I WAS PERCHED ON THE EDGE OF HER BED, holding her delicate hand in mine, tracing gentle circles on her soft skin with my thumb. Her chest rose and fell like a calm sea, the faintest whisper of breath escaping her parted lips. Even in sleep, her face wore a sorrowful expression, like a painting of a forlorn princess. Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't like I was trying to be Prince Charming or anything. Truth was, I felt more like the villain in her story - the big bad wolf who'd huffed and puffed and done some serious damage. Just as I was getting used to the whole sleeping beauty scene, her eyelids began to flutter. Panic shot through me like an espresso straight to the veins. "Oh, no, no, no... don't wake up!" I pleaded silently, every muscle in my body tensing like a cat about to bolt. See, I didn't exactly want her to wake up and see me looming over her, my face just inches from hers. Let's be real, it's not the prettiest mug to wake up to, especially after the whole biting f
A NURSE STRIDES IN, and let me tell you, she was a sight for sore eyes. With fiery red hair pulled back into a no-nonsense bun and a smile that could light up a coal mine, she was a welcome distraction from the tension in the room. Her crisp white uniform rustled as she moved, and the faint scent of disinfectant followed her like a shadow.As she got to work poking and prodding Chloe with those injections, I had to look away. I mean, the last thing I needed was to catch a glimpse of blood and have my inner vampire come roaring to the surface like a teenager at a K-pop concert. No, thank you!Once the drip was set up, the nurse gave us a little nod and swept out of the room, her shoes squeaking on the linoleum like a chorus of anxious mice.Just as the door swung shut, Winter and Scarlett burst in, all smiles and energy. "Angel Gabriel!" they chimed in unison, and I couldn't help but grin. Scarlett gave me a quick hug, the scent of her floral perfume tickling my nose, before thanking m
I FELT A WARM, insistent brightness on my eyelids, and as I pried them open, I was greeted by the sight of two enormous boots looming before me like a pair of grizzly bears. Before I could even process what was happening, a rough hand seized me by the collar, yanking me off the ground like a ragdoll. I let out a sleepy, baby-like groan, but a sharp sting on my backside jolted me awake, making me howl like a wounded coyote. Sleep scurried away like a thief in the night as my eyes focused on a face so red and furious, it could've given a ripe tomato a run for its money. His bushy eyebrows formed a menacing caterpillar above his narrowed eyes, his bulbous nose flared with each angry breath, and his thick mustache bristled like a furious porcupine. My head whipped around, my eyes frantically scanning the familiar surroundings – I was still in the bar! Must've dozed off after polishing off a good chunk of the poor guy's liquor stash. No wonder he was madder than a hornet's nest! As th
SO THERE I WAS, a fish out of water — or should I say a Victorian-era kid in a modern high school? Yeah, trying to blend in with the humans was about as easy as playing cricket with a cactus. But that’s a whole other story. Anyhow, school finally decided to call it quits for the day, and there I was in the back seat of a taxi, staring out the window like a puzzled penguin, lost in thoughts about Vivaldi. Just then, the monotonous drone of the car radio transformed into something a bit more attention-grabbing — the kind of voice that you’d stop and listen to even if you were in the middle of a pie-eating contest. “Breaking news,” the radio announced, and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. You see, I wasn’t exactly the type to get all hyped up about news and stuff — in fact, phones, TVs, and techy doodads bored me to tears, or at least they did until I stumbled upon Vivaldi watching the news. You know, if it weren't for that fateful day I stumbled upon Vivaldi watching the
I'M SPRAWLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE road, gazing up at the full moon, which is shining like a giant silver coin in the night sky. I'm flapping my arms and legs around, making snow angels on the asphalt, while my mind is going a million miles an hour, dreading the misery that awaits me in that blasted cave. Before I lock myself up for a month-long werewolf extravaganza, I've got some last-minute errands to run for my belly. Suddenly, the road lights up like a Christmas tree as a car's headlights shine right on me. The engine roars like an angry lion as it zooms in my direction. I close my eyes, bracing for impact, when suddenly—SCREECH! The car swerves and skids to a halt, stopping just inches from turning me into a vampire pancake. Phew, that was a close one! I let out a sigh of relief, but my respite is short-lived. The car door slams shut with a loud BANG, followed by hurried footsteps and a panicked female voice. As she catches sight of my motionless body sprawled ac
“WHERE IS FIONA?” Casper's voice booms through the cave, louder than a monster truck rally announcer. I let out a sigh of relief—at least it's not the hunters!—before putting on my best “who, me?” expression. “Fiona? Who the heck is that?” I ask, feigning ignorance like a seasoned con artist. Casper's eyes narrow, and I can tell he's not buying my innocent act. “You don't wanna piss me off, Vivaldi,” he warns, sounding like a B-movie gangster. Before I can come up with another clever retort, he whips out a shotgun that was strapped to his shoulder like a murderous designer handbag. “Hey, whoa there, Snow Boy!” I yelp, feeling more alarmed than a cat in a cucumber factory. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” Casper proceeds to crack open the chamber of his shotgun, its hinges creaking like the world's spookiest door. The sound echoes through the cave, as if to emphasize just how royally screwed I am. “I'm about to send you to hell if you don't tell me where she is,” Casper
AS I STROLLED UP TO FIONA'S HOUSE FOR the second time that day, I rang the doorbell, and Fiona's mom answered, her hair in a messy bun and a faint whiff of burnt lasagna wafting from the house. “Well, hello there, Casper!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and mild desperation. “It's so nice to see you again.” I smiled and nodded, doing my best impression of a concerned friend, and all the while shaking my head on how this woman was so blissfully unaware of her daughter's disappearance. She ushered me inside, practically beaming with excitement, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hoping I was Fiona's secret boyfriend. “Oh, Casper,” she confided, “I'm just so glad Fiona has someone like you looking out for her. You know, I've been worried she might be… well… a lesbian! I mean, she never brings boys home, so I figured…” I tried my best to keep my eyebrows from reaching my hairline. This lady was something else, spilling her guts to me like we were B
MY FINGERS PRANCED AND TWIRLED ON THE gleamin' keys of my piano like they were auditionin' for a spot on “Dancin' with the Stars”. It was like some kinda music spirit had taken hold of 'em, turnin' my emotions into a sweet, sweet symphony that'd make Beethoven weep. The pedals beneath my feet were like an extension of my body, respondin' to my touch like a well-trained pup. The way the light bounced off their polished surfaces was like a private light show, just for me. It felt like the whole piano had been custom-made for me, like some kinda music-makin' superhero suit. As my fingers kept on dancin', my mind took a trip down memory lane, back when this ol' mansion was my very own private prison, and this piano – then an ancient, creaky ol' geezer – was my only friend. But, in a twist that'd put any fairy tale to shame, the entire place got a facelift that'd make Cinderella's fairy godmother green with envy. And my trusty ol' piano? It got the ultimate upgrade, like a classic car get