I sigh, and get out of the car. A moment later they join me. They’re uncharacteristically quiet as they stare at the door to the house. I glance at them. While I opted for my usual faded T-shirt and jeans look, they both dressed up for the occasion: Elaine in a sharp blazer and tailored trousers, Sophie in a fluffy, pink monstrosity of a minidress. But despite their earlier enthusiasm, Sophie is wide-eyed, and Elaine is trembling.
“Hey,” I say, more softly. “Come here. We’ve got this.” I pull each of them in, and they crowd in for a group hug. “We’re doing this for all of us. Remember our promise.”
“Right,” Elaine says, letting out a shaky breath.
“Fingers crossed that one of us has tasty blood,” Sophie whispers.
“And it only takes one.” We’ve already agreed that if one of us is selected, whoever it is will pay for the apartment until the others can come up with the money. We all link our pinkies in a promise and nod solemnly.
I study their faces as I pull away. We may have met online in a moment of mutual desperation, and living together the last few years hasn’t always—or ever—been easy, but they’re my best friends. Ever since I met them, I knew one of them was going to end up fabulously famous and rich if there’s any justice in the world. They just have that kind of star quality. And when it happens, I’ll be delighted to just be at their side.
We step inside together, and are greeted by a blond woman who introduces herself as Lissa. I hesitate for a moment when Isee her, but after seeing the color in her face and the rise and fall of her chest, I relax.Human.
“All three of you, hm?” she asks, eyeing each of us.
I squeeze both of my roommates’ hands. “That’s right.”
“Well, we’ll see how that goes,” she mutters. Then, before anyone can answer, “This way!”
She leads us down a hallway and into a parlor.
My roommatesoohandaahunder their breath as they look around. I survey everything more skeptically. It’s very old-fashioned, the sort of fancy little parlor I’d see in a historical show or something. A round table sits in the center, surrounded by plush chairs. A chandelier hangs above, and old-fashioned bronze sconces on the wall provide lighting, since the curtains are drawn against the dying rays of the sunset.
“Yes, yes, I know,” says Lissa, rolling her eyes as she gestures around. “I keep telling him it’s all a bit much, but—”
“Lissa, must you? Every time?”
I freeze at a voice behind me. It’s pleasant and low with an aristocratic British accent. But there’s something about it‚ no, something about thepresenceat my back, really, that makes my spine stiffen in sudden alarm.
My roommates turn with me. A man stands in the doorway a few feet away. But he isn’t a man at all, even though he looks like a perfect gentleman, with his neatly trimmed beard and well-tailored suit. Something about him screamsdangerous.
Predator.
Vampire.
“My name is Benjamin Acharya,” the man says, extending a hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Somewhere beneath my panic, it registers that it’s an odd name for a vampire. Most use their court names—de Camelia, for example—rather than a surname.
My friends are frozen on either side of me. After a moment, I shake off the same paralysis and step forward, plastering on a smile as I reach to take his hand.
“The pleasure is—oh, shit.”
My attempt at a greeting falls apart as Sophie slumps at my side. I rush to catch her, and only half succeed, bringing us both awkwardly lurching toward the floor. But a moment later, I feel the touch of a cold hand and my body is suddenly weightless.
In the blink of an eye, Benjamin has made his way to us, holding each of us up with an arm.
“Are you quite alright?” he asks, shockingly unfazed.
“I-I’m fine, but she’s…” I turn to look at Sophie as Benjamin sets me back on my feet.
“She’s fainted,” Benjamin says. “Not an abnormal reaction to meeting a vampire for the first time. She’ll recover shortly.”
“Is there anything we should do?” I ask. I glance at Elaine, who is still standing frozen and wide-eyed.
“Just give her a moment. I’ll set her on the chaise here?”
“Sure.” I wring my hands, following close behind as Benjamin lifts my friend with startling ease and lays her on the chaise. As I crouch beside her, softly calling her name, she stirs. “Hi, sweetie. You okay?”
