by Parker Blue
After Jen took care of the cat, I introduced Ivy to Mom, Rick, and Jen. They looked a little taken aback at all her piercings and jewelry, but it didn’t take long for Ivy to put them at ease. “Thank you so much for having me in your home,” she said. “I don’t know many people here, so it was so nice of you all to invite me.”
Good manners was all it took to appeal to Rick, and we went into the living room and sat down to chat. Looking for something non-demonic to talk about, I said, “Here, Jen, I brought you something. Happy birthday.”
She opened the birthday card and squealed in delight when she saw the gift cards I’d purchased. “These are my favorite stores. Thank you!”
Mom gave me a disappointed look, but I ignored her. Giving Jen what she wanted on her birthday was more important than pleasing Mom.
“This is so cool,” Jen gushed. “Now I’ll be able to get what I want.” She cast a stricken look at Mom. “Not that I don’t love the sweaters you gave me.”
Mom grimaced. “You can return them tomorrow.”
Jen grinned. “Thanks—and I really do love the new phone.” She gave Rick a kiss on the forehead. I suppressed a smile. Guess I knew whose idea that was.
A ding sounded in the kitchen, and Mom said, “Dinner’s ready.” She glanced at Ivy. “Jen got to choose what she wanted to eat. I hope you like spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread.”
“Who doesn’t?” Ivy said with a smile.
We sat down to dinner and chatted about little things—how the store was doing, how Jen was doing in school, and her new musical obsession—a group I’d never heard of.
WATCH OUT, Fang warned. YOU’RE NEXT.
I’m ahead of you. Mom didn’t approve of me hunting vampires even though she knew it was necessary, so I didn’t want to know what form her small talk would take. When Mom turned to me, I said, “Ivy is thinking of moving here permanently.” There—give them someone else to focus on.
“Really?” Mom said to Ivy. “Val said you’re from Sedona. I can’t imagine why you’d want to leave.”
Ivy shrugged and explained about her parents and the rock shop she’d sold there.
“Rock shop?” Jen repeated. “Is that why you have so many piercings?”
“Jen,” Mom said in a censuring tone. “Don’t be rude.”
“No, it’s okay,” Ivy said. “I don’t mind explaining.” She glanced at me as if for permission, and I nodded.
“You see, I’m a gemstone whisperer,” Ivy confided.
Sounded so much better than rock demon.
AND THAT’S WHY SHE USES IT, Fang said in amusement.
“If a gemstone is polished and cut, it retains some awareness—the bigger the gemstone, the more awareness it has.”
“What do you do with that kind of ability?” Jen asked, looking fascinated.
“Well, since gemstones often take on the personalities of their owners, I can get a read on someone based on how their stone reacts, especially if they’re in their owner’s presence a lot. Plus, some have other properties, like healing, clarity, enhancing certain abilities, that kind of thing. Some stones are more powerful than others.” She ran a finger along the piercings on her right ear. “That’s why I wear so many of them. It’s not a fashion choice—it’s so I’ll have the stone I need when I need it. Wearing them works better for me than carrying them jumbled in a purse or pocket.”
“Really?” Mom asked, looking interested. “Can you look at a stone for me, tell me what you know?”
“Of course.”
Mom went into the other room and came back carrying a turquoise nugget on a chain. “Someone gave this to me and told me it would help with meditation, but when I wear it . . .”
Ivy took it in her hands and nodded. “The person who owned it before is a bit of a negative Nelly—bitter and angry.” She glanced apologetically at Mom. “That may not be the person who gave it to you, but the person who sold it.”
“Both—the woman who gave it to me sells gemstones. And you nailed her personality perfectly. You can tell that from the stone?”
“Yes—gemstones attune to our energies, then absorb them and send them back out into the world.”
“No wonder it didn’t help with mediation,” Mom said, frowning. “It jangles my nerves.”
“Can you cleanse it for her?” I asked.
“Sure,” Ivy said. “Many people who sell stones don’t realize that a simple cleansing will release any negativity the stone has.”
Mom and Rick exchanged one of those glances that couples do where they seem to read each other’s minds. Mom nodded, and Rick said, “The person who gave that to her supplies the gemstones for our new age store. They haven’t sold well at all, and we’ve been wondering why. Now we know. Is that cleansing something you can teach us?”
“Of course, no problem.”
Another married couple glance, then they both smiled, and Mom said, “Are you serious about moving to San Antonio?”
“Yes—I like it here,” Ivy said. “And Val has offered to let me be her roommate.”
“Excellent,” Rick said. “Are you looking for a place to set up shop?”
“I probably will. I kept some of the inventory.”
“How about selling at our store?”
“What a great idea,” Jen exclaimed.
Ivy looked taken aback, though I’d seen it coming. “You don’t even know me,” she protested.
“We’ve been thinking of expanding our inventory in that area,” Rick said.
Mom nodded. “Metaphysical stones are very popular in jewelry-making these days.”
“But why me?” Ivy protested.
“You just proved you understand gemstones and their properties far more than our current supplier,” Rick pointed out. “Besides, Val trusts you. And we trust her assessment.”
They did? News to me. Surprised and pleased, I asked, “You want her to be your supplier and cleanse your gemstones?” It wasn’t the same as a store of her own, but it was a start.
“At the very least,” Rick said. “You could label them with their properties, and we’d know they’d be clear of negative emotions. Or we could set aside a corner display case for you in the store where you could sell them yourself.”
Ivy’s eyes lit up. “That would be even better. I try to match people’s personalities with the right stone so they’ll be compatible, plus I design and repair jewelry.”
“I’m sure our customers would love that,” Mom said.
Ivy glanced at me, obviously wondering what I thought about it.
“Sounds like a great idea,” I said. “If it will be big enough for you—the rock shop you had in Sedona was pretty big, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, we had a lot of tourist traffic and did mail order. But I ran that with my parents, and it’s too much work for one person. This would be perfect, and I assume I wouldn’t have to be there all the time if I label the stones. Plus my parents are traveling the world collecting unique finds—they can help fill out the inventory.”
Jen’s eyes lit up. “You could teach me what you know, so I can sell them when you’re not there. And I’d love to learn how to make jewelry.”
I couldn’t even be jealous that my little sister was looking at Ivy like she was her new hero. Making jewelry out of pretty rocks was better than trying to slay vampires.
YEAH, Fang said with a doggie grin. BUT HOW WILL YOUR MOM REACT WHEN YOUR BABY SISTER WANTS TO GET ALL THOSE PIERCINGS LIKE IVY?
That’s their problem, I told him, suppressing a smile.
Mom smiled. “Not a bad idea. What do you say, Ivy? If you like the idea, you could come down to our shop tomorrow, take a look, and we can discuss consignment and sale options.”
“Sure,” Ivy said.
“Gre
at,” Mom said. “Val can show you where it is.” Then, over birthday cake, she ambushed me. “How are you doing, Val? I’m so sorry you and Shade didn’t work out. He was such a nice boy.”
Crap. I thought I’d escaped the inquisition. But Mom had set the kindling and lit the bonfire before I even saw her coming.
SUCK IT UP AND FRY, Fang said.
I shrugged. “I’m okay.” They wouldn’t understand anything that had happened, and I didn’t want to explain it to them. My new world was so far removed from this TV-perfect family that I didn’t want it to spill over and spoil them any more than it already had.
“Are you seeing anyone else?” Rick asked.
I shoved a large bite of cake into my mouth so I could stall while I wondered what to say. They probably wouldn’t understand why I was dating a vampire.
YA THINK?
After I swallowed, I lied, “Not really.” I hoped Ivy wouldn’t say anything. I should have thought to ask her not to mention Austin.
Luckily, her expression was very bland.
NAW, SHE’LL KEEP HER LIPS ZIPPED, Fang said. SHE UNDERSTANDS YOUR FAMILY MIGHT NOT BE COOL WITH YOU DATING A FANGBANGER.
I winced.
“Don’t worry,” Rick said, patting my hand. “You’ll find someone someday. No need to be in a hurry.”
I gave him a grateful smile and checked my watch before they could ask me anything else they really didn’t want to hear the answers to. “Oh, is it that late? I’m sorry, but we need to go. We have a . . . thing.”
WELL, THAT DOESN’T SOUND SUSPICIOUS AT ALL, Fang snarked.
“A meeting with Micah,” Ivy lied smoothly. “An Underground thing. He’s seeing us between sets at the club.”
Why did the lie sound so much easier to believe coming from her?
YOU COULD LEARN FROM HER.
Yeah. We helped Mom clear the table, then I hugged everyone goodbye, wished Jen a happy birthday again, and we left.
Once we were in Ivy’s car and heading away from there, she asked, “Are you okay? You seemed so quiet tonight. If you don’t like the idea of me working with your parents, I’ll just tell them I changed my mind.”
“No, it’s fine, really. I’m glad this can help you both out.”
VAL’S TELLING THE TRUTH, Fang told Ivy. SHE HASN’T LEARNED TO LIE AS WELL AS YOU DO.
I thought Ivy would be offended by that, but Fang obviously knew her better than I did. “Only to help a friend,” she said with a laugh. “It was obvious you were uncomfortable with your mom’s questions and wanted to leave.”
She cast me a curious glance, so I explained, “You’ve seen my lifestyle and theirs. Do you think the two are compatible in any way?”
“No, but they’re your family.”
“And that’s why I want to keep them as far away from vampires and bloodshed as I can. They’ve already had enough anguish because of me.” I wasn’t sure Mom would ever forgive me. “Tonight, everything was going so well, I didn’t want to spoil it.” Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t belong there anymore.”
“It’s more than that,” Ivy said. “You’ve been quiet all day. Did something bad happen last night?”
YOU COULD SAY THAT, Fang said drily.
I shot him an annoyed glance. Now I couldn’t even shrug it off and pretend everything was okay. “Kinda sorta.”
“You want to elaborate?”
Not really, but I sighed and decided to explain before Fang gave his version of events. “It’s just that there was more . . . bloodshed last night than I expected.” Killing vamps one-on-one seemed fair, equitable, when I knew they were evil and deserved to die. But setting them up for slaughter didn’t sit well with me, even when they clearly deserved it. It didn’t seem sporting, somehow. It made me feel too much like a monster myself.
THEY DESERVED TO DIE, Fang said. EVEN AUSTIN AGREED.
“I know, but it was the way it was done that bothered me,” I explained to Ivy. Her nonjudgmental silence gave the courage to add, “Sometimes . . . I feel like a monster myself. I mean, I know those guys deserved to die for what they did, but why did I have to be the executioner?”
“That’s not what’s really bothering you, is it?” Ivy asked softly.
“Partially.” But she was right—there was more. A lot more. “Those girls . . . gods, that was horrible.” The worst I’d ever seen, even if it was secondhand. “And when Austin asked me to hold those guys so they could slaughter them, I just did it, like it was perfectly normal. What kind of person does that?”
“It bothers you that he asked you to do it.”
“Yeah, I guess. Though I understand why,” I hurried to say. “I know no one means to treat me like their personal killing tool . . .” But Micah did it, too.
“But it turns out that way anyway, and it hurts.”
Yeah, Ivy did understand.
Fang licked my hand and snuggled up against me. I DO, TOO.
I rubbed his scruffy ears. Yeah, I know. Thanks.
“He’s not a bad person, you know,” Ivy added. “And neither are you.”
“I know. But what kind of existence is this for anyone?” Certainly not one I’d expected only six months ago. “Is it going to be this way the rest of my life? Wading in death, blood, and pain?” Would I get so used to it that it became normal? That I became like the monsters I slayed? I didn’t think I could do it.
“They ask this of you because you can do what no one else can do nearly so well. You’re special, Val. People need you, need your skills . . . your heart.”
I looked at her in disbelief.
“No, really. Your family, Micah, Austin—they all love you and know you’re the only one strong enough to take on the burdens you do. Your heart is big enough to take all this pain and death and sadness without turning dark yourself. Others don’t understand that and may resent you for your specialness, but they all respect you.”
“Really?” I wanted to believe her but wasn’t sure I could.
SHE’S TELLING THE TRUTH, Fang assured me.
“Yes—you’re giving everything you have to save your friends, people you don’t know, and the whole city. They need you, Val. You’re their hero.”
She probably meant that to make me feel good, but instead, it made me feel inadequate, as if I were carrying everyone’s hopes on my shoulders alone.
NOT ALONE, Fang reminded me with a nudge of his nose. I’LL HELP.
Thank heavens for that. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
PROBABLY DIE A LONELY, HORRIBLE DEATH, Fang speculated privately.
He made me laugh, which was probably his intention.
“What’s so funny?” Ivy asked.
“Oh, just Fang being Fang,” I explained, then sighed.
I JUST WISH YOUR FAMILY WOULD TREAT YOU LIKE THE HERO YOU ARE, INSTEAD OF LIKE A CRIMINAL, Fang said, sounding testy, broadcasting to both of us again.
“Yeah, me, too.”
SO WHY DO YOU KEEP RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME?
“Crime?” Ivy asked, looking confused.
THEIRS, Fang said. WHEN THEY KICKED HER OUT.
“They weren’t so bad tonight.” In fact, it had gone better than it had in months. Was it Ivy’s influence? Then again, after what happened at the farmhouse, their actions didn’t seem like all that much of a crime.
What Fang said suddenly registered. Wait. Was it possible that’s what Mike and Ike had done? Returned to the scene of the crime?
Chapter Twenty
Austin
AUSTIN STROLLED through HemisFair Park, along with about twenty other members of the Movement, looking for any sight of the elusive candy twins, as Val called them, and warning humans it wasn’t safe there this time of night. Most of the ones they warned weren’t exa
ctly innocents themselves, and though they might think they were badass, they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves against the type of predators the rogues had turned into.
They’d rousted a few rogues, but not the ones they’d been looking for.
Austin felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out. It wasn’t a text message from one of the members of the Movement as he’d expected, but a call from Val.
“Hello, darlin’,” he drawled and suppressed a grin. That particular greeting inevitably seemed to spark confusion in Val, and he loved seeing how a little affection turned the formidable Slayer into an adorable mass of conflicting hormones. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying over the phone when he couldn’t see the effect of his words, but he had an excellent imagination.
“Hi,” Val said, shaking off his attempt at discombobulating her all too easily. He’d just have to find another way to keep her off balance—it was turning out to be quite fun.
“How’d the visit with your family go?” he asked, continuing to stroll while keeping a watchful eye out for any rogues.
“Fine,” she said dismissively. “But something Fang said made me think. Did you leave anyone at the blood house in case Alejandro and Vincent came back?”
“No—we searched it thoroughly and found no sight of them. When they return, it’s most likely to be at the main mansion.”
“That’s what I thought,” Val said in satisfaction. “So why is Lola reading two men inside the blood house right now?”
Austin halted. “Two men? You’re thinking vandals? Or more of Emmanuel’s followers?”
“No. The rogues said Ike and Mike had gone to ground, someplace we’d never think of looking for them. What if they decided to return to the scene of the crime?”
It was just stupid enough to be possible. “You haven’t gone in yet, have you?” he asked urgently.
“No, Ivy is with me, so we parked a few houses down from the blood house, and I sneaked up to check it out.”
“Could I impose on you to wait until I get there before you go inside and tackle them on your own?” He knew she was perfectly capable of doing so, but this was one confrontation he wanted to be in on.
