Billy ran to the phone in the lobby and dialed 911. The dispatcher promised to have an officer there in a few minutes. The police will be thrilled to see me again, Billy thought bitterly.
He slammed the phone down. Turned—and found April standing a few feet behind him. His stomach tightened.
It suddenly dawned on him.
She’s a vampire. And I’m alone with her.
Billy tried to move back.
Banged into the wall.
April’s eyes locked onto his. She took a step forward.
Another.
“Billy,” she whispered. “Billy . . .”
CHAPTER 29 BILLY SETS A TRAP
April threw herself into his arms. “Would you hold me? I can’t stop shaking. Just hold me?”
For a moment, Billy stood still. Is this a trick? he wondered. Does she plan to attack me, too? Then his arms automatically closed around her.
She really is trembling, he saw.
And cold . . . her skin is so cold.
Cold as death. The phrase repeated in Billy’s mind. Cold as death.
Vampires are already dead.
April pulled back and gazed at Billy. He imagined her fangs sliding down. Her lips pulling back from her teeth.
Her fangs piercing his skin.
A siren shrieked outside the theater. Billy gave a sigh of relief. The police had arrived.
Was that disappointment on April’s face?
• • • • •
“The police are talking about closing the beach and sending everybody home,” Billy announced. He, Jay, and Nate were skipping stones over the water.
It had been three days since Ms. Aaronson’s murder. No killer had been found. No connection between the deaths. No official word on how they had all died.
But the police know, Billy thought. They would never close the beach unless they knew about the vampires.
He had promised Jay that he wouldn’t mention vampires anymore. Billy and Nate had made an uneasy truce. But Billy knew that Nate wouldn’t put up with any vampire talk, either.
At least Jay hasn’t gotten any weaker, Billy thought. He still looks terrible. But April must be leaving him alone.
For now.
Frustrated, Billy picked up a round, flat stone and skipped it off the top of a breaker as it rolled into shore.
Nate tried to imitate him. But Nate’s stone went plop and vanished into the ocean. “How come yours skip and mine sink?” he asked.
“Skill,” Billy replied.
Jay chuckled. But Billy knew it was forced laughter. Nothing seemed funny lately. Not after so many people had died.
“Will they really close the beach?” Jay asked.
“Wow,” Nate said, shaking his head. “You mean we’d all have to go home?”
“That’s right,” Billy replied.
“But I have the condo to myself now that my parents took Lynette home,” Nate complained. “If they send us home, I’d have to give it up. And I’ll have to say good-bye to Irene.”
It’s better than seeing her murdered by vampires, Billy thought.
“Speaking of Irene,” Nate said, glancing at his watch, “I’m supposed to meet her at the Beach Emporium. Catch you guys later.”
Billy watched Nate trot down the beach. Then he turned to Jay.
“Did April tell you that Ms. Aaronson had bite marks on her neck?” he asked.
Jay kept walking. He didn’t answer.
“I saw them,” Billy insisted. “Did April say anything about it?”
“No,” Jay answered. “Now drop it!”
Billy grabbed Jay’s arm and pulled him to a stop. “Let me prove to you that April is a vampire—before she makes you one, too. I know a way to prove it.”
“Oh, please,” Jay moaned. “Give me a break.”
“You know you’re sick,” Billy pressed on.
“I’ve got the flu or something.”
“How about your neck?” Billy demanded. “Have those ‘bug bites’ gotten any better? Or are they worse?”
Jay groaned.
“If I can prove it, you have to believe me,” Billy insisted. “And if I don’t prove it, I’ll shut up. I’ll never say another word about vampires. And I’ll leave April alone.”
“Fine!” Jay yelled. “I give up! You won’t drop this until I let you try, will you? Okay, go ahead. But don’t blame me if you end up looking like a total jerk.”
Great! Billy thought. Finally.
“What are you going to do?” Jay asked.
“First, you have to promise not to be alone with April until this is over,” Billy told him.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Look, Jay, she’s already bitten you once or twice. Three times and you’re a vampire.”
“I’m not going to quit seeing April.”
“You don’t have to. You just have to make sure someone else is there whenever you’re with April.”
“That’s just what I need—a chaperone.”
“Jay—”
“Okay, okay. I’ll do it.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise. Tell me what you’re planning to do.”
“It’s easy,” Billy explained. “What kills vampires?”
“I’m not driving a stake through April’s heart.”
“We don’t have to do that. What else kills them?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sunlight.”
“Sunlight,” Jay repeated.
Billy leaned forward to explain exactly what he had in mind. When he was almost finished, he heard a sound behind him.
He turned quickly. And saw April standing behind him. Her eyes burned into Billy’s.
How long has she been standing there? Billy asked himself.
How much did she hear?
CHAPTER 30 GOOD-BYE TO A VAMPIRE
“Hey—what’s up?” April said cheerfully. “I thought I might find you guys here.”
Billy studied her face, trying to tell if she had overheard his plan.
She stepped close to Jay. “You guys just hanging out? Want to take a walk or something?”
Jay glanced at Billy. “I can’t,” he told April. “I’m still feeling really wrecked.”
“I’ve got to get home, too,” Billy told her.
“Okay,” April replied. “Maybe I’ll see you guys tomorrow sometime.” She turned and started toward Main Street. “Oh,” she cried, turning around. “I almost forgot. There’s going to be a huge clambake on the beach tomorrow. Want to go?”
“Sounds excellent,” Jay answered.
“See you then,” April replied.
“It’s okay.” Billy sighed as soon as April had disappeared from view. “She didn’t overhear our plan.”
“She better not have,” Jay growled. “If you mess things up between April and me, I’ll never forgive you. Really.”
• • • • •
“Hey, man, where’ve you been?” Jay asked as Billy joined him the next night on the beach. “The clams are all gone.”
Billy shrugged. “I got hung up. I’ll pick up a burger somewhere.”
“Hey, Billy,” April called. She and Jay sat on the sand with some other kids.
It was well after midnight, and the beach party had spread out all over the beach. Billy was relieved that Jay seemed to be keeping his promise not to be alone with April.
He surveyed the scene. Kids talking and tipping back cans of soda. A pyramid constructed from the empties—six feet tall and growing. A group of guys and girls trying to play volleyball with a glow-in-the-dark ball. The steamy aroma of charcoal smoke and clams lingered in the air.
Tonight is the night, Billy thought.
Tonight is your last night, April.
He had to trick April into going somewhere with Jay—but not just anywhere. It had to be a place without windows.
And then he had to keep April there until dawn. Until the sun came up.
Lightning flashed out over the
ocean. Followed by a distant rumble of thunder. Dark, billowing clouds filled the night sky.
Rain, Billy thought. If it rains, my plan will work. If it rains, I can get April to go inside. And stay there until the sun comes up.
Billy saw that Kylie had joined them. She stood between Nate and Jay, listening to their conversation.
Rain, Billy thought. Please rain.
Kylie slipped beside Billy. “Let’s go for a walk along the beach,” she whispered in his ear.
“No. Sit down. I don’t feel like walking right now,” Billy told her.
I’ve got to stay close to Jay, he thought. So I can make sure April doesn’t manage to get him alone. And I’ve got to be ready.
Kylie’s eyes locked onto his, and Billy felt the urge to go with her. But he resisted. “I just want to hang out with everyone,” he said.
Kylie lowered her eyes. Billy realized she was pouting.
Another rumble in the distance. More thunder.
Black clouds rolled low over the sky.
Please rain, Billy urged again.
But the thunder and lightning remained in the distance.
By three in the morning, the clambake had become a wild party.
“I think everyone is trying to forget about the murders,” Kylie commented. Billy nodded.
“Billy, can we please go for a walk?” she asked again. “I don’t know why you want to sit in one place all night.”
Billy sighed. But his answer was lost in a sudden clap of thunder. He glanced up to see a flash of lightning rip through the sky directly overhead, followed by another rumble of thunder.
The downpour came an instant later.
Kids scurried for cover, shrieking and laughing. “Billy!” Kylie cried. “This way!” She sprinted toward Main Street with a group of kids.
Perfect!
Billy turned to Jay. “Let’s do it,” he said.
Jay nodded grimly. “April, come on,” he shouted over the noise of the rain. “The theater is the closest place.”
The two of them dashed for the theater. Billy followed. Rain pelted him, the wind-driven drops stinging his eyes. Billy glanced over his shoulder. Good. No one behind them.
He sped past Jay and yanked open the theater door.
April and Jay rushed inside as lightning sizzled overhead and a thunderclap shook the building.
They stood in the lobby, breathing hard. “What a wild storm!” April exclaimed. “I’m drenched.”
“Me too!” Jay cried, stamping his feet. He looks totally wiped out, Billy saw. That run must have been too much for him.
“Let’s go down to the basement,” Billy suggested. “It’s warmer down there.”
The sign on the door to the basement read THEATER PERSONNEL ONLY, but it was never locked. Billy flipped on the light, and they started down a set of wooden steps.
Billy closed the door behind him. The basement had two exits. The one they had entered through. And the one that led directly outside.
No windows.
The perfect place, Billy thought.
It was crammed with props that had been used in plays over the years. Costumes covered in clear plastic hung on a rack along one wall. Hat boxes lined the shelf above it. One was marked ENGLISH TOP HAT. Another read GIRLS’ BONNETS.
Billy sat down on a wooden box. April and Jay found a couple of stools. Now I stall for time, Billy thought. We’ve got to keep April here until sunrise.
They were all soaked. April fussed with her soggy hair. Billy saw that April was not wearing a watch. Everything was working out perfectly.
An icy look from Jay. Hang in there, Billy thought. I know you don’t like tricking April. But you’ll see that I’m right—the minute the sunlight hits her.
They talked for a while. But Jay seemed too tired to keep up much of a conversation.
“What time is it?” April finally asked.
“Three-fifteen,” Billy lied, glancing at his watch. It was really much later—almost daybreak. Another few minutes, he thought. And the vampire will be history.
“I’d better go soon,” she told Jay. “I’ll really be in trouble if I don’t get home before dawn.”
You sure will, Billy thought. “You can’t go out in this storm,” he protested.
“We can’t even tell if it’s still raining,” she complained. “There aren’t any windows. Let’s go upstairs.”
“The storm couldn’t be over this soon,” Billy insisted. “Not the way it was coming down.”
“I’ll go upstairs and check,” April declared.
“Let’s send Jay instead,” Billy suggested. “He’ll fall asleep if he doesn’t move.”
April chuckled. “Yeah, go see if it’s still raining,” she told Jay. “And get me a Coke while you’re there?”
Jay hesitated. Come on, Billy thought. Don’t quit on me now.
Jay stood up slowly. He trudged up the stairs. He looked half dead.
He returned five minutes later with three cans of Coke. “It’s still coming down,” he announced, handing the drinks around. He nodded to Billy.
Billy knew what that meant. The rain had actually stopped. The sun had come up.
Time for April’s test. A test Billy knew she would flunk.
“It’s time,” he announced.
He grabbed April. Coke sloshed out of her can and onto her T-shirt.
“What are you doing?” she demanded sharply. “Let go of me!” She dropped the can. Liquid squirted out, spattering his shoes.
Jay stood still, staring at April.
“Go on, Jay!” Billy shouted. “Open the door!”
“Billy!” April screamed. “Let me go!”
Jay strode to the door leading outside, turned the knob—and glanced back at April.
“Jay!” she cried. “Help me!”
Billy dragged her to the door. “Open it!” he instructed Jay.
April fought fiercely, kicking, scratching. Trying desperately to wriggle out of his grasp. “What are you doing? Let me go!”
Jay yanked open the door, revealing concrete steps leading up to ground level. Bright sunlight reflected off the steps.
April gasped. “You said it was still raining!” she cried. “What’s going on here? What are you doing?”
She struggled fiercely to get away from Billy. He tightened his grip on her arms.
And shoved her through the open door.
Into the sun.
April screamed. Sunlight streamed over her.
And Billy watched her head burst into flame.
CHAPTER 31 APRIL IS DEAD
Billy gasped and shut his eyes. He could see the white light through his eyelids.
When he opened his eyes again, he cried out in shock.
April stood bathed in bright sunlight, staring back at him angrily.
“Huh?” Billy’s mouth dropped open. April hadn’t exploded, hadn’t burst into flame.
Had he imagined it? Had he wanted it so much that he hallucinated it?
Her blond hair glowed in the bright morning sunlight. She glared at Billy, shielding her eyes with one hand. “Satisfied?” she demanded in a whisper. “Satisfied?”
Jay gave Billy a hard shove that sent him into the concrete wall. “You jerk,” Jay snapped. “You stupid jerk. You almost had me believing you.”
Billy opened his mouth to reply—but couldn’t find the words.
April shook her head. She stepped past them both, back into the basement. “I’m not a vampire,” she said flatly. “You guys satisfied?”
Jay scowled at Billy. “You really are messed up, man. You really need help.” He shoved Billy again.
“Guys, give me a break,” April murmured. “You’re going to ruin everything.”
She dropped wearily onto a tall stool. Billy and Jay sat down across from her. “You’re going to ruin everything I’ve worked so hard on,” April said with a sigh.
“I—I don’t understand,” Billy stammered. “I thought I did. But I don’t understand
anything.”
“You’re sick,” Jay insisted, still scowling at him. “I feel like such a jerk for listening to you. I’m really sorry, April. I knew you weren’t a vampire. There’s no such thing as vampires. But Billy kept after me. He wouldn’t give it a rest. He—”
“But there are vampires here!” April interrupted heatedly. “That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’ve pretended to be a vampire.”
“April—” Billy started.
“My name isn’t April,” she revealed. “It’s Diana. Diana Devlin. April Blair was my cousin.”
“Your cousin?” Billy cried.
“My cousin and my best friend,” Diana revealed sadly. Her voice caught on the words.
“What happened to April?” Billy asked softly.
“She came here last summer,” Diana replied, staring at the floor. “The vampires got her. They turned her into one of them. April confided in me. She knew she could trust me. She . . .” Diana’s voice broke.
She cleared her throat and started again, still keeping her eyes lowered. “When she came back to Shadyside after the summer, April was a vampire. She hated it. She hated what she had become—a creature, not a person. A creature who feeds on other people.
“She told me all about it. At first, I didn’t believe it. But she made me believe. And then, I felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do for her. No way I could help her.
“Finally, April solved her problem for herself. The only way she could.” A tear slid down Diana’s cheek. “One morning she stepped out into the sunlight. She killed herself.”
“Wow. Oh wow,” Jay murmured sadly, shaking his head.
Silence for a while.
Billy broke the silence. “Why are you here?” he asked Diana. “Why did you take April’s name? Why did you come to Sandy Hollow this summer?”
“I came back to kill the vampires who murdered my cousin,” Diana replied through gritted teeth. She wiped another tear off her cheek. “I want to pay them back for what they did to April. I want to kill them all!
“They believe I’m April,” she continued. “I look a lot like my cousin. They believe I’m April. And they believe I’m a vampire.”
She sighed. “I’ve had a couple of close calls. That boy Rick—he almost ruined everything.”
Billy remembered Rick. He had found Rick’s body—his drained body—in the sand that same night.