But it’s too late. I’m awake. And my sister’s responsible.
“Why did you have to go and do that?” I moan mournfully. “I was having the best dream ever.”
“Yeah? Well, I was out living a nightmare,” Sunny grumps, plopping down beside me in bed. I glance at the clock. It’s only eight thirty. I would have expected her to be out way longer.
“What happened with Magnus?” I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and sitting up in bed. “Didn’t things go well?”
“They started out okay,” Sunny replies. “I mean, I think he really likes me and all.”
“Well, that’s good…”
“Not really. Not when he still thinks I’m his intended blood mate.” Sunny looks at me, eyes wild. “He wanted to turn me into a vampire, Rayne. Like tonight. He’s convinced I’m in danger and figures the best way to keep me safe is to turn me immortal.” She shakes her head in horror. “It was awful.”
Hmm. A devoted vampire boyfriend who wants to turn his true love immortal to save her from harm? I should only be so lucky. “So what did you say?” I ask, already guessing the answer to my question. My sister is nothing if not predictable.
Sunny sighs. “I said no, of course. I mean, what else could I say? But oh, Rayne, you should have seen the look on his face when I turned him down. It nearly killed me, he looked so disappointed.”
I groan. God, I wish I had my sister’s so-called problems.
“I’m sorry,” I begrudgingly tell her. “But Sunny, disappointing a vampire is the least of our worries now.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve learned what Project Z stands for and, well, let’s just say it’s not ZOMG awesomeness.”
My sister leans forward anxiously. “What is it? I tried to ask Magnus, but evidently Pyrus hasn’t clued him in yet.”
“Probably for good reason.” I lean over and whisper in her ear.
“Oh my God,” she cries. “What are we going to do?”
“I’m not sure,” I say with a shrug. “But I think it’s time I pay a little visit to Slayer Inc.”
17
I can’t believe how badly my hands are shaking as I reach up to knock on the front door of Slayer Inc. Manor bright and early the next morning. I mean, what’s my problem? This is my future employer we’re talking about. The one I’m destined to serve. And this time it’s not like I’m here to stage some prison break. I’m applying for a job. A job that, in my time, I already have, so obviously I’m more than qualified to get it.
Yet I can’t help but feel a little nervous as I wait for someone to answer my knock. For example, how am I going to explain to Vice President Teifert that I already know my destiny? Last time around he had to corner me onstage in the drama department to break the news that I had a new career path I never wanted. So he’s going to be a tad surprised when I beat him to the punch this time. Not to mention when I tell him about the zombies.
I wonder if I should tell him the truth. About the time-travel thing. Would he believe me if I did? Would it help my case? Or would he just decide I’m crazy and slam the door in my face?
Well, it appears I’m about to find out. A hall light switches on and the front door begins to creak open. But it’s not Vice President Teifert on the other side.
It’s Spider.
I stare at my best friend, unable to believe my eyes. What the hell is she doing here, at Slayer Inc. Manor? Is there some kind of LAN video game party being held that I wasn’t told about? (Because that and school are the only times I ever see the girl more than ten feet away from her computer.)
She stares back at me, as if equally surprised at my presence. (I guess I’m a bit far away from the old PC as well, now that I think about it.) “Rayne,” she addresses me after a pause. “Um, what’s up? What are you doing here?”
“I was about to ask you the same question.”
Her gaze darts from left to right and she lowers her voice before answering. “You probably won’t believe this,” she says, “but I was at school yesterday, minding my own business, when suddenly the drama teacher—Mr. Teifert, I think his name is—pulls me aside. And he says the weirdest thing! You’ll never guess.”
Oh God. “That once a generation there’s born a girl destined to slay all the vampires?”
Her eyes widen. “How did you know that?”
“Long story. Don’t ask.”
“Well, anyway,” Spider continues. “That girl destined to slay the vampires? That’s me! I’m the destined vampire slayer—just like on Buffy! And here I always thought I was nothing more than a dorky gamer girl who’d probably get stuck sitting on my ass in some lousy help desk job for the rest of my life. But it turns out, that’s just my cover. In reality, I’m a freaking vampire slayer. Isn’t that the coolest thing you ever heard in your entire life?”
No, it’s pretty much the least cool thing, to be perfectly honest. Not to mention the most ridiculous. Spider isn’t supposed to be next in line after Bertha to become a vampire slayer. I am.
“I’m afraid there must be some mistake,” I say, feeling bad about saying it out loud. After all, she looks so thrilled about the prospect of her new employment. But the sooner she realizes it’s all some kind of botched paperwork, the better in the long run.