Tenth Grade Bleeds

other in the eye. Our cells were side by side. But when Tomas stretched his hand between the bars I could glimpse the signet ring on his little finger. It was made from black onyx. When I asked him about it, he said that the ring was a symbol of his heritage and all that he was. It was all that he had, and though our imprisoners might take our freedom and our dignity-and eventually, our lives-they could never take that from him.

Then, on the eve of my thirty-fourth birthday, a man came to visit. He offered Tomas and me our freedom. But so much more. He offered us eternity. Suspicious, I refused at first, but then Tomas agreed. The man went into Tomas’s cell, and all I heard was a scuffle, then slurping sounds, then silence. It was all I could do not to faint from fear when our visitor entered my cell.

He’d killed Tomas, I was certain, and so I had nothing else to live for. If not this man, it would be another to take my life, and I no longer had endless conversations with my new friend to keep me from losing my mind entirely. Let death come. Let it be quick.

But he didn’t attack. Instead, he asked me again if I would come with him into forever.

From the next room, I heard Tomas’s voice. It was but a whisper. “Come with me, Otis,” he said.

Though I hesitated, I eventually nodded to our guest and he leaped on me, biting into my neck. The rest is a blur. I passed out, but when I came to, I was in Siberia, and Tomas was at my side.

Fast-forward many, many years, to the day he told me of his plans to flee Elysia for the love of a human. The last thing he said to me was, “This ring is all that I am, Otis. But as it is a part of me, so are you.”

Then he handed me the signet ring… and walked out of my life forever.

Please take care of this ring, Vladimir. It belonged to your father, and it meant as much to him-and to me-as I am sure it will to you.

Yours in Eternity,

Otis

Vlad picked the envelope up again and tilted the open end over his cupped palm. Out tumbled a black ring made of stone, with a crest as its insignia. With tears brimming in his eyes, he slipped the small ring onto his pinkie. Despite the fact that he wasn’t sure whether or not his uncle could hear him, Vlad reached out with his mind and said, “ Thank you, Otis. This means more to me than any stupid car.”

Then he doused the candle, closed his eyes, and cried.

10 CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH

IGNATIUS TIGHTENED HIS JAW AS HE WATCHED Tomas’s son step out of the shadows near the high school and make his way down the sidewalk toward his home. He’d lost the boy for several hours, and only half expected he’d broken into the school-for what purpose, he neither knew nor cared. What was important was that he’d found the boy again, and the sky was overcast, protecting him from the rays of the sun as they reflected off the moon.

He moved in behind the boy, licking anxious lips. As he’d done with his last prey, he’d grab him by a handful of hair and drag him into the darkness, taking his time peeling back the boy’s flesh with his blade, making him suffer. It would be exquisite, and he could hardly wait to begin.

With every step, he closed the gap between them. The boy moved along at a casual pace, occasionally glancing to the left or the right, never seeming to think to check behind him. His posture screamed of awkwardness. Ignatius stretched his hand out, his fingers brushing against the boy’s soft black hair.

But as the tresses slipped between his fingers, the clouds shifted, uncovering the moon. Ignatius moved as quickly and silently as he could, flying with vampiric speed, to the safety of a nearby shed. Cursing, he watched out the small window as the boy brushed the back of his head with his palm and looked back in wonderment, as if trying to identify just what or who had touched him. After a nervous pause, he hurried his steps. In a moment, he was out of Ignatius’s line of sight.

Bitter fury boiled within the hunter. Fury that would only be tamed by Vladimir Tod’s suffering.

11 THE PRICE OF A STOLEN MOMENT

EDDIE WAS IN AN UNUSUALLY CHIPPER MOOD as he waved a photograph in front of Vlad’s nose.

Vlad snatched the picture and took a look, bristling at the fact that it had come from Eddie. The image was dark but crisp. Vlad making his way down the sidewalk at night. Behind him by a matter of feet was a man. Vlad shrugged. It was no one he knew, probably some drunk out for a sobering stroll after a night at the town’s only bar. “So?”

Eddie spoke in a singsong voice. “So it looks like I’m not your only shadow.”

Henry slammed his locker door and plucked the photo from Vlad’s hand. He tossed it down the hallway Frisbee-style and glared at Eddie. “Fetch.”

With a scowl, Eddie walked off, stopping only to pluck his beloved picture from the floor.

Henry turned back to Vlad. “Anyway, you were saying?”

Vlad sighed and leaned up against his locker. He clutched his new journal in his hands. It had become his constant companion since his birthday a week and a half before. “Nelly seriously thinks I’m going to have Meredith for dinner.”

Henry shook his head. “ That’s ridiculous.”

Vlad groaned. “I know!”

“Meredith is way too small for dinner. If anything, she’d be lunch, or maybe a big breakfast.”

“I’m serious, Henry. What am I gonna do?”

But suddenly Henry didn’t seem very invested in the conversation. Melissa Hart walked by them, and with every step she took, Henry’s frown deepened. Finally she disappeared into a nearby classroom, and Henry shut his locker, his shoulders sagging, his jovial demeanor subdued. “I don’t know, Vlad. I really don’t.”

Vlad deliberated for a moment whether Henry was answering his question or simply musing about his troubles with Melissa, but he didn’t have long to speculate. Meredith stepped into view at the end of the hall, looking pretty as ever, and, with a wink, she gestured with a bent finger for him to follow her.

With a glance at Henry, he headed down the hall, barely taking the time to breathe. “See ya.”

Meredith opened up the janitor’s closet. Raising an eyebrow, Vlad followed her inside.

It was dark, but Meredith’s hands found his shoulders. “Hi.”

Vlad smiled. “You brought me into a broom closet to say hi?”

“No. I brought you here so I could do this.”

She pressed her soft lips against his, and Vlad felt like he was floating. In a blink, he realized