If I were human, sure. But unless there’s another supernatural band in Salem looking for a vampire bass player, I doubt being a musician is still in the cards for me.
“Yeah, maybe,” I say so Annabelle will drop the subject.
I came here to feel better about myself, but I’m only getting more depressed.
We head over to the bar, and a minute later, I have a beer in my hand. But I’m still stuck in my head and forget that I’m a vampire now, and alcohol is toxic to me. Only Bluebloods are able to handle it without barfing. I drink a big gulp and gag immediately. All the beer comes back up my throat in the most embarrassing way.
“Oh my God, Vaughn. Are you all right?” Annabelle pats my back.
“Wrong pipe,” I croak.
“I’ll say. You almost gave me a beer shower.”
“Sorry.”
“Come on, let’s say hello to everybody.”
I let her lead the way so I can dump the rest of my beer without her seeing it. Maybe the High Witch wasn’t wrong to remind me that the potion wouldn’t grant me immunity against the sun. Here, hanging out with my sister in my old stomping grounds, it’s just too easy to forget that I’m no longer human.
Annabelle’s friends have snagged a booth close to the dance floor. I know most of them save for one guy with purple hair and more piercings on his face than the dude from theHellraisermovie.
“Look who came tonight,” Annabelle announces as we near the table.
“Vaughn, my man. Long time no see.” Parker, our old next-door neighbor, lifts his hand for our secret handshake.
“I know. Too long.”
I say hello to Daniela, Parker’s longtime girlfriend, and Denise, her sister, who had a major crush on Karl.
“Are you solo tonight, Vaughn?” she asks, looking over my shoulder.
“Yes. It’s just me.”
Her face falls. “Where’s the rest of your crew?”
I guess she still has a crush on Karl. Poor girl. Karl had never shown interest in anyone, and now I know why. The sap only has eyes for Manu.
“They’re out of town.”
“Out of town where?” Annabelle slides into the booth seat, leaving enough room for me.
“Uh… Boston.” I bring the empty glass to my lips automatically to hide my face, forgetting that it’s empty.
“Oh my God. You drained that already?” Annabelle says.
I chuckle nervously, hoping no one notices I’m acting weird. “I guess I did.”
“Don’t worry, mate. We’ll get you another once the waiter comes around,” the purple-haired dude, who’s sitting next to Annabelle, chimes in, then extends his hand to me. “I’m Nathan.”
We shake hands. “Nice to meet you, Nathan.”
“Nathan is the lead singer of the band playing tonight,” Annabelle explains. “He’s the one who I wanted you to meet.”
“Oh, cool. I thought the band was from Boston, though.”
“Yeah, we are. Well, most everyone is from Boston. I’m the only import from London.”
London. I’ve always wanted to go. There are so many things I had on my bucket list before my change, but now, with the brewing vampire war and who knows what else, all those things I wanted to do feel less important.
