Not really, Olivia wanted to say. What are they doing back?
‘We came up with a few ideas of our own. All we want to do is help.’ She looked around the room and it was like an ice storm passing over everyone’s heads. ‘Like here’s one: I think we should ban all goths and nerds from this dance. Everyone who’s with me say, “Aye!”’
‘Aye!’ Lucrezia and Melinda raised their hands before anyone had a chance to protest.
Talk about a hostile takeover, thought Olivia. She squared her shoulders and took a giant step forwards.
‘Ahem,’ Olivia cleared her throat.
Melinda whipped around. ‘Can it, you cheerleading cloudhead.’
Olivia’s mouth dropped open and there was a collective gasp from the room. She did not just say that! Olivia sank into a chair. She had completely lost her ability to speak.
‘Aren’t you going to do something?’ Charlotte mumbled from the seat beside her. ‘No way would I let someone speak to me like that.’ Olivia knew their behaviour had to be bad when even Charlotte was alarmed. For a moment, she wished Ivy was with her. Ivy would know what to do. She always knows what to do.
But what was Olivia going to do? The dance was in jeopardy before it had even begun, the secret of her twin’s vampire super-strength was in danger of being exposed and three mega-divas were muscling in on her action. And that wasn’t even taking into account the fact that her boyfriend was hundreds of miles away and unlikely to be giving her a hug any time soon.
She watched the three bullies flicking their ponytails over their shoulders as they smirked at each other. Olivia let out a big sigh.
How much can one girl take?
Chapter Five
Ivy could get used to having Horatio around. It wasn’t every day that you enjoyed a three-course lunch chock-full of meaty goodness in the Vega household. It was only noon and she was already stuffed! Too bad Olivia had been busy with her committee meeting and hadn’t been able to join them.
Ivy’s grandmother dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a black cloth napkin. ‘Well, darling. Have you put any more thought into Wallachia Academy?’ An emerald necklace glittered at the Countess’s neck, casting green prisms of light on the dining-room table.
No. In fact, Ivy had been trying her best to avoid the subject completely. ‘Not really,’ she confessed. The thought of leaving Franklin Grove behind was almost too much to bear. But, on the other hand, so was the thought of disappointing her grandparents.
The Countess folded her hand over the Count’s. ‘We really think it would be for the best.’
‘And that you would grow to love it. Did we mention it’s in a big Gothic castle? With flying buttresses and beautiful stone gargoyles and spindly towers,’ Ivy’s grandfather added. He had traded his crimson coat for a sleek black tuxedo jacket. ‘And you should see the kitchens!’ He winked at Ivy, and she knew he was thinking about all the pizza she could eat there.
‘Oh, yes! And the professors are top-notch. Nowhere in the world is there such a robust curriculum for young vampires.’ Ivy thought maybe her grandmother ought to do a second stint there if she was so excited about it.
‘All in a school?’ she asked, pushing the leftover meat around on her plate.
The Countess’s eyes sparkled. ‘That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you. Wallachia Academy is not just any old school. It is the best vampire academy in the world. It was founded by Vladimir Ivanov, the longest-living vampire of all time, and it has produced some of the finest vampire thespians, artists and Nobel laureates. Every generation of the Lazar family has attended – even your father did. Going there, you will learn all sorts of new vampire skills. Plus, you’ll learn to control your powers. What could be better?’
Ivy sighed. ‘I get that you want me to attend, but I don’t know if Wallachia Academy is the right place for me.’
‘Of course, we understand you don’t want to leave your friends behind, or Olivia. We’d never ask you to do anything that would make you truly unhappy, but we honestly believe this is the best thing for you. We’re sure you’d thank us one day,’ said the Countess. ‘We promise.’
Ivy’s pulse quickened. ‘I don’t know how, when I can’t even tell my sister where I’m going!’
‘This isn’t just about us, Ivy.’ Her grandfather pushed back from the table. ‘These vampire secrets have to be respected. Which is another important thing you’ll learn at Wallachia Academy.’
‘For your information, sharing the vampire secret with Olivia was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Can’t you see that not all secrets are worth keeping?’ Ivy knew her voice was getting so loud that she was almost shouting, but she couldn’t help it. It looked as if her grandparents might spontaneously combust, their faces were so pink.
The Count’s voice was steady when he finally spoke. ‘Ivy, you’re not appreciating how important your vampire heritage is to all of us. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t have travelled halfway around the world to talk to you – and at our age, too.’
Ivy felt like she’d been stabbed through with an iron stake. ‘I’m sorry if you left Transylvania because of me, but . . . but . . .’ Ivy couldn’t finish her sentence. She was too close to tears. ‘I’m sorry,’ she managed to say at last. ‘I need to be alone right now.’ Then she sprinted to her room, squeezing past Horatio, who stood by the doorway with his gloved hands folded in front of him. Her father called after her, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. The only person she wanted to talk to was Brendan. She grabbed her cell phone from her nightstand and slammed the door to her bedroom. Since when did I become the drama queen?
She slid open her window, hiked one leg over the sill and climbed down the trellis out into the backyard. She hoped the fresh air would help clear her head. Then she dialled Brendan’s number and took a seat on the rough brick of the Vegas’ backyard patio. Out here, she didn’t feel so trapped.
Brendan picked up. ‘Ivy?’ He sounded concerned, and she imagined his dark eyebrows puckered. ‘I thought you were supposed to be having lunch with your grandparents today.’
‘I was.’ Ivy rested her chin on her knees. ‘I mean, I did.’
‘That was quick.’