My Stepbrother's a Vampire!

5; The Signs

"How did you catch that rock?" I ask Alec once we are seated safely within Brenda. I slide the key in ignition and reverse out of the spot. "You didn't even see it."

"I have eyes located at the back of my head," Alec responds. His tone is playful and a smile decorates his face. I remember his impassivity back at Mr. Rigby's office, how it has been replaced with this apparent friendliness. I am starting to think he really does suffer from multiple personality disorder.

"What did the principal say to you?" Though I should be paying full attention to the road, I sneak a glance at his expression. He still appears responsive.

Alec's voice drips with sarcasm. "He wanted to welcome me with open arms and hope all future pupils of the school cause as much trouble on their first day as I did." This causes me to giggle, and Alec glances in mild surprise at me. "You have an unexpectedly girly giggle."

I immediately sober. "What's that supposed to mean?" I say. "That I usually sound manly?"

Alec chuckles. "Not at all. Just that it's a nice contrast. You can be intimidating at times."

I give him a protracted sidelong glance. "You're kidding me, right? I can be intimidating?"

Alec murmurs, "Eyes on the road," to remind me where my attention should lie. "And yes, you can. Exhibit A being the occasion we first met."

I signal to a truck that I am about to turn by sticking my thumb out of the window, since Brenda's own indicators don't work. "Okay, maybe I wasn't the world's most welcoming. But don't even act like you're the patron saint of friendliness. Have you forgotten this morning?"

Alec is still smiling lightly, but the corners of his lips harden so that the smile takes on an inanimate quality, like a photo. "Can you blame my reaction, Kara? I was half-naked. I felt exposed—"

"Dude, get over yourself," I intercede in irritation, though my cheeks flush a little. Alec laughs. "You didn't want me to see that tattoo on your chest."

The laugh fades away. Alec wipes away any pretence of amiableness from his profile. "And why wouldn't I want you to see it? It's inconsequential."

"When did you get it done?"

"Two years ago. A friend and I were a little intoxicated and came across a small tattoo parlour in Venice. Not my best choice, I admit." He sounds weird. Off. His tenor does not possess its usual self-assured undertone.

He's lying, my subconscious tells me. I am sure of that. The question is: why?

We reach the house and I pull into the driveway. Before I have even parked properly, Alec leaps out of the car and strides lithely towards and into the house. I follow his lead—though a lot less gracefully—and close the front door behind me, just managing to catch Alec darting up the staircase. A moment later and I hear a door closing.

Someone wants to be alone, I think. I wander into the kitchen, calling out mom's name. I realize she isn't home when I notice the piece of paper taped to the fridge. She and Richard have gone out to dinner and won't be back till late. I sigh and scrunch the note up. Every time I think of how smitten mom is with Richard, my heart sinks a little. I genuinely do not know why. More than anything I want her to be happy, and Richard seems to be doing that. So what is my problem?

It's his mysterious son, my subconscious answers knowingly. His gorgeous, sinister, mysterious son. He isn't like normal teenage boys.

He doesn't even have a heartbeat.

Now, now, I chide myself. You can't be sure of that.