Things seemed to calm down in Nightshade after Elise's attack. At least, I thought so until about a week later, when Sam came up to me after my last class. "Have you heard what they're saying?"
"What?"
"That there's going to be a fight in Nightshade. The vamps against the Weres."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Penny told me," she said. "Tyler overheard some of the guys talking about it."
You could count on Penny to know the latest gossip, although she'd tapered off a bit since she and Tyler had gotten serious.
"What has everyone in an uproar this time?" I asked.
"Didn't you know?" Sam asked. "There was another one. Two nights ago. They're trying to keep it quiet. Christy Hannigan's mom works at the hospital, and she told Christy all about it."
Sam shook her head somberly. "No, it was a vampire this time. One of the young ones. And now the vampires are out for blood. Literally."
"That can't be good," I said. I couldn't believe I was so behind on the gossip, but then again, we didn't know all the vamps in town since some of them went to night school.
We walked to the car.
"Hey, do you want to spend the night at my house?" Sam asked. "My dad's out of town and it's a little spooky there by myself."
"I thought you'd want to spend every waking moment with Sean," I said.
"Oh, he and his dad are going on that father-son camping trip with Ryan and the chief."
"I could use a break from my sisters."
"I don't blame you," she said. "It must be tough."
"I was just kidding," I said. "What must be tough?"
"Forget I said anything," Sam replied.
"Come on, Sam," I said.
"It's just, I thought Rose and Poppy might be having some problems," she said. "Since Rose is dating a shifter and Poppy is dating a vampire."
"They're getting along fine," I said. I was totally in denial. They still weren't getting along at all. Hopefully, Mom's dinner party would solve that problem.
"Of course they are," she said soothingly.
She looked so abashed that I couldn't say no to her invitation. "Let me just clear it with my parents," I said.
We stopped at my house for a change of clothes and my sleeping bag before heading to Sam's. I'd been to Mr. Devereaux's condo a few times, but it had been mostly right after Sam had moved in with him. The place had changed since my last visit.
"Your father redecorated," I said.
The condo, which had been nice before, was now opulent. The modest television had been replaced by a gargantuan flat-screen TV that took up one entire wall. When I stepped on the white carpet it felt like I was walking on down pillows, and there was a white silk couch against the other wall that looked too pristine too sit on.
"Let's put your stuff in my room," Sam suggested. As we walked down the hall, I noticed that snapshots of Sam had been replaced by several paintings. I stopped for a second and examined one with multicolored splatters.
"This looks like a real Jackson Pollock," I said.
Sam shrugged. "One of Dad's former students painted it. He said she gave him a good deal."
Mr. Devereaux seemed to have a lot of cash lately. His book must be doing well, I thought.
We stashed my stuff in her room, which looked like it was the only part of the place that hadn't had a makeover, and then headed back to the living room.
"Do you want to go rent a movie or something?" I said.
"We have plenty of movies here," Sam said. She opened a cabinet full of DVDs. "Dad just bought the newest Matt Damon film," she said.
"Didn't that just come out?"
She shrugged. "He buys a lot of movies," she said. "But he never seems to have time to watch them."
She saw my sympathetic smile and said, "Don't feel sorry for me, Daisy. My dad's busy, but he loves me."
"What's not to love?" I replied.
She bumped my shoulder. "Now, let's pick out a movie. What do you want? Action adventure? Horror? Romantic comedy?"
"I've had enough horror in my life lately," I answered. "So no vampires fighting with werewolves. How about a nice, safe romantic comedy?"
"Want some popcorn?" Samantha said.
"Can we eat in here?"
"Sure," she said. "Dad said everything can be replaced."
Her dad seemed fairly cool about his new possessions, especially considering that the Devereaux family had been having financial problems not that long ago.
"How about I make some caramel corn?" I said. My stomach growled. The fries we'd split at Slim's obviously hadn't satisfied my hunger pangs.
"And let's get a pizza," she replied. "Dad left me a bunch of cash." She took out a stack of what looked like hundreds and took out a bill, then replaced the money in the kitchen drawer.
After we ordered a large pizza with chicken, white sauce, and extra garlic, I started on the caramel corn. I popped the kernels and then put a stick of butter into a shiny new high-end copper pot and turned the burner on low heat.
The doorbell rang, and I assumed it was the pizza delivery person, but then I heard Samantha and it sounded like she was arguing with someone. Something in her voice made me shut off the stove and rush to the front door.
"No, he's not here right now," she said. "Can I take a message?"
"What's up?" I said, moving in front of her protectively.
"She's here for my father," Sam said. "Who, as I said before," she emphasized, "Is. Not. Here."
The woman's face was in shadow, but she gave an annoyed grunt at the news that Mr. Devereaux was not available. A hat concealed most of her face, but I noticed a small purplish birthmark on her jaw.
"I'll wait," she said, and made an attempt to push her way in. I slammed the door in her face and threw the deadbolt.
"I must see him," she said. "It's important or I wouldn't be here. Tell him it's Trinity."
"Go away," I shouted through the door. "Right now, or I'm calling the cops."
Sam had already grabbed the phone, but the stranger gave up. Her heels clicked as she walked away.
"Do you think we should call the police?" she asked.
"No, she was probably just..." I hesitated, not sure of a polite way to put it.
"Looking for a booty call?" Sam collapsed into a fit of giggles. "Gross, Giordano."
"I just meant, you know, after the divorce, your dad probably wants to, er, date again."
"I can't say much for his choice of women," she said. "First Ms. Tray, and now this weirdo."
Ms. Tray had been our high school guidance counselor for a very short time. She was attractive on the outside but pure evil on the inside.
"I've heard it's tough to be single," I said. I smothered a few giggles of my own. "I think I recognized her, though."
"I've never seen her before," Sam said.
"I think she's the substitute postal carrier," I said. "She was delivering mail on my street the other day."
"Whoever she is, she's weird," Sam said. "I hope Dad isn't serious about her."
When the doorbell rang again a few minutes later, we both jumped, but it was only the pizza guy.
"Thanks for staying with me, Daisy," Samantha said. "You're a good friend."
I was embarrassed by her gratitude. "You have caramel corn in your teeth," I said.
She laughed. "Cut it out," she said. "And just take my thank-you."
"Okay," I said. "You're welcome. Now hand over a slice of that pizza." And I took a huge bite so I wouldn't start blubbering. This might be one of the last nights like this, especially if I didn't get into UC Nightshade.
Sam read my mind. "You'll get in, Daisy. I know it."
The rest of the night was filled with calories, gossip, and fun. Thankfully, the strange woman did not make another appearance.