Jane Goes Batty

“Get her back here!” the director barked.

An assistant started toward the trailer, but Jane intervened. “I’ll get her,” she said. As she walked away she heard Tucker Mack say loudly, “It was only hummus, for Christ’s sake!”

Jane found Chloe scrubbing her face with a washcloth. “Don’t,” she said. “It will just make it worse. We need to put some calamine lotion on it.”

“It burns,” Chloe whined as Jane took the washcloth away. “I thought you said it wouldn’t.”

“I said it probably wouldn’t,” said Jane. “Apparently you are allergic.”

“Great,” Chloe said. “How am I supposed to get through the scene?”

Jane thought for a moment. “Maybe if you feed,” she said. “You might be particularly sensitive to the garlic because you’re hungry.”

Chloe scratched her chin. “And how am I supposed to do that?” she said. “I can’t just go off looking for someone to bite.”

“No, I suppose you can’t,” Jane agreed.

Chloe brightened. “I could bite Tucker,” she said. “When he’s kissing me. I mean, his neck will be right there.”

“That’s a splendid idea,” said Jane. “And it will all be caught on film, so the entire world can see it.”

“Oh,” Chloe said. “Right. I forgot about that.”

“It’s all right,” said Jane kindly. “Being hungry makes you a little stupid.” She batted Chloe’s hand away from her cheek as the girl went to scratch it again.

“What are we going to do?” Chloe moaned. “Julia’s going to have a fit if I don’t get back out there soon.”

As Jane searched for a solution there was a knock on the door. A moment later a young man’s face appeared. Jane recognized him as one of the several assistants who always seemed to be trailing after the various producers. “Chloe, she wants to know how long you’re going to be,” the young man said. “We’re losing the light, and we can’t afford to get behind.”

“Tell her she can go—” Chloe began.

“Actually, I’ll go speak to her,” Jane interrupted. She looked at the boy. “What’s your name?”

“Cedric.”

“Well, Cedric, would you be a dear and help Chloe apply some lotion?”

Chloe looked at Jane with a confused expression. Jane leaned down. “He’s already half in love with you,” she whispered. “I can tell. He’ll be very susceptible. But just drink a little, do you understand?”

She turned to Cedric. “I believe there’s a bottle of calamine lotion in the bathroom,” she said. She stared into his eyes and cast a glamor. Cedric’s eyes glazed over and he nodded. “I can do that,” he said.

Jane looked at Chloe. “Five minutes,” she said. “And not too much.”

She left the trailer, shutting the door behind her. She hoped Chloe would do as she was told. If not, it would be a disaster, or at least a very big mess. She was taking an enormous risk leaving the girl alone for her first feeding, but it was the only way.

“Where is she?” Julia Baxter asked as Jane came up to her.

“She’ll be out in a few minutes,” said Jane. “She just needs to put some calamine lotion on.”

The director shook her head. “I hate working with pop stars,” she said. “If it isn’t allergies, it’s cocaine addiction or being in a cult or some other bullshit.”

“She’s trying very hard,” Jane said, suddenly feeling very protective of Chloe. “It’s not her fault she’s allergic.”

Julia snorted. “It’s never their fault,” she said. “It’s not their fault they can’t remember their lines. It’s not their fault they got drunk and fell down. It’s not their fault the sex tape got leaked the week before the premiere and Disney totally freaked out. It’s never their fault.”

Jane tuned Julia out as she continued to rave about the irresponsibility of pop stars, how no one respected directors anymore, and how she ought to have signed on to the independent film about the Brazilian street orphan who was found to be the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

“I bet Kathryn Bigelow doesn’t have to put up with this crap!” she raged. “I’m giving that girl two minutes to get out here or I’m quit—”

“Here I am,” said Chloe.

Jane looked up to see the girl standing there smiling. The hives were gone and her skin was flawless. There was a glow about her that hadn’t been there five minutes before. Jane recognized it at once, and she looked at Chloe with raised eyebrows.

Chloe nodded slightly. Then she looked at Julia and said, “I’m sorry about before.”

“Then you’re ready to shoot now?” asked the director.

Chloe beamed. “Of course,” she said. “I just needed a little snack.”

Chapter 23

If the heart-shaped gates festooned with hundreds of red and pink roses weren’t enough to let anyone entering the fairgrounds know that love was the theme of the carnival, the half dozen men dressed like cupids walking around handing out candy hearts would have provided an additional clue. One—an attractive, well-muscled redhead wearing a short white tunic and little else—approached Jane and held out a basket. Jane shook her head firmly and walked away.

Lucy, however, took a handful of hearts. She handed one each to Byron, Ben, and Sarah. “What do they say?” she asked.

Ben peered at his. “ ‘Kiss Me,’ ” he read.

“Don’t mind if I do,” said Lucy, giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Mine says, ‘You’re Cute!’ ” said Sarah. “I already know that. I should get another one.”

Lucy looked at the candies in her hand. “This one is perfect for you,” she told the little girl as she handed her another heart.

“ ‘Girl Power,’ ” Sarah read. “Only it’s spelled G-R-R-L. I like that.” She popped the candy into her mouth, then growled. “Grrrl power,” she said.

“And what’s written on your hard little heart?” Jane asked Byron, smiling tightly.

“Mine is slightly less thrilling,” Byron said. “It says ‘Love Bug.’ I have absolutely no idea what that means.”

“It means you’re infested,” said Jane.

“You’re just determined to have a horrible time, aren’t you?” Lucy said to Jane. She hooked her arm through Jane’s and walked beside her. “Come on. It isn’t that bad.”

“It’s worse,” Jane countered.

Lucy laughed. “Cheer up, or I won’t tell you what my heart said.”

“Let me guess,” said Jane. “It said ‘Sour Puss.’ ”

“That would be for you,” Lucy teased. “Guess again.”

“I don’t want to guess,” said Jane. “I want to go home.”

“Quit being a big baby,” Lucy said. “Revel in the hideousness of Beverly Shrop’s festival of romance.”

“It’s more like a nightmare,” Jane groused.

“Fine, I’ll tell you,” said Lucy. “It said ‘Marry Me.’ ”

Jane raised an eyebrow. “No wonder you ate it so quickly,” she said.

“Oh, I didn’t eat that one,” said Lucy. “I saved it. The one I ate said ‘Tell Jane to take the stick out of her butt and have a good time with her friends.’ ”

“Cheeky candy,” Jane said, feigning offense. Then she laughed. “And why are you saving the other one?”

Lucy leaned in. “Maybe I’ll give it to Ben later.”