Sebastian and Jameson entered the room. �We�re returning the Mansion and me to our original state,� Alexander declared. �What happened?� Sebastian asked. �It�s just not me. I don�t have to come out and say I�m a vampire, but on the other hand, I also don�t have to be ashamed of being myself.� �So what do you want to do now?� Jameson asked. �Reschedule the interview. We�re going to return the furniture. Immediately.� �All of it?� Sebastian asked. Alexander nodded. Jameson shuffled over to Alexander. �Can we at least keep this rug?� Alexander smiled. �Of course.� �And my desk?� Sebastian pleaded. �Yes�.� �Can we keep that outfit?� I whispered, coyly tugging at his brown leather belt. �Just for fun?� �Fine!� he reconciled. �But everything else goes back. I have an interview to do!�12 A Return to Disorder The next day after sunset, I bounded over to the Mansion with a renewed sense of delight. I was eager to see the Mansion return to normal�or what Dullsvillians called a nightmare. I was proud that Alexander made the decision to be himself�or at least be as real as he could be without putting his true identity in danger. I knew it was an extremely hard choice for him to make�but either way he was going to be in the story. It was ultimately better that he shared the macabre artist that he was rather than an untrue, khaki-clad version of what he thought the town wanted him to be. When I arrived atop Benson Hill, the Mansion�s door was wide open. I entered the foyer to find the Mansion restored to its original disorder. The scent of lit candles and musty air that I�d grown to love wafted through the halls. The brand-new crisp white linen covers were gone, exposing the worn Victorian couches. The silver floor lamps had been replaced with dripping candelabras. And the freshly purchased easel and metal desk with blue locker drawers had been taken from the library and the old desk and library books returned. Curious, I bolted up the grand staircase. I peeked into Jameson�s room to find his new accent rug at the foot of his bed. When I surveyed Sebastian�s room, the only thing organized was his shiny new desk. As I drew closer to the TV room, I heard Alexander and Sebastian talking intently. �So haven�t you thought about it, man?� Sebastian asked. �You must have.� �Of course I have,� Alexander answered. �Isn�t it difficult to resist? She is beautiful.� �It isn�t easy.� What were they talking about�who were they talking about? I pressed my back flat to the wall and did my best to hear. �She isn�t a vampire,� Alexander said. �But if she was�man, you could be living the dream. You could sell the bottles in your cellar. She�d quench your thirst for eternity.� They both laughed. �I agree with you that it would be easier if she had been born into our world,� Sebastian began. �That�s what I think. Then there are no decisions�no conflicts, no pressure.� �It�s enormous. I try my best not to think about it.� �But you do�� �Of course I do.� I waited with bated breath to finally get a glimpse into Alexander�s thoughts. Ones that I knew he was reluctant to tell me about. �If Becky were to go out with me, what would I do?� Sebastian pondered. �It would be very hard for me not to want to turn her. How do you manage?� I waited an eternity for Alexander�s response. I pressed my ear closer to the door. I, like Sebastian, was eager to know how Alexander managed. �It�s difficult.� �If only she were born a vampire,� Sebastian said again, �then it would be easier.� �Then she wouldn�t be Raven,� Alexander lamented. I sighed. But what did Alexander think about turning me? I was dying to know more. �So�,� Sebastian pressed. �What�s keeping you from it?� Alexander paused. �Not Raven,� I heard him say. �Not my love for her. Or us being together.� I smiled inside
Similar Books
