared about anyone, he said. But someday you will, and its goingto hurt. Its going to hurt-a lot.Ash looked back at him, and Poppy could readnothing in his ever-changing eyes. But just as Jamesturned again, he said, I think youre a lousyprophet. But your girlfriends a good one. You mightwant to ask her about her dreams sometime.James stopped. He frowned. What?And you, little dreamer, you might want to check out your family tree. You hav e a very loud yell. He smiled at Poppy engagingly. Bye now.James stayed for another minute or so, just staringat his cousin. Ash gazed serenely back. Poppycounted heartbeats while the two of them stoodmotionless.Then James shook himself slightly and turnedPoppy toward the anteroom. Phil followed right on their heels.They walked out of the house very quietly andvery calmly. No one tried to stop them.But Poppy didnt feel safe until they were on theroad.What did he mean with that crack about the family tree? Phil asked from the backseat.James gave him an odd look, but answered with aquestion. Phil, how did you know where to findPoppy in that house? Did you see her on the balcony?No, I just followed the shouting.Poppy turned around to look at him.James said, What shouting?Theshouting. Poppy shouting. Let go of me yourotten vampire creep.Poppy turned to James. Should hehave been ableto hear it? I thought I was just yelling at Ash. Dideverybody at the party hear?No.But, thenJames cut her off. What dream was Ash talkingabout?Just a dream I had, Poppy said, bewildered. Idreamed about him before I actually met him.Jamess expression was now verypeculiar. Oh,did you?Yes. James, whats this all about? What did hemean, I should check my family tree?He meant that you-and Philarent human after all. Somewhere among your ancestors theresa witch.