CHAPTER 7 BURIED TREASURE

Irene’s fangs brushed Nate’s throat.

A shriek exploded in her ear.

Irene jerked away from him, quickly closing her lips over the fangs.

She heard a giggle from behind the swing. Irene twisted around—and found Nate’s little sister, Lynette.

Did the brat see my fangs? Irene thought. Did I hide them quickly enough?

“Lynette, what’s your problem?” Nate demanded angrily.

“I gotcha!” Lynette cried happily.

Rage bubbled up inside Irene. She wanted to grab the little girl and drink her dry in one gulp.

But she had to stay calm.

She couldn’t reveal herself. Couldn’t upset Nate.

And couldn’t lose the bet with Kylie and April.

But I was so close, she thought. So close to the nectar. She stared hungrily at Nate. If she stayed for one more minute she would lose control. She would kill Nate and his sister.

With a groan, Irene stood up. She muttered a quick goodnight, and hurried off into the darkness.

At least I don’t think the little sister saw my fangs, Irene thought.

Behind her, she could hear Nate angrily scolding Lynette: “Thanks for chasing Irene away. You’re dead meat!”

• • • • •

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Billy wandered through the dungeons of a big castle. The place was filthy. Empty and damp. Moisture glistened on the gray stone walls.

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

The noise came from above him. Someone was up there!

No one will stop me, Billy thought. No one will keep me from my revenge. Slipping the wooden stake from his bag, he started up the stone steps that led to the next level.

He reached the first landing—and stopped. An iron gate blocked his way. He tugged on it. Securely locked.

He spotted a door hidden in the shadows. Stained, splintery wood with rusty iron hinges. He pulled on the door. It creaked as it swung open.

The room was dark and damp. Somewhere in the distance, water dripped.

Billy smiled grimly. This was exactly the kind of place they liked to sleep.

He stepped through the doorway. Spotted them instantly. Four coffins lined up against the wall.

Billy lowered his hands to the lid of the closest one. Be ready, he thought. Be ready for anything.

He slowly raised the coffin lid.

The vampire lay inside. A handsome young man with black hair. A square face.

Billy raised the wooden stake.

No hammer. Can I do it without a hammer?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The noise again. Someone else in the castle.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

The vampire’s eyes opened. He snarled.

And lunged for Billy.

Billy jerked awake.

Bang-bang-bang-bang.

He stared around the small bedroom, breathing hard.

Someone knocking on the door. Billy shook his head, chasing away the last bits of the frightening dream. Yes. Someone was at the front door to the condo. Grabbing his robe, he stumbled to the door.

Two police officers stood on the doorstep.

“What’s your name?” asked one.

“Billy.”

“Your whole name.”

“Billy Naughton.”

“Were you out with Mae-Linn Walsh tonight?”

“Yeah,” Billy replied, rubbing the last of the sleep from his eyes. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“What time did you last see her?”

“Uh . . . about eleven-thirty, I guess.”

“Are your parents here?”

“N-no,” Billy stammered. “They only come up on weekends.”

The two officers stared at him. One was a big tall guy. A walking pile of muscles. The other was a stern-looking woman. Both wore serious expressions.

“Did something happen to Mae-Linn?” Billy asked.

“She’s missing,” the policeman declared.

“Where did you last see her?” his partner asked.

“Uh, on the beach.”

“Where on the beach?” she demanded.

“Near the edge of town. Coming from the community theater.”

“Can you show us the spot?” the policeman asked.

Billy nodded.

“Get dressed and come with us.”

Billy peered out from the backseat of the patrol car, watching the deserted town float by. Voices crackled over the two-way radio, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Mae-Linn, he thought. What happened to her? He pictured her shiny black hair, her bright smile.

Where is she?

“Slow down,” he told the officers as they reached the edge of town. “It’s only a little farther.”

He stared at the smooth, silvery beach. “Right about here,” he said. “Stop.”

Billy climbed out of the patrol car. He slid down a small dune, cold sand spilling into his shoes. The police officers were right behind him, the beams from their powerful flashlights making wide yellow circles on the sand.

Billy glanced along the shoreline in both directions. “I think we walked over here.”

The ocean breeze brushed back Billy’s black hair. He could smell the sea. Salt air, decaying seaweed.

Mae-Linn, he thought, where did you go?

The two police officers spread out behind him, casting their lights in every direction.

Billy scanned the beach. Shadows hid within shadows.

Dangerous, he thought. The beach is dangerous at night.

A dark mound rose in front of him.

A pile of sand?

Billy started toward it. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the beams of the police officers’ flashlights. They moved down the beach, away from him.

“I found something!” he called to the police officers. He heard their footfalls as they hurried toward him.

Billy scooped away some of the sand with his hands, the cool, wet clumps spilling out between his fingers.

He touched something.

Something hard and smooth.

He brushed away the sand.

Something square.

Leather. A purse.

A purse?

“What did you find?” the policeman asked, shining his flashlight on Billy.

Billy gasped. “Mae-Linn?”

He shoveled the sand away, working frantically with both hands.

He stopped when his hand touched something cold. Cold and soft.

Billy leaned closer. Peered down.

“No—!”

He turned away. Felt his stomach lurch. And started to vomit.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 546