Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(21)

From there, the play took on a much darker, more seductive tone. Juliet, now a vampire, was torn between her absolute love for Romeo and her newfound urge to kill him whenever he was near. Romeo longed to join her in the world of the undead but because of a curse was unable. The story was full of scheming, supernatural strength and mind–bending tricks and, by the end of the play, their feuding families were the least of their problems. The story finished with Juliet accidently killing Romeo and then jumping into a fire to end her eternal misery.

“So, how did you like it?” Viggo asked, stretching out in the car on our way home.

“Amazing. Disturbing. Heartbreaking. An interesting ‘adaptation.’ Bravo, Viggo!” I ended with a scholarly clap, giggling. “How did you come up with the idea?”

“Oh, I have a deep fascination with vampires. They’re such misunderstood creatures, don’t you agree?” he said, his voice somber.

I paused. “Well, I doubt they’d be like that … you know, beautiful and emotional. Aren’t they supposed to be evil, blood–crazy creatures with stained, dirty nails and vile breath? You know—bats and coffins?”

“What a terrible misconception,” Viggo said, shaking his head furiously, his brow furrowed. “In my opinion,” he added.

“But they kill people; we’re like giant drinking boxes.”

“Well, they need to survive! I don’t suppose pigs and cows look too fondly at humans. It’s the same thing! A little earlier in the food preparation process perhaps,” Viggo rationalized.

“Hmm.” He had a point, I guess.

“And imagine what it would be like to have heightened senses and super–human strength.”

“That would be pretty cool,” I agreed. “What do you think, Sofie?”

She hadn’t joined in the conversation, instead gazing listlessly out at the streetlights. “It would be lonely,” she answered now, her voice flat. “Everyone around you dies and you live forever.”

“Well, that’s why you’d turn those you loved, so you could be with them. Right?” I said.

Sofie turned to give me a tight–lipped smile. “It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?”

“Unless you can’t turn them for some reason,” Viggo added, sadness dragging at his features. “Because of a curse.”

“Right … and then all the super powers wouldn’t change the reality that you’re the loneliest creature in the world,” I whispered. “That would be awful.”

Viggo’s mouth curved up in a half–smile and he patted my hand affectionately. “Yes, it would. No one deserves to live like that, don’t you agree? So lonely?”

I nodded, thinking about my own solitary existence. Am I that obvious?

Sofie turned back to gaze out her side window. The rest of the car ride was silent.

It was close to midnight by the time I staggered to my room, Max on my heels. I sluggishly kicked off my heels and flopped onto the bed, exhausted from a day of decadence. Even with all the fighting between Sofie and her friends, I could easily get used to living my days in their world.

I briefly considered pulling my weary body up to undress and get ready for bed, but I drifted off to asleep before I could act on it, faintly aware of a burning heat against the skin of my chest.

6. Déjà Vu

This feels too familiar.

The same statue stood beside me. The same trees towered over me. The same twilight challenged my eyes. The only thing worse than last night’s dream would be last night’s dream repeating itself.

I looked down to see my jade green evening gown. That was different, at least. My pendant had come alive again, burning hot and shining a brilliant orange–red.

“We’ve been waiting for you,” a low voice called from the darkness.

My body went rigid. My eyes scanned the trees for the speaker. I sagged in relief as a woman with an angelic face and springy curls stepped out from the shadows. Amelie. This was a different dream.

“We’re alone,” Amelie confirmed when she noticed my eyes checking the trees for the others. “Sorry about last time … we didn’t have much choice. Though I can’t say I didn’t enjoy part of it.” She grinned sheepishly. “You are … an apparition of sorts. I’ll explain later, but we need to get away from here.” She stepped forward, then hesitated. “Sorry about this.”

I frowned. “About what?”

I regained consciousness as my bare feet hit stone. Full darkness had descended and I couldn’t see a thing. “Amelie?” I whispered.

“Sorry,” Amelie said again.

“What did you do to me?”

“Nothing, really. It was just easier if I didn’t have to explain things yet. Besides, it would have taken all night at your pace,” Amelie said, evading my question. “Plus you probably would have tripped and knocked yourself out on a tree root again.”

“I’m not that slow,” I muttered, reaching up to touch the bump on my head from the previous night. I had excelled at track in high school. The perfect loner’s sport.

Amelie laughed. “You are, next to me. Besides, I’d like to see you run through the woods and up a mountain in that,” her eyes appraised my dress.

I pursed my lips, conceding to her logic.