by Liz Schulte
I shook my head slightly, closing my mouth. How did they know about vampires or any of this? Was she crazy or did she actually know? “A vampire? Huh. Sounds like you have an active imagination.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t insult my intelligence.”
“What makes you think I’m a vampire? Not that I am. Just curious.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Little things. Your aura is the big tell—though it’s strange, too. I would guess you’re fairly new to the whole vampire scene. Once you get used to the Abyss, it’s actually pretty easy to figure out what people are just by looking at them. Your movements are very purposeful. You haven’t figured out that controlled natural way of being that older vampires have. You rub your eyes a lot, which tipped me off about the contacts. You’re here almost all the time, which means you don’t sleep. Dead giveaway—excuse the pun.”
Holy crap on a cracker, she knew about the Abyss. I dropped down to the stool, still holding the T-shirt in my hands. “How long have you known about the Abyss.”
“Um,” Her nose scrunched. “Since I joined my coven. How about you?”
“Not that long,” I said. “I sort of got a crash course. You are witches?”
She laughed. “You really don’t know anything, do you? Change your shirt. I’ll make the coffee. For me, not for you.”
I looked back at her a couple times on my way to the bathroom. It was a little too convenient that I needed a witch and two just happened to live across the street and they even were aware of the Abyss. I threw my old shirt away and turned the faucets on full blast, then put my head under it, washing the blood and grime out of my hair and off of my face and hands. I wrung my hair out the best I could, then pulled it back into a bun before patting my face dry. “Don’t tell her anything,” I whispered to my reflection before heading back out. “Thanks for the shirt.” I rolled my shoulders as I came out of the bathroom. I already felt better, though I was still sore.
“No problem. I take it you don’t drink coffee.” I shook my head and she poured herself a cup. “Okay, so you’re a baby vampire. How’d that happen?”
I focused on my hands and took a deep breath as I thought about my answer. “I met a guy in a bar and he talked a good game.”
She added sugar to her mug then stirred. “And where is he now?”
“I have no idea.”
She shook her head, coming back to sit down. “Asshole. He can’t turn you and then just leave. That’s not the way it’s done. Have you tried to find any others? Surely, there’s someone out there who could mentor you. Not that you need it. Apart from getting hit by the car, you seem to be doing great on your own. But still it can be nice to have other people like you.”
“I can’t even imagine someone else like me.” I shook my head. That was too much information. “I’ve just gotten so used to being on my own. Okay, now you know about me. Tell me, how does a human witch know so much about vampires?”
“I dated one. Before Megan. Don’t mention it when she’s around. She gets pissy, but I did. It was…” She shrugged. “How do you explain the unexplainable? We had an intense relationship, but there were also barriers, you know. They became too much and it was easier to be apart. Anyway, I learned a lot about the Abyss in that time. Like vampires can’t go out in daylight. So how are you managing it?”
I pressed my lips together. She seemed to be telling the truth, but that didn’t mean anything. Phoenix always seemed to be telling the truth, yet never did. “I’m unique.”
“Totally obvious, but how so?” She leaned forward.
I glanced over at the un-iced cupcakes. “I really need to finish this stuff. I can’t talk right now.”
Stephanie pressed her hands together in front of her. “You have serious trust issues, but we will win you over Maggie Edwards. Megan and I can be great friends, you know, if you even feel like you need one.” She stood up. “Come over after you close tonight. I won’t take no for an answer.”
“I’m supposed to go to Vinny’s.”
She gave me a weird look. “Why would you go to an Italian restaurant when you don’t eat.”
Because I needed to get better at saying no. “I said I would and it is easier to go and be done with it than have it hanging over my head.”
“Fine, but after that. No more excuses.” She opened the door just as Izzy was about to knock.
Izzy came inside, carrying a bag. “You should really keep clothes here.” She yawned. “Who are you?” She glanced at Stephanie.
“I own the store next door,” she said, offering her hand. “See you tonight, Maggie.” With a chipper wave, she left.
“Never trust a morning person,” Izzy said.
“Hey, I’m a morning person.”
Izzy nodded, handing me the bag. “I know and you woke me up at five in the mother-loving-morning. But at least you have coffee.”
“Of course I do.” I got her a cup and an ambrosia bar before changing into the clothing she’d brought.
“So what happened?” she called. “What was the emergency?”
“Strawberry jam everywhere. It looked like a shark attack.”
Feeling a lot more like myself in a pair of black pants and a pink button up top, I went back out. Izzy smiled at me around the ambrosia bar. “This is really good, and you’ve always been a klutz. Again, keep extra clothes here.”
I went over to the cupcakes and loaded my pastry bag with icing.
“That looks fun. Can I help?” Izzy asked, looking down at the seas of unfrosted treats.
“Sure.” I set her up with everything she would need.
“I forgot to tell you. I had the strangest dream. I was sleeping and you came into the room with some scary but sort of hot punk rock guy, and then the two of you argued about something, I really can’t remember what. Isn’t that weird?”
I concentrated harder on my icing flowers. “It was probably the alcohol.”
“Ugh. Don’t even mention that to me. Did I throw up on you? I have this hazy memory that maybe I did. I’m never drinking again.”
This time I did look at her. “Yes. And in my hair. It was vile and disgusting. You owe me huge.”
“I know I do. Which is why I probably shouldn’t ask another favor, should I?” She made an exaggerated grimace.
I wanted to be friends with Izzy and I wanted to spend time with her, but at the moment, I wasn’t the safest person to be around, considering a demon was hell-bent on killing me. “Exactly.”
“Please, Maggie.”
I picked up the next cupcake. “What do you want?”
“Well, I was thinking that if Kyle and I split up, I’m going to need a place to stay. I know your house is small, but we could make it work. Or better yet, let’s move here. The neighborhood is better and closer to work for me. I won’t have a place to park my car, but I could sell it. What do you think, roomie?”
She looked at me with large hopeful eyes. Phoenix’s opinion that I shouldn’t have a human roommate echoed in my mind. Not that I cared what he thought, but in this instance I couldn’t agree more. If Izzy lived with me, eventually my world would find her, but how could I turn her down? I couldn’t. Not if she really needed me.
“I’ll consider it on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You go home and talk to Kyle. I mean really talk to him. Tell him you lied and why you did it. Give him a chance, and if you still don’t think you can be happy, then we’ll figure something out.” It was the last thing in the world I should have done. Getting involved in someone else’s relationship is always a recipe for disaster.
Chapter 7
Boone arrived right on time, like he always did. Such an attractive quality. “Can we grab a bite to eat while we talk? I skipped lunch today.”
“Sure,” I said. “Actually, I told a neighbor I would try out his restaurant after I closed up today. We could go there. Do you like Italian?”
“Love it. Perfect. Let me swing by the shel
ter, then I’ll be back.”
“Great. I’ll just clean up.”
The kitchen was, of course, immaculate, but I didn’t want to invite myself along. I was a liability. Trouble and disaster merrily skipped along behind me, holding hands while singing “I’m going to get you.” And that was the exact reason why Izzy moving in with me would be a complete and utter disaster.
While I waited for Boone, I thought about the one chore I’d put off all day: calling Phoenix on his lies. Nothing happened behind the door, my ass. Now that my head was a little cooler and most of my “I almost died” jitters were gone, I was thinking more clearly. On one hand I could call him, bitch him out and demand the truth, which would probably result in getting nothing out of him. But on the other, if he thought I believed him, maybe he’d slip on some details. He was obviously a very good liar—far better at lying than I was at detecting those lies. However, I had no idea how I was going to compete with Valefor and he at least knew who she was. For right now, I needed him.
So I made a decision. I wouldn’t tell him that I knew he’d lied, that I knew I’d killed four demons—or, at least not yet. First, I needed to beat him at his own game. I needed to know what sort of deal he made with Valefor, why he was working with demons, and whether or not that night had anything to do with why he was so anxious to have me on his payroll.
I unlocked my phone and texted him. “Attacked last night. Almost died. Is this how you handle things?” I reread the text, tamping down my anger, then hit send.
Just as I expected, Phoenix appeared in a flash of dark smoke moments later. “You look pretty good for someone who almost died.”
Asshole. I gave him a strained smile, knowing if I said anything I would say too much. I turned and went to the back restroom, retrieving my ruined clothes from the garbage. I came back out to find Phoenix in the kitchen, arms crossed, watching me with a wary eye. I threw them at him. “As I said, I almost died this morning. Tell me exactly how you’re planning to help with this?”
He caught the garments, quickly scanned them, then came toward me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was concern on his face. Be strong, Maggie. “What happened?”
“I heard a noise in the alley and a woman attacked me. Her hands were razor sharp, and they also burned me.” My fingers brushed against my throat at the memory.
Phoenix tilted my chin all the way up. As he inspected my neck, my hunger decided now was a good time to come to life. Couldn’t have been there when I had an actual demon to deal with. “And what about this?” he asked, grazing the hairless patch by my ear.
“I was hit by a car. That’s how I got away.” His frown deepened. “Just because I heal doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. This morning was bad.”
“I know.” He tugged the rubber band out of my hair and pushed his fingers through the strands, gently massaging my scalp which was oddly comforting. My eyes threatened to close and just enjoy the sensation. But I couldn’t give in to how he made me feel.
“What are you doing?”
“Feeling for skull fractures, lumps, swelling.” The soft rasp of his voice was just as lulling as his hands.
“But I healed.”
“True. I don’t know about you, but those sort of wounds take longer to heal on jinn. Just relax.” My shoulders sank and I let my eyes close. “Did she say anything to you?”
Wouldn’t he like to know? I shook my head ever so slightly.
He pulled his hands away from my head, his fingers trailing across his jaw. “I’m sorry, Maggie,” he said softly.
I gave him my best innocent look. “Why? This is because of something I did. It doesn’t have anything to do with you. You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
Not even a flicker of guilt. “I said I would protect you and I didn’t.”
It should have made me mad and it did, somewhere deep inside, but mostly that was drowned out by the fact that I really wanted to kiss him—but he was a jinni and they manipulated emotions like politicians manipulated facts. The feelings weren’t real. He was trying to distract me, which only proved he was hiding something. “You can’t be everywhere at once.”
He leaned in closer. “Come to the club tonight. You’ll be safe there, and I’ll personally pay Valefor a visit.”
“I have a date.” The words slipped out, even though they weren’t exactly true. Okay, they weren’t true at all. Boone and I were just having dinner. It wasn’t a date.
Phoenix took a step back. “A date? That’s fine. Bring him.”
I couldn’t read his face or tone, but it was definitely different than it had been moments ago. “I don’t think taking a human into a jinn club is a very good idea.”
“Where are you going on this date?” He said “date” like he wanted to put air quotes around it.
“None of your business.” I crossed my arms. “Your concern is supposed to be Valefor, not my personal life.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why are you so irritated with me?”
“I’m not—”
“You are. I felt it the moment I arrived. You’re pissed off about something. It’s sticky in the air around you.”
“Almost being killed doesn’t put me in the best mood. She grabbed my throat and started boiling me from the inside out. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t feed. I was completely powerless against her. Do you know what that feels like? Sorry I’m not as chipper as you think I should be.”
He studied me for a few moments, while I continued to glare at him. “Where will you be tonight?” he repeated after several seconds.
“A little Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. Please don’t ruin it. I just want to have a nice normal date. Promise me, you won’t show up.”
He rolled his eyes. “When will you realize that normal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? Extraordinary is the only path you should be on.” And with that he left.
I collected my clothes and threw them away again. Phoenix should be enough to keep Valefor distracted—at least long enough that I could have dinner and then meet with Stephanie and Megan. After that, I’d have the rest of the night to figure out how to rid myself of Valefor once and for all.
There was a knock on the kitchen door and Boone entered. “Ready?” he asked with a crooked smile. His golden hair was pushed back from his face, and he’d even changed his clothes.
Suddenly I felt a little less guilty about calling this a date. He dressed up for me. Maybe Izzy had a point about keeping some clothes here. “Can’t wait.”
“How was work?” I asked, as we walked toward Vinny’s.
“Good. Tell me your idea about the case.”
I told him Phoenix’s advice about finding a witch and tracing the magic, then mentioned I already knew two witches who might be able to help. “Then all we would have to do is find a way into the room.”
“What will that tell you?”
“Where the magic came from and, possibly, how I can get to her and stop her before she finds the woman.”
He was quiet for a block. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
It wasn’t like we had a lot of other choices. I had to be brave. “Not for me. I’m resilient. Besides, it’s better than doing nothing, right?”
He opened the door to Vinny’s for me.
There was already a line, but Vinny spotted me and came rushing across the restaurant with a huge grin, his arms wide. “Maggie, you came. Welcome, my friend.” He kissed the air on either side of my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Today was finally starting to look up.
“Vinny, this is my friend Boone. Boone, Vinny.”
Vinny took Boone’s hand in both of his and shook it. “Welcome, welcome. Come. Your table is ready.”
He led us to a cozy table with a drippy candle in its center, then trotted off without giving either of us a menu. I gave Boone an uncomfortable smile. Between the candles, dim lighting, soft music and tiny table, things were feeling more and more date-like, which wasn’t my intention at all. Not that I
minded, but I didn’t want him to think that I thought this was a date. I hadn’t planned this at all. I intended to come alone.
Boone shifted in his seat as he looked around, no trace of a smile. In fact, he might have been frowning as he looked around with a perplexed expression.
“I had no idea—” I started to say just as Vinny returned with a carafe of wine and a waiter behind him carrying a tray. The Neighborhood Watch meeting—and my lie—flashed in my mind. Vinny thought Boone was my boyfriend. Dear God, how could I stop this?
“I have a very special meal planned for you. Best you ever had. Molto bello just like the two of you.” He took a plate of oysters from the waiter, then rattled off something in Italian and placed the dish on the table between us. “Eat, eat.”
Neither of us moved.
“Eat,” he insisted, not leaving.
I forced a smile and took an oyster. Vinny grinned and nodded encouragingly. It slid into my mouth like snot. My throat contracted. I couldn’t swallow it, but I couldn’t spit it out while he was there. I shot Boone a look. He was staring at me, the start of a smile curving his mouth. I nodded at the plate.
“Oh, no thank you,” Boone said. “I don’t like oysters.”
Vinny looked back at me. “But you like?”
I forced it down, praying it didn’t come back up. “Wonderful,” I said.
“Perfect. Enjoy.” He trotted off happily toward the kitchen.
Leaning forward, I pushed the oysters toward Boone. “You’re going to eat at least one of these if I had to.”
He laughed, dimple in full effect. “I’m allergic to shellfish. You could have said no.” He picked up his wine and took a slow drink. “Maggie, what is all this? I know I suggested dinner, but…”
While we weren’t technically on a date, why not enjoy it? I liked Boone. He liked me. What could it hurt? “I know. He told me at the watch meeting that I should come by.” I shook my head. “I didn’t expect any of this, but Vinny obviously went to a lot of trouble.”