Sleepyside, NY

        “You’re going to have fun,” seventeen-year-old Honey Wheeler assured her best friend.  “Think of the beach, the boardwalk…”

        “Four weeks with a depressed Aunt Maggie and an angry Hallie,” Trixie finished.  “Good times.”  With an aggrieved sigh, she flopped back on her bed, pulling her pillow over her face.  “Don’t get me wrong, Hon. Moms and Daddy totally deserve to go on that cruise.  Really, they do.  But seriously, I’m seventeen.  I’m old enough to stay home alone, and ever since Aunt Maggie divorced Uncle Harold, being around her and Hallie is just really awkward.  I keep wanting to apologize.”

        “I know what you mean.” Trixie’s brother, Mart said, poking his head inside her door.  When she peeked at him from under her pillow, he entered, plopping himself down on the corner of her bed.  “Every time they’ve visited, I’ve wanted to apologize for being related to the man.”

        “He really was cheating with a stripper?” Honey asked.

        “Two,” Trixie informed her, tucking the pillow behind her head.  “Two strippers.  In public.  Front page of the newspaper.  It was disgusting, and then he made it worse by hiding all his money before the divorce started.”

        “Our uncle is scum,” Mart stated, shaking his head sadly.  “Thankfully, Aunt Maggie doesn’t seem to hold any of us responsible.”  He patted Trixie’s leg.  “It’s for the best, Trix.  Bobby’s going to Arizona with the Lynches.  Brian and I are going to be at camp, and so are Dan and Jim. Honey’s got her big family…thing…”

        “European rendezvous,” Honey told him, rolling her eyes.  “I think I’d rather go to Gypsum Bay with Trixie.”

        “Trade you,” Trixie offered.  “I’ll go to France with your folks, and you and Reddy go to Gypsum Bay.”

          Honey gave a most unladylike snort. “I’d give you twenty minutes with Ben.”

        Trixie groaned.  “Never mind.  I’ll take my chances with Aunt Maggie and Hallie.” She started to laugh. “At least I’ll have Reddy with me.”

        Mart and Honey joined her laughing.  “Seriously, sis,” Mart told her, “Gypsum Bay, Rhode Island has some really interesting points.  The tallest Ferris wheel on the East coast; the ruins of an imported Irish castle that slid down a cliff; and one of the best sources of rare comic books known to man: Cosmic Comics.”

        “Comic books, Mart?” Trixie scoffed.  “Not exactly my thing.  Anymore.”

        “Anymore?” Honey asked.  “You used to be into comic books?”

        “She was a fiend,” Mart teased.  “She’d hound Brian and I until we shared our comic books.  I think she had a bigger collection of Superman comics than either of us.”

        “What happened?” Honey asked.  “I’ve never, in all the time I’ve known you, seen you with a comic book.”

        “I grew up and discovered Lucy Radcliffe books, instead.” Trixie pulled herself up into a sitting position.  “Superman has been banished to the attic-–unlike Mart’s Cosmo McNaught comics.”

        “You’re just jealous because they never made Lucy into a comic.” Mart answered.  “And speaking of Cosmo and Cosmic Comics…”

        Trixie sighed.  “Let me guess.  Number 14?”

        “Would you? Could you?”  Mart asked, clasping his hands together.

        “What’s so important about number 14?” Honey asked, beginning to gather her things.

“It’s rare.” Trixie said abruptly, cutting Mart off before he could start to wax poetic. “Don’t get him started, or he’ll talk your ear off.”  She swung her legs off the side of the bed. “C’mon, I’ll walk you home.  We can brainstorm ways to survive our family ties.”  They linked arms and headed down the stairs, leaving a grinning Mart behind.

Gypsum Bay, RI

        “Gramps is a little grumpy, but he’s a pretty good guy,” Hallie told her cousin, as she opened the door to the large, ramshackle, two story house.  “As long as you don’t mess with his stuff, you’ll get along fine.”  She led Trixie into the foyer.  Trixie looked around, wide-eyed.  This place looks like a haunted house, she thought, taking in the stuffed deer head staring at the door with glass eyes, and the badger poised as if to spring at anyone attempting to mount the staircase leading from the foyer to the second floor.

        “Where is he?  Your Grandpa, I mean?” Trixie asked.

        “Probably in his den,” Hallie answered.  “It’s where he does his…stuff?”

        “What stuff?”

        “That stuff.”  Hallie waved a long-fingered hand toward the dead and stuffed animals scattered about.

        “He does that?” Trixie exclaimed.

        “Taxidermy: It’s his hobby, and his business,” Hallie informed her, leading her cousin into the next room.  Sprawled on a battered leather sofa was an elderly man.  One moccasin-clad foot was draped over the sofa arm, while the other rested on the floor.  A gnarled hand hung from a plaid flannel covered arm, knuckles dragging on the rug.  The well-weathered face was slack, the wispy gray hair held back from his face by a red bandana, and trailing over his shoulder was a foot long braid.

        Trixie stopped cold.  “Is he okay?” she asked.  “He looks dead.”

        “He’s just a deep sleeper,” Hallie told her.

        Trixie took a step forward.  “It doesn’t look like he’s breathing, Hallie.”

        Hallie frowned and put her hand out to touch the old man’s forehead.

        Mischievous blue eyes popped open, causing both girls to jump back with a shriek. “Gotcha!” he cackled.  “Just playin’ dead, and from what I heard, doing a pretty darn good job of it.”

        “Dad!”  All three turned to see Maggie Belden standing in the doorway, her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, Reddy straining at the end of the leash she held in her hand.  “You shouldn’t pull pranks on people you haven’t met yet.”

        “Rufus Anderson, but you can call me Gramps,” Gramps said, standing up and offering Trixie his hand.  “You must be Beatrix.”

        Trixie flinched.  “Trixie, please.  I try to forget the Beatrix part.”

        The old man chuckled.  “Ain’t no kid ever liked the name his folks saddled him with.  I went by Red for years.  Magdalena over there went through about six nicknames before she stuck with Maggie, but poor Hal, here, she doesn’t have as many options.  That’s what happens when you give your kid a nickname for a name.”

        Hallie’s face darkened, so Trixie quickly turned the attention back to herself.  “Well, I’m Trixie, and that’s Reddy.”  She pointed to the wiggling dog.  “And we’re happy to be here.”  She forced an insincere smile.

        “Well, you’re welcome here, little lady.  You and your mutt.  For heaven’s sake, Maggie, turn the poor creature loose.  Ain’t nothin’ in this house he can hurt: Everything’s already dead.”

        Aunt Maggie unfastened the leash, and Reddy bounded into the room, stopping to lick Trixie’s hand before going on a mad sniffing trek.  Gramps watched him for a minute, before turning his attention back to the humans.  “Rules!” he said loudly.  “I got some rules around here.”  He gestured to both girls to follow him. “You might as well get a reminder Hallie.  Don’t think I didn’t notice that missing root beer, missy.”  He led them into the kitchen and wrenched open the door.  A hand lettered cardboard sign hung down from the top shelf.  It read, “Old Fart!”  “The second shelf is mine.  I keep my root beers and double-thick Mint Oreo cookies there.  Nobody touches the second shelf.  C’mon.”  They trailed after him, through the living room, towards the den.  “When the mailman brings the T.V. Guide on Wednesdays, sometimes the corner of the address label will curl up.  You’ll be tempted to peel it off.  Don’t.  You’ll end up rippin’ the cover and I don’t like that.”

        “I didn’t see a television, Gramps,” Trixie offered.

        “Don’t have one.  I just like to read the T.V. Guide.  You read the T.V. Guide, you don’t need a T.V.”  Gramps opened the door to his den.  “And stay out of here.  This is my work space.”

        Trixie stared in awe and a little bit of horror.  Stuffed animals stared back at her from almost every flat surface:  Squirrels, birds, cats; everything imaginable.  Open boxes vomited an array of pelts, hides, glass eyes, wooden animal forms and other taxidermy equipment.  Shaking her head, Trixie backed out of the room.  “No problem,” she muttered.  “Uh…I should really unpack.”

        “You do that,” Aunt Maggie told her.  “Hallie can help, and then maybe you two can go down to the boardwalk.  I’m working the seven to midnight shift tonight.”

        Hallie seemed to perk up a little at that suggestion.  “Can we take the bike?” she asked.  “Trixie can wear Cap’s helmet.”

        Maggie hesitated.  “I suppose, if you’re careful.  But be home before midnight.  You’ve only had your license for a few months, and I don’t like you driving at night.”

        Hallie rolled her eyes.  “Fine, Mom.  We’ll be home by the witching hour.  C’mon, Trix.  Let’s get you unpacked.”

        “It won’t take too long,” Trixie assured her cousin.  “I only brought the one bag.”

        “Good.  Travel light, I always say.”  Hallie grabbed Trixie’s bag and headed for the stairs.  “You’ve got the room across from me.  The bathroom is next to your room, and Mom has the room at the end of the hall.”

        “Where does Gramps sleep?” Trixie asked, skirting the large wildcat head mounted at the top of the stairs, it’s long fangs barred.

        “Downstairs.  He remodeled the parlor into a master suite after Grandma died.  He only comes upstairs to nail new dead things to the wall.” 

        Hallie opened the door to a small room with a single spindle-framed bed.  Trixie took in the polished wood of the bed frame, nightstand and matching dresser.  The walls were painted a pale blue, and blue and white gingham curtains hung from the bow window.  The window seat boasted a cream and navy cushion that matched the bedspread.

        “It’s beautiful,” Trixie breathed.  “I didn’t expect this.”

Hallie laughed, and it sounded like a true laugh.  “When Mom told me you were coming, I made sure we pulled out all the dead things.”  She flushed a little, turning her face away shyly.  “Then we slapped on some new paint, and I made the curtains and stuff.  I remembered that you like blue best.”

        “Thanks, Hal.  I really like it.”  Trixie looked at her cousin, really seeing her for the first time since Maggie and Hallie had picked her up from the train station.  Hallie, despite being ten months younger than Trixie, was still a solid three inches taller than Trixie’s five foot five inch frame, and she seemed thinner than usual.  To Trixie’s eye, Hallie’s skin seemed drawn over her bones, as if there was no padding left between the two.

        “I’m glad you came, Trixie.  I…” Hallie broke off, unable or unwilling to continue.  “How about we go down to the boardwalk.  I’ll show you where Mom’s working, and give you the grand tour.  It should last about ten minutes.”

        “We’re going on your bike, right?”  Trixie asked.  “Your motorcycle bike?”

        “It’s a small one,” Hallie assured her, “And I’ll go slow.  You’ll have fun.”

        “Can I drive?”

        “Only if you have a motorcycle endorsement.  They don’t count equestrian experience,” Hallie teased.  “C’mon.”

        Trixie hurriedly stuffed her clothes into the dresser and grabbed her purse.  Looking down at the dressy Capri pants and polo shirt she had worn on the train journey, she shrugged.  At least her legs would be mostly covered for the bike trip.  “Let’s go!” she said, following her cousin back out into the hall.

        It only took about ten seconds on the back of Hallie’s bike for Trixie to open her eyes.  The wind blew against her face, and she loosened her death grip on the younger girl, taking in the scenery as it sped past.  A billboard with a picture of the lit up boardwalk proclaimed, “Welcome to Gypsum Bay”, but as they passed it, Trixie noticed the graffiti message scrawled across the back of the sign.  Murder Capital of Rhode Island.  A chill ran down her spine that had nothing to do with her first motorcycle ride.

        Hallie parked the bike next to a strip of ramshackle buildings.  The sand of the beach beckoned, and just beyond that, the ocean rolled in and out.  Sea birds fluttered overhead, scavenging for food, calling out their finds to their brethren.  Trixie climbed of the bike and took off her helmet, and looked around, her china blue eyes taking in the shoddy surroundings.  Nearby, the carnival attractions of the boardwalk and pier seemed dingy and dull.  The breeze rising from the ocean was salty, but with an unpleasant tinge.  She wrinkled her nose.

        Hallie noticed.  “Mom calls it the ocean air, but I think it smells like dead things.”

        “Me, too,” Trixie agreed.  “It’s not as bad as the sasquatch, though.”

        A sad look crossed Hallie’s face at the reminder of their Idaho adventure, and Trixie wished she could take back the words.  Searching for something to say, she blurted out, “Isn’t there a comic book store around here, somewhere?  Mart wanted me to look for something for him.”

        “Cosmic Comics,” Hallie told her with a nod.  “It’s down at the other end of the walk.  Mom just got a job at the video and souvenir shop next door to it.  I’ll show you.”

        They started walking, both of them silent.  Trixie’s attention was drawn to missing posters scattered on the light posts along the walk:  Nine different flyers, each advertising a different missing teen.  Curious, Trixie asked, “Why are there so many missing kids?”

        Hallie looked startled.  “I never noticed,” she admitted.  “I mean we’ve only been here a couple of months.  I guess they’re runaways, mostly.  Seriously, look at them.  They don’t exactly look like a J. Crew catalog, do they?”

        “Still…” Trixie let her voice trail off. “You have to admit it’s a little mysterious.”

        Hallie groaned.  “The last time I followed you into a mystery, I ended up tied to a chair.”  She grinned.  “How is Dan, by the way?”

        “Tall, dark, handsome, and last I heard, available,” Trixie replied.  “Interested?”

“No.”  Once again, Hallie’s face slammed closed.  “I don’t need another overprotective boy in my life.”

        “Hallie,” Trixie said, stopping in her tracks and grabbing her cousin’s arm.  “Look, I know we’ve never been super-close, but we’ve come a long way in the last years.  I know that what happened with Uncle Hal hurt you.  Do you want to talk about it?”

        The blackberry eyes flashed as she pulled away.  “No.  I really don’t want to talk about Harold and his exploits.  I’d prefer to forget that Harold ever existed.”  Hallie looked down at her feet.  “Look, Trix, I can’t talk about it.  Not now, maybe not ever.  How do you think it feels, carrying his name?  Hal?  That’s what all his friends call him.  That’s me.  Little Hal.  Hallie.  God, what I’d give to be Beatrix.”

        Stunned, Trixie was at a loss for words. “Hallie…”

        “No!  Just…just leave me alone, Trix.  The store is right down there.  You can’t miss it.”  She pointed. “I really need to be alone.”  Trixie watched Hallie stomping off into the sand even as the first carnival lights began to brighten the dimming light.  She wanted to follow, but her instincts drove her in the opposite direction.  If Hallie wanted to be alone, Trixie was going to leave her alone.

Cosmic Comics

        Trixe opened the glass door and stepped into a comic book cavern.  The air was heavy, and the whole place seemed deserted.  A whisper of movement caught her attention, and she turned to see two teenaged boys in military fatigues shelving comic books.  She cleared her throat, and they turned to look at her, scanning her with cold eyes.

        “Listen, chicky,” the taller of the two said, “If you’re looking for the diet-frozen yogurt bar, it moved down to the strip last summer.”

        Trixie’s blood boiled at his words.  Narrowing her eyes, she smiled sweetly.  “Actually,” she said, “I’m looking for Cosmo McNaught Series two, number fourteen.”

        The shorter of the two let out a low whistle.  “That’s a seriously rare book.  Only five in existence.”

        “Four,” Trixie corrected him.  “And I’m always on the lookout for the other three.”

        Both boys gaped at her, mouths open.  Trixie ignored them.  Scanning the racks, she pointed out, “You can’t put the Superman D.C. #3400 series with the #500’s.  It’s a different artist.  And those Archies should be over there with the Richie Rich’s.”

        “She’s right,” the shorter one said.  Extending his hand, he offered his name.  “I’m Alan. Alan Frog.  This is my brother, Edgar.”

        Trixie smiled.  “I’m Trixie.  Nice to meet you.”

        “Where are you from?” Edgar asked.  “Krypton?”

        “Sleepyside, New York, actually,” Trixie told him.  “Although, as of this morning I’m a resident of Gypsum Bay.  At least for the next four weeks.  Am I right in guessing that you don’t have that Cosmo McNaught comic?”

        Alan looked at Edgar, and Edgar pulled a comic from the shelf.  “Here,” he said, “if you’re going to be living around here, then here’s one you don’t wanna be without.”

        Trixie looked at the title.  Vampires Everywhere.  Shaking her head, she tried to hand it back.  “No thanks.  I don’t care for horror comics.”

        “Take it,” Alan said.  “It’s on the house.  This one could save your life.”

        Still a little creeped out by her close encounter with the Frog brothers, and having no idea when Hallie would choose to re-appear, Trixie purchased a hot dog and a soda to eat on the pier.  At loose ends, she entered the video store, perusing the shelves and waiting for her aunt to come on duty.  Every once in a while she’d sneak a peek at the comic book stuffed into her purse.  There was something odd about Gypsum Bay, and Trixie was feeling very unsettled.

        The bell on the door jingled, and Aunt Maggie entered, a small, crying boy clinging to her hand.  Trixie watched as her aunt set the boy up on the counter and wiped his face gently with a handkerchief.  “It will be okay, sweetie.  I’ll help you find your parents.”

        A tall, handsome man stepped out from behind the counter.  “What do you have here, Maggie?”

        “Oh, Max, this is Terry.  He seems to have misplaced his parents.  I was hoping they were in here?”

        The door opened again, and a frantic young mother came rushing in.  She skidded to a stop at the sight of her son.  “Oh, Terry.  Thank God!  I was so worried!”

        “He’s fine,” Max assured her, handing Terry a lollipop as his mother scooped him up in her arms.  “Maggie found him wandering around outside, so she brought him in.  She’s a very caring woman.”

        “Thank you.  Thank you so much.”  The young mother hugged her son tightly, and turned to go, even as a group of leather clad rowdy teens entered the establishment.

        As the group of four boys approached the counter, Max put himself between the leader and Maggie.  “I told you not to come in here anymore.”

        With a smirk and a leer, the leader turned around.  His gazed landed on Trixie, and she suppressed a shudder as he gave her the once over.  And then, they were gone.

        Max shook his head.  “Wild kids.”

        “Oh, they’re just young,” Maggie told him.  “We were that age too, once.”

        “You have a generous nature,” Max said, his eyes lingering on her face.  “I admire that so much.  It’s one of the reasons I hired you.  I was wondering, if maybe, you’d like to have dinner, some time?”

        Trixie watched her aunt blush and look shyly away.  A little embarrassed, she cleared her throat.

        “Oh!  Trixie.”  Aunt Maggie gestured for her to come closer.  “Trixie, this is my boss, Max.  Max, this is my niece, Trixie.  She’s spending a few weeks with us this summer.”

        “Nice to meet you, Trixie,” Max said, shaking her hand.  His hand was cool and dry.  “How do you like Gypsum Bay so far?”

        “So far, it’s interesting,” Trixie told him.  A woof from behind the counter, and Trixie noticed the Irish setter peeking around the corner.  “Oh!” she exclaimed, “Is that your dog, Mr...uh…Max?”

        “Yes, this is my Thorn.”

        Trixie knelt down and held her hand out the dog.  Thorn sniffed at her and whined. “Oh, aren’t you a good doggy?  Yes!  You are a good doggy!”  Thorn wagged his tail and licked Trixie’s face.  “You’ll have to come over and play with Reddy.”  She stood up and smiled at Max. “Reddy’s my Irish setter.”

        The doorbell rang again, and Hallie’s voice was heard proclaiming, “There you are, Trix.  Let’s go hit the Ferris wheel.”

        “Okay.”  Trixie found it hard to drop her eyes from Max’s, but she managed, turning away with a smile. “It was nice meeting you Max.”  She hurried out the door after Hallie.

        “Where’d you go?” Trixie hissed, trotting to catch up with her longer legged cousin.

        “Sorry.”  Hallie slowed her pace.  “Sometimes I just need…space.”  She shrugged.  “I’ll try not to ditch you again, okay?”  When Trixie nodded, she continued, “I went wading in the water, and, well, I met a friend and we started talking, and I sort of lost track of time.”

        “Who’d you meet?” Trixie asked.

        “Just a friend.  A boy.”  Hallie looked away for a minute.  “He’s nice.  I told him we’d meet him at the boardwalk after I found you.  He’s right over there.” 

        Trixie followed Hallie’s finger as she pointed toward a bench on which sat a young man and a girl of about nine.  The little girl wore cutoff jeans and a denim jacket over a pink t-shirt that had seen better days.  As Trixie got closer, she could see that someone had tried to braid the girl’s hair—probably without brushing it.  The boy grinned when he noticed Hallie and Trixie approaching and scrambled to his feet.  Trixie was reminded of Dan when he first arrived in Sleepyside.  Dark hair stood in careless spikes, framing a thin, pale face. Torn jeans, motorcycle boots and a black leather vest draped with metal chains completed his tough look.

        “Hallie!  You came.”  His pale blue eyes lit up as he gave her a quick hug.  “Is this your friend?”

        “My cousin, Trixie.  Trix, this is Orion and his sister Star.”  She giggled. “Orion’s parents were hippies, but I can’t really talk.  My brothers are named after silver mines.”

        “Orion’s a cool name,” Trixie said, bending down to make herself eye level with Star. “And I really like Star.  It’s pretty.”

        “Thank you,” she whispered shyly.

        Trixie stood as four young men approached them, wearing baggy surf shorts and t-shirts emblazoned with the words “My Beach, My Wave.”  Orion stepped forward, keeping the three girls behind him.

        The leader of the surf-boys got up in Orion’s face.  “I thought we told you losers to stay off the boardwalk.  The beach belongs to us, dude.  To me.”

        “Back off, Greg,” Orion retorted.  “It’s a public beach.”

        “Wrong.  It’s our beach.  You creeps stick to the ruins.”  He shoved Orion in the chest, pushing him back.   As Orion set his feet in the sand, bracing himself, Trixie grabbed onto Star’s hand, prepared to protect the child.  Hallie moved slightly to her right, but Trixie couldn’t read her intent.

        Suddenly, the air thickened, and all eyes turned to see a group of four young men, all dressed in the same punk/grunge fashion as Orion, moving quickly and silently through the sand.  Trixie recognized them as the gang Max had ejected from the store.  The leader, a tall young man wearing a black leather trench coat asked casually, “Problem, Ri?”

        “Nothing I can’t handle, David,” Orion replied.  “Greg and his buddies here think they own the beach.”

        “That so?” The boy called David moved so fast Trixie wasn’t sure she had seen him, but suddenly, he was towering over Greg, his voice low and threatening. “You own the beach when the sun is up, surfer boy.  At night, it’s ours.  That’s the deal.  You keep to yours, and leave ours alone.  Capiche?”

        The rest of Orion’s friends closed ranks, and Greg through his hands up in defeat.  “Fine.  You’ve got us outnumbered.  For now.  But this isn’t over.”  He sneered, adding, “Suckers.”  With a whistle, he retreated, headed for the carnival rides. His minions hurried close behind him.

        David watched them go.  Once the surfers were out of sight, he turned his attention back to Orion and the girls.  “I’m David.  This is Paul, Dwayne, Marko, and I see you’ve already met Orion and Star.”

        “I’m Hallie.”  Hallie stepped forward, offering her hand and a frank look.  “This is my cousin, Trixie.”

        “Pleasure. ‘Ri always has the best luck meeting pretty girls.”  He raised an eyebrow and asked, “So, Hallie-Hallie, would you and your pretty cousin like to come hang with us tonight?”

        “Maybe.  Where and when?”  Hallie smiled her flat-lipped grin and tilted her head while Trixie watched in astonishment.

        “Kilarney Castle,” David answered, “in about half an hour. You got wheels?”

        “Honda 125.  You?”

        “Triumph.  Wanna race?”

        “No way.  Your Triumph has three times the power.”

        “We’ll go slow.  All you have to do is keep up, Hallie-Hallie.  What d’ya say?”

        “I’m parked at Burroughs.  You?”

        “Right and Fourth.  We’ll meet you.”

        “We’ll be there,” Hallie told him, her voice cool.  With a mock salute, David strode away, the others falling in behind him.  Star’s hand slipped from Trixie’s as she joined her brother, leaving Trixie staring after them.

        “Hallie!” Trixie turned on her cousin, appalled.  “How many times have we been warned about going places alone—which you already did, and about talking to strangers—which you just did?  And now you just said yes to going to a party with a bunch of weirdos in an abandoned castle.  What is wrong with you?”

        “What’s wrong with me?” Hallie spun around, dark eyes flashing.  “What’s wrong with you? I thought you were Little Miss Adventurous?  Ha! Little Miss Scared-of-her-Shadow is more like it.  In case you didn’t notice, those weirdos happened to be nice.  Unlike those bone-headed braggarts trying to kick us off the beach.  You’re just judging them by the way they look.”  She tossed her head.  “Besides, Orion isn’t a stranger.  I’ve been hanging with him for a couple of weeks. I know his story.  I know him. I’m riding up to the ruins.  It sounds like fun.  If you want to play Miss Goody-Two-Shoes, why don’t you head back to the video store and get a ride home with Mom.  I’m going.”  She stomped off.  Trixie watched her move through the sand, torn between her irritation and anger at having been labeled a coward, and her own innate sense that a party at the ruins was a bad idea.  With a disgruntled snort, she ran after Hallie.

Kilarney Castle: The Bluff

        Neither her trepidation nor her anger had abated during the ride up to the bluff.  Despite that fact, Trixie couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the area.  The ruins of the castle seemed almost magical in their placement, the ancient stones looking as if they had simply slid off the bluff in a quest to get closer to the sea below.  She and Hallie followed Orion and Star as David led the way past huge signs warning “CONDEMNED!”, “UNLAWFUL TO PROCEED PAST THIS POINT” and “DANGER: KEEP OUT!”

        Crossing the threshold of what had once been a turret window, they climbed down a crumbling stone staircase, and into the ruins of the main hall while David kept up a running commentary,  “Some crazy millionaire imported this castle from Ireland in the late eighteen hundreds.  They took it apart, brought it over on a ship, and rebuilt it stone by stone.  It was quite the hot spot for the rich and famous.”

        “What happened to it?” Trixie asked, her eyes scanning the rotting tapestries along the stone walls.

        “The hurricane in 1938,” David explained cheerfully.  “It hit not too far from here; category five.  Mr. Millionaire thought he and his guests were safe up here on the bluff, but he thought wrong.  Between the winds and the water surge, the bluff didn’t hold, the foundation failed and the whole shebang went sliding to the sea. Fifteen people died here that night.”  He grinned at Trixie.  “Some of them are still here.”

        Paul nodded his agreement.  “Man, you wouldn’t believe the cool stuff we’ve found in here.”

        “Trixie looked pointedly at her cousin.  “This is really cool, but we should go.”

        “No, stay,” David said.  “Marko will be back soon.  He’s bringing Chinese.”

        “I ate earlier,” Trixie told him, trying to avoid looking in his eyes.  Although David seemed nice, there was something in his ice-blue eyes that set her nerves on edge.

        “I’m starving!” Hallie said, dropping down onto a beanbag chair.  “Chinese sounds great.”

        “Ri,” David suggested, “get Trixie a seat.” 

        Orion produced a large square pillow, and Trixie sat down reluctantly, managing a smile when Star joined her, leaning close.  “So,” she asked, “where are you guys from?”

        “We’re from right here,” Paul answered.

        “I mean, where do you live?” Trixie tried again.

        The previously silent Dwayne leaned in, his face far too close to hers. “Right here.”

        “You live here?” Trixie was incredulous.  “Your folks let you live in a condemned building?”

        Paul shared a bewildered look with Dwayne.  “Is she talking parents?”

        Dwayne laughed and shook his spikey head.  “What are they?”

        When the laughter had died down, David spoke, his voice calm and hypnotic.  “We live where we want.  We do what we want, Trixie.  We have complete freedom. Nobody comes to this place, and nobody knows about us.”

        “That sounds wonderful,” Hallie breathed. “Like being invisible.”

        David turned to her.  “It is wonderful, Hallie.  It’s freedom.  No parents.  No rules. We’re as free as birds.”

        Trixie forced a yawn.  “I’m sorry,” she said.  “I was up very early to catch the train.  I really need to get some sleep.  Maybe Hallie and I can come back tomorrow night?”

        “I’m not ready to leave, Trix,” Hallie protested in a dreamy voice.  “It would be rude to leave before the food arrives.”

        “Hallie!” Trixie rose to her feet.  “I really am tired.  Please?”

        “Orion can see you home, Trixie,” David said, his eyes never wavering from Hallie.  “He can use my transportation, can’t you, Ri?”

        Orion nodded, his face drawn and unhappy.  “C’mon, Trix,” he said quietly, reaching for her hand.  She let him take it, transfixed as he raised it to his lips as if in an old fashioned gesture.  And then she knew nothing else.

        Hallie was fixated on David’s eyes.  They were pale, pale blue, and she felt as if she could drown in their unusual depths.  She didn’t notice her cousin’s departure from the ruins.  She didn’t hear the music when Paul turned up the stereo in the corner. In fact, she was completely unaware of anything until Marko’s voice echoed in the hall.  “Chow time!”

        David took two containers from Marko and opened them, handing one to Hallie.  “Guests first.”  She hesitated, and he pushed her gently.  “It’s only rice.  Don’t you like rice? 300 million Chinese people can’t be wrong.”

        Hallie took the carton and the proffered spoon.  David smiled and sat next to her opening his own box as Marko passed around the rest of the food.  Hallie scooped rice into her mouth, and David’s mouth twitched.  “How do you like those maggots, Hallie?”

        Hallie looked at him, confused.  “What?”

        “You’re eating maggots.  How do they taste?”

        Hallie looked down at her food.  Where there had once been rice, a thousand wiggling maggots squirmed and slid over each other.  She shrieked and dropped the container, her hands racing to her mouth.  The carton hit the dirt floor, spilling rice, and nothing but rice across the ground.

        “Would you prefer some noodles?” David offered her his container. 

        Hallie looked inside, her nose wrinkling in disgust. “Worms?”

        “Worms?” David inquired, his voice silky and strange.  He dipped a fork into the mass of wiggling worms and lifted it to his mouth.  The slimy bundle slid slowly across his lips and into his mouth.

        Hallie felt sick.  “Don’t!” she begged.  “Please.  Stop!”

        “Why?” David asked.  “They’re only noodles.”  He tipped the carton toward her, showing her noodles.  Just noodles.  The other boys laughed.  Star whimpered.

        “That’s enough!” Orion stepped into the room.  “Leave her alone.”  He approached Hallie.  “Are you okay?”

        She nodded, and David interjected, “It’s only a game.  A trick.  Nothing more.”  He reached behind him and pulled out a bottle.  Pouring some of the ruby liquid into a paper cup, he handed it to Hallie.  “A little vino?”

        “Don’t Hallie,” Orion whispered.  “You don’t have to.  It’s blood!”

        Hallie examined the contents of the cup, and smiled a little bitterly.  “Right.  Like I’d fall for that.  Good joke, blood. Ha ha.”  She lifted the cup to her lips.  The wine smelled funny, but Hallie was no expert on wine.  The liquid slid down her throat, bitter and sweet at the same time.  As she wiped a trickle from the corner of her mouth, she noticed the boys and Star watching her closely.  Orion looked sad.  Star seemed frightened.  Dwayne, Paul and Marko were grinning, and David smiled knowingly and poured her another cup.  “Welcome to freedom, Hallie-Hallie.”  The room began to spin and fade, the music rushing and fading like the sea-tides, and Hallie felt herself slipping away.

        Trixie woke slowly, uncertain as to where she was.  In the dim morning light, she could just make out the numbers on her digital clock: 6:15 a.m.  Her mouth was dry, her throat parched.  Rolling to her side, she swung her feet off the bed and dragged herself up.  Her bleary eyes met a pair of glittering black ones, and she screamed.

        “What is it?”  Aunt Maggie exclaimed, throwing open the door to Trixie’s room.  “What’s wrong?”

        “I’m sorry,” Trixie whispered, pointing one shaky finger at the object on the dresser.  “I didn’t know it was there.  It… uh…startled me.”

        Aunt Maggie laughed.  “Scared the hell out of you is more likely,” she said, picking up the stuffed gopher.  “I’m sorry, Trixie.  Dad likes his little surprise gifts.”  Moving to the closet, she opened the door and stuffed the gopher into the far corner of the shelf.  “It would probably be best if you check for new arrivals before you go to bed.”

        “I will,” Trixie told her.  “I was just really tired last night.” Her brow wrinkled.  “I don’t even remember getting into bed.”

        “You were sleeping pretty soundly when I got home,” Aunt Maggie told her.  “You and Hallie both.  It must be the sea air.”

        Trixie frowned, “Must be,” she said, trying hard to grasp at her memories of the night before.  Shaking her head, she said, “I’m going to get a glass of water, and then I think I’ll take Reddy for a walk.  Is that okay with you?”

        “It’s fine,” Aunt Maggie replied, stifling a yawn.  “I’m going to crawl back into bed for a few hours, and Hallie’s never up before ten in the summer.  Are you okay being on your own?”

        “I’ll be fine.  I forgot that you don’t get home from work until after midnight,” Trixie looked at her aunt, chagrinned.  “I’m sorry I woke you, Aunt Maggie.”

        “It’s okay, sweetie.  I’m glad you’re here.”  Aunt Maggie dropped a kiss on the top of Trixie’s curls, and headed back to her own room.

        Twenty minutes later, Trixie was dressed in shorts and a tank top, eating cereal when Gramps walked in. “Mornin’ Glory,” he said, reaching into the refrigerator for an Oreo. “What’re you up to this morning?”

        “I’d like to take Reddy for a run on the beach,” Trixie told him, “but I’m afraid I’ll get lost if I try to walk all that way.”

        “Humpf,” Gramps said around a mouthful of cookie. “You got a license?”  Trixie nodded.  “Fine.  Come with me.”  He led her outside and into the ramshackle garage.  There sat an old, old Ford pickup truck. “Take the truck.  The dog can’t hurt it.  Just remember the rules, girly.”

        “Which rules?” she asked.

        “You take the truck, you bring it back full of gas,” Gramps told her.  “And you leave the stuff in the back alone.”

        Trixie peered into the back.  It was filled with fencing materials; pointed wooden posts, rails and boards.  “What is all of this?”

        “Been fixin’ to build me a fence one of these days.  Bought all the materials, then put it off.  Been about ten years now.”  He sighed, and then grinned.  “Well, one more day won’t hurt. You wanna go into town, take the truck.”

        “Thanks, Gramps,” Trixie said.  “Where are the keys?”

        “It’s a fifty-seven, girly.  You don’t need keys, just this.”  He reached into a coffee can and pulled out a flathead screwdriver. “Just stick this in the ignition and turn it forward.  But let her warm up a little.  She’ll purr like a baby pussycat.”

        Trixie took the screwdriver, trying to look confident.  “Thanks,” she said again.  “I’ll be careful with it.  I’ll just get my bag.  And Reddy.”  She ran back into the house and up the stairs.  No noise came from either Aunt Maggie or Hallie’s rooms.  Pushing open her own door, Trixie bit back a squeal of surprise.  Standing on her dresser was a hideous stuffed groundhog, raised up on its hind legs, teeth barred.  Taking a deep breath, Trixie snatched up the ugly creature and quickly banished it to the closet.  Recovering, she grabbed her beach bag, wallet and Reddy’s leash.  Hesitating, she opened the drawer on the dresser and took out the comic the Frog brothers had given her.  Tucking it into her bag, she headed down to find her dog.

        Trixie parked the truck two blocks from Cosmic Comics.  Dropping the screwdriver into her bag, she leashed Reddy and started down the block.  It took a while, as the setter had to sniff every rock, sidewalk crack and blade of grass.  Tying Reddy to the post outside, she entered the shop.  The Frog boys looked up as she stepped inside.

        “You’re back,” Edgar said.

        “Looks like.”  Trixie shifted her bag.

        “How do you like Gypsum Bay?” Alan asked.

        “Cool place, if you’re from another planet.”

        “Or a vampire,” Edgar said.

        “About that,” Trixie said, pulling out the comic.  “Have you two been sniffing old newsprint or something?”

        “You think you’re so cool, don’t you?” Edgar hissed.  “Big New York girl.  You think you know it all.  Well you don’t know, jack, sweet cheeks.”

        “Yeah,” his brother added.  “You think we just work in our dad’s comic store, don’t you?”

        “Uh, no?” Trixie asked, a scornful look crossing her face. “Let me guess, this is really a bakery, right?  And you two secretly bake cupcakes?”

        “Ha!” Edgar sneered.  “This is just our cover.  We’re dedicated to a higher purpose.”

        “Yeah,” Alan agreed, moving closer.  “We’re fighters for Truth, Justice and the American Way.”

        “This was a mistake.”  Trixie turned toward the exit.

        “Wait!” Edgar half yelled.  “Here.  Take this.  On the house.”

        Trixie looked at the comic he held out to her.  “Destroy All Vampires?” she read. “No thanks.  I’m not in to horror comics.”

        “Think of it as a survival manual.”  Alan took the comic and tucked it into her bag.  “Our number’s on the back.  Pray you never have to call us.”

        “Will do.” Trixie nodded and backed out the door.

Two Days Later

6:15 p.m.

        Trixie stirred the pan of macaroni and cheese and slid it into the oven.  Gramps wandered into the kitchen.  “Smells good, girly,” he said, “but I’ve got a hot date with the Widow Johnson.”  He grabbed a root beer out of the refrigerator and headed out the door with a mock salute.  Trixie shook her head and took a seat at the table and pulled out the comics she had received from the Frog brothers.  Trixie wasn’t superstitious, but there was definitely something weird about Gypsum Bay.

        Hallie stumbled into the kitchen, barefoot, wearing cut-offs and a wrinkled t-shirt.  Her skin was pale and drawn over her cheekbones, her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.  Reddy roused himself from his napping spot under the table and approached Hallie, licking at her feet.  “Beat it, Reddy,” Hallie told the setter.  He ignored her.  “Trix! Make him stop.”

        Trixie grabbed Reddy by the collar and pulled him away, her eyes glued to Hallie’s feet.  “Hallie, Have you been down at the beach?”

        “Not today.  Why?”

        “Your feet are covered with salt.”  Trixie pointed, and Hallie plopped into a chair, looking confused.  “And what’s with your fingernails, Hallie? Look at them.”  Hallie flexed her fingers.  The nails were long, nearly an inch long, and had grown past the polish that had once adorned them.  “You’ve been staying out all night and sleeping all day, and you look awful.  Are you doing drugs?”

        “No.” Hallie raised her face, but with the glasses, Trixie couldn’t see what she was looking at.  “I swear I’m not taking anything.  I just…I just…”

        “Hallie,” Trixie struggled for words.  “Stay home tonight, okay?  Your mom’s having dinner with her boss, and working until one.  Gramps is out on a date with the Widow Johnson.  Stay home, with me.  We can have some mac and cheese, and some ice cream.  Please?”

        “Yeah.”  Hallie pushed herself out of her chair. “I’m not really hungry, right now.  I’m going to take a shower, get this stuff off my feet.  Maybe we can give each other manicures.”  She snickered at the look that crossed Trixie’s face.

        Trixie watched her cousin leave the room before sliding the comic out from under her placemat.  Flipping it open, she studied it for a moment, concern shading her face.

        Hallie dimmed the slider in the bathroom, keeping the light at a minimum.  The light hurt her eyes, making them burn and run.  Squinting at her reflection in the mirror, she shuddered.  No wonder Trixie suspected she was drugging.  She did look awful; pale and skinny and strung out.  If only she could remember what happened when she was out with her newfound friends.  Putting her hands against her head, she tried to focus.  Images flashed through her mind, but they were fast and furious, too fleeting for her to grasp.  Frustrated, she tugged off her clothes and turned on the shower.  Stepping into the spray, she let it pound against her skin.  With a yelp, she jumped back.  It burned.  Cautiously, she reached to turn the water to cold.  Still, the water burned her skin.  Turning it off, Hallie stumbled out of the shower and huddled on the bath mat, furiously drying herself with a towel.  Horrified, she watched as her drying feet seemed to sprout salt, the coarse grains covering the bottom.  Leaping to her feet, she buckled in pain as her stomach cramped, sharp and endlessly painful.  Head spinning, she grasped for the edge of the sink, gripping it as another wave of pain sent her senses reeling.  The walls seemed to breathe around her, rising and falling, the toothpaste tube expanding and shrinking before her eyes.  Hallie’s heart began to pound, blood rushing through her veins, painfully echoing the breathing motion of the walls.  Bloodshot eyes stared back from the mirror, and with an ever-growing feeling of dread, she opened her mouth, shrinking back as her teeth began to extend, cutting through her gums.  The pain receded, replaced by heightened senses of hearing and smell.  Hallie put her hands over her ears, trying to block out the rushing sound of blood—not her own—too close for comfort.  A strange sense of calm overtook her, and she pulled on her robe and left the bathroom, her feet not quite in contact with the floor.  Down the stairs she glided, drawn to the rush and pounding coming from the kitchen.  From the hall she could see Trixie pulling dinner out of the oven. She could hear Trixie’s heart beating a steady rhythm as she went about the mundane task. Hallie felt the pull of Trixie’s blood, and she struggled against her own horror, and the instinct that was driving her to attack. She fought it.  Mind over matter, but the pounding rush was getting stronger, the smell more tantalizing and compelling.  She couldn’t resist.

        Trixie set the casserole pan on the stove and started opening drawers, looking for a serving spoon amidst the flotsam and jetsam that made up Gramps’ kitchen collection.  Lost in her reverie, she didn’t notice Reddy rising from his spot under the table.  By the time his low growls registered in her mind, causing her to look at him, Reddy was shooting out into the dark hallway, teeth barred, a low primordial growl issuing from his throat. The resounding thumping, banging and yelling had Trixie running after her dog.

        It was dark.  Trixie could hear heavy breathing.  “Reddy?” she called out, reaching for the light switch, “Hallie?”

        “Don’t turn on the light,” Hallie said softly. 

        Too late.  Trixie’s finger had already flicked the switch, and she stepped back, swallowing a scream.  Hallie was huddled near the bottom of the stair, her face and hands covered with blood.  “Hallie?  What happened?”

        “Reddy…” Hallie started.

        “Reddy?  What about Reddy?  Where is he?  What did you do to him? What did you do to my dog?”

        “Nothing!” I didn’t hurt him.  He bit me! This is my blood!”  Hallie shaded her eyes with her right hand, holding out her left so Trixie could see the gash across the palm of her hand.

        Reddy crept in to stand next to Trixie, his legs set protectively.  “Why?” Trixie asked.  “What did you do to him?”

        “He was protecting you!” Hallie cried. “He was protecting you—from me!”

        “What?”  Trixie gasped, her eyes focused on Hallie’s wounded hand.  The skin was healing in front of her eyes, the edges folding together and smoothing out, leaving no trace of Reddy’s teeth.

        “Oh. My. God.”  Hallie’s eyes, dark and bloodshot were looking across the hall in shock and terror.  Trixie followed her cousin’s gaze and let out a small shriek.  Hallie, reflected in the floor length mirror, was nearly invisible.

        “This isn’t happening!” Trixie exclaimed, backing up.  She clutched at her hair.  “You’re a creature of the night, Hallie!  Just like in those comic books.  You’re a vampire, Hallie!  My own cousin a damned blood-sucking vampire!  Wait until your mom finds out!”

        “Wait! Trix!” Hallie rose to her feet.  Reddy growled a warning, and Hallie’s shoulders dropped.  Trixie watched as her cousin climbed slowly up the stairs.  When Hallie was out of sight, Trixie ran for the kitchen.  With shaking hands, she picked up the comic and the telephone, dialing the number scribbled on the back.

        Tap. Tap. Tappity-tap.  Trixie ran to the door, peeking out the window.  Edgar and Alan Frog peered back at her, their expressions alert and wary.  Quickly, she ushered them into the house.

        “You did the right thing calling us,” Edgar assured her.  “Does your cousin sleep a lot?”

        “All day,” Trixie answered.

        “Can’t stand the light?” Alan inquired.

        “She wears sunglasses in the house.”

        “Long fingernails? Bad breath?” Edgar asked.

        “Her fingernails are longer,” Trixie admitted, “but she’s always had a bad breath problem.  We used to call her Hallie-tosis.”

        “Salt stick to the bottom of her feet?” Alan narrowed his eyes.  “Aversion to water?”

        “Salt, yes,” Trixie said.  “I hadn’t noticed any water issue, but she went all freaky when she went to take a shower.”

        The brothers shared a long, knowing look.  “She’s a vampire, all right,” Alan said. “There’s only one thing to do.”

        Edgar agreed.  “You get yourself a good sharp stake, and drive it right through her heart.”

        “I can’t do that!” Trixie protested.

        The brothers looked at her.  “Why not?”

        “Because she’s my cousin. Duh!” Trixie slid down to sit on the floor.

        “Okay.” Edgar sat down next to her and gestured for his brother to join them. “We’ve been aware of some very serious vampire activity in this town for a long time.”

        Alan nodded his agreement.  “Gypsum Bay has become a haven for the undead”

        “As a matter of fact,” Edgar continued, “we’re almost certain that ghouls and werewolves occupy high positions at City Hall.  In fact, we’re ninety-nine percent sure that our neighbor Max is one of the undead.”

        “Max?” Trixie asked.  “Max, who owns the souvenir store?  Max?  My aunt’s boss, Max?  The man she’s dating?  He’s a vampire?  What makes you think that?”

        Alan ticked off his points on his fingers.  “One, he only shows up at the store after dark.  Two, he’s creepy and has bad breath.  Three, he lives near the beach, but he never goes in the water.  And four, his house is guarded by a vicious dog.”

        “Vicious?  You mean Thorne?  The Irish setter?”  Trixie scoffed.  “I’ve met him.  He’s a teddy bear.”

        “He’s a teddy bear at night,” Edgar argued.  “Our mom took Max a pie when he first opened the store.  In broad daylight.  That dog attacked her when she tried to open the gate.  Vicious, I tell you.”

        Trixie’s face went pale, her freckles standing out in stark contrast to her skin.  Opening the comic, she read, “Vampires require a daytime protector—a Guardian—to watch over them as they sleep.  For it is during the day that the vampire is most vulnerable.  Since they hold sway over animals, fierce dogs—the hounds of Hell—are often employed for this purpose.”

        “I told you that comic would save your life,” Edgar said.

        Trixie worried her lower lip with her teeth. “Exactly how many vampires have you actually destroyed?”

        “All together?” Edgar asked.

        “Zero,” Alan answered.

        Trixie raised an eyebrow.  “Are you kidding me?”

        “Hey!” Edgar defended, “Just because a Marine hasn’t seen combat, doesn’t mean he isn’t a Marine.  Let’s get planning.”

        Hallie woke with a start.  Her nose was pressed against a dingy white surface.  Disoriented, she looked around, trying to figure out what was happening.  Far below her was her bed, the hard surface above her was her ceiling. With a shriek of terror, Hallie realized she was floating.  Frightened, she tried to reach her bed, willing herself to drop.  It didn’t work.  Flinging her arms wildly, she struggled to control her unexpected flight.  Her flailing took her towards her window, and she kicked madly, trying to change her direction.  Grabbing onto the curtain pull, she made a last ditch attempt to slow herself, Hallie’s feet connected with the window glass, just as Trixie flung open the door, a wooden cross held in front of her. “Help me, Trix!  Please! Help me!”

        Shaken by her cousin’s plea for help, Trixie dropped her cross and ran to the window, grabbing Hallie’s feet and dragging her to the floor.

        “Thanks, Trix,” Hallie panted. “We’ve got to stick together, Trixie. You’ve got to help me.”

        “What about your mom?”

        “No! Don’t tell Mom.  Please. Don’t say anything to Mom.

        “Hallie,” Trixie worried, “This isn’t like taking Gramps’ Oreos, or breaking a lamp.  We have to tell someone.  I don’t think we can fix this ourselves.”

        “Just a few more days, Trix. Please?” Hallie’s eyes were pleading.  “Let’s try to work this out. Please?”

        Trixie hesitated, torn between the enormity of Hallie’s problem and the heartbreak of Hallie’s begging.  “Okay, Hal,” she agreed reluctantly.  “Two more days.  But, I’m bringing in some friends to help.”

        “I thought the Bob-Whites were scattered for the summer.”

        “They are.” Trixie gave her a bitter grin.  “I’m bringing in Frogs.”

        Hallie waited until the house was still.  Her mother had returned from work, humming happily, escorted by her boss, Max.  They had spent several minutes on the porch, doing things Hallie had no desire to watch.  Fortunately, Gramps had chugged in shortly after, breaking up Maggie and Max’s alone time.  Unfortunately, Gramps had invited the man in for coffee, which had seemed to drag on forever.  Now, finally, she could slip out the back door and hop on her bike.  Coasting it down the drive, Hallie waited until she was out of earshot before starting the bike and speeding toward the bluff.

        The castle was empty. Hallie crept down the crumbling stairs and into the silent great hall.  A familiar looking wine bottle was propped against the wall.  Hallie picked it up and sniffed at it.  Both attracted and repulsed, she realized the crusty residue was blood.  Horrified, she dropped the bottle and pushed herself to search a little more. Entering a dark hall, Hallie realized she was in a sleeping chamber.  Her eyes, unusually adept at seeing in the dark, swept the room, landing on a pile of blankets in the corner.  Drawn to the spot, Hallie recognized Orion’s vest.  Picking it up, a flyer fell out of the pocket.  Star’s face looked up at her from the flyer.  In capital letters, the words above the picture spelled out, MISSING CHILD.

        “Looking for something?” 

        Hallie jumped as David’s voice echoed through the chamber. Dropping the vest and flyer back on the bed, she turned slowly, fighting to keep the fear off of her face.  “I’m looking for Orion and Star.”

        “If you ever want to see Ri and Star again, you’ll come with me tonight.  It’s time.”  He held out his hand, and Hallie felt the irresistible pull.  She took his hand and allowed him to draw her out of the room and back up the stairs.  David mounted his motorcycle and gestured for Hallie to follow him.  She did, and soon they were on the bluff above the beach.  Dwayne, Paul and Marko were already there, waiting.

        “What is this, David?” Hallie asked.

        “You’re one of us now, right Hallie?”  He looked into her eyes, compelling her.

        She felt herself nod her acquiescence.  “Good.  Join us.”  David reached out a long finger to tip Hallie’s chin, directing her eyes to a campfire on the beach.  Hallie recognized Greg and the surfers from the beach.  Confused, she watched as the others leapt from the bluff, swooping toward the unsuspecting beach boys.

        It was quick, yet seemed to go on forever.   Once again, Hallie found herself changing, her blood rushing, her world tilting as her senses sharpened along with her teeth.  Dazed and frightened, she tried to escape, but the massacre on the beach also pulled at her, compelling her to join the others.  With every fiber of her being, she fought the urge, forcing her body back from the edge, her hands over her ears, trying to stifle the screams.  She slid to the ground, gasping and sweating.

        Footsteps caught her attention, and she waited, exhausted and convinced that she would be the next victim.  David and the others stepped into view, bloodstained and sated, their eyes glowing in the darkness.  David stopped in front of her. Tilting his head, he looked at her.  “Now you know who we are, Hallie. And now you know who you are, too.”  His face was calm, his voice reassuring.  “You’ll never grow old, and you’ll never die.  But you must feed. Go.”  He gestured toward the beach, and snapped his fingers.  He and his boys walked away, leaving Hallie sick, confused and torn.

        Hallie barely remembered parking the bike and climbing the stairs to her room.  She was tired.  So very tired.  Lying on her bed, she closed her eyes, only to have them spring open at a knock on her window.  There was a face outside the window: Orion. He was floating in the air, Star bobbing next to him. Hallie rose and opened the window, but said nothing.

        “Can we come in,” Orion asked softly.  “Please? I need to talk to you.”

        “Okay.”  Hallie stepped aside and let him enter.  Star followed.

        Looking around, Star said, “Your room is pretty.  I think I had a pretty room once.”

        “Wait here,” Hallie told them.  “I need to get Trixie.”  Orion started to protest, but Hallie cut him off.  “She already knows.”

        Sleepy-eyed, but alert, Trixie returned with Hallie.  Star smiled widely at the sight of Trixie.  “You’re one of them, aren’t you? Trixie asked.  “Both of you.”

        “I can explain,” Orion said.

        “I already know,” Hallie told him. “I know everything, now.”  She shuddered, and stared directly into Orion’s pale blue eyes.  “Do you know where David took me tonight, Orion? Do you?”

        He closed his eyes, his face looking pained. “Yes.  I’m to blame for it.  If you hadn’t met me, if I hadn’t liked you…I tried to warn you…”

        Hallie’s voice was cold.  “That night at the castle…that wasn’t wine they gave me, was it?  It was blood.  David’s blood.  I’m one of them, aren’t I Orion?”

        “No! Not yet!” Orion shook his head, his eyes bright with unshed tears.  “You’re like Star and me.  Half-vampires.  You don’t become a full vampire until you’ve made your first kill.”  He released a long breath. “You were supposed to be mine.  My first kill, but I couldn’t do it.”

        “Why not?”

        “Because I love you.” Orion shook his head.  “You were my friend, and you didn’t ask anything from me.  I couldn’t destroy that.  So, then David decided to keep you, to turn you.  I was supposed to make Trixie my first, but I couldn’t do that, either.  Because of Star.”

        “I like you, Trixie.  You’re nice.”  Star had been quiet throughout the conversation.  “Most people aren’t nice.”

        “I like you, too, Star,” Trixie told the little girl.  Turning to Orion, she asked, “If you aren’t all the way vampires, how to we turn you back?  How do we fix you?”

        Orion shrugged.  “I don’t know.  It’s not too late for Hallie, but each night it gets harder and harder for me to resist the killing.”

        “I know,” Hallie admitted.  “I’ve felt it. The pull.”

        “I’m getting weaker.  Soon, I’ll need to feed.” Orion looked apologetically at Trixie.  “That night on the bluff, I took a little from you.  It wasn’t enough to hurt you, but it sustained me for a while.  But the urges…if it weren’t for Star, I…” He stiffened.  “The dawn is coming.  We have to get back.”

        “Stay. Please?” Hallie asked.

        “We can’t.”  Orion bit his lip. “David will come for us.”

        “Not during the day,” Trixie pointed out.  “Stay here, where you’ll be safe.  I need to make a call.”

        “Who are you calling?” Hallie asked.

        Trixie tilted her chin.  “The Marines.”

        Orion was sleeping in Hallie’s walk-in closet, while Star was curled up on a pallet between the bed and the window, hidden from anyone peeking in the door.  Trixie and the Frog brothers were sequestered in her bedroom, the door locked as they reviewed their options.

        “According to my research,” Alan said, pointing to a notebook full of scribbles, “The only way to turn back a half-vamp is by killing the head vamp.  That’s our objective.”

        “Unfortunately, we had to rule out Max as the head vamp,” Edgar informed her.  “He passed the garlic test, the water test, and the glow-in-the dark test.”  He shook his head.  “I was so sure, but I guess he’s just a weird dude with bad breath and a mean dog.”

        “When did you test him?” Trixie asked.

        “We finished just before you called us last night,” Alan explained.  “The first time, I mean.  I offered him pizza, with lots of garlic.  Extreme garlic, you might say.  He gagged a little, but he ate it.”

        “I guess liking garlic could explain the breath,” Trixie rationalized.

        “True,” Edgar agreed.  “But, when he gagged, Alan offered him some water, and spilled it all over him.  Nothing.  Nada.  Then, I tripped the circuit and blacked out the store.  He didn’t glow.  Not one bit. He was mad, though.  He showed Alan the door with extreme prejudice.”   

        Trixie sighed.  “Well, I suppose that’s good news for Aunt Maggie; she has a date with him tonight, but where does it leave us?”

        “Plan B,” Edgar told her.

        “What’s Plan B?” Trixie asked.

        “We don’t have one yet,” Edgar admitted, looking at his watch. “We have ten hours to come up with one.”

        “Why ten hours?” Trixie asked.

        Edgar stared at her.  “Because that’s when the sun goes down and they’ll be coming for us.  Hallie didn’t feed, and Chief Nosferatu’s gonna know that Orion and Star are here.  They’ll come, and they’ll be hungry.”

        Trixie swallowed hard.  “Then we’d better be ready.”

        There were four Catholic churches within ten miles of Gypsum Bay.  Using Gramps’ truck, Trixie and the Frog boys slipped into the vestibules and liberated nearly two gallons of holy water.  The next stop was the hardware store, where they purchased a pack of twelve garden stakes and two sheets of plywood.  To round things out, Trixie stopped at the discount store to load up on garlic and summer toys.  Finally, at ten minutes to six, she pulled into the driveway and pocketed the screwdriver.

        Sending the Frog boys around to the back with their supplies, Trixie ambushed Gramps in his den, where he was working on stuffing a weasel. “Hey, Gramps,” Trixie called out, “the Widow Johnson called.  She said to pick her up at seven instead of eight.”

        Gramps looked confused.  “Did we have a date tonight?”

        “I guess so,” Trixie told him with a smile.  “She said not to be late.”

        “I’d better get cleaned up, then,” Gramps said, thrusting the finished weasel into Trixie’s hands.  “Here.  I was planning on giving this to you in the morning.”

        “Uh…thanks, Gramps.” Trixie gingery took the mangy weasel.  “I know just where to put it.”

        Fifteen minutes later, Gramps pulled out of the drive.  Trixie breathed a quick sigh of relief, let in the Frogs, and ran upstairs.  Stopping briefly at her bedroom, she tossed her newest acquisition into the closet, where the weasel joined an ever-growing pile of stuffed creatures.  Slamming the door on her personal gravesite, Trixie hurried to wake Hallie, Orion and Star.  Groggy, the older two joined the Frogs and Trixie in prepping the house.

        Orion and Hallie locked all the doors and windows, using the plywood to board up the bigger windows.  Screwing the board to the window frame, Orion looked at Hallie.  “We could just leave,” he said.  “They’ll be coming for Star and me.”

        Hallie shook her head.  “No.  They’ll be coming for all of us.”  Setting down the screwdriver, Hallie ran for Gramps’ den.  She emerged a few minutes later carrying a heavy duty hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. Lifting her chin, she repeated, “They’ll be coming for all of us, so we’d better be ready.”

        Max escorted Maggie into the spacious living area of his house.  Thorn came bounding in to greet her, licking her hand.  “Oh! Hello Thorn,” Maggie said, patting the dog on his auburn head.  “You have a lovely home, Max.”

        “Thank you.” Max waited for Maggie to seat on the couch before joining her.  Thorn sprawled out at their feet.  “I’ve been very fortunate.  I now have three video stores, and they’re doing well.  But I want to talk about you.  I know that you’ve had a rough time, Maggie.  I can also see that working in the store isn’t what you ultimately want.  Tell me what you want.”

        Maggie flushed.  “I think I’d like to work with children. My degree was in early childhood education, but I never used it.  Now I’m thinking I might want to look into social work—maybe with teenagers.  Gypsum Bay seems to be full of them.”

        Max nodded.  “Runaways, mostly.  They come from all over, attracted by the boardwalk and the ocean.  They come into the stores, looking for a handout.  I’ve hired a few, the rest…” He shrugged.  “I’ve seen you with them, though.  I’ve seen you sneak some of your own money to them.  I’ve seen you offering food.   You have a kind heart.”

        “I’m a mother,” Maggie told him.  “I haven’t always been there for my kids; not the way I should have been.  Maybe I can make up for that by helping someone else’s children.”

        “I love your generous heart,” Max told her, looking deeply into her eyes. Maggie leaned forward and kissed him.  It lasted a very long time, so long that she didn’t notice the sound of wings flying overhead.  Max noticed, but ignored it, a sly grin tickling the edge of his mouth.  Thorn began to whimper.

        In the kitchen, Edgar chopped garlic, dumping chunks of it in bowls of holy water, while his brother poured the mixture into the super-soakers Trixie had purchased.  Trixie mixed holy water into the bathtub, tossing in a few garlic cloves for good measure. Hallie and Orion sharpened the garden stakes, the bow slung over Hallie’s shoulder.  Meeting back in the kitchen, Edgar and Alan applied camouflage to their faces, using a picture in a Soldier of Fortune magazine.  Edgar took the opportunity to give the troops a pep talk.  “I think I should warn you all: It’s never pretty when a vampire buys it.  No two bloodsuckers ever go out the same way.  Some scream and yell.  Some go quietly. Some explode.  Some implode.  But all of them will try to take you with them.”

        Outside, Reddy began to growl and bark.  Trixie looked up, fear on her face.  “I left Reddy outside.” She started for the door.

        “Don’t go out there!” Edgar yelled.

        “I’ll go!”  Orion pushed Trixie aside and sprinted into the yard.  The sound of beating wings grew louder as he struggled with the lunge line holding Reddy, and with Reddy himself as he resisted Orion’s vampire nature.  Loosening the dog, Orion ran for the door, Reddy leading the way, the vampire horde close on their heels.  They made it into the house, and Trixie slammed the door just as the first vampire slammed into it.

        Star grabbed onto Orion’s leg, but he shook her off, lifting her up and handing her to Trixie.  “They’re here.  Hide her!”  Trixie grabbed the girl and ran for her bedroom.  As they reached the stairs, Dwayne burst out of the fireplace and flew across the room.

        Trixie watched, frozen in horror as the vampire approached them.  Suddenly, Hallie was there, teeth barred, swinging a baseball bat with all of her might.  “Run!” she screamed at Trixie, even as the bat caught Dwayne at chest height, propelling him back across the room.  Edgar opened fire with garlic-infused holy water, and Dwayne fell to the ground, writhing in agony and dissolving into the hardwood floor.

        Recovering, Trixie grabbed Star and half-carried, half-dragged the girl up the stairs.  Pushing the child under her bed, she stood up just as her bedroom window exploded inward and Marko flew in, his face leering.  Trixie let loose with a blast of holy water, and the vampire hissed in pain.  Moving faster than humanly possible, he wrenched the water gun from Trixie’s hand and threw her roughly on the bed.  Terrified, Trixie scooted backwards, searching for a weapon.  Her back hit the spindles on the headboard, and she knew she was trapped.  Marko closed in on her, his eyes red and glowing.  With one last desperate move, Trixie yanked free a spindle from the bed.  As Marko bent over her, teeth flashing in his rotting face, Trixie thrust the spindle into his chest with all of her might, piercing his skin and impaling the vampire on the makeshift stake.  Marko stumbled backwards, clawed hands grasping at the stake.  Alan Frog burst through the door, gun spurting.  Marko turned on him, teeth yellow and bloodstained, and then he simply folded in on himself.  Alan looked at Trixie.  “Implosion?” he suggested.  She nodded.  “You okay?” he asked.  Trixie nodded again, and picked up her water rifle.  Poking at the puddle of Marko, she fired a few extra rounds of holy water, just to be safe.  With a quick check of Star, huddled under the bed, she joined Alan on the hunt.  Two down: Two to go.

        Downstairs, Orion, Edgar and Hallie faced off against David and Paul.  Orion pushed Hallie behind him, facing the leader with a hiss.  Edgar fired the last of his holy water at Paul.  The vampire, realizing the hunter was out of ammo, grinned evilly and began to stalk him.  Reddy growled, deep in his throat, watching warily.  Suddenly, David launched himself into the air.  Orion did the same, their bodies colliding in mid air, tumbling and correcting.  Hallie raised her bow, trying to get a clear shot, but it was impossible.  Paul laughed and advanced on Edgar.  Edgar hurled his empty weapon at the vamp, even as Alan yelled from the stairs, “Kitchen!!”

        Ignoring the aerial battle, Alan and Trixie sprinted for the kitchen.  Edgar and Paul arrived first.  Frantically, Edgar looked for a weapon, wrenching the fire extinguisher from the wall.  Paul continued to advance. Edgar sprayed foam directly into Paul’s face, but the vampire simply extended his serpentine tongue and licked the foam from his face.  Alan leaped on the vampire’s back, knocking him off balance, even as Reddy pounced, the Irish setter’s weight pushing the vampire to the ground.  Paul lunged forward, and Edgar shoved a wooden napkin ring into his mouth, jamming it into the open position.  Trixie reached for the bag of garlic and began to shove whole cloves into the vampire’s open mouth.

        With Reddy on his chest, and a Frog brother on each leg, Paul was helpless against the attack.  He began to swell up like a balloon, his face blowing up like a glowing purple balloon.  With one clove left, Trixie shouted, “Reddy! Down!  He’s going to blow!”  Stuffing the last clove down the vampire’s throat, she grabbed her dog and took cover.  Paul continued to expand.  With a sonic boom, he burst, splattering gooey green slime all over the kitchen.  Sitting up, Trixie brushed away a trail of green goo from her arm.  “Gross!” she said, looking at the Frogs.

        Edgar and Alan looked shell shocked.  “Explosion,” they said in unison.

        There was a short scream and a thud, and Hallie came tumbling into the kitchen.  David appeared in the doorway.  “I’ll be back for you.  Sit tight.” He pointed his index finger and shot out a ribbon of flame, sealing everyone inside the kitchen with a wreath of fire.  “Ri-Ri,” he called out.  “It’s just you and me now.  One on one.  Fight to the finish.”

        Through the flames, they watched as David and Orion met again in battle.  Bouncing off the walls, the two struggled for power.  David, older and a full vampire was the stronger.  He trapped Orion against the wall, his arm pressed against the half-vamp’s throat.  “It doesn’t have to be this way,” David told him.  “You’re one of us.  Don’t you understand?”  He pushed harder, making an Orion shaped indentation in the wall.  “You can have everything you want.  Don’t make me kill you!”

        “We have to help him,” Trixie said.  “We can’t let David kill him.”

        “How?” Edgar asked, pointing at the ring of fire.  “We can’t get out.”

        “I can.”  All eyes turned to Hallie.  Rising, she studied the doorway of fire.  Gripping onto her bow, she approached the flames.  Concentrating, she shuddered, and Trixie realized that Hallie was changing.

        “What’s she doing?” Alan asked.

“She’s vamping out,” Trixie said breathlessly, her eyes focused on her cousin’s changing demeanor.  “It’s the only way she can get through the flames.”

        Hallie turned back one last time, and Trixie tried not to flinch as her cousin’s eyes glowed red.  With a half salute, Hallie stepped through the flaming doorway, unscathed.

        Orion was not faring as well.  Pinned by the throat, he was close to losing consciousness.  David continued talking.  “I took you in, Ri: You, and your little sister.  I gave you refuge from those who wanted to hurt you.  I rescued you and I offered you eternal life, and this is how you repay me?”

        “Leave him alone!”

        David turned to see Hallie standing behind him, bow drawn.  He released Orion, who slid to the floor, holding his throat and gasping for air.

        “You can’t kill me, Hallie,” David told her gently.

        “I will, David.  I will.” Hallie’s voice trembled, but her hands stayed still, the arrow poised to fly.

        “No, you won’t.  My blood is in your veins.  You’re mine.”  He took a step toward her, and Hallie stepped back, her arrow still pointed at David’s chest.

        Orion rose from the ground as David approached Hallie.  With a shout, he flung himself at the vampire, pushing him toward Hallie.  Hallie, startled, loosed the arrow.  Her shot was weak, but combined with the force of Orion’s shove, it was enough to enter David’s chest and pierce his heart, the tip ripping through the back of his shirt.

        David screamed, pulling at the arrow, wrenching it from his body.  Light spilled from the hole in his chest like a searchlight in the night.  David’s body flew up to the ceiling, crashing through the second floor, sparking like a roman candle.  Then, like a balloon losing its air, he began to deflate, spiraling like an out of control rocket.  His wildly spinning body bounced from wall to wall, shattering furniture and windows, before shooting out into the night sky and exploding like a falling star.

        The wreath of fire holding Trixie and the Frog brothers in the kitchen dissolved, releasing them from their prison.  Star rushed down the stairs, and into her brother’s arms.  All was silent.

        “Yes!” Edgar pumped his fist in the air.  “You destroyed David!  His hold on you has been released.”

        Trixie looked at Hallie.  Hallie shook her head and moved closer to Orion and Star.  “I don’t feel any different,” she said, looking at Orion.  “Do you?”

        Orion reached for Hallie’s hand.  “No.”  He looked at Star, and she shook her head.

        Edgar slumped.  “That means we still haven’t destroyed the head vampire.”

        Headlights flashed in the drive.  “Someone’s here,” Trixie said.

        All eyes turned to the door as Max and Maggie entered.  Maggie’s eyes widened as she took in the destroyed house.  “Oh. My. God!”

        “Mom,” Hallie started.  “I can explain…sort of.”

        “What happened?” Maggie asked, her eyes surveying the kids.  “Is everyone all right?”

        Max stepped forward, his face a study in anguish. “Where are my boys?” he asked, his eyes on Orion.  “Where are David and the others?”

        Trixie, Hallie and the Frogs shared a look, but Maggie was still in the dark.  “Max?  What are you talking about?”

        “It was going to be so perfect, Maggie,” Max told her, reaching for her hands.  “One big happy family.  My boys.  Your girls to guide Star.”

        “I knew it!” Edgar said.  “You are a vampire!”

        “A vampire?” Maggie whispered.

        “But he passed the tests,” Trixie said.

        Max laughed.  “Tests?  Please.  You can’t test a vampire on his own turf.  And you can’t test him once you’ve invited him into yours.  It renders you powerless.”

        “Didn’t you know that?” Trixie asked the brothers.  They shrugged, and looked uneasy.  Trixie rolled her eyes in disgust.

        “Could someone please explain what is going on?”  Maggie looked furious and frightened.

        “It’s you I was after all along, Maggie.  I wanted you to be our daytime guardian; to be the mother to my children; my helpmeet.  I knew that if we could bring Hallie and Trixie into the family, there’d be no way you could say no.” He smiled, showing his fangs.  Maggie jumped, but he held her tight.  “I still want you, Maggie.  I haven’t changed my mind about that.”  He pulled her close, and all the hideousness that was Max in undead form began to show.  His yellowed face, the flesh sagging around his foul lips, his fangs dripping as he moved in for the kill.  “We can make a new family.”  Maggie struggled in his grasp, and Max chuckled.  “Go ahead and fight.  It’s sweeter when you fight.”

        “NO!” Hallie flung herself at Max, driving him away from her mother.  “I didn’t invite you in!”

        Max let out a roar that drove everyone back, immobilizing them all.  All of them, save for Hallie.  She alone stood in the middle of the destroyed room, facing Max.  “Don’t do this, little girl,” he hissed.  “You can’t win.”

        “I have to try.”  Hallie crouched down as Max rounded on her.  Flinging herself at his knees, she was surprised when she failed to make contact.  With one outstretched hand, the vampire effortlessly stopped her, holding her at bay and lazily spinning her around him.

        “It doesn’t have to be like this Hallie,” he said, his voice enticing, despite the horror of his form.  “We can be a family.  You, Orion, Star, Trixie and even those two.” He spun her toward Edgar and Alan. “Or not.  I will never be unfaithful to your mother.  I will never abandon you like your father did.  We can be a real family: The kind that lasts forever.  Literally.”  He set her down gently, freeing her.  Hallie shook her head, trying to shake off the compulsion of his voice.  Desperate, she looked at the faces in the room:  Trixie, her eyes wide; Orion, defeated; Star, frightened; the Frog brothers angry and terrified.  She looked at her mother, confused and dazed, still half in the vampire spell.  Something behind Max reflected in the broken shards of the window glass, and Hallie grinned.  With a scream, she threw herself at her mother, rolling them away as Gramps backed the pickup truck through the front of the house at full speed.  The unsecured fencing materials flew through the air like missiles, slicing through Max’s body like knives through butter. 

        The vampire bellowed with pain and rage, the force of the impaling propelling him backwards into the fireplace.  They watched in horror, as his body became a vortex, drawing in everything around it.  Like a rushing wind, the drapes, furniture and rugs where sucked into the space that was once occupied by Max’s body.  Released from the compulsion, Trixie grabbed onto Edgar.  He latched onto his brother, and Maggie and Hallie reached for Orion and Star as everything headed for the vortex.  Reddy slid past, his nails digging for purchase in the hardwood.  Trixie reached out and grabbed onto his tail, stopping his progress.  Max threw back his head in agony, and became a part of the vortex, following the contents of the house as the rose and vaporized in the night sky.  As he disappeared, the wind subsided.

        Able to get to their feet, the survivors staggered together.  “Everyone okay?” Maggie asked, her voice hoarse.

        “It’s gone!”  Hallie smiled widely, showing perfect, even, human teeth.  “It’s gone! I feel it!”

        “So do I!” Orion agreed, swinging her around in a huge hug.  “Star?”

        “Yes!”  The little girl smiled.  “I want ice cream.”

        Trixie laughed.  “Ice cream for everyone!” Impulsively, she hugged both the Frogs before scooping up Star for a big hug.

        Gramps stepped through the ruined wall and took a look around his ruined house.  “Hmph!” he grumbled, stepping over debris and he made his way to the kitchen.  Ignoring the green slime coating the room, he opened the refrigerator and pulled a root beer from the second shelf.  Popping the top, he took a long swallow and lowered the can.  Muttering to himself, he walked back to the truck.  “The one thing about living in Gypsum Bay I never could stomach…All the damned Vampires.”

End

Author Notes:

This is my story for Ryl and Mal’s 2010 Vampire Challenge.  I chose my all time favorite, campy vampire movie, The Lost Boys (circa 1987). The title is from a song used in the movie.

90% of the plot, 50% of the characters, and about 33% of the words belong to Janice Fischer, James Jeremias and Jeffrey Boam, the three writers of The Lost Boys.  Honey Wheeler, Hallie, Mart and Trixie Belden, as well as the briefly mentioned Jim, Brian & Dan belong to Random House. The pictures were floating in cyberspace.  None of these things are used with permission. Everything else is a product of my own, twisted imagination.  All changes are deliberate, and for the purpose of moving along the story.  If I have offended anyone, I apologize.  If you enjoyed the story, I will smile.

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