Leading up to now

Chapter Forty-Three- Lucas

I stayed like that with Cassandra most of the day.

Now you more observant people will be like, 'But wait Lucas, it's Monday you stupid vampire!' and to that I would say, 'You are right, I am stupid. But you may have also noticed that the temperamental weather patterns in Noosedale allowed it to be snowing!', and to that you may say, 'But Lucas, it was sunny the other day!'. And then I would say, 'I am telling this story, not you, so shut up.' 

Cassandra fell asleep sometime around 3, and I slid out from underneath her and jumped out of the window. As I walked home, I thought. Not just about Cassandra, but about all aspects of my life. My cat, my 'family', my room, my knowlege, my experiance. Everything. I was thinking so much, I walked straight past my house and off the cliff.

It was more than an owie. 

I limped back to the mansion, and, as predicted, Janesse and Vikrum were in the doorway. Glaring. Somebody stake me. 

"Where have you been!?" Janesse shrieked, tugging me into the kitchen- practically hissing.

"Uh. Pastarama...?" I tried, but to no affect.

"No you havent! You've been to Cassandra's house haven't you!? Yes. I can smell it!" Vikrum yelled.

"Fine, fine, I went to the Grey's house. Big deal!"

"BIG DEAL!? YOU ARE GROUNDED! Wait. You were already grounded. YOU ARE UNDER-GROUNDED!"

"That doesn't exist!" 

"And for you, neither do rules. Janesse is right. If being grounded can't keep you away from her, then a month in the cave will!"

Oh dang.

-

The cave is exactly how it sounds. On the secluded beach under the cliff, a small hollow opens onto a wide hall in the rock. At the end is a safe of sorts. Noone can get in. You can't get out. It's torture. The only way to contact people is with the small phone on the wall- and the reception is sucky. There's a thin matress and blankets, a soggy beanbag, a bookshelf of study books, and a notebook and pen. Being a vampire, I don't need to go to the toilet, but it would be nice to fill the empty space. 

Janesse took me down, with a water cooler type thing, that was full of blood. She dumped it in the corner and walked out. So much for mutual friendship. Just as she was about to close the door, Barty shot in. Just in time too, as a second after...

SLAM!

"Harsh!" Barty chuckled, settling on the beanbag with a purr.

"Yup." I sighed. Already, the cold was seeping through my jumper. The walls and floor are made of metal, and not any normal metal. It was made of 'Gryk' which is old-vampire-lingo for 'Death iron'. The only metal than can chill a vamp. Barty, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. On the contrary, he looked so comfy we could have been in spain. Or something.

"Y'got any food around here?" He said, looking up at me, "I could use some tuna fillet with a side of orange and mango chutney- mabe with a hint of..." He trailed off as he saw the look on my face.

"We have no tuna, no orange, no mangos, and no chutney making machinery. We do have an awful lot of human juice though. That intrest you?"

"Not so much. I really regret not bringing in something now. Oh wait!" He pulled out a lump of cheese from some kind of pouch on his stomach. I was gonna ask, but decided against it. 

"At least you have something appetizing. I'm stuck with human juice!"

"Shtach shuctks!" He mumbled- through a mouthful of cheese. 

"You suck!" I muttered. 

"Burn." He laughed. swallowing, "What are ya? Five?"

"I'm gonna make a call." I said, not wanting to continue this pointless argument. I wandered up to the phone, and dialed in Cassandra's number.

"The number you have called has been blocked. Please try again later." Of course. Vikrum wasn't that dumb. 

I thought for a moment and dialed in a different number. A number I had seen Cassandra dial a million times.

It rang for a second, and then...

"Hello, Savvanah Feather here, how can I help you?"

"Savvy? It's Lucas. Can you give Cassie a message from me?"

"Um sure, why can't you tell her?"

"It's... complicated. Just tell her... tell her I know."

"Know what?"

"I know how to get her memories back."

Then I hung up.