Free The Vampire...In My Dreams by Terry Spear

They’d know something was wrong with you.”
    That hurt.
    She hurried for the front door.
    I reappeared before her. Running into my chest, she let out a small cry of surprise. I grabbed her arms to steady her, still wanting that good-morning kiss. Touching her sent warmth spiraling through me that couldn’t be denied. “Sorry, Marissa, I can’t let you go to school without me.”
    Through clenched teeth, she reluctantly agreed. “All right. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. If they poke and prod you and put you on display, it won’t be my doing.”
    “You left out the stripped…”
    She glanced down at my red T-shirt and blue jeans. Her lips curved up just a bit, but somehow she managed to hide from me the mental images that I’m sure flitted across her brain. “Yeah, well, it won’t be my fault if the schoolmaster tries to expose you for what you are. But where’d you get the change of clothes?”
    “I popped back to my parents’ home and took the clothes from the closet.”
    “Neat trick. Did you visit with them?”
    “My mother gets upset every time she sees me. Besides, everyone was still sleeping.”
    A flicker of concern shone in Marissa’s expressive eyes, but then the look faded and she pulled her front door open.
    Kate stood with her hand to the doorbell. She stared blankly and her mouth opened when she saw me with Marissa. Her green eyes couldn’t grow any bigger.
    Marissa’s eyes widened as much.
    Trying to remedy the situation, I quickly stepped outside and offered my hand to Kate. “New kid at the school. I asked Marissa if she would show me the way.”
    Ignoring my outstretched hand, Kate turned her attention to Marissa and waited for an explanation.
    “Yeah, he, uh, just asked if I could show him the way.”
    “I just said that, Marissa. Quit acting so nervous. She’ll suspect something’s wrong,” I telepathically communicated to her.
    Marissa glared at me.
    “Here let me take your book bag,” I offered belatedly to Marissa. One thing about being a vampire, my muscles were much stronger. I could lift nearly twice my own weight, without ever exercising a bit.
    “I’m fine,” she said, her words couched in irritation.
    “You can carry my bag.” Kate stretched the blue canvas pack out to me.
    Reluctantly, I took Kate’s bag and slung it over my shoulder. Again, I tried to smooth out the difficulty Marissa and I were having. “Marissa?”
    “No!”
    “You can’t be mad at me forever.”
    Then again, maybe she could. I didn’t know much about her. Maybe she was the kind of girl that held lifelong grudges.
    “No, normally I don’t hold grudges. But with you I’m bound to make an exception.”
    Kate studied me way too closely, and I assumed she realized I was the Prince of Darkness she had chased so fervently last night. When her eyes caught sight of the puncture marks on Marissa’s neck, she shifted her attention back to me way too rapidly. She was quickly putting one and one together and coming up with conclusions that could get me into really hot water. On the other hand, I wasn’t going to let Marissa go it alone. Not when Lynetta would most likely attempt to get back at her.
    Reading my mind, Marissa handed me her bag. Thank God for thinking the right thoughts.
    Marissa said, “This is Thomas Reading, Kate. And Thomas, this is Kate Witherspoon. Sorry I forgot to make introductions.” She slowed her step along the sidewalk.
    “Thomas Reading?” I cleared my throat, exasperated. “She already knows the Prince of Darkness’s name was Dominic Vor…something or other ending with a ‘ski’.”
    Marissa glared at me while Kate cast a look from me to Marissa, knowing the truth, kind of.
    “She knows, Marissa, that I’m the guy from the Hamburger Spot. And since you told her that my name was Dominic Vorchowsky, I think it best to leave it at that. Besides, I’ll have a devil of a time remembering some other name. I’m not a trained secret agent man.”
    Marissa