Sienna Mercer - Vampalicious!

Vampalicious!

My Sister the Vampire Book 4

By Sienna Mercer

Chapter 1

Ivy Vega and her best friend, Sophia Hewitt, hustled through the oldest cemetery in Franklin Grove on their way to school Monday morning. The grassy path, stiff with frost, crunched loudly beneath their heavy boots, and Ivy pushed her hands into the pockets of her full-length, black down jacket to keep them warm.

Im going to miss this old graveyard when I move to Europe, Ivy thought. Even though it was still a little dark, in the distance she could make out the low silhouette of her boyfriends family crypt, where she and her friends had spent so much time hanging out. Outside the cemetery gates, the lights of nearby houses twinkled.

Such a killer party! Sophia exclaimed, interrupting Ivys thoughts. It seemed like forever ago, but on Saturday, Ivys human twin, Olivia, had been initiated into the vampire community, and theyd had a little celebration. You must be seriously excited, Sophia went on, that Olivia knowing about vampires isnt a secret anymore. Its all over the Vorld Vide Veb.

Ivy pressed her mouth down into her black knitted scarf and exhaled, warming her neck. Thats not the only thing that isnt a secret any longer , she thought. Sophia, she said aloud, theres something I have to tell you.

Olivia Abbott was met by a hot blast of indoor air as she opened one of the huge oak front doors of Franklin Grove Middle School. Scanning the lobby, she pulled off her hat and swung it around by one of the pink pom-poms that hung from its earflaps. She jumped up and down to get the cold out. Olivia had worn her cheerleading uniform for a school spirit assembly, but even with leggings, she felt like an icicle.

Where are you, Camilla? Olivia thought as she hopped from foot to foot, keeping her eyes peeled for her friend. I have huge news!

The door to the outside swung open, and Olivia looked over eagerly. Unfortunately, it was just Charlotte Brown, Olivias snotty cheerleading captain. She was wearing fluffy white earmuffs.

Hi, Charlotte, Olivia said, unable to keep the disappointment out of her voice. Charlotte let the door swing shut behind her, but her cheerleading cronies, Katie and Alison, hurried in on her heels. They were wearing fluffy earmuffs, too.

Oh, Olivia, Im so totally cold! Charlotte whined.

Were cold, too! said Katie and Alison, who had a talent for always thinking the same thing as Charlotte.

Then youd all better get inside right away and warm up! Olivia said, switching on her smile. They skipped past without another word.

One person after another trickled into school, and every time the door to the outside opened, Olivias heart leaped. Finally she caught sight of Camillas bouncy blond curls.

Camilla! Olivia called.

Hey, Camilla said, her face breaking into an easy smile when she saw Olivia. Sorry Im a little late. You sounded so excited on the phone last night. Whats up?

Olivia grinned. Only the biggest news of my entire life!

Camilla looked at her skeptically. Bigger than finding out you have a long-lost twin sister?

Olivia wrinkled her nose; Camilla had a point. Olivia and Ivy hadnt even known they each had a twin until Olivias first day of school in Franklin Grove a few months ago. Come to think of it, the whole my-sister-is-a-vampire thing was big news, too, but of course Camilla didnt know anything about that . Olivia was one of the only humans in the world who did.

Just as big, Olivia decided, pulling Camilla behind the enormous potted ferns in the corner of the lobby.

Olivia took a deep breath. You cant tell anyone, she said. Promise?

Promise, Camilla said solemnly. Just tell me already!

I am telling you, Ivy protested.

No, Sophia said, what youre doing is trying to tell me. So far youre just sighing a lot.

Ivy sighed again, sending a tiny cloud into the cold air. I still cant believe it, Ivy murmured by way of explanation.

Ivy, Sophia said sternly, Im freezing my fangs off here.

You dont have fangs, replied Ivy, peering around the cemetery to make sure no one else was lurking nearby. You file them like the rest of us.

Its an expression, Sophia said, her voice rising with frustration. Now tell me your big revelation!

I found... Ivy gulped. Olivia and I found out...

Sophia stared at her impatiently.

Who my real father is, Ivy blurted at last.

Really? Camilla cried, her eyes widening. Olivia nodded, biting her lip to contain her smile. Im so happy for you! Camilla threw her arms around Olivia, accidentally knocking one of the ferns. Olivia giggled.

I knew you and Ivy would find some answers if you kept looking, Camilla said proudly.

Olivia had to admit that their perseverance had paid off. She and her sister had been trying to solve the mystery of who their parents were since theyd first realized they were twins.

Thanks, Camilla, Olivia said, hugging her again. I wanted to tell you in person.

So who is he? Whos your dad? Camilla asked, her voice bursting with curiosity.

Olivia pursed her lips, savoring the moment.

Camilla read her face. I knew it! she squealed. Its a celebrity! I always thought you two had George Clooneys nose!

Nope, Olivia shook her head coyly. Even better.

Antonio Banderas? Camilla whispered in awe.

Well then, who? Sophia said excitedly, wrapping her arm around Ivys as they made their way out of the cemetery.

Ivys long dark hair fell in front of her face. Hes, uh, his name is... Karl Lazar, she sputtered. Why am I having so much trouble telling my oldest friend the whole story? Ivy wondered. Somehow, this was just too unbelievable to blurt out.

Lazar? Sophia repeated. You mean that Transylvanian vamp aristocrat who fell for a human?

Ivy nodded dumbly. Thats amazing! Do you know if hes still alive? Sophia asked.

Oh, hes alive, Ivy said.

How do you know? Sophia pressed.

Hes been in hiding for the last thirteen years, Ivy answered.

As Franklin Grove Middle School came into view in the distance, Sophias steps slowed. Ivy, why do I think theres something youre not telling me?

Ivy smiled shyly, relieved that her friend knew her so well. Because theres something Im not telling you? she replied.

As Sophia searched her face, Ivy took one last deep breath. She pushed her hair out of her eyes. My dad is my dad, she announced, the words rising into the air like smoke.

Sophia looked at her blankly.

My dad is my real dad, Ivy clarified.

Sophia did a double take. You mean your father, Charles Vega, who youve known for your entire life...

... is Karl Lazar, Ivy finished.

Sophia peered at her in disbelief. Youre biting my neck, right?

Ivy grinned. No fangs, remember?

But why would Mr. Vega pretend to be Ivys adopted dad when hes actually her real father? Camilla asked.

We dont know. Olivia frowned. Maybe because he didnt want Ivy to know she had a twin.

But why not? Camilla pursued. All Olivia could do was shrug. She wanted to tell her friend everything she and Ivy had learned: about how their father was a vampire while their mother was a human and that hed separated the twins after their mother had died. But shed taken a Blood Oath never to violate the First Law of the Night, which meant she must never reveal the existence of vampires to a nonvampire. It was a bummer, because Camilla was super smart, and Olivia thought maybe shed have some ideas about why Mr. Vega had done what he had.