The normal world would perceive me to be in the hands of a monster, but I knew I was in the company of a dark angel. Alexander grazed his fangs over my neck, sending me into wild giggles. Then he pulled away.
"You don't know what our lives would be like. Youconstantly needing me."
"But I already do."
"Believe me, Raven, I think about what it would be like. I imagine it every day."
"What do you imagine?"
"We'd sleep in my coffin together. We'd live in the Mansion-so you could see your family-but we'd travel the world together,Rome ,Paris,Greece . I'd paint pictures of you and we'd sell them in galleries across the world."
"Wow." I didn't have a clue that Alexander fantasized like I did. "Then could we? Make it everlasting?"
Just then we heard a dog bark.
"We'd better climb inside before someone spots us."
Alexander took my hand and lifted me into the rail car. I was the equivalent of a princess on a white horse being escorted by her handsome prince across a field of tulips. Except in my case everything was black and some of the flowers were dead.
I stepped into a dream world. Votives and candelabras lit the car.Crystal vases bloomed lifeless roses, and petals covered the wooden floors. The pictures of Dullsville and me that once hung on the Mansion walls were now fixed on the steel walls of the railroad car. The fragrant scent of lavender filled the air.
"I figured if I couldn't bring you to the Mansion, I'd bring the Mansion to you."
I stood frozen. My eyes began to well. Alexander's chocolate eyes gazed down at me, and his smile lit up his handsome, pale face as he waited for my response.
"I can't believe this!" I exclaimed as I examined each detail he had re-created. "This is the best present ever!"
I squeezed him so tight I thought I might pass out.
Alexander tickled my waist. His voice was soft and his lips tender. My heart filled with so much passion I thought it would burst. I wove my fingers through the length of his silky hair. We spun around, our bodies entwined, untilwe both became so dizzy we fell over onto makeshift throw pillows.
I didn't need a Mansion. I only needed Alexander.
Chapter 15 Is There aButler in the House?
The following day, I was in the garage putting air into my bike tires. My mom pulled into the drive, popped out of her car, and charged toward me.
"I've invited theSterlings over for dinner," she declared.
"You did what?" I asked, releasing the air hose from the tire valve.
"I invited them over," she repeated,
"Why?How?" I stood up, shocked by my mother's news.
"I called them up. Why is that so strange? People have been doing that for years."
"But-"
"Mrs. Sterling was so delighted," my mom continued. "I don't think anyone in town has invited them out socially, so I was proud to be the first one."
"That is very nice of you... but-"
"You don't want us to meet them? Or is it that you don't wantthem to meetus ."
"Both."
"So you want them all to yourself." My mom sighed.