Chapter 10

“Welcome back to my English class, Count. It has a nice ring to it, right? Count Charles? That’s your new name in my class at least. It’s traditional in the Gothic horror genre and pop culture in general to call vampires ‘Count this or that,’ right? Blame Bram Stoker and Hollywood for that! So, anyway, Lindsay, I’m going to ask you a question, right here in front of the class. Then your honesty, if you are honest, will count in place of that essay that you dreaded so much,” Anne Fairfax stunned us all with this greeting.

“Okay ... hit me with it, then,” a very nervous Lindsay replied.

“Are you in love with Charles here? Even a little?” Anne went for the jugular on that one, didn’t she?

“Yes?” Lindsay awkwardly and tentatively confessed her true feelings for me.

“So, you’re sweet on Charles ... and he’s sweet on Mrs. Cortez. Fascinating. Very intriguing indeed. Well, that settles it. A instead of B, Ms. Bevan. Your parents will be happy about that, won’t they?” Anne continued.

“Not if they knew what for. Mrs. Fairfax, you are aware that I’m not allowed to date him, right? I’ve been specifically told who I can and can’t date. And Charles is on the ‘never in a million fucking years’ list, because he isn’t a Christian, you see. Mama’s a preacher and she doesn’t like the idea of her daughter dating a heathen! Daddy runs one of the largest Amway operations in the state. What would she say if she knew that he was a vampire, eh?” Lindsay explained.

“So, that’s why you buried your feelings for him until recently! That makes more sense now. What a waste, if you ask me ... but easily fixed. I have a little ... service that I perform, unilaterally, free of charge, in cases like yours ... and your father’s. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.

“Just because I don’t actually have a husband like I claimed doesn’t mean that I don’t care about marriage and family. I love to improve them, you’ll see. Anyway, as promised, you get an A for this semester in my class,” Anne shocked everyone by awarding Lindsay such a high grade.

“So, since you’re not really married, what should we call you?” I asked aloud.

“Anne, of course. Just call me Anne,” Anne winked at me now, “and I meant what I said. Your home life is gonna be very ... different once I take things in hand, Ms. Bevan.”

“What about my home life, then?” Trevor snapped.

“Well ... did you want something fixed?” Anne now turned to him.

“I ... kinda want to ... figure out my feelings for ... Coach Brown ... somehow. Learning that he’s my father has really tripped me up, since I’ve been attracted to him for a while. And there’s the effect that it might have on Mom ... and Addy. As for Dad, he can go fuck himself! He’s the one who raped me repeatedly after all!” Trevor blurted, letting out no small part of his pain now.

“Do you have anything to say to Charles right now, given how you’ve treated him?” Anne now confronted Trevor, who nodded.