I had to kill Jure Grando, and I had to do it alone. I couldn’t put the others in any more danger. It bothered me a little how much I wanted to kill him.
Travis hadn’t needed to kill Opal Ann. He’d done it to prove a point. To show me that he was more powerful than I was and to let me know that I couldn’t stop him.
But I would stop him. And the point I would make would be with the end of a stake to his heart.
Opal Ann’s body had already been sent back to Texas.
Bobbie Jean was driving home to mourn her sister with her family. She’d stopped in to say goodbye. I knew Bobbie Jean was hurting from Opal Ann’s death; I just wasn’t sure who she blamed more, Skyler or me. But definitely Travis and his father.
“I’m sorry about Opal Ann,” I said.
Her eyes were red and puffy. “You did your best to help,” she said. “It wasn’t enough, but you tried. That’s why I’m warning you.”
“Warning me about what?”
“I’m coming back,” she said. “And when I do, I aim to kill every vampire in this state.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m a vampire.”
“I know,” she said.
“Well. Until we meet again, then,” I said forlornly.
There wasn’t anything else to say. After Bobbie Jean pulled away, I went inside and found Granny sitting at a barstool with a plethora of ward ingredients spread out in front of her.
“What are you doing?”
“Vampires are vindictive creatures,” Granny said. “We need to prepare.”
“Prepare for what?”
“Retaliation.”
I sat next to her and reached for the garlic. We wove the cloves into garlands and then boosted their effect with protection spells.
Vaughn wandered in at some point during our witchy craft project, but I ignored him.
He wasn’t in the mood to be ignored. He leaned over the back of my chair and watched me, not saying anything.
“If you’re going to just stand there, you might as well help,” I said.
He sat next to me, our legs bumping. “Show me what to do.”
The three of us made garlic garlands, not speaking, until Granny sent us to pour a line of salt on every entryway.
“It’s more of a demon thing,” Granny said. “But it couldn’t hurt.”
We spent the day putting wards around the house, in front of every window and door.
Then we took some to Skyler’s and Vaughn’s. “Where’s your dad?” I asked Vaughn.
“He’s at work,” he said. “But he knows I’m back and that Skyler’s okay.”
“I wish Skyler’s dad cared about her as much as your dad does,” I said.
“Tansy, you’re a good friend,” he said. “I don’t think Skyler even knows everything you did for her.”
“Everything we did for her,” I said. “You were there, too. I mean, you had to fight off all those Bleeders on a daily basis.”
I was trying for a teasing note, but Vaughn didn’t even crack a smile.
“What about Edna and Evelyn’s place?” That’s where the other girls were staying. Kylie and Marisol were runaways Jure had lured to the ranch with promises of work. They’d turned eighteen there. I shuddered to think of what their birthdays had been like.
“Evelyn has it handled,” Granny Mariotti said.
“But…”
“She would never let anything happen to those girls,” Granny said. “Trust me. They are safe there.”
She didn’t say it, but I knew she meant safer than here. Where Jure would eventually come to find me and pay me back for scarring his face. For humiliating him in front of the other vampires.
It didn’t take long. The next night, vampires had our house surrounded, but they couldn’t come in without an invitation.
I peered out the window at them. “You think they’ll just stay there until they get bored or until the sun comes up?”
“Or until an innocent person strolls into the middle of them and gets eaten,” Granny Mariotti replied.
“That’s likely,” I said. “Since the Executioner’s out there and she looks a bit hangry.”
“I wish you wouldn’t call her that,” Granny said gently.
“What should I call the woman who gave birth to me and now wants to kill me?” I asked. “Mom? Maybe Mommy Dearest?”
“She’s still my daughter,” Granny said. “She’s still your mother.”
“That person is gone, Granny,” I said. “How can you say that after what she did to you? I begged her not to hurt you, but she did it anyway. She knew it would hurt me. I think she wanted to hurt me. Who does that?”
“Send the girl!” Jure shouted from outside the window. “You know the one we seek.”
There was no way I was letting Skyler step foot out of my house. She was hollow-eyed and shivering, even in the hot summer night.
“You can’t have Skyler,” I shouted back.
“Not the blood donor,” he replied. “Send out the witch.” He meant me.
“Never,” Granny said.
Jure said something to one of his vampires, who went somewhere out of my eyesight. He returned, dragging someone with him. Vaughn.
No. No. No, no, no.
“Come out or we will drain him dry,” Jure said.
“Don’t do it, Tansy,” Vaughn shouted. Jure backhanded him. I couldn’t let Vaughn die.
“I’ll come out if you promise to let him go,” Granny said.
There was a short silence.
“You’re not the witch I’m looking for,” he finally said. Tricky vampire.
“I’m coming out,” I yelled. “But you have to promise not to hurt Vaughn.”
“Jure Grando never kept a bargain in his entire life,” Granny M said.
I gaped at her. “You know Jure? Like, personally?”
Granny clenched her jaw.
“Do we have a deal?” I yelled.
I thought Jure was trying to figure out if I was really that gullible or if I knew it was a trap. I wasn’t gullible. I was desperate.
Granny’s breath hitched. “Tansy,” she said.
“I have to,” I replied.
“I know,” she said, but she didn’t move from where she blocked the door.
“Give me a minute,” Evelyn said. “I think I found something that will help.”
She left for a moment, then came back into the room and handed me a sharp wooden stake. “It’s made of rowan. Aim for the heart,” she said. “And don’t miss.”
Instead, I dug out my trusty drumstick, still caked with black blood. “I’ve got it covered.”
Granny handed me the stake anyway. “It doesn’t hurt to have a backup.”
The coven huddled together with a stack of dusty books.
“No matter what, Tansy,” Granny said, “I want you to keep fighting. Until you can’t fight any more.”
I kept my eyes down, the tears in them making it impossible to look at her.
“They’ll kill him if I don’t,” I said. “I love you, Granny.”
I couldn’t bear to say goodbye to her, even though part of me knew that was what I was doing. I kissed her cheek.
And then I walked out the door into a nest of vampires.
It was still dark outside, but morning was coming soon. The sky had that purplish tinge. Maybe Jure wasn’t going to kill me himself. Maybe he’d leave me outside until the sun did the job for him.
Someone—probably one of the younger vampires, since I couldn’t see Jure doing anything he would consider a menial task—had knocked out the streetlights.
I didn’t see Vaughn but wasn’t going to draw attention to his absence. Travis, Jure, and Vanessa stood there with a bunch of vampires I didn’t recognize.
“Looks li
ke the gang’s all here,” I said. What was a group of vampires called? A gang? A bite? A bite of vampires. I liked it. Fear was making me silly.
Some of the acid/diet soda injuries on Jure’s face had healed, but others looked raw and full of pus.
“I didn’t want to have to do this, Vanessa,” I said.
I thought she expected me to use my witchy powers or even vamp it up, but instead, I fought like a girl and headbutted her.
I grabbed Jure, but his hand wrapped around my throat, and he forced me to meet his eyes. I squeezed his face until his eyes started to bleed, but he wouldn’t let go. My fangs came down, and I bit off his ear. Travis sent ball after ball of vampire flame at me. He didn’t miss me, but I didn’t stop fighting his father, even when my skin started to sizzle.
“Let go of me,” I gritted out. I could feel myself getting weaker, our wills battling each other. He tried to get me to look into his eyes so he could compel me, but I wouldn’t.
Instead, I took one long fingernail and raked it across his cheek, digging deep until I struck bone. That did the trick. Jure finally loosened his grip, and I fell onto the ground with a thump.
Desperation turned me into something unrecognizable, all sharp teeth and claws, but it was no use. I was outnumbered, and if I didn’t kill him, they’d never stop until they’d killed everyone I loved.
“Come here,” he said. I was too weak to fight him this time, and my feet went. I tried to slow them down, to resist, but it was no use. They carried me to him.
He ignored my struggles and went for my neck. I tried to block it, but his voice in my head kept telling me not to fight.
He tore at my flesh, going for an artery. Making sure the damage was permanent, fatal. I finally gained control of my mind, but it was almost too late.
Intent into action. Intent into action. Intent into action. The words slowed down in my mind as my heartbeat slowed to match.
Somehow, I found the strength to wrench myself away, to fight, but he was so strong. Intent into action.
One of the other vampires laughed, sounding like a happy little psychopath. “She’s not so tough now.”
What was Jure’s only weakness? His son? Yeah, right. His pride.
“What kind of king are you? You let your son turn me into a striga vie. Even powerful vampires like you are afraid of my kind.”
I grabbed the garlic in my pocket and pressed it to his flesh. He screamed, but his lips still dripped blood. My blood.
Black spots were dancing in my eyes when he leaned in and whispered, “I’m going to kill them all, even your precious granny. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Just watch me, asshole. I took the drumstick and shoved it into his ribs. It missed his heart, but he let out a hiss of pain.
He bit me again, his long fangs latching on and not letting go. I could feel my blood pumping out of my body, faster and faster the longer he held on.
I pried his fangs from my neck and then gripped him tightly around the throat. I could have killed him by drinking him dry, but I didn’t want his disgusting blood.
He was so strong. He tried to shift, but the chanting from the Old Crones Book Club inside the house prevented it. Silver spots swam in my vision now.
I just needed to hang on to him, to keep him from escaping. It was almost sunrise.
I could feel the warmth gathering in the sky. I needed to hold on for just a few minutes longer.
Spittle flew from his mouth.
I heard the other vampires retreating, seeking a dark place to hide. Jure was desperate now, punching the side of my face, kicking me, his face white. He knew what was in store for him.
He still wouldn’t die. Why wouldn’t he die? I took the rowan stake and shoved it into his heart.
Jure started to shake.
I covered my eyes until I felt a pop. When I opened them, something slimy and black dripped down my face, but the loss of blood made me dizzy.
I’d gotten Jure Grando all over my clothes. It probably would stain.
I was weak and oh so tired, and I hurt all over. The sun was warm on my face when my grip loosened, and everything faded as I went under the dark.
…
Someone was screaming. It made my head hurt.
My mouth was open, and I realized the screams were coming from me. My body was fire, then ice. It hurt to breathe.
I was fading in and out of consciousness, but I heard Vaughn swearing under his breath. “Please, Tansy, hold on,” he said. I felt him pick me up. Even his gentle touch hurt.
I woke in agony.
Cold. I was so cold. There was something heavy draped over me, but it wasn’t enough. My teeth chattered. I didn’t remember getting home, but I knew I was in my bedroom.
I was safe.
“What happened?” My voice was so hoarse, I barely recognized myself.
“Later,” he said. “I’ll explain later.”
“What about Granny? Skyler?”
“Granny and Skyler are okay,” he replied.
It was agony to move enough to speak, but I had to know what had happened to them.
He shook his head. “No more talking.”
He took my hand in his and then guided my mouth to a vein on his wrist.
“Vaughn, no,” I said.
“There are third-degree burns all over your body,” he said. A pulse beat in his wrist. I could smell his blood. He smelled so good. Like my favorite beach day. Like delicious kisses and hot summer nights.
My pulse went double-time, and my mouth watered. My entire focus was on the vein in his wrist.
The pain was so intense, I was about to pass out.
“You’re sure?” I asked, my voice a raspy sound I barely recognized as mine.
“Yes, I’m sure,” he said.
“Get my drumstick,” I said. “Just in case you need to use it.”
“I won’t,” Vaughn said.
“Vaughn, you have to be able to stop me.”
He gave a jerky nod. “Not that, but I’ll stop you. I promise.”
I was weak—so weak.
I kissed his lips softly. Then he sliced open his wrist and held it up to my mouth. His blood tasted so good, so sweet, just like Vaughn. Like honey and sunshine, like the salt of the ocean. Like love.
I drank, and drank, and drank, and didn’t want to stop, but this was Vaughn. I had to stop. I had to.
Chapter Thirty-Three
A few days later, I sat on my grandmother’s couch, my head in my hands, fully recovered. Vaughn’s blood had done the trick. He sat next to me, his arm around me. I winced at the sight of his bandaged wrist. Rose and Thorn sat opposite us.
Yesmyqueenyesmyqueenyesmyqueen. The sound was like the buzzing of a mosquito, but the twins wouldn’t stop saying it.
I didn’t look up until Vaughn gave me a gentle nudge. Rose stood in front of me.
“McQueen,” she said, bowing low. I gave Vaughn a puzzled look. What was Rose trying to say?
He snorted. “She’s saying my queen.”
“Why is she saying that?” I asked him. He shrugged. I turned to Rose. “Why are you saying that?”
“My queen?” she asked, bowing low. “Jure Grando is dead.”
I just stared at her. “I know, but why are you calling me that?”
Her mouth opened a little, and she glanced at her twin, who stepped forward. “Your Highness,” she said. “You are now the queen.”
It was like that time in advanced calculus when all the numbers suddenly looked like little squiggles. I didn’t understand what she was getting at.
“Queen of what?”
“Queen of the vampires, of course,” she replied. “Tansy Mariotti killed the King of the Vampires, Jure Grando. She is the new king. Or queen, whichever title you prefer.”
�
�I don’t want to be queen of the vampires. Or a vampire at all.”
How could I figure out how to rule a vampire kingdom and protect my subjects? No, thank you.
“The strongest wins the crown,” Rose said. “It is done.”
“Well, undo it,” I said, but it was too late, and I knew it. I had to face the consequences.
“Queen Tansy,” Thorn said. “We can help you.”
I sighed. Vampire queen.
What would the rules of my reign be? I was queen of a kingdom I didn’t want. One full of monsters.
“Okay, so I’m queen of the vampires. Exactly how many ‘subjects’ are we talking about here?” I asked. “It’s not like I can post something on social media telling all the vampires in California to check in with me.”
“Jure must not have been Travis’s maker,” Thorn said. “Our reports indicate Travis and the rest of the band are still vampires. The good news is that you have two less vampires in your kingdom.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“Jure Grando was their maker and they hadn’t killed anyone in vampire form,” she said. “Therefore, they reverted to human.”
“That’s great news,” I said.
“One of them was over three hundred years old,” she added. “And immediately turned to dust.”
“That’s not so great,” I said. “But still better than being a vampire.”
Because of Travis’s inability to keep his fangs in his mouth, I was a vampire witch. A striga vie, caught between two worlds.
Witches were human. Vampires were not. Then what was I? I still looked human, but so did vampires—at least humanish, until the bloodlust hit.
I comforted myself that I wasn’t a true vampire, since I hadn’t gone through the transformation, but I still had the pointy fangs and blood cravings.
The Old Crones Book Club called out suggestions of ways to contact my new subjects. I hadn’t had a mother or a father, but I had a surplus of love from these women. They would help me figure out how to stop the vampires in my realm from preying on unwilling humans.
Granny Mariotti’s tiny bungalow was overflowing with humans and witches and vampires alike. They were all talking at once, and it was giving me a headache.
The Afterlife of the Party Page 25
