YEAR OF THE VAMPIRE 27

Chapter 27

Music from: Evil Eye

A light rain had started by the time Ivy reached the block where Brylinden Hall's silhouette rose into the night. The heavens were still bright with lightning and the occasional bout of thunder. She hadn't lingered to search for Camille's mom or anyone else. She had found Lornie, who was still breathing but unconscious, half her balloons squashed. Whatever Mandrake wanted, Ivy felt it was urgent.

Dred had abandoned her with another stiff command from Mandrake.

Her dress was damp, from blood and rainwater, slowly seeping through her corset, a sickening feeling welling in her. She'd tripped over two more classmates when she tried to find her way out of Camille's house, making her all the more desperate when she saw their pale faces splattered with blood.

Her right leg was stiff where she'd wrapped it with her green hair ribbons, but it didn't hinder her movements. Her hair was now loose, hanging with rain, draping over her shoulders, occasionally blown by the rising wind. Even the corset had relaxed some in the wet night.

Another heavy flapping sound came from overhead and she looked up in time to see a large, dark shape wing its way toward the Hall. That made six, she had counted. Whatever they were, they were serious. And she thought she knew what they really were.

"Damn Dred," she muttered, swinging open the creaking gate at the front of the Hall without hesitation.

At the front steps, the right double-door opened to reveal Dred. "Hey, come on, Ivy!"

"What are you doing?" She stomped up the steps. "You're behind this?"

He chuckled, fangs still in place. "It's not so bad. You'll see."

She wanted to scream a hundred things at him, but instead grabbed the fangs in his grin. They didn't budge.

He stepped back, wiping her hand away. "What the hell are you doing?"

She stared at the very real fangs hanging from his mouth. "You fake."

He shrugged, a guilty look on his face. "It's not easy to resist on a night like this."

"Halloween was yesterday, you dunce!"

"But today's the first day . . ." He stopped, looking uneasily into the ballroom.

She glared at him. "Today is what?"

"Go on in, Ivy."

She wanted an answer, but brushed past him instead. "You and your, your family killed all my friends!"

"I hope you can accept this soon." It was Jovan's voice.