THE VAMPIRE CLUB

Jessica’s sandals clonked over the wood planks of the walk as she made her way quickly past the small shops and restaurants. She stopped in front of the Beach Emporium, the largest clothing store in Sandy Hollow, and peered into the window.

A hand-painted sign read: BIKINIS HALF OFF.

Jessica chuckled to herself. Was that meant to be a joke?

No. Mrs. Hopping, the quiet old woman whose family had owned the Beach Emporium for a hundred years, had no sense of humor. She was a stern, unfriendly woman who smiled only when punching down the buttons on her old-fashioned cash register to ring up a big sale.

Mrs. Hopping will soon be smiling a lot, Jessica thought. Just beyond town, Beach Haven Drive was already clogged with cars as the summer people were arriving to open up their beach houses. In a few days the white-skinned tourists would be lying on the sand all day, soaking up the rays, then jamming the tiny town at night, all pink and sweaty, eager to party and shop, shop, shop.

Jessica let her eyes roam over the bathing suits in the window. A very bright orange bikini caught the light. It probably glows in the dark, Jessica realized, rolling her eyes. How tacky.

The sun had disappeared behind the low, shingle and clapboard buildings along Main Street. The evening air carried a chill from the ocean to the east. Loud voices and laughter rang out from the Pizza Cove restaurant across the street.

It’s exciting, Jessica thought. A new summer. A new season. New people.

Sweeping her thick mane of copper-colored hair back behind the shoulders of her black cotton sweater, she pushed open the door to the shop. The bell on the door jangled as Jessica stepped inside. She was surprised that Mrs. Hopping was not at her usual perch behind the jewelry counter.

The shop smelled of sweet spices, clove and cinnamon, the fragrance wafting from a display of potpourri. I’ll bet that’s a big seller, Jessica thought, picking up a sachet and holding it close to her face to smell it. The summer people would do anything to get the musty, mildewy smells from their houses.

She headed past the bathing suits and beach cover-ups to the racks of colorful summer skirts, tops, and sundresses against the wall. I need something sexy but not obvious, she thought, pulling out and immediately rejecting a red and yellow flower-print skirt with matching midriff top.

Before she could look any further, she heard footsteps on the wood floor, and a voice from behind her called out a cheery hello. Jessica turned, surprised to see Lucy Franks, a girl she’d known for years, another townie.

They exchanged greetings. “Are you working here?” Jessica asked, her eyes returning to the dress rack.

“Yeah. Just evenings,” Lucy replied brightly. “Town is filling up. I’m glad.”

“Me too,” Jessica said, holding up a maroon top.

“Not your color,” Lucy said helpfully. Then she added, “Your hair’s so great. Mine’s always a mess. It curls up because it’s so damp here.”

“The damp air is good for your skin,” Jessica said, pushing the maroon top back into place, then moving her hand down the rack. Jessica’s skin was pale and flawlessly smooth and creamy white, her best feature.

The almost-translucent skin contrasted with her dark brown eyes and her full red lips. The long cascades of red hair framed her high cheekbones and made Jessica appear very dramatic, very sophisticated.

“It’s so nice to see people in town,” Lucy said, straightening a stack of oversize T-shirts. “Sandy Hollow is so boring in the winter.”

“Yeah. It’s like living in the Antarctic or somewhere,” Jessica agreed.

“What are you doing this summer?” Lucy asked.

“Just hanging out, I guess,” Jessica told her. “What do you think of this?” She held up a short, navy blue sundress with a halter top.

“Well, what are you looking for?” Lucy asked, giving the T-shirts one last pat and walking up to Jessica. “Something a little dressy?”

“Not too dressy,” Jessica said thoughtfully, holding the sundress up. “I have a blind date tomorrow night.”

Lucy giggled. “A blind date? Wow. Do people still do that?”

Jessica’s dark eyes lit up. “I sort of got talked into it—you know. A friend of a friend said there’s this really nice guy, and—”

“What’s his name?” Lucy asked. “Do I know him?”

“Gabriel Martins,” Jessica replied. “Everyone calls him Gabri.”

Lucy shook her head. “Don’t know him.” She took the navy blue sundress from Jessica and studied it. “Try it on. It’ll probably look fabulous on you. You’re so tall and have such great long legs. You really look like a model.”

Jessica laughed. “Lucy, you really know how to make a sale!”

Lucy blushed. “No. I mean it, Jessica. Really.” She handed it back, and Jessica hurried to the dressing room to try it on. She scrambled out of her jeans and sweater and pulled the sundress on. It fit perfectly.

“There’s a mirror out here if you need it,” Lucy called.

“That’s okay. It fits great,” Jessica called out.

A few minutes later, having bought the dress, she waved good-bye to Lucy and headed out onto Main Street. Across the street some teenagers were piling into the Pizza Cove. Next door, the Mini Market was crowded with shoppers choosing food to stock their houses. Cars honked as drivers looked for parking places on the narrow street.

Summer, here I come! Jessica thought happily, gripping her plastic shopping bag tightly as she crossed Main Street, mission accomplished, and headed for home.

• • • • •

Gabri Martins was tall and very thin, with a pale, narrow face, straight black hair swept back from his forehead, intense, black eyes, and a broad, friendly smile that didn’t seem to belong on such a serious face.

He’s really good-looking, Jessica thought as he approached in his black denim jeans and pale blue T-shirt, stepping under the flickering lights of the marquee of the Harbor Palace, the town’s only movie theater. The smile on his face seemed to indicate that he liked Jessica’s looks as well.

She had arrived at the theater first, feeling nervous and uncertain. How will I even know which one he is? she had wondered. As the line of laughing, chattering summer people filed into the theater, Jessica waited under the marquee, nervously straightening her new sundress, asking herself why she had let herself be talked into a blind date.

After a while she realized she was the only one still waiting. The movie must have started, she told herself, glancing at the big clock outside the Mini Market. Gabri isn’t even going to show up.

But then he stepped under the marquee lights and flashed her his open, friendly smile, and her nervousness melted away. “Sorry, I’m late,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her inside.

It was dark and warm inside the theater and smelled of cats and mildew. Jessica stumbled in the aisle, her eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness. Gabri caught her before she fell.

Good move, Jessica, she scolded herself. Way to make a good impression. Now he knows you’re a clumsy ox!

They sat in the back row. Jessica found herself glancing at Gabri every few seconds, too distracted to concentrate on the movie. His dark eyes glowed in the flickering light of the movie screen. His expression remained serious even though the movie was a comedy.

About halfway through the film, he leaned close to her and whispered, “Do you like this movie?”

“Not really,” she answered honestly.

“Let’s go,” he said, standing up immediately, smiling reassuringly at her.

A few seconds later they were back outside. The air smelled fresh and salty. Narrow wisps of dark clouds snaked across a full moon hung low in the sky, so low it seemed to hover over the shingled roof of the darkened barbershop across the street.

Swanny’s, the ice-cream parlor and video-game arcade next to the movie theater, was packed with young people. A line had formed at the outdoor take-out window, people standing in clusters of two and four, talking and laughing as they waited for cones and milk shakes.

“Want to get something?” Gabri asked, pointing to the line.

Jessica shook her head. “Not unless you want to.”

“Why don’t we check out the beach?” he said. “It’ll be quieter. We can talk.” His dark eyes seemed to capture hers. As she stared back at him, she felt hypnotized by him.

“Uh . . . okay,” she finally replied, forcing herself to snap out of it.

He must think I’m a real jerk, she thought glumly. I’m usually so self-assured, so confident. Why do I feel so awkward, so unsure of myself with him?

They walked along Dune Lane, which meandered from town across the tall, grassy dunes down to the beach. It was a short walk, about ten minutes. The low, bright moon with its shadowy wisps of cloud seemed to move with them, leading the way.

After sliding down the dune, they took their shoes off and stacked them beside a clump of grass. The sand felt cold and soft and wet under Jessica’s feet. She slid her toes in, enjoying the sensation, enjoying the fresh, salty air, enjoying the white moon that sent a trembling path of light across the billowing ocean waves, enjoying sharing it all with someone new.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “It smells so clean,” she said happily, wrapping her bare arms around her chest as if hugging herself.

“Are you cold?” Gabri asked, his voice suddenly concerned.

She opened her eyes to see him staring at her. “I like your dress,” he said. “I just thought you might be cold. I mean . . .”

She shook her head. “Know what I feel like doing? I feel like running.”

Before he could reply, she took off, running along the shore, her bare feet kicking up clumps of wet sand, the rush of the waves in her ears, the ocean wind lifting her coppery hair.

It took her a while to realize that Gabri was right beside her, matching her stride for stride, moving over the sand as effortlessly as she. His dark eyes searched out hers, his arms outstretched as if he were about to take flight.

She turned and headed away from the water, her feet pounding the sand. He soared with her, grinning, staying at her side, now a step behind, now a step ahead.

Without a signal, they both plunged headfirst into the soft, grassy dune, tumbling together happily, both laughing as if they were little children, rolling in the sand, the high grass soft against their skin.

When they finally stood up, still laughing, not the slightest bit out of breath, brushing sand from their clothes, he took her hands.

And pulled her close.

He looked so handsome under the low, low moon.

She knew he was going to kiss her.

She wanted him to.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. Those dark, intense eyes, so serious, so hypnotic. Those eyes said it all.

And before she realized it, his arms were around her.

His face drew close. Closer.

She stared into his eyes and once again came under their spell.

And then she saw his mouth open.

And the pointed fangs emerged.

So bright and sharp, sparkling in the moonlight.

Gently, so gently, Gabri tilted her chin up.

And dug his fangs deeply into her pale, tender throat.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 728