Scarlet Vamporium: Vamporium #2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

my veins with apprehension and anticipation.
    *
     
    Ellindt:
     
    I tried on all of my clothes, twice . I'm still not sure Selene's advice of dressing down is my style, or even suits me, but here I am next to her car waiting on the side of the road like the hooker in Pretty Woman. I feel cheap waiting in the dark on the side of a deserted road for my date.
    This is definitely the worst idea Selene's ever had. I'm worried the resident serial killer is going to be inspired if he drives past.
    Staring down at my black Chuck Taylor's and skinny jeans, I hope it's okay that I'm wearing a girlie long sleeved tee and a fitted leather jacket which shows off my waist. It's got no collar so it highlights my long neck, and the black makes my hair look like platinum drizzling down my body all the way to my hips. I just couldn't bring myself to don a bland and boring hoodie.
    I don't blend easily and I can't hide my face anyhow. Maybe next time I should just ask him to go overboard and hold a masked ball in my honor to pacify my paranoid aunt.
    The river Doug was fishing in runs literally from the bottom of our garden down to the main artery of Coe and into Loch Leven. The closest road is A82 which joins up to Lorn Drive, weaving into Glencoe itself.
    Headlights head toward us and my stomach clenches all the way to my heart, making me ill with tension.
    “You've got money and your cell phone?” she checks.
    “Yes!” I grumble for the umpteenth time.
    “Are you sure you want to go? It's not too late to change your mind.”
    “Come on, Selene. I'm sure they'll be lovely people and I'll get to see how kids this side of the Atlantic socialize.”
    The car stops on the wrong side of the road, leaving the lights on facing her car. It's all for show. We can manifest whatever we want, and our story is there is a road leading to Selene's house when in truth there is none. We can literally magic anything out of thin air just by thinking it. The car is our latest ruse.
    And yet, I don't feel like a liar. This is our glamor, we pretend to be normal when we're far removed from it. We don't need cars or planes or trains, we can go anywhere we wish in the blink of a thought. In my case my uncle outranks me, so he's preventing me from leaving Selene's because he has more power than I do. I can't wait to grow up so no one can control me.
    The door opens with a rusted creak and Doug steps out, standing, unfolding himself into well over six feet.
    Wow. I'd already half forgotten how attractive and tall he is.
    Nerves ratchet my stomach higher to press down in my chest, thumping my heart and forcing me into overheating. I'm so excited by the thrill of freedom for a night with this gorgeous local boy that my eyes start to heat too.
    Blinking rapidly I force the sensation to recede, stepping forward and smiling, “Hi Doug. This is my aunt, Selene,” I wave my arm in her direction, just wanting to escape before she changes her mind and makes me stay home.
    He does a quick dip, as if trying to match her height when he holds out his hand to shake hers, “It's verra nice tae meet ye. Thank you so much fer lettin' Ellindt come out taenight. I promise tae look out fer her.”
    Selene smiles at him and I know she's diving into his head and pillaging his thoughts. He obviously satisfies her curiosity because she gives him a nod, walking around to the driver's door on her pretend car, “Don't stay out too late.”
    She looks at me with the steely stare of a parent who takes no nonsense, “I'll be waiting up for you, don't think I won't. I want you home at a decent hour young lady.”
    “Yes ma'am,” I mumble sarcastically.
    She gives me 'the look' and I regret my run off mouth instantly. She could take me home right now for being insolent.
    Instead she looks at Doug, “Drive safely! That's my niece you're driving around and I want her home safe and sound.”
    He nods, shuffling his feet in a nervous gesture, “Absolutely. I will be