“Not really. No. I had friends but not close.” I downed another cup of tea, this time without taking my time.
“I’m not surprised. You lost your parents. You were afraid to get attached to new people. Afraid they’d leave you just like your parents did,” she said.
“I had my family.” It couldn’t be that simple.
“Yes, you still had family taking care of you, and you loved them. It’d be hard to lose them. So, why add people to the list of ones who could hurt you? I don’t blame you. And, now, you’re worried your business could be taken from you.”
“Was your husband a dentist or a shrink?” I asked.
She smiled. “You’d be surprised how much people share at a dentist’s office. I held a lot of hands. Heard a lot of crazy reasons why people feared the dentist. The pain. The genetic problems. Emergencies. You see people when they are very vulnerable. No one likes the dentist unless they have naturally strong and pretty teeth. Don’t worry; I’ll talk to Mr. O’Conner. Hopefully, the police will close the case soon, but I can try to talk some sense into that man.”
“Thanks. I should get back to the coffee shop,” I said.
“Bundle up; it’s cold.” She walked me to the door.
Did I keep people at a distance to keep from being hurt? I never dated guys seriously. I dated, but I was never interested in relationships. I hiked out to my car and cranked up the heat as I headed back to the café. I had to deal with this work problem and then Ryan. When I got free time, I’d worry about friends and boyfriends.
Chapter 13
I was dead to the world when a vampire came pounding on my bedroom door. Snuggling under the blankets, I never wanted to move. After a day out in the harsh weather, I was finally warm, again.
“What?” I shouted.
“It’s Brad. You need to get out here. Your guest is trying to leave,” he said.
“Damn. Stop him. I’ll be right there.” I swung my legs out and shoved my feet right into the fuzzy boots. My flannel pajama pants, a gift from the twins, had frogs with little crowns on them. Some were making kissy faces, and some were winking. My cousins and I didn’t have the same taste, but the pants were warm. My legs always got cold first, but a long tank top worked just fine because my shoulders never seemed to get chilly.
I ran my fingers through my hair then grabbed a big black sweater, just in case the fight had moved outside.
I hustled down the stairs and found two other vamps blocking Ryan’s exit. He was at the top of the basement stairs. Perfect. Right where customers could see and hear him.
“Tell these walking dead things with dental issues to get out of my way,” Ryan yelled.
“You’re not leaving. Not with the police around.”
“I can’t stay down there another minute. I’m going crazy,” he said.
“Then, you should’ve left before this mess happened. I can’t help it. Get back down there and go to sleep.” I folded my arms.
“Hey, I tried to escape but you wouldn’t let me. I could help clean up here. I could learn to make coffee,” he offered.
“You just insulted my staff. You hunt vampires—they don’t want to work with you. I don’t trust you to work with them.” I waved my hand at him; that shoved him back a few steps.
“Big tough witch. That’s all you’ve got?” he mocked.
I went to the landline, while the vamps continued to cover Ryan, and called my uncle.
“He’s getting stir crazy,” he said.
“I know. I’m about to lock him up. He won’t cooperate.” I didn’t want to upset my uncle, but he had to take some responsibility for what he’d taken in and dumped on me.
“I’ll be there in the morning and keep him busy during the day. You can’t let him do something at night?” my uncle asked.
“I can’t be up all night babysitting him and the vampires. That mix will not go well,” I pointed out.
“Right. Fine. Do what you need to do to keep him under control. Night.” He hung up.
“Great.” I hung up the phone as the bell jingled over the door.
The wind gusted in, and I wrapped my sweater around me.
I nodded to the vamps to go deal with the customer. When I looked over to see who it was, I expected a college student on deadline or utility workers out repairing lines. We got a lot of cops and firemen who needed refueling overnight. Sometimes, nurses and EMTs. This man was none of those. He was in a dark suit with his hair slicked back. His watch was expensive, but there was something more. He was powerful. Not human power. My kind of power. I knew him.
He ordered a dark roast black with a double shot of no sleep potion.
“You’ll be up all night,” I warned him.
“I do my best work at night.” He didn’t smile. “You’re Claudia Crestwood?”
“I am. Have we met?” I asked.
“I believe so, but it’s been a long time. Your cousin mentioned you were having some human problems. I might be able to help,” he offered.
“I’ve got two human problems, right now, but no, thanks. I can handle it. What cousin?” I asked.
“Esmeralda. She and my aunt are very good friends. Very old friends,” he said.
“So, your aunt does the nine lives thing, too?” I asked.
He nodded. “That is a small group. I hear you’re almost as powerful as your cousin. Or me.”
I showed no reaction. “I’m strong enough. I’m just trying to handle my human problems without major magic. I don’t want to untangle a mess by causing a bigger one.”
Ryan watched from the doorway on the top step. I should lock him up. I cast a spell to cover my butt, any non-magical people would forget anything they saw in the shop, including Ryan.
“You’re right. Some witches use magic too publicly or frequently and get caught up in trying to cover their tracks. Exposure is dangerous,” the customer agreed.
“Exactly. I have a customer who died, and our spell says it was not natural causes. But the police think it was. They’re looking into it. I’m trying to find the killer, so the widower will stop protesting my shop. And so I can get rid of my other human problem,” I glanced back at the doorway.
“He is staring a lot. A former lover you don’t like?” he asked.
I laughed. “Hardly. A hunter who got caught by humans, and my uncle is giving him sanctuary in my shop.”
“Ryan Jones.” The hunter stepped out from the shadows and extended a hand, introducing himself to the customer. The vampires behind the counter moved to drag Ryan down the stairs, but I shook my head at them. We didn’t need a big incident in front of customers.
I tried to place the wizard. Remember his name. He hadn’t been at school with me. From what he claimed about his aunt and Esme, he was one of the Killean family that could trace their line back to the Druids. They were handsome, powerful, and not very social. So far, this man hit all the marks. He was a year or two older than me, I’d guess.
“Bran Killean,” he replied without shaking hands.
“Bran? Like Game of Thrones? You poor thing,” I stifled a giggle.
“The Celtic name means king or raven, so it’s a pretty obvious name choice for Mr. Martin since the boy chases a raven around. My middle name is no better, so Bran is it.” He took his coffee and sipped it.
“I haven’t seen you in here,” I said.
“You sleep at night,” Brad said, grinning at Bran like a fool. He’d been a step or two behind the hunter, watching him like a hawk.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re a vampire, Mr. Killean?”
“No. I deal with people all day and get my work done best at night. I catnap. But I don’t want to interrupt your late-night tryst.” He grinned slightly.
I looked down and laughed. “Yeah. My best lingerie. Please. This hunter keeps trying to escape.”
“So, let him go. Or is he a frog you turned into a prince, but he’s not up to snuff?” Bran asked.
“My cousins gave me these pajamas. They’re
warm. This hunter has to stay. The police are probably still watching the building. It’s a long story, but we saved him, and he’s got to deal with helping us,” I said.
“You wanted me gone as soon as I was healthy enough. I’m healthy,” he said. “Help me get out of here, and I’ll do anything you want.”
Bran’s eyebrow raised at that offer. For a split-second, I thought he might be gay. That’d be my luck. Any guy who captured my interest was gay, taken, or a bad boy, as my aunt called them.
“What could you possibly do for me?” Bran asked.
“The Killeans are a powerful magical family, Ryan. They don’t need you any more than I do,” I said.
“Maybe he’s strong enough to make me invisible. The police never saw me enter, but they don’t have to see me leave either. And make it last for a while so I can get far away.” Ryan nodded.
“I’m sure Ms. Crestwood is strong enough to render you invisible. She has her reasons for keeping you around. Maybe you’d run to the police or get her in trouble, somehow.” Bran shook his head at Ryan.
Then, Bran snapped his fingers. Ryan passed out right there on the floor.
“Why did you do that?” I asked.
“I was bored with him. He’s a user. He thinks he’s noble, but the only hunters I trust are gypsies, like your uncle. These types are in it for the kill.” Bran looked down his nose at Ryan.
“I felt the same way, but my uncle brought him here. I couldn’t say no. And then, the customer thing happened. I don’t need him being caught by the police or followed back here if he needs something. He’ll make it worse, even if I made him permanently invisible,” I said.
“Then, you should keep him locked up. A human with a superiority complex is more dangerous than an untamed vampire.” Bran stared at my legs, again.
“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting company.” I tugged my sweater lower to try and cover the goofy pajama pants. “My cousins and I have very different styles. But I can’t hurt their feelings.”
“Those are not from Esmeralda.” He laughed.
His booming laugh sent a rush through me. “No, not Esme. My uncle’s children. I was raised by my aunt and uncle. They have a set of twins, only eighteen, now. I got these a couple Christmases ago. Appropriate for a single girl or a single witch.”
“Still searching for Prince Charming? There has to be a better story than that.” He stepped over Ryan’s limp body. “Tell me.”
“I’m the boss here, Mr. Killean, not you. Brad will get you another drink of your choice on the house for the trouble. I’ll get Ryan down to a cell,” I said.
“I don’t need a free coffee. I need to know about the frogs,” he said.
I almost turned around and snapped at him. But there was a longing, a sadness about him that made me pause. “You tell anyone, and I’ll deny and make you pay.”
He didn’t look scared. But if he knew Esme, he knew how powerful I was. My guess was he was one of her choices for me.
“Promise,” I said.
“Who would I tell?” he asked.
“Senior prom. My date was just a guy who asked me. I wasn’t dating him. I didn’t know him well, but it meant so much to my aunt that I go. Have the prom experience and all the pictures. It made her happy. He was all hands and lips. Like I was supposed to sleep with him because it was prom. I turned him into a frog on the ride home and sent the limo back to his parents’ house like that.” I shrugged.
“He stayed that way for how long?” Bran asked.
“A couple hours at least. His parents were freaking out. They thought he’d been kidnapped. They put the frog in the yard. I swore up and down he was fine when he dropped me off. A perfect gentleman, which was a lie. But I wasn’t going to any after parties with him. I hinted he may have gone drinking with a few friends after he dropped me off. Finally, he turned human in the backyard. Naked. He was confused. His parents thought he’d gotten plastered and went wild with his friends. They grounded him for a week.” I couldn’t hide my smile.
“Transfiguration at that level. Of a human. For that long, impressive for a seventeen year old,” he said.
“My aunt was mad at me. Exposure. Do no harm. Sometimes, I can’t help myself, but I try not to use my powers without thinking it through.” I looked down at Ryan. “I don’t trust him enough to let him loose, yet.”
“Trust those instincts. We’re at war with humanity in some ways. We can never forget that,” he said.
I shook my head. “My aunt and cousins have no powers. Esme does, of course, but my uncle is a human gypsy. I don’t want to fight humans.”
“I don’t either. But if they knew the full extent of our world, we would be at war. We’re more powerful than they are.”
“Yet we don’t seek to dominate them,” I said.
“Evolution has its advantages. But I do appreciate your work here. Your involvement with humans keeps us all informed. It’s a great service, and if I can be of help to you, just call.” He handed me a card.
“I don’t inform you of anything.” I took the card anyway.
“Esmeralda does. What’s necessary. There is a network of information. We appreciate it.” He looked around. “It’s a lovely shop.”
“What do you do?” I asked.
“My family owns several businesses,” he said stealthily.
“That makes you a Soprano? Is there a paranormal mob? I never heard of that,” I said.
He laughed. “No? Well, I suppose, if there was one, we’d be it. If you cross my family, you’ll pay. Much like, if someone crossed you, he’d be a frog.”
I felt my cheeks burn. “I can do a lot worse, now.”
“I’m sure of it. We own a funeral home. A car dealership. A lawn and snow service company. A yarn and craft store my aunt insisted on that is actually turning a profit.”
“That’s convenient. Pick what you want to do, and the family buys you a business.” I knew they had money, but that’s big, big money.
“Not quite. You have to pay your dues working in a family business and make a proposal for a new one. We make our money honestly; we always have. Invest it wisely. We don’t bother others, and they don’t bother us. We do deal with humans as customers, so I understand, but we tend to use magic to resolve things quicker. Your approach is unique.”
“It sounds so calm.” I envied him.
“Your life sounds like an adventure. I hope your human death case is resolved.” He finished his coffee and tossed the cup in the trash.
“Thanks. I’m trying to solve it myself, but doing things the human way sucks.” I rubbed my neck. “I need to get this one locked up and get back to bed. I need more than a catnap.”
“Of course. But if you had something from all the suspects, you could scry for the killer,” he suggested.
“I could. But getting an item isn’t easy. And with more than one person in a location as a suspect, it would only help so much.” I shrugged.
“Do you need any help?” He pointed Ryan.
I chuckled and waved my hand. His limp body swiftly lifted off the ground. I guided him down the stairs and into a cell. I didn’t look back to see if Bran was impressed or not. He wasn’t what I expected from the Killean family. I’d heard they were snobs who looked down on families like mine, those with non-magical members. Also families that socialized with humans too much and willingly weren’t big with the paranormal royalty. My line was old and strong, but I couldn’t trace it back to Stonehenge. That stuff didn’t matter to me. The idea of Bran mowing a lawn or selling cars on his summer breaks from school made me smile. Maybe Esme had better taste in men than I’d given her credit for.
Chapter 14
That morning, I had the same drink Bran had plus vanilla creamer. The caffeine jolt helped. It’d been hard to get back to sleep after such a weird first encounter. The PJs hadn’t helped, but I wasn’t a Goth girl. I didn’t sport a witch style all the time. Okay, the frogs were lame. But it was a gift and warm.
Today, I
was in all black: big black boots that went to my knees, leggings that kept me warm and a black with gray trim sweater dress that came to the edge of the boots and down to my elbows.
“Why is Ryan locked up?” my aunt asked softly as she sat at my table.
“He tried to escape last night. Attacked some vamps. I don’t need him lashing out. I called Uncle Vinny. He’s supposed to come over today and help soothe the savage hunter.” I rolled my eyes.
“He wants you to make him invisible,” she said.
“He said that last night, too. No, I can’t trust him. I wish Vin wouldn’t associate with non-gypsy hunters. They go rogue too much.” I shook my head.
“Fine. I hope this case is over soon.” She went off in a foul mood.
I wasn’t in a better one. I had to meet the garden club today. I’d checked that the meeting was still scheduled, given that gardening wasn’t really popular in the winter. But they still met, so I was going. They had a room at the local social center, so it wasn’t like pushing in on Mrs. Reynolds in her home.
I watched the front. No Mr. O’Conner yet today, but it was early.
Esme sat across from me with a smug expression.
“What? Did you kill Ryan? I won’t tell. Give the body to the cops,” I said.
She pointed at me. “That’s the sort of dark humor that makes people worry about you. You’re normal some of the time and then sound positively evil.”
“It’s a quirky sense of humor. That’s all.” I shrugged and checked my messages on my phone.
“I heard that Bran Killean came by last night,” she said.
I nodded. “I guess he comes by a lot at night when I’m asleep. Ryan tried to run, so I had to deal with that.”
“Sounds like you made an impression,” Esme smiled.
“Froggy PJ bottoms and a bulky black sweater with winter boots. I’m sure I did.” I put his card information into my phone. “Who does cards, anymore?”
“Polite people. You don’t have to wait for someone to put in the info and repeat it ten times. You hand over the card, and they can input the info or not. You’re smart to keep him on file.” She grabbed the card. “He’s good looking.”
Myths & Magic: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection Page 224