"You know I had to leave. For the family. There was too much turmoil if I stayed. Why would it be because of you?"
"I wasn't sure if you were mad at me - from the night of the covenant ceremony."
"I couldn't be mad at you. It was my decision."
"But I was so angry."
"I understood. Everyone was upset."
"But it's been a year. You weren't supposed to stay this long."
"I like it here," he said.
"And you like Raven."
"Yes, I do."
"But why ... why didn't you turn Luna? She's beautiful and so much fun! All you had to do was turn her. Then we all could be together in Romania. And she could have been a vampire - a Sterling vampire."
"She wasn't the right girl for me. I'm sorry to have disappointed you. But Luna is doing fine. She doesn't need me to get along in this world."
"Well, now that Luna is a vampire, why don't you like her?" she asked.
"Stormy... I wasn't ... it just wasn't right. You'll understand when you're older."
"I understand now. You don't think I know about love?"
"If you do ... well, you'll know that you need to wait for the one you really love."
"So you didn't love Luna?"
I didn't hear him answer. I figured he was shaking his head.
"You love Raven?"
He was quiet again. I was hoping he was nodding this time.
"We don't have to talk about all this tonight," Alexander finally said, "do we?" Just then I stepped back into the room.
Stormy looked at me as if she wondered how much I'd heard.
"We were just catching up a bit," Alexander said. "I kind of left home in a hurry. Not the best situation. But now we're together - "
"Yes," she said. Stormy flashed a grin.
"I'm going to take Raven home," he said to his sibling. "Maybe you can take a catnap?"
"But it's only midnight," she whined.
"I know - but you've traveled quite a bit."
"I'm not a child," she said, just as I probably would have in her situation.
It was odd to leave and have to be the one going to bed while a twelve-year-old girl got to stay awake until sunrise. Being a mortal had its drawbacks. "It was nice to finally meet you, Stormy," I said. "I hope to see you again soon."
"Yes, it was lovely meeting you, Raven," she said with a sweet grin. I was hoping for a hug, but it didn't happen. She politely offered her hand instead.
I gently shook it, and she raced up the grand staircase, just like I had a hundred times before.
I felt kind of lonely, knowing that I had to go home while the siblings got to hang out together. But this was really about Alexander and not me, and I took comfort in knowing that his loneliness, living in the Mansion with just Jameson for company, was minimized again.
"She seems really sweet," I said when Alexander and I had settled into the Mercedes.
"I'm glad you like her," he said.
"What's not to like?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Why do you call her Stormy?" I asked when we drove down the long and winding drive.
"She has her moments."
"Really? She seems very polite."
"She is. But she can be very vocal and dramatic."
"Like me?"
"Yes, I'd say that," he said with a chuckle.
Then I remembered the private chat that I'd overheard. "I don't want her to resent me," I said.
"Why would she? She just likes to be the center of attention, that's all. She always has."
"No, I mean that you didn't return to Romania. She might think that you are still here because of me."
"Well, I am." Alexander sported a reassuring smile.
"But it's your decision," I said. "She needs to know that. Otherwise she'll just blame me."
"You think so?"
"I know so. I just wanted you to know, too."
Alexander paused for a moment, as if he was giving my words real thought.
"Maybe sometime this week you two can spend some girl-time together," he said. "Then she'll know exactly why I fell in love with you, too." d
Chapter 6 A Creep in the Crypt
I waited impatiently in my family room in anticipation of Alexander picking me up. He was taking Stormy to visit the Crypt, and he wanted the three of us to go together. I knew Luna would be at the club and that Stormy was looking forward to seeing her. I had hoped for a little more time for Stormy and me to bond before she reunited with Luna, but I was excited that I was going to be with Alexander to show her the club. When the doorbell rang, I raced to the door. I got a few heavenly smooches in before Alexander led me to the Mercedes. When we reached the car, Stormy was sitting in the front seat. Alexander shot her a look and gestured for her to hop in the back. Billy Boy and I F
"No," Alexander said. "Stormy will sit in the back."
I heard a large "humph!" from her. I was okay with riding in the backseat. After all, she wasn't Billy Boy, and it really had been more about our sibling power struggle than about looking out the front window.
Stormy started to open her door, but I jumped into the backseat.
"It's okay," I said. "I like it back here. I feel like I'm being chauffeured."
Stormy shrugged her shoulders as Alexander sneered at her.
"All right," he said, changing his mood. "Off to the Crypt."
"I can't wait to see it," Stormy said. "I've never been to a club before. So will there be boys my age there?" she asked.
"Uh ... not usually," Alexander said.
"Who am I going to dance with?" she asked.
"We'll all dance together," I offered.
"Oh..." She was audibly disappointed, and her voice trailed off as she gazed out the window.
Alexander turned into the gravel lot, and Stormy was amazed by the size of the factory. "This is the club?" she asked.
"Part of it is," Alexander said.
"What's in the other parts?" she said, wondering.
"Jagger's office," Alexander said, parking. "Their sleeping quarters. A covenant altar."
"They have a covenant altar in this place?"
"Yes," Alexander said. "Jagger doesn't leave anything out."
"Wow - this is so fabulous!" she exclaimed, hopping from the car.
"I thought you might like it," he said as we got out and joined her. "You could be the youngest one there."