Better Off Dead : A Lucy Hart, Deathdealer Novel (Book One)

  Chapter 15

  LUCY stretched out on her bed. Not that it was anywhere near as soft as her old mattress, but now, after all these months, it was her bed. It was such a relief to know, no matter what she was going through, had gone through, or what kind of monster was trying to kill her, that her bed in her room—and this little room in her grandmother’s house was now truly her room—was a true refuge. Often she fell deeply asleep the instant her head touched the pillow.

  But not this night.

  This night there came a tap at her bedroom window. Lucy’s first thought, Delia…

  But both Gabe and Vin had promised her that Delia was incapacitated. So the cold shiver that passed through her body was just needless worry. But then she thought of Gabe. How strong he was, how beautiful (was it okay to think of a guy as beautiful?) and how just looking at him anymore was making her entire body heat up, was even making her heart beat like the wings of a hummingbird.

  Another rap on the window. Since Lucy’s room was on the second floor, either someone was tossing pebbles up at her window, or they were floating high enough off the ground they could just knock. Lucy was hoping it wasn’t someone floating. Of course, Lucy didn’t know if vampires could float… she hadn’t asked.

  Cautiously Lucy slipped out of her nice comfortable bed and padded barefoot over to the window, taking a steeling breath… or three, before flinging the curtains aside. She hopped back as the curtains fluttered and she saw nothing floating outside her window. With a heated little thrill she hoped it was Gabe. Just the thought that it was him made part of her shudder and she giggled as she pulled the window up and looked down to the earth below.

  But it wasn’t Gabe, and it wasn’t a psychopathic blonde vampire trying to kill her. Standing there on her grandmother’s lawn was Abbey Adams. Her pink and black hair was done up into two pompom sized ponytails on the top of her head. Her pale skin was accented by the dark multicolored eye shadows and blushes that decorated her face. And as usual she was dressed like a rock star… a punk-rock rock star. Her lipstick was black and made her smile practically glow up at Lucy.

  “I need your help,” Abbey said, fidgeting and switching her weight from five inch platform boot to five inch platform boot.

  Lucy looked at her alarm clock and furrowed her brow at Abbey. “It’s quarter till midnight.”

  Abbey shrugged. “Then we’ve got like fifteen minute to do this.” She was giving Lucy that look smart people sometimes give her, like she needs to catch up. But having that look come from Abbey was just funny/cute.

  “Do what?” Lucy asked, leaning out the window and smiling at Abbey.

  Abbey looked to her right and then to her left, then she looked back up to Lucy mysteriously. “A spell.”