The Badlings

Chapter 16. The Vampire Hospitality

Never damage a book in any way. In fact, never open a book you don't intend to read from cover to cover. Who knows what awaits you if you decide to forfeit it in favor of doing something else? Like riding bicycles or chasing ducks? Don't. You may bitterly regret your nonchalance later.

That is precisely what Peacock did: He bitterly regretted mistreating Dracula. His eyes were glued to the inviolable door that didn't bode anything good. He struggled to standing and swayed.

Grand caught him. "You okay?"

Peacock mumbled a string of words.

"What?"

"I don't..." came out of Peacock's mouth. "I don't want to..."

"You don't want to what?" inquired Bells, hugging herself. She regarded the windows with suspicion. Someone was watching them, she was sure of it, someone's eyes glittered dully and retreated as soon as they met Bells' prying stare.

"If someone is in there, I hope that someone will open the door before we get eaten by wolves," she said and knocked on the door. "Hello? Anyone?"

No answer, only a muffled echo and another volley of howls, much closer this time.

Peacock suddenly broke into a hysterical gibber. "I don't want to die, I want to live! I'm just a kid! I didn't do anything wrong. Since when is it a crime to rip a book? Why do I have to pay for this with my life? That's a bit harsh, don't you think? What is this Mad Tome anyway? What right does it have to do this to me? Dracula is just a book, it's just stupid a book—I hate this place! I want to get out of here!" He pushed Grand aside and bolted.

"None of us want to die," said Grand absently, watching Peacock catch his foot on a rock and sprawl.

"What's wrong, man?" asked Rusty.

"You're scaring us, Peacock," said Bells. "We're already scared, and you're scaring us even more."

"I don't care." Peacock glared at her, tears in his eyes.

"Yes, you do," countered Bells.

"No, I don't!"

"Then what do you care about?"

"Go away! Leave me alone. Just...leave me alone..." He hid his face.

Grand and Rusty looked at Bells.

She took a deep breath. "I really want to throttle you right now. You disgust me. You're the reason we're here, and now you're abandoning us? Thanks for being a great friend." She glanced up, a tingling sensation telling her that someone was not only watching them but eavesdropping too.

"Man, I never expected this of you," said Rusty and shook his head.

"Shut up," muttered Peacock.

Rusty staggered as if slapped. "Stop shushing me. Why do you always shush me? You're the one who needs to shut up. You blamed Bells when it was your fault all along!"

Peacock covered his ears. "Stop talking to me! I don't want to hear it!"

Bells shook from the urge to punch him.

"It's okay, Peacock," said Grand tiredly. "I guess you can apologize to Dracula for hurting his book and maybe he won't bite our necks and drain our blood and—"

Heavy footsteps approached the door.

The children turned to face it.

Rusty nudged Bells lightly. "Hey, we get to see a vampire, a real vampire. That's a positive thing, right?"