“You know,” said Dad, “if I didn’t know any better, I would say that Vince is under some sort of diabolic
mind control.”
So much for Dad changing his ways and changing mine. “Yeah. I’ve heard being interested in girls has that effect.”
“Well, he certainly isn’t behaving like his normal self,” said Dad. “Do you suppose that vampire at the mall did something to him?”
“I don’t know. Vince was being a jerk to William beforehand, and the attack was probably karmic retribution, or maybe karma for how he is today.” I softened. I was not usually this mean. Down, Abby.
Down near the boardwalk was what would obviously be the new skate/biking/jogging path once the concrete was poured. “Keep an eye on him,” said Dad.
Wait a second. Was this evidence of vampiric mind control? How could I have been so stupid? My reaction was foolish and visceral because I was jealous.
“Shoot.”
“What is it?” asked Dad.
“What if you’re right? What if Vince is under vampiric mind control?”
“It is possible.”
I watched the waves run forward and retreat. “Why the fixation on Coral?”
“Where was she when the attack happened, Abby?”
I squinted in the bright sunlight at Dad. “I know where you’re going with this. I think it’s some place against new parental rules.”
“You aren’t breaking the rules,” said Dad. “You are answering a few questions in my investigation.”
“Okay. She and William both went home before I left the group. I know it looks bad, and I thought about it. But Dad, do you notice how this is daylight, and Coral is out in the daylight?” A weird thought crossed my mind. “I’ve never seen William during the day, but I know Vince has.”
“Or Vince thinks he has,” said Dad.
This conversation had taken an odd turn.
“My theory is Coral is supernatural, maybe a siren or a nymph or something.”
Dad coughed. “You chose not to share this with your mother and me?”
I crossed my arms. “I’m trying to be civilized,” I said. “You know, give the monster the benefit of the doubt? Coexist?”
“She hasn’t done anything dangerous?”
“Unless you count what’s going on with Vince now, which you think is mind control.” I shrugged. “It could also be a boy thing.”
“Come on,” Dad said. “Let’s get Vince and take him home.”
Vince was sitting like a happy store mannequin. Marty and Coral were giggling. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that either. Good on Marty for making a new friend. Good on Coral for being okay with Marty. I wasn’t sure if Marty was in for a new friendship or a colossal letdown for her crush.
“Everyone done?” I smiled so hard I wasn’t sure I’d be able to turn the corners of my mouth down again.
Coral stood up. Vince also stood up. “This was fun. William is going to be so jealous I met you, Mr. Rath.”
“Maybe you would like to take him an autograph?”
“Would you?”
“No trouble at all.”
While Dad scrawled his name on a placemat, I tapped Vince on the arm. “Your mom asked us to see you home. Hope that’s okay?”
“Yeah, fine.”
Coral folded the placemat so it fit in her purse. “Don’t forget about the party, Abby.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t miss it.”
We smiled at each other like we were in some sort of out grin each other contest. Marty waggled her fingers goodbye, and Coral left the store, dabbing at her lips with a napkin.
Dad looked sideways at Marty’s neck, just checking. My parents wondered what was wrong with me?
“She’s clean,” I said to Dad.
“Of course I am,” said Marty.
“I was looking for fudge,” I said, offering a sensible alibi. “Let’s go. Rath express leaving for points east.”
We dropped Marty off first. I asked her if she’d be skating tonight, and she assured me she’d had enough skating for one day. Vince was polite as she left, but seemed daydreamy. He looked out the window on the front passenger side.
“Penny for your thoughts, Vince?” One of my Dad’s favorite sayings, but I could use it too.
Vince pulled his thoughts back to the car. “Nothing important.”
“She certainly is pretty.”
Vince took a moment to answer that. “She’s okay.”
I leaned forward. “Are you skating tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool.” Because I was about to do something unprecedented in my time as a monster hunter in training. I was going to have Ned take a look at Vince, get a second opinion. If Ned could detect a whammy on Vince, Mom and Dad would know to do something.
As soon as Coral hit the rink, Vince was Coral’s constant attendant. I was glad Marty was sitting the night out, because even as untrained as she was at the whole relationship thing, she’d notice. Come on. I noticed. Then again, what I was noticing were Dad’s voiced suspicions. I didn’t know how mind control looked different from romance. My experience and observations hadn’t been much help with that distinction.
Maybe the reason I was such a weirdo was my parents were such weirdos. How could I not see vampires everywhere if they suspected vampires were everywhere? I mean, some vampire attacked Vince, even if it wasn’t necessarily a Petrova.
Tonight Mr. Cooper was our chaperone, and like Mrs. Cooper, he was pretty chummy with Ned. I owed Ned twice now, but something rankled me about being friendly with a vampire. However, this evening I needed Ned’s expertise, so I was determined to be nice. I started to head over to the snack bar, but I was intercepted by William. He looked good. Not a mark on him from a WWJD bracelet, which would be under his chin, based on what I saw at the mall. Observation cleared him for now.
“Hello, Abby.” William was trying for the smolder. It seemed to be
