by Traci Wilton
“The sangria is gone,” Emma lamented, gesturing to the long table. Someone had knocked the picture booth over.
“The bar across the lobby is great, though.” Gabriel raised his glass to Charlene.
“I’ll visit after we announce the king and queen.” Her feet were pinched in her low heels and she’d love to sit a while.
She left them chatting and joined Stephanos and Lucas at the podium. Lucas handed her the card to reveal the winners, and the men held the checks.
Charlene took the mike. “Happy Halloween! What a festive night it’s been—and the fun isn’t over. It’s time for us to announce the winners for the grand title of king and queen of the witch ball. Trust me, the costumes tonight were outstanding and this was not an easy decision to make.”
She cleared her throat and smiled at the two hundred participants who’d gone all out for this event. Evelyn hadn’t put her headdress back on. Where was the pirate? Could they give honorable mentions? “Each of you looks splendid. How about a round of applause?”
After some loud hollers and whoops, the room quieted again. “It is with great pleasure that we name our witch ball winners.” She paused dramatically as the band played a few notes. “The winners are . . . The alien! Our worthy king. His queen is none other than the beautiful Aphrodite—come on up and take the stage!”
Her last words were drowned out by the roar of cheering and clapping. The eight-foot alien stepped up and assisted his lovely six-foot queen. He swept her into his arms and planted a big one right on her mouth as she struggled playfully to get away.
“Congratulations to you both.” Charlene hurried off the stage, leaving room for Lucas and Stephanos to present the checks.
Lucas bowed formally in his ninja costume. “There were so many creative ensembles tonight that it was a very difficult decision. Yet, somehow,” he smiled charmingly, “we unanimously agreed that the titles belong to both of you.”
Stephanos motioned to the winners. “Since we only know you as the alien and Aphrodite, would you please give us your names? Then kneel so our judges can crown you. Our king might be a challenge if he were to stand straight.” Stephanos put an arm up and only reached the big man’s shoulder.
Everyone laughed. Lucas pulled Aphrodite forward. “Your name?”
“Cassandra, who once was a Trojan princess.” She beamed and pounded her armored shield. “Tonight, thanks to you, I am now a queen!” Lowering her eyes, she said, “My parents are from the island of Santorini and my surname is Angelos. That means ‘angel’ in Greek. Trust me, my parents got that one wrong!”
The crowd whistled and clapped. She knelt and Stephanos centered the crown on her head, pulling silky strands of long blond hair over her shoulders as he helped her up.
The alien gave an awkward bow to his audience. “I am seven foot four.” He spoke with a heavy accent. “I have had bit parts in movies and was a wrestler in the Soviet Union. My name is Dima, for fighter, last name is Smirnoff because I like to drink.”
More cheering accompanied his speech. Dima fell to his knees, back straight, and removed the horned hat from his head, ready to be crowned. Lucas struggled with the alien’s massive bulk, but after a little maneuvering he managed and stepped back.
With great pride the alien stood—holding his crown in place—wearing a very large grin on his bullish face.
The band began to play, and Charlene took that as her cue to check on the cloak and stake. Had Sam arrived, or had he ignored her text? He was probably very busy on this crazy Halloween night.
She reached Brandy and Evelyn just as Sam entered the ballroom. He strode through the dancers as if he had invisible armor that made him untouchable.
“Charlene, I got your cryptic message. What’s going on? Nice dress, by the way.” He turned to Brandy, then Evelyn, brow arched. Evelyn only wore her brown trunk body suit.
“I was a rowan tree,” Evelyn explained. “But it got too hot.”
“Huh.” Sam’s focus returned to Charlene and she fluttered her lace fan. “You mentioned I should bring a plastic bag? I assume you meant evidence bag. For what?”
Charlene pointed to the ground behind Evelyn and Brandy, where the cloak lay, and the stake. The red tip was turning a brick color as it dried. Her stomach churned. That had to be the real deal.
“I think that stake has blood on it.”
Couples danced well beyond the pentagram drawn on the floor, probably subconsciously afraid they might disappear too.
“What is that?” Sam bent to examine the wooden stick.
She braced herself for him to tease her about it being a gag or joke, but he didn’t.
He straightened and rocked back on his boot heels. “Ladies, what happened here? One of you attacked a vampire?”
Brandy bowed her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going to see what’s keeping my daughter . . .”
“I’ll go with you.” Evelyn and Brandy exited the ballroom.
“That doesn’t look guilty or anything.” Sam placed his palm under her arm and dragged her close. “Now will you explain?” They stayed near the cloak.
She described the scene in clarity, and how Alaric kept repeating his name, then others chanted it too. “One minute he was bigger than Moses, then in dramatic style, he tossed his cape over his face, and the room went dark. Stephanos and I were at the door, but it wouldn’t open!”
“And then?” Sam didn’t release her upper arm.
“A gorilla opened the door from the other side. Stephanos turned the lights back on—Alaric was gone, but he’d left his cape. And when Serenity moved the fabric, the stake was there. With the”—she swallowed hard—“blood.”
“He was supposed to return?”
“I think that was the plan, but Serenity never said. Just that the spell worked. So he’s either a very good magician who had his fun tonight, or something else happened.”
Sam let her go in contemplation. “What do you think?”
“I think Alaric wanted to impress Serenity. In my humble opinion, he had an elaborate plan to prove to everyone who doubted him that he was a ‘real’ vampire.”
He studied her for a long moment and at last a hint of a smile lifted the corners of his mouth, partially hidden by his glorious Sam Elliott mustache.
She cocked her head. “What?”
“Charlene, you have never since I’ve known you had a humble opinion. You’re always forthright, sometimes to a fault.” He removed a bag from the inside of his canvas jacket. “You’re more beautiful than Scarlett tonight. A Southern belle suits you—maybe you should try wearing dresses more often?”
She huffed but was secretly pleased that he found her attractive.
He opened the bag with a snap, which folded out to be large enough for the three-foot stake. “I’m not sure what I want to do with you.”
She simpered behind her lace and batted her eyes. “I have a few ideas of what you might like to do, but after taking me to jail, I don’t think so.”
“Are you ever going to forgive me for that?”
“Not until I’m good and ready.” Her pride when he’d dragged her to the station to teach her a lesson about interfering in a case had suffered a direct hit. She turned to leave and he tugged her elbow.
His eyes were burning bright, and she knew that if there weren’t a crowd of people around he just might kiss her.
She gave him a brief smile. “Good luck finding Alaric. Hopefully he’s just at a bar somewhere waiting to surprise Serenity.” But her whirling tummy didn’t think so. “Want to come over in the morning and give us all the good news?”
“You’re incorrigible. Maybe. Minnie makes much better coffee than the drudge at the station.”
He carefully bagged the stake, and for good measure, used a second bag for the cloak.
“Where is Serenity?” Sam stiffened. “Hell, the whole Flint family is gone.”
Charlene noticed that a lot of people were gone as it was almost one in the morning. The b
and would play until two. Aphrodite and Alien were going strong on the dance floor.
“I don’t know—poor Serenity had a shock, so they no doubt rushed her home to bed. Thanks for coming, Sam.” She bit her lower lip. “It’s probably nothing.”
“Hope you’re right.” He dipped his head and left.
Orpheus sidled up to her, long body loose with alcohol. Thick platinum hoops flashed in his ears. “Where’d your sexy friend go?”
“Home.”
“Is she single?” Orpheus winked at her, his dark eyes beautifully lashed.
“You will have to ask her.” Charlene chided him with a tap of her fan on his forearm. He’d unbuttoned the jacket of his zoot suit so it hung open, revealing a broad chest, covered in a snug black tee.
His gaze smoldered. “I hear she’s a witch, in truth. I’m staying at the Longmire Hotel off Elton, if you’ll let her know.”
“How did you hear that? That she’s a witch?”
“People talk.” He shrugged. “I think it’s hot.”
“How long are you in town? I’ll give her your message.” Which was better than giving out Brandy’s information to a stranger, no matter how gorgeous.
He half-smiled. “I’d planned on leaving tomorrow, but now . . . it might be a few more days.”
Interesting. Before she could talk to him some more, Celeste called her name. “Charlene! We never got our picture, and now it’s ruined.”
Celeste, Tommy, and Joey tried to right the cardboard booth. Props of all kinds, from feather boas to a plastic machine gun, were scattered around.
“Hey!” The lanky vampire with blue eyes carried four beers from the bar. “I thought we were blowing this joint?”
“Where ya headed, kids?” Orpheus asked the group who’d surrounded the tall one like locusts on a ripe stalk of wheat.
“Calm down, calm down.” He handed out the beers and sneered toward Orpheus. “Friends only, mate.”
“Are you all right for the night?” Charlene asked her young guests. Well, not too young, but early twenties. This was their first Halloween in Salem and it could be dangerous. “I’m headed back if you want to share a cab.”
“We’re going to hang out with Asher,” Celeste said. They followed their new friend to the lobby. When Charlene turned back to talk to Orpheus, he’d left.
“Well.” She said her goodbyes to Lucas and Stephanos, who assured her that she’d done a wonderful job her first time as judge, then caught a cab home to Jack and Silva at her bed and breakfast, Charlene’s.
Her brightly-lit mansion brought a spark of pride. Leaving the cab, she climbed the front porch. Mums and fall flowers were arranged in baskets, some hanging, others stacked along the steps. She unlocked her door and went in.
Minnie had left the under-counter lights on in the kitchen, and a lamp lit in the main living room. She removed her coat and hung it on the coat-tree, then followed the scent from the kitchen.
She jumped as a giant fur ball pounced on her from the windowsill. “Silva! Why aren’t you snuggled in your bed?”
Silva meowed and darted beneath her large hooped skirts to rub against Charlene’s ankles. “That tickles! Come out of there and let’s see what Minnie’s left for us.”
Charlene gave a shake of her skirt and Silva paraded over to her silver dish where she waited as she licked her paws. The clever cat liked to keep herself clean.
She heard a chuckle and a shadowy figure solidified at the darkened kitchen table. Black hair, turquoise eyes, an elegant figure in his black tux, Jack waved at her from his customary chair. “Welcome home.”
Pleasure filled her heart. “Hello, Jack.”
Charlene, Silva, and her charming resident ghost had a unique relationship. No one else knew that the previous owner, Dr. Jonathan Strathmore IV, remained in his home and couldn’t leave the boundary of the property. She’d been terrified the first night she’d met him, but now they were the best of friends, and she couldn’t imagine running this place without him.
He’d chosen to stay with her, but neither knew the rules of his time as a ghost and she feared one day he’d just be gone.
“Let me feed our spoiled Silva and take a smidgen of this delicious carrot cake. I’m starving. I wish you could join me.”
“I enjoy watching you.” Jack stood and crowded next to her, blowing on a ringlet. “Your pleasure in food, or drink, makes me feel like I get to taste it too.”
Less than a foot apart, his chilly essence doused her with cold. She moved slightly, not wanting to offend him—although in truth they were beyond that. They’d shared so much in the past year that they understood one another.
She took a tin of tuna from the cupboard and poured half in Silva’s dish. After washing her hands, she sliced a piece of her favorite cake and put it on a fancy plate Minnie had left out. “Why don’t you wait for me in my suite? I’ll be there in a second.”
Jack disappeared in a crackle of brisk air.
Next to the cake, Charlene set out a platter of crackers and cheese, and a selection of wine, leaving a note on the counter for her guests to help themselves.
She headed for her room and Jack, leaving her door open a crack so Silva could join them. The beautiful Persian had a soft silvery coat, luminous golden eyes, a fancy red bling collar, and a whole lot of attitude.
Jack lounged in the armchair across from her love seat. “You weren’t long.”
“No, I just put out a little something to welcome our guests home.” She liked to include him since they shared the house now. It had been his first.
“I can’t stand the suspense. Who won king and queen? Did you like being a judge?” A slow smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
“I really did.” Her upbeat mood faltered as she recalled how the night had ended—with the stake and Alaric missing.
He soundlessly drummed his fingers against the armrest. “What happened?”
“Why do you think anything happened?” she asked her closest companion. Charlene studied his strong features and the touch of gray at his temples.
“You never go anywhere without collecting a story to tell.” He searched her face as intently as she’d just done his. “Something out of the ordinary. Considering this is Halloween in Salem . . .”
She laughed and put her cake aside. “Let me get out of this costume and into something more comfortable. You know me all too well.”
CHAPTER 3
Fifteen minutes later, Charlene had traded her hooped skirts for flannel pajamas with black cats and returned to her love seat. She quickly filled her intelligent sidekick in on the key points of Alaric’s disappearance right at midnight. “He claimed his act would prove to Serenity that he was a real vampire. You should see this guy, Jack! He had smooth, pale skin, black hair, and dark eyes.” She shuddered. “Quite good-looking, if you like the ghoulish type.”
“And you don’t?” Jack raised his hand next to a lamp and she could see right through it.
“No. And don’t do that.” Chilled, she wrapped a cozy blanket around herself and reached for her plate of cake.
“You’re no fun. Heck, I could’ve made Alaric look like an amateur with some of my tricks.” He floated the remote control across her line of sight.
“You’re a talented ghost,” she acknowledged, “but how did Alaric do it?” She and Jack loved to solve the occasional mystery. “Serenity woke up from her faint, alarmed at the bloody stake. I’m pretty sure the blood was real. She said the spell must’ve worked.”
“Spell?” Jack cradled his chin in his hand and leaned forward. “It’s the perfect night to cast spells, I suppose. Halloween. The witching hour at midnight. The Flints are a powerful Wiccan family. How did Alaric get them on board with whatever his plan was?”
“Oh, they weren’t on board.” Charlene swallowed a bite of cake. “Brandy said flat-out that she hated him.”
“Can’t blame her. She’s a protective mother, that’s all. What did Alaric want again—to prove he was a
vampire?”
“Yes. To have Serenity be his queen. They had really strong chemistry, Jack. Could hardly keep their hands off one another.”
“New relationships are like that, though. The flush of desire.” He winked at her and she blushed.
“I guess you’re right. Ardor will cool in time. Brandy needs to be patient.” She wrinkled her nose. “I would feel better about everything if I knew where he went. That he’s okay.”
Jack zeroed in on her with bright eyes. “I trust your instincts. If you think something’s off, then let’s talk about it.”
A rush of affection for Jack filled her and her adrenaline kicked in. “It’s going on two, are you sure?”
“I don’t sleep, Charlene.” He chuckled. “What’s bothering you?”
She put her empty plate on the coffee table and closed her eyes to picture all the people at the witch ball. Opening them, she said, “Alaric wanted Serenity to be part of his vampire coven, his queen, but she was to share him with another woman. I heard Serenity refuse but later, they were all dancing together.”
“Who is this?”
“Elisabeta. She’s probably ten years older than Serenity.” Elisabeta had followed Serenity to the bathroom and hadn’t returned.
“Was Serenity worried when Alaric didn’t come back?”
“She was alarmed by the stick. The thing is, Elisabeta and Serenity left the ballroom and I didn’t see them again.” Charlene sat back and curled her legs under her rear. “Do you mind getting my notepad and pen, Jack?”
He levitated them to her, and she was able to actually think as she doodled. Old habit, and nothing that could ever be replaced by a smartphone.
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure. What else?”
Charlene tapped the end of her pen to her lower lip. “You should have seen our guests, Jack. They all dressed up amazing. Dalmatians, Raggedy Ann and Andy, and our singles upstairs had such a good time they’re out partying with a new friend—also a vampire, but I think this one knows he’s not real.”
They shared a laugh.
“Brandy and Theo split up,” she said, glancing at Jack to see how he’d take the news of his deceased wife’s lover, Theo Rowlings.