Fifty Percent Vampire, #1, page 8
The first rainy Sunday had been scary, because the service had been held indoors. I practically had to be dragged inside the church as though I were a human sacrifice on her final journey to the altar. But several Sundays had passed since that momentous day and I was more accustomed to the interior now, nothing bad had happened, though I still dreaded passing close by the font of holy water. Maybe God considered my human half worth saving and was making allowances.
But He wasn’t making allowances this morning. My stomach was still busy ripping itself to pieces. “I don’t think so,” I said groggily in reply to my aunt’s inquiry about my health. I wondered what time it was and looked at my watch—that’s to say, I looked at the place where my watch ought to have been—on my left wrist. But of course it wasn’t there anymore. I’d lost it, well, not exactly lost it as I knew who had it. Zoe.
A day or two previously—I forget exactly when—Zoe had tiptoed up to the lockers, where I was chatting happily to Rachel, and grabbed my hand.
“Pretty watch,” she said. “Mind if I take a look?”
She unfastened the strap from my wrist and examined the watch closely. Rachel and I stood in stunned silence.
“Nice,” said Zoe, and she dropped the watch in her purse. “I guess I’ll keep it.”
“Hey, give it back!” exclaimed Rachel, lunging for the purse but missing as Zoe snatched it out of her reach.
“I think that’s for our friend here to decide, don’t you?” sneered Zoe, dangling the purse in front of my face. “How about it, Astrid? You going to try your luck?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“Have a nice day,” said Zoe.
“Never mind,” I said to Rachel as we watched Zoe saunter away. “Let her have her fun. I’ll ask for it back another time.”
Rachel was furious. “Are you crazy? I can’t believe you let her get away with that. Why the hell didn’t you just whack her?”
“I thought you were a pacifist,” I said evenly. I was trying to give up whacking people.
“For that little bitch I make an exception. You disappoint me, Astrid. You shouldn’t let her stomp all over you.” Rachel tossed her hair, turned and walked away, leaving me alone, watchless.
A Proposal
After a day of devilish torment and another one I slept right through from utter exhaustion, Aunt Jean deemed me well enough to return to school. I was keen to catch up with the assignments I’d missed. Several people offered me help and one free period I found myself sitting under the chestnut tree in the courtyard with Jonah aka ‘The Whale,’ whose real last name was Sotiropolous. I totally got why people preferred to use his nickname—it was much easier to pronounce. His family came originally from Greece, he explained, but he’d never been there. Our books rested open on our laps. We were supposed to be studying chapter eleven of The Catcher in the Rye, the one where Holden plays checkers with Jane, but we hadn’t gotten very far. We really hadn’t.
“You’re from Romania, right?” said Jonah, toying with his pencil.
“That’s right,” I lied. Lying about my background came easily to me by then.
“Where is Romania exactly?” he asked. For a moment I was surprised he didn’t know, but then I realized he was only making conversation.
“Two countries north of Greece,” I explained. “West of the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Moldova.”
“Zoe says you still have communism there.”
I laughed. “What Zoe knows about Romania wouldn’t fill a newborn’s thimble. Times have changed since she last read up on South-East European history.”
Jonah looked embarrassed. Maybe he hadn’t read his history book lately either. I filled him in on Nicolae Ceaușescu and the 1989 revolution that had toppled his totalitarian regime and ended his life in a pool of blood, and some more details I remembered from Angus’ guidebook, just enough to satisfy his curiosity.
“Way different from here,” said Jonah. “Which do you like best?”
“I miss home,” I confessed. “Well, I miss my mom.”
“What’s she like?”
How to describe my mother? “She looks a lot like me, she’s strict, and she’s a diet fanatic.” I glanced anxiously at the sun, which was peeking out from behind a slow-moving cloud. “She’s probably asleep right now.”
“And you don’t miss your dad?”
I looked away. “I’ve never met him.”
“Wow, that sucks.” He reached over and took my hand.
“My dad was from a minority not much liked in Romania. They were discriminated against and persecuted. And then he became involved in a family dispute.”
“What kind of dispute?”
I shrugged. “Something about an ancestral castle. At least that’s what Mom told me.”
Jonah’s face turned skeptical. “No shit, your family owns a castle?”
“Why are you looking at me like that? I should show you my dad’s family tree. It’s fascinating and there’s a minuscule possibility I have royal blood in my veins. But my dad wasn’t from the main branch of the family, not the rich ones, so it’s probably way diluted.”
“So what happened to him?”
I didn’t answer.
“Things got nasty,” he said after seeing the look on my face.
“Can we talk about something else?” Thinking about Dad always upset me. I meant what I’d said to Mom, that I planned to travel to Romania one day to find out what had really happened to him. Say hi to my noble relatives at the ancestral castle, lay a few ghosts and find my roots. Like Alex Haley.
“Romania sounds just like Greece. People fighting all the time. My poppa told me heaps of gory stories.”
Jonah still had hold of my hand, and I pulled myself free. We both laughed nervously and he took a deep breath.
“I like you,” he said. “Seriously, I do.”
“Oh,” I said, looking down and entwining my fingers. “Me too, I think you’re a nice guy.”
Jonah put his hand on mine again. “Nice enough to date?”
A butterfly began a little dance in my stomach. Jonah was asking me out? Jonah? Me? I nodded. “Yes, nice enough to date.”
He took a deep breath. “So how about tonight? I know it’s a bit sudden but I don’t want any other guy snagging you.”
My lips twitched. Unless by some miracle Mike Hanson came galloping into the courtyard astride his mighty steed I couldn’t imagine anyone else about to snag me.
“Tonight?” I said in a faint voice. “I’ll have to ask my aunt.”
“That’s cool.” Jonah looked relieved.
At that moment the bell rang for the next class. Hastily, we exchanged phone numbers, gathered up our unread books and went our separate ways. I hurried off to find Rachel, my heart thumping wildly. I desperately needed her advice on first date protocol.
My First Date
I was unable to find Rachel all afternoon, but it didn’t matter because when I phoned Aunt Jean to ask her permission she refused point-blank to allow me out on a school night. Friday, she might consider it, but Thursday was a definite no-no. I texted Jonah the bad news but he said Friday would be fine and he would call for me at eight.
At home Aunt Jean asked me a ton of questions and to my embarrassment even called Jonah’s mom. She threatened a rain of fire and brimstone if I wasn’t back home by eleven, which meant I tossed and turned all Thursday night, which sort of ruined my concentration during Friday’s lessons anyway.
I didn’t have any classes with Jonah on Friday, which was fine by me because by midday I felt as jumpy as a little black cat within range of a vampire’s foot.
“So, you hooked The Whale,” said Rocio, impressed, when I sat down at our usual table in the cafeteria. “Where’s he taking you?”
“I didn’t ‘hook’ him, he asked me,” I replied irritably. “And I don’t know where he’s taking me. He hasn’t said.”
“Anyone we know already been out with this guy?” asked Rachel. “So we can get a heads-up? Brady, you go google him.”
My best friend was planning my night out like a military operation. Angus would have been proud. But none of our friends knew anything of Jonah’s previous dates or indeed if he’d ever had any so Rachel was forced to fall back on her own experience, which turned out to be more than adequate.
“Rule one: wear a knee-length skirt, rule two: no front-fastening bra, rule three: wear support hose if you’ve got any, rule four: no tongues.”
I gaped. “What do you mean, rule four: no tongues?”
Brady was shaking with laughter. “Astrid, we’re doing our best to protect your honor here. It’s your very first date, so please tell us you’re not planning to let him put his tongue in your mouth.”
In my mouth? Ewww! No way was I intending to let Jonah put his tongue in my mouth. What if he probed around and came across my fangs?
At seven o’clock I was in Emma’s room trying on all the clothes she considered dateworthy. I finally decided on a prim sky-blue and yellow striped blouse, with a knee-length flared jeans skirt and navy pumps. Emma chose me a light jacket as a cover up. I added a bracelet my mom had found at some flea market or other, and my cousin admired the gold-plated booties attached to it. Then she spent the next twenty minutes convincing me not to take it off and that it looked cute, not childish. “So what are you guys planning to do tonight?”
I’d been answering this question all day. “I don’t know,” I grumbled. “Maybe he wants me to help him prepare for Monday morning’s history test.”
“Yeah, right. I bet he takes you to Lookout Point.”
I looked at her in alarm. I’d been told what went on at Lookout Point.
“Hey, I’m kidding,” she reassured me. “I’m sure Jonah knows you’re not that kind of girl. He’ll want to drive you around town, show you the sights, and at most you’ll get a wimpy little goodnight kiss. He’s probably as nervous as you are.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. The doorbell rang and I heard Aunt Jean unlocking the front door. I hurtled downstairs with an excited Emma so hot on my heels she almost sent me tumbling. “I’m ready,” I squeaked, interrupting Aunt Jean who was once again telling Jonah to have me home by eleven or else.
“Hi Jonah,” said Emma.
“Hey.” Jonah waved shyly at us both. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Power, I have an early start at the store tomorrow. Your niece will be home at a more than decent hour.”
Aunt Jean and Emma watched us walk hand-in-hand down the driveway to the car, where I was surprised to find another couple sitting in the backseat. Jonah opened the front passenger door for me and we all waved goodbye as he hit the gas.
“Hi,” said the boy sitting behind me, and his hand reached over for me to shake. “I’m Stewart, and I think you know Gina, right?”
I turned and smiled at Gina. She looked vaguely familiar. “Eleventh grade Psych?” she hinted.
Now I remembered. The girl who’d told me all about Mike. I relaxed, relieved I wasn’t going to be alone with Jonah all evening. “So where are you taking us?” I asked brightly.
Stewart answered. “Jonah’s dropping us at the Chalet, so you two lovebirds can get comfortable.”
“The Chalet?”
“Yeah,” said Jonah. “That restaurant on the hill over there.” He pointed. At the hill where Lookout Point was situated. My mouth went dry, but I told myself I’d be okay with it.
“You have fun now,” cooed Gina ten minutes later as she shut the car door. “The full moon looks so romantic.”
Stewart slipped his arm around her waist and they climbed the restaurant steps, whispering conspiratorially.
I turned to Jonah. “Now what? Can’t we go eat with them? I’m hungry.” That was a lie, but I had to say something.
“Uh-uh,” said Jonah. He backed up and swung the car round too fast, showering gravel. “I have a little surprise for you.”
“I don’t like surprises,” I said. “I think you’d better take me home.”
“Astrid, we’ve only just got started. It’s going to be okay, don’t worry.”
We were driving too fast for me to dare jump out of the car, so I drummed my fingers on the dashboard instead in an attempt to calm myself. “Just tell me where we’re going.”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise. We’ll be there in five minutes,” he said. “Trust me.”
I prayed Emma was right and we weren’t en route to Lookout Point. To my relief when we reached the next intersection Jonah turned the car downhill instead of up, and we headed back into town.
Five minutes later we were parked up at the drive-in and Jonah was ordering us coke floats. An American Werewolf in London was playing. Interesting choice. Oh well, at least it wasn’t Twilight again. I’d already seen that flick with Rachel like a million times. I blew out a long breath, unfastened my seatbelt and sat back to enjoy the movie, keeping one watchful eye on what my date was doing.
It was okay till the shower scene began. I mustn’t have been paying attention because suddenly Jonah’s hand was grasping at my right shoulder and he was pulling me in. “Hey!” I protested. “Stop it!”
But he didn’t stop it and on the contrary soon had me in a lip lock. Simultaneously I felt his left hand groping somewhere I had no intention of allowing him access. I tried to pull away but he deepened the kiss. I lost control, saw red and struggled free.
“I told you to cut that out!” I yelled, and slammed him in the back of the head with a slap so hard his face hit the steering wheel and he lay still.
Good, I thought furiously, good, he deserved that. This is not what I had in mind for my first date ever. What a full moon did to guys!
When after several seconds he still hadn’t moved I began to worry. “Jonah? Are you okay?” No movement. I tapped him on the shoulder, more gently this time. Still no response. “Jonah?” Now I was panicking. I’d knocked my beau into next week and I didn’t know how to drive a car and I needed him to take me home. “Jonah!”
I thought quickly and poured a full bottle of coke over his head, which seemed to do the trick, as he groaned and attempted to straighten up.
“Easy,” I said. “Let me take a look.”
In the flickering light of the movie I could see he wasn’t bleeding, but a huge bruise was swelling on his left cheek. He rubbed at it.
“Sorry,” he said in a shaky voice. “Sorry.”
“Darn right you should be sorry,” I said. “Now take me home, or I’ll hit you again.”
Bad Night
After Jonah had dropped me at home and roared off down the street in embarrassment, I stormed up the driveway and leaned hard on the doorbell. It was Emma who opened the door, mystified to see me back so early and shocked to see my dark mood. I shoved past her and ran upstairs and slammed my bedroom door, locking it behind me a second before I burst into tears.
Damn Jonah, serves him right I hit him so hard. I hope he loses a tooth. Or two. Damn him for pretending to be such a nice guy then jamming his tongue down my throat. No way was I even going to consider what else he had thought he was going to get. I’d been expecting a romantic getting-to-know you evening and he’d totally killed it. Damn him again.
Aunt Jean yelled through the door. “Astrid, what happened? Are you okay?”
“Go away!” I shrieked.
“Not until you tell me you’re okay,” Aunt Jean said in a softer tone. “Did that boy hurt you? Should I phone the police?”
I was in no mood to explain to her that it was Jonah who’d been hurt, not me.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I just need to sleep. I’ll tell you about it in the morning.”
The night was warm so I left the bedroom window wide open, and soothed myself with the sounds of the forest till I drifted off to dreamland. But I didn’t dream for long. Something startled me and my eyes flew open.
Someone was in my room; an eerie presence loomed over me in the darkness. Underneath the sheet I shivered with cold; it felt as though the temperature had dropped to near freezing. My breath was visible in the suddenly ice cold air. Whoever was there uttered a long low groan that brought me out in goosebumps. This could only be one person. “Angus?”
I thought for a moment of pulling the covers over my head but decided that was no defense if my evil stepbrother really was in my room, so I fought off the paralyzing fear, threw back the covers and sat up. With a shaking hand I groped for the bedside lamp and switched it on. There was no one in the room apart from me and nothing out of place. As my alarm clock ticked over to midnight an owl shrieked in the woods.
Trembling, I slid out of bed and with pounding heart crept the few steps to my closet. Angus wasn’t one for hiding in closets but this could always be the first time. Pumped up with adrenaline, I flung open the door, peered inside and rummaged hastily through my rack of clothes in case whoever it was was skulking behind them. Nobody.
I turned away, intending to look next under my bed, and as I turned, from the corner of my eye I saw something move. But it was only my reflection in the full-length mirror on the closet door. I stopped short. Reflection? I didn’t have a reflection. I whirled round in a sudden panic.
“Good evening, dear stepsis,” said Angus as he stepped out of the mirror, a mischievous grin growing on his deathly pale and flawless face.
I stifled the scream rising in my throat and snatched up my bedsheet to cover myself. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Iraq eliminating terrorists?” I spat. “Or is this what you’ve regressed to now? Haunting teenage girls’ bedrooms?”
Angus sat down on my chair, picked up my statue of the Buddha, held it at arm’s length and looked into its solemn eyes. “Nice,” he remarked. “So this is where you’ve been hiding from me.”
“I haven’t been hiding from you.”
He laughed. “In that case why did the lovely Ophelia refuse to tell me where you were? No matter, it wasn’t difficult to find out. Our esteemed friends at the NSA aren’t the only spooks in this country who can hack databases.”
