by Mandi Casey
“What?” His fear struck clear through my spine, and my stomach dropped. “What do you mean? Lisa came by your store? What did she want? Is she gone?” His response wasn’t exactly the calm and reassuring one I was hoping for.
“Well, she came by to tell me she didn’t want me anywhere near the vampires, and she said ‘or else.’ What’s in it for her?”
Through the phone, I heard a car engine followed by a squeal of tires on pavement.
“I’ll be right there,” he growled, then hung up.
Almost twelve minutes to the second, Blake stormed in through the front door and started pacing back and forth in front of the bookshelves I was currently stocking. Without saying a word, he stomped over and grabbed me into a big bear hug. Then he started looking at my arms and legs and around my neckline.
I slapped his hands away to try and stop his overly eager inspection of my being.
“What are you doing?”
“Sydney, are you all right?” He stepped forward, making me step back.
I put my hands up. “I’m fine! Stop inspecting me, geez.”
I walked behind the counter, and sat on the barstool. I didn’t care if he figured it out that I was using furniture to put some distance between us. It was hard enough dealing with him when he wasn’t touching me. When his warm hands grazed my skin, when he looked me over, my body sizzled everywhere. There was no controlling certain parts of me from singing out to him, begging him to touch them, too.
“Blake, what has gotten into you?”
He walked over to the front of the counter and put his hands on the top. It was hard not to notice the well-defined muscles flexing in his forearms, and the thought of his arms around me in a nice, big safe hug kept flittering in my mind. Images of his naked chest against mine started to form just before he snapped me out of my trance.
“Nothing, you just need to be careful. Lisa is no one to mess with. Did she hurt you?”
“No, she didn’t hurt me. You didn’t answer my question. Why is she so interested in the vampires?”
Blake shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea what she was up to. He repeated over and over to stay far away from her. “Sydney, you’re picking up her demon essence. Lisa is a lightening demon, or at least half of one. Demons are very dangerous. They even make vampires look like fuzzy puppies in comparison. Lisa’s other family has no regard to anyone but themselves. She’s a cold killer. Don’t doubt her.”
“So what’s her issue with me talking to the vampires?”
“I have no idea, but we need to find out.”
“Maybe Kieran will know something. I’ll have to talk to him about her. Blake, she seemed serious. The silver in her eyes made her come across like a crazed lunatic.”
“I’m sorry, Sydney. I’ve seen what she’s capable of. A few years ago she was at the den when vampires attacked. I got to see her in action. She can call lightning to her, and she used it during the fight.”
“What? What did she do with the lightening?” The more time I spent in Kenosha, the more I wanted out of it, and that bizarre life I was living. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t leave Aunt Judith to take care of this all by herself.
“Lisa used the lightening and created projectable electrical bolts. She speared the vampires with them. Trust me, it wasn’t pretty, and vampires don’t heal from the burns the bolts make.”
“I don’t get it. Vampires are like super fast. How’d she hurt them?” I was awed. Vampires were supposed to be ultimate fighters.
“She’s not only able to call lightening through her, she can also call it from the sky and direct her attacks from above, scorching her targets, no matter how fast they are.”
“What am I going to do?” I was at a total loss. Were my Selected abilities ever going to be strong enough to go against a being with that much power?
“Sydney, if she comes here again, you need to lock yourself in the storeroom and call me right away. I’ll have a talk with her, but just in case she decides to show up again, you need to tell me about it immediately.”
“Do you mind staying with me for a while?” I didn’t feel like being alone. The vision of Lisa’s eyes kept flashing in my head.
Blake stayed with me until closing time. Surprisingly, he was enjoyable to work side by side with.
He talked about his and Michael’s childhoods. They had spent a lot of time together when they were young. Michael grew up at Blake’s father’s house, while his parents were busy most of the time taking care of inter-pack relations in other cities for Morris.
Blake thought his cousin was a good man, despite his young age. Michael was younger than Blake, but he wouldn’t tell me by how much. Because Blake was the son of the pack master, his life was quite different than Michael’s. He had responsibilities that none of the other wolves had. Morris, Blake’s father, expected Blake to participate in all pack meetings, and be involved in all decisions crucial to the survival and safety of the pack, now that he was older.
Blake said that Morris made all the decisions, regardless of what anyone else had to say. I thought it nice that Morris involved Blake at all. Someday, Blake was expected to take Morris’ place and lead the pack. Blake didn’t expect to have to take the pack over for many years. Morris’ wolf line was so strong that even the more aggressive, dominant male wolves watched themselves around him and Blake.
I asked what he thought about one day becoming the head honcho, being in charge of everyone in the entire pack. He looked surprised, like he had never asked himself what he thought about it. He shrugged his muscular shoulders, and confirmed my thoughts.
“I guess the thought never really crosses my mind.” His brows drew together. “It’s not like there’s a choice in the matter. When my dad steps down from being the leader of the pack, I’m just the next one in line. Wolf hierarchy is similar to how the royal families do it over in Europe.
There’s a line of heirs decided by order of birth, and who a person’s parents are. There’s a benefit of having my father’s bloodline running through my veins, besides the obvious benefits of being a wolf. Because I’m the pack leader’s son, I’m stronger than almost everyone in the pack. I’m second in line in the pecking order, and there isn’t anyone to tell me what to do, except my dad.”
From what he said, it didn’t sound like he was worried about it. It was just the way life would be, and he accepted it without questions or qualms. In a way, I envied him. Blake already knew his life’s purpose. Being the Selected wasn’t so clear-cut. Even though fate landed me the gig of being the Selected by some genetic lottery, I was still clueless as to what that meant exactly. The Selected had abilities other humans don’t. The vampires and werewolves both wanted to use me for their own means. But what was the Selected really supposed to do?
Blake stayed after I turned the OPEN sign off and locked the front door. He sat on the couch next to the fireplace that he had loaded with wood. It was still roaring with yellow and red flames. He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, signaling me to come hither. Blake’s playfulness, despite everything going on, made me giggle like a young schoolgirl gaining the attention of her heart’s desire. His determination was mostly frustrating, but sometimes, like now, it was a refreshing change after having Lisa stop at the store. Her mortal threats to me and my family shook me to the core.
I crossed over to the counter to tally up the day’s sales. “Blake, it was really nice of you spending some time with me. But don’t press your luck, mister.” There was nothing wrong with being a little playful back. We were just friends, right?
He placed his hand on his chest, and put on an innocent face. “Who, me? The things you think of me, Sydney! You called and made me race over here like the knight in furry armor to save my favorite damsel in distress. It is not a wolf’s way to compromise a lady’s honor, my dearest Sydney.”
He smiled his smile that made me melt every time he used it. He used it often enough, and he must know what it did to me despite my many denials, which he con
tinued not to acknowledge.
“Yes, you. But seriously, it was really enjoyable having you here today. It was nice not being alone and having someone to talk to.”
When the day’s chores were finished, Blake walked me to my car. When he opened the door, he said, “My lady.” We said goodnight as friends do, no pressure on his part for a goodnight kiss. To my chagrin, I felt conflicted relief, and disappointment.
I walked into the kitchen and found Aunt Judith preparing a warm dinner on the stove. Sauerkraut, pork roast, and bacon filled the air with a delicious aroma. The moment the smell wafted to my nose, my mouth started to water. My stomach growled, yelling at me for not getting home sooner. I loved her wonderful cooking. She smiled as she stirred her latest scrumptious concoction.
Scooping a generous serving onto a plate, she said, “Sydney, your friend Lisa came by to see you today. She seemed so nice. She said she was going to go find you at the store. She didn’t want to leave her number, though. She said you already had it.”
As her words were spoken, my stomach soured, and dinner didn’t smell so good.
“Aunt Judith!”
My feet never ran so fast to get to anyone in my entire life. I grabbed her arms, searched for scorch marks, and then I inspected her jaw. I moved her chin to look at both sides of her neck.
She gently grabbed me and held my hands in front of her.
“Sydney, what is the matter?”
Panic started to take hold, my chest tightened, and it was difficult to take deep breaths.
“Aunt Judith, you have to stay away from Lisa. She’s not human. She came by the store today, and she threatened us. Both of us. She has something to do with the vampires. None of what she said makes any sense, but I’m going to find out tomorrow night what she has to do with them.”
Then it dawned on me, Aunt Judith said she had put wards on the house.
“Did she come into the house, or did you talk to her through the front door?”
Aunt Judith took a moment to think about it.
“No, to my recollection she never stepped over the threshold. Now that you mention it, we talked through the front screen door.” With another moment of thought, Aunt Judith said more fearfully, “Sydney, the wards may not keep her from entering the house. I’m not sure if the wards would have kept her out if she really wanted to come in, if she isn’t what they call a rogue.”
The fact Lisa might be able to waltz in, unannounced, when we weren’t expecting her was a big problem. Icy dread licked its way up my back. I had to take Lisa’s threats seriously. Well, I’d have to be careful going to Kieran’s. I couldn’t let anyone see me near the vampires. My priority was to keep Aunt Judith out of harm’s way. I’d just have to give him a call tomorrow as soon as the sun set, telling him that we definitely needed to talk, and there were conditions to me going. I’d have to deal with the repercussions if he wouldn’t accept that. The best way to deal with everyone’s expectations of me was one at a time, and hopefully with the least amount of collateral damage as possible.
Then another idea hit me. Aunt Judith should leave and stay with my mother.
“Aunt Judith, we need a plan. You’re going to argue this, but there’s really no other way around it. You have to go and stay with Mom until the weekend.”
I gently gave a reassuring squeeze to both of her hands in mine.
“This isn’t a mild threat. Lisa came to the store today, and she showed her Other eyes. Aunt Judith, there was no kindness in them, no compassion. I’m pretty sure that woman no longer has an ounce of humanity left.”
“Sydney, making me leave you in your time of need isn’t what we’re about. You forget, dear child, my mother was the Selected before you. Being here for you was my choice, my life’s purpose.”
Seeing my questioning look, she said, “Don’t you worry about me, you have enough to deal with.” She rubbed her old weathered hands over mine. “Sydney, it was my decision to stay here with you, to help with the vampires and werewolves. That boy, Blake, is an upstanding gentleman, and he may someday make a good match for you. It’s not like you’ve really been with anyone of quality in quite some time. We’ll talk about that another time.”
I was shocked to hear the words coming out of her mouth. In a time of utmost importance, to decide what we would have her do in this fiasco now called my life, she had the nerve to bring up my lack of a love life.
“Yes, we’ll save that for another time. Now we need to research. Can you reinforce the wards on the house? I’m going to check out Grandma’s library upstairs.”
“I’ll work on the wards. You should eat something before you go up. I think it’s safe to say Lisa won’t be coming back this night.” Aunt Judith kissed me on the cheek and turned to leave.
Before she reached the kitchen door, shame reared its ugly head at my trying to tell her what to do. I didn’t like it when people did that to me.
“Aunt Judith, the idea of you going to mom’s house was just because your safety is so important to me. I’m worried, that’s all. It’s not that you aren’t capable of taking care of yourself, or that anyone has the right to dictate your actions. I’d just die if something ever happened to you because of all this.”
She turned her face sideways and nodded. “I know, Sydney. We’re all worried. But we each have our jobs to do, and leaving isn’t the right answer, for anyone.” She looked at me straight in the eyes and said, “Even your sister and mother have their parts, as do you and I.”
With that, she left the kitchen.
I looked back at my dinner cooling on the kitchen table. Not eating Aunt Judith’s culinary efforts would be a terrible waste. After I ate the entire bowl, it was time for some research up in the library.
Grandma Maria had a variety of books covering a lot of paranormal topics. From skimming the book titles and chapter outlines, there were a lot more types of demons than your ordinary garden variety. There seemed to be a caste system among the different types, and the demons with elemental powers comprised the higher castes.
Since Lisa was part demon with her control of lightning, did that make her part of an elite demon club? Figures, she wasn’t a low-level nobody demon. I’d secretly hoped the worst she was able to do to me was make my hair frizzy. No, of course not. She had to be a daughter of one of the most feared, most powerful, and from the readings, one of the most vengeful and spiteful demon castes in existence. Lisa fit right in with the description in the readings.
Unfortunately, nothing was mentioned about those beings who were only part demon and part werewolf, like Lisa. Did her demon family members fully accept her like her wolf pack, even though she wasn’t purebred? I’d have to ask Blake to fill in the blanks. I’d rather her have to deal with family than be focused on harassing me at work. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn’t be the last time I’d see her, especially if Blake told Morris, and calls were made.
Another idea popped in my head. If Blake found out Lisa paid my house a visit before she came to the store, he’d probably use that as an excuse to insist on moving in with me. I’d have to sleep on the idea of telling him about her knowing where we lived. It stank that she knew our home address, but the idea of having a man share our home, and my private bathroom, didn’t sound too appealing.
A soft knock came from the library’s doorway. Aunt Judith walked in carrying a mug of hot chocolate. Blue fuzzy slippers covered her feet as she came fully into the library. She sat at the desk that held all the books I pulled off the shelves for my research.
I was poring over an old dusty book about how to defend one’s self against various types of demons, and other paranormal entities. Unfortunately, the book in front of me didn’t have anything specific about lightning demons. There was a lot about werewolves, though. The gist of the book’s recommendations was to avoid being bitten, don’t make them mad, and avoid them whenever possible. So not helpful.
So far, from being around Blake, Michael, and everyone else that was at Morris’ din
ner, werewolves were overall pretty friendly. Well, despite the rogue that attacked me after work that night, and put into motion everything that had happened since.
I guess it would have only been a matter of time before a vampire gave me their blood or a wolf attacked me. Destiny was a bitch, and she didn’t seem to care that people may have had their own plans for their lives. No, she had to have all the say in everything going on. I’d like to have a word with her one day.
Chapter 19
Aunt Judith finally agreed on the plans for the night. She was going to spend the evening with her friend, Meredith, to work on finding a way to divert Lisa’s electrical discharges if she ever came back to the house with the intentions of hurting us. My job was to go to Kieran’s and see what information the vampire leader had on why Lisa would have such an issue if the Selected was associating with the vampires.
Curiously, Lisa didn’t seem to have an issue with me hanging out with Blake and the werewolves. I suspected she was jealous and had at one time wanted to be his girlfriend. Fortunately—or unfortunately, I couldn’t decide, she had other issues at the moment. Someday, he was going to tell me what they had between them.
On my way to the store, the smell of freshly brewing coffee sidetracked my ever-seeking caffeine sniffer. Who could resist? With a caramel coffee and a baked apple turnover in my hand, it was time to go to work. Content with the anticipation of my delicious breakfast, my gait was happy and bouncy while stepping through the front door of Morning Sun. What I saw made me jump. My coffee and treat bag dropped to the floor, and the front door banged shut behind me.
My mother stood at the counter, tapping her chipped fingernails on the surface.
“Well, it’s so good to see you, too, my dear daughter.”
I was immobilized from shock. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone in the store, and my mother was the last person I’d expect to see. She was usually still sleeping at this hour of the morning, recovering from her overindulgent use of alcohol. But there she was, standing in my store, and somehow she had let herself in.
