by Dima Zales
“Yes. I've read the stories.” She also remembered the manor and its occupants from before. News of the massacre was a little unsettling, but she wasn't shocked by these things anymore. It was, undoubtedly, the work of vampires, not an insane servant. It had all the calling cards.
“And I can safely say, there are no ghosts or voodoo spirits lurking anywhere near the place,” Sam laughed. “They're all just scary stories.”
“Well, that's reassuring.” She smiled, knowing that ghosts, or rather spirits, did exist. She'd assisted with a few exorcisms in her time. The ghosts associated with the manor, well, it was probably just the memory of what had supposedly happened there that gave an uncomfortable feeling.
After that, the subject changed to lighter topics. Gossip and stories about people and places she had no knowledge or interest in, so she let her mind wander a little. Keeping one ear on the conversation, she watched each vampire’s mannerisms as they spoke.
Sam she picked to be the kinder of the brothers. He was rational and used his head more often than his heart. Liz was young and the way she spoke and held herself said that she was inexperienced at life in general. Alex was undoubtedly human in that he followed his heart in almost everything, but he was naive in trusting that everyone around him had some good in them. That would one day be his downfall. And Zac, who said very little the whole evening, showed himself to be arrogant and impulsive by the way he held himself; more concerned with what he could get out of someone to use to his advantage. He was a typical vampire.
But, all of them were holding onto the human parts of themselves, some more than others. Liz and Sam were holding the tightest, almost desperately wanting to be the immortal humans capable of doing good. And Zac? His hold was reluctant at best. It wouldn't take much to push him over the edge.
“I need to freshen up,” proclaimed Liz, snapping her out of her reflection. “Aya, come with.”
“I'm fine thanks,” she replied, raising her eyebrow.
“Oh, Aya. C'mon. I want to talk to you without the boys listening in,” she winked at them. Trust me, she mouthed back at the brothers as she took Aya's arm and led her towards the ladies room.
Liz closed the bathroom door behind them and put her bag on the basin. The stalls were empty and the dull roar of the busy bar was the only sound that filled the room. She took out a compact from her purse and began to dab powder on her face. Aya leaned against the basin and eyed the young vampire in the mirror, feigning smoothing her hair down.
“What does your name mean?” Liz asked after a moment.
“It's just one of those strange names. My parents were free spirits,” she shrugged.
“Right, I get it. Like the English equivalent of hippies? We had a girl at our school once who was named Rainbow Apple.” She laughed at the insane notion.
“Well, that seems unfortunate,” Aya said, reacting to the tone in Liz's voice. ”How long have you and Sam been together?”
“Oh, about a year. He helped me through a rough patch and it kind of just happened, you know?” she smiled.
“That's a pretty ring,” Aya reached out and took Liz's hand so she could see. It was a small onyx stone set into an ornate silver band and it tingled with the charm she knew it was infused with. It was the trinket that allowed her to walk in the sun and the magic was old. Their witch couldn't have spelled it for her or even made one in the first place.
“Thanks. Sam gave it to me,” she said, taking her hand back nervously, pretending to look it herself. “You don't wear any jewelry. How come?”
“I never really saw the point. Maybe if someone gave me something, I would.”
“Like a handsome man,” Liz giggled, winking at her.
Aya groaned inwardly. Girl talk grated on her insides, but it was a means to an end. “Maybe,” she replied, playing along.
“Do you have anyone, back where you're from?”
“No. No handsome man waiting for me. My life is in America. For now, at least.” She hadn't had to lie yet, but then again, she was good at this.
“Well, the guys around here are all falling over themselves over you.”
“Really?” Aya frowned.
“Yes! Of course they are. Aya, you're hot. You could have any one of them you wanted.” Liz offered her her lipstick.
She shook her head. “I never noticed.”
“I can tell Alex thinks you're beautiful. Zac, too.”
Aya scoffed at the notion. “Alex is sweet,” she conceded.
Liz apparently took the opportunity to push her towards the other brother. “Zac's really not that bad. Overprotective of his brother and he can say a lot of inappropriate things. But, he's a decent guy under it all. He just likes to put on a show.”
“I know the type,” she rolled her eyes. “And it gets old very quickly.”
Liz frowned, but quickly covered it up with a grin. “C'mon. I think we need more drinks. Make a late one of it.” She linked her arm through Aya's and pulled her back out into the bar, obviously trying to appear her new best friend.
As they emerged from the bathroom, Zac stepped in front of Aya blocking her way. He'd obviously decided to try another tactic. Liz's arm slid from hers and she stopped and turned back. Seeing Zac there she winked at her before continuing back to their table.
“Yes?” Aya prodded, when he didn't say anything.
“What are you really doing here, Aya?” he asked, stepping closer than she would like.
“Well, I thought that would be obvious. I'm having a drink with some nice people I met. Then you came along.”
“Oh, don't play coy with me.” He ran a finger down her cheek and along her jaw line. She noticed that his pupils were dilating slightly. She couldn’t believe the gall of this man – he was trying to compel her! It would never work, but it angered her more than it should have. Her expression darkened and she drew back and slapped him. For her it was light, but his head snapped to the side with the force of it and his hand went to his face in surprise. Stalking back to the table, she let her expression darken with anger.
“Oh, Aya, I'm sorry,” Liz cried when she sat down heavily. They’d been watching. “After what I said … ”
Aya shrugged. She had expected no less from him. In all her years it was a rare man who didn't only think about one thing where women were concerned. Especially when they were trying to coerce information from her. She caught sight of Zac as he pushed through the exit heavily. He wasn't used to being shot down, that much she could tell. She sighed and took a long draught from her glass, already tired of his game.
Alex and Sam were in deep conversation by the bar as they waited to be served. The place had really filled up and it was taking ages for the staff to come along. Sam was asking his friend about Aya. Alex told him she'd been wandering the gardens that morning and he'd run into her, got talking and invited her to join them.
Alex seemed enamored with her, which could be a problem. He'd picked up a feeling from Aya that unsettled him. There was nothing about her that gave away that she may be a vampire, but if she was as old as they suspected, then she would be an expert in hiding her true self from the world. At least she’d seemed to have picked up on Alex’s feelings and had kept herself at a distance, that one he would give her.
“Yeah,” Alex was saying. “She seems real nice. But, she doesn't seem to like to talk about herself much.”
“No,” Sam agreed. “She doesn't at all.” Thus far, all her answers had been vague at best.
When they reached the table, they noticed Gabby had joined them and Zac had disappeared. Aya seemed to be wound up about something and his brother’s absence seemed to be part of it. He wondered what he'd said this time.
“Liz and I have been friends since the seventh grade,” Gabby was saying.
“And I've known Alex since grade school,” Liz smiled at him as they approached.
“She's the one who taught me to put sand down other kids pants,” Alex looked at her with mock disapproval. “And I
got into a lot of trouble for it, too.”
“What happened to Zac?” asked Sam, sitting back in his seat.
Liz rolled her eyes. “What do you think happened? He's gone.”
Sam looked from her to Aya and said, “Sorry.”
“It seems like you apologize for him a lot,” Aya said darkly. “I'd stop while you're ahead.”
Sam ran his hand through his hair and laughed, “You're probably right. I guess it’s just habit.”
“I'm sorry, but I have to go.” She stood abruptly. “It was nice to meet you all.”
Sam went to protest, but she had already turned and was several paces away. Looking to Alex, he shrugged. He would get the report from Zac later, no doubt. Clinking glasses with everyone, he promptly put them out of his mind.
When Sam got home he found Zac in the parlor as usual, lying on the sofa with an empty bottle of whiskey. If he were human, he'd be considered an alcoholic, or at least in hospital with alcohol poisoning.
“Let it rip, brother,” Sam said as he sat down in his usual chair. The way they sat was very doctor patient.
As if sensing this, Zac sat up and scowled. “I tried a different tactic, since talking wasn't getting anywhere. If she was human, then she could be compelled.”
Sam stifled a laugh. “You tried to compel her? And?”
“And it didn't work,” he snapped.
“So, you automatically think she's not human?”
“She makes Gabby uneasy. Hell, even I can tell something is off. Don't tell me you can sense anything, I wouldn't believe it.”
“Fine, yes. Something is off,” he conceded. “I'm assuming that you've had enough time to think of another plan while you've been here licking your wounds?”
Zac rolled his eyes. “Yes, of course.”
“Spit it out.”
“What are the three things that we can use on her to verify she's a vampire?”
Sam sighed, but played along. “Silver, sunlight and concentrated garlic.”
“Sunlight won't work, we already know that. So, we need a house that a human lives in,” he raised his eyebrows as if he was willing Sam to catch on.
“Alex. You want her to go to Alex's and see if she needs to be invited in?”
“Not only that,” he smiled. “Invite her over to dinner and spike her food.”
“That's a little childish, isn't it?” Sam snorted.
“Maybe, but it's simple enough and foolproof.”
Sam reluctantly had to agree. They didn't have the time to sit back and wait. They had to take the offensive. He knew that Zac would need him to suggest the plan to Alex without him catching on, making it seem like it was his idea to invite Aya.
“Right,” he said, running his hands down his face. “Leave it with me. I'll get Alex to invite her and make sure she turns up.”
Zac smiled. “That's my boy.” He thumped him on the shoulder and disappeared.
9
By Monday it was hot and muggy, the lingering moisture in the air annoyingly heavy. It made work in the gardens difficult for Alex. Sam, not so much, but he complained to keep his friend happy. They were working on repainting the bandstand for the upcoming Spring Festival organized by the local Historical Society. A whole weekend of pre-Civil War era activities that was an awkward blast from the past for Sam, who'd been there the first time round.
“Hey, we haven't had dinner in ages,” Sam said, suddenly. “We should do it this weekend.”
Alex jumped down off the ladder, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “Oh, yeah. Sounds cool. I think it was my turn, right?”
“I don't really remember. But if you want to do it, I'll convince everyone to bring something or at least help out.” He didn't explain his and Zac's ulterior motive at getting Aya in a situation where they could test her. Sam felt bad about manipulating his friend like this, but too much was at stake. The Witch Hunter hadn't shown up yet and whoever it was was their only lead. Who knew when Katrin would rear her ugly head?
“Okay, deal.” Alex threw his paint stained gloves into the barrow at his feet. “Speaking of food, it's lunchtime and I'm starving. Wanna go over to the cafe?”
Sam heartily agreed and they walked together towards Mrs. Greene's cafe, but as they crossed the street Alex nudged him motioning towards the window of the bookstore. Inside, sitting on a sofa, reading a book about the architecture of bridges, was Aya. She seemed rather enthralled in the workings of modern engineering, so much so that when Alex tapped on the glass, she jumped.
As Alex ducked into the store, Sam cast his hearing out after his friend.
“Hey, Aya,” Alex said as he approached her.
“What's up?” She was smiling at him.
“I just wanted to know if you wanted to come to dinner on Friday,” he asked, but quickly continued when she hesitated. “Oh, it's a dinner party type thing. There will be some other people. Gabby, Liz, Sam.”
She still seemed hesitant. “Oh, sounds nice.”
“Okay, well, it's at my place at seven. Friday night,” he said, giving her the address.
Aya's eyes flickered to Sam's through the window. “Sure. I'd love to.”
Alex grinned, backing out of the store. “Great. I'll catch you later then.”
Sam sighed, turning away from the window. Alex had invited her, just as they knew he would. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty as he came out of the bookstore, a grin plastered on his face. Sam elbowed him, laughing and they went to collect their lunch.
Thankfully, Friday came without any outside issues. They'd all arrived at Alex's early, Sam having told Liz and Gabby about their plan. They'd decided it would be best if they were there before Aya arrived, so they could prepare. Alex didn't suspect anything, glad for the help in the kitchen, where Zac and Liz were currently holed up under the pretence of opening the wine.
“She doesn't wear any jewellery,” Liz said. “How can she be out in the daytime?”
“That's irrelevant. It could be because she's old enough, or a witch spelled her body,” Zac explained as he popped the cork from the one of the bottles and handed it to her.
“I thought that didn't work on you?” she asked, confused.
“Just because it didn't work on me the first time, doesn't mean it didn't on her,” he said sarcastically, taking a jar from his jacket pocket.
“And what's that?”
Zac shook the small jar, so the powder moved about inside. “This is silver.” He took off the lid and sprinkled it over the mashed potatoes Liz had dished up on Aya's plate, careful not to let it touch his skin. Picking up a fork, he mixed it through. Taking out another jar from his opposite pocket, he sprinkled a clear liquid into the bottle of wine with the least left and shook it.
“And what was that?”
“This is a little something I got off a person of dubious nature,” he winked. “It's something like garlic.”
“But, garlic won't do anything.”
“True, but concentrated enough, it will bring blood to the surface. Ingested, it will make her vomit it up by the bucket full.”
“Zac, I'm not sure about this,” Liz shook her head. “It's over the top. We should just stick with the silver.”
“Now, now, Liz. We have to be sure what she is. The last thing we need is another threat on top of an insane dead witch. I think she's a vampire and this is a foolproof way of finding out. Alex will invite her in without thinking, so obviously we need a backup plan.” He turned and placed the plate back into the oven to keep it warm. “Just make sure you give her the right plate and all will be okay. I don't want to be the one vomiting over the dinner table.”
“What about Alex? He doesn't know about any of this.” Liz was wringing her hands together with worry.
“I will deal with Alex if need be. A little compulsion never hurt anyone.”
“It doesn't sit right with me, Zac.”
“Just blame it all on me. I'm used to it,” he shrugged.
They returned to the dining room, where Gabby, Sam and Alex were seated, drinking the wine that Liz had brought with her. Zac placed the bottle he'd spiked next to Liz and winked.
“You did tell her seven, right?” Sam joked when he saw Alex fidgeting.
“Yeah.” He jumped when there was a sudden knock on the front door.
Alex stood awkwardly, almost knocking over his glass. Zac followed him from the dining room, waiting to see what would happen.
Alex strode to the front door and opened it to find Aya standing on the other side. He gasped a little as he took in her appearance. She wore a tight fitting black blouse and dark grey skinny jeans that clung to all the right places in all the right ways and she'd had a hair cut. Her black hair still hung halfway down her back, but it was all different lengths. She looked like a singer in a rock band and very beautiful. Alex blushed a little and said, “Hi.”
Smiling brightly, Aya stepped inside and hugged him. “Lovely to see you again,” she chirped.
Zac hid his look of confusion. She hadn't been invited in at all. She just stepped through the door like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. It was ordinary, but she had so many vampire tendencies he was sure she couldn't come in … and she couldn't be compelled, either. Was he wrong? He snapped back to reality as he realized she was speaking to him. “Earth to Zac,” she snapped her fingers in front of his face.
“What, don't I get a hug?” he said, a wicked tone in his voice.
She laughed. “No.”
“Aya, you wound me.” He feigned clutching his heart as she glided past him into the dining room.
Aya could hardly hold back laughter when she caught Zac’s expression. Thresholds weren’t an issue for her, much like the sun. He’d obviously been counting on Alex giving her an invitation before she stepped inside.
Liz, Sam and Gabby were seated at the dining table as she walked in, drinking wine and laughing at some joke Sam had just told. Upon seeing her, Liz got up and poured her a glass from the near empty bottle and handed it to her. “Aya! It's great that you could make it. Here, have a glass.”