"I can help Jameson," I said from the bottom of the staircase.
"You have to come up, too," Alexander directed.
I was anxious when we reached the top of the stairs. My heart thrummed the way it Ced h="2 might if I was throwing a surprise party and hoping that the recipient was indeed surprised.
By the looks of Stormy's style, I thought maybe she'd like how I decorated her room, but there was a huge chance I could have missed the mark on her taste and she'd see the room as a big disaster. I held my breath as Alexander lit several candles, illuminating her room. Though the vampires could see in the dark, the soft light helped us all see the room's interior even better.
She paused and glanced around.
"This ... is..."
"Yes?" Alexander asked, waiting for her reaction.
"Gorgeous! It's just fabulous!" she exclaimed.
Even Phantom examined her new surroundings by jumping on the chaise longue and sniffing at the stuffed animals.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and it appeared that Alexander had been anxious, too, as his sigh was audible.
She raced over to the chaise longue, hopped on it, and hugged a few of the pillows.
"And this Hello Batty plush!" she said, holding it up. "Do I get to keep it?"
"Everything is yours," Alexander said.
"We can put your coffin right here," Alexander said, pointing to the only empty area.
His words sent goose bumps over my flesh. A coffin. For a girl to sleep in. It was so awesome!
Stormy buzzed around the room, touching everything she saw. "I love these candles!" she said, sniffing the lavender scent. "And these picture frames - with your paintings of us, Alexander! These look exactly like Mother and Father. And these curtains! They are so long and luscious!" She draped them over herself as if they were a ball gown. "How do I look?"
"Like a movie star!" Alexander said.
"I can't believe you did all this for me."
"Well, actually," he said, "Raven did. You know that I don't have a clue about buying frilly pillows," Alexander said.
"But I thought you did it with her," she began.
"Well, Alexander put everything together," I said.
"Not really. Raven picked out everything and designed it."
"You did?" she asked. "How did you know what I liked?"
"Alexander told me."
"But Raven found everything," Alexander said proudly. "She did a great job, didn't she?"
"Yes." She nodded enthusiastically. Then she asked, "Did Luna help?"
Luna? There was that name.
"No," Alexander said. "Why would Luna help? This was all Raven. You have her to thank for your room." Alexander genuinely meant that the work I'd done was a sincere gesture from me to Stormy, but I was afraid she'd be upset that someone other than her own family - a stranger to her - had decorated her room. I couldn't blame her if those were her true feelings.
"Thank you so much, Raven. I love it!" she said, twisting her jet-black locks. It was as if she thought about hugging me but didn't know what to do. Instead, she flashed me a smile and hopped again on the chaise longue with Phantom.
"You don't have to thank me," I said. "I had a great time doing it."
Jameson came into the room and placed Stormy's luggage by the dresser. "I'll bring her coffin up, too." The Creepy Man was frail, and I couldn't imagine him bringing a casket up the Mansion staircase or even assembling one on his own. Fortunately, neither could Alexander.
"No," Alexander said. "I'll get that."
"Thank you. Dinner will be ready in a few moments," the butler said.
Stormy hopped off the chaise longue and straightened her skirt. Jameson left, and Alexander and I watched as Stormy surveyed all the trinkets I'd placed on her bookshelf.
She grinned slightly, and I could tell by her expression that she was really pleased with her new digs.
"So where is Raven's room?" she asked suddenly.
Alexander was taken aback by her direct question and chuckled nervously. "At her house," Alexander replied.
"You don't live here, too?" she asked me as if she was expecting I did.
"No," I said. "I live with my family. And they are not as exciting as yours. Believe me." Stormy seemed slightly relieved knowing I hadn't taken physical custody of the Mansion and she had power over her rightful territory.
"You must be hungry," Alexander said. "Let's hit the kitchen."
Alexander blew out the candles, and we followed Stormy out of her room until she paused at the top of the stairs and turned to look at us.
"Are you two getting married?" she suddenly blurted out like a typical younger sibling.
I laughed, and Alexander cracked a crooked smile.
Stormy and I waited to hear Alexander's response. I wasn't sure how she wanted him to respond, but I knew how I did.
Alexander put his hand on his sister's shoulder and guided her down the staircase. "Jameson!" he called. "We're coming down to dinner!" I think we were both disappointed not to get an answer.
We sat down to eat in the formal dining room, which was dressed with gleaming silver, fine china, and linen napkins. Several candelabras lit the room, and the red candle wax dripped like a bleeding wound. Alexander pulled out Stormy's chair, seating her to the left of him, and I followed suit at his right. Stormy and I faced each other across the table, with Alexander in the middle at the head of the table. Stormy, so cool and stylish in her lacy black fingerless gloves, placed her linen napkin gingerly on her lap.
Jameson pushed the dining cart in from the kitchen and served us a nice dinner of rare filets (medium well for me), twice-baked potatoes, and peas. Stormy had a blood-filled glass goblet garnished with a cherry and a purple sword, while Alexander also had a blood-filled goblet. Mine was filled with boring old soda.
When Stormy lowered her goblet after her first sip, red liquid dotted the corners of her lips. Alexander gestured to her, and she rolled her eyes at him. When she wiped it off, the dark liquid smeared the light napkin. I was shocked. I'd seen wine-stained napkins before, but this was the first time I'd seen a bloodstained one.
"So, what have you been up to?" Alexander asked as he cut his juicy steak.
"Nothing much," she said. "Home isn't the same without you there." Stormy cut her steak into tiny little pieces. She savored each bite.
"Oh, come on," Alexander challenged. "You are always busy with something."