Dead Is Not an Option by Marlene Perez

asked her.
    "Hop in," she said.
    "I really appreciate it," I said. "Let me tell my sisters." But as we watched, they hopped into the car and took off without me.
    I got into the back seat, then Sam honked the horn to let Sean know she was there. He came running out and we headed to school.
    I wasn't sure how Mom expected her dinner guests to get along when her two older daughters couldn't seem to stop fighting.

    The animosity seemed to be catching. At lunch a scuffle broke out in the cafeteria between two freshmen girls. One fighter ended up with a bloody nose, the other with a chipped tooth. Or should I say chipped fang.
    Penny rushed up to me after my last class. "Did you hear?" she asked.
    "Hear what?"
    "San Carlos is canceling their prom." She lowered her voice. "Because of all the, you know, tension between the factions."
    It was unfortunate, but I didn't get why Penny was in such a tizzy. Her boyfriend went to Nightshade too. We'd be fine. Unless...
    "Did you hear anything about our prom getting canceled?" I asked.
    "Shhh," she said. "Don't even say that out loud."
    "But it's a possibility, isn't it?" I said. "That's why you're upset."
    She nodded. "I overheard Principal Amador talking in the office," she confided. "No decision yet, but if anything else bad happens, it's adios senior prom."
    "We're going to have to prevent that from happening," I said.
    Penny smiled, but she still looked anxious. "Wouldn't it just be my luck if our prom gets canceled? I mean, I have a real boyfriend for the first time ever."
    "If it gets canceled, we'll just have to get dressed up anyway," I said. I was trying to comfort myself as much as her.
    My words did seem to make Penny feel better. "You're right," she said. "We can still get a limo, wear fancy dresses, the whole nine yards. No matter what."
    "No matter what," I agreed, but secretly I wondered if the war between the Weres and vampires was escalating to a point of no return. Soon, it might not be safe to go out after dark in Nightshade.

    Ryan and Sean had a baseball game on Saturday afternoon, and Sam and I went to watch our boyfriends play. When I got home, I could tell by the delicious smell that Dad was cooking for the dinner party that night. I followed my nose to the kitchen.
    Grandma Giordano was sitting at the kitchen counter, sipping espresso.
    "Grandma, I'm glad to see you," I said. "I've been meaning to call you."
    She dipped biscotti into her coffee. "That's nice, dear," she said. "You're such a devoted granddaughter."
    "Oh good, you're home," Dad said. "I could use your help." He was wearing his favorite apron. It said KISS THE COOK on it.
    "What are we having for dinner?" I asked.
    "It was tough figuring out what to serve vampires and werewolves," Dad said, "but I think I finally found the perfect menu."
    "What can I do to help?"
    "Do you want to make the dessert?" Dad asked. "Nothing fancy."
    I grabbed another apron. "Do we have the ingredients for pie?"
    "We probably have enough apples for a cobbler," Dad replied. "And there's plenty of vanilla ice cream in the freezer."
    After I made the pie and put it in the oven, I went upstairs to change. When I came back down, I heard voices in the living room and went to see which of our guests had arrived.
    I craned my neck to get a better view. Poppy was seated next to Liam, and on his other side was a dark-haired girl with a pixie cut and a bored expression.
    Count Dracul was sitting on the love seat, but it was the woman sitting next to him who made me catch my breath. I had to look again to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Patrician features and long silver hair. Check. Loads of jewelry. Check. Freezing green eyes. Check. Circe Silvertongue was sitting in my living room. Her pet pig/enchanted ex Balthazar was lying at her feet.
    My mother would be mortified if I picked a fight with a guest. I took a few calming breaths.
    "Poppy," I said. I stood in the doorway, not trusting myself to get any closer to the sorceress.