Real Vampires Dont Wear Size Six

by Gerry Bartlett

Chapter Fifteen

  "We need to talk. " This time I said it and Jerry was the one making the face like "Here it comes. "

  "Fine. What do you want to talk about?" He brought me a bottle of synthetic and settled me on the couch. "I know you're still upset about what happened with Florence. So am I. "

  "Yes. The demons are out of control. I'm surprised they haven't approached you. " I took a sip of the cold drink but it didn't help. My insides were still Jell-O.

  "I think they sense that it would do them no good. They obviously poke about for vulnerabilities. I've learned to hide mine pretty well over the years. " He sat beside me, his arm along the back of the couch.

  "But you have some. " I studied him in the dim light from the kitchen, the only light we'd turned on. Penny wasn't home yet, but I really didn't expect her until right before dawn. She still had two more hours.

  "You, of course. And my family. I have that need to protect what I consider mine, you know. " He met my gaze, his dark eyes serious. "I know you hate when I say that. The 'mine' thing. "

  "Yes, I do. I don't belong to anyone but myself. " I sighed. "And you see that as me being difficult. "

  "Gloriana, I made you vampire. To me it's simple. I'm responsible for you. It's been bred into me not to shirk my responsibilities. " He touched my cheek. "And then there's the fact that I love you. So I want to keep you safe. It's a strong need that I can't seem to deny. No matter how many roadblocks you throw in my path. "

  "I guess most women would be honored, would let you have at it. " I sighed at the touch of his hand. "I just wish we could be together without complications. "

  "What you see as complications, I see as simply the way things should be. " He tugged me closer. "You are so damned stubborn about this. Is it because of Valdez?"

  "Don't put this on him. It's all about me. Because I have to be free to choose my own way. To fight demons by his side. Or make love with you. " I threw out my hands. "Or even spend time with Ray if I wish. "

  "You ask a lot, Gloriana. " Jerry withdrew his arm and stood. "I don't know if it's in me to share you like that. "

  "I know. " I didn't cry, my eyes suddenly very dry as I felt that truth down to my toes. "I've always known, Jerry. But I don't want to lose you. So my wish is that you'll work on being less, uh, I hate this word, but controlling. "

  "That is a harsh word. " He ran his fingers through his hair and walked around the coffee table to pace the length of the room. "But I learned to do it at an early age. It's what a commander must do to his troops. "

  "I'm not a troop. " I leaned back, glad we could talk calmly about this.

  "Of course not. " He stopped, his back to the TV. "I'm trying to explain where my attitude came from. Da taught it to me as a boy. Along with the way the men in my family have always treated their women. "

  "Oh, yes. Don't get me started on that. " I leaned forward. "You know your father isn't exactly a good role model for you. Your parents have been separated for more decades than they've been together. And when they're together, it's like being in the middle of a battlefield. "

  "True enough. " Jerry started pacing again. "'Tis the fate of the Campbell men to love strong women, it seems. Bloody hell, but I can't just talk this out and suddenly be a different man for you, Gloriana, much as I'd like to be. "

  "Obviously. Or I think you would have done it long ago. You've always seemed motivated. " I stood and walked over to him. "I'm just asking for an end to this constant jealousy. To this feeling I get that I have to hide things from you, tiptoe around you or you'll go off. "

  "You are hiding things from me?" He grabbed my shoulders.

  "See? That's all you heard. " I stepped back. "Stop it. Don't do this again. No, I'm not hiding anything. Or I don't think I am. " I put my hand to my head. What I'd told Jerry or what I hadn't seemed impossible to keep straight right now and I wasn't sure I had it in me to even try.

  "Come here. Let me hold you. " He pulled me into his arms, which felt way too much like a safe haven.

  Oh, but it was seductive. I was feeling much too vulnerable after that whole demon incident with Flo. It was tempting to just take the easy way here. My head hurt, my stomach still rolled and Jerry's broad shoulders could take on everything, even demons.

  And those evil slimes were always watching, apparently, just waiting for a chance to swoop in and try their luck with anyone I came in contact with. It was enough to make me want to put my head down on Jerry's strong chest and weep. Who would they try for next? Ray? Another "easy takedown" as Spyte had said.

  "Gloriana, sweetheart. You're shaking. I don't know what those bastards are doing to you, but please let me help. " Jerry picked me up and carried me to my bedroom. He laid me on the bed and knelt beside it. "Let me get Richard involved. He helped before, didn't he?"

  "He's furious with me. He won't let Flo within miles of me now. " I stared at the ceiling. "Not that it will do any good to keep her away from me. Now that they've started in on her, I don't have to be around for them to do their seduction routine. This was just their first pass. "

  "You're not responsible for Florence's soul. If she's weak, that's her fault. " Jerry held my hand. "And anyone else who gives in to their offers, it's on their heads, not yours. "

  I looked at him. "So why can't you say that about Rafe? He isn't making these demons do anything. They promised they'd be satisfied with Simon and the Energy Vampires. That, if we get them, they'll leave us alone. "

  "And you believe them?" Jerry shook his head. "Haven't you learned anything from this latest incident?"

  "You're right. " I sat up. "We've got to make sure the demons know that after this they're never welcome in Austin again. "

  "That would be quite a trick. " Jerry got up off the floor to sit on the bed beside me. "How on earth could we do that?"

  "We? So you're in? You think you could work with Rafe and me to do this?" I grabbed his hands. "Without getting into a fight over it?"

  "I'll do whatever it takes to make you safe. And if it means giving up jealousy. " He winced. "Well, I'll be working on that. Maybe there's a twelve-step program I can join. "

  I hugged him. "There is! I'll get online and find a meeting for you here in town. "

  "Seriously?" Jerry had obviously been bluffing and I'd just called him on it.

  "Seriously. Bottom line, either you trust me or you don't. I've told Rafe we're done. Do you think I'm so weak I can't resist him?" I leaned back and gave him a look that meant business.

  "No. You've proved time and again that you aren't weak, my girl. You're getting stronger all the time and I love that about you. " He leaned down and kissed me. "So the fault here is mine. I'll go to the bloody meetings and do whatever it takes to prove I want us to work. "

  "Thank you, Jerry. And I take blame too. I betrayed you. You have reason to wonder about Rafe, I know that. " I kissed him this time, showing him how much I loved him.

  "Now all we need to do is survive. " Jerry held me close. "I'm talking to Richard. He can't guard Florence twenty-four-seven. He'll want to help us send these demons back to hell and he's something of an expert with these matters. Am I right?"

  "Yes, you are. " I actually began to feel hopeful. Which was Jerry's power. His confidence that he could always put things right.

  Jerry brushed my hair back from my face. "You look like you're feeling better. "

  "I am. Talking isn't such a bad thing, you know. We needed to clear the air. " I pulled Jerry down to the bed. "Now I bet we have an hour before Penny gets home. How about we seal the deal on this promise you just made. One of the twelve steps is making amends. I'll lie here while you show me how sorry you are that you ever acted jealous of my men. "

  "Oh, I am very sorry. " Jerry came down on top of me. "And I may have twelve different ways of showing you that, my love. "

  Jerry decided to leave just as Penny and Trey hit the door a few minutes before dawn. I was relaxed and nake
d in my bed and didn't bother to get up. But I could hear well enough as Jerry and Penny made plans to drive to San Antonio with the rats the next evening.

  I made my own plans. I was going to church the next night. I'd been with the demons enough to feel positively filthy with evil. An evening of joyful music and the positive message from Pastor John at the Moonlight Church of Eternal Life and Joy would go a long way to restoring my soul.

  When I woke up, I waited until Penny had showered, then listened to her excited chatter about her date and her meeting with Jenny the night before.

  "I did what you said. Kept my cool and wasn't alone with her at all. We squeezed them in at the bar and Jenny tried to get me to go to the bathroom with her so we could gossip, but I wouldn't do it. " Penny laughed. "Totally blew her mind. But I just kept going to hang out with Trey who had door duty and left her with her date. That solved the problem. " Penny flushed. "She thought Trey was cute too. Was totally jealous. I read her mind. "

  "Why not? Anything else good in there?" I sat in my robe, thinking about trying to call Flo to see if my friend might go to church with me. Would she pick up if she saw on the caller ID that it was me? Sure she'd been all BFF last night, but Richard had probably been giving her an earful since then about my bad influence. And I couldn't blame him.

  "She wasn't too happy with her date. Thought he was immature compared to Trey. Didn't help that his fake ID didn't pass at the bar. That embarrassed her. " Penny had a really wide grin. "Can you believe she was jealous of me? Even liked my skirt!"

  "Well, there you go. " I patted her knee, then nodded toward the door. "Jerry's coming up the stairs. Get the door. "

  "Oh, yeah. We're taking the rats to a guy in San Antonio who has some homes lined up for them. " Penny got up and unlocked the dead bolts. "Hi, Mr. Blade. I'll start bringing out the cages. "

  "Good evening, Penny. " Jerry walked over and dropped a kiss on my lips. "Gloriana. " He noticed Penny had disappeared down the hall and ran a hand inside my robe. "Mmm. Sorry you're not going with us. I assume you're not, since you aren't dressed yet. "

  "Nope. The idea of an hour in the car with fifty-three rats doesn't sound like my idea of fun. " I swatted at his hand. "Don't start something you can't finish, big guy. "

  "Later. " He leaned down and kissed me again, a wonderfully thorough job this time.

  "Mmm. I'll keep that in mind. " I pushed him back.

  "It's up to sixty-seven rats now. They were supposed to be segregated in the lab but obviously somebody messed up. " Penny carried in two crates. "Anyway, we've had some developments, so they are really crowded. "

  "I'll get the other crates. " Jerry charged off down the hall. "Gloriana, you might want to air the place out while we're gone. "

  "Sure, after I get back from church. " I got up to take my empty bottle to the kitchen.

  "You're going to church?" Penny stopped in the open doorway.

  "I told you I went. I thought I'd already proved to you that I'm not the fanged monster the comic books or movies portray, Penny. I pray, sing hymns, and there's a church that has night services. Maybe next Sunday, you can go with me. " I went to the kitchen sink and rinsed out my bottle, then dumped it in the recycle bin.

  "Yes, I'd like that. And it would make my folks feel good if I could tell them we go to church together. " She glanced down at the rats. "If I didn't have to take these tonight, I'd go with you. Definitely. "

  "Fine, we'll do it. But the rats have to leave. I'll get started on your bedroom when I get back. Keep your window open now and the fan going. Spray air freshener. " I smiled as Jerry came out bearing the last of the crates. "Anything else left in there rat-related?"

  "Just some food and things that we'll stick in the car and take to the rescue people along with these creatures. Go ahead and take your shower. " Jerry followed Penny to the door. "I'll get her settled in the car and come back up for one last load. Leave the bathroom door unlocked. " He winked. "She can wait for a few minutes. "

  "Bad man. " I smiled and strutted toward the bathroom. Why not? I had printed out a short list of places he could go to start work on that jealousy issue. So maybe a little advanced reward was in order.

  I got the water temperature adjusted, jumped in and started shampooing my hair. I'd just done the second rinse when I felt a hand on my backside.

  "Now who could that be?" I sighed as it stroked down to insinuate itself between my legs. "And such curious fingers. " I gasped and leaned against the tile wall as he plunged first one, then two fingers inside me.

  "Face the wall. Don't turn around. This is your lover, come to take his due. " His voice was rough, not like him. But I forgot that as his body rubbed against me and I felt how hard and ready he was. His other hand snaked around me to grasp one of my breasts and he squeezed my nipple, a little too tightly.

  "But I want to see - "

  "No!" He pressed his cock into the crease of my buttocks and slid it up and down, up and down, the water making the passage slippery and entirely sensual. His fingers swirled inside me, finding that tender center that screamed for him to play with it, to press against it. He pinched it between his fingers, then released. Over and over again until I shook, my head falling to my chest.

  "What do you want me to do?" I panted as I bent over and widened my legs, trying to bring him inside me, needing for him to fill me. But only his fingers worked me, teasing me and making me writhe against him.

  "Open for me, wider. " His other hand slid from my breast and he grabbed the showerhead, pulling the detachable piece loose and aiming it at my exposed center.

  "Oh, my God. Oh, my God. "

  "Quiet. " The harsh command made me bite my lip, but I jerked at the pressure of the water on my sensitive flesh and I was willing to do whatever he said as long as the pleasure lasted. This was Jerry's game and clearly he was making up the rules as we went along.

  Jerry's game. I inhaled and reached a trembling hand for the shower gel as my knees wobbled. At the same time he released me to turn the knob on the showerhead to pulse, teasing me with the firmer stream until I screamed and jerked the hose from his hands. I whirled, the gel in my hands, and aimed for his eyes, squeezing the bottle as hard as I could.

  "Son of a bitch!" He threw up his hands and fell back against the tile wall.

  "Out!" I dropped the bottle to shove him away from me. "God! God! God! Get away from me!"

  Lucifer grabbed a washcloth and wiped his red and streaming eyes. "Not a problem. " He looked me over. "What was I thinking? Your kind doesn't belong in hell. He can have you. " With that he vanished. A simple now you see him, now you don't.

  I reached back and found the spigots, managing to turn off the water before I collapsed into the bottom of the tub. I leaned my head on my knees. The bathroom reeked of the expensive lavender gel I'd bought as a treat for myself at the mall. Not a problem that several dollars' worth decorated the tile wall and had gone down the drain. Not a problem that the Devil himself had touched me intimately and almost . . . I shuddered and knew my legs wouldn't support me if I tried to stand. My center still quivered and, if I'd dared touch myself, I knew I'd go off. I hated that, hated that I'd responded to that creep. I trembled, disgusted and nauseated.

  I pushed my wet hair out of my eyes when I heard the bathroom door open.

  "Glory, not finished already, are you, sweetheart?" Jerry pulled aside the shower curtain. "Why didn't you wait for me?"

  I started sobbing and couldn't stop.

  "Glory? What in God's name is wrong with you?" Jerry tried to pull me into his arms but I shook my head and pointed at the fogged up mirror.

  Written in the steam was a smiley face and one letter - "L. " I couldn't speak.

  "Lucifer? By God, are you telling me Lucifer was in here?" Jerry crawled into the tub with me and wrapped his arms around me. "Did he . . . ?"

  I shook my head. "He, he came up behind me. " I felt Jerry's arms tig
hten around me. "But somehow I, I knew. " I turned to look at him. "He didn't smell right. " I leaned my face into Jerry's neck and breathed in his essence. "I've been with you so long. He could have made himself look like you, I guess. But your smell. " I kissed the side of his neck, my shaking finally gone. "I stopped him before . . . "

  "How?" Jerry brushed my wet hair back from my face. "This is the king of hell we're talking about. He's so powerful. "

  "Surprised him. " I reached for that bottle of gel that lay next to the drain and capped it, carefully setting it on the rim of the tub. "He thought he had me. Stayed behind me so, so I couldn't see. " I buried my face in Jerry's neck. "Take me out of here. Please?"

  "What was I thinking?" Jerry stood, grabbed a towel to wrap me in, then carried me to the bed. There he piled blankets on top of me. "Better?"

  "A little. Don't, don't leave me. " I felt raw, vulnerable. No matter what Lucifer said, he could come back, decide to finish what he'd started. I didn't say it, tried to be brave about it. But Jerry sat on the side of the bed and kept one hand on mine.

  "I won't. " He pulled out his phone and I heard him tell Penny to come upstairs. Then she was there, staring at me from the doorway. He issued orders like the commander he'd once been, telling her to clear out the rest of the rat paraphernalia and drive his car to San Antonio. That the destination was already programmed into his GPS.

  "But what's wrong with Glory?" Penny hadn't moved out of the doorway yet. I was aware of her, but didn't look at her directly. I couldn't seem to quit doing an instant replay of the shower scene. Why hadn't I known immediately that it wasn't Jerry behind me? I'd let it go too far. I should have . . . It was an endless tape of what ifs and if onlys that made me crazy.

  "She slipped and fell in the bathtub. She'll be all right but I don't want to leave her alone right now. Just go. I'll take care of her. " Jerry's voice was calm, but I knew him well enough to sense the rage he was barely holding inside. Apparently the idea that Lucifer had tried to rape me, and that's what I was calling it, made him as crazy as it was making me.

  Moments passed as I counted spots on the ceiling and tried to make my mind blank. Didn't work of course. By the time I heard the hall door close and Jerry was back beside me, I had tears running down my cheeks again.

  "Gloriana, love. " He pulled me into his arms and held me close. His warmth soothed me and I knew I was safe. But for how long?

  I opened my mind to him and let him see exactly what had happened. No secrets. He stiffened and bit back a curse, then laid me carefully on the bed.

  "I'll be right back. " He stood and pulled out his cell phone.

  "Jerry, what are you going to do?"

  "Don't worry, I'm not going to kill anyone. " He took my hand while he used his thumb to page through his numbers, then hit speed dial for someone. "Get over here. Gloriana needs you. " He was silent for a moment. "Her place. " He ended the call.

  I sat up. "Jerry, quit blocking your thoughts. I can't - " "I am only doing what you asked me to do. Putting aside my personal feelings and letting you have your life. I called a friend for you. Someone who can help. " He sat beside me on the bed. His eyes were hot, his fists kept clenching and unclenching like he ached for a broadsword. Yet how could he fight the king of the Underworld? How could we?

  I put my hands to my head. That question seemed to roll inside my brain endlessly. How do you fight a being so powerful, so impossibly evil? Just by being good? I could almost hear Lucifer's mocking laughter in my head at the thought.

  The hall door opened and Jerry jumped to his feet. He strode to the living room and low voices kept me from hearing what he said. Then there was a crash.

  I jumped up and wrapped one of the blankets around me. I staggered to the doorway and saw Rafe, his fist bleeding as he pulled it from a hole in the Sheetrock next to the hall door. He looked at me with bleak eyes.

  "I thought . . . " I took a shaky breath.

  "That we'd got into it again?" Rafe glanced at Jerry. "No, we have a common enemy now. " He had a sheen of tears in his eyes as he walked toward me. "Damn me, but I'd have done anything to spare you this. "

  "I know, Rafe. Please don't blame yourself. " I fell into his arms but kept my eyes on Jerry, sending him a message, thanking him. "Shit happens. Am I right?"

  "Not this kind of shit. " He said it into my wet hair and I felt a shudder go through him. "I will carry this guilt with me for the rest of my life. "

  I saw Jerry nod, as if this was right and proper. I couldn't get into that. Who understood the workings of hell or demons? But I knew now why Jerry had called a man he would rather I never touched again. I eased out of Rafe's arms.

  "Give me some credit here. I actually stopped that creep from crossing the finish line and I bet all of hell has a nice lavender scent now. If they weren't afraid of getting sent down to test the latest torture device, the demons would probably be laughing it up at Luc's expense. "

  "Not much laughter down there, Glory. And you can't fool me. " Rafe didn't crack a smile. "You're reeling. He invaded your privacy. Not crossing the finish line is a technicality. Blade and I figure the asshole's gone way too far. Way too far. This is war, baby, and we'll do whatever it takes to see that something like this never happens again. "

  "Now, Rafe, don't make me worry about you. Calm down. Let me get dressed. I need to call Simon and get moving on our plan. I've been stalling. Maybe we need more information. " I managed a smile for both of them, though I was sure it was a poor effort. "Rafe, you must know something about Lucifer and the workings of that world. As Jerry would say, we need to know the enemy to defeat it. "

  "Exactly. " Jerry stared at the hole in the Sheetrock. "Need to get someone to repair the wall. Gloriana's supposed to have company tomorrow night, Penny's parents. " He glanced at me. "Unless you plan to cancel. "

  "No, got to do that. " I sighed. "Business as usual. I can't let Lucifer think he got to me. And - " I looked down at the hardwood floor. "If you're listening, asshole, you're pathetic, needing to sneak up on women who don't want you. " I shook my head, tears coming and not wanting the guys to see them. "Forget it. Taunting him is probably stupid. Am I right, Rafe?"

  "Afraid so, Glo. " He glanced at Jerry. "Go, blow your hair dry. Do something to make yourself look pretty. We can wait. "

  "Yeah, I'll do that. " I smiled at Jerry, meaning it this time. "Good call, Jer. I like seeing you two work together. " I gestured toward a black-and-white photo of Ray that hung in my shrine to him near my CD player. I'd set it up long before I'd met him, a total fangirl. Since it bugged Jerry and Rafe, it had stayed. "Move that over and cover up the hole while I'm getting dressed. It'll do for now. " I staggered off to my room.

  Once there I shut the door, then collapsed on the foot of the bed and just stared at my reflection. Yep, still had it. I was tempted to throw something at it and shatter the mirror. Anything that reminded me of hell right now left a bitter taste in my mouth. But Glory St. Clair is a survivor. And if I moped around, cried bitter tears or railed against fate, it would only please Lucifer and make him think he'd won points in some kind of sick game.

  So I got up and attacked my drying hair. When I was made up and dressed in jeans and a loose black tee, I walked back out to join the men. They jumped up, both of them with the light of battle in their eyes.

  "Any conclusions?" I walked over and got another bottle of synthetic out of the fridge. I needed something to get me pumped up. Sure I was a survivor, but that didn't mean I still wasn't an inch away from crawling back into bed, pulling the covers over my head and staying there, permanently.

  "Like you say, we need more information. I want to know about Lucifer's powers. How hell is set up. " Jerry patted the seat next to him on the couch.

  "The demons told you it's like intramural sports down there. With each of the gods and goddesses of the Underworld having their own turf. That Lucifer has his section and there's this competition goin
g?" Rafe had pulled out a beer and took a swig. "They made it sound like it's all in fun, everything even Steven. But, trust me, Lucifer is actually the big boss. The head of the whole shooting match. His power is off the charts. "

  "Surely he has a vulnerability. " Jerry's arm tightened around me.

  Rafe shook his head. "Don't know of one. And of course cheating's expected, even applauded. "

  "I bet rules mean nothing in hell. " I wondered how on earth you fought against an enemy like that. Especially one who thought anyone with honor was weak and stupid.

  "They mean nothing in hell, but, when the demons are here on earth, they do have a few rules they have to abide by. The man upstairs takes exception to some of their dirty tricks. They aren't allowed to bug a good person indefinitely and I have a feeling they're about to wear out their welcome with you, Glory. God's bound to take notice and put the hammer down. " Rafe met my gaze. "Not sure how much control He has over Lucifer, but what really blows my mind here, Glory, is that Lucifer's even bothered taking a personal interest in you. " His mouth twisted in a bitter smile. "Sorry, sweet thing, but you're absolutely a tiny blip on his radar. "

  "Sure, I can see that. He'd usually be all about immoral dictators or instigating horrible things like genocide or a famine. Focusing on the big picture. " I snuggled up to Jerry and wished for a blanket. I felt chilled as I thought of all the evil in the world. Jer read my thoughts and grabbed a throw from a basket next the couch and draped it over my lap.

  "Seems like time might be on our side then," Jerry said.

  Rafe set his bottle on my magazine. "From what Blade told me, Glory, you pretty well let Lucifer have it tonight. I doubt he'll bother you again. "

  "I can hope. Seems like his male ego wouldn't stand for him making another try. He did seem pretty disgusted with me. " I held the throw around me. "But maybe his male ego doesn't let a rejection stand without payback either. "

  "Like I said, you're not that important. Let's just concentrate on getting this deal with Simon done. " Rafe picked up his beer again. "Call him. See if he'll agree to meet. "

  "In a minute. " I frowned at him. "Got to say, Rafael, you need a twelve-step program for anger management. Forget hitting the wall. The worst was using your demonic powers just because you had a disappointment. Look at the serious fallout it's caused. " I shook my finger at him. "You really don't want this to happen again, do you?"

  Jerry choked out a laugh. "You're right, Gloriana. Sign him up. I saw the list you left for me on the coffee table. " He actually gave Rafe a sympathetic look, man to man. "Our girl is big on twelve-step programs. Next thing you know you'll be going to meetings in church basements. "

  "Don't mock. That kind of program got me through a terrible time. " I still didn't use a credit card. Had a debit card and that was it. "Now be quiet while I make this call. " I hit speed dial for Simon. Yes, I had his number programmed. Don't ask.

  "Gloriana. How interesting to hear from you. What could you want?" Simon's deep voice really didn't go with his usual weasel face.

  "To talk. Freddy told me you aren't allowed to have a female Energy Vampire. And I was all primed. "

  "Really?" Simon cleared his throat. "Doubt it. Rumor has it you lost any special abilities when you lost your demon visitor. Bet you didn't think I knew about that, did you?"

  "Nothing you know surprises me, Simon. " I frowned though. Did Simon still have video cameras hidden in my shop somewhere? I hated the way he sneaked around. "But seems like Honoria really enjoys pulling your chain. "

  "It's the price I pay for power. " Simon chuckled. "Nothing for you to worry about. "

  "But it's costing you your son. How does that feel?" I waited as silence stretched. "Freddy's pretty torn up about it. He moved to Texas to get to know his father, but he just can't deal with the whole Energy Vampire thing. Bet that was a major disappointment to you. "

  "What is this? A therapy session?" Simon's voice hardened. "I don't need it. "

  "Don't hang up. I get that you probably can't talk out there. Not about this. But I may be able to help you shake loose of you-know-who. I have some connections. Because of my recent demonic possession. Meet me in my shop and we can discuss things. If you really want to see Freddy again. " I said this in a rush, pretty sure Simon had been close to ending the connection.

  "When?"

  I did a gut check. "Tuesday night. Back room of my shop. Nine o'clock. Can you make it?"

  "Be alone. I don't want to deal with your friends. " He ended the call.

  "Good job, Glory. He actually bit. " Rafe gave me a high five.

  Jerry squeezed my shoulders. "I know why you couldn't meet him tonight. Go rest, sweetheart. We'll talk about the actual meeting later. " He looked at Rafe. "I think Penny's room needs a thorough cleaning. What do you say we prove to Gloriana that we can work together on a project, Valdez?"

  "Sure. I can get behind that. And we don't need to leave Glo alone either. " Rafe winked at me. "Should do you good to see Blade pushing a vacuum cleaner. Am I right?"

  "That's not necessary. I can do it. Later. " I struggled to my feet. Jerry kept his arm around my waist to steady me.

  "No, we've got this. Take care of yourself. " He settled me in bed and strode back to the living room. I heard Rafe tell him where he could find that vacuum cleaner.

  I lay back and thought about calling Flo. No, it would just upset her. She was safe in Richard's hands and didn't need to be anywhere near me and my angst. Instead, I called CiCi and gave her an update about my meeting with Simon. It felt good to be proactive instead of waiting for something else to happen to me. I fell asleep to the roar of the vacuum, glad that a vampire couldn't have nightmares.