The following evening, Alexander and I were making our way down the attic stairs of the Mansion when we saw Jameson entering one of the vacant bedrooms on the second floor.
"Just getting it ready for Miss Athena's arrival," Alexander's butler said.
I was thrilled that the time was getting closer for Stormy to arrive in Dullsville. But the bedroom that Jameson was readying was bare except for a small dresser, making it feel cold and lonely. It didn't look comforting for a younger sibling to inhabit, and I was wondering how Stormy would feel about staying in it.
"We should really do something about this room," Alexander said to Jameson. "Don't you think?"
"Yes, it needs a feminine touch," Jameson said. Both Romanians looked to me.
"Really?" I asked, excited for a chance to decorate more of the Mansion. "I'd love to!
"So ... what does she like?" I imagined all the things we'd need as I sized up the room. "We could buy rugs, curtains, and maybe a cool chair?"
"She's just visiting, not moving in," Alexander said.
"Oh yeah..." I said, realizing I was getting ahead of myself.
"But no - you're right," he added. "I don't want her running back to my parents saying she didn't like it here."
"So what are her favorite things?" I asked.
"I don't know." Then my boyfriend thought for a moment. He noticed my Hello Batty earrings. "She loves Hello Batty."
"Oh, cool!"
"You have something in common already," he said, tenderly patting my arm.
"We also have you," I said, flashing him a warm smile.
Alexander returned mine with a radiant grin.
"Does she like Olivia Outcast, too?" I wondered out loud.
"I think so."
"What's her favorite color?" I asked Alexander. "Black? Pink? Red?" I didn my't really know anything about Stormy except that she was Alexander's sister.
And just because she was a vampire didn't mean she liked dark things. Maybe she was blonde with little tiny fairy-tale locks. Then I thought of Luna - did she look like her? I couldn't bear the thought.
"Uh... I know she loves purple."
"Of course! We can put some girlie things in her room, like purple curtains and a funky velvet chair. She would love that! I can picture her already. I'll put out some candy on the table and a gift bag on her dresser."
"Sure," Alexander said. "I didn't even think of that before now, but I'm sure she'd feel much better in something cute and fun rather than this cold, barren room."
"I can't wait to meet her," I said enthusiastically. "I've never had a little sister." For a moment I dreamed about the perfect sister for me - a younger sibling who would want to have picnics in the cemeteries, stay up late and watch scary-movie marathons, and share dark music together. She'd be nothing like the sibling I had, Billy, a little brother who would rather solve math equations than hang around tombstones.
"Well, I've never had a younger brother," Alexander said. "That would be really cool, too."
"Can we trade?" I asked seriously.
"Sure," he said, but I could tell by the glint in his eyes he wasn't as keen on giving his sibling away as I was.
It was hard to find anything fun and funky in Dullsville that would be appropriate or cool for Stormy. I bought most of my clothes and trinkets at thrift stores or online.
Becky and I shopped at our local discount superstore while Jameson waited for us at the front by the coffee shop.
I got my usual stares as we paraded up and down the aisles looking for anything fun to decorate Stormy's room.
"This is nice of you, to try so hard to make Alexander's sister comfortable," Becky said as I tossed a purple fleece pillow into our cart.
"How can I not make the effort? I think it will be cool to have her here, even if it is only for a short while."
"I don't know." Becky handed me a neon-green lamp. I shook my head, and she put it back on the shelf. "I don't have a little sister. This is foreign territory to me. But whatever we do will be fine. You're Alexander's girlfriend. She'll love you, too."
"Aww, thanks." I suddenly felt the pressure relieved.
"What do you do to decorate a room for a vampire?" she asked aloud.
Two elderly women glared at us, bewildered.
"Shh!" I said under my breath.
"Oops," Becky said, startled by the ladies overhearing her. "For Halloween," Becky corrected loudly. "We're shopping for Halloween." We quickly pushed our carts around the gawking ladies and headed for the next aisle, where we burst out laughing.
"That was close," she said. "I don't know how you do it."
"Welcome to my world," I remarked.
"All this secrecy," she whispered. "It's very difficult."
"But it makes it all that much more exciting, right?"
Becky shrugged her shoulders. She was still getting used to the revelation that the Underworld existed and that it was as close as my boyfriend.
"What about this?" I asked, pointing at velvety lavender curtains that were displayed with other sample curtains.
"Ooh. Cool. Maybe you can decorate my room next?"
"Sure!" I answered, delighted.
"Only you'll have to stay away from blood-reds."
"If you insist."
Becky peered out the end of the aisle and into the main part of the store. I followed her. "Are there any vampires here?" she whispered.
"No, just one wannabe."
"How do you know?" she asked with a hush. "How do you know that everyone here isn't a vampire?" We glanced around. A sample of Dullsville's population permeated the store: couples, families, teens.
We glanced around. A sample of Dullsville's population permeated the store: couples, families, teens.
"I don't think there has ever been a vampire in this store," I answered with a laugh.
"What about Jameson?" she asked, looking toward where he was waiting for us near the checkout. "Is he a vampire?"
"I don't know.... He goes out during the day," I said.
"Maybe he's part vampire and part mortal." Becky said. "He sure looks that way." Becky's comment left me feeling curious about Alexander's butler.
"Well, I don't think we've left anything for any other visiting vampires," she said, assessing our selections.
Our carts were full of fun stuff that I thought Stormy might like: pillows, candles, wall hangings, a few scatter rugs and assembly-required furniture to make her space more comfortable.
"I think we're all set," I said, and we headed over to the Creepy Man and his credit card.
Alexander hung up the curtains, and Becky and I placed the scatter rugs on the floor in Stormy's new room. There was so much dust there, Becky went into a coughing fit.
My boyfriend was attractive even in the dim lighting as he worked as hard as a handsome handyman.
"Is this straight?" he asked. I'd never realized Alexander was such a perfectionist. The drapes hung flawlessly.
Now that the curtains were hung and the funky furniture and shelves were installed, we placed a few ornaments on the antique dresser. Alexander had painted tiny pictures of his family, and I fitted them into frames we'd purchased.
"She'll love this," Alexander said, examining the room.
"Do you think so?" I asked. I thought the room was fabulous, but since I hadn't met Stormy yet, it was hard to know if she would. I could only count on Alexander for his opinion.
"Hey, what's not to like?" Alexander said, sizing up our room makeover. "This place is awesome!"
"I think so, too," Becky concurred. "I love how you transformed this room."
"I'm glad you both think so," I said, wiping my hair away from my face. "But this is really your grandmother's home. Stormy might be offended that I decorated it."
"Well, now it's my home, too. And besides, my grandmother would be happy to know that you are going to so much trouble for my sister."
"I had a great time doing this," I said. "I'm glad you think your grandmother would approve."
"Well, more importantly, Stormy will. She is very opinionated. And this is way cooler than her room at home," Alexander added.
"I agree, Raven, you've outdone yourself," Becky said. "She's going to love iandng to lt here!"
"Did Stormy ever visit the Mansion when you were growing up?" I asked Alexander.
"Just as a baby. I don't think she remembers it. She was so little." Alexander beamed as he gazed at our accomplishment and put his arm around my shoulder.
"The only problem is now she'll never want to leave!"