Romeo & Juliet & Vampires by William Shakespeare Read Free Book Online Page B

not? If I get caught performing the ritual, I will be sentenced to death anyway, by the orders of Prince Radu,” she replied.
    â€œYou won’t get caught,” Tybalt said. “I can tell you from experience that your natural, cunning instincts are strongest on your sixteenth birthday. You’ll know in your bones everything you need to do.” He peered over his shoulder at the practically naked young maiden in the cell. “You should trust me on this one.”
    Juliet rolled her eyes. “Like that woman in there trusts you? Please, I’m much smarter than that.”
    â€œIs that so?” Tybalt challenged her.
    â€œYou have her down here because you plan to turn her, but I bet she doesn’t know that, does she?” Juliet said through clenched teeth.
    Tybalt was not in the least bit offended by Juliet’s accusation. He just grinned and said, “Guilty as charged, Cousin. But I have a feeling I’ll be able to convince her that life as a vampire is much more interesting. Don’t you agree?”
    Juliet tried with all her might to push by Tybalt, but he would not allow her to escape.
    â€œI’m sorry, Juliet. I don’t know what else to do. Many of us are turning humans just to get by. It’s the only way to get their blood without killing them,” he said, his tone sweet as honey. “Come on, be nice. I hate it when you are cross with me.”
    Juliet remembered what she and Tybalt were like back when they were playmates. She had always been somewhat shy, but even so, she enjoyed Tybalt’s rambunctious nature. But they were older now and Juliet had turned into a headstrong woman, while Tybalt became an overgrown child.
    â€œWell, I do not feel like being nice, Tybalt! The peace treaty states that ‘no harm should come to anyone.’ What do you call this?”
    â€œI don’t believe that turning this woman into a powerful and immortal being is harming her,” Tybalt said firmly. “Besides, the peace treaty is nothing but an actof tyranny leveled against our race. I should have the right to pursue liberty, satisfaction, and survival, like anyone else in Transylvania.”
    â€œDo I really need to point out that the Capulets are not like everyone else?”
    Tybalt heaved a sigh of exasperation. “Why are you so argumentative? It is such an unappealing trait in a woman.”
    â€œIt seems to work for my mother,” she replied.
    â€œAh, well, that’s probably who you get it from,” Tybalt countered.
    â€œTake that back. I am nothing like her!” Juliet said, shoving Tybalt in the chest.
    â€œYes, you are,” Tybalt said, laughing. “You are both stubborn and hardheaded and determined to drive everyone around you insane.”
    Juliet shoved him again, so hard that he almost lost his balance. “That’s a terrible thing to say. And it’s not even true!”
    â€œOh, I hate to cut our conversation short, Juliet, but I should check on my lady friend. We must hurry along and return to the party before anyone suspects anything.” Tybalt coughed into his hands in order to smell his breath.
    â€œThat’s quite all right, Tybalt. I think we’ve talked long enough,” Juliet said with all the sarcasm she could muster.
    Since he’d transitioned, her cousin had been passionate about only two things—seducing women and killing Montagues, or whoever else Vladimir ordered him to obliterate. As she stared at Tybalt’s cherubic-looking face, she wished that one day he’d wake up a kinder, gentler version of himself. Maybe then she’d be better able to put up with him and his teasing. But this was another one of those unattainable wishes that Juliet’s nurse had warned her about.
    â€œYou won’t see me or my companion down here again, Cousin, I promise,” Tybalt said, grinning so that his pointed teeth were now visible.
    An ominous sense of foreboding