"Somebody hurt that child badly."
"Yeah. She reacts like that all the time. I just hug her when she does it."
"Time. She'll come to trust us a little more."
"I know. But it breaks my heart when she does it."
"Just don't break hers."
"Never. I think this might actually be love."
"And don't forget you have something to tell her…"
"Oh, shit. I forgot. You suck."
"Payback's a bitch," I said with a cackle.
"And so's my roommate."
"Touché."
Josie sighed. "You stay here, then. I'll run the blood to her apartment with her and talk on the way. Less awkward with you not around."
"Good girl." I packed all the blood up into a canvas grocery bag. Candace came out wearing her pajamas. "Aren't you going to be cold?"
"Flannel."
"Well, be careful. Thanks, Candace."
She walked over and hugged me, taking the bag and grabbing her fluffy coat.
"Good luck," I whispered to Josie.
She gave me the finger.
I locked the door behind the two of them and headed for my room. I planned on getting the bed warm for the two of them.
CHAPTER 7
My phone ringing was the last possible thing I wanted to hear. I reached over to the night stand and heard Candace squeak under the cover. I must have squished her.
"Sorry, sweetie."
I grabbed the phone and hit answer without looking at it.
"Hello?"
"Morning, beautiful…"
"What time is it?"
"Eight?" Jimmy answered.
"Jimmy, I'm very fond of you, but I literally went to bed two hours ago. Is this phone call a life and death situation?"
"Shit. Sorry, Dot. No, it's not. I was going to run up to Syracuse to take Mother to the airport. Just seeing if you wanted to tag along and hang out."
"If I had more than two hours sleep, I would be all over it like white on rice. Raincheck?"
"Sure thing."
"As a consolation I'll tell you what happened with Chief last night."
He chuckled softly. "I can't wait. Go to sleep."
"I'm halfway there."
"Hey, Dot?"
"Yeah?"
"Nevermind. Sweet dreams."
"Ima kill you." I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it. Wondering what he was going to say.
I slid the phone off and tossed it on the table, not giving a shit if the screen shattered or not. It didn't sound like it did, so I dozed off.
I woke up some time later and really had to pee. I lifted the cover off me. Josie had already gotten up, but Candace was buried in my side, arm thrown over me and her face pressed against my bare stomach. She had a bad habit of pressing her head on my bladder when she slept.
I ran my fingers softly through her hair, trying to wake her gently. She blinked and looked up at me. "I need to use the bathroom."
She nodded and flipped on her other side. I gave her my pillow and covered her back up once I slid off the end of the bed.
I tiptoed to the bathroom and relieved myself. I stared at the wall in front of me and wondered what time it actually was. It was almost unheard of to have Josie wake up before me. I hated to admit it, but I was normally somewhat of a morning person, even though Josie accused me of being an unholy demon.
The smell of brewing coffee drew me out of my reverie like the seductive hand of a lost lover. I finished, skipped brushing my teeth, and headed toward the kitchen.
"Morning, beautiful," Josie said jokingly.
"Bite me. I know I'm ugly in the morning."
"I figured you'd want a cup of crack."
"You're the bestest." I grabbed a mug and kissed Josie on the forehead.
"So. We're all still alive."
I'd actually forgotten about our guests. "You look relatively nibble-free. Think that one might be from Candace." I pointed at the hickey on her neck.
"Yeah. Since we had houseguests, we um… Nevermind. We used her apartment."
"Skank."
"Says the girl who anointed our living room."
"True. Did you tell her?"
Josie chuckled and grabbed the pot of coffee that had finally finished brewing. I needed to buy one of those industrial models that didn't give you time to scream obscenities at it. "Yeah. I told her what happened."
"I'm guessing she took it well if you got frisky, got a hickey, and came back home."
"You could say that."
"What did she say."
"That next time, she wants to watch, too."
"Dear Lady. What am I going to do with the two of you?"
She smiled over her coffee and wiggled her eyebrows at me.
"You're a perv."
"You betcha." She walked around the corner and sat on the stool, setting her coffee on the counter in front of her. "Who called this morning?"
"Jimmy. Wanted me to go with him to Syracuse to drop off the mother at the airport."
"You mention you were up late because of Mr. Bill and the Vlads?"
"You're a funny girl." I drank some coffee and leaned against the counter. "I told him about Bill."
"He likes it, doesn't he?"
I shouldn't have been surprised. Josie was as perverted as perverted came. I should have known she would have spotted his kink. "Yep. You should really consider going to school to be a therapist."
"You're not the first person who told me that. Maybe in a couple hundred years. We'll see."
I thought about it. In the 70s, I went and earned a degree in business management. Nothing else really piqued my interest. I wondered if I would find something else that interested me in the future… Maybe a vet or something. Who knew.
"So. When you gonna tell him?"
"Tell who what?"
"Chief about your guests."
"I'm not hiding it from him. I just didn't want to deal with it last night. In fact, I think I'm going to go check on the firehouse, have some breakfast, and stop by the police station."
"Okay. Well, I'm going to go snuggle with my Candy."
"Ew. It sounds creepy when you say that."
"You think everything that comes out of my mouth is creepy."
"True story. Don't get my sheets dirty."
"No promises."
I chuckled, not really caring. I did need to get in there to change, though. "Wait! Let me get some clothes. Oh, and listen for the delivery guys. No answering the door naked!"
I chugged my coffee, growled at her almost full cup, and got dressed. They were giggling under the covers when I walked out the door.
The drive into town was mostly quiet. Weekdays in Cedar Falls were. People either worked nights and were sleeping, or working during the day and off the streets. I smiled as I passed the diner. Food sounded really good, but I wanted to see how the store was coming first.
I pulled into the parking lot between my store and the police station. The dumpster was gone. I guessed they finished the demolition. A couple of work trucks were there, thankfully. I had given my one and only key to the contractors. It would suck not to be able to get into my own store.
Freddy Johnson was standing in the doorway looking at a set of prints.
"Hey, big guy. How's it going?"
"Well, we got her tore up pretty good. Upgrading the wiring now. Not much to look at, but go on in if you want."
I peeked in from the doorway. He wasn't joking. Walls were missing, wires were hanging, and rusted looking plumbing looked like a morbid skeleton winding through the structure. "Nah. I'm good. Gonna go get some breakfast. Have fun."
"You mean lunch? Breakfast was five hours ago. And I am having fun." He grinned at me as I turned around and headed toward the diner.
I walked slowly and nonchalantly past the plate glass window in the front of the police station and debated ignoring the knocking on the glass. Letting out a little sigh, I turned, acting surprised to see Chief stand
ing there waving like a fool. I smiled and waved back, turning to head to the diner. He came strolling out the front door as I passed it.
"Mornin, Dot."
"Morning, Chief."
"Where you headed?"
I pointed at the diner. "Food."
"Mind if I tag along? I'm starving."
"Suit yourself."
He reached out and put a hand on my arm, slowing my pace. I looked up at him and he narrowed his eyes. "What did you do?"
I made a gasping noise. "What? Why are you assuming I did something? Can't a girl just go get some lunch without all the accusations? I mean jeez. I swear. What is wrong with this world. You don't see me accusing you of anything. Oh, by the way. The vampires showed up last night and are sleeping in my spare room. So yeah. If you want to get some food, let's go."
I pulled free of his arm and started walking. He lengthened his stride to match my pumping little legs. "The vampires. Are sleeping. At your house. And you're just mentioning this now?"
"Well, it was really late. I just woke up like thirty minutes ago."
"Dot!"
"Bill, they were wiped out. There's two of them left. They were bleeding on my doorstep. What was I supposed to do?"
"Call me?"
Lady damn it all to darkness. I hate it when he makes sense.
I sighed and backed my ass against the building, leaning against my hands. "I don't know if you know this about me or not, but I'm pretty stubborn, stupid, and self-reliant. I'm sorry. You're right. Again. It didn't even occur to me to call. I just… I would have told you once I got everything settled, but then I figured you'd just yell at me again."
He sighed. "I'm sorry, too. Yes, I might yell but it's only when you put yourself in danger. I wish you'd just realize it."
I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't. He was right. He did only yell at me when I risked myself. "You're worried about me." I smiled. It was nice to know how much he cared. Even if it did suck getting yelled at.
"Damn right, I am. If anything happened to you…"
I kissed him. Hard. Right there in the middle of fucking Main Street. Hell, I almost backed him into Main Street.
"Woah." He looked around, chest heaving.
"Worried somebody saw?"
He reached behind his head and scratched the back of his neck. "I… uh. Wow. Food?"
"Sure." I hid my grin. He was even cuter when he was flustered.
He followed me into the diner. I had a feeling I could have walked into the pits of hell and he would have followed me. He wasn't the only one, either. Jimmy, Josie, Candace, maybe even Dennis. I had good people. Our coven was coming together. I just needed to work on my relationships with Dwight and Jason. And David and Connie, but they were in their own little world. They'd become the only married couple after the demise of the Connors.
"Hey, kids."
"Morning, Marge."
She looked at her watch. "Uh, been afternoon for a while, darlin'."
"Close enough. Can I get a coke and a burger?"
"Be right up. Usual, Chief?"
"Yep."
We sat down in my booth. I snickered. Chief hadn't even tried to drag me to the counter.
"What are you snickering at?"
"Oh, just your reaction to being kissed in public. Don't want your girlfriend to see?" I lied, but it was for a good cause.
"Yeah. The three of them are crazy."
"Four of us? Gigolo."
"Oh, you're including yourself in the ranks of girlfriendom, huh?"
"That's not even a word."
"Nice evasion."
"Thanky."
He sat there staring.
"What?"
He didn't answer, just gave me an evil smirk.
"Oh, you're not talking now, huh?"
No movement.
"You're really going to make me answer before you start talking?"
A single solitary curt nod graced his neck and the smirk broadened.
"Yes. I'm your damn girlfriend. Happy?"
"I am. But the other three might not be." His smirk turned into a full-blown grin.
"You are so dead." I started chuckling. "It's not nice to tease, especially since I do have multiple boyfriends."
"Good for you, honey," Marge said as she set our drinks down in front of us. I blushed several interesting shades of pink. I hadn't even heard her ninja-ass sliding up to the table. She hit me from behind. Chief looked like he was about to shoot kittens out of his nose, he wanted to laugh so hard.
She walked away without another word. My only fear is that half the town was going to think I was a slut by mid-afternoon.
"Oh, Lady. That was funny."
"Shut up." I wanted to crawl in a hole and die.
He did. And he got serious. "So, what is your plan?"
"Vampires or other?"
"Vampires."
"They're holed up for now. I healed them and fed the woman. Then Candace snagged a bunch of blood from the hospital, so they have snacks."
"You fed one of them?"
"Yeah. I didn't think she was going to make it."
He reached over and lifted my lip. "You look a little pale."
I slapped his hand away. "Shut up. I'm not turning into a vampire. You watch too many movies. I think. How do you become a vampire?"
"I have no idea. You'd have to ask them."
A little ball of fear curled up in my stomach. I needed to start looking before leaping. I forced myself to let it go. I didn't feel any different and I wasn't even wearing sunglasses. "Yeah. This is going to be fun integrating them into society. They've been off grid so long, they didn't even know what a shower was."
"Yummy."
"Yeah, but they don't stink, and they don't look dirty. Maybe they don't need to. Maybe that running water myth isn't."
"Isn't what?"
"A myth. Keep up. I wish I had a vampire expert to help."
"Um… Didn't you say you had vampires in Ashville?"
"Yeah, but it's not like they're…" I sighed. "I did mention I woke up thirty minutes ago, right? Let me call Mother."
He chuckled. Marge brought our food over and gave me a little wink. My life was over. I might as well invest in Multiple Boyfriend's T-shirts.
Chief bit into his burger while the phone rang. She finally picked up on the fourth ring. I swear the woman stared at her phone and watched it ring, just to answer it before voicemail picked up.
"Yes, my daughter? What have you done now?"
"Hello, Mother. I need a phone number."
"I believe it is 4-1-1, dear."
"You're funny, Mother. But, the number for information was disconnected many years ago. Live in the now, please."
"Shut up, ungrateful child. Whose number are you in need of?"
I braced for the impact. "The um… Abernathy's."
There was silence on the other end.
"Are you there, Mother?"
"Yes. Just trying to discern why you could possibly need the phone number of a clan of vampires, child. I'm not coming up with anything. Perhaps you could enlighten me?"
I sighed, not caring if she heard me or not. "Well, I may have picked up a very minute clan of vampires. Their clan was nearly wiped out by rogue witches hunting them…"
I felt her anger through the phone. "Be careful. They may come for the remnants."
"I thought so, I'll ward the house to high heaven this afternoon."
"Give me a chance to speak with Philippe. I will have him contact you as soon as night falls. You did well, child."
I blinked in surprise. Compliments from Mother did not come easy or cheap. It made them all the more special when they were received.
"Thank you, Mother."
The line clicked dead.
"What did she say?"
"She said I did the right thing?" All I could do was stare in shock at him.
"I hate to admit it, but you did. I just wish you had been more careful about it."
"Two compliments
in the same day? And such a heartfelt one at that. Be still my heart."
"Shut up and eat your burger."
"Yes, sir, Mister Chief, sir." I saluted, too.
"Is she going to send help?"
"Philippe Abernathy is the head of the clan back home. She's going to contact him this evening and have him call me if he's willing to help."
"Good. Don't get bit before then."
"Har har. Funny man."
CHAPTER 8
"Can I talk to you?"
I had barely walked in the door. Josie was sitting on the couch, waiting for me to get home. Scenarios like that never ended well. "Um, yeah? Can I pee first?"
"It's nothing bad! Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"Yeah. Lead with that next time. I'll be right back."
"Wine?"
"Thought you said it wasn't bad?"
"It's not, but I'm trying to butter you up."
"This is going to be expensive," I said and headed to my bathroom, not giving her a chance to be offended.
I breathed a sigh of relief and finished up, washing my hands and reaching for a towel that wasn't hanging in its normal spot. I looked down and found it on the floor. I probably didn't want to know.
"Put a clean towel up if you're gonna use it to clean up your nasties."
"Sorry. I forgot."
I was kind of horrified that she didn't deny actually using my towel for nefarious purposes. I sat down on the couch next to her and put my back against the arm. "Next time I beat you."
"With a rubber hose?"
"Quit stalling. Talk."
"I–"
"Wait! Did the appliances come?"
"No."
"Damnit. Continue."
"I really like Candace."
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes. She can move in with us. I like her, too. And I think it would do her some good. In fact, I was going to suggest it after we took care of our other house guests."
Josie stared at me incredulously.
"What?"
"You do realize you are turning into a mini-version of your mother, right?"
"I go out of my way to be nice and this is how you repay me? Insulting me to my face, you insolent witch?"
"Wench?"
"Whatever. Why do you say these things? Are you trying to hurt me?"
"Dot, I know she's your mother. And I know you see her in a certain way. You need to set that aside and realize your mom, while being scary as fuck, is astounding… And you're turning out to be just like her. Just a little more…rash."
Second Blood: A Reverse Harem Tale (Lovin' the Coven Book 2) Page 6
