Free Romeo & Juliet & Vampires by William Shakespeare Page A

that she could see she had succeeded in rattling Romeo. “Does she know who you are?”
    Romeo felt as though his throat was going to close up. He could not bring himself to respond.
    â€œI can guarantee that when she finds out, you will be dead to her,” the woman crowed. “Like all her kin who have died at your family’s hands.”
    Staring into this vampire’s vindictive eyes, Romeo almost considered showing her the wooden stake hidden under his jacket, but he was above making threats. Instead, he walked away, out of the Great Hall and through the long hallways and lanes until he reacheda courtyard with an orchard. He hoped he could be alone there and compose himself.
    Romeo was about to collapse onto a stone bench when he heard the sound of two very familiar voices coming from behind a wall in the orchard.
    â€œRomeo! My cousin Romeo!”
    It was Benvolio, bellowing like a senseless lout. Romeo shook his head in frustration, hoping that he would not be discovered. The last thing he needed was more ridicule from his friends.
    â€œBe quiet, man. He is probably in bed with the half-breed, having his ears nibbled on.” Mercutio chuckled.
    â€œWouldn’t she be more interested in his arteries?” Benvolio asked.
    â€œYou’re right,” Mercutio replied.
    â€œMaybe we should search upstairs, where the bedrooms are,” said Benvolio.
    â€œActually I think I have had enough of the house of the damned for one night. Romeo can find his way home on his own,” Mercutio responded.
    â€œYes, we might have helped Romeo sneak into the castle to romance one of these bloodsuckers, but I want nothing more to do with them,” Benvolio said in agreement.
    Romeo listened closely as the sound of Mercutio’s and Benvolio’s footsteps tapered off into the starry night. He leaned back against the wall and ran his hand through his hair, wondering what his cousinand good friend might do to him if he revealed that he had fallen for the daughter of the most powerful bloodsucker of them all. But he was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of window shutters opening three stories above him. His eyes darted upward and his mouth broke into a smile. Standing on a balcony, her face partially illuminated by the light of the moon, was Romeo’s new reason for living.
    â€œJuliet,” he gasped.
    Moments ago, Romeo was shocked to learn of Juliet’s bloodline, but none of that seemed to matter now. In fact, he was so happy to see Juliet’s face that he nearly ran out from behind the latticed fence and proclaimed his love for her.
    But then common sense reeled him back. Here he was, enamored and heartsick and consumed by desire, but did Juliet return any of those feelings? Or would she hate him when she learned that he was a Montague? Or worse, be too far gone in her transition from woman to vampire to see him as anything but a source of human blood? Until he knew with absolute certainty, he would not make another move or utter another word or think another thought.
    But he would allow his eyes to watch and his ears to listen, until his heart was fully satisfied.
    Or until he became undone.

CHAPTER NINE
    A s Juliet stepped out onto her balcony, the ruffled skirt of her dress rippled in the evening wind. On mild nights like these, she liked to duck out of her chambers and onto this tiny terrace that stood above the orchard. It was so easy for her to find peace and contentment out here. Inside the castle, Juliet oftentimes felt trapped, but when she could escape to this little ledge outside her bedroom, her spirit soared.
    Now the scent of pear trees wafted through the air, and the stars above her glittered like moon dust, yet Juliet was anything but content. Her cheeks and neck were blotchy from stress. When her head wasn’t throbbing, her heart was beating so hard she felt like she couldn’t catch her breath.
    All because of a man she could not stop thinking