The clock on the dash said ten p.m. when they crossed yet another state border. Verchiel's eyes flicked to the white "Welcome to Iowa" sign. "We're almost there."
Katelina broke her two hour silence to ask sarcastically, "Iowa? You're not serious?"
"Ah!" Verchiel cried in fake surprise. "It can talk! Are you done sulking over Santa Claus?"
"No." She looked back out the window and tried to ignore him again.
When she said nothing else, he piped up cheerfully, "Yes, by the way, I am serious. What's wrong with Iowa?"
She stared at him with disbelief. "There's nothing in Iowa except corn."
"And lots of vampires. Can you think of a better place?"
"Yes, actually."
"All right, so it wasn't the original choice. From what I hear, they started out on the East Coast, but then Americans were de
