Sucks to Be Me

by Painter, Kristen

  Donna ran a brush through her hair, then pulled on leggings and a big sweatshirt and went downstairs.

  Cammie was sitting at the kitchen island with a cup of coffee. Donna already knew by the tilt of her sister’s head that Cammie had questions.

  She started with the first one as soon as Donna entered the room. “Why did a strange man answer your door?”

  “He’s not a strange man. He’s a friend and an attorney.” Donna really needed coffee. And blood. But that last one was going to have to wait. She took a cup out of the cabinet and went right to the Keurig.

  “Okay, but then why was he awake while you’re sleeping? Are you sick? He didn’t say anything about you being sick. And you look fine. Amazing, actually. But a little sleepy.”

  “Cam, hit pause.” Donna turned and smiled at her sister. “I have to tell you something before we go any further.”

  Cammie’s brows went up, but she didn’t say another word.

  Donna took a breath. This was one of those rip-the-Band-Aid-off moments. Best to just jump in and get it over with. “The day after Joe’s funeral, I went to the cemetery to have a few last words with him, and I was attacked. There’s a lot more to it than that, but the upshot is, I was turned into a vampire that night.”

  Cammie was silent long enough that she blinked twice before speaking again. “The day after Joe’s funeral?”

  “The night after. But yes.” Donna figured her sister was in shock if that’s what she was focused on.

  “But you went into the chapel the day you came to see me. Which was the next day.” She shook her head. “That shouldn’t have been possible. Forget the fact that you visited during the day, the chapel is holy ground. You didn’t even smell like smoke.”

  Donna’s mouth fell open. “I just told you I’m a vampire, and all you want to know is how I entered the chapel without bursting into flames?”

  Cammie’s head went into a full-on side tilt. “Belladonna, I work for the church. Do you really think we’re blind to the truths of this world? Where do you think the best hunters come from?”

  “What?”

  Cammie sighed and shook her head. “I have to tell the mother superior. I’m not sure what she’s going to say about this.”

  “Hold up a second. You know about vampires. And now you have to report me?”

  “Not you, exactly, but that there’s a vampire in my family. It’s policy.” She put her hand to her head. “I’m sorry. I haven’t even asked you how you’re doing with all this. You do look great, by the way. I’m sure that part of the change has been fun, huh?”

  Donna shrugged slightly. “That part has been nice, yes, but the rest of it…not so much. It’s been hard. Not exactly the life I saw for myself, you know?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “I can’t believe you already knew about vampires.” The Keurig sputtered as it finished brewing Donna’s coffee. “Even so, there’s more I need to tell you.”

  “Oh?” Cammie sipped her coffee.

  “I did something I wasn’t supposed to. It was an accident, but because of it, I’m being put on trial before the vampire council.”

  Cammie grimaced. “The Immortus Concilio? They’re pretty tough, from what I hear.”

  Everyone knew more about being a vampire than Donna did. But really, all this time she’d needed to talk to Claudette and really, she’d just needed to talk to her sister. The nun. Life was crazy. “Yes. That’s why Pierce is here.”

  “Is he going to be your assistant?” A brightness came into Cammie’s eyes. “He certainly isn’t hard to look at.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know yet. If I don’t win my case, it won’t matter.” Donna stared at her bare toes. Her pedicure still looked good. At least she’d die with nice-looking feet.

  “Because?”

  Donna lifted her head. “Because I won’t be around anymore. If I’m found guilty, the punishment is death.”

  “What? No.” Cammie got to her feet and charged out of the kitchen. “Hello? Mr. Attorney?”

  Donna went after her and found her and Pierce in the living room. He had his laptop open on the couch beside him.

  Cammie stood in front of him. “You’re my sister’s lawyer? Representing her before the Immortus Concilio?”

  “I am.” He stood.

  “How sure are you that you can keep her from being put to death?”

  “Very.” He glanced at Donna. “There are no guarantees, but I haven’t lost a case yet.”

  “Would it help to have a nun as a character witness?”

  Donna shook her head. “Cammie, that’s sweet of you to offer, but it might not be a good idea. What would the mother superior say?”

  Cammie looked at Donna. “They might kick me out anyway, just by having a vampire sister. Might as well get the most out of being a nun while I can.”

  Pierce cleared his throat. “You know the council has always had a tenuous relationship with the church.”

  “I’m aware,” Cammie said as she folded her arms. “But a nun willing to testify on behalf of a vampire? That ought to carry some weight.”

  He hesitated. “Yes, it should. Although some of that weight is alleviated by you being related.”

  “Even so, if it will help, I’m in.”

  He nodded. “Good, good.” He stuck his hand out. “I’m Pierce Harrison, by the way.”

  She shook his hand. “Sister Mary Lazarus Immaculata. But you can call me Cammie. I might be reverting to that anyway, depending on how things go.”

  “Cammie,” Donna started.

  Cammie turned. “Look, if the church doesn’t want me because of you, then I don’t want them. If they’re good with it, then I’m that much happier to stay. It’s all up to them.”

  Donna took her sister’s hand. “I love you, you know.”

  “I know. And I love you too.”

  Pierce sat down and took up his laptop. “We might as well work on your statement, Cammie. Donna has a few other people who are willing to give character references, but since you’re here, we can get this done now.”

  Cammie took a seat across from him. “Absolutely. When’s the trial, by the way? You’re acting like it’s any day now.”

  “Because it is.” Pierce put his hand on the top of the laptop. “Tuesday evening.”

  “That’s two days from now.” Cammie looked at Donna. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

  “I just found out.” Donna put her hands up. “I need my coffee.”

  “You need sleep,” Pierce said. “You’ve only had a few hours. You’re too young a vampire to survive on so little sleep. Trust me, it won’t be enough to see you through the day. Go back to bed. Your sister and I can get our work done while you catch up.”

  Donna glanced at Cammie.

  She nodded. “Go. There’s no point in you getting run-down.”

  “Okay. But don’t leave without saying goodbye. Even if that means waking me.”

  “Promise.” Cammie gave her a soft smile, her sisterly gaze shifting. “I like that you’re still wearing the crucifix I gave you. You know I got that when I was in Rome. Even had it blessed by the Holy Father.”

  “Did you?” Was that why it gave Donna such protection? Her hand went to it. “I have no intention of taking it off. Ever. You have no idea how important it is to me.”

  Chapter Thirty-four

  The next two days passed in a whirlwind of work, work, legal forms, and more work. Pierce assured Donna that they were as prepared as possible, given the short time frame. She clung to that, because doubt had settled over her like a dark cloud.

  The Immortus Concilio was no joke. The very fact that they existed and wielded enough power to condemn her to death meant she might have little chance of proving her innocence. After all, it was her word against Claudette’s. Who were they going to believe? A newly turned vampire, or one who was three hundred years old and the child of the Queen of North America?

  At least her will was done, and Cammie was prepa
red to act as executor. Donna had told her about the safe-deposit box too. But the injustice of it all weighed on Donna. For Pierce’s sake, and for Cammie’s, Donna kept her spirits up.

  Rico had given them his time, too, going over his testimony and providing a copy of Yuri’s file, which he’d graciously turned over to Pierce.

  During the day, Pierce worked tirelessly on the case, organizing testimonies and preparing everything necessary for Donna’s defense.

  During the evening, he kept her company, and they worked on the case together, but by midnight, she made him go to bed. He was human after all, and she needed him sharp.

  Once she was left alone, however, the doubt circled her like a hungry vulture. She spent hours trying to numb herself by watching television or getting lost in a book, but the metaphorical sound of time ticking down made concentrating on anything but the trial impossible.

  The hours were both dreadfully long and woefully short. And yet, somehow, they passed until, a few minutes after sundown on Tuesday evening, a sleek black sedan pulled up outside Donna’s house.

  Artemis had returned. This was real. There was no turning back. No escaping the inevitable.

  Donna let her in and introduced her to Pierce, Cammie, and Rico. Willpower alone kept Donna going. If she stopped for a moment and focused on what was about to happen, she thought she might run off into the night and never look back.

  Even if the darkness beyond her property line was filled with fae.

  Artemis greeted Pierce, Cammie, and Rico with a nod and a smile, never once saying a word about there being a nun in Donna’s house. Instead, she moved into preparation mode, turning to her two assistants, who’d come into the house with her this time. “Florian, Heath, set up the equipment.”

  They went to work, opening the two aluminum cases they’d brought in.

  Donna was about to ask if they needed an extension cord or anything, when her doorbell rang. Pierce looked at her, but she shook her head. “I’ll get it.”

  She didn’t bother looking through the peephole, just opened the door, expecting to see Claudette.

  Neo, Francine, and Bunni stood on the porch, smiling at her. Neo gave her a wink. “Your character-reference team, ready and willing.”

  Donna put a hand to her heart, caught off guard by the unexpected support. “Wow. You all came.”

  Francine hitched her purse up higher on her shoulder. “Honey, we aren’t about to let you go through this alone.”

  “Yeah,” Bunni said. “Plus, I was dying to see a real Mafia house.”

  Neo rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so low-rent.”

  “Girls,” Francine warned. “We’re here for Donna.”

  “Please,” Donna said. “Come in. And thank you.”

  Artemis caught her eye as the First Fangs Club trooped in. “Quite a group of friends you have there.”

  “I know, right?” Donna grinned. The presence of her new friends had given her spirits an unexpected boost. “And the word is ‘squad.’”

  “Squad?” Artemis frowned.

  “That’s what the kids say these days.” Donna walked over to her. “By the way, after you left the other night, a fae showed up. Told me he—or she—isn’t interested in me. They wanted ‘the old one.’ Which I assume is you.”

  Artemis nodded. “I’m sure they meant me. The more powerful the vampire, the more sustenance they gain. You would provide them with very little. Not to worry, I have three of my personal guards outside patrolling.”

  “Hold on. Sustenance? As in food source?”

  “In a way. What vampire blood does for a human, it does tenfold for the fae. There are fae known as harvesters, like the one you met, who do nothing but hunt our kind and sell our blood to the highest bidder.”

  Donna stared, aghast. “Holy communion. You’re just telling me this now?”

  The sparks in her eyes flared brighter. “You should know all this already. That is Claudette’s job.”

  “Oh. Speaking of Claudette, she’s supposed to be here, right?”

  “Yes. The hearing begins at midnight. She still has time.”

  “So do we, then.” She looked for Pierce. He was talking to Neo, who seemed to be introducing him to Bunni and Francine. “I should let my attorney know that. I wasn’t sure of the start time.”

  “Do what you need to. You don’t need to babysit me. I have to make sure everything is ready for the trial on my end anyway.”

  “Okay. Thank you. There’s blood in the fridge if you want it. A fresh order arrived yesterday.”

  “I do, thank you.” Artemis headed for the kitchen.

  Donna went over to Pierce, touching his arm to interrupt. “We have until midnight, so if you want to work with Neo, Bunni, and Francine, there’s time.”

  He nodded. “Perfect. Ladies, why don’t you follow me into the dining room?”

  As the four of them disappeared, Rico came up to her. “How are you doing?”

  She smiled, but let it go immediately. “I feel a little better that my new friends showed up, but…” She sighed and shook her head. “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever faced.”

  “You spent twenty-seven years surviving marriage to one of the most notorious criminals I’ve ever gone after. I’d say that was pretty hard.”

  “But this is life and death.”

  “And being married to Joe wasn’t?”

  She blew out a breath. “I get what you’re saying, but this feels so much more immediate.”

  “I understand that. Listen, I’ve testified in court many times. My best advice is tell the truth, stay calm, and never answer in absolutes.”

  “Thank you. I’ll do my best. Pierce has gone over every possible question we could come up with, so I feel pretty prepared. I just don’t know if I really have a chance.”

  “I think you have more of a chance than you realize.”

  “Why’s that?”

  He shrugged, a little smile playing on his lips. “I don’t want to make myself sound more important than I am, but I don’t think the council would want it getting back to pack leaders that they run their trials in a manner that’s less than aboveboard.”

  Donna let that sink in. “Wow. I hadn’t thought about that. But it makes sense.” She grabbed his arm. “I am so glad you’re here. Not that I wasn’t already, but that really makes me feel better.”

  Impulsively, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. He turned his head at the same time, and her mouth landed on his.

  The spark of desire went through her the second she made contact. She pulled back, a little breathless. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  Rico’s smile was slow and easy. He pressed his mouth to hers. This time, she was too stunned to react, and it was over quickly. “I know what you meant to do. I wish things could be different, but until the Villachi case is closed, you’re off-limits to me. You know that, right?”

  She nodded, still dumbstruck.

  “Good.” He glanced at the front of the house. “Car.”

  She heard it then, too, the soft squeak of rubber on asphalt, the hum of a motor. She turned toward the door, glad for the distraction, because kissing Rico wasn’t something she needed to be thinking about right now. “I hope that’s Claudette.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  She looked at him. “I don’t?”

  “Think about it. Her failing to show up helps your case.”

  “I guess that’s true. But it means she’d be a fugitive.”

  “Not your problem. She decides to ghost the council, that’s on her.”

  Knocking brought Donna’s head around again. “I think she’ll show.”

  “We’ll see.”

  She answered the door. “Hello, Claudette.”

  The woman had the nerve to look put out. “Donna.”

  A man stood behind her, another vampire. Looked like he’d been around thirty-five or forty when he’d been turned. It was hard to tell with the effects the change had on people.

  Donna l
ooked at him. “Are you her assistant?”

  “Deputy.” Which meant his job was on the line, too, Donna imagined. “Marcus. Nice to meet you. Governor, I’ll be out here if you need me.”

  Claudette lifted her hand to dismiss him.

  Donna didn’t have much else to say to him. She just moved out of the way to let Claudette in. “Artemis is in the kitchen.”

  Claudette stiffened a little. “I saw her car. And her security. Trouble with the fae?”

  “Not yet.” Donna closed the door after her, but not before taking one quick peek outside. A woman with short black hair and a sword strapped to her back stood at the end of the driveway.

  The neighbors would think that was perfectly normal.

  With a shake of her head, Donna went back to the living room. Claudette had gone to the kitchen. Maybe to check in with Artemis.

  Florian and Heath were testing the system they’d set up. She’d never seen technology like it before. A slim black cylinder projected a video image roughly the size of a big flat-screen television. At the moment, it showed a beach scene with gently rolling waves and swaying palms.

  Unfortunately, that peaceful scene would be replaced with the council in a few hours.

  A few hours later, she was proven right.

  She’d dressed for the occasion in black trousers, a superbly cut jacket, and a silk blouse of burgundy silk. Diamond studs, but she wore no other jewelry beyond her ever-present crucifix, unless you counted the ornate gold broaches adorning the toes of her Dolce & Gabbana pumps.

  The council was on the screen now. All seven members were in shadow, seated at a long table against a wall draped in dark fabric. They could have been anywhere. And been anyone. She could make out shapes, tell who was male, who was female, but that was it. She supposed some level of anonymity was necessary, but it felt desperately unfair not to see the faces of those who held her life in their hands.

  One of the female members, seated in the middle, banged a gavel on the table. “This trial is now called to order. Are all parties present?”

  Artemis stood beside Donna. “Yes, all parties are present.”