I gasped again and stepped back. "No ... this can't be! You can't be."
I was living a nightmare. Trevor Mitchell, my nemesis, a vampire? And we were standing together on sacred ground.
I picked up my dress and inched back. "Who turned you?" I asked, breathless.
"That doesn't matter now. It's time to be talking about us. You and me. And eternity."
"There is no you and me!" I stepped back again, but he drew closer.
"I think there is." He took my arm and pulled me in to him and laid a riveting kiss on me. I was shocked and, for a moment, lost in the embrace. I felt like I had more than a year ago when he kissed me on the lawn of the Mansion on Halloween and several times before. He knew how to kiss and make a girl feel happy against his lips, but it was hard to see into his soul - if he had one. Tonight I felt something even deeper. I really felt in his lips that there was something more to his feelings than trying to seduce the goth girl. I felt that he loved me.
I wanted him to leave. I had assumed the Maxwells might have disrupted our evening, but I'd forgotten about the bigger threat - Trevor Mitchell. Though he was attractive and we had a lifelonghadleave. I connection, I was angry and sad for him that he was spoiling my big night. On my end, I was kissing the Monster good-bye.
I pushed his face away from me.
It was the one night I'd thought I didn't need my garlic. I didn't have anything to defend myself but me. I had to get him off of me and escape this situation. I kicked him in the shins as hard as I could. They must have taken a beating over the years of playing soccer, because he winced in pain and drew back, though he kept a tight hold of my arm.
I bared my teeth and was ready to bite at his arm when I saw a commotion by the tomb.
"I thought you were waiting for me - " Becky said as she approached the altar with Matt at her side.
"I am! This is Trevor!" I yelled to her. "Not Alexander."
I heard her gasp. "No - it can't be!"
Stormy emerged, holding her black satin basket of flowers. "I told Alexander he couldn't trust that guy! What is he doing up there?"
"What is he doing here?" Vibrant red hair came out from the shadows by the tomb. Scarlet's angry face matched the color of her hair.
I was surprised to see Scarlet. It was one thing to see Matt, but Trevor and now Scarlet, too?
"This was supposed to be private," I mumbled. "What is going on?"
"Why is Trevor up there with you?" Scarlet asked me.
A surprised Sebastian stepped out, too, into the moonlight along with Onyx.
"He's a vampire," I said to her, "and now he plans to turn me."
"No - " she said. "It's not true! Don't listen to him!"
Trevor gripped my arm even harder.
"Then if you didn't, who did?" I asked her.
Just then a pink-haired girl stepped out of the shadows.
"Luna!" I said. "You never quit, do you!"
She seemed shocked to see Trevor up at the altar, just as I was shocked to see everyone here at the cemetery.
"But I do!" she said. "I don't know what you're talking about. Why is Trevor here?" Romeo had been holding her hand, but then he moved away. "You turned him?"
"Of course not!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him back to her. "I thought she was going to be here with Alexander." Jagger and Valentine appeared, too, seemingly shocked by Trevor and me at the covenant altar.
Trevor continued to grip my arm. I didn't feel the physical pain of his grasp as much as the emotional one of him threatening to bite me.
"Well, he's a vampire now and thinks he's going to turn me!" I shouted to them.
"No - " Becky said. "She was waiting for Alexander!"
"You can't do that!" Sebastian yelled to Trevor.
"This got out of hand!" Becky said. "I'm sorry, Raven, I only told Matt about tonight."
"Well, word travels fast in a small town, Monster Girl," Trevor said, drawing me close to his side.
"Let go," I said to him, "or I'll be going for your jugular!"
Trevor looked at his new audience - who were only a few yards away. It was hard to make them out from the flickering lights surrounding us. But when our eyes adjusted, it was clear. Everyone was stunned and didn't know what to do. My nemesis was brimming with confidence and pride. Then he looked at me. "I'm going to prove to you and everyone else that it's me you really want."
Trevor grinned madly and showed his fangs. He leaned back, ready to bite my neck. I was ready to kick, punch, and scratch my way out when I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Jagger and Sebastian rushing toward us.
All of a sudden a force from behind me pushed through us, and Trevor was thrown a few yards away from me and was lying by a tombstone as I fell back on the ground.
I looked up when a strong hand reached out to me. On it was a familiar spider ring.
I was overcome with emotion. "Alexander!" I exclaimed.
He appeared out of the night, shined a brilliant smile, and took my hand. Alexander was as gorgeous as I'd ever seen him. His black hair flopped over his chocolate-colored eyes and hung down seductively. He was a magnetic presence in a dark silk suit, blood-red tie, and matching pocket handkerchief. He helped me to my feet and gazed at me in my dress.
He really examined me and lit up with delight. "You are breathtaking," he said. "I couldn't hI cned madlave imagined you any more beautiful than you are now."
I was so pleased with his reaction and stared up at the handsome vampire before me.
"Are you okay?" Alexander asked.
"I am now," I said, squeezing his hand.
"It was supposed to be just us," he said with a sweet smile as Jagger and Sebastian returned to the watching crowd.
"I know. I guess everyone found out. But there was one person who I didn't ever think would be here." We both looked to Trevor, who had just gotten back on his feet.
"Don't even think about it - " Alexander said to him angrily. Then he looked at me with soft and engaging eyes. "I have had just about enough of other guys trying to turn you, Raven. There is only one vampire who will," he said confidently. "The one who you were always meant for - me." I melted inside. Alexander was as dreamy as ever.
"I want to ask you one more time," he said, pulling me close. "Is this what you truly want?"
"Yes!" I assured him.
"It's not too late to turn back," he said.
"Don't even think about it."