The bus approached the Village Players Theater, and I disembarked with several other passengers. I walked alone down the alley toward the back part of the theater, as a shortcut to the hotel. I saw a figure lurking behind a Dumpster.

"I hoped to find you here," a deep voice said, stepping out to block my way.

I froze. It was Riley. I stood my ground, getting ready to pounce if necessary.

"I have information that may be of interest to you."

"Information?" I asked skeptically.

"About Walker," he said, with a knowing glance. "Isn't that who you are looking for?"

Shocked, I inched back. I knew where Fang was staying, but I didn't know where he was. The promise of any new leads on Fang's whereabouts made my heart pulse in overtime. Plus, my curiosity about Riley's identity still lingered. I had to know how he knew Fang.

"I can help you. I've known him for an eternity," he said with a grin. I glanced back, I could see the hotel's lights a few miles away. If I went back, I was guaranteed to have a safe night with real unreal vampires. Or I could just wait for Fang outside the manor house-unless he and Arthur spotted me and left for another town. Then I was guaranteed to never see my boyfriend again.

"You better tell me everything you know," I said, clenching my fists. "Otherwise-"

"You are free to go whenever you like," he reassured me.

I stood still as Riley began walking down the alley. Curiosity eating away at me, I decided to catch up to him. I followed him down the street and toward a back entrance to the Coffin Club.

He led me into the warehouse and down a darkened hallway to an empty freight elevator. The rickety door shrieked out in pain when he shut it. Instead of pushing the button for the Coffin Club, he pressed the "B" button.

The elevator slowly lowered to the basement, screeching as if it were a coffin descending into hell.

"I thought we were going to the Coffin Club."

The elevator stopped. Riley opened the door and held it for me as I stepped into a corridor.

He followed behind me so closely I could feel his warm breath on the back of my neck. We walked down the narrow hallway, the walls adorned with graffiti and the cement floor cluttered with discarded chairs and boxes. The dance floor music pulsed above. When we reached what looked like a wide storage-room door, I could hear the elevator slowly grind its way back up to mortal level. Riley lifted the metal-gray door above our heads to reveal a windowless apartment.

I stepped inside.

"Welcome to my dungeon," he said. Dozens of medieval candelabras filled the spacious apartment.

And then I saw it. In the far corner lay an open coffin, adorned with band stickers like a mortal teen's skateboard. Dirt encircled the coffin like a walled city.

My eyes grew wide. "So you are...," I began, but could barely speak.

"Oh, the coffin," he said. "Cool, huh? I got it at a vintage store."

"And the dirt?"

"Saw it in a vampire mag. Creepy, huh?"

I didn't know what to think. Even Fang slept on a mattress.

"It's really comfortable. Want to give it a try?" he asked with seductive eyes.

"I'm not tired."

"You don't have to be."

Riley confused me. I couldn't figure out if he was a vulpine vampire or just a teen like me.

I looked around for any other unusual clues-but everything was unusual. Maps were spread out on the floor. The cement walls were decorated with gravestone etchings.

Next to the radiator an aquarium, without water, was filled with rocks.

His kitchen counter and sink looked as if they had remained untouched. Metal cabinets were missing their doors. I was afraid to think what was in the refrigerator-or, rather, who.

"You are the first girl I've ever brought down here," Riley confessed.

"I'm surprised. You must meet a lot of girls at the Coffin Club."

"Actually, I'm new to town. Just like you. Visiting."

The hairs on the back of my neck rose. "How do you know I'm visiting?"

"It doesn't take a psychic to figure it out. Someone as amazing as you would be a regular at the club. Romeo had never seen you to mention the fact that many people are still buzzing about an amazing performance a new girl named Maximum and her band gave yesterday at the Music Center."

"Uh...I guess you're right."

"Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No, thank you," I replied. "I want to know-"

Riley walked over to the aquarium. He placed his hand inside and pulled out a huge tarantula.

"I just bought him. Would you like to pet him?" he asked, stroking the potentially poisonous spider as if it were a sleeping cat.

Normally I would have loved to pet a tarantula, I'm not scared, but I wasn't sure of Riley's motive.

"Where's your big-screen TV?" I asked, noticing the lack of televisions or computers.

"I find them offensive."

"So you don't watch movies?"

"I would rather experience life."

He returned the spider to the aquarium.

"Can tell me about Fang?"

"Shall I tell you? Or should I just show you," he asked, stepping toward me.

"Tell me," I said, defiant. "Is he a friend of yours?"

"Maybe yes," he said with an inviting smile. "Maybe no," he said with a wicked grin.

"Forget it, I'm outta here."

"I know him from Romania," he said quickly.

"Have you seen him in America?"

He shook his head, his dark hair flopping over his red eyes.

"Do you know where he is?" I asked.

"What if I do? How much is it worth?" he asked, licking his lips.

"You don't know, do you?" I challenged. I backed away from him, stepping on a map.

"But you know quite a lot," he argued. "You knew enough about my Romanian friend to come to the Coffin Club and ask for him," he said, approaching me again.

"I don't know anything-"

"Then why do you want to find him?" he whispered softly in my ear as he gently stroked my hair off my shoulder.

"I must have been mistaken-" I said, looking away from his gaze, wanting to run, but not being able to move.

"Really?" he whispered. "He made you feel like his breath was yours," he said, circling me, his words landing softly on the back of my neck.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I lied, clenching my teeth.

"That your flesh and his are one," he said, as his lips gently caressed the nape of my neck.

I could barely speak, my heart racing, the map crinkling underneath my boot.

He stepped close in front of me, his eyes piercing through my own, and gently touched my choker.

He leaned into me and kissed the top of my chest. He whispered, "That you are just a kiss away from being bonded with him for eternity."

I could barely breathe. My heart raced as he held me.

"Get off!" I growled, wedging my arms between us and pushed him off.

A map tore underneath my boot. Riley tried to pierce me with his gaze, but I stared down at my feet. It was a map of Hipsterville. The cemeteries were highlighted in yellow, with several crossed out in black marker. Then I noticed, lying a few feet away on the floor, the other maps-neighboring towns of Hipsterville and Dullsville. Cemeteries were highlighted and crossed out in black.

I glanced up at Riley as he tried to lock his red eyes with mine. He gently grabbed my hand like he'd done in the Coffin Club.

"We can find him together," I recalled him saying. Then I remembered the note I'd found in Fang's room in my dream-"HE IS ON HIS WAY!"

I backed away from Riley when he stepped toward me.

I raced out the door and ran down the hallway. I pressed the elevator button and glanced back. Riley stepped through his doorway and began running down the hall after me. I could hear the screeching elevator above me, but it was nowhere to be found. I looked up. The number "3" lit up; "2" lit up. "G" lit.

"Hurry! Hurry!" I mumbled, pressing the button repeatedly.

I could hear himcoming closer. Suddenly the "B" lit up, and the elevator stopped in front of me. I pulled the rickety door to one side and jumped in. I used all my strength to pull the accordion door shut just as an angry Riley stepped in front of the elevator.

I darted back, away from the door, as his gaze caught me. He reached out for the door, realizing I hadn't yet pushed a button. I quickly pressed my finger against the "G" button.

As the elevator began to lift, I leaned against the wall, away from him. "I hope you find him," I heard Riley call. "Before I do."

Now that Riley was following me and waiting for me in the alley tonight-I knew if I returned to the manor house, or anywhere I thought I might find Fang, I would lead Riley right to him. Although it broke my heart, I had no choice. I would have to leave Hipsterville.