Blood Candy Read online

  They both laughed a little and Felicia went back to her book. The cold air from the ceiling vents passing over Candy’s still steaming body instantly relaxed her. When she closed her eyes the first thing she saw was Rupert’s fangs. She turned her head to Felicia.

  “Have you ever seen a vampire?”

  “A few times,” Felicia said, setting the book down on her chest. “Once in New York at a nightclub. I wouldn’t have known he was a vampire if I hadn’t learned everything I did from Tinch. It scared the shit out of me the way he hung back in the shadows looking over the room like it was an animated menu.”

  “What did you do?”

  Felicia snorted. “I got the hell out of there. This happened last summer when I was seventeen, and I was alone. I know what vampires can do and what he had probably already done to people, and worse still whatever sick shit was going through his head for that night.”

  Candy wanted to ask why Felicia had been alone at a nightclub in New York when she was seventeen, but a more important thought came to mind. “Have you ever killed one?”

  “No,” Felicia said with a curious glance at Candy. “They’re not easy to kill.” She sighed and seemed to think about what she should say. “Not all vampires are as bad as Rupert and you shouldn’t think in the terms of ‘vampires need killing.’ People have thought the same about lycans.”

  Felicia’s views were a sharp contrast to what Jimmy had said. Candy closed her eyes and relaxed. She imagined running alongside a wolf until she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Seven

  “You’ll be with me soon, love. It’s nearly night.”

  For a moment, Candy could see down the hallway and through a set of glass doors to the yard beyond—the yard with the sculpted hedges and with the fountain straddled by little trumpet bearing angels. Then shadows grew out from every corner around her, from every unlit crack, pulsing with life and obscuring anything she tried to look at in an inky gloom.

  Everything except Rupert.

  She woke up sweating, feeling like shadows were creeping up her legs. She had slept for less than an hour; the dream had been brief, but it jogged her memory of the first time she dreamed about Rupert. She had been walking with him along strangely sculpted hedges. There had been something about a wish, about his wish for her to be with him. There had been his anger and his fangs. She couldn’t stand dreaming about him anymore.

  Felicia had fallen asleep and rolled well into the middle of the bed, one of her skinny legs stretched out over Candy’s knees. Candy poked her shoulder until she woke up. Felicia yawned and rolled over. She sat up on the side of the bed and rubbed her eyes.

  “What time is it?” she said sleepily.

  “About six, I think.”

  Beyond the guestroom window the red summer sun hovered near the horizon. Candy pulled on some socks and a cheap pair of tennis shoes they bought at the mega-store. Downstairs, Were-Jew was sleeping on the couch and Jimmy on the recliner. With a glance through the blinds into the back yard, she saw Melvin, White Paul, and Medium Dave.

  “I hope they’re getting the pool ready,” Felicia said.

  The smell of Chinese food in the kitchen made Candy’s stomach growl. Jimmy woke up with a start when Melvin and Medium Dave came inside.

  “Good, you’re up,” Melvin said. “Grab a bite to eat, we leave in fifteen.”

  Both young women picked meticulously through the food. Candy never cared much for Chinese food, but she was starving and had nothing else so she didn’t complain. While she ate, the rest of the Misfits went into the living room. Jimmy came into the kitchen and leaned against the counter next to her. Melvin went over the plan once everyone was gathered around.

  “Okay, guys. We all know the plan. Were-Jew will be inside the store with Candy and Jimmy. Felicia will be outside. I’ll stay with the car. Everyone make sure your phones are charged before we go. Were-Jew will inform us once you make contact, but if anything smells fishy or if I give the say then we all meet up inside the bookstore. Public places are safer and we can figure out what to do from there.” He handed a prepaid cell phone to Candy. “I put everyone’s number into it.”

  “Thanks.”

  Melvin nodded and continued, “If the Mullins set this up as an intermediate meeting place, which is likely the case, then we’ll follow behind in the SUV to the next destination. All of the gear is in the back so that me, Felicia, and Were-Jew will be ready to go. Any questions?”

  Candy wondered what he meant by “gear.” Everyone nodded their understanding of the plan. Most everyone; Candy still had her doubts. Melvin wanted to get there early so they could scout the area ahead of time and he rushed everyone out the door.

  Jimmy, Candy, Medium Dave, and White Paul piled into the Pinto while the rest of the Misfits got into the SUV. They made their way back onto the interstate and stayed on it for about fifteen minutes, and then they took a downtown exit. With Medium Dave navigating, Jimmy found a parking garage near their destination.

  “Remember,” Melvin said before everyone went to their positions, “don’t trust anything a vampire says. They have silver tongues.” He looked at Jimmy. “You know the plan. Stick to it.”

  Medium Dave didn’t appear happy with his leader’s assessment of vampires. Were-Jew and Felicia departed to their positions. Candy noticed what looked like a military or law enforcement grade utility belt around her waist, covered by her shirt.

  A knot grew in her belly as the gravity of the situation became more apparent: They were about to go meet with vampires. Rupert found his way into her thoughts again. She didn’t want to constantly remember his arms around her, his face buried in her neck. She didn’t want to remember his fangs. She didn’t want to remember how good it felt.

  Melvin pulled out a duffle bag from the back of the SUV. Jimmy put his arm around Candy’s shoulder and said, “Let’s head out.”

  The narrow city streets came to life with lights and people as night settled over everything. Though it wasn’t fully dark, Candy was still nervous. In her freedom after graduating she had become a night owl, but now she hated what came out when the sun went down.

  They found an empty table at a café in the bookstore. Time passed by in uncomfortable silence until Jimmy’s cell phoned buzzed. He flipped it open and read a text message, and then he put it back on the table. Candy grabbed a magazine.

  “You guys don’t need to be so dramatic,” Medium Dave said.

  Jimmy eyed him. “I don’t care how you know these vampires or how much you trust them. As far as I’m concerned they’re still bloodsucking monsters.”

  White Paul squirmed in his chair. “Man I’m bloated.” He looked at the fashion magazine Candy was flipping through. “Mind if I read that after you? That’s good material to—”

  Jimmy cut him off with a glare.

  “Good for what?” Medium Dave asked, but everyone ignored him.

  Turning her head from them, Candy spotted Were-Jew lurking near the magazine racks. Jimmy continued reading texts each time his phoned buzzed and he sent a couple out while they all kept an eye on the door. After what seemed like hours, she had flipped through most of the magazine. Medium Dave fell asleep in his chair. White Paul had ordered about five coffees, each time complaining about the refill price to the poor girl with acne and braces behind the counter. He eventually wandered over to a woman’s laptop when she went to the bathroom.

  Through the windows on the other side of the café, full dark had descended over the city, causing the knot in Candy’s stomach to tighten. People entered and exited the bookstore at a steady pace, but there was something odd about the guy with fair hair who walked in through the door. He had on a diamond-patterned sweater and tan khakis even though it was warm out. As he detached himself from the traffic of customers his eyes went directly to the café. He spotted Medium Dave and then he made his way over to them. Jimmy nudged the sleeping Misfit awake.

  “David,” the young man said with a wide smile. Medium Dave st
ood up and shook his hand. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Hey, Chester,” Medium Dave said in a casual manner.

  Candy sensed an air of arrogance around Chester, and combined with the way he was dressed he reminded her of the spoiled preps she had gone to school with. She couldn’t see anything about him that pegged him as a vampire aside from his apparent youth and maybe his pale complexion, though that didn’t mean anything.

  “Who are your friends?” Chester said.

  “This is Jimmy and Candy,” Medium Dave said.

  “Nice to meet you,” Chester said, smiling as if perhaps he meant it, his eyes lingering on Candy more than the guys. “I’m Chester Mullin. Why don’t we head on out and you can fill me in a little more on your problem.”

  “Head out where?” Jimmy said.

  “My mother is interested in Candy’s situation with the British fellow. She wants to meet her in person. And of course she’d like to see David again.”

  Jimmy passed a glance to Medium Dave. “Your mother couldn’t come here?”

  The pleasant smile on Chester’s face remained and he spoke in an equally pleasant tone. “My mother is willing to take time out of her very busy schedule to help with your problem,” he said. “She’s invited you to our home; an invitation not offered to many, I assure you.”

  Jimmy glanced at Medium Dave again. “How do we know we can trust you?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” Chester said, resting a hand on Medium Dave’s shoulder. “You called for help, didn’t you? That’s why we’re all here.”

  Jimmy wasn’t convinced. He looked between Medium Dave and Chester for a moment and then his eyes settled on Candy. She was just as lost as him, if not more, and she didn’t know what to make of Chester. She supposed the blue-eyed vampire seemed pleasant enough, but then again she had been told that was what vampires wanted people to think. She didn’t know enough and so she gave Jimmy a slight nod to indicate her trust in his judgment.

  “Okay,” Jimmy said with some reluctance. “We’ll meet with your mother.”

  “Excellent.”

  White Paul came back over to his seat. “Who’s this prick?”

  “Chester Mullin.” Jimmy sighed. “This is our friend White Paul who has no etiquette at all. Sorry about that.”

  “A pleasure, White Paul,” Chester said congenially, extending his hand out. White Paul stared at him and after a moment Chester lowered his hand. “So, are there any more of you I should know about?”

  “This is it,” Jimmy said.

  Chester clapped his hands. “Very good. My driver’s waiting for us outside. You can fill me in on the way.”

  “Your driver?” said White Paul. “Are we talking a limo here?”

  “Not quite. It’s a town car, but it has all of the comforts.”

  “I’m sure it does,” White Paul grumbled.

  Everyone followed the vampire to the door, through the crowds of people who didn’t know any better, who didn’t know a vampire was among them. Candy held Jimmy’s hand while Medium Dave walked alongside Chester ahead of them.

  “I don’t like him,” White Paul whispered. “He’s the worst kind of person and he’s a vampire. What’s the world come to?”

  “You don’t even know him,” Jimmy said. “I never thought I’d say this but he seems okay.”

  “That’s what he wants you to think, dipshit. That’s how they get you. The next thing you know you’re waking up with blood on your neck and cold vampire sausage in your mouth.”

  Jimmy stopped to glare at him.

  “What? Don’t tell me you can’t see he’s a little fruity. He’s wearing a turtleneck in July and he clearly bleached his hair.”

  “I don’t really care about his sexual orientation,” Jimmy said. “We’re here for his help so stop being a jerk. Please.”

  As they walked out the door a woman yelled, “Why is there porn on my computer!?”

  Chapter Eight

  When Candy was in the third grade her class did a Christmas play. She had to dress up like a reindeer and wear an antler hat. She didn’t have any lines until near the end when each reindeer had to come forward to sing before joining in with a chorus. She didn’t remember what the lines were anymore, but she did remember she was so nervous she couldn’t talk and she almost threw up. She had never felt like that again until now.

  She clutched tightly onto Jimmy’s hand while they followed Chester. She wanted to call the whole thing off. For the first time in her life she wanted nothing more than to go home and see her mother. She didn’t want to meet more vampires.

  She said nothing. The thought of Rupert finding her again kept her mouth firmly closed.

  When Jimmy turned his head to scan the other side of the street, Candy looked as well. She saw Felicia lingering near a corner in the dark, her head low and her eyes on them. She turned and took something out of her pocket, probably her cell phone.

  “Here we are,” Chester said. A town car waited for them at a crosswalk up the street. Though it wasn’t as big as a limo or as flamboyant, it did have double seats facing each other in the back. Everyone piled in. “All in, Milford. Take it away.”

  The town car lurched into motion. Candy sat on one side against the window with Jimmy next to her and White Paul against the other window. Chester and Medium Dave sat on the other side facing them. The windows were tinted completely black so nothing could be seen outside and the driver’s cab was partitioned off.

  “Why don’t you fill me in on your problem?” Chester said. “David said you have a Brit who won’t leave you alone?”

  Jimmy continued speaking on Candy’s behalf, which suited her just fine. “Yes. He attacked Candy and now he’s stalking her.”

  Chester’s eyes went to Candy, to her neck. “Did he bite her?”

  Candy’s face burned. Jimmy noticed and took her hand.

  “Yes,” he said. “Maybe we should wait for some privacy before she relates exactly what happened. I imagine this has to be embarrassing.”

  “My apologies. Let me ask a little about him instead. You said his name is Rupert?” Chester said.

  “Yes.”

  “I know him,” Chester said thoughtfully. “He’s a vicious bastard, that’s for sure. The whole Kingsley family is like that.”

  Candy didn’t like the sound of that, and neither did Jimmy. She wasn’t sure what a vampire family was or how many there were, and the thought of more vampires like Rupert and Vivian made her visibly recoil. She also didn’t like how Chester’s eyes kept going to her neck or how he was trying to be subtle about it. He glanced at her wrists as well.

  “How long until we get there?” White Paul said.

  “Not long.” Chester turned his attention back to Candy. “So tell me, did you see any other Brits?”

  “Just one,” Jimmy said. “Vivian.”

  Chester flinched and sucked in a breath through his slightly spaced front teeth. “I was hoping he wasn’t in the states. He’s the worst.”

  Jimmy asked the question everyone was thinking. “How many of them are there?”

  “Enough to be a pain in the ass. I believe there are four Kingsley brothers, maybe five, but their father hasn’t been around for some time. Hayden Kingsley has been head of the house during his absence. They’ve done nothing but cause problems since.”

  White Paul grumbled, clearly wanting to throw in a remark.

  “But if you mean their extended family,” Chester went on, “well, there’s no telling exactly. The Kingsleys are the prominent family here; they’ve controlled Boston for a long time. There are two more families in Massachusetts alone and that’s not counting the loners. And more come and go from their overpopulated island.”

  “Just our luck,” White Paul said. “It had to be the prominent family we get involved with.”

  Chester nodded agreement. “My mother will sort this out.”

  After about thirty minutes they arrived at the Mullin house. Candy heard a gate open and then the
town car crunched along a gravel driveway that must have been a mile long. When at last the car came to a halt the driver, an Asian man in a tidy black suit with white gloves, opened the door for them. Once everyone had exited the car, he returned to the driver’s seat.

  “Keep the car running, Milford,” Chester said.

  Candy had no idea where they were and she couldn’t see any other houses across a vast yard and the driveway. When she turned her eyes grew large. What she saw wasn’t a house and the term “mansion” didn’t do it much justice either. The house before her towered three-stories high and was built in the colonial style more common in the south. Grooved columns lined the porch, supporting a spacious balcony on the third floor. It was immense, even the windows were huge, and the surrounding yard stretched out into darkness. She tried to imagine how awesome it would be to live in a house like that.

  White Paul let out a low whistle. “You didn’t tell us they’re filthy rich.”

  “Most vampire families are,” Medium Dave said, standing nonchalantly with his hands stuffed into his jean pockets. “I knew they were wealthy but not like this.”

  Chester led them up the porch steps to a huge door. It was ingrained in some kind of woodland motif Candy didn’t have time to inspect. She did notice gold relief in some spots. Chester held the door open while his guests filed in.

  “I’m afraid I won’t be staying as I having some pressing business to attend, but my mother will be with you shortly,” he said. “It was a pleasure to meet all of you and I hope everything works out.”

  Candy followed Jimmy through the door into a massive antechamber made of marble and dark polished wood. The room was vast, including the ceiling which rose well over thirty feet above. Two curving stairways of dark stone and gleaming bronze handrails hugged the walls on both sides, ending in an overlook. Everything sparkled as if an army of maids had swept through, including marble statues Candy thought should have been in a museum. There were also sitting chairs, couches, tables, a piano; she didn’t have time to look at it all. There were even objects hanging from the high ceiling, too far away and too dark to make out.