Alex Duval - Bloodlust (Vampire Beach #1)

Van Dyke had been pale before, but Jason saw that even his lips were white now.

Should I get the nurse? Jason offered. He wasnt sure, but he thought hed seen the nurses office somewhere near the principals.

Nah. We just need to get him rehydrated, Brad said confidently. And get him some air. He waved Jason away, then Brad and Simkins led Van Dyke into the locker room, clearly supporting most of his weight.

Harberts jogged over to Jason. What the hell was that? Is Van Dyke all right? he asked.

I dont know. He looked completely out of it, Jason replied, amazed. He couldnt believe Van Dyke wasnt on a stretcher right now. It didnt look like a take-two-aspirin kind of thing.

For Amber Caravothere would be no Vampire Beach without you.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

SIMON PULSE

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Series created by Working Partners Ltd.

Copyright 2006 by Working Partners Ltd.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

SIMON PULSE, Vampire Beach logo, and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Designed by Steve Kennedy

Library of Congress Control Number 2005938357

ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-3422-8

ISBN-10: 1-4165-3422-9

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M alibu.

Jason Freeman took a deep breath of the fresh California air. He lived in Malibu now. This was him, driving his VW Beetle down the Pacific Coast Highway. The thought was as blinding as the sun on the ocean, as dazzling as the white sand stretching out alongside the car right alongside the car. He could pull over and be down there in

How insane is that house?

Jason reluctantly dragged his gaze away from thethe Malibu , and glanced at the house his sister, Danielle, was pointing to. Shed pulled her sunglasses down for a better look, and her gray eyes were wide with curiosity.

It has a tennis court! she declared. And I bet that glass dome is for an indoor pool. They dont let you see much, do they? All those trellises and flowers. Dani glanced over her shoulder as they drove by, trying to eye-TiVo every detail. That new job of Dads, the un-pass-by-able job, the one I had to leave all my friends for? It pays a gazillion dollars. Why arent we living in a place like that?

Places like that cost multiple gazillions, Jason told her. Besides, we have a pool at the new house.

An outdoor pool, Dani complained. But Jason could hear a hint of amusement in her voice. The idea of complaining about anything in this city was ridiculous.

Dont knock the pool. Its a lovely kidney shape, with colored tile detailing, Jason said, quoting the real estate agent with a wry smile.

Dani adjusted her Oliver Peoples sunglasses that had been a gift from their aunt Bianca: the aunt whoaside from having impeccable fashion sensehad also first mentioned the new job to their dad and helped find their new house.

True. But the pool doesnt make up for being dragged halfway across the country two weeks before junior year, Dani said flatly.

Jason sighed. He knew the leaving-all-her-friends part of the situation had really upset Danielle. Shed had at least thirty best friends back in Michigan, and she hadnt wanted to part with any of them.

Hey, so I heard about this guy called the Surf Rabbi, he said, trying to get Danis mind off her homesickness. Hes an actual rabbi. Hes, like, fifty years old, and he gives surfing lessons: spiritual surfing lessons. Hes all about, I dont know, giving yourself over to the water, or something. He teaches in Malibu.

Hmm, Dani managed.

Jason shot a look at the surfers already out in the ocean. Sweet. He couldnt wait to get out there himself. But he might need to pay a visit to the rabbi first, seeing as hed never set foot on a board.

The lifeguard stations on their long wooden legs reminded him of another thing he needed to do. He had to find out where to apply for a job as a guard. That was seriously on the top ten list of things to do now that he was living in California, right after joining a gym. He figured he had a decent shot at getting a lifeguard job since hed been on the swim team back home and hed already taken a lifesaving course.

Jeans! Dani gasped as they neared the school gates.

Huh? Jason queried.

I have to change, Dani said, as if that was actually an explanation. Jason raised his eyebrows. She rushed on. Those girls we just passed were all wearing designer jeans! She shook her head, her chin-length auburn hair flying around her face. And Im in a skirt. Im not dressed right.

Jason sighed. We dont have time for you to change. We just got here. Besides, what youre wearing is fine, he assured her.

Danielle pulled out a brush and whipped it through her hair. Its different for you. Youre a guy. You have the vintage bug. You have the blond hairblue eyes combo. You look like a combination of Chad Michael Murray andsomebody not so WB. Nobodys going to care what youre wearing.

And youre the only one who cares what youre wearing! Jason countered. You look great. You always do. Chill out, Dani.

Jason swung the car into the parking lot of DeVere High. DeVere, as in DeVere Heights: the gated complex where they now lived. And DeVere University. And DeVere Museum of Modern Art. And DeVere Library. And DeVere Athletic Complex, et cetera, et cetera, and et cetera. He killed the engine and opened the car door.

Dani remained motionless. Her gray eyes were filled with apprehension behind her shades. She hated change. She always had. Shed actually insisted on moving every single Narnia book shed ever owned across the country, even though she hadnt read them in years. She seemed to think that the world would end if she didnt have them stuffed in her closet in Malibu, just the way shed had them stuffed in her closet in Michigan.

Jason had handed out his belongings left and right. He wanted to start clean here. No mooning over his past life, no calling his old friends every five minutes, no thinking about Michigan like it had been some kind of paradise. He wished he could give Dani a transfusion of some of his excitement. They were in Malibu now. Life was going to change. And Jason wanted it to. In Fraser, the suburb where hed lived since birth, he had been able to see every day, every week, every month stretching out in front of him. Not bad. But boring. Here, he had no idea what was going to happenand it was a total rush.

Listen. You had more friends than anyone else at our old school, Jason reminded his sister. Its not going to be any different here. He climbed out of the car. The bug looked like a toy among all the ginormous H2s and Range Rovers that filled the lot. Still, Jason spotted a number of Mercedes SLK convertibles and several other vintage cars like his own. Not everyone was an SUV freak.

He glanced at Dani. She was still in the car. A couple of girls around his sisters agesixteenwalked by, laughing and gossiping to each other just like girls everywhere. They dont seem so evil, Jason pointed out.