by Viola Grace
The bags went into the trunk, Leo and Minny were tucked in, and Limross was in front next to Nathaniel. They left the hospital behind, and Leo couldn’t even imagine what was coming next.
Chapter Four
“So, they tried to kill me. At the hospital.”
“No, they tried to kill Melody. She is the one trace of Robert’s bloodline that is surviving. For him to be able to be a vampire of any kind of standing, she has to die.”
Leo smiled as Minny settled the carrier on the couch, and she held her baby in her arms again.
Limross was guarding the door, and Leo could see flickers of Antony outside. Whatever he was, he was guarding them.
“Melody. She did a weird thing in the elevator.”
“That was her? I had hoped it was you.”
“Nope. It was the baby. Look how hard she is sleeping now. It must have tuckered her out. Do you know what it was?”
“It was a temporal field. The clocks stopped and our bodies were locked in place. As defenses go, it was pretty impressive.”
“How do you know that?”
“I was holding a timer, and the timer paused while we moved down the six floors. That is why Nathaniel was already there when the timer said we had a minute.”
“Yeah, but how do you know?”
“I have worked at the museum for a few years now. It is my job to know the exhibits and that means doing the research before we do any of the fundraisers. I have to know more than the docents when it comes to the installation, and that includes the first signs of magic in our world.”
Leo chuckled and took the laundry to the basement. “Temporal magic is one of the basics.”
She left Minny muttering about her know-it-all sister and informing Melody that Leo was always to be listened to, but rarely to be trusted. Aunty Leo was smart and that was a very sneaky thing.
Leo grinned and washed the bloody clothing in cold water. If this was her last day with her sister, she was going to make it as normal as possible.
They ordered takeout, and that was when Leo had to explain about the guards. Antony had stopped the delivery person and taken the pizza and garlic bread. When he delivered it to the door, it was time for introductions.
“Minuet Wicks, this is your household guardian, Antony. He is posted at the house and is here to keep you safe, also, apparently, to scarf your pepperoni!” Leo lunged forward and yanked the open box from Antony’s hands.
Minny was feeding Melody, and she smiled at the stranger. “Well, if you could come over here, I could shake hands with you. I am not particularly mobile right at this moment.”
Antony stepped in and bowed over Minny’s hand. “It is an honour to watch over you.”
Minny’s eyes gleamed. “She is busy eating, but this is Melody.”
Leo blinked. Well, her sister had always been the more hot-blooded of the two of them, as was evidenced by Melody. Antony had similar sharp and handsome features to Robert, so he was Minny’s type.
Leo set the pizza on the table and got some plates. “Antony, ask Limross if he wants pizza.”
It was blissfully normal. Leo set out the plates and cups, and the guards had a meal before returning to the exterior of the home. Night was falling and vampires loved to hunt in the darkness.
If Robert was going to come tonight, he was in for a bit of a surprise.
Minny dozed off on the couch, so Leo took over with Melody. She changed her diaper and put her in the crib that had been set up before the baby shower.
The baby monitor took a bit of figuring out, but when it was next to Melody and recording her soft snuffling, Leo felt better.
She got Minny’s bed ready and stroked her forehead. “Honey, wake up. You need a proper night’s sleep.”
Leo got her arm under her sister and hauled her up. Minny staggered, but Leo got her into bed, took off her shoes and tucked her in. She could sleep in her clothes.
She brushed Minny’s hair away from her face and smiled softly. “It is definitely worth it.”
Minny opened her eyes slightly, smiled and went back to sleep.
Leo straightened, went over to Melody’s crib and stroked her downy cheek. The monitor was working, so Leo left the room and headed to her small room to start packing.
The small, snuffly noises from the monitor clipped to her jeans made her smile. She took the suits and blouses out of her wardrobe and zipped them into a few garment bags. Her t-shirts, socks, underwear and jeans all got crammed into duffel bags along with her sensible work heels and extra sneakers.
She kept out one change of clothing for the next day and headed to the kitchen to tidy up. There was something unsettling about the idea of sleeping while Minny and Melody were vulnerable.
When everything was neat and squared away, she checked on her family again before going outside and into the back yard. The wide swing called to her, and she settled on it in the dark, swinging gently. She took in the night around her and smiled when Melody started wailing. The muttering and mumbling was Minny’s voice, and soon, there were soft sucking noises that explained the crying.
She felt her companion before she saw him. “Hello, Antony.”
“Hello, Ms. Wicks.” He appeared out of the darkness and leaned against a nearby tree.
“May I ask what you are?”
“Ah. Of course. I do give off confusing vibes. I am a dryad or the male version. A wild man of the woods.”
“So, you just hang out in the woods?”
“I cast my mind into every growing thing, every blade of grass, every tree. I can feel anyone approaching the moment they leave the asphalt or concrete. Even then, if they are wearing hard-soled shoes, I can feel them coming.”
She felt a little bit better about leaving her sister in his care. “Do you sleep?”
“No. The green space feeds me; light sustains me. The pizza was nice but not necessary.”
“Then ask next time.”
He grinned. “I would have, but it has been so long since I have been able to interact with normal humans that I behaved as normally as I could.”
Leo smiled. “Do you know how long you will be assigned here? I don’t want to get all dependent on you being here and then have you transferred away.”
“Matthias ordered me to remain here for the duration of your employment with him. If you are with him, I will be watching over Minuet and Melody.”
It felt good to hear him say it out loud. She smiled at him. “It is nice to know.”
“Are you sure that you know what you are getting into with the mayor?”
She smiled slightly. “I know that I would do anything for those two in there. This is nothing compared to the pain I would inflict if anything were to happen to them. I would be broken, and then, I would go out until I got myself and a lot of other people killed.”
“You are human.”
“Humans were killing each other before the wave. Magic doesn’t have any exclusivity on homicide.”
He inclined his head. “True. Now, go to sleep. Limross and the others will keep watch with me.”
Leo smiled and got to her feet. “Good point.”
Her bed was calling, and she set her folded clothing on a chair before stripping and crawling between the sheets. The knowledge that those who were willing to keep her niece safe surrounded the house was all she needed.
“I can’t understand why he wants you to live in.” Minny was swaying slightly with the baby in her arms.
“He keeps odd hours. While he can go out in daylight, he prefers not to or so the internet would have me believe.” Leo winked and finished loading up the second diaper bag. She wanted to make sure that Minny was okay until she could get back for a visit.
“When will you have a day off?”
“I have no idea. I will hash out the details when I get there.” Leo cleared her throat. “Since I won’t be living with you, how would you feel if I hired a live-in nanny to help you?”
“Where would you get the money for that?”
Leo sighed. “I have some savings. I was going to buy a new car, but this seems a much better use of my funds.”
Tears started in Minny’s eyes. “I can’t let you use all your money for me. You are already selling yourself.”
“I am not hooking. I am renting myself for a finite amount of time. The same thing I do every day.” She chuckled at the truth of it.
She had talked with her boss today, and he had informed her how happy he was to wish her luck on her new position with the mayor. Apparently, the museum was getting a lot of ancient documents on the origin of vampires in the next month.
Not knowing what she was in for when she started work, she dressed for the office. It was three in the morning, and it was time for her to summon the car. Her vehicle was still at the manor.
The rest of her clothing had been picked up that afternoon. The only thing that she had to bring to her new job was herself.
“I am going to call for Nathaniel. Will you be all right?”
Minny came over and handed Melody to her. “One big hug from Aunty Leo, and then, she can leave in peace.”
Leo smiled and cuddled her niece. The warm body and smell of baby powder was a focal point that she wanted to remember. She was jumping into a world that she had no control over to keep this little one alive and healthy. It was a jump she was going to make every day for as long as it took to keep her safe from Robert.
After ten minutes of cuddling, Leo set Melody down in her bassinette, and she hugged Minny. “I will let you know how my first day at work goes.”
“I expect to hear all the juicy details.”
Leo leaned back and gave her a look that told her to get serious.
“I know, I know, you are always the soul of discretion.”
Leo grinned. “It is not a bad thing to be known for.”
Without looking, she reached into her pocket, pulled out the summoner and pressed the button.
Minny sighed. “You are sure that Robert is still out there?”
“Definitely. There would have been a notice for me if he were dead.”
It would also have appeared on the news. New vampires had to be recorded and monitored. A loose or dead offspring would bring shame to its maker.
She checked the timer and inhaled. A minute to prepare to start a new job. Leo smiled at her sister. “Everything will be fine.”
Chapter Five
The car glided to a halt in front of the manor doors.
Nathaniel gave her a whisper of encouragement. “Welcome to the team.”
Leo put on her work face, walked up the steps and entered through the door that the butler held open for her. “Thank you, Reed.”
He looked surprised. “I am surprised you remember me, miss. You were not in very good shape when you were last here.”
“I remember everything that happened while I was awake.” She smiled. “I believe I am to start work now?”
“Yes, miss. This way. He is definitely expecting you.”
“Thank you.” Once again, she was led through the halls, but this time, she could appreciate the artwork and the ringing sound of her heels on the stone floor.
Her business dress was knee length and a sober grey. She would be completely unremarkable in any boardroom in the country. Her hair was scraped back in a bun, and she had her unapproachable expression in place. It was the best way to start her workday. It felt so good to let her hair down after she was done for the day.
She swallowed nervously as Reed opened the door to Matthias’s office. She really hoped that her face didn’t show what she felt.
The vampire king who had been elected Mayor of Redbird City was bent over his desk and looking through a stack of reports.
She stepped forward and Reed disappeared. Positioned in front of the desk, she watched as the clock behind him ticked over to four o’clock.
The moment the time had struck, Matthias looked up with a smile. “You are on time. Excellent. It is a good start. Now, go through all of these and sort them by what needs to be attended to immediately while I get something to drink.”
Leo looked at him in surprise, and when he gathered up the documents, walked around the desk and dropped them in her arms, she was speechless.
“Your desk is against that wall. Your computer, phone, tablet and pager are all there, as is your employment contract. Nathaniel is still at your service. I will be up for a few more hours if you have any questions.”
She turned and headed to the desk with its delicate filigree carving. It looked like it was made of lace with a smooth granite top.
She dropped the paperwork he had handed her, and she turned on her computer with the login and password from the small sticky note attached to the cover.
The mayor’s schedule was on the desktop, and she quickly familiarized herself with what he did and when he did it. Most of his activities were nocturnal, but there were a few meetings in the afternoons.
Some of the meetings had a small star on them, and she was going to have to ask about them.
With her immediate need for knowledge satisfied, she turned to the pile of paperwork. After half an hour, she paused to send a quick text to Minny to give her the work cell phone number.
When her sister had been contacted, she continued looking through the petitions and contracts as well as research information that folks were sending to the mayor.
She had three distinct piles worked out by the time he returned to the office.
Leo was onto her own contract and reading all that it entailed. Well, with the rate he was going to pay her, she could afford a nanny on her own. She smiled.
“What was that smile for, Ms. Wicks?”
She smoothed her features. “Apologies, Mr. Mayor. I was just thinking about hiring a nanny to help Minny with the baby. I had always planned to be there for her, but as matters have changed, it is time to make a new plan.”
“I am glad you can adapt. Do you prefer a male or female nanny?”
“It doesn’t matter as long as they are well versed in infant care and very reliable.”
He nodded and picked up his phone. To Leonora’s horror, he ordered a nanny like she ordered pizza—efficiently and with expectation of immediate delivery.
“Is that going to add more time to my service to you?”
“That is up to you. I will provide you with safety for your family until the date that it is no longer required.”
From her desk, she had to ask, “Why me?”
“You took on a vampire queen and her newest offspring with a pregnant woman and a baseball bat. After that, you drove your sister to the hospital and then yourself here to point out to me that my local vampires were behaving in an unseemly manner.”
He smiled at her. “You are a very impressive human. It is a rare thing and will throw off those that I do business with.”
“So, I am a collectible?” She raised her brows.
“Indeed. Unique in my experience and that encompasses thousands of generations.”
“You have to have met other people who did stupid stuff.”
“Yes, but never with the calculated thought that you put into your reaction to the situation. You thought, reacted and operated with no calculation of your own survival in the equation. You committed before you could think and that is a definite asset to my team.”
“It is funny how everyone refers to it as a team.”
She took the different stacks of paperwork and got up from her desk. Leo walked over to him and handed him her contract.
“I would prefer to make the arrangements for a nanny myself.”
Matthias arched his brows. “I have already made the arrangements.”
She frowned. “That is not necessary.”
“Yes, it is. I will put it on your tab.” He winked.
“At this point, I will have to work for you for two decades before I pay th
is off.”
He shrugged. “That is a flicker of time for me.”
She was aghast. “It is my niece’s entire trip to adulthood.”
“You don’t say?” His lips curled in a smile.
Her fingers clenched on the paperwork. “When will I get to see her?”
“You will have one day off per week. It will depend on the schedule.” He folded his fingers together and propped his chin on them.
“Speaking of the schedule, what do the stars mean?”
“Ah, those are meetings that you must accompany me. Now, what have you done with that paperwork?”
She frowned and got back into work mode. “Right. This bunch is infrastructure renewal. The two with flags on them are the urgent ones. The rest of the requests can be delayed without any damage to your approval ratings.”
“Fascinating. Thank you. How long can they be delayed?”
“Into next quarter. In the fall, you will need to have the snow clearing ready, but you don’t need it in the summer. You do need the potholes filled.”
He smiled. “Excellent. What is next?”
She handed him the next pile of requests for personal appearances. “The ones with flags do not conflict with your existing schedule, and the ones with two flags would help you with your appeal to the humans and extranaturals who live standard lives.”
They went through the letters of critique, the invitations from other mayors and vampire kings, and finally, she was able to take the documents that were rejected and return to her desk, writing up polite letters declining the meeting, goods or services.
Reed brought her in a tray with a sandwich, a bowl of soup and some tea. “Here you are, Ms. Wicks. I am going off shift soon, but Dorn will be in to meet you and take you to your quarters when you need to change for the day.”
She nodded. “Right. I am the day shift.”
“Well, the deputy mayor and his assistant will be in shortly, so you need only worry about the documents you have already been assigned.” Reed smiled and inclined his head.