Sitting on one of the couches in Alex and Theron’s apartment the next day, Tania rubbed her eyes tiredly, the dark rings under them a testament to last night’s adventure.
“Here,” Alex said handing Tania a flyer.
“What this?” She asked, staring at the orange paper which was advertising a Halloween party.
“If you and your friends haven’t already decided which party to go to that’s the one we’re all going to. It’s a costume party so it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know. I’d have to talk to everyone and I really don’t have a costume, so…”
Alex grinned and turned around. “Hey Ilana, did you hear that? Tania doesn’t have a costume.”
Ilana popped out of the kitchen, eyes alight. “Are you serious? Tania you have to let me dress you!”
“I, well if I don’t find anything while we’re out today,” She replied.
“Speaking of going out, we’d better leave or we’ll miss the bus,” Ilana said, grabbing her purse off the counter and heading to the door, Tania following suit.
“I’ll come by later to get my stuff,” She told Alex.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll drop it off later.”
“Thanks Alexander. For everything,” Tania said. After the police had finished questioning them and Tania went back to her room she found out that the door was broken and wouldn’t shut properly anymore. Alex had offered her the use of their pull-out couch and Tania had accepted gratefully. The idea of sleeping in a room with a door that didn’t close, let alone lock, scared her more then she was willing to admit.
The vampire grinned. “Oh no thank you. I’m going to be very obvious about dropping your stuff off. I can’t wait to see the reactions.”
“Wait. No! Don’t drop my stuff off. I’ll come pick it up after!” Tania cried, already imagining the rumours that were going to start if Alex dropped her overnight bag off.
“You can’t stop me,” He taunted.
Tania was about to go over and grab her bag when Ilana grabbed her arm and tugged. “Come on. It’s almost eleven.”
Glaring at Alex, Tania said “I’ll get my revenge.”
Alex’s laughter followed them as they left the apartment.
Tania endured her friends’ fretting during their wait for the bus but got them to stop once they actually boarded the vehicle. When she mentioned the invite all of her friends agreed without hesitation and their shopping trip took on new importance as they looked for costumes.
Every costume Tania picked out was vetoed by one or more of her friends until finally she just gave up. “Do you really have something I can wear Ilana?”
The dryad grinned. “You bet. You have to let me do your hair and make-up too. Come over beforehand and I’ll get you ready before we head out.”
“I…ok. What’re you going as?”
Ilana’s smile widened. “Guess.”
Tania frowned for a second and then rolled her eyes. “You’re actually going as a dryad?”
The red-head nodded. “And I bet you can guess the others’ costumes as well. It’s a tradition of Alex’s and the rest of us picked it up.”
“I should have known. Going as a vampire is him all over.”
“Tania! Ilana! Come here,” Chloe called from the other side of the party shop. She was holding up something purple. “I need your opinions.”
Laughing the pair went over and after a heated discussion with Chloe, they rejected the gypsy costume.
“Alright you can look now,” Ilana said, stepping away from Tania.
Tania’s eyes widened as she took in her reflection and the strange creature in the mirror did the same. Her short black hair was spiked out a bit at the back and Ilana had added temporary red streaks to frame her face as well as put several small red jewel clips in her hair along the sides. Red and gold eye shadow done in lines up her eyelids gave her an exotic appearance and drew attention to the gold flecks in her hazel eyes. The dress itself was off the shoulder with wide elbow-length sleeves and a lace-up bodice that featured gold embroidery on top of the rich red fabric. The bodice ended in a v-shape where it met the full flaring skirt that reached to just below her knees. On her feet were matching red ballet slippers and on her back a small pair of red and gold butterfly wings completed the faerie costume.
“I…how…I mean…”
Ilana grinned. “I love dressing people. I help out a lot with costume design and make-up during plays.”
“I…Ilana you’re flipping incredible!”
Laughing now, the dryad began putting the finishing touches on her own costume. Wearing a toga the same shade of green as her eyes, Ilana had wound a flowering vine around her waist as a belt, letting one end trail down. She wore gladiator style sandals which appeared to be made of vines and around her right bicep another vine was wrapped. As Tania continued to stare at herself in the mirror, Ilana was finishing putting flowers in her hair and a flower chain crown on her head.
“There. Do I look like a dryad now?”
“I don’t think it’s possible for you to look like a dryad,” Tania teased.
Laughing, the pair put on their coats, grabbed their purses and ran out to meet the other girls. Chloe was dramatic as Cleopatra, complete with a black wig and gold pectoral collar. Sarah was a purple and black witch, her hair also had temporary streaks in it but these were purple to Tania’s red. Madison was another winged creature in the form of an angel, her flowing white robe and halo clearly visible. Last was Jill, who Tania thought had the best costume. She was dressed as Zorro, complete with mask, hat and sword.
“Fear not fair ladies!” Jill called as they approached. “I shall defend you from all creatures both fell and foul.”
“Not me,” Chloe replied, hugging the white-clad girl. “Madison is my guardian angel.”
Giggling, the girls began making their way to the party, Ilana leading as she was the only one who knew where they were going. “Alex and the boys should already be there,” the dryad told them. “This party’s supposed to be huge, so we need to get there early if we actually want to get drinks.”
As they finally topped the hill that the old, and clearly much abused, Victorian house was on top of, Tania suddenly realized something. “This is where the homecoming party we went to was!” She exclaimed. This is where I first met Alexander, she thought.
Sarah laughed. “I remember that. You were going on about how he purposely got your shirt wet.”
“That’s because he did,” Tania replied.
Teasing her about making the whole thing up, her friends and Tania, finally entered the house which was already beginning to fill up. They waded their way through the sea of humanity, losing first Chloe, then Sarah and finally Madison and Jill, before Ilana and Tania eventually made it to the back room where the boys were standing in a circle, talking.
Theron saw them first and grinned. He jerked his head in their direction and the others turned to look as well. Kayne let out a low whistle and Aiden remarked “It’s definitely hot,”
Alex choked on his drink and just stared. Ilana danced over, smirking. “So what do you think? Or is the charming Alex out of words?” She asked as Tania blushed.
He glared at Ilana before flinging his long black cloak back and sweeping an elegant bow. He took Tania’s hand a kissed it, saying “You look beautiful, milady.”
The black-haired girl snatched her hand back. “Very funny,”
“No he’s right,” Kayne said, looking odd in his long blue robes covered in stars and moons. “You look good.”
“Thanks,” she murmured.
Alex grinned, revealing his fangs. Tania had to admit he looked quite good in his costume. He was wearing black pants and a black poet shirt over which he was wearing a vest of deep bright blue with a sword belted around his hips and a black cloak overtop of everything completed the ensemble.
“So, spilled anything on anyone yet?” He asked.
The faerie-girl snorted. “No and if I did no one would be vindictive enough to dance with me just so I got wet as well.”
Theron snickered. “You have to admit, it was pretty funny.”
“For you maybe.”
“I thought your friends were coming,” Aiden said, dressed all in red, orange and yellow.
“They’re here. Somewhere. We lost them on our way here. Chloe saw someone from her Theatre class, Sarah got called over by one of the girls who lives in her residence and Madison followed Jill when she found a pirate to duel with.”
Alex laughed. “I’m surprised Jill didn’t leave first in search of a duel.”
Tania couldn’t help but smile back. “No. She’s decided she’s going to ‘defend our honour’.”
“Wait, you have honour?”
Tania was about to elbow him when she heard a shout from behind.
“Back creature of the night!” Jill cried, brandishing her sword. “I will not allow you to harm the lady!”
Alex grabbed Tania about the waist and pulled her towards him. “She is my prey. You will not interfere if you wish to live,” he growled, eyes dancing with amusement.
The other four were laughing as Jill charged Alex, waving her sword around her head. “Stand forth and do battle, foul creature!”
Letting Tania go, Alex drew his own blade as he struggled not to laugh. Everyone around them drew back, chuckling, giving them a clear circle in which to fight. Jill lunged forward and Alex dodged away, striking her arm lightly with the flat of his blade. Whirling about, Jill slashed at the vampire, who parried the blow easily and slapped the following strike away. Now holding her sword with two hands, Jill sprang forward, trying to bring it down on Alex. Unable to stop himself, Alex grinned and caught Jill’s sword with the tip of his sword and flipped it up into the air. Jill jumped back and Alex caught the plastic blade as it fell. A moment of silence was immediately followed by cheers and applause. Alex and Jill both bowed to their audience, Alex handing the girl back her sword.
Laughing Jill sheathed it. “That was fun. We’ll have to do it again later.”
Alex smiled. “Anytime.”
Still chuckling, Jill wandered off again.
Tania came to stand beside Alex. “That’s not plastic, is it?”
The vampire grinned and winked. “No. But I’m careful.”
“Well that was interesting. Why don’t you duel me next?” A strange voice said from behind the pair.
Alex whirled about in an instant, Tania followed suit a few moments later. Standing there, his smile revealing fangs Tania could now tell were real and not store-bought, was a black haired boy who appeared to be the same age as Alex. Not that that means anything, Tania thought. For all I know he’s three hundred years old.
“Bredon. I should have known it’d be you,” Alex said, sighing.
“So what do you say? We can find a nice empty place outside and have a proper duel,” The stranger suggested, laying one hand on the hilt of the sword he wore.
“Not interested.”
“You’re just afraid you’ll lose.”
Alex snorted. “I don’t feel like duelling a little kid.”
“I’m older then you,” Bredon snapped.
“You act like a five-year old.”
“I do not. Now duel me!”
“I’m not duelling someone for no reason.”
“It’s not for no reason. I’m going to prove that I’m better then you,” Bredon complained.
“Still not interested. You might as well leave.”
“I’m not leaving until you fight me!”
Alex shrugged. “Suit yourself,” he told the boy before turning around to talk to Theron.
“Come on, you have to.” The boy whined.
Alex ignored Bredon, continuing on his conversation with Theron as if nothing had been said at all.
Tania couldn’t help but stare at Bredon for a moment. He had the brightest gray eyes she’d ever seen. He turned and caught her looking. Flushing, Tania looked away.
“Who are you?” He asked, staring at her.
“Tania Davies.”
“I’m Bredon Sedgewick. How old are you?”
“Uh, nineteen.” Tania wasn’t sure she’d ever met someone so blunt before.
Bredon cocked his head. “I’m nineteen too.”
Glancing about to make sure no one was listening in, Tania asked “How long have you been nineteen?”
The boy stared at her for a long moment making Tania uncomfortable. “I mean you’re a vampire right?” She said finally, unable to take the silence.
“Yes. I was born in the sixteenth century.”
“You must be the same age as Alexander then.”
“No. I’m older,” Bredon replied, sounding peeved. “Wait. Did you call him Alexander?”
“Um, yeah.”
“You know Alex then?”
“Yes.”
Bredon’s stare got more intense and Tania decided it was time to end this uncomfortable conversation. “I’m going to go get a drink and then find my other friends. I’ll, uh, see you later,” She told him before slipping into and through the crowd to the kitchen. She chugged the first drink and got a refill before making her way back through the crush. She wanted to be drunk if she was going to have to deal with the odd Bredon again.
Eventually she spotted Sarah on the dance floor with a pirate and in the corner of the room, the rest of her friends. Madison, Jill and Chloe were talking to Superman, the Tin Man and a male Zorro. Smiling Tania came over and joined them.
“Hey,” she said.
“There you are,” Chloe said. “This is Mike, Cody and Greg.” She said indicating Superman, the Tin Man and Zorro respectively. “Boys, this is…”
“Tania Davies,” They chorused, grinning.
“Fuck! Does everyone know who I am now?” Tania complained.
“Pretty much,” Greg answered, smiling.
“I’m never going to forgive Alexander for this,” She muttered. The others laughed.
The conversation continued for a while but then the other three girls decided they wanted to dance. The boys offered to find one of their friends for Tania but she shook her head. “I don’t dance,” She told them and sat down on the bench to watch. Shrugging, the boys followed the girls on the dance floor, where they’d already joined Sarah. Because the others thought it was funny, Jill and Greg were made to dance together as a Zorro set. Tania laughed as she watched from her seat, glad to see her friends having so much fun.
It wasn’t long before someone claimed the empty seat beside her and Tania paid little attention until she heard “Hey.”
Tania, moving her head slightly saw that the newcomer was a blond boy she’d never met before. “Hey,” she replied, turning her attention back to her dancing friends.
“You go here?”
She nodded without looking at him. “Yeah. You?”
“Nah. I’m staying with my friend.”
“Cool,” Tania replied disinterestedly, still not looking at him, hoping he’d go away and leave her alone. The way he kept shifting over in tiny increments made his intentions clear.
“You’re really pretty you know,” He said, sliding his arm around her shoulders.
Tania sighed inwardly. So much for him taking the hint, she thought, annoyed. “Thank you,” She said aloud, reaching over and pulling his arm off her.
Much to her increased irritation he put his arm right back and leaned close to her. “I know where we could go and be alone,”
“No thank you. I’m not interested,” Tania told him and again removed his arm from around her shoulders. What is it with drunk guys and not understanding what the word no means? She thought, not for the first time.
“Come on, don’t be like that,” He said leaning closer to her though, thankfully, he didn’t try and put his arm around her again.
Moving away from him, Tania looked up when a shadow fell across them. “You know generally when a girl says no, she means no,” Alex remarked mildly, as he loomed over them.
“Who are…” The boy trailed off as he realized who he was talking to.
“Obviously too much alcohol combined with the heat in here is addling your brain. I suggest you go outside and walk around until you cool off.”
When the boy didn’t move, Alex’s face became a lot less pleasant. “I strongly suggest you go outside until you cool off,” He said, his tone making it clear that it was not a mere suggestion but an order.
The blond boy paled and slid off the bench, disappearing into the mob of people jammed into the house. Once he was sure the boy was gone, Alex leaned against the wall, turned to Tania and asked “You alright?”
Tania glared. “I’m fine and perfectly capable of dealing with that kind of situation myself, thank you very much.”
“So you keep telling me,” Alex replied grinning. “But I haven’t yet seen you prove this.”
“I’m going to get you.”
“You tell me that a lot too but I also haven’t seen you do it. Next you’re going to tell me you hate me.”
Tania snapped her mouth shut. Alex laughed. “You really were going to say it. That’s hilarious.”
“Someone came out of their coffin too soon,” She muttered.
Alex laughed again. “You know very well I don’t sleep in a coffin. Now you have to know that sitting in a corner by yourself is an invitation to have guys hit on you. If you don’t want that then you should join a group.”
“I was talking to my friends.”
“And where are they now?”
“Dancing.”
“Why didn’t you go with them?”
Tania made a face. “I don’t dance,” she repeated, echoing some of her first words to Alex.
“I thought we established last time that yes, you do.”
“That’s because you made me.”
Alex laughed and held out his hand. “Let’s go join them.”
“No. I don’t dance.”
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” He wheedled.
Tania shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest, expression mulish.
Leaning in close to her, Alex exerted the full force of his charm. “Please Tania?” he asked, eyes intensely black, a slight smile playing across his lips.
Blushing, Tania struggled to remain upright under the power of Alex’s charisma. Still she shook her head and managed to gasp out “No.”
Alex straightened abruptly. “Keh. I forgot I can’t charm you,” He said, running a hand through his deep chestnut hair. “You sure?”
Tania nodded. “I don’t dance,” She repeated for the third time that night.
“Well if you’re sure then,” Alex told her, sounding a touch sulky to Tania’s ears, before walking back over to his friends.
Debating between staying and waiting for her friends and going to go join Alex’s group, Tania was surprised when Bredon suddenly appeared and sat down beside her.
“What’d you do to Alex?” He asked, obviously amused.
“Nothing.”
“He’s being all moody so obviously you did something.”
Rolling her eyes, Tania replied “I wouldn’t dance with him but that’s hardly a reason for him to get all sulky. He’s like a child sometimes.”
“Really?” Bredon seemed fascinated.
Tania frowned. “Why are you so obsessed with duelling him?”
Bredon grimaced. “Because he’s the best. Everyone acknowledges him as the best with a blade among our kind and one of the best fighters if not the best of all the races. I want to prove I’m stronger than him but he refuses to duel me.”
“Why is that so important? If you know you’re strong, if you’re capable of protecting yourself and anyone you care about then what’s the point?”
“Because I’m tired of being compared to him! And what’s worse is he treats me like a little kid when I’m like an entire decade older then him.”
“That might have to do with the fact that you keep acting like a kid.”
The vampire glared at her. “I do not.”
“You do. You were whining about Alexander not duelling you like a five-year old who wasn’t given a treat they wanted,” Tania informed him.
“I…I don’t actually sound like that do I?” Bredon asked, frowning.
“You do. Just think about what and how you say things beforehand and you’ll be fine. And with regards to Alexander, he’s serious about not fighting unless he has a reason. So unless you find a way to really piss him off, which I’d advise against, he won’t duel you no matter how much you nag him.”
Bredon shrugged. “I’ve spent nearly two hundred years trying to get him to fight me and haven’t yet resorted to making him angry nor do I intend to.”
Tania choked. “Two hundred years?”
He looked at her strangely and then chuckled. “I forgot you’re just an ordinary human. You talk like one born knowing about this, but it was only recently you found out, huh?”
“Little over a month.”
Bredon whistled. “You’re doing well then. It’s rare for someone with no familial connection to any of the groups to be aware of us. Then again since Alex flouts nearly every rule the council imposes, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Tania shrugged. “No one believes him.”
“You did.”
“Yah because he did the fang thing.”
“Did he now? Interesting. You seem awfully close to him. Are you two dating?”
Choking, Tania stared at him. “You’re joking right? Me and Alexander? Dating?”
“Ah. Then I take it you’re not.”
“He’s my friend. That’s it. Honestly I have enough trouble dealing with him as that. He’s arrogant, irritating and seems to take great joy in making me angry,” Tania giggled. “Dating. That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all night.”
“So then are you free next week?” Bredon asked hopefully.