“You're very welcome. You've been there for me, too.”
The pair embraced, and Victoria kissed him on the cheek.
“I'm certain we'll meet again. You just keep low, and be safe.”
Kevin, Rachel, and Kristin watched Victoria and Alex drive away. They waved as they vanished down the street, the engine growing softer in the distance.
“I'm gonna miss her,” Rachel said.
Kristin raised an eyebrow. “I'm gonna miss Alex.”
“You wouldn't say that if he didn't have wings.”
“No, I'd still miss him.”
The three laughed, and Kristin took a deep breath while staring at the house from the driveway.
“We'll have to go pick up our stuff. And Oscar. I can't believe she gave us her house. We'll never be able to repay her.”
Kevin laughed as he put an arm around Rachel.
“I wouldn't say that.”
Kristin glanced at her brother and Rachel as they exchanged a look and a laugh.
“What did you do?”
Her cell phone rang before Kevin could answer.
“It's for you.”
He looked at the phone strangely. He didn't get calls, except from Rachel.
“Hello?”
“Me and Sebastian get back from the Bahamas, my house is ruined, and there's police tape all over the place. Why do I have the feeling you had something to do with this, Kevin?”
He hung his head low, his face getting hot at the voice on the other end.
“Hi, Martha. Look, it's, uh, a long story.”
“Well, that's good, because guess who's coming down to visit while my house gets fixed up?”
She hung up. Kevin shook his head and handed the phone back to Kristin.
“Two witches in one house. This should be fun.”
*****
Victoria brushed her hair aside as she drove on the interstate. Even with the Porsche's top down, Alex didn't have to shout because of her sensitive ears.
“You guys fought a werewolf? And he cured it?”
“Yeah. The kid's tougher than he looks. And don't tell anyone else this, ever. But he beat the snot out of me, too.”
“Are you joking? I have to tell Alicia and Cindy.”
“Alex, I swear-”
“Okay, okay.”
It was just after midnight when the pain hit. Victoria had felt the heat of the sun, and the raw agony of Kevin's magic, but had never felt the pain that gripped her chest before. It settled slightly, but then the dizziness took over.
“Something's wrong,” she said, one hand slipping from the wheel. “Alex-”
“Victoria?”
The last thing she remembered before falling unconscious was Alex trying to steer them to the side of the road.
She didn't know how long she was asleep. The first thing she heard was Alex's voice next to her. The faint scent of dust was in the air. She still had on the same clothes, but was covered by a thin sheet in an uncomfortable bed.
“We'll be home soon, Cindy,” Alex said. “Victoria just got sick. We had to make a stop.”
Victoria could hear Alex's fiancée Cindy on the other end.
“She got sick? What the hell can make a vampire sick?”
Victoria tried to sit up, and was surprised at how tired she was. She let out a quiet moan. Her fangs were out and rubbed against her bottom lip.
“She's up now. I'll call when we're on the road. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Tell her I hope she's okay.”
“Alex?” Victoria said. “What happened?”
“You passed out last night behind the wheel. We're in a nice, dirty little motel. You feeling okay? You've been asleep a while.”
She barely managed a nod. “What time is it?”
“Three o'clock in the afternoon.”
Instinctively, she pulled the sheet up to her shoulders.
“Relax,” Alex said. “I've got garbage bags on the windows. But...”
“But what?” she said, irritated at his pause.
“I think Kevin did something to you.”
Victoria nodded grimly. “My blood. He tampered with my blood.”
“I brought your luggage in and was gonna lay out clothes for you. I found this.”
He handed over a note.
This recipe was actually in my book. You wouldn't believe some of the disgusting things I had to get. I hope you enjoy. Kevin.
Taped to the bottom of the note was a pair of sunglasses.
Victoria locked eyes with Alex. Neither one said a word. Alex simply flashed a small smile and shrugged.
She stood up and crossed the hotel room, running her tongue along her fangs. The scents, sounds of people walking outside, Alex's heartbeat, they were all still there. She was still a vampire.
Grabbing the bottom of the garbage bag, she ripped it from the window in one pull.
The sun was so bright she had to put an arm in front of her eyes. Cars drove by the motel as a cleaning lady passed the window, giving Victoria a strange look. A stray dog ate food scraps next to a dumpster. A couple argued near their car over the quality of the motel.
All simple events, but from a perspective Victoria hadn't experienced in centuries.
Alex put a hand on her shoulder and handed over the cheap sunglasses. A single tear ran down her cheek as she slipped them over her eyes.
“Thank you, Kevin.”
About The Author
I live in Maryland with my wonderful wife and four cats. I love gaming, computer technology, movies, and of course, reading and writing. I love science fiction and especially horror. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, anything supernatural, all beautiful subjects.
I’ve been writing since I was twelve years old. There’s just something about creating a story that I like. It’s always fun to try to come up with something that hasn’t been done, or is unique in some way. It’s fun to build a character, give him a personality and background.
Visit my website at http://www.glennbullion.com
I used to put samples in the back of my books for all my others, but since this is book number four, that's getting a little too difficult. You can get free samples of my other books from Amazon. Other books I've written:
Demonspawn
Dead Living
Mind Slide
A Witch to Live Page 30