Read Online Dance With a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber - Free Book Online

grabbed his backpack from the trunk and threw it over his shoulder. He held my hand and gave me a flashlight.
    Together we walked through the meadow, pushing the tall grass out of our way.
    In the darkness, I could barely make out what appeared to be a hill until Alexander had me shine the flashlight in its direction.
    The hill had a huge opening. It was a cave.
    “I thought this was just an urban legend!” I exclaimed. I felt as if we were explorers discovering a new land.
    “I’ve heard that as a club initiation kids spend the night here, never to return,” I gossiped. “But I never knew it really existed.”
    I held on to Alexander’s belt and followed him into the cave. He could see where he was going in the dark, but he thoughtfully took the flashlight and illuminated the way for me.
    We entered the monster-sized mouth of the cave, with its damp, musty scent and distinctive chilly air. The rocky floor was wet, and Alexander steered me clear of any protruding edges. I ran my hand along the side of the cave. Some areas were smooth, some were bumpy and riddled with cavities, while others were covered with moss.
    As Alexander led me deeper into the cave, I could hear the faint and soothing sounds of trickling water. When he shined his light above us, an enormous ceiling dripping with stalactites, hanging like gigantic vampire fangs, was revealed.

    Alexander led me to a dry spot and passed me the flashlight. I watched as he opened the backpack, pulled out candles, and placed them around us. One by one he lit them, encircling us with candlelight.
    “This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen!” I said.
    The candles cast shadows from the stalactites and stalagmites against the cave walls, making them seem twice their size. I loved it.
    Alexander pulled out a few sandwiches and sodas from his bag. We drank, kissed, and laughed.
    As Alexander put the wrappers in his backpack, we heard fluttering sounds above us and spotted a few bats flying overhead.
    “They come in and out during the night with food,” Alexander said.
    “Could Valentine have been one of those bats?”
    Alexander didn’t respond.
    “Tell me more about Valentine,” I asked curiously, resting back on my elbows.
    “Figures. I bring a beautiful girl to a romantic candlelit cave and she wants to talk about a much younger man.”
    “You’re right,” I said in a flirtatious whisper. “Let’s talk about us.”
    “Let’s not talk at all,” he said in a soft voice.
    Then, one by one, Alexander blew out the candles until only one remained.
    He paused over the last one, staring at me with a sexy grin, shadows dancing around his handsome face. “I’m making a wish.”
    “It only comes true on a birthday cake. Besides, you’ll be able to see and I won’t. It’s not fair.”
    “I’ll close my eyes, I promise.”
    “Not so fast—”
    I slid off the black lace sash I was wearing as a belt and loosely tied it around his head, gently covering his eyes. “Now we are equal.”
    Alexander blew out the last candle.

    We were in total darkness. I couldn’t see Alexander, the mouth of the cave, or even my own fingers.
    Alexander kissed the back of my hand, slowly pecking his way up my arm until he reached my neck.
    I paused. “What is the surprise?” I asked. “Are we on sacred ground?”
    “Want to find out?” he asked with a smile. “Wait one minute.”
    A surprise, I thought. What could it be?
    I felt a warm grasp on my neck.
    It was then that I knew. My fantasy was finally coming true. Alexander was going to bite me.
    My heart began to pulse against the flesh of his palm. I started to visualize my new life as his hand lay on my most vital of veins.
    My dream was to become a vampire, for Alexander to be the one who turned me and be the one to whom I’d be bonded for eternity. But as he held my neck, I suddenly wasn’t sure if I was ready to plunge myself into the darkness forever. Thoughts of my parents flooded through me. It was one