Alexander had mortals and vampires alike drawn to him, while the Maxwells had them fleeing. It was a sharp contrast in the reactions the three vampires brought out in people.
Chapter 18 Fight Club
I can't believe Luna would do that," Stormy said the following evening when I met her at the Mansion. She was in her room touching up her makeup, and Alexander was still getting ready to go out with me.
She was disillusioned in her friend. "I knew you couldn't trust Jagger," she continued. "But Luna. How could I have been so wrong about her?"
"Well, she was always good to you," I tried to assure her, standing next to her at her dresser. "It's just that she's not so good to others."
"But if she isn't good to you - then that is wrong."
"I think she feels she's doing the right thing." I wasn't sure why I was sticking up for Luna. Maybe it was only to comfort Stormy's feelings. "Anyway, they were offering me something I wanted," I said, "just with the wrong guy."
Stormy had the life I had dreamed of. A casket sat in the middle of the wall where normally a bed would be. I sat down on the edge of her chaise.
"What do you want?" she asked, sitting next to me.
"To become a vampire."
"You really want to be one?" Her expression brightened.
"Yes," I said. "I always have. But I want to with Alexander."
"You'd change for Alexander?" She was shocked.
"Yes. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to be with him regardless."
"But you would become a vampire? Willingly?" she asked, surprised.
"Yeah. I've wanted it all my life."
"Even before you met Alexander?"
"Yes, but I'd only want to be a vampire with him," I said emphatically.
She grabbed my hand. "I didn't know you wanted to be like us, too."
"Exactly like you. Cool, nice, and living amongst your own."
"Does Alexander know this?"
"Yes. I've told him a hundred times."
"Then what is my brother waiting for?"
"He wants it to be the right time. And for the right reason."
"But if that's want you want - and he does, too - then why is he being so stubborn?"
"He thinks I won't like it. And that I'll blame him. He feels too much pressure."
"I guess..."
"But I know I will be happy. In fact, getting to know you has really convinced me how much I'd like it."
"You mean that?"
"Yes. You are the most fabulous girl ever," I said, using her favorite compliment.
"Not as fabulous as you."
"Really?"
"Yes. If I were a mortal, I'd want to be like you."
We smiled at each other, and Stormy blushed a little bit.
"And if I were a vampire - "
"But you can be!" Stormy interrupted.
"I'm not so sure he's ready." I sighed.
"You must tell him. Now. You must make sure he knows how important it is to you. Then we can be one big happy family." Just then Alexander entered the room. Stormy and I rose, and I headed over to him. "What's going on?" he asked, kissing me on the cheek.
"Girl talk," Stormy said.
"Aren't you supposed to be with Jameson getting tutored?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "Remember what I said," she whispered to me, and winked before she hopped down the stairs.
"I see you two are getting along."
"Yes, we really see eye to eye," I said, beaming.
A few minutes later, Alexander and I were talking in the gazebo in the backyard of the Mansion.
"I still can't believe Jagger had you up on the covenant altar," he said, shaking his head. "After all he and I have been through. To do that to you - and me."
"I know."
"I'm just glad we came in when we did - but it seems you were able to handle yourself."
"It was more of an offer - " I said. "But still it was wrong. I had to get out the garlic powder for him to know I was serious, too." The offer was attractive, and though I didn't want to become a vampire with Jagger, I was flattered that someone wanted to change me. I knew Alexander did, but Jagger was offering it to me only last night. It was something I couldn't shake. If Jagger wanted it, thought about it, and tried to make it happen, did that mean Alexander would, too?
"But why would he think that you would do that with him?" he asked.
"He just thinks of himself," I said. "But I also think that somehow he understands me."
"What do you mean by that?" Alexander was taken aback.
"He can see that it's really what I want. What I've always wanted."
"You don't think I understand you?"
"Of course I do. But I guess he's more impulsive. Like Sebastian. That's what makes you so special - your thoughtfulness," I said.
"Well, when it's time for you to turn," he said reassuringly, "it will be by me." The stars twinkled through the broken boards in the roof. The night was perfect, and Alexander was giving me the dreamiest kiss I could have imagined receiving.
He slid his fangs down the side of my neck. As usual I was dying for him to take the plunge. When he pulled away, I followed him.
He slid his fangs down the side of my neck. As usual I was dying for him to take the plunge. When he pulled away, I followed him.
"I know your parents, your best friend, and now your sister," I began. "Unless you are hiding a brother and a dog, I think I've met your whole family."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe now's the time. I see Stormy and how she lives. I want that life for me."
"You want to be isolated and in constant threat of being found out you are a vampiou yore?"
"No. I want the other part. To sleep in a coffin by day and be awake all night. To live by candlelight. To be a part of the Underworld. I have craved these things all my life. I want to share that with you and your family and friends."
"But don't you already?"
"Luna has Romeo, and Becky has Matt. They are all sharing the same world. But us? We are trapped in our own separate human and vampire lives. Forced to live without being together as much as we could be if we were truly part of the same world."
"I know," he concurred. "I miss out on so much in your life, being stuck alone in my coffin while you're at school. I should be there eating lunch with you, studying, hanging out."
"That's how I feel about my life, too. If only I was a vampire, then I wouldn't be rotting away in school all day when I could be sharing a coffin with you, celebrating the night together, and be bonded together for eternity."