Noah focused on something banal. Oatmeal. He'd always hated the stuff, and sure enough, thinking about the process of cooking it did the trick. He lifted the seat of the toilet and peed.
Before jumping in the shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist and popped his head outside the bathroom door. There Holly was, snoring like a princess under the comforter. Good. He hadn't scared her off, then, by wimping out.
He closed the door quietly, turned on the shower, and when it was hot enough, climbed over the tub and pulled the curtain closed. The caulking around the shower was stained and uneven, and there was a patched up repair on the floor of the tub. This clearly wasn't the Ritz. He pumped a little of the complimentary shampoo in his hand; it smelled of the forest, which was good. Whether Holly would like it was another matter. That is, if she wanted a shower. Somehow she always looked fantastic. Well, apart from maybe the slightly visible skin vein thing, but that was to be expected when someone was almost undead.
Noah washed quickly, battling the images of Holly in the buff that came uninvited to his brain. It was a losing battle, so he did the one thing he knew would work. He turned the taps to cold. After that, he couldn't get out fast enough.
He stepped over the rim of the tub and dried himself off on a clean towel. God, he was hungry, but nothing he had bought last night appealed to him now. He had a major hankering for pancakes. He brushed his teeth and, after gargling, walked into the bedroom. Holly was still out for the count.
Noah nudged her gently. "I'm going out for breakfast. Do you want some? I can wait if you like."
"I'm not hungry," mumbled Holly.
There was a tiny brown stain on the corner of her lips. Hmmm. He hoped she hadn't done something wicked to the desk clerk.
Holly rolled back over and was soon snoring again.
Noah snatched a few things from his bag, dressed quickly, then scribbled a quick note to Holly, telling her where he'd gone in case she woke up and forgot that he'd asked her. She could always join him there later if she changed her mind. He then slipped quietly from the room, just as the couple from across the hall were leaving theirs.
The couple froze as soon as they saw him.
"Good morning," he growled, as deeply as his human voice allowed.
The dumbstruck couple sprinted down the hall, dragging their luggage as fast as their legs could carry them. Noah grinned and shook his head. People could be so crazy at times.
A few moments later, he passed them again in the lobby. They were checking out at the front desk, and when they saw him, they huddled protectively together. The desk clerk also looked up, looking around him, evidently more concerned about whether Holly had come down with him. His neck looked remarkably intact.
"Howdy-do," said Noah, adding a little wave to them all. It was not returned.
There was a small diner, just next to the place he'd bought his groceries from the night before.
It was early, but the place was packed solid. Noah took a seat at the counter, since it was the only place available anyway. He picked up a menu but closed it almost immediately - he knew exactly what he wanted. It wasn't often he dined with people, and it had been so long since he'd ordered a stack, he was almost slathering.
The waitress joined him as soon as he closed it. She looked to be in her thirties and had children's names tattooed up and down both arms. Where there wasn't a name, there was a flower. Her name tag said Lilly.
"What can I get ya, handsome?" Lilly asked with a wink and a grin. "Coffee? Tea? Glass of water? Something else?"
"Coffee would be great. And I want a tall stack of pancakes with a side of sausage. Do you have real maple syrup here or just the pancake stuff?"
"Sure, we do. Anything for you, sweetie-pie."
"Thank you, Lilly."
She turned around to put the order in, and Noah returned the menu to behind the counter.
It was a tiny diner, with a handful of booths that looked like it hadn't been updated in years. But when Lilly whisked a breakfast plate of ham, bacon and eggs out of the kitchen, it looked and smelled so freaking incredible, Noah knew he'd picked a winner.
After a little while, Lilly returned with a mug and a pot of coffee and placed the mug in front of him. "Black or white?" she asked.
"White. No sugar."
Lilly popped a handful of mini creamers out of her apron and put them by the mug. "New in town?"
"Just passing through."
"Going any place fun?"
"I don't know. I'm going up to Misty Cedars, first trip. I have some business there."
The smile which had been pretty glued to Lilly's face since Noah arrived faltered. "Business, you say? For long?"
"I hope not. The sooner I get home the better."
"You're sure right about that." She crossed herself.
"How come?" asked Noah.
"Miss!" An older man further along the counter had his coffee mug raised in the air.
"Back in a tick," said Lilly. She wandered down the counter to fill his mug, then checked on everyone else's before returning. Satisfied all were filled up, she came back to Noah.
"Funny place, that Misty Cedars," she said. "Bad Juju. We all keep well clear of it if we can. It used to be a nice town, a bit upmarket if you know what I mean. Over the last couple of years, all sorts of odd things have been happening."
"Like what?"
"I know people who have gone there and were never seen again."
"Seriously?" asked Noah, pretending to be shocked.
"Absolutely. It's developed a kind of atmosphere. Kinda spooky."
"I see," said Noah. He continued to look a little dubious but was very interested in what she had to say. "What, specifically, do you know about it?"
"Hold up." Lilly turned to pick up a multiple order of pancakes, and Noah prayed one of them would be his, they looked so awesome. Wait, No! What the heck! Lily waltzed right by him and delivered them to one of the booths. Noah salivated as the steaming stacks passed on by, and he hoped his would be up next. A minute later, Lilly was back again.
"We get a lot of visitors in the valley, coming for the mountains. There's been a few odd stories about young girls checking into guest houses, but never checking out."
"Couldn't they just have disappeared without paying?" asked Noah.
"What, and left all their stuff behind in their rooms? Nah, that wouldn't make sense. It's happened one-too-many times to just be a coincidence."
Noah nodded and sipped at his coffee. When he put the mug down, Lilly refilled it.
"Then there was this hiker," continued Lilly. "Pretty girl, she actually came in here. I'd guess she'd be in her twenties. Such a nice girl, softly-spoken. We talked a little bit, I always try to talk to them when they're on their own, ya know. I remembered her especially 'cause she seemed so classy for 'round here.
"Anyway, she just up and disappeared." Lilly snapped her fingers. "Her uncle was from this town, and according to him, the family hasn’t heard from her since. Such a shame. She was sooo pretty. I hear all the girls that disappear are, too."
Lilly turned to check the serving hatch, and there was another order ready to go. She quickly delivered that then checked out another customer who was ready to leave. She returned as quickly as she could.
"It just never ends, does it?" she said, smiling.
Noah leaned forward and kept his voice down. "So you think there might be a serial killer up that way?"
"Maybe. But the police have found nothing. And there's just this, I dunno, weird aura. It never used to have it. When I was a little girl, I used to like going up there with my parents. It's been funny ever since that cop's family were murdered. Wild horses wouldn't drag me up there now."
"Cop's family?" Noah knew exactly who she meant but wanted to learn as much from her as possible.
Lilly turned around again. "Hold up, here's your pancakes."
A moment later, Noah had a steaming stack of pancakes and sausages in front of him. The maple syru
p was in a separate pot, and he poured a lavish amount over his breakfast. He took one mouthful and closed his eyes in ecstasy. They were so light and fluffy and did not disappoint.
"They good?" asked Lilly, nodding toward his plate.
"Excellent."
An elderly couple with a walker came into the diner.
"Be right back," said Lilly, who ran off quickly to help them settle into a booth.
While Lilly went about her business, Noah ate his breakfast and thought about what he'd just learned. It seemed Micah, if it was the immortal, had a penchant for young, virginal types. He must have got lucky with Holly, since there was no way he could have known who she was when he pulled her over in the Alfa. He might have got a fleeting visual at best as she'd whizzed past his patrol vehicle. Like he'd always thought, the poor kid was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A shitty break for her.
A lot of the breakfasters were finishing up and leaving at the same time, so it was a little while before Lilly could return. When she did, Noah had finished most of his stack, but pushed the last few mouthfuls away. They were good, but he'd had his fill.
"So tell me about this murder."
Lilly cleared his plate. "More coffee first?"
He put his hand over his mug. "I'm good. I'll just finish this."
"Not much to tell really. It was the cop's wife and daughters who were killed. Not him."
"Did you know them?"
"Me, naw, not personally. They were a bit too well-off for me. All's I know about them were they were all very good-looking, and they think that might be why the killer did it."
"They didn't suspect the cop?"
"Apparently not. He had an alibi or something. But they say the cop's been a little loopy ever since. Then again, who wouldn't be, ya know? I mean, imagine coming home to find your family all drained of blood? Sheesh." She shivered.
"Drained of blood?"
"Awful, isn't it. Right out of one of them vampire movies."
Indeed.
"Look, I suppose it can't be helped if you gotta go, but if you do, you should stop into Mamaw's place first. It's right on the edge of town, just as you approach Misty Cedars, but she's a wise woman and knows a hell of a lot more about it than most people."
"Mamaw's place?"
"It's my grandma, but she has a gift shop on Tenth Ave. You can’t miss it. It's right on the main drag into town." She slapped his tab face down on the table.
"Oh, okay, thanks."
Lilly gripped and squeezed his wrist. "I'm being very serious, Mister. Make sure you stop there."
Noah smiled and gently removed her hand. "I promise I will. You've aroused my curiosity. I love a good mystery." He drained the last of his coffee.
"Yeah, well, all's I'm saying is you be careful up there. And watch yer back. Oh, and tell Mamaw I sent you. She'll take good care of you, then."
"Thanks, I will," said Noah. "And it was a good breakfast." He slipped a twenty under his empty coffee mug and stood up, ready to go. Mamaw's was a good lead, and as soon as Holly felt able to travel, they would be on their way.
11
Mamaw’s Place
It was a pretty decent day outside, blue skies, not a cloud in sight.
Fuck it. Just my luck.
Holly was wrapped up tighter than a burrito, with a scarf around her head, dark glasses and every possible inch of her skin covered from head to toe. Not that she was beyond bearing sunlight, yet, but it sure created a nasty itch.
Noah was driving - it made more sense in the day, since Holly was still sleepy. Staring out of the window, Holly spotted the road sign indicating Misty Cedars was just a mile away. It was a small town, tucked in a pleasant enough looking niche in the valley. The houses she could see from the interstate looked old, but stately and charming. In better days, it looked like the kind of town she would love to visit on a weekend.
"Are you sure you're not hungry?" asked Noah as he turned off the exit ramp.
Holly licked her lips, remembering the blood of the cat from the night before. She'd taken just a little nip, filling her mouth with more of the good stuff. Before its tiny heart started to flutter, she let the startled kitty go. The opossum which followed had a little more to give, but its blood was less savory and its stink offended her nose. As soon as she'd sucked enough, she dropped the ugly critter to the ground. The outraged marsupial couldn't get away fast enough and dashed out into the road, only to be hit, splat, by a passing car. Her appetite was gone after witnessing that.
"Pretty sure", replied Holly.
"Okay, so according to the GPS, we'll be there in a minute."
Mamaw's place was just where Lilly had said it would be, just a minute's drive straight off the exit ramp leading into Misty Cedars. It was an old Victorian, with blue siding and Hansel and Gretel trim under a gray slate roof. The wrap-around porch was chock full of junk antiques for sale, and a pair of rockers overlooked the street. They were uninhabited at present.
Thank God the front of the building was still shaded, thought Holly. Carefully, she pushed the passenger door open and cautiously stepped out onto the sidewalk. She felt a little sick, but nothing she couldn't handle. Without waiting for Noah, she hurried quickly up the steps though she could hear him right behind her. She opened the door and stepped inside.
Inside was an Aladdin's Cave of knick-knacks and dusty boxes. Holly also noticed that instead of curtains, there were garlands of garlic adorning every window and door. Plus crucifixes hung on every spare inch of the wall.
Holly froze, then instinctively half-turned toward the door, ready to bolt. Noah was right behind her.
"Look," she whispered, pointing out the garlands and crosses.
Noah glanced around, and understanding completely grabbed both her forearms. "Take a deep breath."
Holly did as she was told.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
It took a second to recover her nerves but everything else felt fine. "I'm okay… I think?"
"Good. These probably won't hurt Micah, either." Noah shrugged. "I suppose that's good to know if nothing else."
A little old lady with silver hair and a feather duster almost as big as she was, was half-way up a ladder, dusting off some rickety bookshelves. Holly assumed this was most likely Mamaw. She turned, and when she saw her new arrivals the old lady gasped and almost fell off her ladder. "Whoops, silly me!"
Holly clutched her own heart, and thought she would have a coronary. If that was even possible any more.
"Come in, come in!" cried Mamaw. "Oh, I didn't know it was raining!"
Holly remembered she was still wearing a scarf around her head, and quickly removed it. "Oh no, it's not. I just burn easily, that's all."
"Oh I see, well, jolly good," said Mamaw. "Come on in, look around. I don't bite."
One by one, she slowly climbed down each rung of the ladder. Her hands were trembling a little, and Holly held her breath until Mamaw was safely back down on the ground. She couldn't have been much more than five feet tall.
"Hello, I'm Mamaw. Nice to meet you. Just passing through are you?" She looked from Holly to Noah, a warm wrinkly smile on her face.
"Um, Lilly sent us," said Noah, extending his hand. Mamaw shook it warmly. "She said to mention her name."
Mamaw scoffed. "Oh she did, did she! Well, next time you speak to that silly rabbit, tell her to get in the car and come visit her old grammy! Well, well, has she gone and gotten herself any more tattoos? She's a wild one, our Lilly, wild indeed."
"Do you have a lot of grandkids?" asked Holly politely.
"Six, but you'd hardly think it. They never come to visit me these days. It's like they've forgotten their old Mamaw, I swear it."
Or they don't want to have the blood sucked from their veins, Holly thought, remembering how close they were to Misty Cedars.
"Well anyway, have a look around. I have some lovely things. Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"Err, actually, no," said H
olly. "What we really wanted was to talk to you, about these missing girls. We thought maybe you might know something."
Mamaw's smile withered, and she peered a little more closely at Holly. "Dang it, you know I can't see diddly-squat without my spectacles on. Where are they...?" She sauntered over to the cash register and began to rummage around. "Are you with the police, then?" she continued as she moved small curiosities left and right. "Has another girl disappeared?"
"No, we're not with the police. We're um, private investigators."
"Oh, I see. Well, that's exciting isn't it! I bet you see a lot of dark and morbid stuff in your line." Mamaw rubbed her hands gleefully, like this was a good thing. "But sadly no, I know nothing about what's going on, but I have my suspicions."
"Oh?" said Noah and Holly at the same time.
Mamaw ran around from the cash register with her little granny steps, and squinted gleefully up at them both.
"If I could only find my spectacles," she repeated. "Well, since you ask, I do have a little theory, though everyone I've told laughs at me and just tells me I'm crazy."
"We promise we won't laugh," said Noah, who was looking at some items laid out on the glass counter. He picked up a small dagger and eyed it with interest.
"No, of course we won't," agreed Holly.
"Well if you're into daggers, I have some real beauties I can show you," said Mamaw to Noah.
Noah put the dagger back down on the counter.
"Sure, in a minute. You were saying?"
"Oh yes! Well. Well, it's my belief, oh gosh I feel silly even saying it now...."
Holly tried hard not to sigh and wished she'd just come out with it.
"Go on...," encouraged Noah.
"Well, if you ask me, I think they were all killed by vampires."
Mamaw paused, glancing anxiously from one to the other, waiting for a reaction of some kind.
"What makes you think that?" asked Noah, reasonably.
Blood Curse (Misty Cedars - Vampire Edition) Page 7