by Mila Young
I sighed, smirking. "What about her?"
"She... didn't die of a coronary. She was murdered."
My breath caught in my chest, and I shook my head, trying to make sense of his statement.
"What?"
"Do you need me to repeat myself?"
"No. I just... how did it happen? What happened? I mean, you obviously cared for her quite a bit, so did you kill the people responsible?"
He pulled his hand away from me, lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling. "No. I couldn't."
"What, were they out of your reach?"
"Yes, and... no. They are within my little realm of influence, but..."
"But what? Why are they still around?"
"Moira made a deal with the vampires," he said, sounding exasperated. "They made similar demands of her to clear the contract that we made, and... well, she could not deliver."
I narrowed my eyes, inching closer to him on the bed. "What... what are you getting at?"
"That is why I didn't want you to make a deal with the vampires. And it is why I will help you. I can't lose anyone else that I care about."
I wanted to smile at hearing that he admitted to caring, except my insides were iced over to hear the vampires killed my auntie. And I just made a deal with them for an impossible payment.
God. Were they going to kill me too?
Chapter 13
It probably wasn't the best idea to head back into town, but there were things that I needed to sort out, and I couldn't do them with Rog around.
I did know that he was a distraction that would have my mind on anything but the matter at hand.
"Why, Moira?" I whispered. "Were you tricked into a contract like I was, or were you actually trying to find something? Were you looking for something in particular?"
There was no answer in the gentle morning wind whipping across the farmland.
"I'm not just talking to myself," I announced, looking around. "I mean, I know that your ghost was probably a trick to get me out of New York and into this vampire paradise, but on the off-chance that you're actually a ghost and hanging around here, I could really use a little help. A hint, something? Anything?"
I looked around the open plains, taking a deep breath. Nothing was different, aside from the lowing from a few distant cows. Of course, Moira wasn't there to hear me. It had all been a trick, a lie, all just to get me to this fucking place, for whatever reason.
As the silence continued, I shook my head, dropping down onto my haunches on the side of the road, letting my hair fall down in front of my face.
Sure, the whole place was as deserted as it could be, but I still didn't want anyone to see the tears rushing down from my eyes. There was nothing for me to do but look around and wait, all while hoping that something would work out for me in the end. That I wouldn’t be killed.
A plan. I needed a plan. A way to get out of this. Desperation clung to me. I didn't know how I would get out of the agreement that I had with the vampires, but maybe if there was another way of breaking the contract, I would be able to avoid any price that I would have to pay anyone else.
But if this was the same thing that Moira had been looking into, maybe they weren't going to take my leaving them without their hundred barrels of wine.
Rog said that they killed my aunt because she couldn't pay them what they wanted. Or maybe it was because she wouldn't. Maybe she had tried to find another way, and they didn't like it.
"This," I growled. "This is why I left the whole magical community behind. Give anyone that much power and it always goes to their heads. All this fucking drama is going to make me have white hair."
I laughed at myself, hoping that there was nobody else around to hear me still conversing with myself. Aside from a couple of animals that were starting to wander through.
"Of course, I can't be sure if they actually are animals," I muttered. "Any skin walkers around here? Anybody getting their jollies off watching some random woman on the street?"
There was, of course, no telling if they would even speak to me. Or if they even spoke English.
"You're getting paranoid in your old age, Nessie." I looked around one more time to make sure that I wasn't being followed before continuing on my way.
All the way down to the village again.
It was a little difficult to force one step in front of the other knowing what the place was. Not that I had anything against fae; they had more than proven themselves willing to live and let live, as dangerous as they were. Still, with everything that I knew, just wandering in like a girl in a red hoodie was going to get me killed.
Bram was the first to see me, as usual, waving his hands to grab my attention. I shifted my eyes around, and I certainly could see that the rest of the villagers were watching me a little more closely than before.
That meant that the news about what happened had gotten around. Bram already set a seat out for me, urgently motioning for me to come.
"Did they tell you?" he asked, pouring a mug of tea for me. "They named their price?"
"Yeah," I answered, taking the mug. "But it's... it's not one that I'll be able to pay. They want a hundred casks of wine from the Cloris vineyard."
"Not difficult. The Cloris vineyard has produced many casks of wine in the past."
"Not in a long time." I took a sip from the tea, which was surprisingly making me feel better. "The place has gone to waste over the past few decades. I would need... years to get it back to that sort of production. All the vines are dead."
Bram nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I did not know that they would be quite so... demanding."
"What happens if I don't give them what they want?"
"So long as you do not attempt to leave before you have paid them. I... they are dangerous. I should have known that they would make it difficult for you."
"Is it because I'm a witch?" I asked.
He shook his head. "We have had witches come and go from this place. The vampires are powerful but would not want to anger witches to the point of retaliation. I am not sure the entirety of Transylvania would survive that sort of battle. This... is something else. Did they want something else, other than the wine?"
"No. They just wanted me to provide one drop of blood in each barrel."
"Not unusual, for a vampire." Bram shook his head. "I will help. I feel responsible. I am the one who told you to meet with them."
"Not that I don't appreciate any help I can get, but how are you going to help me?" I asked.
"I have no skills with the growing of vines, but I can help in other ways. If you need help with that, I suggest you speak to the dryad." He nodded his head over to the stall across from his, to the small, petite woman spraying water on the plants that she had brought for sale.
"I get the impression that she doesn't like me," I said softly, reaching out and scratching behind Dracul's ear, eliciting a low whine from the beast as he rolled over onto his belly.
"She does not like most anyone that walks around on two legs, but she does love plants. If anything, she will be happy to help you if only to keep you from ruining the seedlings that you asked from her before."
"Right," I whispered, looking over the woman. "Do you think I should speak to her now?"
"The sooner the better."
I nodded, standing up from my seat and walking over to where the dryad was still caring for her plants.
"Hi," I said, clearing my throat as the word came out a little softer than I intended. "We've never met. My name is Nilsa Kane, I'm—"
"The witch living with the demon," the woman replied curtly without so much as looking at me. "I know what you are, if not who. I am Emilia Cretu. I assume that Bram's big mouth already told you what I am as well?"
"Sure," I whispered, looking around. "I have no quarrel with fae. I spent a lot of time among them while I was growing up, although they were from the US, so I'm not sure I know of any customs or particulars that you want me to abide by. If I offend y
ou, I hope you know that it is not my intent."
Cretu sighed, shaking her head before putting the spray bottle down on her stall. "I never was particular about customs and traditions. Respect is a universal language, and I understand it. I know that you do not mean to anger me. Just do not expect me to be happy about talking to you."
I nodded. "I'm sorry you feel that way."
"I understand that you spoke with our elders," Cretu continued, picking the spray bottle back up and continuing to care for her plants. "What did they ask of you?"
"They asked me to provide them with one hundred casks of wine from my vineyard, which I don't need to tell you is... impossible."
"Not impossible," Cretu cut in sharply. "Only unlikely. You asked if I would be able to grow you some seedlings for you to plant once the land is ready to receive them, yes?"
I only nodded.
"I can see to it that the earth is receptive to the seedlings that I have begun to cultivate. I will not have them starve on unwelcoming soil."
"That is appreciated, but you should know that I don't have that much money to spare to pay you for that kind of service," I answered quickly, shifting my gaze around nervously. "There would be... I mean, I have some money, but not a lot."
"We can negotiate a price for the seedlings once they are ready to be planted," the dryad muttered. "And I can look over your land without pay. Gratis, as humans say."
If there was anything that I'd learned in my life, it was that nothing in the world was ever going to be free.
"Why would you help me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Suffice it to say that you are not the only one tricked into an impossible contract with those damn vampires," Cretu answered quietly, still not looking me in the eye as she continued to look after her plants.
"Oh," I grunted, looking down at the ground. I'd almost neglected the fact that these people had been dealing with the same vampires for centuries. "Thank you."
"I will be at the vineyard come the morning sun," she grumbled. "Now go. I need to prepare for the first bus coming soon."
Chapter 14
The sun was barely starting to peek up on the eastern horizon, but I was already out of the house, sitting on the porch, sipping a warm cup of coffee.
There was a lot of work to do, but I had been told to await a specialist of some repute, and that was what I was going to do. I knew a couple of things about getting a farm to produce, but acting like I knew how to produce wine grapes better than a centuries-old servant of the forests would be supremely arrogant of me.
Rog was nowhere to be found this early in the morning. I didn't even know if he was sleeping inside the house, except when he did so in my bed. That hadn't happened last night, and after dinner, he had disappeared, not telling me where he was going or why he was heading out.
Still, I wasn't his keeper. The demon could go wherever he liked. Even better if him going out of range would somehow void whatever I owed him from the contract that he'd tricked me into signing.
It wasn't long after I finished my coffee before I could see a woman walking toward the entrance. I couldn't say that I was surprised that a dryad would object to owning a vehicle, but it did beg the question of how she carried her produce to and from her little stall in town.
I wasn't going to ask her about it, of course. Firstly, because it really wasn't my business how she managed to get around, and secondly because I didn't want to somehow offend her. She’d made it clear that she was more interested in the spirit of respect than the letter of it, but I had a feeling that would come to an abrupt end if I started prying into her personal life.
She moved through the property, inspecting the grounds closely. At one point, she even dropped down onto her haunches, running her fingers through the dirt and sniffing it before brushing her hands clean on her pants.
I stood when she approached the terrace, although she showed no sign of recognition, still looking over the property. She looked like she had a rather permanent scowl on her face, but it was rather deeper now than it had been the day before.
"Hi," I said, waving my hand in greeting awkwardly. "Thanks again for coming. I don't think I'd be able to do much without your help."
"I can see why," she answered, clearing her throat and turning to look at me. "I was not aware that the place was allowed to deteriorate so. I see your problem is a little worse than I expected."
"Do you still think it's possible, but improbable?"
She smiled, which was the first time I'd seen her try that. "You should remember how powerful the earth is. Never underestimate its ability to recover over time. Even more powerful when it has a little help."
"That is what Rog said, that this place had all the potential in the world. Of course, he did trick me into a contract with him, so I didn't really put much thought into what he had to say."
"A wise approach. Demons are untrustworthy creatures by nature."
"Have you known him to break his word?" I asked.
"No, but... the word must be studied, because it will be the sort that will betray you while maintaining honesty. Does that make sense?"
I shrugged. "Sort of. I mean, I get what you're saying, even if that isn't really the... clearest way to go about it."
Cretu nodded. "I assume that the demon has no intention of helping with the transformation of this place? It would not suit him if he intends to keep you here."
"He said that he would help. That he didn't want another person that he cares about dying at the hand of the vampires. Do you know what he is talking about?"
"Vampires are dangerous creatures," Cretu answered cryptically. "Sometimes even more so than demons. But it is good that he offered to help. I would not want to work on his land with him attempting to stop it."
"I don't want the vampires to claim another soul in this place."
I hadn't heard Rog approaching, but I snapped around in place, feeling a heat spreading to my fingers before I realized that he'd been sneaking up on us, although Cretu did not look like she had missed his approach.
"Good to see you again, dryad," Rog said, dressed up in tailored pants and a button up shirt. "It has been too long."
"I wish I could say that the feeling was mutual, demon," she answered, taking a deep breath. "How is it that you intend to help with the rebuilding of this place?"
"In any way I can."
"And you will not interfere or sabotage it in any way?"
Rog shook his head. "No, I will not interfere or sabotage in any way. As I told her, having her freed from her contract is better than dying at the hands of those bastards."
Cretu was eyeing him like she didn't quite believe what he was saying, but she flicked her graying hair back behind her ear and shook her head.
"We'll need to start work immediately," she said, looking down at the ground. "Churning and fertilizing the earth should not take long, not for me, but driving all the... foulness from around here should be the most challenging. Once there, we can begin the process of regrowing the vines and allowing them to produce the fruit required. Under normal circumstances, you would be waiting for three years for the vines to produce their fruit, but by that time, you would already be dead."
I shuddered at the thought. "I guess you have a way of... speeding the process up?"
"Considerably. A few weeks, as a matter of fact. Of course, from there it would require the process of crushing or pressing the grapes, allowing them to ferment, and then transferring them to the casks—at which point I assume you'll add your blood—and you can hand it over to them to choose how they wish to age and bottle it. You could even speak with your friend Bram to see if he would be willing to help speed up the fermentation process. I must warn you, however: The first crop will not be enough to produce a hundred casks. The second might, but it would be a rush to do so."
"We don't need a hundred casks," Rog interrupted.
"Uh... no, we kind of do," I said, looking around at the demon.
"Well, yes. But
I mean that we don't need a hundred for the first crop. We already have forty casks in our cellars, left over from when we were still producing, still some of the finest wine ever produced in this country. All it would need is a drop of your blood for each one and they would be ready to turn over. And I have been working to repair the wine presses. They should be ready in a week or so, once the new parts arrive. Would the first crop be able to produce sixty casks?"
"Possibly. But unlikely. Young vines can only give so much fruit. A second crop would be ready to produce in another few weeks."
The both of them appeared to know a lot about the process. A timeline was starting to come together, and despite her dislike of him, Cretu appeared more and more excited about getting the place working again. I still had no idea how much money all this would cost.
Nobody would be helping me out of the kindness of their hearts, and since they were under the thumbs of the vampires as much as I was, they would not be too overt in thumbing their noses at them.
"I have a question," I whispered, looking around the whole place, narrowing my eyes.
Both turned to look at me, stopping their excited planning.
"What do you need to know?" Cretu asked.
"Just the simple matter of how long it'll be until they come around to collect," I answered.
The two exchanged a look, with the small dryad flipping her hair. At least she had enough of a tell to show me when she was feeling anxious.
"That is a good question," Rog said, rubbing his temples. "I suppose they did not tell you when themselves?"
"No. And I didn't think to ask either. Not really the sort of thing you pick up on and... well, they said that it would be my choice whether I would take the deal or not."
"They always do," Cretu growled. "And they always come to collect regardless."
There was little for me to do after that. Cretu sat down cross-legged in the middle of the vineyard, closing her eyes and not allowing for any interruptions. When I tried to get working on churning the soil again, she just glared at me until I stopped.
