Almost To Die For Part 9

I closed the phone with a snap. I didn't want to come between Bea and the object of her fantasies, but I was really starting to like Nikolai . . . and it wasn't my fault he asked me out, was it?

I let my head fall against the back of the chair, and I shut my eyes in frustration.

Just then there was a knock on my window.

My window? I was two stories up!

Eleven.

Nervously, I glanced in the direction of the window. It was open, the screen letting in the cool evening air. Squinting to see past the light of my room into the darkened tree branches, I thought I saw a sleek figure crouching among the branches.

Vampire!

But was it Elias? Ramses?

"Anastasija? "

It had to be Ramses. No one else called me by my full first name, or with such a poetic lilt. I turned off my desk lamp and used my stocking feet to roll the chair closer to the window.

With the light off, I could see Ramses much clearer. He, thank the G.o.ddess, wore regular clothes--well, with the exception of shoes. Apparently, vampires needed bare feet to climb trees.

Otherwise, he had on dark jeans and a plain dark blue shirt. If it was possible, he almost looked more ridiculous fully dressed sitting in the tree like some overgrown boy.

"Hey, Dad," I said with a little awkward wave. "Sorry Mom, you know, kicked your a.s.s before. Um, are you okay?"

Over the metal song, I heard my phone ring with the receipt of another text. I ignored it for now. Besides, what would I write? "Sorry, brb, dad in tree"?

Ramses touched his side tentatively, but nodded. "Fortunately for me, my captain of the guard doesn't take orders well. It seems that I was rescued from my own stupidity by insubordination."

He seemed to think that was funny, so I smiled along like I had a clue what he was talking about. "As for the a.s.s kicking . . ." Ramses gave a little self-deprecating chuckle. "Let's just say I really hate magic."

"Yeah, so I've heard."

I stared at the man half hidden in the long, gnarled branches of the pine tree, thinking that the b.u.t.t of his jeans must be completely covered with pitch by now. Maybe that's why vampires preferred to do their tree hopping naked. Less laundry.

"I don't think we were ever properly introduced," he said, inclining his head as though to apologize for a breach of courtly etiquette. "I am Alexander Ramses, high prince of the dark realms and protectorate of the territories of the New World."

He seemed to be waiting for a response, so I said, "Uh, so, I'm Anastasija Ramses Parker, queen of the high school losers."

He didn't laugh at my lame joke or even crack much of a smile. I must have inherited my sense of humor from Mom. Now, there was a scary thought.

"She gave you my name, at least."

We sat in silence for a moment considering that. Then, cautiously, he added, "How'd the Initiation go?"

I snorted a laugh. "It pretty much sucked. I failed out, and then your buddies showed up and now everyone knows I'm a damp- thin gy ."

"Dhampyr," he corrected kindly. "It's an ugly term, half-breed. You don't have to accept it when you live among your people."

"What, in the trees? Dad, I have to go to school. I can't exactly run away to the circus. Besides, Nikolai says you're a bloodsucker. And everyone thinks you're bad juju."

Ramses listened to the barrage of insults calmly. He nodded his head as though in acknowledgment. "But what do you think?"

I bit my lip. Of course, I wasn't certain, but it was bizarre as heck to be chatting up a dad I never knew while he was casually sitting on a tree branch like it was a regular piece of furniture. "I think Mom will be p.i.s.sed if she finds out you came to talk to me."

Conveniently, my phone buzzed again, this time with a call. The caller ID said it was Mom.

"Speak of the devil," I said as I got up to shut the window. "I have to go. That's my phone."

The window slid down before he could finish saying what sounded suspiciously like, "I love you."

Okay, now, that was something I definitely couldn't cope with right now. Love? From a vampire stranger? No. Maybe later, thank you. I turned away from the weirdness in the tree and grabbed my phone. I got it before the last ring. Of course, I had to turn down the volume on the player to hear.

I'd hardly even said h.e.l.lo before the shouting started. "I'm sorry," I said after the tirade had quieted. "I thought you'd check the phone here first. I left a message that I got a ride home with Nikolai."

"So you're home? Alone?"

Yeah, like I'd invite Nikolai in? What did Mom think? Or did she suspect Dad was hiding out in the tree? I switched on the light with a sigh.

"Alone," I agreed. Of course, I didn't exactly mention Ramses sitting in the branches, but, you know, it wasn't like he was in the house or anything.

"Well, I'm just turning onto Fairview now. I'll be home in ten minutes," Mom said with the strong implication that there would be more to this conversation then.

"Great," I said, trying not to sound as deeply disappointed as I was.

After we'd said our good-byes, I checked my in-box on the phone. Taylor had left a message, or, really, a big question: "R U and Nik . . . ????"

I turned up the music and thought about how to respond to Taylor's text. It was only a car ride and a conversation, after all. But he had given me his music, and I'd given him my phone number. Plus, he said he would call. But didn't older guys say that all the time? He'd asked me out . . . but bowling. With his friends. It wasn't like it was dinner and a movie, just the two of us.

"Not exactly," I wrote back, but then added, "Ask me @ school."

Maybe I'd have it figured out by then.

I MANAGED TO AVOID FURTHER conversation with Mom that night by switching off my light and pretending to already be asleep. It was a cheap cop-out, okay, but I just couldn't deal. When I didn't respond to her shouts from downstairs, Mom poked her head in the door. Through my closed eyes, I sensed her standing in the doorway for a long time, saying nothing. Finally, Mom sneaked in and gave me a light kiss on the forehead like she used to when I was a little girl.

Miraculously, not long after, I fell asleep. For real.

When I woke to the sound of my alarm beeping, I had the sensation of having dreamed about vampires and stakes and maybe even Buffy the Vampire Slayer, only it was Nikolai or his dad . . . or the president?

Dreams, who could figure them?

Sleepy fingers fumbled the switch of the alarm, and I rubbed my head trying to banish the last jumbled bits of the dream. I stumbled blearily out of bed. Looking down at my rumpled shirt, I realized I forgot to change into pajamas last night. Well, at least getting dressed would be easy this morning.

I gathered my schoolbooks and papers into my backpack, wondering what I was supposed to have read for history cla.s.s and whether I'd have time to catch up during free period.

Despite it all, I smiled, because you know what? It was all so blessedly normal. I knocked on the wood of the doorframe as I pa.s.sed through. Hopefully, things would stay that way.

Mom was in the dining room munching Cheerios and making notes in a gigantic book, The Cosmic Mother or some such. Her gla.s.ses were perched up on her head, almost lost in the mess of curls. I thought about escaping out the door, but the d.a.m.n step creaked, and Mom caught my eye.

"Hey," she said in a tone that clearly implied come-sit-we-should-talk.

c.r.a.p.

"Hi," I replied, still eyeing the door. Could I pretend I was late? I checked my watch. c.r.a.p, I had hours before school started. I gave up with a sigh. Setting my backpack by my shoes near the door, I headed for the table. Might as well plunge right in: "Crazy night last night, huh?"

"It's going to be all right," Mom said.

I sat down in my usual spot, kitty-corner. She reached out and grasped my hand lightly. I stared at her hand. The gesture was kind of a big show of affection from Mom. "Uh, sure," I said, resisting the urge to pull away.

She released me first. "I talked to Diane and the others. They agreed we couldn't let them have you. We're going to do a rite of protection. You'll still be in the coven, as a full True Witch."

"But I can't do magic."

"Inconsequential," she insisted. "Besides, you probably can." Before I could even react to that, Mom barreled on. "I explained to them how you can feel our power. It's a manifestation of some variety; they had to admit to that. It'd be a liability in the hands of the dark kingdom."

The dark kingdom of which I was a princess, I presumed?

"The Elders want to wait until the next full moon, which I think is utter foolishness given the attack last night, but I didn't want to jeopardize the concessions I'd already won." Mom sounded so intense, and her face was so tight I thought it might shatter into tears any minute. She pulled her gla.s.ses down onto her nose and shook her head as if in answer to some unheard argument. "Stupid. Still, there's no moving those old bats once they get their minds set."

Old bats? The venerable Elders? It almost made me laugh to hear Mom so spiteful.

"And I only have so much authority," she said.

Which was also a strange thing to say, since we were supposed to be egalitarian, so technically she had no more power than anyone else.

"Well, we'll just have to keep you safe until then." Mom looked at me, as if suddenly remembering I was present for this whole rant. "I'm afraid I can't allow you out after dark anymore."

"What?" The force of my own angry surprise brought me to my feet. Not now, not when I had a potential date with Nikolai on the horizon. "No freaking way!"

Mom stood up and tried to grasp my hand again, but I whipped it away from her. "It's the only way, dear. I'm sorry. I have to keep you safe."

I stomped toward the door. Let her try and stop me. "You know what? Maybe I don't want to be safe!"

A magic barrier surrounded the door; I felt the buzz like pins and needles in my hand when I touched the k.n.o.b. I glared at Mom. Was she really intending to hold me prisoner? "What, now I can't go to school?"

"I thought about that," she said. "But there's no need to take you out of school yet. They can't approach you during the daylight. It's only nighttime that's a problem." She had a soft, loving expression on her face, which only infuriated me more. How dare she look at me like that when she's telling me I'm under house arrest for something I didn't even do! "Honey, please," she implored. "It's only for a month."

A month! Oh my G.o.d!

But I'd never get out if I pushed her. I decided to try to play it cool. I blinked, as if shaking out my anger, and put on my best theater-schooled expression of acquiescence. "Oh, okay. If you think it's best."

That last line might have sunk it, because my ears heard unintentional sarcasm. I watched Mom's eyes, but she seemed to buy it. A relieved sigh dropped the tension from her shoulders and the magic from the door. The lock clicked open, and my arm stopped feeling p.r.i.c.kled. "Thank you, Ana. Really, this is for the best. I'll cancel my group tonight so we can be home together, okay? "

Oh, yeah, great. "Okay," I said, trying to seem sincerely grateful.

She seemed to see through that a little. "I know it's not your favorite thing to hang out with your mom, but we can make it fun, can't we? Maybe rent one of those anime shows you like so much?" Mom pointed at my shirt hopefully.

"Sure," I said. It took all my acting skills not to gag.

She patted my shoulder, and I felt a surge of magic well up. Dark and heavy, like a gathering storm, the power tasted of metal and clinked like chains. But just as it nearly seeped into me, trapping me, the magic withdrew. "See you tonight?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Had Mom just considered compelling me? Was she seriously going to put a magical fetter on me to force me to obey? Unreal. There was no freaking way I was coming home tonight! I held on to my smile, however, as I picked up my backpack and let Mom open the door for me.

"See you," I lied.

Twelve.

My hand shook as I handed over five dollars for a latte. The cashier gave me a curious look, but didn't ask. I scurried over to a table to wait for them to call my drink. Checking my wallet, I had about ten dollars and some change. Not a lot to run away on, but what was I going to do? The feeling had been unmistakable. Mom was about to use her magic to control me.

So she didn't actually, but she thought about it--powered up, even. That was beyond uncool. That was screwed up.

And all for what? To protect me from the scary vampires, who, as far as I could tell, just liked to sit in trees and talk. Okay, so Elias admitted they drank blood, but it was all part of some ceremonial hunt, right? Nothing evil.

Not like my mom.

s.h.i.t.

At least I had my cell phone. Even though it was forbidden at school, I'd tucked it into my pocket this morning out of habit. I stuffed it into my backpack, wondering if I was seriously considering being homeless tonight.

I was so lost in thought I almost missed my drink. Grabbing it, I headed for the bus stop. My bus picked me up on Summit, about three blocks from my house and conveniently located a half of one from the coffee shop. The morning had a nip to it, like it was intent on becoming autumn after all. I could see the steam rising from the hole in the lid of my cup, and I regretted not grabbing a coat, especially since the air smelled of rain.

I waved at the sullen skater dude who shared my stop. He always wore tattered cutoffs and had that spray-painted board leaned up against one leg. His hair was a rat's nest of product and genuine grease, but, despite the studied hoodlum look, I knew he lived in a huge mansion just up the street. His folks were probably filthy rich. I thought his name was Ted and that he might be a senior at Sta.s.sen, but we had an unspoken agreement not to converse outside of grunted h.e.l.los. Sipping my coffee, I leaned my b.u.t.t against the cold concrete wall and tried to scan my history book. The words kept bouncing off my brain.

Finally, I turned to Ted or Thad, and said, "Like, if I couldn't go home tonight, do you know where I could spend the night?"

He gave me a go-away scowl.

"So it's all just for show, huh? That tough look?"

That needled him enough that he shrugged. "There's that place downtown. For homeless people. What's it called? Catholic Charities?"

I frowned. A shelter? That seemed kind of extreme, and, no offense, but it seemed kind of wrong to expect the Catholics to harbor a half vampire on the run from witches.

"Yeah, okay," I said, disappointed.

He looked at me, as though considering something. Then he said, "I know some guys, right. They squat in that big three-story house that's been for sale forever--you know the one, on the corner of Grotto?"