CHAPTER 6 NATE’S LUCKY SUMMER

Billy spun around, his heart pounding.

The angry hiss had sounded so close.

But he saw no snake on the ground.

Who was that, standing in the theater doorway?

He squinted into the light that flooded out from the theater. Was it Kylie?

Yes, Kylie. Standing there, so still.

Why was she staring at him like that?

• • • • •

Mae-Linn gazed up at Billy.

She looks really cute in the moonlight, he thought.

They drifted along the beach, not really going anywhere. Off to their right, waves crashed against the stone jetty.

“Is that your friend?” Mae-Linn asked.

Billy spotted a couple ahead of them on the beach. He recognized Jay and April, walking barefoot, letting the waves roll over their feet.

The moon disappeared behind a cloud, and April and Jay faded into the darkness. When the cloud passed, Jay and April had vanished.

Wow, Billy thought. Fast worker!

Mae-Linn slipped her hand into his.

I’m not doing too bad myself, Billy decided. They walked in silence for a few minutes.

“I think it’s pretty late,” Mae-Linn declared. “Do you know what time it is?”

Billy tried to focus on his watch, but it was too dark to see. “I can’t tell,” he replied.

“I’d better get back to the condo, or my parents will be worried.”

“Are you doing anything tomorrow?” he asked. “Do you want to do anything? With me, I mean?”

Mae-Linn giggled at his awkwardness. “Okay,” she replied brightly.

“I’ll walk you home,” he told her.

“Oh, don’t bother,” she protested. “I live right over there. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She spun a complete circle, her shiny dark hair swinging out behind her. Then she dashed away, disappearing into the darkness.

It is going to be a great summer, Billy decided. A really great summer.

You didn’t come here to have a great summer, he scolded himself. Remember the real reason you’re here.

Billy took a deep breath and thought about Joelle. He would never forget her pale face on the sand. Never forget the two red marks on her white throat.

I will never forget what the vampires did to her, he swore.

Never.

He gazed down the beach. He wouldn’t forget why he was here.

But Mae-Linn was certainly an added attraction.

• • • • •

“This is going to be a fun summer,” Irene murmured, between the kisses she was giving Nate.

Fun for me, she thought. Not so much fun for you.

They sat on the porch swing in front of Nate’s parents’ beach condo. Irene kissed him again. The swing rocked gently. Back and forth. Back and forth.

I don’t even have to cloud his mind, Irene thought. He’s mine. All mine.

“It will definitely be fun,” Nate agreed eagerly. “This is going to be the best summer of my life.”

“I think so too,” Irene whispered in his ear. “This will be a very special summer for both of us.”

He studied her in the moonlight, a gigantic smile on his face.

Such a happy guy, Irene observed. He thinks he lucked out and found the girl of his dreams.

She kissed him gently on the neck.

Then slid her fangs down.

She prepared to sink them into his throat.

The need surged through her.

Hungry, she thought. So very, very hungry.

And now for a sip.

But only a sip. Don’t get greedy, she warned herself. A sip. That’s all.

Her fangs touched the softness of Nate’s neck.

I can taste the nectar, she thought.

Taste it. Taste it. . . .

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 609