Read Vampire Kisses for Free Online Page A

gum, and lots of other tasty treats. And most importantly—spider rings and temporary tattoos. Becky and I had walked all over town and now wondered what awaited us at the front door of the mysterious Mansion. We were saving the best house for last. Apparently so was everyone else.
    There was actually a line to the front door. It was like we were at Disney World. Ghouls, punks, bums, Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone, and Homer Simpson were all eagerly waiting their turn. And a bunch of coiffed parents who showed up to steal a peek inside. The circus was in town, and everyone had come to look at the freaks.
    “He’s really creepy,” a twelve-year-old Frankenstein remarked to a pint-sized werewolf as they passed us.
    Nerd Boy spotted me and Becky as he walked down the driveway.
    “It’s well worth the wait, Raven. You’ll love it! This is my sister!” he proudly said to his geekoid Batman friend, who looked at me with junior crush-boy eyes.
    “Did you see any shrunken heads? Or monsters with fangs?” I asked.
    “No.”
    “Then maybe we’re wasting our time.”
    “That old man is really freaky. He looks scary and he isn’t even wearing a costume!”
    I could see Nerd Boy was trying to bond with me, since this was the first time he could actually show me off to his friend. But I could also see Nerdo was expecting a verbal body slam.
    “Thanks for the info.”
    “Thanks? Uh…yeah…of course, Sis.”
    “I’ll see you at home, if you want to trade any candy bars.”
    Nerd Boy nodded willingly. He smiled and left like he had finally met his long lost sister.
    Becky and I eagerly waited our turn. We were last in line, and as Charlie Brown and a witch who were in front of us stepped away with their goods, the door closed. I looked at the S-shaped knocker and wondered if it was the initial of the new owner. When I peered closer, I saw it was a serpent with emerald eyes. I rapped it gently, hoping the Gothic guy would answer. I wanted to ask him if he was the one in the road the other night, and if so, what he had been doing? Most people got their exercise at the gym, not on spooky country roads in the dead of night. But no one answered.
    “Let’s go,” Becky suggested nervously.
    “No, we waited forever for this! I’m not turning back until I get some candy. He owes us!”
    “I’m tired. We’ve been out all night. It’s probably just some creepy old guy who wants to go to bed. And I do, too.”
    “We can’t leave now.”
    “I’m going home, Raven.”
    “I can’t believe you’re so chicken. C’mon, I thought we were best friends.”
    “We are. But it’s late.”
    “Okay, okay. I’ll call you tomorrow and tell you all about Mister Creepy.”
    There were enough treaters walking around that I wasn’t afraid for mousy Becky. She’d get home safe. But would I?
    I stared at the serpent knocker and wondered what stood behind the huge wooden door. Maybe the new owner would pull me inside and hold me captive in his haunted mansion. I could only hope!
    I knocked again and waited. And waited.
    I knocked again. I banged and banged and banged. My hand was starting to hurt. I dashed around to the side, then I heard the locks coming unlatched and the creaky door open. I quickly ran back up the front steps. And there he was, standing before me: Creepy Man.
    He was tall and skinny, his face and hands pale as snow, in sharp contrast to his dark butler’s uniform. He had no hair, not like he’d lost it, but like he’d never had any, and bulging green monster eyes. He looked like he had been alive for centuries. I loved him.
    “We have no more candy, miss,” he said in a deep foreign accent as he peered down at me.
    “Really? But you must have something. Some peanut-butter twists? A piece of toast?”
    He opened the door, no further than necessary. I couldn’t see anything behind him. What did the place look like inside? How had it changed since I had snuck in four years before? And who were “we,” and did