Dance With a Vampire Read Online Free PDF Page A

and I did know—we just couldn’t tell.
    “Well, we’ll find out all about him when we meet him tomorrow,” Billy Boy concluded.
    My dad quickly changed the conversation to Billy Boy’s upcoming English project.
    “It’s Facts Versus Folklore. We got to choose from a bunch of myths and legends—
    mermaids, werewolves, trolls. Henry and I picked vampires. I figured if we bring in Raven we’ll get an easy A,” my brother said with a laugh.
    “Billy—be kind,” my mother scolded.
    Little did they know who the real vampire at the table was.
    In spite of my family’s intense inquiries, I could see Alexander was having fun. I felt a twinge of melancholy for my beloved, who’d been forced to leave Romania and his family. I wondered if I would have been able to leave my whole family and Becky behind, move to another country, and live in a lonely old Mansion with just a butler for company. Even though the creepy man himself, Jameson, was a dear and trusted friend to Alexander and the Sterling family, he was centuries older. I’m sure the odd couple didn’t talk about music, girls, and movies.
    Alexander never once complained. However, I was relieved that I’d snuck into the Mansion and found my Goth mate there. By the way my boyfriend was beaming here at the Cricket Club, I’m sure he felt the same way.
    Now that we all were together, I knew my family and I were safe. I just didn’t know for how long.

    After dropping Henry off, we all arrived home, our bellies filled with vinegar and chips and chocolate ice cream.
    “I appreciate your inviting me out to dinner,” Alexander said to my parents.
    “We’ll have to do it again,” my dad said, shaking Alexander’s hand.
    I walked my boyfriend to Jameson’s car.
    “Tomorrow we’ll have to be at the treehouse at sunset,” he said to me as he leaned against the Mercedes.

    Alexander touched my cheek with the back of his pale hand, then cupped my chin. He leaned in to give me a lingering good-night kiss.
    I watched him as he drove down the street, off to his attic room. He would make the night pass with music and art until it was time to return to his coffin.
    I opened my own bedroom door to find my kitten, Nightmare, on my bookshelf, hissing. I was holding her in my arms, softly stroking her nose, when I heard a scream. It came from Billy Boy’s room.
    I had just released Nightmare onto my bed and raced into the hallway when Billy Boy flew out of his room, crashing into me.
    He almost knocked the wind out of me. “Get off, you doofus!” I yelled. “What’s wrong with you?”
    Billy Boy didn’t speak; instead he pointed into his room. His door remained partially closed. It creaked as I slowly pushed it open.
    The way he had screamed, I expected to see a dead body.
    Nothing looked out of place—his dresser, closet, and bed were all in order.
    “What’s wrong with you? You were screaming like a girl!”
    He shook his head and kept pointing in the direction of his computer desk. “Over there.”
    I crept over and glanced around. “Yes, this would frighten me, too,” I said, holding up a pre-algebra book. “You are only in the fifth grade.”
    “No, outside—”
    I peered out into the backyard. I could see our swing set and my dad retrieving a garden hose. I stepped back. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move. Hanging upside down from the window casing was a very live bat. Two beady green eyes pierced through me. I couldn’t move.
    Just then my mom appeared. “I was in the basement and I heard someone shouting.”
    I turned to see Billy Boy poking his head out from behind my mother.
    I looked back toward the window. The bat was gone.
    “What happened?” my mom wondered aloud.
    “Nothing,” I said. “I think Billy Boy is afraid of his shadow.”

    “It was a bat!” he protested. “It had green eyes.”
    “Bats don’t have green eyes,” my mother argued.
    “This one did and it was staring right at me!” my brother