Even in the shadows, I could tell he seemed surprised by my arrival.
Phoenix headed toward me, gravely concerned. “There may be trouble inside the bar tonight,” he warned.
“Trouble? That’s my middle name.”
“I’m serious.” He placed his hand firmly on my shoulder. “I strongly suggest you go home.”
He glared down at me, brooding behind his sunglasses, his dark purple and black hair flopping seductively over them.
I had a feeling that if I stayed, there might be more trouble outside the club.
I nodded reluctantly.
Phoenix slipped into the Coffin Club through the back alley entrance. I was surprised he hadn’t parked in the VIP spot and sauntered into the club like a leather-clad prince. Maybe there was going to be a fight inside the club tonight and he wanted to make a quick getaway. I lagged behind him, and as the door began to close I stuck my foot inside the frame. The door was heavy as it slammed on my boot. I limped inside.
I saw purple locks bobbing a few feet ahead of me before they disappeared through a door. I hobbled into the darkness, doing my best to keep up, but kept a safe distance so I would go undetected. All of a sudden I was descending a steep staircase and standing in front of a dungeon door with the spray-painted words DEAD END.
I uncovered my Coffin Club bracelet, poked in my purse for my key chain, and anxiously fumbled for the skeleton key. An equal amount of fear and excitement coursed through my veins. The key shook in my unsteady hand, but I managed after a few tries to stick it into the lock and swiftly turn it.
The door creaked open.
Dragon examined me as I whisked past him and slipped through the slit in the curtain.
The Dungeon was spectacularly alive. Clubsters were buzzing, dancing, tipping back goblets, and partying as if it might be their final time at the club. The devilish and decadent catacomb chambers were packed full of fang-toothed goths, punks, and emos. Perhaps it would be the last time I’d see Scarlet and Onyx, if they forgave me for recognizing them as they were going unnoticed in the mortal world.
But as I milled through the crowd, an even darker mood began to wash over the club like draining blood. I spotted members in white T-shirts with the black word POSSESS, in homage to Jagger’s tattoo, having private meetings, whispering, and passing messages.
“Raven!” I heard a familiar girl’s voice call. It was Onyx. Her hair was styled in long pigtails, with spiderweb bows. She and Scarlet raced over to me.
“I’m so sorry we pretended not to know you at the art festival,” Scarlet apologized.
“Will you ever forgive us?” Onyx asked.
“We have to keep a low profile when we’re in the mortal world,” said Scarlet.
“Me too, but sometimes I forget,” I said.
“I couldn’t acknowledge that we’d met here,” said Onyx.
“I understand,” I replied. “What was I thinking?”
But I did feel sad. As much as I didn’t fit in Dullsville, I was still me—24-7. I didn’t really know what it meant to hide part of me—or all of me—from others, like Onyx, Scarlet, Jagger, and Alexander did on a daily basis. While Alexander thrived on isolation and Jagger on his menacing ego, they all were truly outsiders. I realized more than ever that for many of the vampires like Scarlet and Onyx, this club was their only lifeline.
“There is so much going on,” Scarlet said, her voice rife with concern.
“Can’t you feel the tension?” Onyx asked. “The club’s about to explode!”
“I know—there’s something I’ve got to tell you…” I began.
“Something’s going down tonight,” Scarlet interrupted.
“It’s going to be a late night tonight, if you need to crash here,” Onyx offered.
“You sleep in the club?” I wondered aloud.
“Scar doesn’t,” Onyx began. “She lives in town. But I hang here when I visit. That’s what’s so cool about the club and why we’re hoping it doesn’t change.
“Would you like to see my crash pad?” Onyx asked proudly. “We can tell you more there—”
“Yes,” I declared enthusiastically.
I was curious to see what kind of sleeping chamber Jagger had set up for the club members to entice them to Hipsterville.
Once again, I was guided through narrow winding catacombs, past chambers, hallowed graves, and tombs. Everything looked familiar, and at the same time I knew I’d never been down these tunnels before. We finally stopped in front of a gray metal sliding door. Onyx opened the portal. Never in my life had I imagined such a vampire dwelling.
The windowless room was the size of a warehouse. It was a funeral director’s dream come true. One coffin after another lay on the dirt floor, perfectly lined up—ten coffins across. But what was even more macabre were the coffins suspended above them, hanging from the ceiling by steel wire, like cryptic hammocks.
With a slam, the portal closed behind us.
I waited for the coffin lids to pop open and fang-flashing vampires to yell, “Surprise!” But nothing happened. I must have appeared unusually pale because Scarlet placed her bloodred-fingernailed hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be startled,” she reassured me. “It’s just a fire door.”
“Let me show you my coffin,” Onyx said excitedly.
I wasn’t sure how their owners could tell them apart because they all appeared identical. We walked by the vampires’ beds to the front of the room.
“This one is mine,” she said, tapping on the top.
On one side was a black onyx stone, outlined in white. She lifted the coffin lid. Inside were red and black plaid sheets, a comforter and matching pillowcase, a black iPod, and a black UglyDoll Ice Bat.
She closed the lid casually, as if it were a life-size guitar case.
When I’d pictured becoming a vampire, I’d never imagined this—sleeping among strangers like in a youth hostel for the undead, just for the chance to wake up, dance, and be with other vampires. Was this the life I’d be leading if I joined the Underworld? To remain forever in a hidden identity—or to risk it all to be known around mortals?
It was time I told Onyx and Scarlet about the crop circle and what I’d overheard.
“We were wrong—I was wrong. About Phoenix. He doesn’t want to expose the club. He wants us to remain peaceful.”
“You’re kidding,” Onyx said in disbelief.
Scarlet’s eyes grew red with rage. “Then it’s just been Jagger…all along.”
“Yes! He and Phoenix confronted each other out by the crop circle. Jagger’s been inviting vampires here under the guise of a safe club to hang out in, but all the time he was planning on gathering enough members to take over the town.”
“He duped us all along!” Scarlet exclaimed.
“We must do something before he ruins the club—and us!” Onyx ordered.
The portal opened. It was Scarlet’s blond date and he appeared very concerned. “There you are!” He charged over to Scarlet. “Something’s going down…” He paused when he saw me. “I’m afraid we are going to lose the club.”
Before he had a chance to explain, he grabbed Scarlet’s hand, who in turn took Onyx’s. Onyx grasped mine, her soft palm perspiring. I grew even more anxious—what would make a vampiress nervous?
We entered the labyrinth of dark and narrow catacombs. It was like a Halloween haunted house, only the costumed volunteers were real-life vampires. Fanged, corpse-complexioned, blue-lipped vampires, all wearing white T-shirts, hung from the archways as we hurried through. They threatened us, licking lips, eyes red with anger, reaching for us and trying to take hold of anything, from our shirts to our skirts. Parts of the catacombs were so curvy I was afraid we’d get separated. Other turns were so dark the only thing I felt was Onyx’s hand and my boots hitting the uneven dirt floor.