When I softly shut the Creepy Man's bedroom door, I noticed something dangling in the hallway ceiling above me. A short, wiry piece of white rope hung from a square door overhead. It was out of arm's reach, but with a good jump I might have been able to grab it. I knew I should go back downstairs, but that went against my true nature.
The first time I jumped, I didn't even reach the cord. The second time, my fingers touched it. Finally, on the third try, I caught the cord between my fingers. With all my might, I quickly pulled the rope and snapped it securely in the palm of my hand. The door slowly creaked down toward me and a staircase folded out like a fire escape in a New York City alleyway. Surprisingly the wooden steps seemed to be in relatively good condition. Perhaps the former tenants didn't see the need for a darkened attic hideaway.
I quietly ascended the stairs, curious to examine what lay at the top. A glow from the second floor shone like a small spotlight, illuminating a portion of the attic. A musty smell filled the gymnasium-sized room. The attic, like the rooms below, appeared bare. Alexander's easel, art supplies, and mattress were nowhere to be found. A single ray of sunlight peeked through a circular window in the far end of the sloping attic walls. I tiptoed over and noticed an unpainted plain old oak armoire beneath the window. I tried to open its doors, only to discover they were locked. Perhaps the skeleton key was hiding in the attic somewhere with real skeletons. I glanced around, trying to adjust my vision in the darkness. It was then I saw something shrouded in the shadows-a black room divider. I crept over to the corner of the attic and peered behind the six-foot-tall wooden screen.
I could barely make out a night table and a pewter candlestick with a half-melted white candle. Behind it stood an easel with a covered painting, art supplies scattered beneath. Then I noticed something familiar on the nightstand staring back at me. It was the picture Alexander had painted of me and kept on his nightstand at the Mansion. There next to the tiny table was a single black coffin.
I was standing alongside my sleeping vampire boyfriend. I pressed my ear to the cold coffin lid. I could barely hear what I thought to be breathing. My heart raced with his every breath.
I knew the sun was setting because the cast of light from the attic window was slowly shrinking. It only took a few minutes for it to dwindle to the size of the nightstand. Finally it was as thin as a pencil, then it was gone.
A small amount of light still appeared from the open door in the attic floor. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the new illumination.
Just then I heard someone stirring inside the coffin.
I stepped back, and the heel of my boot snagged against a tiny nail protruding from the bottom of the screen. For several moments, the room divider and I teetered back and forth. I was about to cause a major commotion. I regained my balance and managed to return the screen upright and steal myself behind it. I peered through a tiny crack between the ruler-sized boards, my heart racing even harder now.
The top of the coffin lid began to creak open ever so slowly toward me, leaving me unable to see inside until it reached a ninety-degree angle. I didn't see fingers, a hand, or anything opening it, nor could I make out anything-or anyone-behind it. I peeked around the screen.
It was then I saw a sleepy Alexander staring right at me.
Startled, I screamed.
He paused. His chocolate-colored eyes turned bloodred. "Raven!»
I tried to catch my breath and regain my composure. "I didn't mean to scare you-or myself,"I apologized.
"What are you doing here?"he asked, shocked.
"I came to see you-"
Alexander stepped out of the coffin barefoot, wearing a black T-shirt and black boxers. He paused by the nightstand. He didn't run to me and scoop me up in his arms. It wasn't the reaction I'd expected.
"I thought you'd be glad to see me,"I said. It took all my strength not to hug him.
"I am, it's just-" Alexander stood awkwardly. He fixed his hair with one hand and straightened out his clothes with the other.
"Are you upset I'm here?"I asked. "I couldn't wait another day.»
"I just woke up,"he said self-consciously, wiping one eye with the back of his hand. "I would have preferred a little warning."His stern demeanor then softened. He looked sexy, his long hair tousled and his clothes still askew. Even in the darkness Alexander lit up the room. A warm smile overcame his sleepy face.
"I missed you so much I couldn't breathe,"I said, daring to run to him.
"Me too,"he said, now gazing down at me. He brushed my hair away from my cheek, pulled me into him, and swept me up in his arms. I hugged him around his neck, and my black-fingernailed hands coursed through his silky black hair. He leaned into me and kissed me, passionately, like I'd dreamed about night after night since he left the Mansion. Alexander took my neck in his mouth, like a wolf would a swan. The sharp edge of his teeth slid against my skin, then he suddenly pulled back.
"Miss Raven? Miss Raven?"Jameson called from below.
Alexander let me down. His red eyes faded to their natural brown. He seemed shaken, but I held his hand reassuredly. I knew I was safe in his arms.
"She's up here with me, Jameson,"Alexander answered.
"I thought she might have gotten lost. Dinner is ready.»
"I was just on my appetizer,"he whispered to me with a wink.
"Desserts are even better,"I said, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
I felt as tiny as a Polly Pocket doll in a Barbie Dream House as I sat alone at the limousine-length table in the stately and stark mile-high-ceilinged dining room. A black lace tablecloth was draped over the stone tabletop, and a single candelabra flickered as the centerpiece. The macabre table was set with Wedgwood china plates, sterling silver cutlery, and crystal goblets-everyday settings for my vampire boyfriend. The Madison family ate this fancy only once a year, when my grandmother dusted off her china and made Christmas dinner; otherwise it was strictly Pfaltzgraff.
My combat boots grazed the patched wooden floor as I anxiously swung them back and forth underneath the table, impatiently waiting for Alexander's entrance. I was hoping a ghost would float by to keep me company, but no specters arrived. Soon I sensed a familiar presence behind me, followed by hands caressing my shoulders.
I felt two lips press against my neck. I grew so hot I thought I'd melt the ice cubes in my crystal goblet. The ends of Alexander's midnight-colored hair were still damp from a quick shower and brushed against the back of my bare shoulder. He smelled heavenly with the sweet scents of Drakkar and Irish Spring.
"I shouldn't have barged in on you like that,"I apologized as he stood next to me. "You are a much better sport than I am,"I added. "I'm not sure how I would have reacted if I woke up and found you watching me.»
"I know exactly how you would have reacted."Alexander made a Godzilla-like monster face and we both cracked up knowing he was right.
Alexander moved his chair and place setting next to mine. Jameson entered the room pushing a squeaky-wheeled metal cart carrying a covered sterling silver serving tray. He removed the lid to reveal two sizzling, dripping red steaks.
"I took the liberty of cooking yours medium-well,"Jameson said, serving me. "I assumed you didn't like yours as rare as Alexander's.»
I glanced over at Alexander's plate. The barely cooked strip steak was almost floating in a pool of blood.
"Mine is perfect,"I said with an oversized grin.
"Isn't it a nice surprise that Raven has come to town?"Jameson asked, spooning out steaming-hot buttered peas.
"It's the perfect way to wake up,"Alexander said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Will there be anything else?»
"I think we are fine,"Alexander stated.
I scooted my chair even closer to Alexander's. I couldn't believe that my boyfriend, who had been so far away for so many days, was now by my side. All the pain I'd felt in the last month or so disappeared.
Alexander seemed ravenous as he tore into his bloody steak. I was reminded each time I was in Alexander's company that I was truly dating a vampire. He had just woken up, while I, on the other hand, had been awake for more than twelve hours. Upon awakening, my boyfriend craved blood the way I craved a caramel latte.
There was so much I wanted to ask Alexander I didn't know where to begin. As we continued to cut into our steaks, I pried for the info I'd missed over our time apart.
"Is Valentine here? What have you been doing? When are you planning on coming home?"I babbled.
"Slow down,"he said, tapping my hand.
"Tell me about Valentine. Is he okay?»
"Yes, Valentine is fine. He returned to his family.»
I paused, waiting to hear more. But Alexander just winked and took a bite of his sweet potato.
"That's it?"I asked.
Where Becky and I would begin retelling a juicy event by "setting the scene,"followed by a description of clothing and dialogue, finishing with "overheard gossip"and our biased commentary, Alexander would simply provide one-word answers. How was I supposed to get a nitty-gritty fleshed-out story this way?
"Is Valentine here or in Romania?"I continued to pry.
"Romania, I guess.»
"Did you see Jagger?»
"Yes."Alexander went back to cutting into his meat.
"You did? What did he say? Was he threatening? Where did you meet? In Hipsterville's graveyard?»