Page 109 of Foes & Cons
“Just come by my room in a bit and we can talk then?” I nod and she turns away, calling over her shoulder. “Later, bitches.”
“Later, bitches,” I respond, falling under the spell of Vivian, despite myself.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
MCKINLEY THE PESSIMISTIC WEREWOLF
I know that’s what you all call me!?
Vampire Falls. Season two, episode sixteen – “Come Back Moon”
The final panel is always bittersweet. Felix brings the guests on stage and they usually share a running joke from the weekend or mention a cute baby they made friends with. And we all laugh and feel warm, knowing that we’ve had a weekend of loving our favourite show and its stars, along with other Fallers who get who we are and what we’re about.
This time though, it’s more than bittersweet. It’s bittersour, if that’s a thing. Firstly, I’m sitting in the hall alone. I’ve spent most of the day in Vivian’s room (a sentence I never thought I would say, believe me), where I witnessed a true genius of people management and manipulation (same thing?) at work (no more brackets, I promise). Roxy was already in Conference Hall A when I came in, sitting near the front with Dorothy asleep on her shoulder. Fake McKinley isn’t around, which is a shame because I could have done with a dose of his exuberance. We all could.
Word has spread that the karaoke party isn’t happening and there’s a feeling of loss hanging heavy over everyone. Packed suitcases and bags punctuate the end of the rows; I guess people don’t feel the need to stay for a non-ending. I haven’t told a single soul what Damon Van Schwartz told me. I can’t do it to them, and also, I don’t think it’s sunk in because I haven’t responded with an Eliza-style meltdown.
I haven’t seen Charlie. Iwantto see Charlie. There’s a panicky voice in my head whispering that he’s already gone, that Sadie’sgone too, and this is all for nothing. But it won’t be. Even if they’ve gone, it won’t be for nothing.
I tune back into the stage chat. Felix nods and smiles at Amber Anderson, then turns to the audience. You can see the shadows under his eyes from back here, but he smiles. The audience whoop and clap for him and the final panel.
“Thank you everyone, truly. This couldn’t have gone ahead without you, and I . . .” His voice cracks, and the audience responds like they’re at a pantomime. “I’ve never done this to get rich, as you know. I just wanted to bring these guys to meet you, their fans, and it’s been a pleasure doing so for all these years. Things will be a little different in the future, but we’ll always beVampire Fallsfamily.”
“Blood is for ever!” shouts the audience.
Felix smiles and puts his hand on his chest.
“Blood is for ever,” he repeats, turning and nodding to the guests as they stand up one by one, clapping him.
There’s a massive, snot-filled sob. Yes, it’s my own.
“Before we bring this panel to a close, we actually have one more guest to bring on and introduce to you. A sort of bonus guest.”
The audience’s attention is piqued.Myattention is piqued. Roxy shifts in her seat, waking Dorothy up. This is highly irregular.
“OK, OK, guys,” Felix says, waving everyone to calm down. “Damon, would you like to do the intro?”
“My pleasure, Felix,” says Damon Van Schwartz into his mic. He gets up and joins Felix at the side of the stage. “Now, I heard a rumour that a couple of scenes from our spin-off show,Midnight in Portland, found their way onto the internet. But I know none of you law-abiding citizens would break any laws by watching it, right, guys?”
About forty-three per cent of the audience laugh.
“The new show is set in the same world asVampire Falls, and features the character Stellan Denver, my half-brother.I can tell youexclusivelythat the show has been green-lit and will be premiering next fall!”
That same percentage clap their hands. They’re a pretty enthusiastic bunch. Damon Van Schwartz waits for them to settle down then lifts the mic up to his mouth, and gestures to the other side of the stage.
“So now, it is an honour to introduce to you, my fictional half-brotherandmy brother from another mother, Dylan Maguire!”
Everyone looks at each other, frowning and clapping their hands, limply. How can Conference Hall A get excited for an actor sixty per cent of us didn’t know existed? Nevertheless, I clap the actor, whoever he is, feeling a little bad for him being introduced to his new audience at possibly the lowest point of the weekend.
And then I see who it is.
Roxy, who’s seen who it is too, spins in her seat and looks for me, shaking her head in disbelief as our eyes meet and we share a moment of true fan history.
A clean-shaven Fake McKinley, or Dylan Maguire, comes from the other side of the stage, waving to the audience. Damon Van Schwartz greets him with an almighty bear hug. I shake my head, laughing to myself as he takes the mic from Felix and turns to look at his audience. He’s wearing grey joggers, perfect white trainers, and, like a cherry on top, aVampire FallsT-shirt.
I smack my hands together so hard they sting. I’d give anything to be sitting with Roxy right now, but I sit up straight so I can at least see how her hair reacts. Dylan lifts the mic to his mouth and the audience quietens down, even though most of them don’t know who the hell he is. But he is very handsome, and that T-shirt istight, so they’re willing to give him a go.
“So, I take it from that, you guys don’t recognise me from theshow,” he says, a Californian drawl surprising me. “Does this help?”
