The two friends sat for quite a while recovering from the terrifying experience, discussing what they should or should not do. By the time Allen had seen Tami safely to Gloria's house, they had decided that no one would believe such an outrageous story and may even become suspicious that something else had taken place. They finally agreed to say nothing, but were not sure exactly what to do, if anything. Allen had said good night and run, at top speed, all the way home.

"What took you so long Tami? We were beginning to worry. Your mother is probably desperate for your call." Mrs. Kingston was ringing her hands and peering out the door after the retreating figure of some boy. "Who was that out there?"

"That was Allen Mathews. He walked over with me because all the power is out on our street." Tami tried for a lighthearted response. "That's what took so long. I couldn't find my stuff in the dark."

"Oh, you have no power at home? Will the house be all right? Did you lock everything up before you left?" Mrs. Kingston was taking Tami's knapsack and carrying it up the stairs.

"Everything's fine Mrs. Kingston. May I use your phone to call my parents?"

"Of course dear. Gloria, you come with me and fix up the bed for Tami."

      Gloria huddled in the middle of her bed, her long, Mickey Mouse decorated, nightdress stretched over her knees. She clasped her hands around her legs and rocked back and forth excitedly. "So you guys were alone in the dark, eh?"

Tami gave her a disgusted look.

"Well did he help you find your stuff? Gloria persisted.

"Honestly Gloria, your mind is just evil." The last word caused a shadow of fear to pass over her eyes, and her alert girlfriend picked up on it right away.

"What? Something did happen didn't it?"

      Tami let the moment hang then, extracting a promise of secrecy, she told the eager Gloria everything that happened.

"Get real Tam," Gloria scoffed.

"It's true! Every word, I swear. I've never been so scared in my life." Tami lay back and pulled the comforter tight up under her chin.

"You mean it was that creepy dame from the rink? Wow. And what, you think she was a vampire or something?"

"Or something," Tammi murmured, "I just want to go to sleep and forget it. No more talk okay, Glor?"

      Morning greeted the day with a sun determined to break through the weakening overcast. Stains of fading puddles splotched the streets, and the lawns shone wetly with the residue of raindrops. Tami telephoned her parents again and said everything was fine and she would be straight home after school. She was relieved to hear that the power was back on too. Throughout the day, their friends had noticed the strange looks between she and Allen whenever they passed in the halls, and Gloria was constantly being pestered for information.

"If you guys say anything, I'll never speak to you again," Gloria relented finally. Partly because she was worried and uncertain, but mostly because she was brimming over with the need to gossip.

      Peter and Christine just stared at her and then at one another. They could not believe their ears. They knew Gloria's penchant for exaggeration and drama but they also knew Tammi. And if it was true, they did not know what to believe.

Martin was doing toe spins on the marble hall in his roller blades, arms windmilling and huge pants flapping. "Doesn't surprise me," he said, unruffled by the bizarre tale, "'member I said she looked like she needed some sun, 'member?"

"Oh right, Mr. Cool," Gloria said, angrily.

"Hey, now that we all know, we've got a stake in this - get it? Stake? Heh heh, heh."

      Gloria gave him a mighty shove that sent him crashing onto his backside on the hard floor and stomped off down the corridor.

"Ooow, ooohhhph. Jeez, what's her problem?"

"I think Gloria really believes what Tammi told her," Christine said, "and I don't think she expected you to joke about it."

"Ah man, c'mon. You don't really believe Tammi and Allen met a vampire do you? A vampire? C'mon." Martin pulled himself up by a locker door handle and rubbed his seat gingerly.

"Well why would she even make up a story to tell Gloria at all?" Peter demanded. "She didn't have to say anything."

"Well I'm gonna check it out with Allen. See what he has to say." Martin pushed off on his roller blades and coasted down the hall.

"Don't you say anything Martin Williams," Christine shouted angrily after him, "Gloria told us that in secret!"

"See ya," Martin waved back, disappearing around a corner.

"I'll kill him if he tells," Christine stamped  with a loud clap.

"C'mon Chris," Peter said, pulling her the opposite way after him, "you know Gloria never should have told us with him around."

*****

Vladia sat in the dimly lit parlour massaging her painful hands. Exposure to the crucifix had been an unwelcome surprise and a near fatal error. Was it just some freak accident that this girl, this perfect match, wore a cross- or for some reason, were the fates aligning against the maestro? She cradled a glass of cool water in her sore hands, soothing the sting. Finding the boy with her had posed no problem. He would have sated her own hunger, leaving the girl completely to her master, although he was very quick to notice the effect of the cross. Sitting silently, staring at an empty space on the wall, Vladia contemplated her situation. She had been looking out for her master for so long now, she did not realize her own existence was going unfulfilled. Hmm, she thought eventually, maybe I should just take care of my own need first.

      Putting down the glass, Vladia rose and went to the sideboard, lighting a candle and carrying it carefully down the hall. Quietly she opened the maestro's door and peered in. His still form seemed to wriggle in the candlelight; his white, almost translucent skin glowed weakly. She stepped methodically across the moist earth floor and stood staring down at the wizened form at her feet. "Maestro", she whispered, "I'm afraid your time is over. I, Vladia, will now become the new master- with my own personal convert. And I know exactly who he will be." She leaned down and tilted the candle toward the sleeping form. At the first sting of hot wax, two watery, red-rimmed eyes snapped open in horror. The burning smell set his bony nose twitching, and with the realization of what was happening, his scratchy voice cried out in terror.

Vladia stepped back a few paces and stood, smiling through the candle flame in front of her, as she watched the fire consume the writhing figure before her. "Farewell maestro, your search for the perfect match is ended."

      Vladia! No! No - nooooooooooooo . . ." A brilliant burst of white flame lit the room for an instant and then guttered out to a wisp of grey smoke, coiling up from the charred pallet. Vladia stepped forward and tipped the rest of the wax from the candle, smothering every trace of the vapor.

*****

"Gloria I hate you! You promised me and now Allen's mad." Tammi confronted her confidant.

"Martin told him - it wasn't-"

"And who told Martin Gloria. You. That's who." Tammi was slumped on a shaded bench in front of the school, her knapsack between her feet.

"I'm sorry Tam," she said, flopping down beside her upset friend, "I just - I just. Oh I don't know what I just."

The two girls sat in silence, unmoving, staring at the ground.

"Is Allen really mad?" Gloria ventured tentatively.

"Well what do you think? I promised him that I wouldn't say anything. Now everybody knows." The silence continued.

"What's up gals?" Martin rolled up in front of them, pirouetting to a halt, legs apart and hands on hips.

"Beat it Martin," Gloria snarled.

"Whoa. Hey. 'Kinda way is that to treat a guy?" He crammed his cap down tighter on his head.

"The only way to treat a blabber mouth, now scram."

Martin bent over and smiled at Tammi. "You mad at me too Tam?"

"Yes I - no, no not really. I'm madder at myself I guess. I gotta get going. See you guys." Tammi dragged her knapsack forlornly across the grass to the sidewalk and headed home.

"Whatta ya say Glor, want to go down to Duffy's?"

"Martin you're impossible." Gloria stood and began walking away.

"Maybe," he said, pushing off and turning to skate backwards in front of her, "maybe. But that just means I take a little longer."

Gloria ignored him for a few moments as she walked, head down, thinking. "You paying?"

"You bet." Martin grinned, taking her hand and forcing her into a quick trot as he skated down the sidewalk.

"MAR-TIN!"