I placed the chair between us, not saying anything. I didn’t like what he was insinuating, that I was attracted to Phoenix — someone other than my boyfriend — even though the reality was that Phoenix was Alexander.
“How can you be in love with a vampire and not want to have a club where he can attend?”
“You know I mean nefarious, unknown vampires.”
“Do I really? You think Alexander is the only benevolent vampire?”
“Uh. . no.”
“Or are you afraid that if he spends enough time around his kind, he might prefer their company?” he asked, putting his foot on the chair and leaning in. “He might be reminded of what he is missing.”
That was something I hadn’t imagined. I had only been thinking about two things — the potential danger of vampires mixing with unsuspecting mortals, and the risk of blowing the coffin lid off of the secret identity of my boyfriend, thus threatening his stay in Dullsville.
“Aren’t you jealous of Luna?” Jagger asked coldly. “Don’t you think it’s weird — Sebastian meets her and within an hour takes the extra plunge, so to speak? And Alexander has known you for how long now?”
“It’s different, and you know that. I’m not a vampire. Luna is.”
“So she is,” he said. “Lucky Luna. So what kind of vampire would you be? The Sebastian kind? Or the Alexander kind?”
“I came here to help, not to discuss my boyfriend.”
“For which club? The mortal one, or the vampire one?” he asked. “I find it curious — perhaps more than a coincidence — that Scarlet, Onyx, and Sebastian have been suggesting a mortals-only club. You didn’t happen to talk to them as well, did you?”
I wasn’t about to admit that I had. “But they’re right. This town is too small for an increased vampire population.
Gossip spreads so quickly here. If the mortal patrons know it is safe, they will want to come. But if they get wind of anything nefarious, then they will want to shut down your club completely.”
“You don’t seem the type to worry about what others think.”
“I worry about what their actions can do to my friends. More vampires in this town — ones not so benign, such as yourself—” I said for good measure “—can undermine or even threaten the existence of the ones who already live here.”
“Alexander—”
“And now you, Luna, Sebastian, Onyx, and Scarlet.”
He stood up and thought for a moment as he put the chair back by the table. “But it seems to me that you would want this to be a place for you — to hang out with the ones you really want to be with,” he said. “Really want to be.”
I fantasized for a moment, imagined myself immersed in a world of vampires, dancing and sipping blood-filled drinks. It was an eye into the Underworld that I wouldn’t get by attending Dullsville High but only by partying with vampires and being accepted as one of their own.
“I know. . but a club full of and attracting more vampires is not good for everyone else. My parents — my brother.
The townspeople.”
“They’ll never know we’re here. Unless you tell them.”
“I’m not going to tell anyone.” I was miffed that he’d even insinuate that I’d be a blabbermouth after I’d kept the biggest secret from anyone — that my boyfriend was a vampire.
“I think it’s risky enough as it is — with all of you hiding out in this factory it raises suspicion and fuels gossip. I don’t think it’s a good idea to add to the mix by inviting new vampires.”
“Then what’s the point of the club? What kind of business would I be running? Besides, I have a few things planned for this club to make it even more special.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
“A mortal club would be special all on its own. I don’t think you truly understand how amazing it would be for us to have a place to dance,” I said. “There isn’t one here. Nothing for anyone to do. And you’d still make a fortune.
There’s a lot of extra money these kids in town are willing to spend. Why would you want anything to get in the way of that?”
“I’m not sure I like people telling me what to do,” he said, getting in my face. “Especially people who want to be a member of this club — for eternity.”
I’d pushed Jagger too far.
“Does Alexander know you’re here?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” he said from behind me.
I was as startled as Jagger was. I whipped around to find Alexander standing next to me.
“You wouldn’t want anything to jeopardize our truce, would you?” Jagger asked.
“And I’m sure you wouldn’t as well,” Alexander shot back.
The tension was thick. I wasn’t sure which vampire was going to budge first.
Jagger softened. “Your girlfriend was just convincing me how she could help me out.”
I turned to Alexander, awaiting his reaction. I wasn’t about to let on to Jagger that I hadn’t told Alexander yet about assisting him in fixing up the club.
“Yes, I think it’s a good idea for her to help decorate,” he said.
Jagger was pleased. He had two antagonists all at once interested in his endeavor.
“Here, let me show you around,” he said proudly. “With the girls pitching in and cooperation from my suppliers for the Coffin Club, this club will be up and running in a few weeks. It doesn’t take any time to set up a rave — all you need is music and a place to invite people. But I want this to be more than a simple place to party. I want it to be a place to belong.
“We’ll have a stage, a dance floor, a bar, and as the club expands, so will we,” Jagger said, giving us a tour of the factory and his vision of the Crypt.
“What is this door to?” I asked, moving to a door on the far side of the room and twisting the knob. I’d seen on the blueprints that it led to the Covenant. It was locked.
“Nothing,” he said, guiding me away.
Perhaps Jagger had had a change of heart. With Sebastian, me, and now Alexander on board and telling him not to invite more vampires to Dullsville, he might not want anything to jeopardize his success.
“So you aren’t planning on spreading word about the club to vampires?” Alexander asked.
“I think Raven’s right,” Jagger replied. “Why shouldn’t I fill the club with mortals?” he said with a wicked grin.
I wasn’t sure if I’d really convinced him or not. But especially now that Jagger had explained the plans for the Crypt, I really couldn’t wait until it opened.
“I’m glad you’ll be part of the club,” Jagger said. “You will be the first on the invitation list, Raven. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
As soon as the torture of another dreadfully monotonous Dullsville High day was over, I raced to the Sinclair Mill.
Nothing was going to stop me from helping Jagger and his cryptic clique from decorating the decadent dance club. When I made my way inside the decaying building I saw that Jagger had already marked the floor with glow tape where the stage, dance floor, and bar would be. While the vampires slept, I swept, removed empty cardboard boxes, and cleared away any debris that would get in the way of the quick renovations. By the time the sun set and the vampires awoke, I was exhausted.
Alexander greeted me with a kiss and Javalicious coffee, and I sat on a box sipping it and watching as Onyx and Scarlet and the vampires worked. Scarlet drank her own piping hot latte. But instead of cocoa beans, hers was brewed with blood.
I rested my weary head against Alexander’s shoulder. In this environment, unlike any other in Dullsville, I was accepted as one of the “in” crowd — and I was in my element — hanging out with vampires and helping
