by Regina Duke
“Terrific. What a lovely mess to drag Megan into.”
“Her name is Megan, eh?”
Kevin smiled.
“Well, it’s late,” said Zach. “I better get to bed. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night.” Kevin hung up. He would find a way to reassure Karla. He just wasn’t sure how yet.
He emerged from the bath and turned off the light. The TV continued to drone on. He stopped for a moment by Megan’s bed. She looked like an angel, with her golden hair spread out over the pillow. Their hours at Tahoe had put some pink in her cheeks. Her eyes were closed. She was sound asleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tuesday, June 26
The flight from Reno to Denver was uneventful. Megan wondered if she could find other excuses to fly first class as Kevin’s wife. The price of their tickets made her cringe, but she never wanted to fly tourist again.
Kevin was so relaxed, he snoozed most of the way to Denver. None of their luggage was lost, and Kevin stood for a moment by the carousel, looking around for the sign that would point to the rental car desk.
Megan was thinking that things were going very well when Kevin’s cell phone rang.
“Hello?”
Megan pulled the handle up on her rolling luggage and stacked the smaller bag on top. The tiny overnight case perched on top of that one.
Kevin’s tone alarmed her.
“What?! When?… How?… Oh, for…! Yes, we just landed. We’ll pick up our rental car and drive straight there. Bye.”
Megan turned to asked him what was wrong, then yelped with surprise.
A vampire dripping blood from the corner of her mouth stood menacingly behind Kevin. It’s yellow eyes glared hatred at Megan.
Kevin looked around when Megan yelped. When he saw the vampire vision, he cried out, “Thank God!” He wrapped his arms around the vampire girl. “Karla! Your mother is frantic!”
Megan marveled at the realism of the girl’s costume. She was dressed all in black, and wore a lightweight cape that dangled around her knees. The hem of the cape was uneven and tattered. Her face was painted white except for black eye makeup and black lipstick. Bright red makeup ran in fat drops of blood from one corner of her mouth down her chin. Several of the other passengers in the terminal examined her costume from a safe distance. She was making quite a splash.
Kevin released her from his hug. “How did you get here?” He was already dialing his phone.
“Took the bus.” Her voice was schooled in a deep far away tone. “Interesting mode of transportation.”
Kevin paused, then spoke into his phone. “Mother? I found her. She came to greet us at the airport…. No, no, call them off. Everything is fine. She’s with me. Okay, bye.” He put the phone away.
Karla the vampire raised one hand and pointed a finger at Megan. Her nails were two inches long and painted black. Her hands were white, like her face.
“This be your love slave?” Her voice was full of contempt.
Kevin ignored her tone. Instead, he said pleasantly, “Karla, this is Megan. Megan, this is my sister Karla.”
Karla hissed at Megan.
Megan thought fast. She could see the love in Kevin’s eyes when he looked at his sister. Love and concern. Karla was very important to him, and he was obviously accustomed to her role playing.
In an instant, Megan made her decision. She bowed deeply. “I am unworthy,” she said. “I hope to earn your respect over time, Mistress Karla.” She maintained her pose, even though she was dying to see Karla’s reaction.
Surprise and a hint of pleasure modified Karla’s practiced tone, but only slightly. “You may rise, One Called Megan.”
Megan straightened up.
Nearby passengers applauded.
Megan fought to keep a straight face.
Karla never broke character, but she waved an arm to acknowledge the crowd. Then she asked Kevin, “Be there a carriage?”
“Yes,” said Kevin. “We were just on our way to the rental car desk.”
“You may lead the way.” She turned her face in Megan’s direction without making eye contact. “The One Called Megan may accompany us.”
Megan walked with her head down and smiled at the floor.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Kevin marveled at Megan’s intuition. He watched her play into his sister’s delusion and wondered if his mother was going to throw a fit. Krystal preferred that everyone ignore Karla’s vampire act. But Megan seemed to be enjoying it. When they got to the rental SUV, Kevin used the remote to unlock it and began loading luggage.
Megan gave Karla another mini-bow and asked, “Would Mistress Karla prefer the front seat?”
Karla demurred. “My skin protection formula works well, but I have been out in the daylight far too long. Granted, the tinted windows of the public conveyance shielded me somewhat. However, I would feel much safer ensconced in the middle of the rear seating area.”
“As you wish,” said Megan. “May I enter the carriage?”
“If you would be so kind as to open the rear door for me. My skin protectant can rub off on other surfaces.”
“But of course.” Megan opened the rear door and Karla climbed inside. Megan closed the door and caught Kevin’s eye. She winked at him, then climbed into the front passenger seat.
Kevin smiled with a shake of his head. This was going to be entertaining. He was delighted that Megan had foiled Karla’s attempt to hate her. It had been one of his biggest worries. He couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
As they pulled out of the rental lot, Kevin glanced in the rearview mirror. “Karla, are you enjoying the ranch?”
Karla grumbled, but did not respond.
Megan said softly, “Perhaps Mistress Karla needs time to gather her strength. I would think a morning outside the safety of her nest would be exhausting.”
Kevin nodded. “Oh. Of course.” He glanced sideways at Megan, then turned his face to the window to hide his smile.
Megan faced forward but addressed Karla. “I am honored that you made such a perilous journey to greet us at the airport. I hope to be worthy of your expectations.”
In the rearview mirror, Kevin saw Karla nod graciously in response to Megan’s words.
Megan continued. “With your permission, Mistress Karla, may we pause in our journey long enough to buy hamburgers and fries?”
Karla leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. A moment later, she growled, “You may.”
Once they provisioned themselves, Kevin wondered how Karla would handle eating in front of Megan.
Karla proceeded hesitantly, holding individual fries to her nose to sniff them.
Megan said, “I admire you greatly, Mistress Karla, for adapting to life among humans. You must have spent months adjusting your digestive tract to handle our food.”
Karla liked that explanation. “It was a lengthy process,” she intoned, then popped a fry into her mouth.
The rest of the trip to the ranch went quickly.
“Only another twenty minutes,” said Kevin. “I think you’ll enjoy the ranch.”
“Wonderful,” said Megan. “I do love the outdoors.”
Karla growled.
Megan added respectfully, “Especially when it allows me to run errands for Mistress Karla so she can remain safely out of the sunlight.”
Karla made an approving mew.
When they turned onto the blacktop road and drove under the arched sign for the Rocking Eagle Ranch, Karla surprised Kevin by leaning forward.
“One Called Megan,” she intoned, “I grow fond of you. Therefore I offer this warning. Beware the sorceress known as Krystal. She means well, but she often wreaks havoc.” She leaned back in her seat.
Megan’s brows went up. “Is this sorceress your enemy, Mistress Karla?”
“Only unintentionally. My true enemy dwells within the Chamber of Gold. He wagers for a living.”
Kevin translated, “Dad plays the stock mar
ket. The Chamber of Gold—”
Megan interrupted, “Forgive me, Lord Kevin, but Mistress Karla does speak clearly.”
Kevin wasn’t certain but he thought he heard a giggle of delight from the back seat. He smiled and kept driving.
Megan continued. “Mistress Karla, may I ask a question?”
“You may.”
“I notice that Lord Kevin has hazel eyes, but yours are a magnificent yellow. Are they your birth color, or did they change when you turned?”
Kevin tried to interpret Megan’s question for himself.
Karla made a contented sound. “My eyes changed when I turned,” she said with dignity.
Kevin nodded to himself. When Karla took on her vampire persona, she used her allowance to purchase yellow contact lenses. No matter what Krystal did, Karla was never without replacements. They would search her room endlessly, and more than once Karla emailed him that they’d held her under the shower and washed them out of her eyes. But every morning, she reemerged with a fresh set of yellow contacts.
Megan said, “Thank you, Mistress Karla. I must say, they are truly awe inspiring.”
Kevin checked his rear view mirror and his heart leaped.
Karla was smiling.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
By the time they pulled into the long circular driveway in front of the main house, Karla’s smile was gone.
Megan’s eyes widened with delight as she drank in her surroundings. “It’s three stories high! White clapboard, and a wrap around porch, and gingerbread! You have acorn finials! Oh, my God, I’m in heaven.”
Two workers in painters’ overalls were busy with maintenance, painting the newel posts on the porch.
A middle-aged woman used the handrail to descend the steps carefully. Megan’s first impression told her the woman was an invalid.
“Mom,” said Kevin fondly.
“Krystal,” hissed Karla.
Kevin put the SUV in park and turned off the engine. “I’ll give her a hand.” He slipped out of the car and went to his mother’s side.
“She will disrespect me,” said Karla. “Pay her no mind.”
Megan nodded, then got out of the car and went round to open Karla’s door.
Krystal’s features were drawn. Megan couldn’t tell if she was angry or in pain. Perhaps both.
“Karla! You had me worried sick! I had to call the authorities.”
Megan looked around. None were in evidence.
Karla whirled her cape over her head and hissed at her mother as she ran up the stairs into the house.
Kevin gave Krystal a gentle hug. “It’s good to see you, mom. You look better than I expected. Your new medication must be working.”
“I have good days and bad days,” said Krystal stiffly. She eyed Megan up and down. “This is your bride?”
Kevin nodded. “Mom, this is Megan. Megan, this is my mother, Krystal Fineman Wake.”
Megan held out a hand. “So nice to meet you, Mrs. Wake.”
“Please, call me Krystal.”
Megan smiled but doubted she could call this woman anything but Mrs. Wake. She noticed that although Mrs. Wake appeared fragile, her gray eyes were hard as steel.
An eight-year-old boy stumbled against the screen door as he emerged from the house. His gaze was fixed on his iPad. “Krystal! Krystal!”
Krystal cringed. “I’m right here, Keegan. No need to shout.”
He was thumping his finger against the screen of his device. “My battery needs charging. I can’t do nothing!”
“Anything,” said Krystal. “You can’t do anything.”
“That’s what I said,” pouted Keegan. He glanced up at Kevin. “About time you got here. Everyone is crazy.”
Kevin ruffled Keegan’s dark hair. “I missed you, too.”
“Likely story.” The boy fastened his dark brown eyes on Megan. They lit up. “Is she a movie star? Are you going to marry a movie star?”
“No, she’s not a movie star, and yes, she is my bride.”
Keegan wasn’t sure how to take the mixed answer. “You’re pretty,” he said at last, “but I was hoping for someone famous.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” said Megan. She held out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Keegan snubbed her and headed inside, calling over his shoulder, “I have to recharge! I’ll be in my room, Krystal!”
“Kids,” said Kevin.
“He’s quite the electronic wizard,” said Krystal. “Although I was hoping a summer on the ranch would inspire him to spend some time outdoors.”
“Why does he call you Krystal?”
“It’s my name.” Krystal seemed surprised by the question.
“But you’re his mother.”
“Names are important.”
Megan could’ve sworn that Krystal’s nose tipped upward as she spoke those words.
Kevin said, “Mom, let me help you inside. Megan, you’ve met the siblings. Would you like a tour of the ranch?”
“Could I lie down for half an hour first?” said Megan. One hand rubbed her thigh.
“Of course.”
“How thoughtless of me,” said Krystal. “Kevin, she’s in the blue room. Something old, something new,” she recited.
Megan finished with a smile, “Something borrowed, something blue. Thank you. I look forward to seeing more of this spectacular home.”
A flush of pleasure colored Krystal’s cheeks. “You like the Victorian motif?”
“It’s glorious,” said Megan. “Just like the house I pinned on my bedroom wall as a child.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Kevin took the luggage inside and carried Megan’s upstairs for her. By the time they got to the blue room, she looked very tired.
“I’ll be all right,” she said. “I just need a short rest.”
“It has been a very long day. It’s almost three-thirty. Dinner is early here. Ranch time. Cookie serves around five, so you’ve got time to put your feet up.”
“Thanks.”
Kevin headed back downstairs for a private word with his mother. He found her in the formal sitting room at the front of the house. He glanced about the room and paid more attention to detail than he’d ever done before. Megan loved the Victorian decor. She would adore this room.
Krystal was seated in a wing chair by the front window. A tea tray perched on the little table by the chair.
Kevin pulled a footstool close and sat at his mother’s knee.
“Oh, darling, I love when you do that.” Krystal gave him a tiny smile. “Tea?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Krystal poured her own. “Tell me, Kev. What’s wrong with her?”
Kevin frowned. “Nothing. She’s perfect. I thought you’d like her!”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. She was still in the car after Karla showed up at the airport. I’m certain she’ll do. I asked what’s wrong with her. Something with her thigh?”
“Oh, that.” Leave it to his mother to pick up on the smallest physical ailment. “She was in a car crash six months ago. She had a broken femur and months of infections. She just got out of the hospital a few days ago.”
Krystal eyed him sternly. “Is she strong enough to stand up to your father?”
Kevin shrugged. “I’m not putting her in the ring with him, you know. I think she’s pretty strong. And you should have seen her with Karla! It was incredible. She even got Karla to smile.”
Krystal’s eyes widened. “I don’t believe it. Karla didn’t say anything about a smile.”
It was Kevin’s turn to pin his mother with a glare. “Did you set that up? Did you send Karla to the airport?!”
Krystal’s brows rose and she schooled her expression. “No! She frightened me out of my wits by running off to meet you. I merely suggested that she might have an opportunity to earn back some privileges if she gave me a two-minute summary of the meeting. She only left a few seconds before you came in.” Her lips curled in a tiny smile. “She told me her first impre
ssion of Megan was quite a good one. She said she’ll do.”
“Well, that’s good. But what kind of privileges are you restoring? I thought you grounded her for six months and took her phone away.”
“That was just during her…” Krystal paused to choose her words carefully. “Her hospitalization. Her therapist felt the outside world was a distraction. And when she came home, she seemed to have lost some of the old spark. She didn’t battle her father for phone privileges at all. That worried me more than anything. Just as well. He destroyed her phone with a hammer.”
“Did they medicate her?” Kevin’s brow darkened.
“Not to my knowledge. But it was a rigorous program.” She sipped tea and set it aside. “Frankly, Kevin, they told me they wouldn’t take her back. They said her steadfast delusion in the face of all their efforts was a disruption for the other patients. They told me if we had further concerns, we should choose a different facility.”
“They gave up,” said Kevin abruptly. “Those money-grubbing bastards.”
“On the bright side, your sister seemed pleased to be home again. She continues to wear her yellow contact lenses, but I’ve decided to choose my battles.”
“And dad?”
Krystal dismissed her husband with a wave of her hand. “I think he has become part of the problem. Ever since we came here, Karla has been… well, not participatory, but at least more willing to avoid conflict.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
Krystal shrugged. “She doesn’t run after the help screaming like a vampire anymore. I find that a refreshing step in the right direction.”
Kevin laughed out loud. “Who did she chase?”
“Mr. Garcia’s wife, Rosalinda.” She rolled her eyes. “You should have seen her face! Priceless. Karla tried the same trick on Cookie, but it backfired.”
“I can imagine.”
“Yes. Cookie picked up a cast iron pan and screamed right back at her. To hear Cookie tell it, Karla bowed down to her and christened her the Queen of the Clutch. No outbursts since that day, thank goodness.”