Tempting Raven (Curse of the Vampire Queen #1)(8)

Me: Well, according to Nadine, they graduated early, which means their big heads are probably going to be even more inflated.

Effie: Maybe they'll be so big they won't be able to fit through the door, and then you won't have to see them.

Me: Aw, don't get my hopes up.

Effie: You never know.

Me: Yeah, I know, but I really doubt it. That's okay. I won't be here to see them because I'll be with my BFF, hanging out at my mom's club.

At least for the night I'll be gone. Unfortunately, I can't run away forever.

Effie: Thanks, Raven. You're seriously the best BFF ever. I totally owe you big time.

Me: Well, if that's the case, you can let me borrow those killer boots you just bought.

Effie: Deal. See you in about an hour?

Me: Sounds good.

Effie: And, it's cool if Anders comes, too, right?

Me: Do you even need to ask?

Besides Effie, Anders is my favorite person. On top of the fact that he didn't go to the same high school as Effie and I, which means he didn't see me at my most pathetic, he's also the funniest, sassiest, most caring, best dressed vampire I've ever met. 

Effie: Awesome. See you in a bit! Peace out, vamp bitch.

Me: Peace out, vamp weirdo.

By the time I get off the phone, I have a smile on my face. But that smile falters when I hear the rumbling of a car engine from outside.

I get up from the bed and glance out the window at the two-story, Victorian home next door. Moonlight trickles down from the night sky, revealing with sleek, black SUVs lining the driveway. Holy vampire mobster mafia.

I squint to get a better look at the inside of the vehicles, and my confusion doubles. Several vampires fill up the front and backseats, ranging from late teens to late twenties, both male and female. None of them appear to be Rhyland and Kingsley.

Why are there so many there? And why are they all driving the same damn vehicles?

Does it really matter? All that matters is you're gone before they get here.

I turn from the window, shoving thoughts of Rhyland, Kingsley, and the buzzing in my body far, far away into the back of my mind. I head for my closet to find something to wear that will work well with my mom's club's dress code. I have a lot of choices since most of my outfits fit well with the edgy, gothic requirement.

Back in the day, I would've hated finding something to wear that'd get me passed the front door of the club. I was clueless back then about what sort of style fit me best, and I spent a lot of time wearing trendy, designer clothes that didn't fit my personality or my taste. I was too desperate to fit in. Pathetically desperate.

That was high school Raven. College Raven figured out she loved edgy, gothic clothes.

After sifting through my clothes, I settle on a black, off-the-shoulder, velvet top that reaches the top of my navel. I top the outfit off with a high waist, short, black skirt; fishnet stockings; platform shoes; and a velvet choker. I trim my eyes with some kohl eyeliner, and dab on some lip-gloss. I'm a minimalist when it comes to makeup.

I decide to leave my hair down, but use a bit of Witches Hair Color Magic that Effie shoplifted from a Wicca supply store to make the bottom of the strands a pale blue. By the time I'm finished, an hour has passed.

Effie should be here any minute.

I exit my room, feeling pretty damn good. But my mood drizzles at the sound of voices coming from the living room. Voices belonging to complete vampire asshateries.

I freeze right before the stairway opens into the foyer and the living room. Fuckety shit, how am I supposed to get out of the house without them noticing me?

If they open their mouths, my night will be ruined. And they will open their sharp, fangy mouths. They always do.

"Oh, my God, I'm so glad you guys are home!" Nadine squeals in delight. "The last year's been so boring without you guys."

"I wish I could say the same." Arrogance mixed with amusement rings in Kingsley's tone. "But training was awesome. The most fun I've had in a long time."

"Even more fun than hanging out with me?" Nadine teases. But her tone deflates when Kingsley doesn't answer right away. "What the hell, Kings? Why are you acting like a jerk? And you look so weird  …  What happened to you?"

"What?" Kingsley asks. "You want me to lie to you?"

I hear a smack, and then Kinsley mumbles, "Ow  …  That wasn't very fucking nice, Nadine."

"I'm not trying to be nice," Nadine huffs. "I'm trying to be an asshole, just like you."

Kingsley sighs. "I'm not being an asshole. I'm just  …  Rhyland, a little help here please?"

"Kings is right," Rhyland says in his infamously bored tone. "Training was better than hanging around in Mystic Willow Bay. But it doesn't even matter. Nothing about this conversation matters-it never has. It's always been completely pointless, and honestly, it's getting really boring. Plus, I have bigger problems to worry about than if you're upset."