a/n: I'm sorry I took so long. I was busy with a stupid science project! CURSE THEE!
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is awesome. She can write really well; therefore, everything belongs to her. Twilight is not mine to own.
Chapter Two:
My Dear Brothers
Albert called me and Aisha back for a bow. It was the last performance of the day. On Albert's request, even the sound guy and band made it to the center.
When I came back up from my deep bow, I immediately scanned the crowd. The man wasn't there.
Feeling somewhat nervous, I turned to Albert. He smiled at me, probably unknowing of how queasy I felt inside. But I knew he was telling me to be happy at the moment. "Big smiles, big smiles," he once said, "for the sake of the crowd!"
The looks I got from the many people didn't bother me. Some, especially mothers, scrutinized my skimpy looking garment and my age. But what was wrong? My costume covered more skin than a swimsuit. Most took a gander at my looks, my very good looks to be exact. I wasn't wearing make-up on my face either! That was something I found very nice. I didn't have to hide my ivory skin or my golden eyes. The people who saw me would think I was wearing that horrid stuff: powder, lipstick, eye shadow, and contacts. "Duh, she's a performer," one person scowled quietly to his friend, though still glancing at me with suspicious human eyes. I found their curiosity with me amusing, even after all these years.
Of course they wouldn't forget me. It is known as fact to most that good looking people were usually forgotten, but that doesn't apply to me. I have come across audience members at shows that claimed they have seen me before. They told their companions, begging for them to accept it as true, that they have seen me from their childhood. Iloved that! They could snap pictures and record home videos, shove them into an authority's face, tell them that I'm the very same as the one in their decent evidence, and only be responded to with ridicule. I lovedthat! I do feel sorry for them, but I take their frustration as a very, very nice compliment. I like to listen to people take about me sincerely, with no doubts. I like to be remembered. Is that not one of the main goals of hard working performers?
I craned my neck to search for him, but it was no use. He had gone, even before the people started filing out of the bowl-shaped seating, traveling like zombies to their hotel rooms. And then there were some who went directly for the slot machines, but who could blame them? This is fabulous Las Vegas, baby!
And in no time the light dimmed, and the last audience member emptied out. Then the lights in the game stalls shut off, the arcade lights went out, and suddenly the bustling family attraction, Midway, became shadowy and abandoned. The annoying game tunes' tiny echoes couldn't even be picked up by my ears. The line trailing from the McDonald's entrance was gone, and so were the ones to the bathrooms.
The slot machine area, on the other hand, remained alive with bright lights and happy cheers. Gambling annoyed me.
"Oh, Valerie," Aisha's voice came, calling me back to where I really was, still in the center of the stage, standing around like an idiot.
I blinked my eyes and focused on her. Suddenly she was a normal girl in street clothes, her costume in a bag slung over her shoulder.
"Hurry, let's go," she whispered. She didn't have to whisper, but darkness did that to people.
"Two seconds," I whispered back. Literally, in two seconds, I was back, dressed as casually as her.
"Wow, that was fun," she breathed, "how do you think we did?"
"Well, judging from the crowds reaction. I'd say you worked your magic perfectly, and I -"
"Of course you did a good job," she said in a voice perfectly compatible with a grimace. "Little Miss Perfect. If I we weren't such good friends I'd call you a lucky betch."
"Lucky betch," I muttered with a soft chuckle. "If we weren't such good friends, I'd scold the skittles out of you for being so wrong, and for the language. Tsk tsk!"
"Oh, shut it, Val. Skittles?"
"Lan ---" I was cut off my Albert's melodic voice.
"Excellent job, ladies!" he marveled, giving us both pats on the back. "Excellent. Excellent. Excellent."
"Thank you," we both said, our voices ringing just like his.
"You were great, Aisha. Maybe we should change the sound effects a little, and add more beads --"
"No," Aisha protested. "No more beads. it would be better with less beads, then I wouldn't have to move so slow."
"But you like moving slow. You have outstanding talent in that department."
"What department? The sloth department? Please, Val could do better than me."
"Don't say that," Albert growled.
"It's true!" Aisha exclaimed. "It's so true, and it unfair."
I sent her a death glare. She probably felt it; she decided against protesting and sputtered to a stop.
We went through the hallways looking as normal as possible. Our expressions were blank. Albert was a man in a suit and a bowtie the size of head, topped with a top hat and smelling of bunnies. Aisha was a cute blonde preteen briskly walking on his left. I was a breathtaking weird girl. Me, four feet and eight inches tall, pearly skinned, and with stars for eyes. If anyone asks me directly, I'm an albino who dyed my hair brown.
As usual when surrounded my a large amount of people, I held my breath. One, I didn't want to get a lung disease from all the cigarette smoke (like it was possible); two, I didn't want to go vampire on all the innocent people.
It wasn't much of a struggle now. I didn't feel quite as awkward without my sense of smell as I was before. It is true that your other senses sharpen when one is shut off. To me, anyway.
As I said before, I didn't want to go vampire. I am not necessarily proud of what I am. But I am gifted, Albert keeps saying, rather than burdened.
We finally made it into an elevator. Luckily, it was just us three in there. I let out a sigh.
"Isn't there another way you can do it? I mean, rather than just avoiding it. You don't seem to like that."
"No, I'm fine," I lied. I actually relied on smell and hearing the most. When I took a breath, the first thing that tickled my nose was the musky smell of summer.
Oh, the elevator smelled like people! People who had probably came and went through this thing on their trips to the pool. I think I could smell a trace of their blood in here.
Bad Valerie.
Albert and Aisha saw me stop breathing. Albert trusted me most.. He stiffened while Aisha took a step back.
That hurt.
"Erm, uh," I began, finding words to start a conversation and change the tense mood. When they came, they were the ones I had been saving for later. "D-Did either of you see a man in the audience w-with… Who was like me?"
"What do you mean 'like you'?" Aisha asked, confused. Then she spoke again, shock in her voice. "You don't mean…?"
Albert gave me a look that told me to stay quiet. That was a bad idea, as Aisha would most likely burst with anger.
She did, despite my attempts to stop her.
"There is another one here?" she almost shrieked in fury. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wouldn't be your business, Aisha," Albert answered for me.
"I don't even know if --" I had to stop there. I knew the vampire was real. Albert saw him. "I don't know anything about him. He has nothing to do with me. There's nothing to worry about, Aish. He'll probably just leave and never come back. Believe me, he was as shocked as I was." Here, I spoke the truth --- to her and to me. I calmed myself.
"But but," she sputtered. She was at loss for words.
"You didn't think I would be the only one in the world did you?" I asked, harsh scrutiny painted my voice. I hated when she was like this. If only she'd understand.
"God," she muttered stamping her foot. "It is notfair!"
"Not this again, Aisha," I groaned. Quickly, I softened my voice. "Aish ---"
"Don't," she roared defensively. Hurt swam in her sky blue eyes, sparkling with tears about to fall.
The bell dinged and the doors slid open. My eyes darted to the intruders. Sleepy teenagers, girls with their arms around guys' necks, stood at the entrance. The boys smelled of alcohol. Too much alcohol. The girls smelled of smoke. I couldn't find the scent that was appetizing to me; therefore, I liked them.
"Evening," I said in my cheery, metallic voice. It disturbed the girls visibly; the guys glared at me unwelcomingly.
I shrugged it off and went to catch up to Albert and Aisha, who kept on walking when I had so kindly greeted some guests.
Poor, stupid teenagers. Bless them. We were on the first floor, and throngs of them came through the front doors, laughing at little things and making out.
I always found something I like about each different group of teenagers. The group closest to me was funny.
"Chinese! Chinese! Oh my god, that girl is Chinese!" An obnoxious boy whispered to his friend.
"That girl isn't from China, you idiot," his girlfriend scowled. "She's so from Albany. Can't you see she's albino?"
I shot the group a heated look. Laughing at their reaction, I skipped to Albert's side.
"Did you know I'm from Albany?"
"Um, I thought you were from China."
"It was a joke," I laughed, shoving him with my elbow.
"Oh, okay," he said, laughing when there wasn't really a punch line. I laughed along with him, getting Aisha's attention. "I think I'm going to hit they hay," he yawned hugely, "rehearsals at two in the afternoon, remember that. I want you both in bed by three, which," he glanced at his watch, "is in two hours." With that, he took for another elevator. I wonder why Circus Circus doesn't have elevators that go to all floors.
If I haven't told you yet, Albert is my foster father. His wife is my foster mother and I have three adopted siblings, including Aisha. But we don't call each other sisters. In fact, nobody in our family calls each other "brother", "sister", "mom", or "dad." My dad is Albert, my mom is Priscilla, and my siblings are my "best friends."
"Aisha?" I asked, my voice still light and cheery.
"What?" she growled.
I wanted to roll my eyes, but she was looking at me. "Drop it."
"I can never drop it! Do you know how I feel now that I know what you are? Why you're so perfect? You don't know how it feels, Val, when there's something you really want and really need, and your own best friend won't give it to you. You don't know that kind of betrayal."
"You don't know what you want." I stated darkly.
"I know exactly what I want!" She whirled around a corner in attempt to ditch me, but I kept my pace the same as hers.
"You don't. Trust me." Hopefully, that was the last of the terrible subject. "Where are we going?"
She didn't answer. We continued walking. She was taking me up. I followed her like a ghost up grand staircases.
"You should rest, you know," I pointed. Her stride had slowed and her face was all drowsy. What I said annoyed her. Of course. "In the morning we can go out. How about the mall?" Oh, the things I do for my friends… Shopping was never my thing. I had nothing against it, I just didn't enjoy it.
Being the stubborn "older" sister she is, she said nothing. She once told me silence was a sign of maturity --- a sign of grace. I told her it didn't matter. She took it the wrong way. I was merely reminding her that I wasn't going to mature anytime soon, I was stuck a clueless twelve year old. But she thought I was being conceited about how incredibly graceful I am. Then she acted the same way she was acting now.
Aisha is a snob. It's not because she's blonde, skinny, and pretty; it's because of me.
But I couldn't keep my big secret from her. It used to be just Danny and Albert who knew. Then, two months ago, she asked why I still looked the same. By then I had been part of the "family" for two years. She wondered why I didn't look fourteen like her.
I simply told her, "'I'm a vampire. A blood sucking vampire! Fear me! Bleah!'"
She didn't find it funny. I had pleaded enough for Priscilla and Adam to believe me, and then they started trying to get her to believe.
I remember it well. To shut them up, all I had to do was open up the window of Albert and Priscilla's suite, and walk into the blazing sun.
That day completely changed the way she saw me.
Aisha's turning fifteen this week, did you know? She's been getting touchier and touchier about it, even when I keep telling her how lucky she is. I would love to be anything but twelve. I would love to have another birthday.
Suddenly we weren't near the big noise and the flashing lights anymore. Now the creepy eyes of clowns followed me. I wonder if I beg enough I could get those portraits taken out of the whole resort. I can't be the only one bothered by them. Circuses aren't all about clowns. There are acrobats! Hello, acrobats!
Yeah, there should be pictures of me everywhere, so then everyone would be stalked by my unique eyes.
Maybe they aren't so unique…not anymore…
"Why are we going to Adam's room?" I asked, suddenly realizing where we going. Adam was a very solitary person. He lived on the ninth floor while the rest of the family scattered only over the fourth floor.
He told it wasn't because he didn't like us. It was, no matter how many times he disagrees with me, because he isn't fond of human or vampire interaction. He is a little shy boy who only does one show a week --- a double act with Aisha. I don't understand why he can't handle being the center of attention.
"I'mgoing to Adam's room," Aisha said, her voice hard. "You're going down." She stopped. She pointed her long light tan finger to an elevator.
"I'm not going anywhere," I said.
"Good enough. Stay put and don't move until two," she ordered, and then in a hard voice, "not like it'll be to hard for you."
"Drop it," I growled, looking her in the eye. Before she could say anything, I was sprinting down the hall.
My knuckles rapping on room 4207 usually start an uproar from the rooms around it. People would fly out their door either angry or afraid. They'd wonder what all the commotion was. I am told that my knocking on doors sounds like gunshots. I understand that. Anyway, I'd act all confused. They'd go back to their room and gulp down a couple dozen sleeping pills.
"Wha?" Adam answered the door. He had on nothing but unruly hair and plain white boxers.
"Hello, Adam," I greeted, extra sweet.
He groaned and turned back for his bed, leaving the door open for me.
"Aisha's coming," I said, plopping into one of his big beany bag chairs.
"Oh," he mumbled. He ran his hands over his face and through his hair, yawning. He stumbled to his closet and pulled out a big, lumpy bag.
I sighed and went to help him. The bag unraveled into a sleeping bag with one swift swish of my hand. Adam threw me a poofy pink pillow and I set it perfectly at the head of the sleeping bag. I even unzipped it halfway and folded the top layer down. I was fluffing up the pillow when the door slowly creaked open.
In a split second I was back on the beanie bag, a random magazine in my hands.
Aisha was there, looking from me to Adam and back.
"Hey," I said quietly. She pretended she didn't hear me, but I saw her cringe slightly. That was my cue to leave.
"Good night, Aisha," I murmured. The door closed quietly behind my back. I exhaled, but the sadness wouldn't leave.
I pressed my back to the wall and slumped onto the floor. Why is she making me so sad?
It used to be me sleeping over in her room. We truly were best friends. I remember the giggles, and the ice cream, and the makeovers, even if I didn't like them. Aisha had fun putting make-up on me and dressing me up, that was all that mattered..
Now, she never stops hating me. Even when it seems like it's all back to normal, it isn't.
I shut my eyes and curled into a little ball. I listened.
"Do you want to talk?" Adam asked.
"No. Can I just sleep, please?" Her voice sounded as if she were going to cry. That brutally at tore my unbeating heart.
"Should I leave?"
"N-No, don't go," she pleaded.
"Aisha," I was startled by the sudden hardness of his voice, "you need some time to think, okay? Just do that for me, please."
I heard a whimper, before the door opened and Adam stepped out. He swung a jacket over nothing but his bare chest and bent over to tie his shoe.
"C'mon," he said. I got up, not entirely sure what he was up to.
"We're going to walk," he said, as of he could read my mind.
"Out?" I asked, looking to the costume bag I carried.
"We'll go to you're room on the way."
I nodded. Adam is such a nice guy. I wish he were nice enough to call Aisha along. Then we could at least try to work things out, for my sake and Adam's.
We all used to be inseparable. Whenever Adam felt like taking a walk, she and I'd both join. I didn't like listening to him tell her to stay. Stay and think. Yeah, she needed to do it, but I wish it wasn't Adam who had to tell her. He sounded so wrong.
Adam was never mean before. This probably is the meanest thing he'd ever done in his life.
I told him about the last act on our way to the fourth floor, avoiding the part that got to Aisha. He was working up to asking, but I'd rather wait too.
"Shooting Star," he laughed. "Blazing Bomber Number Two, Paverel Pixie, Rubidoux Gypsie Three, the siren in the Treasure Island show, and that hologram thingy."
He was listing a couple of the names I were called in the huge multitude of crazy "cameos", as Adam calls it. I "act" at every performance. You can understand that.
'Blazing Bomber' was something I was called at The Mirage, performing in a small five-member group called 'Bombers'. Every fourth of July we get together to put up a free Independence Day show.
'Paverel Pixie' brings back old memories. My first job out of Circus Circus was as a mischievous pixie performer in a play. Excalibur is the resort with the main building shaped like a medieval castle. There are a few events that occurred there that I will never forget.
'Rubidoux Gypsie' is from one of those events. I still have the costume from the Gypsie production.
"I didn't have a name in that one. I was the climax in the production and didn't even have a name! Can you believe that?"
"Is that why you quit?"
"No, of course not. People perplex themselves when they try to talk about me, but that's okay. I like it."
"Did you like working with the Blue Man Group?"
"Yes! Name or not, Blue Man productions are bomb!"
"What's bomb?"
Danny, my "brother" stepped in our path, cornering us when we were inches from my room.
"Blue Man productions are bomb, Dan." I replied, effortlessly pushing away with my hand. I took the key card from my wallet and unlocked the door.
Danny and Adam followed me into the room, blindly. In the dark, as easily as could be, I grabbed a big coat and a pair of brown-tinged sunglasses. I heard things rattle as Danny felt for the light switch. Before he had a chance to flick it, I was out the room, Adam close behind.
"Bu-bye, brother," Adam teased. Danny through himself at the door, but Adam shut it. He and I laughed at the loud thud on the other side of the door.
Okay, Adam does call him "brother"; but only sometimes. They really are brothers when they act like kids. Adam is turning fifteen when Aisha is; they're twins. Danny is twelve, just like me.
"Lemme out!" he cried.
Adam and I exchanged looks. We said in unison, "Nah," loud enough to annoy Danny.
But I knew he would do some damage if we left him in there. I gave Adam consent and soon Danny came hurtling out, slamming into the colorful carpet floor.
Danny left himself out by brooding conspicuously. All three of us walked back to the elevator. Danny didn't drop his pouty face until the bell dinged on the first floor.
Adam and I didn't waste our time telling Danny not to come. He wouldn't quit whining, and then he'd wake Albert and Priscilla; we'd all get in trouble, but Danny was the one who'd triumph. Besides, Danny is always welcome.
Taking a walk along the Strip was a sort of the way our family held conferences. Whenever we had to discuss something important, we'd wander all the way to the sign that read "Thank you for visiting fabulous Las Vegas." That lightened our mood, lessening chances of a shouting match breakout. Plus, we all go to Starbucks at the end.
There are a few things creatures like me can tolerate putting in our bodies. I don't know where the coffee goes, but I don't fret about it. Coffee is the second yummiest thing I have tasted since I was "reborn." There are other human foods we can take, but none of them contain sugar.
"So, what's this about?" Danny asked, once we left the front doors of Circus Circus.
"Well, as you can see," I said matter-of-factly, "a certain sister of ours isn't present."
"Oh. I knew that." Danny said casually. He wasn't the fastest thinker, but he was a decent actor. "So I'm guessing…same topic as last time?"
"You're guessing correct, Dan."
"Don't call me 'Dan'. It makes me sound old. Not good old; old, old. You know, like Albert."
"Albert's not old," I snapped. Nobody insults Albert.
"Maybe not to you, but 4-0 is a bit high, to us human-folk."
I guess I could let him go for that one. 'Human-folk' would've be a right insult if it weren't for the coincidental concept we were about to discuss.
"Thirty-nine," Adam corrected, not in a criticizing way. He doesn't criticize.
"What's the difference? There isn't one."
Danny went on about the milestones in a person's life where they would be considered 'spent'. I didn't interrupt him. He wasn't that insulting, not going anywhere near my real age.
I adjusted my sunglasses, scanning the crowd. The thing I was searching for couldn't be found there. I was looking for a good way to start the real discussing.
The long coat and sunglasses were there to hide me. I didn't feel the need to "show-off" then. At one in the morning, there weren't many children present on the streets. There were, accompanied by good-tourist adults, but not enough for me to wear see through sleeves and a summer dress. I get many compliments with that outfit, surprisingly. It isn't obvious that I sparkle, and nobody notices the tights. Tights were required because of merciless Mr. Sun, and because of the blaring neon night lights. The only place brighter than Las Vegas is Tokyo, and I don't like Tokyo. Or New York…or Seattle…or Paris… Wait, scratch that, I love Paris… Los Angeles is surprisingly tolerable; Hollywood isn't.
My favorite cities are Paris, Las Vegas, Cairo, and Moscow --- especially Moscow. That's where I first met Albert.
"Okay," Danny said, clapping his hands together. We had stopped at a crosswalk, amidst a whole mob of people. I pulled the collar of my coat higher. "Addie, Val, I want to know. What happened?"
"Don't call me Addie," Adam corrected, straightening. "That's a girl's name."
"And?"
I rolled my eyes at Danny, who was grinning foxily and swiveling his own eyes. Sometimes Danny can act like a total four-year old.
"I want to know why this topic is up again all of a sudden."
"It's been the same topic for weeks, Dan, this is the twelfth walk in a row, remember?"
"No, it's the fifth. I had rehearsals that one time, so I wasn't here. And a walk doesn't count as a family conference unless at least three people go." Danny said, acting all smart.
"Albert was with us," I pointed.
"A walk doesn't count unless I'm there."
"Since when do you make up the rules?"
"Since ever. I'm the youngest; therefore, I am the center of the family. Therefore, walks and other gatherings aren't officially 'family' related unless I am included."
"Fine, this is the fifth time in a row, Mr.Snooty."
"'Mr. Snooty'? That sounds like a name you'd give a cat. What am I? Full of snoot?"
"Yeah, you're so full of snoot!"
"…Erm, okay. Are we going to the Dancing Fountain?" Adam asked, staring out the way we were headed. Not very far away were people clumped around a huge, still pool.
"No! Let's go to Starbucks first," Danny licked his lips, "I like coffee!"
"Later, Dan," I murmured, wondering if I really wanted to tell him. Of course, I had to, but how I felt about it affected how he would take it. Nothing is more annoying than a Danny-fit.
Adam somehow knew I was thinking and swayed Danny away with a conversation about football. That was nice of him, but he is such a traitor. New York Giants?! Who likes them? At least the arguing got Danny occupied.
I was silent during the show. I had seen the "dancing" water many times. Tourists loved it, so I loved it, but not enough to cheer.
I clapped. I don't cheer for anything except the Raiders.
"Dude, I bet you I could swim all the way to the other end in less than twenty minutes," I heard a boy whisper to his friend. Both were tall and lean, definitely built for competitive swimming.
Sadly, my dear Danny heard too. "I can do it in ten. What? What, punk, what?"
Groaning loudly, I grabbed his shirt and dragged him away.
"Why do you always do that?"
"I could, you know. I practice in the pool, and I could make it to the other side in less than eight, even."
"Why do you like picking fights?"
"I like competing. You know that. Me like fighting. Me like winning."
"When will you grow up, Dan?"
"When will you?"
"Not funny." I looked into his determined green eyes, peering into a strange world.
"Don't do that," he said, shaking his head.
"Do what?" I asked, not breaking my gaze.
"Addie! Stop her, she's doing it again!"
"My name is Adam, Dan. Val, stop being dazzling." We always see Adam as the big brother. He is older than me, in a way. That means I have to listen to him and be rebellious, just like a good little sister should.
"I wasn't trying to do anything."
"You were! You were, you were, you were!" Danny widened his already bulging eyes. "Look at me, Danny," he said, mocking me, "I hypnotize you, so that you shut up and do my bidding! Bleah!"
"Good one, Dan," Adam mumbled sarcastically. He glanced at me, seeing the anger building up. He shook his head. "Such a great impersonation of a real vampire. I smell Oscar."
I cringed at the 'V' word being said aloud. He is such a meatball; I almost didn't give him an "okay" look when he looked back at me.
"Vampires? Ooh, I love vampires! I'm so glad you brought them up. Did you know that they don't have fangs? I mean, yeah, it totally ruins their 'fear me!' image, but I guess that's how nature intended them to be. Gee, I wonder how they suck your blood then."
I coughed, reminding him of my presence, though I already knew he was purposely making fun of me.
"So," he said in a light, nervous voice, "an earlier question of mine remains unanswered. What happened?"
"I sorta kinda was the one who brought up the subject to Aisha," I confessed. Danny's cool face recomposed into shock.
"Well, why'd you do that for? Do you like torturing my favorite sister?"
I shot him a look. He shouldn't have a favorite sister, just like I don't have a favorite brother.
"Oopsie?" I sensed his fright. A tiny part of me enjoyed it, but most of me was struck with pain.
"I'll explain," I continued, glancing at Adam. He looked back patiently. "I --- Albert and I, saw…another one. I asked if she saw. That's what got her started."
"Ah," Adam whispered, almost inaudibly. In his chest, I heard his heart accelerating noticeably.
"Awesome!" Danny cried. "When? Where?"
"He was at my last show," I replied, still looking at Adam. He was as intrigued as Danny was. There was silence; I turned my head forward. I noticed we were going quickly. Already I could see the towers of Excalibur, which was one of the first resorts you pass on your way to the city.
"And he saw me, too."
"Did he do anything?"
"Did you fight?"
I chose to answer Adam's question, of course. "He didn't do anything. Once he really got to see me, he left."
"Just like that?"
"Likethat." I said, punctuating 'that' with a snap of my fingers. "But not magically. He probably ran."
"What a coward! If he ever comes back I'm going to beat him so bad ---"
"He was huge, Dan. I couldn't even take him. And I won't. He's probably left the city."
"How can you be sure? Have you checked?"
"Checked what? How am I supposed to track down a vampire?"
"I don't know. Do what they do in the spy movies. Put on a tracking device, find him, and then beat the pachooka out of him. At least that's how I'd do it."
"Dan," Adam growled reproachfully.
He shrugged. "What else did he look like?"
"Remember what I told you about the eyes? Well, his weren't red, so he's not a human-drinker. They were like mine. Gold-ish."
"How do you know if he wasn't just a poser? Maybe he just had on contacts."
"No… I don't know why I didn't notice it earlier, but he smelled just like…me."
"It could just be a new type of perfume! Eu de vampire."
"No, Dan. I'm talking about the real thing. An animal-drinker, but nevertheless a vampire."
"Should I be terrified?" Danny squealed, flinging his hands to his chest. "Oh no! OH NO!"
This is my brother, Daniel Jeffrey Applegate. He's only serious when he's competing against someone.
"I don't think so. Don't worry, I'll save you're little nose if you ever get into a damsel-in-distress situation."
"Just my nose?" he gasped. "What? Are you gonna sell it to a freak museum or something? Or worse, sell my beautiful nose on eBay!"
"Was there really a point to this walk, guys?" Adam asked.
"Yes! Of course there was! This is huge! This is another one like me in mycity!"
"I never knew you to be territorial, Val," he said, the tone was indecipherable, but surely leaning towards criticizing. "Besides, you can't think a vampire hasn't ever come here before," he added.
"I've never sensed them."
"Aw, ickle Valluwee dunn't wanna share wit da knew guy?"
"Shut it, Dan."
"It seems you see this as a big deal. I don't understand." Adam said, right before I was about to slug that little brat.
"You are supposed to be terrified! Danny reacted perfectly, you know. You never know what this guy could do."
"Not much, actually, since he's left."
"But if he didn't, if he's still here, what? What if there's more where he came from? What if I'm not able to save Danny's nose and you all get killed?"
"Is Valerie scared?" Danny asked incredulously.
"Not scared, just worried. You can't possibly not be, can you?"
"We really can't do anything, Val. You might be able to, if ridding Las Vegas of vampires is what you really want. But all the family can do is get out of your way."
"All the family can do for now." Danny corrected, eyeing me.
"Haven't we already discussed this a long time ago? I am notchanging anyone."
"Then what are you going to do about Aisha," Adam asked, "we're out of ideas to get her to 'drop it'. I don't want to sound hopeless, but I don't think she'll stop until she gets what she wants. You know how she is."
"Yeah, and maybe after you do her, you can do me! Then we can all fight this giant vampire dude!"
"Dan… Oh what am I thinking? The whole family knows after all. What other choice do I have? I can't just leave, because then I'll hurt too much. I can't kill you guys, I just can't. And I can't kill myself, because I don't know how."
"Good point, Val," Dan said, patting me on the back.
"So…?" Adam looked at my questioningly. "What exactly was your goal in this walk?"
"I don't know. I thought I'd get to it by now. But I don't apparently. I've just realized I have no other options."
"That's great! Anytime you're ready," he pointed to his neck.
A low rumble erupted from my throat, my lips, on the other hand, were pressed tightly in a straight line. I could feel my eyes heating up. Both their hearts beat faster, but they didn't move.
"You don't think I…" I trailed off. Out here? In public?
I couldn't help myself. I punched them each on their shoulder. "You stupid idiot brothers of mine! Ugh!"
I didn't intend to hurt them, and I didn't. Though I would have, but the opportunity was gone. They were laughing.
"Who's paying?" Danny squeezed out through his laughter.
"You are," Adam and I said, laughing at his fallen expression.
Laughing, we turned back to get some yummy, yummy Starbucks.