Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
“Profound,” states Kyle dryly. “Now are you gonna help us get outta these tunnels or not?”
Drake smiles, perhaps taking that as an acceptance for an apology he didn’t quite utter. “You did well without me, by the way. Almost there. Just a little further this way and to the left.”
“Lead the way,” says Kyle, then follows Drake through the darkness, Mikey clinging to his back every step of the way, still uncertain and completely blinded by the dark.
Soon, the first sign of actual light spills forth: moonlight from the exit of the cave. The sight of the exit is such a greatly welcomed relief, even to Kyle who wasn’t fully blinded by the darkness. The three of them hurry toward the pale light of the moon and the stars pouring in.
Until someone appears, eclipses the light.
Long flowing white hair. Slender shape.
The catsuit-wrapped figure Kyle saw sitting high atop the tallest pile of junk, watching over everything.
Only now, this close, Kyle realizes the vampire’s face is significantly more beautiful than previously thought.
And the raspberry outfit isn’t completely consistent in its color, nor is it shiny everywhere. It’s redder in places, darker or lighter and duller in others, like an uneven coat of paint.
“Blood,” the vampire recites in a shockingly deep voice.
Kyle would be more bold to speak, if it wasn’t for the fact that even Drake seems to have frozen to the spot at the sight of this peculiar individual. Kyle picks up Drake’s worry, feeling like a cold blanket over his shoulders, stinging and icy.
And from their visitor: Kyle feels nothing.
This is a full-blooded vampire for certain, like Lazarus and Salazo, only not quite as tall. Their eyes, slightly off-red in hue, maybe also described as raspberry, never once blink. Their lips, thin and wide, spread into an unsettling grin.
“My suit,” the vampire continues on, their lips never quite closing between words, always maintaining the grin that doesn’t quite touch their offputting, unblinking eyes. “It’s dyed in the blood of children I’ve killed.”
It’s only now that Drake straightens up, forcing himself to seem indifferent. “I don’t think anyone here has bought tickets to your performance, Uncle La-La, so why are you performing? Head back home. Salazo needs a backrub.”
“I enjoy killing children,” the vampire called La-La carries on. “They’re the most fun to kill. They scream the prettiest.”
“Work on your lines a little more,” suggests Drake, “and rehearse back at the cave with your theatrical friends. We’re on a mission to walk the pet. We’ll be back in an hour tops.”
In a flash of light, a fraction of a second, La-La now wields a weapon that was strapped to his back, unseen. A long, curved blade of a katana, beautifully reflecting the moonlight. La-La holds the sword out to the side, nearly scraping the cave wall with its tip. It is obvious without inspecting it closely that the blade is magnificently sharp, and considering the speed with which La-La drew it, Kyle wishes to be nowhere within range of that fearsome weapon or its greatly skilled owner.
“All of you are so young,” says La-La, still grinning. “I bet you scream just as prettily.”
“Should I go back and tell Salazo you stood in our way, my dear, demented uncle?” asks Drake. “Or should I send back his pet to report the news of such an obstruction himself? You have so many friends to play with. So many audience members in the den. Why waste your time on us?”
La-La’s only answer is dragging his long tongue across his opened lips, taking delight in Drake’s increasing impatience.
“Oh, I see. This is a test.” Drake smirks, appearing amused. “Alright, cool, you’re bored. C’mon, boys.” He gestures at Kyle and Mikey behind him—neither of whom share his confidence in drawing any closer to the vampire. “Don’t be rude, boys. Do make sure to greet my strange Uncle La-La as you pass by. Let’s go.”
Kyle forces his feet to move. At first, Mikey seems to cling to him in an effort to hold him back, then gives in, following on shaky feet behind Kyle and Drake. The closer they come, the more terrifying La-La appears, still grinning, still brandishing that menacing blade, the vampire’s long white hair swaying in the subtle night wind, gaze never leaving Kyle, wild grin never easing, lips never closing.
And then the three of them are out of the cave.
“Farewell!” sings Drake as he waves blithely back at La-La. “Let Salazo know not to worry. We’ll take good care of his pet, give him a nice walking, work him up to a sweaty delight.”
But it is only upon Kyle that La-La’s raspberry eyes seem affixed to. Only Kyle that La-La watches.
And it’s from the mouth of that cave that La-La lifts his delicate, pointy chin, grin persisting, and states: “I’m going to kill someone you love someday.”