by Avery Kloss
“No, but my mom might.”
“I’ll have to speak to her too.” He eyed me shrewdly. “Is there anything you can tell me about Friday night? What was your friend’s frame of mind? Do you think she would’ve run away?”
“We went out to dinner and had a good time. She was perfectly fine.”
“What do you know about Mr. Douglas?”
I think he’s a vampire, and he did something to my friend. “He … gives me the creeps.”
He wrote on the notepad. “How so?”
“Just a weird vibe. I feel bad now that he dropped Maven off last.”
“Because you think he might be responsible for her disappearance?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded, and scribbled furiously. “I’m gonna need you and your mother to come to the police station as soon as possible, okay?”
“Sure.” But, I doubted we could help. The vampire more than likely had left town by now. What did Jack do to Maven? I had to talk to Gabe, but it being daytime, he slept in a virtual coma.
“Is there anything else you’d like to add, Miss Thompson?”
“I just … I feel awful.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I never liked Jack. I … he was weird.”
“Do you think he’s dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“All right.” He shoved the notepad into his shirt pocket. “You’ve been helpful. I just need your number, please, and your mother’s.”
“Sure.”
A host of disturbing fears rippled through me. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was hours before Gabe would wake, and days since anyone had seen Maven … although I felt strongly that Jack knew exactly what had happened to her.
40
We arrived home from the police station, and mom closed the door, her expression horrified. “Why didn’t you tell me he creeped you out?”
“Because you were so happy. I didn’t want to burst your bubble. I figured if you liked him, he had to be okay.”
She exhaled, pursing her lips. “Oh, my God. It’s making sense now. All of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s a pedophile.”
I blinked. “What?”
“He wouldn’t kiss me or touch me. You know, like romantically. He was always asking about you. He wanted to know who your friends were, who your boyfriend is. He’d sneak the questions in here and there. It was weird. I brushed it off, thinking he was just interested in my life. I never thought he’d be a pedophile.”
“Mom, Maven and I aren’t children. Pedophiles go for younger kids, I think. That’s not what he is.”
“Then he’s a kidnapping rapist. It’s horrible! I let that man in my house!”
“Quit freaking out. Calm down.” I grabbed her arms. “Listen to me.” I shook her a little. “It’s gonna be fine. We told the cops what they need to know. They’ll find Maven.”
“He said he had a medical convention to go to or whatever it was. It turns out, they don’t know who he is. There’s no phone for him, no address. That’s not even his name. He’s a ghost.”
Vampire is more like it, but that’s another story. “Go have a cup of tea or something. Try to relax, Mom.”
“Tea? I’m hitting the bourbon. Forget it.”
I followed her into the kitchen, where she retrieved a bottle of booze and a tall glass. After pouring a big splash of fluid, she had a long sip.
“He was weird, wasn’t he?”
“I thought so.”
“Did he ever say anything inappropriate to you? Did he ever touch you?”
“I’m fine, Mom. It was just a feeling I got about the guy. I can’t explain it. He was just … creepy.”
“He seemed so nice, so pleasant. He always listened to me. He … just was nice.” She had another sip. “Until Friday night. What do you think he did with Maven?”
“I don’t know.” I had been thinking about that, my mind drifting to worst-case scenarios, but I did not want to dwell on that. He must have made a meal out of the poor girl. They would probably find her body in a ditch somewhere.
“I’m gonna have a bath. I can’t do anything more right now.”
“We told them everything we know. It’s up to them to find her.” But I planned to speak to Gabe soon, eyeing the clock. “Go relax. Don’t worry about it. It’s gonna be fine.”
She downed the rest of the drink. “Sure,” she said dully. “I’m done dating. I’m just gonna … let that one go. Men are … scum.”
I giggled at that, thinking, just some vampires. “You’ve had bad luck, but you’ll find the right guy.”
“I don’t care. I’ll just … date Johnny Walker and his best friend, Jack Daniels.” She offered a crooked grin, her features slightly bleary. “I’m gonna get another drink. With any luck, I’ll put this bottle to bed for the night.”
Oh, boy. Poor mom.
“Hello?”
“Gabe, oh, thank God.”
“What’s wrong?”
I sat on the bed with the phone to my ear. “Maven’s been missing since Friday night. I think Jack did something to her. The police questioned mom and me already.” A long moment of silence followed that announcement, the room suddenly deathly still.
“All right. I’m gonna shower, and see what the hell’s going on.”
“I’m worried. I told you I think he’s a vampire. I know it.”
“I hear you. I did ask about the guy, but no one recognizes the name, which leaves me to believe it’s not his name. Our community is close-nit. We pretty much keep to our kind. If there’s a newcomer, we all know about it. This guy’s not on any radar that I can tell. That means he … came to town in stealth mode. He’s deliberately avoiding detection.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know.” A pause ensued. “Jesus Christ!” he muttered.
“What?”
“I hope he’s not who I think he is.”
“Who … what?” I sat up, suddenly worried. “What, Gabe?”
“Son of a bitch.”
“What?” I all but shouted.
“You sit tight. I’m gonna talk to a few people. I’ll take care of this.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“If my suspicions are correct, it’s Thorn Rezner. No matter how many decades pass, I just can’t wipe that turd off my boots. I swear. It’s typical. He likes to show up to make my life miserable. I should’ve guessed it before.”
“I want to see you.”
“I’ll be there in an hour, okay?”
I nodded vigorously. “Yes, please.”
“I’m thinking we never should’ve dug up the jars. You’ve no protection now, which is so stupid.”
I swallowed a nervous lump, and glanced at the window. “Well, it’s too late now. I dumped the jars out. They’re useless.”
“You might want to ask your neighbor to spell the house again.”
That was surprising. “Okay.”
“It would be one place you and your mom would be safe.”
“I’ll look into it.”
“You sit tight. I’ll be there soon.”
“Hurry, Gabe.”
“I will, babe.”
I left the phone on the bed, hearing music, with the bluesy refrains of Janis Joplin echoing down the hallway. “Mom must be super drunk.” That was the only time she listened to Janis Joplin. Raking fingers through my hair, I contemplated everything Gabe had said, disturbed to know that the vampire who stalked him had returned.
Pacing the room, I waited for him to arrive, the hour slipping by far too slowly. When the music ceased, I glanced at the door, feeling apprehensive about the state my mother was in. Deciding to check on her, I ventured down the hallway, seeing a light on beneath the door.
“Mom?”
Turning the knob, I glanced into the room. She slept on the covers, her hand wrapped around an empty wineglass. With the window partially ajar, the curtains blew in a chilly breeze.
&
nbsp; I hurried over to slide the sash shut, peering out into the front yard. Then I drew a cover over her, and took the glass from her hand. She had passed out. Car lights flashed into the room, someone arriving. Hurrying downstairs, I gazed through the window at the door, where I saw Gabe approach. I welcomed him in, and hugged him.
“I’m so glad you’re here!”
“I’m staying tonight to keep you safe.”
“Oh, good.” I clung to him, my arms around his neck. He smelled of soap and shampoo, his hair slightly damp. “I feel better already.”
“I need to use your computer. I gotta do some research, write some emails. I have to find out if it’s really Thorn.”
“I thought you knew.”
“It might be, or it might not. I’ve contacts all over the world. Someone will know something.”
“We can go to my room.”
He glanced around apprehensively. “Where’s your mother?”
“She had a little too much to drink. She’s sleeping it off.”
“All right.”
“I want you to meet her, but tonight’s not gonna work.”
“No.” He gazed at me, his stern expression softening. “If it’s Thorn, we’ve got trouble.”
“Trouble’s already here.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
We went to my bedroom, and Gabe sat at the desk with the laptop, while I played a record, reading a magazine on the bed. I admired the way he sat in the chair, the man long and lean, and his profile handsome. I stared over at him often enough, impatient for him to finish, so I could kiss him, that thought making me happy.
“You’re staring holes in me.”
“I am,” I giggled. “I like you in my room.”
“I like being here. I know you’ll be safe.”
“Are you finding anything out?”
“Just the last three places Thorn’s lived, but not much else. He’s been bouncing around.”
“In the US?”
“Yes. Overseas travel is a bear for us. We have to either fly private jet or go by boat. The jet’s better, but sneaking through customs can be dicey.”
“Oh.”
“I came over to the States in the thirties. I’ve been here ever since. I prefer it.”
“Are there a lot of vampires in the world?”
“Not many. We have to keep the numbers low to avoid detection.”
“I bet.”
He typed quickly, his fingers over the keyboard. “I’m almost done. Wrote a friend an email. This wasn’t all that helpful, yet I haven’t ruled out it isn’t Thorn.” He glanced at me. “You look comfortable.” A grin emerged.
“I’d be more comfortable with you here.” I patted the mattress.
Closing the laptop, he approached, and sat on the edge of the bed. I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I wish you could be here all the time.”
“Me too, but someone has to run the bar.”
“Is that the only business you have?”
“I’ve other interests.”
“Like what?”
“Investments mostly. I own a few houses here and there.”
“Oh, that sounds nice.”
“I don’t see them all that often.” He gazed at me, his eyes drifting to my mouth. “You look … delectable.”
“So do you.”
He scooted nearer, an arm going around me. “There’s nothing more I can do tonight.”
“Yes, there is. You can keep me company.”
He kissed my forehead, his breath cool against my skin. “I’d love nothing more, Brie. Knowing you’re safe … it’s all I care about.”
41
By the end of the week, with no word on Maven, I began to imagine that something awful had happened to my friend. The school organized a search party over the weekend, most of the students participating, scouring the timbered valley from one end to the other, a team of divers exploring the river. No one found anything, nor had Gabe. We suspected Jack to be Thorn, but there wasn’t any conclusive proof of that.
Shutting off the vacuum, I heard the doorbell ring. When I opened the door, Anna Flake stood before me, wearing a long purple skirt with a thick, knitted white sweater.
“Hello, Brieanna.”
“Come on in.”
She strode into the house, her feet encased in brown boots. “It took me a minute, but I know what you did.”
I closed the door. “And what’s that?”
“You removed the spell. I’m not sure how you did it, but that was unwise.” Her green eyes drifted over me. “And everyone knows your friend’s missing. I assume that bloodsucking boyfriend of yours is the reason why.”
“Shush!” I prayed my mother wasn’t within earshot. “Let’s talk in my room.” I headed for the stairs, not wanting to be overheard.
“Suzie’s room?” She appeared wary.
“I think so.” I waited on the bottom step. “You’re not afraid of a ghost, are you?”
“She’s … she isn’t too fond of my family. I’d rather talk somewhere else.”
“It’s the only place I have any privacy.”
She mulled that over. “Fine.”
“Come on. I don’t think you’re in any danger here, Anna.”
“I’m not, but you are.”
I headed for the landing, muttering, “Great.” In my room, I sat on the bed, and Anna took the chair by the desk. She glanced at the books on mythology scattered over the floor. “I’ve actually been wanting to talk to you. Yes, I did get rid of the spell. It was super easy. I just found the buried jars and dug ‘em up. I … have since reconsidered that move. I’m hoping you can spell the house again.”
“Why is that?”
“We suspect there’s a dangerous vampire in town. I think he did something to my friend. He was the last person who saw her. She’s gone.”
“I know.”
“He … he probably wants to harm me as well. If you could do the spell again, I’d be grateful.”
She thought about that, her expression noncommittal. “How’d you find out about the jars?”
“Looked it up on the Internet,” I lied.
“I don’t really believe you.”
“Why not? Protection spells are pretty common.”
“Were you in my house?”
I shrugged. “Would it make any difference if I was?”
Her eyes widened. “I knew it. Wow,” she intoned, her mouth open. “What powers do you have, and how did you get them?”
“I don’t really want to get into the specifics, but you and I aren’t enemies, Anna. We can help each other. I know a little bit about your history, how Gabe killed your grandmother and why. I'm sorry for the bad blood, but his girlfriend was killed too. Your grandmother helped in that. She wasn’t totally innocent.”
That seemed to sit ill with her. “And your point is?”
“That we aren’t enemies, but … we might have someone in common who is. His name’s Thorn Rezner. I heard you talking about him. You don’t like him either.”
She chewed her lip, staring at the floor. “I’m done helping out vampires.”
“Then will you do the spell again?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Time is kinda of the essence. We aren’t safe here without the protection spell.”
“What do I get in return?”
“Am I supposed to write you a check?”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
I shrugged. “What do you want?”
“I want Rezner gone.”
“That’s the point of the protection spell.”
“I mean dead—gone.”
“He’s already dead.”
She rolled her eyes. “Egad! Killed, dead. I want him incinerated by the sun. Do you get that?”
“Yeah. That’s Gabe’s plan. Having help would be awesome.”
She got up from the chair, and approached me. “Let’s shake on it.”
I glanced at her hand. “Okay.”
Anna smiled, and released my hand. “You’re my equal.”
“What?” I struggled to make sense of what had just happened.
“We should be friends. You don’t even know your strength. I want to know what you are.”
“You’re right. I haven’t a clue. I’ll figure that out later, but right now I really need that spell back.”
“I’ll get on it immediately. You’ll be good come sundown.”
I grinned. “Thank you.”
“Then I want your help finding Thorn. That bastard needs to meet the sun in the most unpleasant way.”
“We think he’s left town.”
“That’s where you and I differ. I bet he’s still here. If I had money on it, I bet he’s close. Very close.”
“Hello?” I thought I heard something in the front yard.
“You’re gonna have to help me out, sweetheart.”
I went to the window, which I had left open a crack. “Gabe!” He stood below with his hands on his hips.
“The spell’s back, I see.”
“I didn’t hear your car.”
“Are you and your mother coming to dinner?”
“I’ll let her know you’re here. I’ll be right there.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he drawled.
I eyed myself in the mirror, making sure my makeup held up. I wore jeans and a top, needing to don a jacket. I giggled happily, and tossed the phone into a pocket. “Mom! Gabe’s here!” Leaving the room, I heard her downstairs. “Mom! We can go.”
She appeared at the bottom of the steps. “Why doesn’t he come in?”
“He’s outside. We’ll just meet him there.” Reaching the foyer, I opened the closet door, and pulled out two jackets. “You’ll like him.”
“The mysterious boyfriend,” she said dully.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, honey.”
“Still bummed about your love life?”
“What love life?”
“Yeah, thought so.” I reached for the door.
