Olivia
Synopsis
How does a centuries-old vampire suffering from severe PTSD take her parrot to the vet? With Olivia’s intense fear of humans, what sounds like the start of a joke is instead the start of therapy. Only when she has help can her parrot receive his.
Veterinarian Mia Sun knows all about being damaged, and she and Olivia slowly build a friendship that develops into something a lot more intriguing. When a figure from Olivia’s past surfaces, hell-bent on ruining any happiness she’s managing to find, Olivia must fight back if she wants to forge a new life with Mia. Will she be strong enough to face her own worst fears for love?
Olivia
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Olivia
© 2020 By Genevieve McCluer. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-702-2
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: July 2020
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Barbara Ann Wright
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Tammy Seidick
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
By the Author
My Date with a Wendigo
Olivia
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Cristina for being an indispensable resource for Toronto. Thank you to Jessica, Danny, Alexandra, and Kassandra for all of your support and help. And a special thanks to my editor, Barbara. This definitely wouldn’t have happened without you.
Prologue
Elizabeth: The New Client
My office is finally clean. It’s taken over an hour to get out the smell of the mapinguary, but I suppose I knew what I was in for when I started working with fiends. They can’t all be as conscious of their odors as my wife is. Tossing the empty bottle of Febreze into the trash can, I holler for Ashley to send in my next client. A tall woman, who looks to be in her thirties—though who knows for how long—with her hair in long dreadlocks, walks in and glances at the beaten-up couch across from me. This must be my two o’clock appointment. I believe her name is Olivia Crocetti. I rise to greet her, extending my hand. “Ms. Crocetti, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She recoils, leaping back to the door. “You’re Elizabeth Rosseau-Lester?” She looks skeptical, but more like she’s terrified that it is true than that it’s not. I’ve had a lot of strange reactions since I started working here, but this is a new one. Usually, it’s more the clients trying to eat me and a lot less acting like I’m trying to eat them. Maybe it’s my hair?
“I am. Why don’t you have a seat? You don’t have to shake my hand if that makes you uncomfortable.” I sit as a demonstration. “Why don’t you tell me what brings you here?”
Her gaze shifts between me and the door. She looks like she wants to bolt. “If you cancel last minute, you still have to pay full price.” Obviously, if there are extenuating circumstances as to why she can’t see me, I’d waive that, but since she seems incapable of making up her mind, it might give her that last bit of encouragement she needs to stay to work on her problems. She only made the appointment a few hours ago and didn’t leave a message, so I have no idea what she might be here for. Here’s hoping it’s not anthrophobia, cause I’m doubting I can help with a fear of humans.
“Your receptionist…I assumed you’d be another ghoul.”
I’d hired Ashley a few months back. It actually cost less than my original method of giving her a percentage every time she stood guard during an appointment, plus she seems to enjoy it. The only downside has been that sometimes, her spinning desk chair gets a little too loud in the middle of my appointments. “I’m afraid I’m not. Is that going to be an issue?”
She hesitates, looking for words. It’s clear that this isn’t a comfortable subject for her. “You’re human.”
It’s anthrophobia. This will be complicated. It’s like going to a spider for help with arachnophobia. Although I should keep that in mind. I may have to invite Penelope over for some exposure therapy once Roland reaches that point. “I assure you, fiend problems are no stranger to me. I’ve been working with you all for over a year. You can talk to me. I can help.”
“I’m sure Bram Stoker said the same thing.”
She’s a vampire. I’ve heard about the baggage they have with him. She’s both more and less pale than I would have expected. Definitely nothing like Blade. “You’re not my only vampire client. Please, let me help. Let me show you that humans aren’t all bad. What brings you here today?” And please say it’s not just to learn how to deal with humans. Talk about diving in headfirst if she has a human therapist.
She seriously considers the doorway. All she has to do is walk out. It’s not like Ashley or I will chase her. I’d be out a hundred bucks, but that’s not her problem. She takes one step and hesitates. I think she’s looking at Ashley, but there’s a wall blocking my view, so I can’t be sure. It took me ages to get used to Ashley’s eyes. They don’t look like they should be able to see, as gray and milky as they are.
I let her take her time. I’ve put enough pressure on her already. I don’t want to add any more. She’ll decide eventually.
“My parrot’s sick,” she finally says.
I’ll admit, this is not a response I was ready for. It raises way more questions. Is it nocturnal? Does she have a bright colorful parrot that squawks all over her ancient castle, manor, or lair? Does it sit on her shoulder? Was she ever a pirate? “That’s not really my area of expertise.”
“I’m aware of that,” she grumbles, finally closing the door. She makes no effort to move to the couch or even face me. “There’s no fiend vet. I have to see that one we all see. I think I heard her name was Sun.”
“Yes, Amelia Sun. I refer a lot of my patients to her.”
Her body is still, gaze locked on the closed door. She doesn’t even need to breathe. It took Dennis quite a while to grow used to that. He was still trying to breathe for months. “I thought you’d be able to help, but you’re just another human. I don’t know what I was thinking. You can’t magic years of abuse away. I need to take Harvey in tomorrow. He’s quite ill. I’m not sure what’s wrong with him, and I can’t make it go away. I’m not losing him.”
It’s all starting to make sense. It is anthrophobia, and it sounds like for good reason, but if she can’t get over it, her pet bird might die. That gives me a specific goal to work toward, even if it’s flatly impossible in a single session, no matter how good I am. Being the object she’s afraid of will only make it that much harder. “Then let’s get to work. Your parrot’s name is Harvey?” Build a bond, make her trust you. She needs to see me as…well, not human, so a vampire?
“There’s no point.” Her hand flies to the doorknob. I don’t even see the motion. It’s a neat trick, but being married to a wendigo has given me plenty of time to grow accustomed to it. “I’m not dealing with a human therapist.”
As the knob starts to move, I say, “Then turn me.” She stops, turning toward me, the door still closed. I may have saved the appointment.
I want to get turned anyway. My wife’s immortal. It makes things easier for me.
For only the second time since she walked in, Olivia faces me. Her eyes lock on mine. I find myself falling. I’ve never dealt with a vampire who is more than a few decades old. It’s like staring into a bottomless void. Wow, I thought being under a siren’s song was bad.
Her mouth opens, revealing sharp fangs as she takes a step. I’m not sure if I’m incapable of moving or if I’ve actually stepped toward her, but she’s growing closer and closer. The last time one bit me wasn’t anything like this. My scar itches thinking about it, and it’s enough to lure me back to reality. I still don’t move, but I regain my senses, righting myself. I’m not sure when I stepped out of my chair.
“That’s unusual,” she says.
“I told you, you aren’t my first vampire.”
Her gaze travels up and down my body as if she’s checking out a piece of succulent meat. God, I haven’t had a good steak in ages. Abby’s been having a rough time of late, so I’ve been trying to avoid keeping meat around the house. “I’m not sure making you like me would help.”
“It means you won’t be afraid of me. Besides, you’re endangered. Right? Think of it as conservation.”
She closes her mouth and steps back. Great, why is it so hard to find someone willing to make me into a fiend? Ever since Abby pulled that vampire off me, it seems like it can’t happen. Maybe I should suck it up and ask Dennis. I’ll give him a discount on his next session. She takes a few more steps back at human speed. If she wanted to leave, she’d already be gone.
“You’ve already made a lot of big steps. You approached a human all on your own. If you have to see her tomorrow, let’s get you to that point.”
“I was planning on biting you,” she growls, teeth glinting in the fluorescent light. “If I bite her, it won’t exactly help me, will it?”
“It would probably make her day job a little difficult.”
“Among other things.” She groans, falling gracefully into the couch. I guess she’s staying. She tries to meet my eyes again, but her gaze returns to the floor. “Maybe I should turn you.”
“I’d certainly prefer it.”
“Eventually, you’d change your mind.”
“I doubt that. There’s no way I could ever be tired of eternity with my wife.” That’s not exactly a professional thing to say, but if she realizes that I’m part of the community, maybe that’ll help.
She pauses, not looking at me as she takes in this information. There aren’t that many queer people in the community. Hopefully, her being however old she is doesn’t make that an issue. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. “I ate my wife.”
Well, there are all of Abby’s anxieties. I can never let them meet.
She smirks at my gobsmacked expression. I hate letting my clients get to me. I need to be professional about this.
“Well, why don’t we start there? It sounds like there’s a lot for us to work through.” I cross my legs, attempting to meet her eyes. She turns away, the smirk vanishing.
“If you think irritating me will help, then I’m more than happy to demonstrate otherwise. My past is mine and mine alone. Your job is to make it so that I can see Dr. Sun tomorrow. If you decide that any other area is relevant, I will show you the full extent of what I can do. That little parlor trick earlier was a little nothing I learned from an old enemy.”
I try my best to gulp as quietly as possible. Looking afraid of a client is never a great plan, especially when they’re an immortal predator. “It’s all part of who you are. I can’t work on this without addressing what causes it.”
“I’m certain you’ve read Wolpe’s work. Desensitize me.”
I’ve always preferred a holistic approach. Behavioralism seems a bit silly, and Wolpe’s work is a little outdated at this point. Not that his methods don’t work, they’re just never what I use. If my focus was on addiction or phobias, maybe I’d feel otherwise. “If you want, we can work on exposure therapy, but I don’t think we can get you over your issues without addressing the root cause.”
“I don’t need to be over them. All I need is to be able to be near that vet.”
“Well, you’re near me, talking to me, why is that any different?”
“Because I was tricked into it.”
“Olivia—”
“Ms. Crocetti is fine.”
“Well, Ms. Crocetti, I didn’t trick you. You’ve managed to talk to me this whole time. We’ve already started exposure therapy.”
Those fangs glint at me again. She manages to meet my eyes for only a second. “You expect me to what, set his cage on a table and hide? You’re a therapist. It’s one thing around you. It’s quite another with her.”
“From what I’ve seen of her, Dr. Sun is pretty accepting.” Okay, she just doesn’t care, but the difference is semantics. “If that’s what you need to do, then I don’t think it’ll be an issue. It’s more important that you get Harvey help than that you avoid looking foolish, right?”
I didn’t know vampires growled. It’s terrifying. “We’ll see who’s the fool.”
“That’s not—”
“I’ll see her tomorrow,” she announces, cutting me off. “I won’t be a fool of any sort.”
Abby’s right. Vampires are so moody. “Then let’s keep working on it. You still have forty minutes left. Let’s make it so you don’t have to run away.” Because that’s totally doable in forty minutes. I know better than to make promises to clients that I can’t keep. Why would I do it to one who already wants to kill me? “Pretend I’m her.”
“No. This is ridiculous.”
“You wanted Wolpe. You’re getting him. Pretend I’m her.”
Her eyes narrow. I was never this confrontational with my old clients, but eventually, I had to stop showing fiends my belly. If I don’t stand up for myself, they’ll rip out my throat and drink my blood.
“Dr. Sun,” she begins, snarling, “I need your help.”
Chapter One
Dr. Sun
“How can I help you?” The vet is smaller than I expected, though perhaps I always expect humans to be as imposing as—nope, not going down that path. I swear, Ms. Rosseau-Lester has me thinking far too much about my past. I knew therapy was a bad idea. It better have actually helped.
“My parrot is sick,” I manage, focused on the counter, on his cage as I place it before her. The deed done, I take a few steps back. She’s right, I’m never this uncomfortable around humans when I’m eating them. I need to think of her as food. I lock my eyes on her neck, the pale skin covering powerful veins and arteries. Great, now I’m hungry.
“You know you could come in during my normal hours?” She giggles, running a hand through her shoulder-length black hair before tossing it over the vein. “My late-night hours are more for horrifying monsters with a few bullet wounds.”
“Fiends,” I correct. I don’t care that much, and it’s a pointless difference that I never heard anywhere until I moved to Canada, but I’d rather no one get pissed and eat her before Harvey’s better.
“Whatever.” She sighs, leaning against the counter as she peers into the cage. “What seems to be the problem? You’re still paying the black-market rate.”
“That’s fine. He had a little bit of a cold a month ago, but I thought it had gone away. Now he’s having trouble breathing, he’s more standoffish, and he’s losing weight. He’s barely even talking, when normally, he never shuts up.” I avert my gaze again. Maybe I’m just too tense. I shouldn’t be cowering from a filthy human. But she’s the only one who can help Harvey. There’s no other vet I could deal with anywhere near here. I looked her up. She’s pretty well trained in aviary medicine on top of being my only option. I’ll suck it up. I don’t have a choice.
She glances up, attempting but failing to meet my gaze. “I’m glad you brought him in. There’re a few things this could be, but we need to get him X-rayed right away. You shouldn’t have waited. This
is an emergency, and his life could depend on it.”
A human is scolding me. That’s a new one. I know she’s right. I can’t believe I let my fear control me for this long. I shouldn’t have expected him to get better on his own.
“You brought him in now. It shouldn’t be too late.” Her gaze softens as she turns back to Harvey, concern clear on her face. I guess I took him to the right person. “How old is he?”
“He’s fifty.”
Letting out a slow breath, she nods, eyes locked on him. “I’ll do my best. Has he been yours the whole time?”
I nod. “Yeah. I bought him back in 1969.”
“Well, you’ve both aged amazingly.” She snorts, lifting the cage.
I start to walk away. I’ve had far beyond my maximum tolerance of humanity for the day. Maybe I’ll grab a bite on the way home.
“Wait. I need to get a history from you. Since he’s been in your care this whole time, you should know everything. It’s a lot better than I usually have access to. Vampire, I take it? Never mind, I don’t care. Come on, you can fill me in while I run these X-rays.” She gestures over her shoulder for me to follow as she walks into a back room.
My feet don’t seem to want to move at first, but I force them. He’s worth it. I’ll deal with whatever I must if it’ll make him better. She motions for me to wait in a little room with a large window into a bigger room while she heads in there with Harvey. I hate leaving him alone with her. “Normally I’d put him under, but at this old, it might not be a great idea. Could you come in”—she falters as she finds me already before her—“here.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Get him to hold still while I set this up. Actually, does radiation hurt you?”
I blink. “I’m not sure. I would assume that it doesn’t.”
Olivia Page 1
