Fang asked me to go to the mansion the next day, saying something about it being important.

I knocked and he answered the door.

"Hey what's-" he pulled me to him and crushed his lips to mine. My eyes widen and flutter close. Before I could respond he pulled back.

"There's something I want to show you, " he said mysteriously, extending his hand.

"Your room?" I asked, grabbing his hand.

"Yes, and something in my room. It's finally ready."

"It?"

My imagination ran wild. What did Fang do up in his room? Was "it" alive or dead? He led me up the grand staircase and the creaky attic stairs. His stairs.

"It's time you knew my secrets, " he said, opening the door. "Or at least most of them."

It was dark except for the moonlight that shone through the tiny attic window. This seemed familiar. A beat-up, comfy chair and a twin-sized mattress rested on the floor. A strewn black comforter exposed maroon sheets. A bed like any other teenager's.

And then I noticed the paintings. Big Ben with bats flying over the clock face, a castle on a hill, the Eiffel Tower upside down. There was a dark painting of an older couple in gothic outfits with a huge red heart around them. There was Dullsville's cemetery, his grandma smiling above her gravestone. A picture drawn from his attic window with trick-or-treaters everywhere.

"Those are from my dark period," he joked.

"They're spectacular, " I said, stepping closer. Paint was everywhere, even splattered on the floor.

"You're totally awesome!"

"I wasn't sure you'd like them."

"They're unbelievable!"

I noticed a canvas covered with a sheet on an easel in the corner.

"Don't worry, it won't bite. "

I paused before it, wondering what lay beneath the sheet.

And for once my imagination failed me. I took a corner of the sheet and slowly peeled it back, just like when I had uncovered the mirror in Fang's basement. I was stunned. I was staring at myself, dressed for the Snow Ball, in the gym's stage. My eyes were closed, my left hand rested flat against my stomach and in the other hand I held the microphone, my mouth open, singing...

"It looks just like me! I never imagined you were an artist! I mean I knew you did those drawings in the basement and then the paint on the side of the road...I had no idea."

"That was you?" he asked, reflecting.

"Ha yeah...I called you 'roadkill' since I didn't know your name," I coughed. He laughed.

"Why were you standing in the middle of the road?"

"I was going to the cemetery to paint this picture of my grandmother's monument."

"Don't most painters use little tubes?"

"I mix my own."

"I had no idea. You're an artist. Now it all makes sense."

"I'm glad you like it," he said with relief. I walked up to him, cupped his face in my hands and brought him down. The kiss was soft, sweet and loving. After we pulled apart, I pecked him again.

"You're amazing," I whispered.

I felt my phone vibrate. A message from dad, saying to get home ASAP, and I'm in trouble for not telling him I left. Fang laughed when he read it, after I showed it to him. He leaned down and nuzzled my neck.

I giggled as he nibbled on my neck. "I don't want to go, " I whined.

"But my dad is waiting. See you tomorrow?" I asked. He walked me to the door and playfully bit me on the neck.

"Do you believe in vampires Max?" he asked, turning me around and revealing fake vampire teeth. I laughed and tried to pull the fake teeth out of his mouth.

"Ouch, " he exclaimed.

"You're not supposed to Superglue them on!"

He just shook his head and smiled and gave me a long, heavenly good-night kiss.

As I turned to leave, I took out my phone, tapped the camera app and checked my neck to see if Fang didn't leave a hickey or a bite. I saw the Mansion's open door reflected in the screen.

"Sweet dreams, " I heard Fang say. But he didn't appear in the mirror. I turned around. Fang was clearly standing in the doorway. But when I checked the mirror again, he was gone! When I turned around once again, I found the serpent door knob staring me in the face. I rapped on it desperately.

"Fang!" I backed away from the door in disbelief. I slowly retreated and stared up at the attic window. The light came on. "Fang!" I called.

He peered out from behind the ruffled curtains, looking down at me, longingly. He touched the window with the palm of his hand. I stood motionless. As I began to reach toward him, he withdrew from the curtain and the light vanished.

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At home I locked myself in my bedroom. I scoured vampire eBooks online for answers but found none.

I rehearsed telling him that I loved him, no matter who or what he was. That his secret was safe with me. I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, as if for the last time. I spent the next day at the cemetery, pacing in front of the baroness's monument.

As soon as the sun set behind the trees, I took off for the Mansion. When I came around the hill, I noticed the gate was locked. I scaled the fence to find the Mansion even more eerie and lonely than usual. The Mercedes was gone and the lights were off. I rang the bell, over and over.

I rapped on the serpent knocker. No one answered. I peered through the living room window. White sheets were draped over the furniture. I ran around back and pressed my nose against the basement window. I couldn't breathe.

The crates of earth were no longer there! My heart sank. I couldn't swallow. I reached for the loose brick I had formerly used to sneak in. But when I pulled on it, an envelope with my name written across it in large letters fell out. I raced to the front gate and held the letter under the light. I saw my name clearly.

I pulled out a black card. In blood-red letters were four simple words: BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. I caressed the words with my fingertips and held the letter to my heart. Tears fell from my face as I wearily slunk against the Mansion gate. It was a knife shoved into my heart.

Birds chirped overhead and I looked up to see them hovering over the trees. One swooped down and landed above me on the iron gate. It was a bat. Its wings remained solemnly still as it fixed its gaze upon me. Its shadow prominent on the pavement, its breath in time with mine. Bats are blind, but this one seemed to be staring right into my soul. I slowly walked towards it.

"Fang?" And then it flew away.

So...that's the end of it...sequel?