by Kasi Blake
“Is there a cure?” Trick asked.
Isobel smiled. “Maybe.”
Summer launched herself at the girl again, but Trick caught her around the waist. While he wrestled with Summer, Isobel leaned in and whispered in his ear. She gave him the secret to the cure. He believed her because of something he remembered Jersey and Cowboy both saying. Faeries loved curses. That was their favorite weapon. When they placed a curse, they always gave a way out for the victim. Faerie law said they had to, but the cure was usually as bad or worse than the curse itself.
Isobel whispered, “If Cowboy and Summer want to be free of their curse, they have to give up their faerie-induced power. All they have to do is say they give up the ability to walk in daylight and to teleport.”
Being a vampire, Summer heard every word. The vampire girl scoffed at the idea. A humorless laugh hit the air. “Oh, sure. As if I’d believe anything you say, you lying viper.”
“What about me?” Trick asked. He hated the idea of giving up daylight and teleportation. Still, he’d do it in a heartbeat if it meant not drooling over the smell of Dani’s blood.
“It won’t be that easy for you,” Isobel announced. “Oberon wants you to embrace your inner monster.”
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“You have to attack someone.” She raised her shoulders in a slow-motion shrug and made a face. “The good news is you don’t have to kill them. It doesn’t even have to be someone you know. They can’t be willing though. Oberon made that clear. You have to bite someone and feed on their blood. Then the curse will end.”
Summer called Isobel a few more names as she stormed out of the room.
Isobel told him, “I’m not lying.”
“How do you know what will cure us?” Trick’s eyes narrowed. “Did Oberon tell you?”
“Jersey did. Somehow he got it out of Oberon.” Isobel smirked. “I know what you’re thinking, that this is a setup. It’s not. Oberon made a way for you to break the curse, but you’ll have to choose if you want to do it. The last thing you want to do is act like a vampire, so that’s what he wants you to do in order to escape the curse. Bite someone, and the curse will end.”
Trick went to the couch and plopped down on the middle cushion. He stared at the wall without seeing it. When he glanced up with another question for the girl werewolf, she was gone. The terrace doors remained open. A gentle breeze wafted inside.
“What am I supposed to do now?” Trick asked himself.
A candlestick flew across the room.
Trick smiled. Even if he lost all his mortal friends and family members, he still had an invisible vampire to keep him company. He wondered if Cowboy was willing to let go of his power to walk in daylight. Part of him expected his cell to buzz in his pocket with Cowboy texting him the answer. It didn’t happen.
He sat in silence and thought about the ramifications of what he had to do to remove his curse. Could he actually bite someone? Attack them without provocation? The idea made him feel like a complete hypocrite. If he bit someone, he would be doing the same thing he killed other vampires for doing.
On the other hand, if he didn’t get the curse removed soon, he’d start killing people. He wouldn’t be able to stop himself. He’d rather die than hurt Dani or Scarlet or someone else he cared about.
The solution presented itself in the guise of Cowboy’s tantrum; the invisible vampire threw another object.
“You go first,” Trick said. “Remove your curse. All you have to do is give up the powers you got from the faerie blood. If it works and you reappear, I’ll do what I have to do to break mine.”
Trick didn’t wait for an answer.
He left the room on foot, too mentally drained to teleport. Besides, he had nowhere to go. So he wandered the mansion, moving from room to room while replaying Isobel’s exact words.
♫
Cowboy sat on the living room floor by himself. For once he didn’t mind being alone. Summer was back in her room with the door closed, and Trick had gone wherever it was he went to make decisions. They all had a lot to think about.
He sat with his legs folded in what he considered the meditation pose. Now more than ever he wished he had someone to talk things over with. The choice should be easy. Vampires weren’t meant to walk in the daylight. They were creatures of the night, and he’d been proud to be one. The faerie blood had made him weak. He hated to admit it even to himself, but he was going to miss the sunlight. He’d miss the warmth on his face more than the power to teleport.
Stupid faerie blood.
Hatred for Oberon burned deep in his gut. He wished he could have a few minutes locked in a room with the guy. So what if Oberon couldn’t die. Cowboy wanted to beat the guy in the face with his fist until he was unrecognizable. Oberon knew exactly what to do to hurt them the most. Part of Cowboy’s curse kept him locked inside the house. He wasn’t able to go out one last time before giving up sunlight.
After a few years of daylight-living he had started to take it for granted. He tried to remember the last time he’d taken the time to enjoy the sun. Blank. He couldn’t remember. But he’d never forget today, the day he had lost sunlight forever.
Cowboy pushed to his feet.
With reluctance, he said, “I willingly give up the abilities faerie blood gave me including walking in sunlight and the power to teleport.” Grim twist to his mouth, he added, “Uncurse me.”
He glanced around.
Nothing happened.
He didn’t feel any different.
Had Isobel lied to him again?
♫
Summer sent Matt a text: Need to see you now.
Lying on her bed, she tossed the phone aside and stared up at the ceiling. Her hat and veil were on the floor just inside the door. She wouldn’t need it anymore if Isobel had been telling the truth for once. Summer didn’t know what to wish for. She couldn’t imagine a life without Matt. She’d lose him for sure if she returned to her old vampire lifestyle. She wouldn’t be able to visit him at work or have picnics with him or walk into his home uninvited. Hunters would become a bigger threat. With her faerie-given power, she could drop in at Matt’s work, have lunch in a public restaurant, and do all sorts of things normal vamps couldn’t. She didn’t have to worry about hunters. They’d walk by her without a second glance... unless it was to appreciate her beauty. No one would suspect her of being a vampire.
If that changed...
She sighed. Sinking into a dark mood, she tightened her fists until her fingernails cut into the fleshy part of her palms. How could she hold onto Matt now? He’d never want to be a vampire after seeing her confined to darkness.
Summer marched into her private bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror over the sink. Hideous didn’t begin to cover the mess her face had become. In fact, it looked worse than before. Was she still aging?
“I am letting go of the ability to walk in sunlight and teleport in exchange for my youth and beauty.”
She stared at the old hag staring back at her. Nothing happened. Nothing changed. Clenching her teeth, she vowed to kill Isobel in the most painful way possible.
♫
“Summer!”
The sound of his brother’s voice echoing along the downstairs hallway caught Trick’s attention. He had managed to avoid Matt since Sean found out he was a vampire, but he couldn’t do it forever. So he followed the sound of Matt’s shouts.
He found his brother in the huge foyer.
“Where is Summer?” Matt asked. His eyes were wide, bulging behind his glasses. “She sent me a text telling me to get here as soon as possible. What happened? Is something wrong?”
“Hello, Matthew,” Summer said from the top of the stairs. “Thank you for coming.”
The two of them looked up simultaneously and gasped, stunned by her appearance. Gone was the ugly black outfit. Dressed in a svelte silver gown with plunging neckline, Summer was beautiful again. The curse had ended.
Matt shouted her name as he ran to her. They met in the middle of the staircase and embraced as if they hadn’t seen each other in months. A happy reunion for a couple separated by a powerful lunatic. Trick was happy for them even though he’d fought against their relationship. Later, he might try to separate his brother from the scheming vampire, but he would leave them alone for now. They deserved their moment.
Cowboy came out of the living room, visible again.
The sight of the two vampires filled Trick with dread. Yes, he was relieved for them. It was great to see the curses removed, but that meant Isobel had told the truth. It meant he would have to attack an innocent person, hurt them just to save himself.
The two sides of his brain went to war. Logic insisted he do it. If he refused, he would lose control someday. It was simply a matter of time. He’d lose control and kill someone, perhaps someone he loved. The only way to stop him might be a stake through the heart.
Compassion told him there had to be another way. He couldn’t live with himself if he hurt an innocent person.
Cowboy yelled, “I cannot believe you people just went on your merry way when you knew I was missing!”
Summer opened her mouth, probably to protest, but Cowboy cut her off with an angry wave of his arm.
“NO! Don’t you dare lie to me. I watched you boo-hoo over your stupid face day and night.” He turned on Trick and jabbed a finger at him. “And you! I had to listen to you and the curly-haired girl talk about the most inane crap. Instead of searching for a cure, you were playing footsie with that freaky hunter chick. You did nothing to help me.”
Trick sighed. “We didn’t know what to do.”
Cowboy shot him with a glare. “Bull! You didn’t even try to find a cure. I saw you. I heard you. Well, listen up good, both of you. Next time you need help, find it somewhere else. There’s only one person who cares enough to help me. This cowboy is done.”
For a moment nothing happened. They all stared at Cowboy. His fists clenched. With an angry growl, he charged the front door, threw it open, and disappeared into the night. Summer and Matt seemed perplexed, but Trick knew what had happened. He’d seen it in Cowboy’s eyes. The other vampire had forgotten he couldn’t teleport. He tried to pop out of the house and couldn’t, so he’d stormed off instead.
Trick’s gaze went back to his brother and Summer.
Matt caressed her face before planting a kiss on her nose.
“Want to go for a walk?” she asked.
Matt nodded. “You bet.”
They descended the staircase hand in hand with goofy expressions on their faces. Good thing it was dark outside. Summer would have to explain the realities of being a vampire to Matt soon. Trick kind of wanted to hear that conversation, but he let them go by themselves. Maybe he wouldn’t have to do anything to break them up now that Summer couldn’t go out in the daytime.
Trick stared at the empty space where Cowboy had been seconds ago. No doubt he’d been talking about Isobel when he said there was only one person who cared enough to help him. He was probably searching for her. But why? To say thank you? Or was he planning to join the werewolves?
Worse than that, would he join Oberon?
♫
Minutes later, while Trick was getting ready to go hunting for a human to bite, Scarlet entered his mansion bedroom without knocking. She walked to him with purpose in every step. Her blue eyes stayed glued to his face, wide and expectant. Hands on hips, she tilted her head sideways. “Well?” She asked, “When are you going to admit you were mean to me because you were trying to keep me safe?”
“Did Matt—”
“No one told me.” Her hands moved from her hips to his. “I’m not an idiot, Apeface. You were obviously trying to make me mad so I would stop talking to you.”
“When did you figure that out?”
“In the middle of your stupid insults.”
And here he had thought he was a manipulative genius.
“Why didn’t you say something?” he asked.
She inched closer until a sheet of paper couldn’t fit between their bodies. “You seemed determined. I didn’t want to mess up your plan. Know this though. I won’t walk away without a fight.”
An odd sensation filled him from head to toes. How did this girl with ridiculous hair and a bad attitude get under his skin so easily?
He started to remind her that he had a girlfriend. Then he remembered that was a thing of the past. Dani had broken up with him. She couldn’t stand the sight of him these days. As far as he knew, the break-up was final. They had both agreed their relationship was doomed from the start. Dani wanted to go to college, get a degree, and launch herself into a great career; he wanted to travel the world killing vampires.
Scarlet lifted her chin, and her eyes drifted halfway shut. She obviously wanted him to kiss her. Why shouldn’t he? They weren’t hurting anybody. Besides, he needed to know if that one kiss had been a fluke. If her lips could send him on an emotional roller coaster ride, maybe he should give a relationship with her a try.
He lowered his head.
A half-second before their lips had a chance to touch, Trick realized Scarlet hadn’t heard the news. He jumped back, and her hands fell off his hips. Hurt in her eyes, she opened her mouth with what he was sure would be a strongly worded protest. He waved his hands in front of her face to get her attention.
“We found out how to break our curses today,” Trick said. “Summer and Cowboy are cured. It’s my turn now. Will you help me?”
♫
“I can’t believe that freak is making you attack an innocent person like a common vampire,” Scarlet said.
They were in her dad’s car, parked within walking distance of several casinos. Trick knew he could have gone downtown and bitten someone without her, but he didn’t want to do it alone. What if he lost control? Even though Scarlet insisted she couldn’t stake him, he thought she might if it was the only way to save a human life.
Scarlet turned to him with anxious eyes. She grabbed for his hand, and he felt a tremor pass through her. Her voice quivered. “How do you want to do this?”
His tongue felt suddenly too big for his mouth. “I don’t.”
He knew he should let go of her hand. Touching her was a bad idea. He didn’t want to send her mixed signals, but the human contact was helping him focus. Her hand, soft and pretty even though she bit her nails, felt right to him. Unlike Dani, she wasn’t a girly-girl and didn’t wear rings or polish. The hand in his was strong and had killed vampires. To him, that was more important than the trees and stuff Dani saved with her numerous petitions, rallies, and protests.
Scarlet sighed. “If you don’t want to do it, don’t.”
“I have to. It’s the only way.”
“Maybe it’s not.”
He dropped her hand. “If I don’t bite someone, the blood lust won’t go away. There are times when it gets so bad I... blood bags don’t help anymore. I have to do this. I have to attack an innocent person.”
A slow smile spread across Scarlet’s face. “Did Isobel tell you who you have to bite?”
Confused, Trick stared into his best friend’s twinkling eyes. “What are you getting at?”
“Just answer the question.”
In truth, he had gone over Isobel’s words at least a dozen times. Repeating them for Scarlet’s benefit was easy. “I have to attack someone, but I don’t have to kill them. They can’t be willing. She said Oberon was clear on that. He wants me to attack an innocent person.”
Scarlet’s hand landed on his thigh as she leaned closer. “Did she use that word? Person? This is important. Did she say you have to bite a person?”
He sighed. “Someone. That’s the word she used. I have to bite someone.”
Scarlet laughed, and joy danced in her eyes.
Her sudden burst of joy irritated him. “What?” he asked. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“Don’t you get it?” She shook her head at him. “You can
attack a vampire, silly. Bite them. Kill them. Whatever.”
He blinked. Could it be that simple? Had Scarlet found a loophole in Oberon’s diabolical plan? Trick sat up straight, and some of the invisible weight left his shoulders. A new sense of hope glimmered in his heart. “That might just work,” he said. Then he shrugged. “Won’t hurt to try.”
Her hand squeezed his leg. “It’s going to be okay.”
They both looked down at her hand on his thigh. She jerked it back as if burned. An awkward silence filled the car. For a moment they let it ride. Neither of them spoke.
Trick reached for the door handle. “Let’s find me a monster to bite.”
“Wait.”
He hesitated. “Why?”
“Before we get sidetracked by hunting I want to talk to you. We’re hardly ever alone anymore. If you aren’t with Dani or Matt, you’re with the great hunter or your new idiot vampire friend. Can we just talk a sec?”
Trick settled back in his seat, instantly uncomfortable. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Us.”
“W-what?”
Scarlet glared at him. “Stop looking at me like I’m going to stake you. I just want to spend some time with you. Maybe we can go to dinner. Catch a movie.”
“Are you asking me out on a... date?”
Clearly exasperated, she struck the steering wheel with the palm of her hand. She stared out the front windshield. “Dani broke up with you, right?” Scarlet asked with an irritated tone. “So you won’t be cheating, and we might all get killed by the king of faeries soon. What’s the big deal about dating?”
He shifted his body weight. An invisible dagger repeatedly stabbed him in the eye. With a groan he rubbed his forehead. “I’ve just got so much to deal with right now. There’s a lot of pressure. Can we go on a date after we take care of Oberon?”
She started to nod, then stopped. An incredulous expression stole over her face. Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh! You’re hoping Oberon kills you so you don’t have to go on a date with me.”
“That is not true.” It wasn’t totally true. He hated it that she thought she could read his mind. He added, “I’m just not ready.”