Immortal Hearts Read online

  “I was helping out Scarlet, not you. And on second thought, maybe I should have saved Scarlet by letting Luna paw on you instead.”

  He grinned mischievously. His devilish nature couldn’t mask his attractiveness. I felt ensnared by his gaze.

  He fingered his blond locks and leaned in to me, then whispered, “It’s so clear who you’d really prefer to be your real boyfriend, and that’s me.”

  “When will you get over your delusions?” I asked. “I’m not even sure what Scarlet sees in you,” I said.

  Trevor inched even closer, his green eyes piercing through me. “But I think you do. I think you always have. Do you know why I like Scarlet?”

  “Because she breathes?”

  He smiled churlishly, his milky white teeth beaming. “Because she reminds me of you. When I am kissing her I imagine that I’m kissing you.”

  I was taken aback. Trevor never knew when to stop. “Don’t be cruel! She’s my friend.”

  “Which is worse?” he asked, getting in my face. “That I kiss her and think of you? Or that when I’m on the end of her succulent lips, that I might not be thinking of you?”

  Trevor was a tease. Of course I didn’t want him to use Scarlet, and I didn’t want him to like me, either. But was I being honest with myself when there was a tiny piece of me that got a rise out of Trevor’s torment? Or was it just something I’d grown accustomed to all my life?

  Trevor drew me in to him. “How about now I’ll kiss you and you can see for yourself who I am thinking of?”

  I pushed against him as hard as I could, my black nails standing out against his yellow polo shirt. I knew he wasn’t going to force a kiss on me, but his embrace told me he got a kick out of my trying to squirm away from him.

  For a moment, I thought about kissing him back, giving him the biggest shock of his life. But I remembered Alexander. And his lips were the only ones I wanted to be on the end of—regardless of how much I wanted to torment my nemesis.

  “I can spit,” I told him instead.

  Trevor immediately released me and jumped away. “I’d say ‘You wouldn’t dare,’ but I know you would.”

  “Don’t tempt me,” I said, adjusting my dress.

  “Halloween is coming,” he said as if it was a warning. “Jagger is planning to have a spectacular event down at the Crypt. Luna, Scarlet, all the girls wi">

  How did Trevor always know more about the vampires’ plans than I did?

  “I’ll be there. With Alexander,” I charged back.

  “What horrible monster will you come as this year?” he asked. “Yourself?”

  I really loathed Trevor. No matter how hard I tried, he always seemed to be one step ahead of me.

  “I’ll be the one dressed as your psychiatrist,” I said, and headed off for class.

  I felt extra groggy when I awoke in Alexander’s coffin. I lazily rolled over and snuggled up close to him, hoping to doze back to sleep. He caressed my hair and I felt amazingly at peace in his embrace.

  “Good morning, Monster Girl!” I heard a familiar voice say.

  Then a cell phone was turned on, illuminating the inside of the casket, and I saw green eyes staring back at me. How did I get in a coffin with Trevor Mitchell? Where was Alexander? What was happening?

  I tried to break open the coffin lid, but it wouldn’t budge. I pushed against it with my feet as hard as I could.

  “Let me out!” I screamed. “Let me out!”

  “It’s too late,” my nemesis said. “We are here together for eternity.”

  His hand crept across my neck as if it was marking his territory.

  I smacked it away. “Let go!” I yelled. “Alexander!”

  “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Trevor asked.

  “Not with you! Never with you!”

  “But I thought it was me all along. When you were little, didn’t you try to get me to bite you so I could turn you into a vampire? It’s what you always wanted, Raven.”

  “Let me out!”

  I screamed and kicked and pleaded. I could feel my nails scraping against the wooden casket lid. I was sure my fingers were dripping with blood.

  “Raven!” I heard a girl’s voice say.

  I awoke with my fingers digging into my school desk. Becky was nudging me in the side.

  I tried t"0ean>I tro hide my embarrassment as all my classmates stared at me. I was used to stares—but this time I felt like an idiot. I glanced around, and one particular student was grinning back at me: Trevor. I felt like somehow he’d just witnessed my whole dream, too. Beads of sweat peppered my brow, and I wiped my perspiring hands on my black tights.

  Mr. Simmons glared at me and shook his head.

  “Miss Madison,” he said in a teacherly voice. “I’d give you a detention, but I’m afraid you’d sleep through that as well.”

  For the first time in high school, I agreed with one of my teachers.

  3 The Devil Wears Doc Martens

  That night at the Crypt, I was anxious to see what information I could get on Jagger’s Halloween haunted house plans and how Luna and Romeo’s relationship was percolating.

  Alexander drove me to the club, and when I entered, the new lovebats were cuddling next to the bar. Luna was stroking Romeo’s wavy hair and flashing her butterfly lashes. When he broke away to serve a drink, she blew kisses at him.

  I was really impressed with how quickly her affections had turned to Romeo. But I couldn’t blame her. He was really cute, and being older made him alluring, too.

  When Luna caught sight of me, she waved me over. She was sitting at the bar in a tattered black shirt, a coral-colored flirty skirt, and chunky Doc Martens with pink laces.

  I was shocked and checked around to make sure I really was the object of her attention. She waved again, as if it were obvious we were old friends; Alexander hung by Sebastian while I headed to the bar.

  She spun around on the barstool. “Isn’t Romeo dreamy?” Luna stopped and pressed close to me as if she wanted to literally rub her words in my face.

  “Uh … yes,” I agreed.

  “And he’s so mature. Not like these younger guys.” I knew who she meant and who that comment was directed toward: Alexander. Funny, these younger guys had been fine with her before as she tried to date most of them.

  “Well, I think some guys here are really mature,” I said defensively.

  She didn’t have time for my response and threw her long pink locks behind her. “Romeo loves so many things,” she explained. “And I’m one of them!”

  “That’s great.” I was really excited for Luna; after all, I was the one who set her up with Romeo, so naturally I wanted them to hit it off. But Luna Seshad a way of turning everything good into something adversarial. Instead of letting me find joy in her newfound happiness, she was tormenting me.

  Luna twirled a piece of her Barbie-pink hair around her snow-white fingers. “He said he always liked me but thought I was younger than I am. I think it’s because of my smooth skin.”

  “Yes, that’s probably it.” I did my best not to roll my eyes.

  “And he knows what he wants out of life. He isn’t floundering around like the guys in this town—freaking out at commitments. Romeo is mature—he’s not a total commitment-phobe, unlike some people around here.”

  I did my best not to yank her off the barstool.

  “I’m so happy you finally found someone,” I said like a thrilled parent.

  Luna stopped twirling her hair. Her smile stiffened, and I knew she didn’t like my crack.

  “Well, I’ll have you know, we talked all last night about our future—that is, when we weren’t making out. Romeo wants to take me downstairs to the covenant altar, bite me, and bond our lives together for eternity. Isn’t that dreamy?” She batted her eyelashes purposefully.

  My heart dropped. How could they make that decision so quickly? It had only been a few days—nights, in their case. Or was this one of Luna’s lies to get me jealous? Or even worse, was th
is another Maxwell ploy, like it had been with Sebastian, to be bonded without his knowledge? I assumed that Romeo had heard by now that the downstairs club was built right over a Civil War burial site. I wasn’t sure if this idea was something real or something Luna made up to spite me.

  Instead of being mad, I decided to try the opposite approach.

  “I’m the one that fixed you up, remember? I’m so happy that you found love so quickly.”

  “Oh yeah. That’s right,” she said as if she was disappointed it had been me who was the one who had found her true-love-for-the-moment. Her scowl brightened, and she gushed like a bride. “Then I have you to thank,” she said. “You can be my bridesmaid!”

  She gave me a fake girlie hug—the kind that the popular girls at Dullsville High give when they greet each other at their lockers, then talk behind one another’s backs.

  The last thing I wanted was for Luna to beat me to the covenant altar. In Romania, fine. But here in Dullsville? I was first in line. And to be her bridesmaid? Forget it. I wasn’t even going to attend!

  The Maxwell twins were known for their tricks. It wasn’t too long ago that Jagger and Luna tried to trick Sebastian into bonding with her for eternity. Was Romeo the next ong L the nee to be taken to the sacred altar unknowingly? That wasn’t part of my plan when I had arranged for them to date.

  “Does he even know he’s the groom?” I charged. “You do have a history of leaving important information out when taking your boyfriends to a covenant altar. Like the fact that it’s on sacred ground.”

  “He knows. Romeo knows all about the Crypt. And about the burial sites below the Covenant. It was his idea to be bonded, not mine,” she said, triumphantly flipping her nose at me. “Can you say the same about your boyfriend?”

  Her words stung me. Always giving me a jab about Alexander and my relationship. And she was diverting me from the task at hand.

  If Romeo really did want to be with Luna, perhaps it was a good thing. The more she knew that it made me jealous, the faster she’d be to get hitched. Maybe I was thinking about this in the wrong way. The sooner Luna was locked and loaded to some guy, the sooner I could breathe easy that she wouldn’t be so stuck on Alexander. So what was there not to like about this plan?

  “Sure,” I said. “You should do it soon! Before he gets away. You name the time, and we’ll go shopping for dresses.”

  “Well…”

  “And even though you just met him, you’ll have all of eternity to find out if you guys made the right decision so quickly.”

  Just then, I spotted Jagger coming up from downstairs. “Let’s go talk to your brother about the good news,” I continued. “We’ll make a huge affair for you. We can invite the whole town.”

  Suddenly Luna’s waxlike face flushed cherry red, and her pink lips tensed. She wanted me to be mopey and in a jealous frenzy about her fast-moving relationship and obviously didn’t like my enthusiasm.

  “I’m not so sure…” she said, her bright tone darkening.

  “Yeah, this will be great,” I went on. “Alexander can be one of Romeo’s groomsmen!”

  That image hit her hard. Alexander standing on the altar with her but not being the one she was bonding with for eternity. I thought she might explode.

  “What?” she said. “Are you nuts? We just started dating!” She hopped off the stool and glared her baby-blue eyes at me. “Gosh, you are so immature!” She threw her hair back again and left me standing alone by the empty stool.

  I spun the stool around in victory. I guess I didn’t have to worry about Luna’s covenant plans for now. I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything with her was tied up for a while into a nice pink-and-black-skull bow, and I could go back to normal—whatever “normal” meant.

  I was starting to leave to join Scarlet and Onyx when someone grabbed my shirtsleeve. I turned back to find Luna suddenly by my side.

  “By the way,” she said, “I can’t wait until Stormy comes here. It’s as if the puzzle will be completed. She’s like family to me, you know.”

  My heart dropped. Like family to Luna? They were close—that close?

  “Uh … you know Stormy?”

  “Know her? I practically raised her. I was her babysitter,” Luna exclaimed as if I should have known. “We are like sisters. I guess you couldn’t know,” she continued. “You haven’t even met her.”

  Now my lips were tensing. How did Luna even know Stormy was coming to town? And why was she so excited?

  “She’s coming to visit Alexander,” I said emphatically.

  “I know,” she said, almost squealing. “I can’t wait!”

  This was something I hadn’t even imagined. I knew Alexander had been in an arranged covenant with Luna—which he rejected—but I wasn’t aware of Luna’s history with Alexander’s sister.

  “I thought you were mortal then,” I said. “Wouldn’t it be hard to sit for her when she’s up all night and you’re not?” I was hoping she was lying.

  “It was. But I’d stay up all night with her until the Sterlings got home. I was her favorite sitter. I can’t wait to see her again!”

  Jealousy seared through me, this time in a big way. Not only did Luna know about a sister that Alexander had who I’d only recently learned about—but she had already had a relationship with her. I could only wonder what Luna was like as a babysitter. She had to be the coolest one ever. Making Count Chocula treats, telling ghost stories instead of bedtime stores, and sliding down banisters like witches on broomsticks.

  Not like my sitters, who mostly never returned after one night of playing with the shaven-head dolls in my Barbie Nightmare House and cooking spider-shaped cakes in my Easy-Bake Oven.

  Luna had everything I wanted—except Alexander—and though he was the one thing that mattered most to me, she still wound up getting under my temporary-tattooed, bone-white skin.

  “She gets in soon,” she went on. “I can’t wait to have her here at the Crypt. She’ll die when she sees it!”

  Then she let go of my sleeve. Luna whirled away from me, and I could hear her laughing as she slipped behind the bar and cozied up with Romeo.

  Luna was evil. I wanted to be the one to bring Stormy to the Crypt, and Luna already had plans for that. How could I compete with her? I normally wasn’t jealous of others—there wasn’t much that I desired from people in Dullsville. But Luna had it all, and even though I had one thing she wanted—Alexander—she somehow managed to make her life’s mission to see to it that I was the loser. And if I let her, she would do just that.

  “Where have you been?” Scarlet asked when I caught up to the girls.

  “Talking to Luna,” I answered through gritted teeth. I couldn’t hide my frustration.

  “What about?” Becky asked. “You seem tense.”

  “Yes, are you okay?” Onyx asked sweetly.

  “Just about Romeo,” I said. “She’s all into him, which is great. Hopefully this is for real this time.”

  Becky received this news with a smile. But then she asked, “So why do you look angry? This is what we wanted.”

  “I know,” I said. “But she just likes to throw all her relationships in my face. It gets old.”

  “Well, you have the one she really wants,” Scarlet said. “So don’t give her another thought.”

  I was comforted by my friend’s reassurance, but I still was bugged about Luna having such a strong relationship with Stormy before I’d even gotten the chance to meet her. When I saw Trevor walk into the club, another foe’s taunts flashed before me.

  “Did you hear that Jagger is planning on having a Halloween bash?” I asked them suddenly.

  “No,” Scarlet replied. She put her hands on her hips as if she, too, was surprised to have not been involved in the business-minded Maxwells’ plans.

  But Onyx didn’t answer.

  “You know something?” Scarlet asked her friend.

  “Well…” Onyx responded softly.

  “Spill it,” Scarlet ordered.r />
  “I think he’s going to turn the Crypt into a haunted house for Halloween.”

  “That’s awesome!” I said.

  “I can’t wait!” Becky said.

  “That will be the greatest, ever,” I adnt>ver,”ded.

  “I overheard him talking,” Onyx said. “He’s still working on the plans.”

  “But why didn’t he tell us?” Scarlet said. “What’s the big secret?” Just then Sebastian approached us, his blond dreadlocks bouncing with every step.

  “Can I have this dance?” he said to Onyx, like a gentleman.

  Scarlet, Becky, and I were surprised by Sebastian’s invitation. He knew Onyx was smitten with Jagger, but since Sebastian had been tricked by the Maxwells, I assumed he didn’t care.

  No one was more surprised than Onyx. “I was waiting for…” she began.

  “Go ahead,” Scarlet said, gently pushing her toward him. “It’s time you branch out.”

  Onyx reluctantly obliged, and she and Sebastian rocked together in the middle of the dance floor.

  “If Jagger keeps holding secrets from us,” Scarlet said, “then it’s time for us to find a new Jagger.”

  My blood was boiling when I finally found Alexander by the bar.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Where is that beautiful smile?”

  I tried focusing my energy on Alexander, but I couldn’t help but think of the Maxwells and how they got on my nerves.

  “Well, Jagger is going to have a haunted house and he told Trevor and not us, and Luna is going to bring Stormy here before I can.”

  “Whoa. Slow down,” Alexander said. His calming tone melted me, but I was still frazzled. “What about Jagger?”

  “For Halloween, he is going to have a haunted house here at the Crypt. I found out from the girls at the club. And Trevor knew something was up before we did. He told me Jagger was going to have a ‘spectacular event’ for Halloween.”

  “Trevor?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh.” Alexander looked away.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Nothing…” But his voice was shallow and distant.