But when our eyes met, their expressions appeared vacant.
Have we met? Scarlet asked.
My heart dropped. I felt the same feeling I had in school when I was five and tried to play kickball with catalogue cutout neighborhood kids and they took the ball from me and went inside. For the last two nights I`d partied with these girls, and we`d instantly bonded like we were old friends. I had clearly been mistaken. Then it hit me. They were fearful of my revealing their identity.
I thought you were someone else, I said knowingly, but still saddened.
We get that all the time, Scarlet said.
The girls eyed Alexander, who was now catching up to me.
Onyx gave me a quick wink before they turned and walked away.
Who was that? Alexander asked, grabbing my hand.
I think I saw her at the Coffin Club, I said truthfully.
Speaking of which, what did you do last night? he asked.
Well, you`ll never believe it.
You went to the Coffin Club! he exclaimed.
How did you know? I asked, bewildered.
He pointed to the faded bat on my hand. Oh, that... I said.
Raven, I`d asked you not to go. I don`t want to appear like an overprotective boyfriend, but...Promise me you won`t go back.
It`s not as sinister as it sounds, I defended. I went with Aunt Libby. In fact, it was her idea.
Alexander seemed surprised yet relieved.
Did I hear someone say the Coffin Club?` My aunt, a few feet away from us, spun around and proudly displayed her black fingernails. We had the best time ever! We drank Insane Asylums. I felt at least ten years younger.
Alexander smiled. I could tell he was imagining my aunt trying to conjure up ghosts at the bar.
Maybe we should go, my aunt suggested to Devon. Have you been?
I waited desperately for Devon`s answer. Though he was older than the combined ages of two average clubsters at the nightspot, I wouldn`t have been surprised if he`d checked it out.
I was intrigued to hear his response.
There`s supposed to be an underground club inside. A real vampire hangout. He laughed.
Alexander and I locked eyes.
We didn`t see that when we were there, my aunt admitted. Sounds like fun.
It`s just something I heard, he said to me.
How would Devon know about the vampire hangout? I could only fathom he must have visited it himself.
We continued on and passed a booth with blown-glass ornaments and figures.
We`ll catch up to you, I called to my aunt, and pulled Alexander inside.
Alexander studied the artisan blowing glass into a tiny elephant.