by Dave Ferraro
***
“This is where we part, my friends,” Ash said, holding out his hand to Shanna.
Krystal watched as they shook, Shanna thanking him for his help.
Ash clapped Damien on the shoulder. “It was good to see you again.”
“You too,” Damien said with an easy smile. Then he frowned. “And if you need anything before…”
Ash put up a hand to stop him. “Do not fret. I have lived a long life and I have accomplished what I wanted to before I left this mortal coil. I can now leave it in peace.”
“What are you going to do with the time you have left?” Shanna asked.
He considered, tilting his head. “I’ve always been fond of Paris.”
“If you change your mind and want our help for anything,” Shanna said, touching his arm, “Look us up.”
Ash sent her a wistful smile, then disappeared into the night.
Lupe crossed her arms and glared at Natalia. “You. Just be grateful that we were on the same side this time. Next time I see you, I’m going to rip out your throat.”
Natalia raised an eyebrow. “I would like to see you try.”
With a snort, Lupe turned on her heel and stalked away from them.
“What’s with the bad blood between the two of you?” Krystal asked, curious.
Natalia shook her head. “It was long ago. I was cruel.”
Krystal exchanged a surprised look with Shanna. “You were?”
Natalia nodded. “I can’t blame her for her grudge. Our adversity will end with one of us dead, I am sure.”
“Why don’t you beat her to the punch then?”
With a smile, Natalia turned away from her, mysterious as ever.
“Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you for the heroics today,” Hunter said, watching her. “It was an impressive display.”
Krystal felt her face warm as Steven nodded his enthusiasm, although the fear that was written in his every move, his every look, told her that he would not be willing to live in the same world as her. In fact, like many people unable to cope with the monsters they encounter, he would probably forget the entire string of events. Steven was no hunter of the dark.
“Very impressive,” Quinn agreed, smiling at them.
Shanna punched Quinn lightly in the shoulder. “You should be proud yourself. You faced your biggest fear head-on and didn’t even blink.”
Quinn shrugged. “I have friends who helped get me through a very trying time,” he said. “They…inspired me to be strong.” He grinned at her and Shanna beamed up at him.
Krystal couldn’t help but smile herself, but she didn’t miss the dark look that passed over Damien’s features at the exchange.
“I should part as well,” the vampire announced suddenly.
Shanna looked up sharply and blinked when Damien pointed to the east, where the midnight blue sky was lightening, preparing for the sun to rise. Understanding crossed her face and she nodded. “I need to discuss something with you before you leave.”
He grinned. “And I need to take you out to dinner tomorrow night. I promised you Cajun food, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“Then I’ll see you at sunset.”
She nodded.
“Thank you, Damien,” Krystal piped up. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”
He cocked his head. “I’m not so sure about that, but I appreciate the sentiment.” He glanced over the others. “Take care, guys.” Then he was gone, melting in the shadows as his kind tended to do.
“Well,” Krystal said, looking around. “I think that we should set free whatever other poor creatures Roma has locked behind those doors.”
“Agreed,” Amelia nodded. “Then we can put this whole thing behind us. What a production. Roma had her hands in everything around here.”
“That she did,” Jade agreed, beginning to walk with them back toward Roma’s mansion.
Hunter fell into line beside Krystal and looked at her sideways. “So, you held up well under the stress of the battle.”
“Yep.”
He smirked. “You’re quite proud of yourself, aren’t you?”
She nodded.
Chuckling, Hunter reached over and patted her on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you too.”
Krystal nearly stopped short at the compliment. “Th-thank you,” she stammered, at a loss for words.
He nodded, seeming to enjoy the reaction. Then he frowned and leaned in close to her. “And just what is Serene doing here?”
“She’s been set free,” Krystal whispered back.
Hunter watched Serene for a moment before nodding. “Well, I never really cared much for the idea of implanting her with that awful device. I suppose this is for the best. She’s proven that she won’t just run off. I think we can trust her.”
“I think so too,” Krystal agreed. And perhaps people will trust me, as well.
As they walked past the rows of trees in the orchard, Krystal felt something nagging the back of her mind. But she couldn’t quite place it. She thought that perhaps her body was detecting the vampires that were escaping the portal from The Goblin Market, warning her of their presence, so she ignored it.
And so she didn’t see the rock coming until it slammed into the back of her head, and everything went dark before she hit the ground.
