‘Aha.’ Ivy breathed a small sigh of relief as the last mystery was cleared up. ‘So that’s why the guidance counsellor didn’t know about you – because you were never actually registered.’
‘Right . . .’ Maya hesitated, looking uncomfortable. ‘Look, I knew it was a disaster when I bumped into you near that office.’
‘You two actually bumped into each other?’ Brendan groaned and pushed one hand through his hair. ‘Our school is, like, allergic to secrets.’
Maya ignored him. ‘But seriously, Ivy, I never meant to come between you and Brendan.’ She shot Brendan a teasing look. ‘Do you know that my cousin talks about you all . . . the . . . time?’
Oh, no. Don’t blush. Do NOT blush! Ivy ordered herself. Too late. She could feel her cheeks burning.
Luckily, neither Brendan nor Maya seemed to have noticed in the candlelight.
‘Unfortunately, our plan isn’t going all that well,’ Brendan said. ‘My dad’s going to need a lot more convincing before he backs down.’ He gave his cousin a guilty look. ‘Sorry, Maya.’
‘I almost don’t want to ask,’ Ivy said, ‘but what is the Twenty-First Law of the Night?’
Maya’s shoulders slumped. ‘I wish I knew,’ she whispered. ‘It’s caused so much trouble for my family but no one’s ever even told me what it is.’
‘What about you?’ Ivy turned to Brendan, but he was already shaking his head.
‘It all happened before I was born,’ he said. ‘Even when my dad told me the story, all he’d say about it was, “Rules are rules.”’
Ouch. Ivy glanced between Maya’s forlorn expression and Brendan’s look of deep frustration.
‘Well, you know me,’ she said, trying to sound bright and breezy for their benefit. ‘I can never leave a good mystery alone – what kind of investigative reporter would I be if I could?’
‘What can you do?’ Maya asked, looking doubtful.
‘I don’t know yet,’ Ivy replied, honestly.
Brendan grinned at them both. ‘If anyone can figure this out,’ he said, ‘it’s Ivy.’
Ivy felt a swell of determination at her boyfriend’s words. She had to put the Daniels family back together – for the sake of Marc and Carla just as much as Brendan and Maya. If there was one thing Ivy knew from experience, it was that it was never good for siblings to be estranged!
As Maya started out of the tomb ahead of them, Ivy turned to Brendan, feeling a tingle of sudden nerves race through her. She’d started out this night so confused and angry, ready to end their whole relationship if her suspicions were realised. Now they were alone again for the first time since the whole truth had come out – even the fact that she’d followed Maya to the mall that afternoon.
He just has to understand. She took a deep breath . . .
And Brendan’s arms closed tightly around her, warm and strong and familiar, pulling her into his hug. ‘How could you ever think I would cheat on you?’
Ivy’s eyes stung as she hugged him back. ‘I thought I’d lost you,’ she whispered into his hair.
Brendan’s reply was muffled, but she heard it clearly: ‘You could never lose me, Ivy Vega. I’m yours.’
Chapter Six
The sky was already fully dark when Olivia arrived at Franklin Grove Museum that evening. Located on the outer edge of the town centre, the massive museum hulked like a Gothic mansion, complete with stone turrets that loomed against the night sky.
Talk about a vamp-y atmosphere!
Olivia took a deep breath as she stopped in front of the giant oak front door. I’m only two blocks from the Meat and Greet and Mr Smoothie’s, she reminded herself. There are lots of people nearby.
She reached out and grabbed the big brass knocker on the door.
THUMP! THUMP!
The heavy knocks echoed ominously in her ears.
A moment later, the door opened with a long, slow creeeeak.