Dead and Gone
Winter Break proved uneventful after the Snow Ball. Meredith was busy with her family most of the time and Henry was still upset with me. The only person I could turn to was Mina... and after what happened last week I wouldn't be able to look at her.
She talked to Meredith and they came to an understanding. Meredith and Mina promised not to speak a word about but it was all too easy to break into Meredith's thoughts about it. I only did so when I was with her the other day. I truly thought Mina hated Meredith, but I found that to be false. That night she told me she not only loved me and needed me...but that she was letting me go.
I know for a fact that it wasn't for forever. But still, the meaning of it all was what impacted me. The pain I've caused Mina deserves regret. I had wanted to apologize to her for the fight we had before the Ball. Yet how could I face her?
That question was bothering me for days until there was a knock at the door. I saw a man who seemed exhausted and frozen to the deepest core of his body. I asked who he was and what he was at my house for.
He said nothing but held out an envelope and walked off the porch, pulling his thick coat tighter around him.
Nelly asked if it was for her but I shook my head when I saw my name on the front of the white, perfect envelope. The black cursive used for my full name was used for the invitation that was inside of it. It was short and yet it caused my mind to race with possibilities.
"Vladimir Tod,
You are invited to a party hosted by Casimir in honor of the fifteenth birthday of Miss Mina Lovett. 7:00 pm, 21 December. Formal dress. This is of the upmost secrecy, we would be much obliged if you were to accept this invitation. Do not be late."
Under the neatly written words was a large stamp with a dragon as the design. The address was printed on the bottom of the paper. Nelly and I had many questions regarding the host but she said I could go if it was for Mina.
It was a secret so I couldn't really ask Mina anything. Probably Henry but he wasn't at all happy with me. The only thing I could do was...go to the party.
And that is exactly what I'm about to do. I sighed as I checked over myself in the mirror. I was wearing comfortable cloths but they were formal enough. Nelly insisted that I should wear a grey button up shirt, and I agreed after so much convincing. I picked up the small box and left my room. When I arrived in the kitchen I drank a pack of blood for the millionth time that day.
"Nelly, aren't you taking me?" I asked her when I saw she was busy on the phone. She asked the caller to wait and she smiled at me.
"A girl is here to take you; she says she is Mina's friend. She insists on taking you." I creased my brow in confusion and went outside and saw there was a car outside in the snow. From the fog I assumed the heater was on high and I hurried through the frost to the passenger side.
Once I got in I turned and saw a strawberry blond in a black and lime green dress. She shivered at the let in cold and smiled. She held her hand out to me and I took it.
"I'm Lucy, I'm Mina's friend. Casimir wanted me to take you instead of having someone bring you." She started the car and pulled out of the driveway and started to drive towards Stokerton.
"I'm Vlad." I responded, still lost.
"Yeah, I know who you are." She said in a clipped tone without breaking eye contact with the road. "Casimir's place isn't the kinda place you want your parent's taking you to. Trust me. So he sent me to pick you up. And my, my don't you look dashing? Mina will drop dead when she sees you!"
