“Okay?” I started walking again and stepped right past her.
“On purpose.”
I still wasn’t understanding, but then it hit me all at once. The guy had killed himself.
“Desiderio, he turned. He’s a Bloodshed.”
“What?”
“Tionne is staying with the Bloodshed until he gets the help he needs.”
“What does that even mean? How can you help someone who would do that to themselves?” I took her suitcase from her and shoved it in the backseat. Bloodsheds were vampires turned when a human killed themselves. Their creation was frowned upon in the vampire society. I pulled out of the parking lot quickly.
“They have no clans. I don’t know of any covens for them. Bloodsheds are unheard of, Desiderio, he’s not safe.”
“Tionne shouldn’t have stayed with him. No one knows what goes on in their heads.”
“They’re sad human beings.” Bloodshed vampires were not something we came across often. No one understood why some humans turned and others didn’t, and the unknown was scary.
“Anyways, let’s stop at my apartment so I can get some sleep before tonight. I got the cutest matching costumes in Vegas.”
I didn’t go in with her, and instead left her at her apartment and tried to sleep during the day, but all I could think about was how I was going to attend both parties. Eventually, I got up, showered, and drove over to Aleida’s. I was going to figure out how to tell her we were over, and then together, we’d figure out how to tell our families.
I couldn’t be the only eligible bachelor in the vampire community.
“Put this on.” Aleida thrust a hanger at me the moment I stepped through the door. I took it and looked it over curiously. It was just a black muscle shirt and dress pants. She disappeared, and I followed her into her bedroom. She was curling her hair in front of her vanity.
“What is this exactly?” She rolled her eyes and pointed behind her in the mirror. I looked at the bed and saw a pink tutu dress. I shook my head, not getting it.
“We’re Johnny and Baby fromDirty Dancing!” She huffed. “Hurry up and get dressed. You’re late.”
The words to end this were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t say them. I was a fucking coward. I knew if I said them that we’d spend the entire night fighting and I’d miss Scout’s party. Instead, I went to the bathroom and changed into the clothes. I looked nothing like Patrick Swayze, but whatever shut Aleida up, I guessed.
I returned to find her slipping her dress on. “Just a few more touches,” she said, as she picked up her aqua net and sprayed it all over her blonde curls. She turned and flashed me a smile with her fangs. “Let’s go.”
We were heading to a popular vampire club. It was invite-only, but I got my friend's tickets tonight for the floor. The VIP sections were for vampires and their specific guests.
That’s where they fed.
Aleida wanted to dance, so I attempted to, all the while looking at my watch. Seven passed, then eight and then nine. Aleida’s stamina didn’t waver. Her vampire body was more equipped for a full night of dancing. I finally accepted that I was going to miss Scout’s party. Aleida wouldn’t let me leave her side.
“I want a drink!” I shouted to her through the crowd.
“Me too!” She grabbed my hand and led me through the crowd to the stairs leading upward. “I need a bite!”
“Now?”
“You’ll understand in a year. It’s better when they are happy. There’s a bar upstairs you can sit at while I find someone.”
Her words disgusted me. Whentheywere happy?They?
“I’m not going to sit while you grope some innocent guy.”
“Desiderio, it’s not like that.” She stomped her feet. “You don’t get it.”
“You’re right.” I threw up my hands. “You go have fun with all of the others. Suck someone dry or whatever. I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?” Her lips trembled, and her eyes grew red with vampire tears. Blood tears.
“Don’t worry about it.” I turned and stormed through the crowd. I kept my angry scowl all the way to my car, and as soon as I was inside and peeling out of the parking lot like a madman, I smiled.
I was going to see Scout.
