"But are the preppygirls inthis towngoing to want to hang out at a place called the Crypt?"
"Ihave ways to entice them besides the name alone," he said ina creepybut sexytone.
"And vampires?" Sebastianasked skeptically.
"The mortals won't evenknow they're here. Besides, Ihave surprises planned for this club."
"What kinds of surprises?" Sebastianwondered.
"If Itold you, thentheywouldn't be surprises, would they? Besides, that's weeks away. We have a club to build first."
"What aboutAlexander?" Sebastianasked.
"He canbe a partner, too. But I'm not sure if he's the type to owna club. He's veryprivate."
"He is mybest friend. Ifeel funnyabout this--without him being onboard."
"Is your best friend, or was?" Jagger challenged. "Well, you'll have a place to stayhere as long as youlike."
Sebastian paused for a moment. He was the type that traveled constantly, his coffin covered with stickers from countries and cities around the world. It was something Icould tell he was contemplating--a place to call home.
"But there is more of a vampire culture inbigger towns, am Iright? Here it's justAlexander.And let's be clear. I think he likes it that way. Ithink we should respect that," Sebastiansaid.
Jagger cracked his knuckles, trying to mask his frustration.
"He escaped everything," Sebastianadded. "Persecutionfrom mortals and persecutionfrom . . ."
"My family?" Jagger sat up. "The irony, youmean. That he'd travel so far away from my family and ultimately we'd wind up settling here, too?"
"Youguys have a truce."
"I know. He helped mybrother, Valentine. WhenValentine was weakened and alone,Alexander cared for him and returned him to me. I'm not suggesting we restart that feud. But does that meanthat what's good forAlexander is good for us, too?" Jagger asked pointedly. "Do we have to live our lives around his? Besides, maybe a vampire club is just the thing he needs. He won't be so alone onthat hill withonlya butler to attend to his needs."
"I'm just saying. Iknow he's still mad at me for what Idid to Luna at his party. Iknow he thinks it jeopardized his existence here.And more of us coming to town--the kind that might be like me and act onimpulse . . . it wouldn't be good for anyof us."
"You were just being you. Just being us." Jagger leaned in. Evenfrom far away, his blue and green eyes were piercing. "Ican't help it ifAlexander's more . . . restrained. He should have bittenRavena long time ago. Why let it drag on?"
Just then my foot slipped and I knocked over the empty soda can on the window pane.
"What was that?" Iheard Jagger say.
"Ithink someone is outside."
I held my breath. Alexander did, too.
Alexander and I stood against the wall. A pigeon was walking along the window ledge.
Alexander tossed a twig near the bird. Startled, it flapped its wings wildly and flew off past the window.
"It's just a pigeon,"Iheard Sebastiansay.
Alexander cupped his hands and helped me up again.
"Youshouldn't be onedge," Jagger said. "Why are you so worried? It's just a club."
Sebastian thought, then finally spoke. "But it's a club with vampires--in a place that has been inhabited by only one. Alexander fights every day to be who he is and do the right thing. Just because you and I might be more a like? That doesn't mean he's the one that's wrong."
Jagger now was the one riffling his fingers through his white locks.