Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 10

Things have to be right, Poppy verbalize. Things have to be just right for this. compact some candles, Phil.Phil was looking ashen and haggard. Candles?As many as you can find. And some pillows. I need lots of pillows. She knelt by the stereo to examine a haphazard pile of CDs. Phil stared at herbriefly, indeed went out. Structures from Silence . . .no. Too repetitious,Poppy said, rummaging through the pile. Deep Forest-no.Too hyper. I need somethingambient.How about this? jam picked a CD up. Poppylooked at the label.Music to Disappear In.Of course. It was perfect. Poppy in like mannerk the CD andmet packs gaze. Usually he referred to the hauntingsoft strains of ambient music as New Age mush.You understand, she said quietly.Yes. But youre not dying, Poppy. This isnt adeath scene youre range up.But Im going away. Im changing. Poppy couldnt explain exactly, but something in her saidshe was doing the right thing. She was dying to her old life. It was a solemn occasion, a Passage. And of course, although neither of them menti adeptd it, they both knew she business leaderdie for good.James had been precise wiener about that-some peopledidnt make it through the transition.Phil came back with candles, Christmas candles,emergency candles, odourise votive candles. Poppy directed him to place them around the room and lightthem. She herself went to the bathroom to change into her best nightgown. It was flannel, with a name of little strawberries.Just imagine, she thought as she left the bathroom.This is the give-up the ghost time Ill ever walk down this hall, the go bad time Ill push open my chamber door.The bedroom was beautiful. The soft glow of candlelight gave it an aura of sanctity, of mystery. Themusic was unearthly and sweet, and Poppy matt-up shecould fall into it forever, the way she fel in herdreams.Poppy opened the closet and used a hanger to bata tawny stuffed lion and a floppy gray Eeyore down from the top shelf. She took them to her bed and put t hem beside the mounded pillows. Maybe it wasstupid, maybe it was childish, but she wanted themwith her.She sat on the bed and looked at James and Phillip.They were both looking at her. Phil was dearly upset,touching his mouth to stop its trembling. James wasupset, too, although only some ace who knew him aswell as Poppy did would have been adequate to(p) to disunite.Its all right, Poppy told them. Dont you see?Imall right, so theres no excuse for you not to be.And the strange thing was, it was the truth. Shewas all right. She felt calm and clear now, as if e very(prenominal)thing had become very simple. She saw the road ahead of her, and all she had to do was follow it, step by step.Phil came oer to squeeze her hand. How does this how does this work? he asked James huskily.First well win over blood, James said-speaking to Poppy. Looking only at her. It doesnt haveto be a lot youre right on the border ofchangingalready. Then the two kinds of blood fight it outsort of the last batt le, if you see what I mean. Hesmiled faintly and painfully, and Poppy nodded.While thats happening youll life weaker andweaker. And then youll just go to sleep. Thechange happens while youre asleep.And when do I wake up? Poppy asked.Ill give you a kind of posthypnotic suggestionabout that. Tell you to wake up whenI come to holdyou. Dont worry about it Ive got all the detailsfigured out. All you need to do is rest.Phil was running nervous hands through his h charge,as if he was just now thinking about what kind ofdetails he and James were going to have to argue with.Wait a minute, he said in almost a croak. When whenyou say sleep-shes going to lookDead, Poppy supplied, when his section ran out.James gave Phil a cold look. Yes. Weve beenover this.And then-were rattling going to-whats going tohappento her?James glared.Its okay, Poppy said softly. Tell him.You know whats going to happen, James saidthrough clenched teeth to Phillip. She cant just dis appear. Wed have the policeandth e Night peo pleafter us, looking for her. No, its got to appear that shedied from the cancer, and that means everythings got to happen exactly the way it would if she haddied.Phils sick expression said he wasnt at his mostrational. Youre sure there isnt any other way?No,James said.Phil wet his lips. Oh, God.Poppy herself didnt want to dwell on it too much.She said fiercely,Dealwith it, Phil. Youve got to. And remember, if it doesnt happen now its goingto happen in a a few(prenominal) weeks-for real.Phil was holding on to one of the brass bedpostsso hard that his knuckles were pale. But hed gottenthe point, and there was no one better than Phil atbracing himself. Youre right, he saidthinly, with the ghost of his old efficient manner. Okay, Im dealing with it.Then permits get started, Poppy said, making hervoice calm and steady. As if she were dealing witheverything effortlessly herself.James said to Phil, You dont want to see thispart. Go out and watch TV for a few minutes.Phil he sitated, then nodded and left.One thing, Poppy said to James as she scootedto the middle_ of the bed. She was still trying desperately to sound casual. After the funeral-well, Ill be asleep, wont I? I wont wake up you know.In my nice little coffin. She looked up at him. Its just that Im claustrophobic, a little.You wont wake up there, James said. Poppy,I wouldnt let that happen to you. Trust me Ive thought of everything.Poppy nodded. I do trust you, she thought.Then she held her arms out to him.He touched her neck, so she tilted her chin back.As the blood was drawn from her, she felt her mind drawn into his.Dont worry, Poppy. Dont be afraid. Allhis thoughtswere ferociously protective. And even though it onlyconfirmed that there was something to be afraidof,that this could go wrong, Poppy felt peaceful. Thedirect sense of his love made her calm, flooded her with light.She suddenly felt distance and point and depthspaciousness. As if her horizons had expanded almostto infinity in an instant. As if shed discovered a new dimension.Asif there were no limits or obstacles to what she and James could do together.She felt free.Im getting light-headed, she realized. She couldfeel herself going limp in Jamess arms. Swooning worry a wilting flower.Ive optn enough,James said in her mind.Thewarmanimalmouth on her throat pulled back.Now its your turn.This time, though, he didnt make the cut at hiswrist. He took off his T-shirt and, with a quick, impulsive gesture, ran a fingernail along the base of his throat.Oh, Poppy thought. Slowly, almost reverently, she leaned forward. Jamess hand supported the back ofher head. Poppy put her arms around him, feelinghis excess skin under the flannel of her nightgown.It was better this way. But if James was right, itwas another last time. She and James could neerexchange blood again.I cant accept that, Poppythought, but she couldntconcentrate on anything for very long. This time, instead of clearing her brain, the wild, intoxicating vampire blood was making her more confused. Moreheavy and sleepy.James?Its all right. Its the beginning of the change.Heavysleepywarm. Lapped in salty oceanwaves. She could almost picture the vampire bloodtrickling through her veins, controling everything inits path. It was ancient blood, primeval. It was changing her into something old, something that had been around since the dawn of time. Something primitive and basic.Every molecule in her body, changingPoppy, can you hear me?James was palpitation herslightly. Poppy had been so engrossed in the sensations that she hadnt even realized she wasnt drinking any longer. James was cradling her.Poppy.It was an effort to open her eye. Im all right. Just sleepy.His arms tightened around her, then he laid hergently on the mounded pillows. You can rest now. Ill get Phil.But before he went, he kissed her on the forehead.My first kiss, Poppy thought, her eye drifting shutagain. And Im comatose. Great.She felt the bed give under weight and loo ked upto see Phil. Phil looked very nervous, sitting gingerly,staring at Poppy. So whats happening now? heasked.The vampire bloods taking over, James said. Poppy said, Im truly sleepy. in that respect was no pain. Just a feeling of wanting toglide away. Her body now felt warm and numb, asif she were insulated by a soft, thick aura.Phil? I forgot to say-thank you. For helping out.And everything. Youre a good brother, Phil.You dont have to say that now, Phil said tersely. You can say it later. Im still going to be here later,you know.But I might not be, Poppy thought. This is all a gamble. And Id never take it, except that the only alternative was to give up without even trying to fight.I fought, didnt I? At least(prenominal) I fought.Yes, you did, Phil said, his voice trembling.Poppy hadnt been aware she was speaking aloud.Youve always been a fighter, Phil said. Ivelearned so much from you.Which was funny, because shed learned so muchfrom him,even if most of it was in the last twe nty four-spot hours. She wanted to tell him that, but therewas so much to say, and she was so tired. Her tongue felt thick her whole body weak and languorous.Justhold my hand, she said, and she couldhear that her voice was no louder than a breath.Phillip took one of her hands and James the other.That was good. This was the way to do it, withEeyore and her lion on the pillows beside her andPhil and James holding her hands, keeping her safe and anchored.One of the candles was scented with vanilla, awarm and homey smell. A smell that reminded herof being a kid. Nilla wafers and naptime. That waswhat this was same. Just a nap in Miss Spurgeons kindergarten, with the sun slanting across the floorand James on a mat beside her.So safe, so sereneOh, Poppy, Phil whispered.James said, Youre doing great, kiddo. Everythings just right.That was what Poppy compulsory to hear. She let herself fall backward into the music, and it was resembling falling in a dream, without fear. It was like being a raindrop falling into the ocean that had started you.At the last mammary glandent she thought, Im not ready. But she already knew the answer to that. Nobodywas ever ready.But shed been stupid-shed forgotten the mostimportant thing. Shed never told James she lovedhim. Not even when hed said he loved her.She tried to get enough air, enough strength to sayit. But it was too late. The outside manhood was goneand she couldnt feel her body any longer. She was floating in the darkness and the music, and all she could do now was sleep.Sleep, James said, leaning dose to Poppy. Dontwake up until I bellyache you. Just sleep.Every muscle in Phils body was rigid. Poppylooked so peaceful-pale, with her hair spread out incoppery curls on the pillow, and her eyelashes blackon her cheeks and her lips parted as she breathedgently. She looked like a porcelain cosset doll. But the more peaceful she got, the more terrified Phil felt.I can deal with this, he told himself.I haveto.Poppy gave a soft exhalation, and then suddenlyshe was moving. Her chest heaved once, twice. Herhand tightened on Phils and her eyes flew openbut she didnt seem to be seeing anything. She simply looked astonished.Poppyl Phil grabbed at her, getting a handful offlannel nightgown. She was so small and fragile in side it. PoppylThe heaving gasps stopped. For one moment Poppywas suspended in air, then her eyes closed and shefell back on the pillows. Her hand was limp in Phils.Phil lost all rationality.Poppy, he said, earshot the dangerous, unbalanced tone in his own voice. Poppy, come on.Poppy, wake up-on a rising note. His hands were shaking violently, scrabbling at Poppys shoulders.Other hands pushed his away. What the underworld areyou doing? James said quietly.Poppy? Poppy? Phil kept staring at her. Herchest wasnt moving. Her face had a look of-innocent release. The kind of newness you only see inbabies.And it was-changing. Taking on a white, unprejudiced look. It was uncanny, ghostlike, and even though Phil had never seen a corpse, he knew instinctively that this was the death pallor.Poppys essence had left her. Her body was flat andtoneless, no longer inflated by the vital spirit. Herhand in Phils was slack, not like the hand of a sleeping person. Her skin had lost its shine, as if somebodyhad breathed on it softly.Phil threw back his head and let out an animalsound. It wasnt human. It was a howl.You killed her He tumbled off the bed andlurched toward James. You said she was just goingto sleep, but you killed herl Shes deadJames didnt back away from the attack. Instead,he grabbed Phil and dragged him out intothe hallway.Hearing is the last sense to go, he snarled inPhillips ear. She may be able tohear you.Phil wrenched free and ran toward the living room. He didnt know what he was doing, he only knew that he needed to destroy things. Poppy wasdead. She was gone. He grabbed the couch andflipped it over, then kicked the coffee table over, too. He snatched up a lamp, yanked i ts cord out of thesocket, and threw it toward the fireplace.Stop it James shouted over the crash. Phil sawhim and ran at him. The sheer force of his charge knocked James backward into the wall. They fell tothe floor together in a heap.You-killed her Phil gasped, trying to get hishands around Jamess throat.Silver.Jamess eyes blazed like the molten metal.He grabbed Phils wrists in a painful grip.Stop itnow,Phillip, he hissed.Something about the way he said it made Phil stop.Almost sobbing, he struggled to get air into his lungs.Ill killyouif I have to, to keep Poppy safe, James said, his voice still savage and menacing. And shesonly safe if you stop this and do exactly what I tell youto.Exactlywhat I tell you. Understand? He shook Philhard, nearly banging Phils head into the wall.Strangely enough, it was the right thing to say.James was saying he cared about Poppy. And weird as it might sound, Phil had come to trust James totell the truth.The raging red insanity in Phils brain died aw ay.He took a long breath.Okay. I understand, he said hoarsely. He was used to being in charge-both of himself and of otherpeople. He didnt like James giving him orders. Butin this case there was no help for it. But-she isdead, isnt she?It depends on your definition, James said, lettinggo and slow pushing himself off the floor. Hescanned the living room, his mouth grim. Nothingwent wrong, Phil. Everything went just the way itwas supposed to-except for this. I was going to letyour parents come back and find her, but we donthave that option now. There isnt any way to explain this mess, except the.truth.The truth being?That you went in there and found her dead andwent berserk. And then I called your parents-you know what restaurant theyre at, dont you?Its Valentinos. My mom said they were lucky toget in.Okay. Thatll work. But first we have to clean upthe bedroom. Get all the candles and stuff out. Itsgot to look as if she just went to sleep, like anyother night.Phil glanced at the gli de glass door. It was justgetting dark. But then Poppy had been sleeping a lotthese last few days. Well say she got tired and toldus to go watch TV, he said slowly, trying to conquer his dazed feeling and be clearheaded. And then Iwent in after a while and checked on her.Right, James said, with a faint smile that didntreach his eyes.It didnt take long to clear out the bedroom. Thehardest thing was that Phil had to keep looking atPoppy, and every time he looked, his heart lurched.She looked so tiny, so delicate-limbed. A Christmas angel in June.He hated to take the stuffed animals away fromher.She is going to wake up, isnt she? he said, without looking at James.God, I hope so, James said, and his voice wasvery tired. It sounded more like a prayer than a wish.If she doesnt you wont have to come after me witha stake, Phil. Ill take care of it myself.Phil was shocked-and angry. Dont be stupid,he said brutally. If Poppy stood for anything-if she standsfor anything-its for life. Throwing your life away would be like a slap in her face. Besides, evenif it goes wrong now, you did your best. Blaming yourself is just stupid.James looked at him blankly, and Phil realizedtheyd managed to surprise each other. Then Jamesnodded slowly. Thanks.It was a milestone, the first time theyd ever beenon merely the same wavelength. Phillip felt an oddconnection between them.He looked away and said briskly, Is it time to callthe restaurant?James glanced at his watch. In just a fewminutes.If we wait too long theyre going to have left bythe time we call.That doesntmatter.What matters is that we dont have any paramedics trying to resuscitate her, or taking her to the hospital. Which means shes gotto be cold by the time anybody gets here.Phil felt a wave of dizzy horror. Youre a coldblooded snake after all.Im just practical, James said wearily, as if speaking to a child. He touched one of Poppys marblewhite hands where it lay on the bedspread. Allright. Its time. Im going to call. You can go berserkagain if you want to.Phil shook his head. He didnt have the energyanymore. But he did feel like crying, which was al most as good. Crying and crying like a kid who was lost and hurt.Get my mom, he said thickly.He knelt on the floor beside Poppys bed andwaited. Poppys music was off and he could hear theTV in the family room. He had no sense of time passing until he also comprehend a car in the driveway.Then he leaned his forehead against Poppys mattress. His tears were absolutely genuine. At that moment he was sure hed lost her forever.Brace yourself, James said from behind him.Theyre here.