Free The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands Page A

might have changed his mind and decided to go through with it, but while biting was one thing, she was not going around kissing teenage boys. She might look twenty-five, but Elvi felt every minute of her sixty-two years… Which was rather odd when she thought about it.
    Before she'd turned, Elvi had always felt like a sixteen-year-old trapped in an old woman's collapsing body. While her body had aged on the outside, gaining wrinkles and weakening with age, she'd never really changed inside. She'd still felt like the same young, hopeful woman she'd been at sixteen, eighteen, and twenty. Now that she'd turned, however, she felt like a sixty-two-year-old fraud hiding in a young woman's body. It seemed she couldn't win for losing.
    "Here, put this on your neck." Elvi tossed him the bandage and then moved to her desk to pick up her glass again. She automatically began to gulp it. The flavor had horrified her at first even as she'd craved it. It no longer bothered her, but she wouldn't do anything as crass as savor the flavor in front of Owen. She already knew from Mabel's reactions that it was just gross to actually appear to enjoy the taste of blood, but as it was her only source of nutrition, she couldn't help it.
    "What's it taste like?" Owen asked curiously.
    Elvi lowered the glass and considered how to answer the question. She finally said, "Surely you've cut a finger or your hand and stuck it in your mouth at some point or other?"
    "Yeah," he admitted.
    "Well." Elvi shrugged and set the glass down to pour in the rest of the blood. "Then you know what it tastes like."
    Owen grimaced. "Doesn't it taste different now that you're a vampire?"
    "A bit," she admitted reluctantly. Uncomfortable with the conversation and the fact that it reminded her that she was now something of a freak, Elvi gestured to the door. "You should go eat your cake. I made it myself."
    Owen nodded and moved to the door, then paused to glance back.
    "Thank you," he offered and ran a finger over the bandage on his neck. "For this."
    "You're welcome, Owen. Happy Birthday."
    "Thanks," he grinned and reached for the doorknob, adding, "and good luck tonight."
    Elvi had started to turn away, but paused and glanced after him with confusion. "What do you mean 'good luck tonight'?"
    Owen appeared surprised at the question. "You know… the vampire guys that came to town."
    "What?" Elvi stared blankly.
    Owen frowned at her confusion. "You know… that guy who was in here and his friends." When her expression didn't change, he looked worried and murmured, "I know it was supposed to be a secret the last few weeks, but I thought Mabel would have told you by now. I mean they're here. She has to tell you."
    "Who are here?" Elvi asked, setting her glass down and moving around the desk.
    Owen hesitated. Finally, he said, "I don't think I should tell you. I think it's supposed to be a surprise."
    " What's supposed to be a surprise?" she asked, growing impatient. "I don't like surprises, Owen. Just tell me."
    When he continued to hesitate, she shifted impatiently and said, "I won't tell anyone you told me. It will be another secret between us."
    A brief struggle took place on his face and then he nodded solemnly. "You should know anyway. And besides, you did this for me."
    Elvi's eyes followed the finger he ran over his throat and she smiled wryly. She hadn't done anything but give him a bandage and supposed he meant the keeping it a secret part.
    "All right," Owen shifted his feet and then started back across the room. "I'll tell you."
    Elvi settled herself on the corner of her desk and waited patiently for him to begin.
     
    "If you're quite done, I think you should probably return to the table with the others."
    Victor stiffened at that cold voice. Turning slowly away from the door and the conversation taking place inside, he peered at Mabel, squirming inwardly at being caught eavesdropping. "I was—"
    "I know what you were doing," she interrupted dryly.
    Victor's gaze