~*~Chapter One~*~
Roman went to the Halloween store, looking for the perfect costume. *Nothing like waiting till the last minute,* he thought to himself. He wouldn't care so much, but he wanted to look perfect for Letha. She had agreed to go with him to the Halloween dance. He knew she would, but everyone needed costumes.
It was their senior year of high school and now more than ever, they wanted to have fun. It all would be ending soon. Then they'd have to go their separate ways. Letha's father was sending her off to college.
He looked at the costumes on the racks, then he checked out all the masks. He held up a werewolf mask as he thought of Peter Rumancek. Everyone at their school thought that Peter was a werewolf. Roman was the only one who knew for certain that the rumors were true. He could sense those things. He had abilities that the average person did not have. He had always known he was different and now in his seventeenth year, his supernatural urges had multiplied. He was Roman Godfrey, the oldest surviving child of JR Godfrey and heir to the family throne, but he was so much more than that title. His mother had said he was a dragon, but Roman knew he was a warrior.
The dark forces which raged inside him had been dormant up till now. They were always there, just lurking under the surface. The past three months they had risen up from within like a clawing hand. They were pushing him toward the edge of a great abyss. If he fell, he was determined he would not go alone.
Ever since that July night at the amusement park, Roman had been changing. He was close... so close now, and he vowed that nothing would stop him. He was going to realize all his dreams.
"Fuck it," he said as he put down the hairy mask. Who needed to dress up like a beast? He already carried a beast. It lurked inside him like a sickness.
He laughed at the witches and demons; the mannequins inside the store. *Is that all you've got?* he thought. He left with a wicked laugh. He didn't need a costume; Roman had something frightening of his very own.
~*~o~*~
Letha was in the kitchen at home with her parents. She was fixing herself a cup of tea. "There's a dance tonight," she spoke up. The water in the kettle was close to boiling as she unwrapped the tea bag and dropped it into the cup.
"There's a dance already?" Norman asked.
"Yes, Daddy," Letha said with a laugh.
"Is it a costume party?" asked Norman.
Letha nodded.
"What are you going as?" he asked.
"She's not going," Marie snapped.
"What do you mean I'm not going? I already told Roman that I'd go with him," Letha told her mother.
"You are most definitely not going with Roman," Marie said as she made a face. What would people think if they saw her daughter with Roman at the dance?
"I don't know what I'm going as, but I am definitely going," Letha announced. The kettle whistled and she turned the stove off. She poured the water into her cup, letting her tea bag seep.
"Letha have some shame!" Marie said. "You cannot gallivant around town with him!"
Letha rolled her eyes at her mother. "It's just a dance, Mom," she said. She leaned back against the counter as she tried to figure out what she was going to be for the dance. A costume was mandatory, so there was no way she could go without one. She loved dressing up anyway; that was the fun part about Halloween.
Flapper? No. Fairy? No Ballet dancer? I have the tutu and the leotard... Nah Princess? No Mob boss's wife? No An Angel? No Bride of Frankenstein? No Blood Splattered Bride? YES! Perfect! No one else will think of it!
She couldn't wait now to go to the dance! She had a dress upstairs. She also had some red nail polish that she could use for the fake blood! Tonight would be wonderful! She hoped that Roman would love her costume and that they would be able to dance all night. She couldn't help the smile that overtook her face. She was feeling excited about getting to spend the evening with him.
"I have to go call Roman!" she announced as she finished making her tea. She tossed the tea bag out and took her cup upstairs. She wanted to know if he had found his costume yet. She wasn't going to tell him what she chose; she wanted to surprise him! She had no idea that she would be the one to get the biggest surprise of all tonight.
~*~o~*~
Roman was in his bedroom, putting on his best tux. He had it pressed especially for the occasion. He stood, looking at his reflection in the full-length mirror. His hair was slicked back from his face as he stared at himself with a stoic expression. Once again, he was having dark thoughts.
I have an ugliness that no one can love. I hate her. I hate her so much... and she won't win. I am a warrior... not a dragon.
He was adjusting his tie when his mom walked in, unannounced. "Don't you ever knock?" he asked, glaring at her.
"I was just coming in to check on you, darling. Where are you going?" Olivia asked.
"I have a date for the Halloween party... with Letha," Roman announced. "Don't wait up for me. We are going to be partying all night long."
"Partying... or something else, Roman?" she asked as she stared into his eyes.
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"Ohhh I think I know. I know everything," she said, very pleased with herself as she came over, smoothing the lapels on his suit. Her fingers lingered a little too long, stroking him. "You look hot, darling. Absolutely ravishing. Letha's not going to be able to keep her hands off you." As she smiled at him, his mother practically purred.
I hate her. I hate her so much... and she won't win. I am a warrior... not a dragon.
"Don't touch me," Roman snapped, moving away from her.
"Roman ~ darling, has Letha had any news lately? Has she told you anything... important?" Olivia asked.
"Like what, Mother?"
"Ohhh nothing. I'm sure she'll tell you tonight. It's not really something you can really... keep hidden."
*I've already won,* Roman was thinking. He didn't say the words, but he knew his mother wouldn't be victorious. Tonight he would be the warrior.
"Get out," he said, pointing to the door. "I need to get finished getting ready for my date."
"Well, okay, darling. Have a good time with Letha."
Very slowly his mother walked toward the door, lingering needlessly. "Remember, you are a dragon."
"I am a warrior," he whispered as she walked away.
He was applying the finishing touches to his attire when his cell phone rang. "Letha," he said when their song played as the ring tone.
"Hello," he said as he took the call.
"Did you pick out a good costume?" she asked him eagerly. "I'm SO excited!"
"I think I found the perfect one," Roman stated. "So, what are you wearing?" He started having erotic thoughts, imagining her naked... imagining her porcelain skin gleaming in the soft candlelight.
"You'll love it when you see it!" she said happily. "I want it to be a surprise. I can't wait to get to the dance tonight. I'm so excited to dance with you!"
"I can't wait either," Roman said. "Will you be ready soon?" He was so ready. He had spent the whole day getting everything prepared for their night together. Letha was going to be so surprised. He couldn't wait to see the look of shock that would cross her face. She had no clue at all what he had in store for her.
"I should be, yes, actually let me get off the phone and finish getting dressed," she told him.
"Okay, I'll see you soon," Roman said as he ended the call. She wouldn't be wearing her costume long, not at all. Roman had plans for her.
~*~o~*~
Twenty minutes later, Roman arrived at Letha's house. He honked the horn, but she didn't come out. With a sigh of annoyance, he left his car and walked up to the door.
Marie stood there, waiting for him. "Hello, Marie," he said.
"Keep your hands off my daughter tonight," she said to him hatefully.
"What about my other parts?" Roman asked snidely.
"Hello, Roman," Norman said as he walked into the foyer. "Letha tells me you are going to the Halloween dance tonight."
"That's right," said Roman.
"Will you have her home by midnight?"
"I will try."
Good luck with that, Normie. Your little girl won't be coming home a virgin. I'll bring her home, but not till I have had my way with her MANY times.
Letha came breezing down the stairs slowly, her white filmy dress moving with every step. It was splattered with fake blood. The rest of her make-up gave her the appearance of a corpse-like bride. She was very proud of her costume.
The sight of Letha took Roman's breath away. Her costume was perfect. He reached out for her, taking her hand in his. Very gently he kissed her fingertips.
"You look amazing," Roman said as he was gazing at Letha as though she were the only person in the room.
Norman got a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had so many suspicions but he could not voice him. Letha seemed so happy whenever Roman walked in the room. As much as he wanted to throw Roman out the door and tell him to get lost, he couldn't deny Letha her happiness.
Marie however didn't have any qualms. She began to voice her opinion. "Keep your lips... your hands... your tongue... and any of your other body parts off my daughter."
"Letha loves it when I hold her hand," Roman said as he laced his fingers with Letha's. Ignoring Marie, he lead Letha out the door.
"Don't wait up," he said in a mischievous voice on his way out.
"Good night," Letha called out to her parents as she left with Roman. Their hands interlocked as they left her house together. Roman looked amazing in his suit. "You look good," she told him with a smile.
"Thank you," he said as they approached his car. "I'm glad you like my 'costume.' I'm going as myself tonight."
He opened the car door for her so she could step inside. After she was seated, he carefully closed it, then went around to his own door. He climbed into the vehicle and started the engine. "Are you ready for this?" he asked Letha with a little crooked smile.
"Roman, why are you going as yourself?" she asked with confusion. "It's so much fun to find a costume. I would have helped you find one. Why didn't you tell me?"
Then when he asked if she was ready, she replied, "Of course I'm ready to dance, have some punch, and laugh all night!" she said happily. Letha put on her seat belt. She was completely unaware of what he meant by 'ready.'
"I went to the Halloween store and I didn't like any of the costumes. They were lame," Roman remarked. "I love yours though. It looks good you."
When she talked about the punch, dancing, and laughing all night, Roman had other things on his mind. There were other activities he wanted to try with her. Tonight was going to be the night... and he had just the perfect place.
He reached across the distance between their seats, taking Letha's hand. "Your mother hates me," Roman said. "She thinks I am going to corrupt you."
Tonight I will. You're never going to be the same after I am done with you.
"Ohhh you know her. She says that stuff all the time. She just doesn't know you like I do. She doesn't understand you; that's all," she assured Roman.
He gave her hand a little squeeze as he glanced over at her, a smile on his lips. "You think you know me, huh?" he said as he veered off course. They were no longer on their way to the the Halloween dance at the high school. They were headed down an old gravel road just a few miles outside of Hemlock Grove. The sun was sinking into the sky as Roman continued driving toward his destination.
Confusion struck Letha as she noticed where Roman was going and it wasn't towards their school. "Why aren't we going to the dance? This is the wrong way. Roman, where are we going?" she asked apprehensively.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. We are going to have a little party of our own," he said, giving her a wink. "We're almost there."
"Almost wh-where?" Letha asked uneasily.
"Roman, turn the car around right now and take me to the dance!" she demanded of him.
Roman only sped faster. He'd never driven his car this recklessly before with Letha inside. Tonight was different. He was driven.
A few minutes later, he pulled up at a very old cemetery filled with twisted trees, mausoleums, and rotting tombstones. "This is it," he said with a wicked smile.
Letha stared out at it in horror. What in the world did Roman have planned for them?