Betty stalked the halls. She and Archie had first-hour study hall, albeit in different classes. She usually wouldn't seek him out, but right now, he was the only person that could confirm the embarrassment of not knowing her own boyfriend's birthday.

As expected, he was in the weight room, full of guys and one girl. He was on the treadmill and waved at Betty as she approached.

"What's up?" He asked cheerfully, still running.

"Jughead's birthday is tomorrow, isn't it?"

Archie faltered. If not for his newly-gifted super-human reflexes, she was sure he would have tripped over his own feet and the treadmill would have sent him flying. Now, though, he managed to steady himself and look down at Betty, taking out both of his earbuds.

"Whaaaat? No, it's not." Archie said, face red as his hair.

"Then when is it?"

He mumbled something, and Betty almost laughed.

"Bit louder?"

"It's…Decpriltober." He said, wincing, knowing he'd already failed to try to keep this a secret, for god knows why.

"Archie, if anyone has ever told you you're a good liar, you should go punch them. Don't ever play poker." Betty said, crossing her arms, "Why? Why would you even lie?"

"Jughead really hates people knowing about his birthday. I didn't know his birthday until we were twelve. Twelve! I figured, well, if he hadn't told you…didn't seem like my place."

"But I'm his girlfriend," Betty argued, "I should know!"

"Look, to him…it's just another Friday."

"No, no. I'm not missing this opportunity tomorrow. Do you know what's worse than me not knowing? Me doing nothing for this birthday." Betty argued.

Archie winced, "OKay, okay. You're probably right there. Look…usually we just go see a double feature at the Bijou. And frankly, you'd enjoy it a hell of a lot more than I would. Plus, we have like…the biggest practice ever for the game tomorrow, and I'm going to be sore as heck afterward. You should take him."

Betty sighed, "I don't want to cut you out of this tradition."

"I'd just third-wheel," Archie said, shaking his head. At Betty's face, about to argue, he laughed, "Betty. This is how it's supposed to be. We're growing up, getting boyfriends and girlfriends. Jughead probably would love to have you there. Don't have to make it…a big deal." Archie said.

"Alright," Betty said, but she still wasn't satisfied, but she didn't know what else to do right now, "I"m sure it will be fun."

"See! Perfect. Gotta say…sorta glad it's you this year and not me. I think I reached my fill of old movies like two years back." Archie shuddered, "I'll just bake him some cupcakes at home. Something simple."

"Right," Betty said, standing back to let Archie start running again, her mind turning over itself, "Simple."

XX

"Veronica still sick?" Archie asked as he slid into his lunch spot, glancing around, "Where's Juggie?"

"Doing some extra credit for History, finishing a test we both know he passed," Betty said, "And Veronica told me she's mostly fine. It's apparently something mild. She should be back tomorrow. She has to; for Vixens practice."

"Oh, well, cool." Archie blinked.

"Now that Juggie is gone…" Betty motioned for Archie and Sweet Pea to lean in, "Jughead's never had a birthday party. And we all know his birthday is tomorrow."

"Aww, shucks," Archie groaned, "We agreed. Small! Betty, we just talked about this."

"Archie, listen to yourself? Isn't that sad?"

"Look, I've never had a birthday either and I'm alright."

"That's not a pin of pride, Sweets!" Betty huffed, "We'll get to yours next week. We're focusing on Jug right now. He deserves a party."

"Betty, I've told you. He hates his birthday." Archie shook his head.

"Yeah, nearly bit my head off today. Yikes," Sweet Pea agreed. It seemed the boys were wary, but Betty preserved on.

"And how many times have we pushed Jughead into something that he said he'd hate but ended up loving?"

"Okay, it's happened once or twice," Archie said but was still hesitant.

"Sometimes he doesn't know good things when they come for him. It's okay though. We can show him that he deserves to have this, you know?" She looked at Archie, most hopeful he'd agree.

"It doesn't have to be big! Just a low-key surprise party," She continued hurriedly, before Archie totally shot her down, "Quaint, inner-circle only."

"Maybe…"

"I dunno." Sweet Pea sighed, "He seems to really hate his birthday. I got that from a five-second conversation about it."

"Oh, come on! No one really means that" Betty pressured, "We'll just play video games, have some pizza. It will be more like a small gathering on the day that happens to be Jughead's birthday."

Archie blinked, "I suppose when we put it like that. But the phrasing is important. That's how we have to pitch it to him, okay?"

Before Betty could reply, Archie, sitting across from Betty, went white.

"Betty…don't turn around."

Betty whipped around. Behind her, she heard Sweet Pea hitting Archie's shoulder.

"That's exactly what you don't say, Andrews!"

But all that noise was like white fuzz because Chuck Clayton was strolling through the lunchroom as though he'd never left.

"What's he doing back?" Betty hissed.

"He was suspended, not expelled," Sweet Pea said carefully, "Don't do anything…she's getting up. She's doing something stupid, right Archie?" He was saying it loud enough for Betty to hear, purposely, but she was already on her feet. Chuck was talking to Ethel.

"Get away from her, Clayton," Betty said, slapping her palms down on the table.

"Easy. Look, I came over to apologize. You don't have to go 'Dark Betty' on me again," He teased, just as vile as she remembered. Castly, who was also back, laughed like a hyena.

"Betty…let's go sit back down," Archie said, coming to stand next to her.

"I'm not going 'Dark Betty'. Ethel; is he bothering you?" She said shortly, turning to the ginger girl.

"It's fine, I'm fine," Ethel said, though she looked pleased someone had come to ask.

"See, we're fine. Off you go now," Chuck said, waving a dismissive hand at her.

Betty felt the rage pulsing inside of her. Her hands, pressing on the side of the table, started to melt under her anger. The lights in the cafeteria began to sway and flicker, and the students around them all murmured and whispered in worry about the gale-force winds that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

There was a cracking sound and the before Betty could figure out where it was coming from; a pillar, the ceiling, or the floor, Sweet Pea was yanking her away roughly.

"Holy hell, Cooper!" He yelled as soon as they were outside of the doors of the cafeteria, outside of the building. Archie was keeping the door open with his foot, "You nearly brought the entire room down with you! You gotta learn how to control that, or…or…" He groaned, rubbing his head.

"It was a trap! I don't know what he was doing, but Chuck was clearly-,"

"Apologizing. Maybe he really was just apologizing," Archie cut in, "He didn't seem like he was doing anyone harm."

"Oh, you can't actually believe that, can you?" Betty clenched her fists and all of the leaves around her burst into tiny flames and fizzled to ash on the concrete landing. Archie gulped, looking at Sweet Pea to help.

"You should. And even if he wasn't? Not everything is your problem to fix."

"But-,"

"Repeat after me; not my circus, not my monkeys."

"I'm confused. They're humans." Archie said slowly.

"Exactly!" Sweet Pea said with a satisfied huff.

"Humans. Not monkeys." Archie repeated slowly.

Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. "Say it with me slowly, Betty. Not my circus, not my monkeys. They're human . Do you know why supernatural creatures have pretty much stayed a secret so long? We let humans squabble with human matters."

"It's Chuck Clayton. He seems more demonic, to me." Betty huffed.

"Not my circus-,"

"Not my monkeys," Betty repeated sourly, "Bu-"

"Not my circus, not my monkeys." Archie said, finally understanding, nodding in slight relief, "I have enough to deal with now. I like that." He told Sweet Pea.

"Can humans be terrible? Yes. Should we go intervene in every argument they have? Absolutely not. Even if that's your fatal flaw." Sweet Pea said, sweetly, in a sense.

"Let's plan the 'not-Jughead's-surprise-party', but just a convenient gathering of friends on the day he happened to be born, right?" Archie said, sensing Betty would need something to occupy her mind. Betty seemed ready to argue, but slowly, let her urge to intervene slip from her fingers.

"Okay. We should probably decide where to have it first…"

"My house!" Archie snapped his fingers, "My dad's gone for a bit. Screw it, you know? We all just need a good, old-fashioned fun time."

"Dope." Sweet Pea grinned, "I'm invited, of course. I'm totally invited, right?"

XX

"FP?" Betty pushed the door to his trailer open.

"This is a really, really bad idea Bett-sir!" Sweet Pea stood straight and at attention as soon as his alpha walked around.

"Resident witch," FP said, tilting his head and scrutinizing the petite blonde, "You did a real solid for Sweet Pea, with the talisman." He nodded to the necklace, "He showed me. I'm impressed. But something tells me that's not why you're here," He said with a huff, pointing a finger at her.

She gulped; FP could be imposing when he wanted to be.

"It's Jughead's birthday tomorrow."

"Yes, I'm aware," FP said stiffly, sending a glare to Sweet Pea, starting to realize why Betty was here.

"I tried to tell her-,"

"Oh, shush," Betty waved Sweet Pea away, "I'm throwing Jughead a…" She paused, biting her lip, "I'm throwing a small get-together that happens to be on Jughead's birthday. It's for him, but we're not…advertising it like that. I think maybe, well, he'd appreciate it if you came to dinner with us beforehand. Or showed up." Betty said all at once.

"That's a bad idea, little witch. The farther I stay away from Jughead, the better."

"FP, he's already halfway there," Betty said, her voice creaking, "And I just have to…pretend I think he's crazy. You can stay away or be close, but either way, he knows something. It just depends on how you want him to see you." She said imploringly.

"I don't know. Jughead isn't one for surprises." FP waffled.

"Then imagine how he's going to feel when he finds out. Blindsided." Betty said, "And hurt. And it won't fix it, but maybe you could…" For once, Betty faltered.

FP gave a long, harrowed sigh. "You don't understand. You're young. Your optimism is sweet. But one day you'll get that the best gift I could do for him is just to stay away. Trust me."

XX

At the dinner table, Betty tapped her pen against the side of her mouth. She bit the end of her cap and gave a long sigh.

"It's a birthday supply list, not calculus, dear," Her mother said, peeking over her shoulder with a laugh between annoyance and amusement, "You're really falling for him, aren't you?"

"Does that bother you?"

"It surprises me. I thought…" Alice waved her hands away, "Nevermind."

"It's not the list. It's…" Betty pushed the list away an inch, "You…knew about the magical community. Does Dad know?"

"Not in the beginning," Alice said, lips pursing, "Why?"

"Did you tell him everything about yourself? Did you tell him what you knew or did you let him figure it out?" Betty whispered softly.

"I told him. Later. Much later. When it was time. Sometimes I wish I hadn't."

Betty's stomach twisted, "Oh." That wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"I told your father my secrets, my fears, my doubts and he just used them against me."

"Juggie's not like that," Betty said, shaking her head.

"Is he?" Alice raised a manicured eyebrow, "Jughead has a legacy far beyond anything he could imagine. Your father didn't."

Betty shook her head, "Screwed if I don't tell him, screwed if I do."

"Betty!" Alice clicked her tongue in disapproval, "Language."

"Sorry." She winced, ducking her head.

"Betty, there are things about myself that I struggle with. And things you do. And things he will. And you trust him. I'm glad. And you should; but not with everything. Not everything is your fight."

"I've heard that once before today."

Alice stood to grab a coffee cup, "Whoever said it," She said with a nod, "Is intelligent. You should listen to them."

XX

"You need to go to school today, Mija."

Veronica looked up, jaw clenching.

"I was planning on it, mother." She said with a clipped tone, "I have to go to Vixen's practice."

"Veronica, there are far more important things than cheerleading practice," Hermione said with an aggravated sigh, "Like keeping your grades up."

"Right," Veronica said, though her tone was emotionless. She stiffened as her mother walked over to her at the dining room table.

"What is all of this?"

"Dad's files from the basement." Veronica hesitated, unsure whether to continue, but she wanted to read her mother's face based on what she figured out, "Archie overheard Mr. Blossom say that he's the one responsible for putting Dad in jail. So I did some digging. There's this spreadsheet of monthly payments from Blossom Maple Farms to Lodge Industries until it stopped five months ago."

"When Hiram was arrested," Hermione said, reaching for it. Veronica narrowed her eyes.

Her mother was either a good actress or honestly didn't know this. Didn't Mom ever check bank statements?

"Their payments are significant, and they've been happening for years. A ton of money. What if Clifford suddenly decided he didn't want to continue paying it?" Veronica offered.

Hermione was silent, still pouring over the spreadsheet.

"I wouldn't put it past that nasty wig-wearing witch," Hermione scoffed.

Veronica was tempted to say that they should bring it to the lawyers, but another thought hit her. She swallowed.

"You don't think Dad was involved in Jason's murder, do you?"

She was sure, something in her bones, that her father had killed before. But what if one of those deaths had been a boy hardly older than her?

"No, of course not," Hermione slapped the paper down, "Don't make things worse by asking questions no one is asking." Her words stung, as though Veronica was single-handedly ruining her father's life, which honestly, he was doing fine at doing himself.

"I should get ready for school," Veronica muttered, sliding from the chair. Her mother stopped her as she reached for her backpack.

"Veronica- don't bring the Blossoms into this. Most of all Cheryl."

XX

Sweet Pea saw him before anyone else. At first, Sweet Pea assumed it was a trick of the light. A shadow out of the corner of his eye playing tricks on him. A specter just hanging out between the realms.

But then, as he jogged over to the stands for a drink of water, he was sure of what his eyes were noticing.

He was like a waif. His hair was perfectly black, his cheekbones could cut steel, and his skin was sallow. He looked like a vampire ought to look. Sweet Pea reckoned that if you lined up a whole slew of teenage boys and asked any teenage girl to pick out which one they most thought was a vampire, ten out of ten participants would pick Nick St. Clair.

It was like those English teachers that looked like they were born into their jobs or construction workers that looked like they popped out of the womb with a hard hat, muscles, and splinters on all their fingers.

Nick was similar. Though to say he was born into this role was inaccurate; he died to fit perfectly well into the role of a vampire.

He didn't sit noticeably in the practice stands. He lingered by the edges of the bleachers, in true night-dwelling form. But for some inexplicable reason, Nick was there, and he was watching him. Not just him; Betty, Veronica (she showed up today to be able to practice), Kevin…he was carefully watching all of them.

Sweet Pea felt a sense of protection. Plus, he'd known Nick for years. He knew how to handle him, because he was a man (or, rather, was it boy?) of careful business transitions.

"What do you want, Edward Cullen?" There was nothing Sweet Pea loved more than to piss Nick off by calling him names of fictional vampires.

"Are you free from playing catch, Jacob Black?" Nick asked back in a cruelly teasing tone. Damn; he'd read Twilight since the last time Sweet Pea had laid that one on him.

"What do you want?" Sweet Pea repeated, firmly crossing his arms, scowling. He tried to seem imposing enough.

"Gather your posse. We'll talk when you've proved to your high school how utterly All-American you are. Just a regular Star-Spangled Wolf." Nick sneered, clearly finding little value in the sport.

Nick always acted like he had a diamond stuck up his ass, and Sweet Pea rarely took what he said to heart.

He was distracted, though. Coach definitely noticed. And he didn't want to drop the proverbial ball, not with Chuck back, who (if Sweet Pea were human) would probably be running laps around him. No contest, Sweet Pea was still leagues better, but his drop in performance was not let go unseen.

Coach gave a big speech about the importance of their homecoming game next week, and how they all had to play their hardest. If only Coach knew, Sweet Pea mused. Sweet Pea was about to go deal with a vampire. Archie had a family secret on his shoulders. Reggie was off all the time lately, but Sweet Pea hadn't fully figured that one out. And half of the boys that were totally normal just didn't know if they should welcome Chuck back or spit on the ground he walked.

Yeah, they were doomed next week. And, at another time, this would have really upset Sweet Pea. With the current issues at hand? Well, sue him, but winning the homecoming game seemed just a tad like the smallest issue they had.

Afterward, Sweet Pea pushed Archie away, reminding him that the ginger had a lot to do to set up for Jughead's not-Birthday.

"I'll be right behind. I think I want to catch Coach to go over some maneuvers." Sweet Pea lied. As soon as Archie left, Sweet Pea was frantically texting Kevin, Betty, and Cheryl with a ton of exclamation marks. Kevin hadn't been 'in the room' when the deal went down, but he'd been at the spell. And Cheryl would kick him 100 years into the past if she wasn't here to deal with Nick, as Jason was her brother.

They met under the bleachers, which felt very average-teen.

You know, ignoring the fact it was a wolf, two witches, a vampire, and a pretty smart human.

"My progeny has not woken yet. I assume it all went well?" Nick questioned, cutting straight to the point.

"We assume so," Sweet Pea said, "You said it yourself. It's a tricky thing, Nicky."

"Why do you care?" Cheryl snorted, looking him up and down with careful scrutinization.

"It's my blood. And you must know a Blossom vampire is quite…a catch. It's a talking point, Cheryl." Nick said, "Of course, I know who you are." He added when she opened her mouth in confusion.

"I can't figure it out," Betty interjected, "We just don't know enough. We weren't even sure it would work."

"I don't want to go home just on that alone," Nick narrowed his eyes, "Where is he?"

Everyone exchanged wary glances. Sweet Pea was about to say 'hit the road' when Betty stepped forward.

"At my magic workspace. I can take you there after I change."

"Betty," Kevin hissed, narrowing his eyes and shaking his head.

"Oh, come on. We both know I have the advantage over him in there. I could burn him to a crisp if I wished," Betty said, snorting. Sweet Pea was unsure how much of this was posturing and how much was actual arrogance, but it was sort of attractive. Nick clearly thought so too.

"I would not harm you. No, you're much too fun. It would be a damn shame, Cooper." He said sincerely. Sweet Pea didn't like how he said her last name. It wasn't like Sweet Pea did when he called her 'Cooper'.

"I'll be there too," Kevin said.

"Delightful. What do you plan to do to me? Stake me?" Nick asked with an elaborate roll of his eyes.

"Perhaps," Kevin said, face stony, "Or maybe something much more painful. Kellers keep the peace, but we only know how to do that because of years of slaughtering people like you."

Nick looked like he'd just gotten gifted the best Christmas gift.

"Look at that! New York is so dull compared to all of you here." Nick said with a clap, "So much...gall. It's so refreshing. New Yorkers are snappy, of course, but not like this. You all actually mean it," He mused for a second.

"I should go change." Betty said after a long moment, "I might be a moment…I need to, well, get dressed up."

"Why, have places to be tonight?" Nick said, looking between her and Sweet Pea and winking. Cheryl looked absolutely confused. Sweet Pea belatedly recalled that they'd been pretending to be dating, for the sake of keeping Betty safe.

"Uhm, you could say that," Betty said carefully. As far as Sweet Pea knew, Cheryl hadn't been invited. Jughead really didn't like her, so there was no reason for her to come. Betty was too nice to advertise that, however. Still, Cheryl seemed to hum with thought, maybe halfway to guessing. She probably knew Jughead's birthday. She seemed to just know everything.

"I'll be waiting. Let's hope I don't need another occasion to come down," Nick said to Sweet Pea and Cheryl, nodding at them, "Though any of you are free to come to me."

It was probably meant as a genuine invite, but everything Nick said sounded like a threat.

XX

One moment, Betty was stretching after practice with Vernica, and the next she-and Cheryl was just…gone.

Veronica frowned. Archie had hightailed it away. She knew about Jughead's little get-together tonight so that one made sense, but it was almost like Betty just vanished mid-conversation.

She caught a glimpse of a blonde ponytail popping toward the locker rooms. She was almost going to follow until she saw a nightmare lurking in the other direction.

She turned, inhaling hard, all kinds of confused to see Nick standing near the edge of the field, as casual as ever.

He seemed to be waiting.

For her?

Everyone else had cleared out by now. Veronica knew the smart thing would be to turn and go change too, go home and forget, but she was itching with the need to confirm and gather knowledge.

Nick seemed like a good place to start.

"Nick. Miss me?" She put on a flirty face to greet him, unsure how else to. How do you walk up to the immortal beast that had been showering you with fortunes for years, but also using you as a human juice box?

"Veronica! You should have told me you were, what was it? A Vixen? I would have come down much sooner," He said with a grin, pulling her close, hands dangerously low on her back.

"What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"Oh, just some pesky business. Nothing exciting, I'm afraid." He said, "I was going to reach out to you but-,"

"It's fine," Veronica said abruptly, "But now that you're here…I think we need to talk."

Nick seemed taken aback. He searched to try to figure out why but came up on blanks. She'd been drinking vervain all morning.

"Of course. Perhaps later tonight-,"

"Now."

Nick raised an eyebrow but obliged. He sat on the lowest bleachers, motioning for her to sit too.

She stared at him and tried to untangle the best way to breach this. She had lofty ideas of referencing classic vampire literature, or maybe with a poem, but when she stared at Nick and noticed all the same things she saw in her parents - the pale skin, the eyes without light, the sort of unnatural perfectness to him- she didn't think that was the right way.

"I'm going to say something. I already know it's true, so don't deny it. I'm just looking for illumination." She started firmly. Nick laughed, but she could tell he had no idea what was coming.

"Do please?"

"You're a vampire. You've been wiping my memory for…years. You seem to like the right side of my neck. Not my left." She tapped the veins in her neck lightly, fingers ghosting the places she knew he'd sunk his teeth into.

Nick's face went through a variety of emotions. The first was a shock, disbelief, confusion, to slow seeping anger.

"Damn her! Damn Elizabeth Cooper! I knew she couldn't keep her lips quiet and now-,"

"What?" Veronica choked out a laugh, more unsure what to do, "What the hell does Betty have to do with any of this?"

This paused Nick. He stopped dead in his rant to stare at her.

"It wasn't…she didn't tell you anything? Well…color me surprised. That is most unexpected. I admit I was sure she would have…hmm." He rubbed his chin, "Ignore that."

"Going to be hard to," Veronica said, but threading Betty into whatever was going on was not what she wanted to do right now, "But I digress. I just want…I want to know."

"How did you find out?" Nick asked after a long moment.

"My parents. I figured it out through them. Then, once I knew, my mind wanted me to know about you too." She chose her next words carefully, "I think it's hoping you can be a friend to me through this. Not an adversary." She shook her head, rubbing her sweaty palms down her shorts.

"I would like that, I think," Nick said, then with a roughish laugh, "Can we still have fun? It would be better without having to go through the pesky memory wiping."

"Well, we'll see about that later," Veronica couldn't deny she was still attracted to him, very much so. And before, she might have asked him to come back to her place, or a hotel. But now? Right now, the thirst for knowledge was driving her more insane than any lust could.

"Right. I guess there's no point in wiping this realization away, huh?"

"None," Veronica said flatly, "So are you going to answer my questions, or not?"

Nick checked his watch, "Yeah. I'll answer some. I do have somewhere I need to go soon, but until my guide appears, I'm all yours." Then, with almost a sweet smile, "I always have been yours, Ver."

"Do you even feel love?" She scoffed.

"Is that a serious question?" He asked. She pursed her lips.

"No. Not the biggest one." She looked at her hands, sighing, "Okay, well, first thing's first…just, explain the basics to me? I know they're vampires, but I don't know how or why, or to what extent. What is your…my?" She wasn't sure if this was her heritage. Could it be? If she was still alive? "Lore?"

Nick glanced around, clicking his tongue.

"Do you want a pop?" He asked. Veronica blinked dumbly at him.

"What?"

"Soda? A fizzy drink? Pop?" He reiterated, pointing towards the soda machine pushed up against the concessions stand, cobwebs hanging around it.

"How will you get it? Magical powers? Vampire voodoo?" She asked, sure he was about to rip the front off with strength.

"No, quarters," He replied with a strange look, producing- of all things- a bag of quarters in a plastic ziplock bag from his pocket, "Toll booths."

And, something about a vampire she didn't even know how old, but certainly much older than this very town most likely, standing in the grayish light of the field with a bag of dingy quarters in his hand caused her to lose herself in a laughing fit. Nick, whether or not he understood her need for humor, just smiled and slotted the quarters in for two Pepsi's.

He motioned for them to sit on the bleachers.

"Can you even drink that?"

"Aren't I?" Nick asked, raising the can and over-exaggeratedly taking his first sip.

"No, does not taste like anything? Cardboard?"

She had watched her parents dine thousands of times. Surely, if they didn't force themselves to eat normally, she would have figured something was up long ago. She wondered if for years they'd been choking down flavorless, sawdust-esque food for the sake of appearances.

They always had their wine, of course. But Veronica, having grown up with the highest echelon of New York's richest, had seen hundreds of friends' parents sipping a nice Cab with dinner. That wasn't out of the ordinary to her at all.

"I certainly can," Nick scoffed, then seemed to remember despite knowing what he was, she knew nothing of it, "So…obviously, we need blood to survive. Animal blood is okay in a pinch, but it couldn't sustain you forever. Human food is…" He tilted his head "You know when you're really craving something, but you eat something else? It still tastes good. You still enjoy it. It just doesn't quench that craving in the same way. That's what it's like. So of course, I still like Pepsi and ice cream and all the wonders of modern food. There's a chef in New York- you remember I took you to 'Encanto' once or twice?"

Veronica did remember the place. It was a jazzy, quiet, rich-of-the-rich sort of affair. They'd been a handful of times.

"The chef is a vampire. So whenever I ordered that specific wine-,"

"The '78," Veronica said, remembering exactly the look of the bottle, "It was…blood?" She realized with a quiet sense of horror, or perhaps curiosity.

"Mine was. Yours was an expensive wine, of course. Point being…sitting there, eating my steak- closer to raw- while sipping that? It almost makes me feel alive again. I ate before I came, so this is just dessert," Nick said, taking another sip.

"Alive…again," Veronica said it as a phrase, but it was a question.

"All vampires are dead. Reanimated by some deep, ancient magic even I don't understand. Cold as ice," He grasped Veronica's fingers, pressing them to his chest, "No heartbeat."

She waited a few seconds, her mind fully expecting the warmth, the steady 'buh-duhm' of his heart, but there was nothing there. It was just an empty echo cavern.

"How did you die? When did you die?" Veronica asked, "Or is that rude to ask vampires?"

"Some will talk your ear off about it. Some just don't care. I told you I'd be truthful, and so I will. I usually don't talk much about it." He inhaled hard, and she had to remember that his breathing was probably a learned trait. He didn't need to breathe in air, but it was surely to not look weird in front of humans. Same with blinking, she supposed, "I was seventeen. It was 1778. Revolutionary War. We were on the side of the Americans, don't worry," Nick gave a wry smile, "My parents and I…someone burned our house down. I don't know who saved us, or why, but we died. And then we didn't."

"You're…as old as this country," Veronica choked, "Literally American Royalty."

"Close enough, I suppose. So, I guess you understand why I never went to class. I don't know how those fake vampires in movies and T.V. shows do it." Nick said with a sneer, "No, it was a better use of my time to build my empire."

"So…did my dad meet your parents after he changed? I know it was more…recent. They haven't even outlived their first lifespan, not like…" Veronica made a motion, "You." She paused, "How does one change? Death, I presume-,"

"And having vampire blood in your system when you die. You can have it residing for up to 24 hours before it wouldn't work. Vampire blood does have healing powers, but sometimes…some things can't be fixed. Biting also works, because it puts their blood and venom into yours. Swaps blood. Giving blood is often just a less messy way. Plus, it's kept us under the radar for longer."

Veronica suddenly lunged for her purse. She dumped out the 'magical healing pills'.

"Are these-,"

"Vampire blood. Your parents?" Nick blinked, unsure.

"So let's say I got in a bad accident. And I took one of these. But it wasn't enough and I died. Would I-,"

"Come back as a vampire? Yes. It's a hell of a safety system your parents have in place." Nick said with a snort, "Shitty. Sorry." He added after a long moment.

"My parents. Let's talk about them."

"Right. So, most vampires 'have kids' by changing others. We can't have kids any other way, so that's as good as it gets. And vampires get really protective over their lineage lines, you know? I have two…well, maybe three. We're careful about who we change. That's a standard for most. Your family, though, is different. It's legendary. They came up from Spain early on…earlier than my family. Family to them was so important, though. I don't know how the first one came about. Made a deal with the devil? Either way, your family's tradition…" He paused, licking his lips, "Are you sure you want to hear this?"

"Yes, tell me," Veronica said, snapping, "I can hear it." She needed to.

"They actually have kids. And, once a Lodge has as many kids as their human desires want them to, they changed. This means that out there is a whole flock of Lodge Vampires, a literal family tree, all changed before I think any turned 40. And all are biologically related to each other, as well as through the lineal blood. That's…it's crazy to most. But realistically…we're probably all a bit jealous."

"But…" Veronica felt her mouth go dry, "My parents said that all my extended family was dead. My grandparents, my uncles, and aunts…" She trailed off.

"They weren't lying," Nick replied with a chuckle, "But seriously. If your 'grandma' appeared looking as young as your mom? You would have been wigged out. When they tell you, probably after college, and then after you change…you get to meet every vampire in your family going back. You get to meet your great-great-great-great grandfather. That's pretty cool, Veronica."

"It is," Veronica said, hating that this was making her smile, making her happy. She wanted to hate her parents, and what they were.

"They change whoever you marry too if they want it. From the rumors, most of the Lodge couples are still together. I suppose you figure out a way to deal with one another over the centuries."

"So…you…knew I'd be changed. So that's why you…is that why we were dating?"

Nick shrugged, not quite a yes, but not quite a no.

"I couldn't give you kids, but I could get to know you. It does get lonely after 300 some odd years. I just got the sense that we were always going to end up somewhere together. Immortal," He added with a sly grin, "You can't say you don't enjoy us together."

"The sex is good," Veronica said, "But I feel…" She wasn't sure what was the right word. Cheated? Lied? Used?

Nick finished his drink, "Being a vampire has its perks. Strength, super-hearing, mind control, sometimes mind-reading…of course there's weakness. Vervain. Sometimes sunlight. Death." He shrugged, "But the world out there…I hope I haven't scared you away from your destiny, Veronica."

"You haven't. I just-," She pursed her lips, "It's more an issue with my parents."

There was a long silence. Then, Nick laughed. It was sort of a devious laugh, one that Veronica knew meant trouble was going to follow.

"I have an idea that would really piss them off."

"What?"

"I'll send you a vial of my blood. So if you decide to turn-,"

"When?" Veronica countered, almost cynically, thinking he'd spoken mistakenly.

"If. If, it will be through my bloodline. Not theirs. That would surely be a rebellion that would shake the vampire community."

Veronica paused, considering it. That she would be the first Lodge not changed of Lodge blood. About everything Nick had told her. Then, she smiled.

"Why did you say 'if'? Do you regret it?"

"No," Nick scoffed, "I would have been dead of some stupid disease if the house hadn't burned and I hadn't been saved. And I like what I am. I'm not troubled or plagued by guilt or worry or feel like I'm a monster. I know I am," He gave a grin, and she caught a glimpse of his fangs, "But…it's still a big choice. And to get to choose is something so few vampires get. It's something not to be taken lightly, even if it seems obvious. And now you know, with the luxury of years before you to really consider, and not be pushed into it. You have to want it. Really want it. There are no take-backs. Once you do it, it's done. Forever. Do you understand me? You have to want it more than anything."

"But you said you felt my future is inevitable. A destiny. Do you have seer powers too?"

"I know you," Nick said simply, "But I'd like to imagine you gave it a good thought before you went through with it."

Veronica looked at her watch. She was supposed to be helping Archie set up.

"I have somewhere to be. But what did you mean by Betty telling me?" She asked.

"That's not for tonight. Ask her later. Another day," Nick stood, "You have my number. You know where to find me. If you ever have questions, I'm at your service, my darling," He said, kissing her hand, and then flipping her wrist to kiss her gently, his teeth grazing her skin. Her heart beat wildly at this. The excitement, the precipice of what she knew, the lust that she still felt around him.

She leaned in, but Nick, unexpectedly, pushed her away, "We will meet again. And next time, it will be so much more fun, knowing that you know everything. I'll show you what it really means to live like a creature of the night."

Veronica nodded, unsure if she needed to say anything else. She turned to throw away her can. When she turned back, Nick was gone, vanished as though he'd never been there in the first place.