The man beside her remained quiet longer than she would have liked, which really told her a lot, which was that he did believe her and he agreed with her. It was a vampire. But what now.
“Archer, your silence told me everything I needed to know. But what do we do about it now? He came up on me in that alley so stealthily, I didn’t hear him until it was too late. Am I going to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life?”
“Not at all. You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“What did you do?”
“Can’t you just trust me. He isn’t a problem any longer.”
“You’re very mysterious, did you know that?”
“You ask a lot of questions; did you know that?”
“Apparently you’re also a smart ass.”
“That I can’t’ argue with. There is one thing though.”
“What now?”
“You never told me your name.”
And right there, she knew he had her, in more ways than one unfortunately. The smirk he just flashed for a brief second would literally be her downfall. He was sexy, whoever this Archer Danvers was, and he probably knew it but he didn’t show it at all. No cockiness in any way. He was nice. Genuinely. Not like most of the guys she knew these days. He had a way about him that was also very comforting. She felt safe even though all she knew about him was his name. And that he’s rich, not that that made any difference to her. She saw rich people all the time, but he wasn’t like any of them. He didn’t let his money go to his head. Except for his apartment, but after looking around, it was very subtle, not flashy. And she didn’t recognize his name either.
“I’m surprised you didn’t go through my bag to find out who I was.”
‘Why would I do that?”
“Most people would.”
“I’m not most people.”
She’d noticed.
“So, are you avoiding telling me your name?”
Not on purpose. He was good.
“My name is Mia Blackwood. I’m twenty-seven years old and live above an old bookstore that my grandpa left me when he died.”
And I can’t believe I just told him all that.
“It’s nice to meet you Mia. Is that the old bookstore on the cobblestone street around 4th Avenue?”
“Yeah it is, have you been there before?”
“Once or twice, it’s a nice place.”
“Takes all I have to keep it going but I love it. Speaking of, I should probably get back to it.”
“That’s probably not a great idea.”
“What? Why?”
CHAPTER THREE
Mia stood in front of the large locked gate that secured the bookstore front from break-ins. That store was literally all she had, well that and the apartment above it. It was the only material thing left of her family. Her pops, whom she loved dearly, had left it to her when he died a few years back. She couldn’t imagine not being around books, it’s where she’d grown up. Butch Blackwood had done the best job he could without her parents and she never wanted for anything, it was a simple life they’d led.
The bookstore was old, as was the building, and didn’t have as much traffic as she’d liked so to make ends meet, she’d had to pick up a freelance job or two with the newspaper to make sure the bills were paid on time each month.
It was that freelance job that had gotten her in her most recent predicament. Well that and her curiosity for the creepy, strange, and unusual. She couldn’t turn down a chance to solve a mystery, especially on Halloween. And now she didn’t feel safe. After hearing everything that Archer had to say about the night before had her spooked out of her wits and that was saying something because usually, she would volunteer for the scary stuff no one else wanted. And now she couldn’t shake the feeling there were eyes on her, even in the bright sunlight in the middle of the day.
“Good lord, Mia you need to get your head in the game. The store isn’t going to open itself and it is daytime so there aren’t any vampires around now.”
At least she hoped not. Mia only knew what she’d read in books and from researching about vampires online but who knows what was real and wasn’t. She hadn’t met one in person, except the one that wanted to kill her, and they didn’t exactly have a conversation. Who really knew if at any given time, the monster from last night would just walk right in the front door?
Maybe before she opened, a quick trip to the mini mart down at the corner for some garlic would help a little. Either that, or people would just think she was dumb.
A half hour later, she was busy hanging strands of whole garlic around in inconspicuous spots around the book stacks when the bells attached to the door startled her. She glanced around the corner of a bookshelf and saw a woman and child walk in.
“Excuse me, do you have any children’s books?”
“We definitely do.”
She stuffed the last strand in between some books and headed toward the healthy section of books she had reserved for kids. She spent a large amount of time in that part of the store when she was younger, and it really made an impact so she made sure to always have the latest and greatest.
“Wonderful. My youngest is looking for the books about the ballerina shoes, do you have those?”
“That was one of my favorites when I was young, and I have the whole series for that very reason.”
“Fantastic. My older daughter would like to find the Twilight series. Do you think those are appropriate for a twelve-year old?”
“Most definitely, and that is one set that I’ve sold the most of. Also, a lot of Harry Potter books. If you need anything else, please just give me a shout.”
The woman smiled and as Mia turned away, the front doorbell rang again.
Seriously? Two customers in one day?
Mia was surprised to see more people walking in her store. She was lucky to have one a day and that was in a good week. However, she would not complain at all. She loved seeing people interested in reading, and it also helped her pay her bills.
She meandered toward the checkout counter just in case someone needed help when an elderly woman appeared.
“Do you have any Debbie Macomber books?”
“We sure do, any specific title?”
“No, I’m not quite sure.”
“Okay, no problem. They will be over in that direction, under the section labeled Romance. I have them shelved alphabetically by author but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, please give me a shout.”
The woman happily wandered over toward the other side of the store when the front bell rang again, and the first customer with her little girl came to the register with a handful of books.
“Wow, you found a lot.”
The little girl smiled, waving a ballerina book in her hand.
“I really love your bookstore and we didn’t even know you were here. A friend recommended us and now, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my girls out of here. I may have to come back alone just to shop for myself.”
“Thank you so much, you are welcome here any time. We also have a comfy section in the back with some overstuffed chairs and a latte machine if you want to just sit back, relax and read.”
“Oh, that sounds like a perfect opportunity for their dad to babysit while I have a day out.”
After she closed the sale for the woman and her child, she thanked them, mentioning that she looked forward to seeing them again.
Seconds later, after the woman left and she’d turned her back from the door, the bell rang again. Before she even looked, an ominous feeling crept into her chest and her breathing quickened. Thoughts of the night before surfaced, and she was afraid to turn around.
It was daytime.
It wasn’t possible.
Was it?
She didn’t have a clue what the monster physically looked like, other than the teeth and she didn’t know how, but knew it was him. Mia couldn’t move. Her body was frozen where she stood. It wasn’t even possible to turn and look t
oward the door, not that she wanted to. As the seconds passed, more dread crept in, knowing she would have to face whatever came through that door. The bell chimed twice more and when she finally turned around at the counter, she was shocked at the sight.
“Archer, what are you doing here?”
***
Just like the night before, strange feelings clung to him like a lifeline, unexplainable. However, at the same time, he knew almost instantly that she needed him.
Mia.
She didn’t know she did, but he knew. He could read her thoughts, even from some distance away. It was a connection down in the depths that he’d never experienced before and still surprised him. He’d known of other immortals with the same affliction but truly never believed he’d ever have the pleasure.
“Archer, are you alright?”
“I am, apologies. I just um…felt the need to check in on you. It’s also been a while since I visited this store or read a book so what might you recommend for me?”
“That depends on what you enjoy reading about.”
“How about a classic?”
“You mean like Gone with The Wind, something like that?”
“I was thinking more like Romeo and Juliet.”
“Oh okay, that’s much older. I actually think I have some Shakespeare in the rare books section. Let’s go take a look.”
She headed off in the direction of the back of the building and he followed like her lap dog. Is that what he was, wherever she went, he followed? He was an idiot for thinking it. What they had was much more complicated.
“Looks like you have a few customers today. How is business?”
“It’s been unusually busy actually. I know I’d told you that I’m lucky I get one customer to walk in the door a day in a good week but you’re like the fourth or fifth and it’s a little surprising. Don’t get me wrong, I love the business, I’m just wondering what happened. I don’t remember doing any advertising, but I’ll take it anyway.”
He was glad. She deserved to keep the business. He wasn’t lying when he’d told her he’d been there once or twice in the past, but it’d been a long, long time ago. Probably before her grandfather.
She found a couple books on a top shelf and handed them over. The binding was incredibly old and fragile, kind of like him, or at least the old part. He almost giggled out loud at the thought.
“These are perfect, thank you. How much do I owe you?”
“You know what, they’re on the house. I owe you after what you did for me last night.”
“It was nothing, really.”
“Not nothing Archer. You saved me from a vampire, that’s a pretty big deal.”
She’d spoken a little too loud and looked around to make sure no one was listening.
“Seriously, I could have been killed. It was my stupidity that had me out there to begin with but I’m not dead and I’m grateful.”
He bowed, accepting her gratitude.
“What time do you usually close the shop at the end of the day?”
He would feel much better if she weren’t alone once it got dark. He’d been able to show up today and thwart any activity, but he knew for a fact the vampire that attacked her last night, was now dead, he’d taken care of it himself. Unfortunately, that means that someone else was sent in his place. Archer just needed to do some prodding and find out why they were after this particular human. He could guarantee, she would be safe on his watch, no matter what.
When he focused on her again, she was already explaining.
“Like I said, not usually past four or five but with getting here late today and the number of customers, I guess I might stay open until six. Why do you ask?”
“I’d like to take you to dinner.”
“Why?”
Jesus, she was stubborn. He should have expected as much.
“Because you have to eat, right?”
“Well yeah, but I can do that in my own apartment.”
“I know, I’m sure you’re very capable, but I’d like to take you out.”
“Okay, spill it. What aren’t you telling me because I’m picking up a weird vibe from you now? Is something else going to happen tonight?”
How would she know that, when he didn’t know himself, at least for sure anyway? Maybe he shouldn’t really be surprised. She’d already told him she was usually getting herself into the scary situations no one else wanted for one reason or another. Maybe she was even psychic. That might explain the connection he had with her.
“Not that I’m aware of, I just want to have dinner with you, simple as that.”
It was anything but simple.
“Okay, fine, dinner. Then you can explain what you’re still not telling me. See you at six.”
She walked back to the counter, leaving him standing in the stacks. By six o’clock, he needed to find a way to let her know what he suspected about the other vampires, without alarming her. No idea how that would go. He also didn’t feel comfortable leaving her here alone until then because the moment he’d walked into the bookstore, he could smell what had already been there before him.
“Sure, no problem, I got this.”
Or at least I hope I do.
It was easy for him to say, but he didn’t feel it at all. Archer was starting to believe that Mia was the challenge he never expected but she’d been brought into his life by some divine intervention.
CHAPTER FOUR
“I’m really glad you talked me into dinner tonight, thank you. I was expecting an actual restaurant, but I’m pretty sure that you cook better than any place that I’ve ever been to in this town.”
“My pleasure. However, I think you’re exaggerating just a little.”
“No, not at all. If I’d ordered something like this anywhere in town, I’d pay a fortune for it. You have a definite skill sir.
Now he was blushing.
“So, what was it that you were keeping from me earlier.”
He’d had a few hours to think of how he was going to tell her while he sat across the street from the bookstore, but it didn’t really help. In the long run, honesty was probably the best route with her. She wasn’t really some fragile innocent, she’d proven that by being out in the warehouse district in the first place, and she already knew about the vampire from the night before so hopefully anything that he had to tell her wouldn’t surprise her.
“There’s another vampire after me isn’t there?”
“Why would you think that?”
“You took too long to answer for one, that’s a habit I’ve noticed since I met you. Earlier, before you came into the bookstore, I had a really bad feeling that something was there to get me, I’d even heard the bell on the door when it came in, but there were a few more bells, then when I turned around, you were standing in front of me.”
“What do you mean you had a bad feeling?”
“I don’t know, I could just feel dread run through me, like someone was standing behind me. Unless you killed the one that attacked me, I could have sworn he was there in my shop.”
Archer rose from his dining room table and collected their dishes to take to the kitchen. When he’d talked her into having dinner, he thought about a local hot spot but was afraid to take her out after dark without knowing for sure what was after her. His need to protect her had only gotten stronger since the first time he felt her fear.
“I did kill the one from last night, and you’re right, there was someone in your shop today. I sensed his presence as well as smelled him.”
“How did you sense his presence? Are you psychic?”
“Not quite, but I’m starting to think you are.”
Mia arched her eyebrows but remained speechless. After only twenty-four hours with her, he could bet that was a first. She always had some snappy comeback so her saying nothing had him slightly concerned.
He’d finished clearing the table, leaving the mess in the kitchen, and held out a hand for her to join him.
“It’s okay,
let’s go sit.”
“Is that why you brought me back here to eat?”
“Yes.”
She nodded her head slightly in understanding.
“I need to know how you sensed the other vampire’s presence.” He could tell she was working through all the details in her head trying to understand.
“That’s harder to explain.”
“Try me.”
He only looked at her. There wasn’t much to explain. Archer was the same thing that was hunting her. How could she trust him knowing that?
“Don’t tell me you’re a vampire too.”
She laughed, like it might be a ridiculous thing to say. He had only hoped she wouldn’t figure it out so quickly but what could he say?”
“Oh my God, really? You’re a vampire! Of course, how else would you sense a vampire? But wait, the other vampires want to kill me. Does that mean you do too?”
She’d backed away from him on the sofa, curling herself into the corner.
“Mia, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Yeah? Are you sure about that? Got me all fattened up by feeding me so you could bite me and suck my blood. Wait, would that turn me into a vampire too?”
“Good lord, now you’re being ridiculous. Don’t you think if I really wanted to kill you, I could have done it long before now? You slept on this very couch last night for hours. Mia, please don’t be afraid of me. I’m only trying to help.”
She looked at him intently, but she wasn’t scared. He would have sensed it if so.
“I’m not afraid of you Archer.”
She moved closer to him on the couch. Her fingers reached out and touched his forearm before focusing in on his dark eyes.
“Surprisingly, I feel a serious level of comfort when I’m with you. It puzzles me but it doesn’t scare me. I want to know more.”
Figures. She pushes on to solve the mystery, even if the mystery is him.
“We need to figure out who’s after you, and why.”
***
He doesn’t want to talk about who he is.
I’m not surprised but I am still curious.
“Talk to me Archer.”
A Cursed All Hallows' Eve Page 55