Vampire High Sophomore Year - By Douglas Rees Page 0,29

shook his head. “Gadje, you are in so much deeper than you know. If the princess does not want you to do this, it is not only because of what is buried here in Crossfield. I think she is also trying to protect you.”

“From what?” Turk said.

“This is an old town by American standards,” Gregor said. “It has secrets within its secrets. And you are a fool if you think those who keep them wish them to be revealed.”

“Ooh, I’m getting chills,” Turk said. “But you’re going to have to come up with a better story than that to scare me off.”

But I knew Gregor could be telling the truth. This place was all about old secrets and hidden connections. Sometimes, I thought New Sodom should have been built underground.

“If that is what you think, I will enjoy watching you find out how wrong you are,” Gregor said. “It will be amusing to watch you fail.”

He opened the door and tore down the poem that had hung there. He rolled it up and stuffed it in his jacket.

“I want only my posters and my music,” he said. “The rest of these things you can deal with. Brilliantly, I am sure.”

“Gregor, you don’t have to leave,” I said all of a sudden.

“Yes, he does,” Turk said.

“No, he doesn’t,” I said. “This is supposed to be an arts center for everybody. Well, he’s somebody and he’s doing art. There’s room for him.”

Gregor looked at me like I’d sprouted a pair of leathery wings.

“Why?” He said it like I’d said something really stupid.

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” I said.

“No,” Turk said.

“Yes,” I said. “He was here first. Deal with it.”

“He doesn’t even want to stay,” Turk said.

But Gregor ignored her.

“If I help you, I must keep this room,” he said.

“That’s the point,” I said.

“Two minutes ago, you said my idea was stupid,” Turk said.

“It is stupid,” Gregor agreed. “But I know Cody Elliot. His stupid ideas have been known to work. I must reluctantly deal with that possibility. And what do I stand to lose? If, even with my help, you fail, I keep my place here. If, because of my help, you succeed, I still keep it.”

“And all of a sudden the Crossfield thing doesn’t bother you?” Turk said.

“Of course it bothers me,” Gregor said. “He bothers me. You bother me worst of all. But losing this place bothers me more. So you have your first supporter.”

Turk looked furious with Gregor and with me. Finally, she said, “Just as long as you remember who’s in charge.”

“As if you would let anyone forget,” Gregor said.

“Damn right,” Turk said.

“It’s not about who’s in charge,” I said.

Gregor didn’t answer. Or maybe he did.

He went and stood backward on the sill of the open window, and threw out his arms. Behind them, his big, dark wings spread out and blocked out the sun. The rest of his body tightened up, ready for flying. His chest stretched against his shirt and his dark eyes glittered. He spread his lips and showed his fangs.

“Shall we begin Saturday?” he said in the same deep voice he sang in.

Turk didn’t answer. She crossed her arms and tried to look cool, but she was staring at those big, powerful wings on the other side of the glass. I think she was fascinated.

“Nine o’clock,” I said.

“Do not be late, gadje,” Gregor replied, and threw himself off the sill.

He hung there, framed by the window, then flapped once and was carried up out of sight.

Turk couldn’t help it. She went to the window and stared up, following Gregor’s path.

There was a tall cloud that looked like it might flatten out into a thunderhead off to the north. I saw a flash of Gregor as he headed toward it.

“Damn,” Turk said. “I wish I could do that.”

13

We told Mom and Dad we had found some space for Turk in Crossfield, but it would need some repairs.

They were surprisingly cool about the whole thing. Mom was so glad that Turk and I were doing something together that she didn’t care what it was. Dad was relieved Turk wasn’t nagging him to buy her a mill. He had no curiosity at all about what we were doing.

I figured there was no need to lay the whole thing on them until we’d gotten a lot of work done and showed them we were serious. There would be time later to let them know they had a couple of pioneers living with them. So we were