Page 82 of The Neighborhood Vampire

She got up from her corner and stormed to the mirror. Her bathrobe unfurled to expose Alice’s comfort clothing of choice—black long sleeves with matching leggings and bare feet—as it flowed behind her. She arrived at the mirror and gave it a good smack with her hand.

“I’m fucking furious,” she answered. “And she is too. She might be talking a good game right now, but she’s furious.”

Hugo let go of the frame and dropped his head. He couldn’t look her in the eyes.

“She’s furious because she blames herself. Not you,” Alice’s reflection continued.

Hugo arched his eyebrows, shocked by the answer.

“She was too scared to deal with this on her own and wanted to run. That’s all she’s ever done. Boy troubles? Run away. Girl troubles? Run away. Career troubles? Run away.”

He thought Alice would certainly blame him, not herself.

“And I blame her too. The one thing in this world she actually ran toward was you, and now look!”

Hugo rubbed his neck where he had been bitten. He paused and then touched his retracted fangs with the tips of his thumb and index finger.

“You’re the only thing she cares about, and she let you down. We let you down.” Alice’s reflection fought back tears as she focused on where Hugo’s reflection last stood. “Now I’ve lost the only love I’ve ever had. You were the only one she did this for. There were no other reflections. Just you . . . And he vanished in my arms. There was nothing I could do. I could only watch, never to get him back. Do you know how that feels?”

Hugo pinched the spot on his left ring finger where his wedding ring had been. He held it only for a split second before recoiling his hand. He had slipped back into old habits from a previous life. She was hurting as much as he was hurting when his black onyx wedding ring had occupied his finger. He knew exactly what she needed to hear.

“I do,” Hugo said.

Her eyes were red and bloodshot. Black, mascara filled tears streamed down her face.

Hugo continued, “I know that feeling all too well. The exact feeling I had with Elizabeth. I know what it’s like being forced to watch someone suffer and perish. The feeling of helplessness. I went through it again when Alice was hurt, and I didn’t know what to do. But do you know what I learned?”

“What?” Alice’s reflection asked in hushed words.

“It took me a while. It took Alice helping me through it. Even though I might not have changed the outcome, at least I was there. They weren’t alone, and that’s all they could have asked for. I was there for Elizabeth. You were there for my reflection. That must count for something.”

Alice’s reflection wiped the tears from her eyes. She examined her blackened fingers from the running mascara. She drew waterfrom her sink, washed her hands clean, and wiped them on her purple bathrobe.

“I guess you’re right,” Alice’s reflection said.

“It hurts. It doesn’t get easier, but you have to keep going. We’ll find a way to fix this. Even ifThe Lovers’ Kissdidn’t work, there has to be something. We’ll bring him back. I promise you.”

She sniffled to hold back the tears welling up. She smiled. “Thank you.”

“I promise when this is all done, we’ll keep trying.”

Thunderous knocks rattled the front door, varied in their tempo—the sound of panic. It drew the attention of Hugo and Alice’s reflection.

“Sounds like she’s in trouble,” Hugo said. “Is she?”

“I feel fear, panic. I think so.”

“On or off?” Hugo asked as he started out of the bathroom.

“On, but shut the door,” Alice’s reflection answered.

Hugo shut the door behind him and darted out of the bedroom. He flew down the stairs and pulled back the black sheer curtain covering the inset window.

“Alice?” Hugo asked.

Sylvia, face to face with only the glass between them, locked eyes with Hugo. Her pupils dilated and her irises flashed red. “Look at me,” she commanded. “Lose yourself in me.”

Hugo’s eyes dilated and flashed red.

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