6 Royal Blood (6 page)

I grabbed a knitted blanket and a pair of Billy's sneakers I that were sitting on the stairs and threw them into the hall closet. I straightened my skirt. "They're here!" "Then answer the door!" my mom called. I checked myself in the hallway mirror. I was pleased with my reflection. Oh my! I thought. Reflection! I immediately unhooked the mirror and carefully placed it in the closet. The doorbell rang again. "Answer the door, Raven/' my mother called. "They'll think we're not home!" I smoothed out my skirt again and opened the door. Alexander looked gorgeous in a gray silk shirt and black jeans. Mrs. Sterling was packed into a tight black dress and dark knee-high boots, and she held a black lace parasol. Her attire was a fabulous combination of sixties and goth. Mr. Sterling sported an impressive silk suit, lavender tie, and brooding half cape. "Welcome to our home," I said. My mom rushed over to us, wiping her hands off with a kitchen towel. My dad came over and did his best to conceal his shock. Mrs. Sterling collapsed her umbrella. "Mom, Dad, this is Mr. and Mrs. Sterling." My mom extended her hand. "It's lovely to meet you both." "Hello. I'm Cassandra," Alexander's mom said. "I'm Paul, and this is Sarah," my dad responded. "Constantine Sterling. Nice to meet you," Alexander's dad said. "Here, let me take that," my dad said, taking the umbrella. "I didn't know it was raining" "It isn't," she said evenly. Her violet eyelashes sparkled. "Well, I guess you are prepared when it does." "Come in and make yourselves at home. I'm just finishing up." My mom darted into the kitchen. My father stuck the umbrella in the closet. "What's this doing in here?" he muttered, noticing the Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)hall mirror lying against his tennis racket. Dinner at the Madisons might have been the Sterlings' first time slumming it. Our house was nice, but it wasn't a monster-size megamansion. My father led us into the living room. "Your house is gorgeous," Mrs. Sterling remarked. I clutched Alexander's hand for security. Now I could see why he had waited to introduce me to his family. The pressure was enormous. What would my mother say? What did they really think of my house? Our house wasn't tidy, but my mom did clean it. At least the sight of a few cobwebs would make them feel comfortable. "Can I get you something; to drink?" I asked. "Dinner's almost ready." "Raven, I need you," I heard my mother bellow. Of course she did. Now that I had company my mom was getting all demanding. I wanted to keep my eyes and ears on my father and our guests. How could I edit embarrassing conversation if I was out of earshot? "Can I be of any assistance?" Mrs. Sterling kindly offered. The Sterlings were aristocrats. I couldn't imagine Mrs. Sterling serving her own food. Her fingernails were so long, I wouldn't want them to break off carrying salad bowls. "That's all right. W r hat would you like to drink?" I asked. "I am so bloody thirsty," Mrs. Sterling said, "I could drink a horse." My dad laughed. "I like your sense of humor." "How about water?" Alexander answered. "Perfect," I said, and exited before they could change his mind. In the kitchen I tried to pick up on their conversation. I was moving quickly and the ice dropped out of my hand, I returned with three waters. The drinks shook as I brought them out on a tray. As soon as I entered the living room, the drinks clanking together, my dad and Alexander jumped up to assist me. "I'm not sure you have a future in the restaurant biz," my dad joked, " I see Raven as the owner of a fashionable boutique," Mrs, Sterling said. "Really?" my dad asked. "I was hoping she'd be a tennis pro, but as you see, she doesn't like to wear white." Great.This whole evening was going to be my dad's chance at his comedy act-with me as the source of his material, "Dad's embarrassing me already," I said to my mom, back in the kitchen. "He's just having fun. Maybe he's a bit nervous, The Sterlings are very interesting people/' I placed the rolls, butter, pasta, sauce, and salad on the table in record time. "Dinner's on," my mom hollered as if she were Mrs. Walton ringing a dinner bell. Alexander and I sat on one side and the Sterlings on the other, while my parents were at the head of the table. Our dining-room table was a third of the size of Alexander's. We all were in arm's reach of one another, I noticed my mom staring at the wounds on Mrs- Sterling's neck, Mrs. Sterling must have sensed it, too as she turned to my mom. "Just a small bite I received last night, Don't worry- it's not contagious." "I didn't mean to-," my mom said apologetically, "I thought it was a tattoo," my dad said, and we all laughed. I caught my reflection in the glass curio cabinet. I couldn't help notice the lack of our company's Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)shadows. I knew my parents were now distracted with conversation, but once the wine flowed and the carb coma hit-it might be more obvious. "Excuse me," I said, I dimmed the lights so the glare wasn't so noticeable, "Good idea. This is much cozier," my mom complimented me, "I hope pasta is okay," I whispered to Alexander, 'This dinner looks delicious," Mrs. Sterling said. "Thank you," my mom replied. "I bet you are glad to be settled here." "Well, we will be off again soon," Mrs. Sterling said. "Really?" my dad said curiously, "You travel a lot." "We're going back to Romania," Alexander's dad stated. "So soon? You just got here," my mom noted, "For business or pleasure?" my father wondered. "Both," Mr. Sterling answered. "Alexander has told us that you are an art dealer," my dad said. "What is your specialty?" "Whatever sells." We all laughed at his honesty. "I have several galleries and showcase up-and-coming artists as well as the masters," he explained. "Our country club is having an auction next month," my mom chimed in. "Mrs. Mitchell is organizing it. Have you met her? " Alexander's parents shook their heads. "They're auctioning paintings from professional artists," my dad said. "I'm sure you might find some wonderful additions to your collection." "I don't think you'd find a Picasso in this town. Unless, of course, Alexander was selling his work," I said proudly, "I'm sure you could fill several galleries with Alexander's art/' my mom said. "We haven't seen his paintings yet, but Raven has told us he is quite talented." "I thought he'd need schooling, but he has refused," Mr. Sterling said. "He's a natural, then," my dad concluded. "My sister, Raven's aunt Libby, saw one of his paintings when Raven visited her. Libby said that Alexander's technique was extraordinary. She should know. She's in the arts." "Well, he must take after my mother. She was very talented," Mr. Sterling said. Alexander seemed uncomfortable. It appeared to me that Mr. Sterling didn't think Alexander was serious about his art. "So Cassandra, what did you do today?" my mom asked. "We mostly slept. And you?" "I love days like those," my mom admitted. "I bet you are still adjusting to jet lag. Sometimes that can take awhile to shake off." "I must say that Alexander has been such a changed young man since meeting Raven," his mother said. "That is wonderful to hear." my mom said, touched. "Alexander is so mature for his age. And always a true gentleman." "Thank you," Mrs. Sterling responded, upbeat. "Yes, Alexander is an old soul." "You sure raised him right," my mom continued. "Whatever you've been feeding him all these Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)years, I think some other mothers should follow your lead." I nudged Alexander underneath the table. "I do keep him on a strict diet,"Mrs. Sterling said in between sips of wine. "So Constantine, do you play golf or tennis?" my dad interjected. I thought I was going to die. But then again, Alice Cooper was an amateur golfer. "I haven't played in years." "So what do you do to unwind?" "Fly." "You are a pilot?" "No, I- " "My dad likes to travel," I jumped to say. "We are hoping to take a vacation soon. It's just one day flows into another and then soon the kids are grown and the last trip we've taken was to Disney," my dad said. "Raven tells us you like vampires?" Mrs. Sterling said directly to my father. "We used to watch monster movies when she was a kid. I hope it didn't scar her." "Raven's obsessed with them, if you haven't noticed," my mom teased. "I think we have," Alexander's mom said. "It's something we share." "You should come to Romania," Mr. Sterling suggested. "You could tour Dracula's castle." "That sounds like a fun and very different family vacation," my dad said. "Thank you again for inviting us, Mrs. Madison. You are a wonderful cook," Alexander blurted. "We have plenty more pasta," my mother encouraged. "I'm stuffed," Mr. Sterling said. "Yes, me, too," Mrs. Sterling agreed. "Would you like a cigar?" my dad asked Mr. Sterling. I hated when my dad smoked cigars-though he rarely did. It smelled good for about five seconds until I began wearing it on my clothes and hair. My mother despised it as much as I did, which is odd since they spent most of their college years smoking things with all sorts of bad smells. I shooed them out to the patio as my mom and Mrs. Sterling disappeared into the kitchen. "They seem to be hitting it off," I said to Alexander. "This really was nice for them; they needed to get out. I think they were feeling isolated in the Mansion. Maybe if they made more friends they wouldn't want to�" Alexander trailed off. "What?" We heard a dish break in the kitchen. "I am so sorry" my mom said, "No- it was me," Mrs. Sterling said as we joined them in the kitchen. A china plate was broken on the floor. "We were talking about Romania and I just asked Sarah if she believed in vampires." "I think it's time that we were going, Mom," Alexander said. "What's all the commotion?" my dad asked as he came in. "Nothing. A dish just slipped through my fingers," my mom explained, discarding the broken dinnerware into the trash. "I'd like to pay for that," Mrs. Sterling offered. "Yes, we'll buy you a new set," Mr. Sterling said. "We insist." "Please, it's no trouble," my mom stated with a laugh. "It gives me an excuse to go shopping." "I had a wonderful time, Sarah," Mrs. Sterling said. "I hope we can see each other again." Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) "You don't have to leave yet." My mom's voice was sad, as if she was not ready for her party to end. "Constantine, we must be going," Alexander's mother said. "We�ve kept the Madisons up far too long" "We stay up late, too," my mom tried to assure her. They stay up until at least six, I wanted to say. "We'll have to get together again. Next time at our | home," Mrs. Sterling stated. My parents were thrilled. "Then it's a date. This Saturday we'll have a cocktail party. Just the four of us " said Mrs. Sterling. "You aren't inviting us?" Alexander asked. "I think we should be there, too." "For cocktails? " Mrs. Sterling wondered. "And Cokes," Alexander suggested. "Well� of course, darling. We'd never leave you out. "What can we bring?" my mother asked. Mrs. Sterling leaned in and said, "Your appetite." 17 T he next night, Alexander and I met at his grandmother's monument in the cemetery. "I think it went well," I said, rushing toward him. He greeted me with a long kiss. "That was so nice of your parents to invite us. No one in town has reached out to them. It meant a lot." "My parents really like you. And your family." Alexander brushed my hair away from my face with his fingers. "But there are things you must know" "Our dads got along " I said, dreaming. "Constantine's really great. But he doesn't see me as a real artist. He thinks I'm just going through a phase." "Why do you call him by his first name?" "I just rarely see him. And when I do, he's always focused on his work. Dad never really fell off my tongue. Raven I have to tell you something. Why I didn't introduce you to them before� It's why I've been distracted." Alexander paused, trying to find the right words. "They like me, but they don't want me to become your grandmother-an outsider in her own family," I said. Alexander nodded. "I can imagine if my parents knew you were a vampire, they might have problems with it. I understand your parents might feel the same way about me being a mortal." "Well, there is that�" "But we all get along. Like one big extended happy family. It's just funny. If my parents knew about your parents-and you for that matter�" "What do you think they'd do?" Alexander asked, pulling me toward him. Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) "Not let me meet you in a cemetery, on sacred ground. That's for sure." Dullsville's cemetery was decorated for a wedding. I stood at its entrance wearing a strapless white wedding dress and long white fingerless gloves. My train was as long as a coffin. Chairs, filled with unfamiliar faces, lined the soggy grass. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were awaiting me underneath the wrought-iron arch. Becky was standing up there in a pink ill-fitting bridesmaid's dress. Jameson, in his chauffeur's uniform, was standing as a best man. The officiator was cloaked in a grim reaper outfit. Alexander, beaming in a vintage tuxedo, was waiting for me. My dad joined my side and held a tight grip on my elbow. For some reason, I felt resistant to gojust as I had as a kid when it came time for swimming lessons. T'he water was always too cold, and my suit was always still damp from the day before. My dad held on tightly. "It's time to swim," he said with a wink. We walked through the cemetery between the tombstones as raindrops hit my veil. I tried to find my mother. She was sitting in the front row with her back toward me. When I reached her row, I heard her mumble, "Why did you want to be like her when you could have been like me." I was appalled by her comment, but my dad still guided me to the altar. The grim reaper's face was hidden, but Alexander was gorgeous. He took my hand and squeezed it tightly. Becky lifted my veil. My handsome vampire leaned me back and grinned. His fangs flashed. For some reason I wasn't frightened. Two stabs gently pierced the soft flesh of my neck. I became dizzy. I could smell blood-my own-as it dripped down my neck. It drizzled down the white dress and splattered like paint. The guests began to clap and cheer in a contagious frenzy. They rose to their feet and smiled. All of them were vampires. Even my best friend, Becky, flashed tiny fangs at me. My father grinned and my mother sneered, both bearing pearly white fangs. "The Sterlings have come to town!" the guests cheered. I froze, staring at my parents. This isn't what they had wanted for me-much less for themselves.
And it was now too late, for all of us. I awoke to glares from my classmates. I must have dozed off in English class. Mrs. Naper was tapping her pointer on her desk. "That makes the third time this week, Raven. I'll have to talk to your parents about your sleeping habits." Trevor glanced back from the front row. He gave me a sexy grin and shook his head. For the first time, I was happy to see him. It was less disturbing to see my nemesis as a nightmare of rny reality than to see my parents as vampires in a dream. 18 A few hours before our cocktail party at the Sterlings', I found my mom tossing dresses on her bed. She was as anxious as I had been when I was first invited to the Mansion. Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) "What do I wear?" she asked. "Whatever you want." Since my mother wasn't going to paint her nails black and wear a corset over the top of a camisole, I didn't think it really mattered what her attire was. However, she didn't feel the same. "Should I wear this-or this?" she asked, holding up the same blouse, one in white, and one in red. "Mrs. Sterling is so stylish. Not that it's my style, but nevertheless it's bold. I don't want to offend her by appearing too conservative." "Are you kidding?" All of a sudden my mother cared about what the neighbors thought? I think she was as taken by Mrs. Sterling as I was- just for different reasons. I wanted to be like Cassandra, a beautiful royal-blooded vampiress with a gorgeous vampire family, residing in an eerie mansion. But to my mom, Cassandra was exotic, unique, and worldly. Different, like my mom had been in her pre-corporate days. "Mom, you are fine just the way you are." "You're only saying that because you want me to hurry up." "No, I mean it. I don't think eyebrow piercings and spider tatts will go with your Donna Karan blouses." "You're right. I'll just be me-plain old boring me," my mother said, folding her arms. "You are far from boring." "I guess I just wanted you to think your mom was cool." "You're not supposed to be cool to me. You're my mom. Do you think Grandma is cool?" "I see your point. I didn't do too bad a job raising you after all, did I?" "Well, if you must know, you could raise my allowance." It was a moment I was excited about and dreaded at the same time. My parents visiting the Mansion. What would they say? What would they do? How would they respond to bloodred smoothies? My dad inched his SUV up the Mansion's drive. Fog hovered over the bushes and candles flickered inside the Mansion. "It looks haunted," my mom mumbled to my father. "I know why you like coming here," she said to me. "It's very� mysterious." "I'm anxious to see what it looks like inside. I feel very privileged. Like Charlie getting a chance to see the inside of the chocolate factory," my dad said. "Promise me you both will behave. They have very different tastes. Please don't say anything rude," I said. I walked up the uneven cracked front steps, my parents following close behind. I knocked on the serpent knocker. "That is quite� unusual," my mom remarked. "Shhh!" I said. "You promised." The oak door squeaked open and Jameson appeared in the entrance, "Welcome, Miss Raven, and Mr. and Mrs. Madison. Shall I take your things?" My mom immediately felt the chill in the air. "Thank you, Jameson, but keep my sweater." She had it tied around her shoulders but loosened it and put it back on. "The Sterlings will be down shortly. May I get you a drink while you wait?" "No thank you," my mother said. "We can wait for the Sterlings." "Why don't you have a seat in the parlor room? They will only be a moment." Jameson showed us in. Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Candelabras and votives filled the Mansion. Skeleton lights were strung from the ceiling. Harpsichord music played loudly This time I expected to see a Phantom of the Opera-type musician banging out his melodies on a giant organ, but I found neither. My father scanned the dusty books, and my mom fascinated herself with the vintage furniture. "This is the home you've always wanted to live in," she said to me. "This must be a dream come true for you." I appreciated my mother's moment of understanding. I had a feeling that everything would be okay, though there was a teensy-weensy bit of my overactive imagination that wondered if my parents would be safe partying with two vampires on their home soil. But when I saw Alexander enter the parlor, I knew that if there was a turn for the worse, he'd protect us from any harm. My handsome Knight of Night came over to me and kissed me softly on the cheek. He shook my father's hand, and my mother gave him a gentle hug. He returned to me and took my hand. His hand felt strong in mine, and I squeezed it hard. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. May I get you something to drink?" "No, we were just browsing. This room is charming. I can feel the history in its walls," my mom said. "Yes, my grandmother was very proud of this mansion. That is why I'm so horrified�" We all glanced at Alexander. "� that some of the boards need repairing." Alexander's comment was odd. The whole house appeared to need repairing-well beyond a few floorboards. We heard the lyrical Romanian accents of the Sterlings as they entered. "My apologies for our delay," Mrs. Sterling said, extending her hand to my mom, then my dad. She wore a lavender scarf around her neck. "I hope you haven't been waiting long." "We just got here," my mom said. "The house is� beautiful." "We were hoping you'd be longer so we could peek around the house," my dad blurted out. "A tour?" Mr. Sterling asked. "I think that can be arranged. Where shall we start?" "You'll forgive us if anything is out of order. We haven't totally settled in since we've been back," Mrs. Sterling said. The house wasn't messy at all; in fact, everything was in its place. If anything, it was bare. Only what was needed was shown or on display. Now, dust and spiderwebs; that was a different story. There was a high volume of both. "You've already seen Constantine's favorite room," Mrs. Sterling said, gesturing back to the parlor as we continued on. "Did Jameson tell you? When someone passed away in the family the parlor was used to view the dead." My dad was impressed. My mom was aghast. "Fortunately, that doesn't happen very often in our family," she added cryptically. "Who are the people in the hallway?" my dad asked. "I didn't see any people," Mr. Sterling said. "Are you referring to ghosts?" "No," my dad said with a chuckle. "Lining the hallway." We followed Mr. Sterling in the corridor. "These are portraits of our family." "If you don't mind my saying� this guy bears a resemblance to Dracula." "Dad!" "No- I like your eye, Paul. We think so, too. The artist was watching too many Bela Lugosi movies Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)when they sat down for that one." "Alexander, would you mind going upstairs and taking over the tour? I hope I'm not being rude-I'd just like to make sure everything is in order," Mrs. Sterling said. Order? What did that mean? What was Mrs. Sterling planning on serving us? We followed Alexander up the red velvet stairs. The corridor was long, cold, and devoid of modern material possessions. "This is the library and these are bedrooms," Alexander explained. My dad poked his head into the library while my mom checked out the bathroom. Antique fixtures adorned the massive room. I noticed her trying to find something. "This is a quick tour," I said. "We're not moving in." "I wanted to check my lipstick," she said. "But there's no mirror." "Your makeup is fine." "Wow- there are a lot of bedrooms," my dad said as he poked his head in each one. "This is Jameson's room," Alexander said, showing us the butler's quarters, with its single bed and dresser, "And this is my parents'." Mr. and Mrs. Sterling's door was slightly ajar. We could see a vanity dresser topped with assorted makeup and with a frame attached, missing its mirror. My mom peered in, brushing against the door. It opened to reveal the side of a coffin. My mom gasped. "What's wrong?" my dad asked, standing behind me. My mother turned ghost white. "Nothing. I just thought I saw something, that's all. It must have been the lighting." Alexander shut his parents' door. "I forgot. Jameson didn't get to clean it and if it isn't perfect�" "We understand. I wouldn't want to give a tour of our house anytime soon," I said. "Those stairs lead to my attic room, but I wasn't expecting-" "I think we should help your mother," my mom said hurriedly. Alexander and my dad talked about the Mansion as my mother pulled me to the side. "I saw a coffin in the bedroom." "Mom. Do you really believe Mr. or Mrs. Sterling would sleep in a coffin?" She paused. Then she let out a laugh. "I'm sorry, Raven. This house is kind of spooky. I guess I just got caught up in it. You're right. It must have been a chest of some sort." "Duh! You think I'd date someone whose mother slept in a coffin?" "Well�," she said, with another laugh. "Let's hurry up before they think we're snooping," I said. We found Mr. and Mrs. Sterling setting out napkins on the coffee table in the living room. "Your home is very� historic," my mother said. "I was hoping you'd like it," Mrs. Sterling said, pleased. "It's not everyone's taste, we know. We love it because it has character." Just then something flew overhead. My mom let out a scream. "Sarah! Calm down," my dad said, "I thought I just saw a bird." "Not a bird, Sarah," Mr. Sterling said, "It was a bat." "A bat?" "We are so sorry. That happens from time to time, this house being so old and all." "Jameson!" Mrs. Sterling called. Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) "Can we take it home?" I asked. "Of course not!" my mom exclaimed. Alexander was growing paler by the moment, Jameson rushed in holding a broom, I found it comical watching the creepy man struggle as he chased the flying creature into another room, "Well, that doesn't happen every day." My mom laughed. "As a matter of fact, it does," Mr. Sterling commented. Alexander quickly changed the subject to the weather, but when the forecast called for sunny skies, Mrs. Sterling became antsy. "What about having a few Bloody Mary's?" she suggested. "I'm not sure the Madisons like those, Mom," Alexander said. "Perhaps you prefer wine?" Mr. Sterling asked. I wanted to steer my parents away from anything red, just in case there was a mixup in the kitchen. "My parents love beer and martinis." "Raven, don't be rude," my mother scolded. "Of course," Mr. Sterling said. "Jameson, two martinis." "Make mine dry, please," my dad said. And clear, I wanted to say. Very clear. Jameson brought us trays of fancy finger foods. Tiny pastries and miniature sandwiches filled the pewter serving plates. I was afraid to ask what was inside, but that didn't stop my mother. "Liver. Kidney. And-" Mrs. Sterling began before my mom cut her off. "I'm still full from dinner," she remarked, and quickly switched to the pastries. The pastries melted in our mouths and I craved more. I was scooping up a diamond-shaped one when my mom picked up the conversation. "I couldn't help but notice," she said. "You don't have any mirrors. Not in the bathroom or the hallway." "We have some in the basement," Mrs. Sterling answered truthfully. I remembered seeing them when Fd snuck in one time. "We just haven't hung them up," she continued. "But how do you put on makeup?" "Practice. Plus, Constantine will not hesitate to tell me if it is askew." They all laughed. We continued to eat and drink and converse about Romania and Dullsville. "We really appreciate your inviting us to your home/' Mrs. Sterling said. "We have kept to ourselves since we returned here. This town doesn't seem to be very inviting to outsiders." "Well, I'm hoping to fix that before it's too late," my mom said. "We wouldn't want you to feel unwelcome." Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Sterling glanced at each other knowingly. "I think we'll always be outsiders," Mrs. Sterling said, "no matter where we go." As we all said our good-byes, I glanced over at my parents hugging and shaking hands with the Sterlings. I felt higher than a soaring bat, watching a scene I'd never have imagined even in my wildest dreams.