by Zoey Kane
“I hope you can keep the hotel a while longer.” She stepped back. “The mayor expects that after they set up some sort of memorial for Isobel and Ted, that Hall Cemetery is going to bring more tourists. There would be more money then.”
“That would be wonderful.” Then, with an amused tone, he said, “My, you’ve been busy while on vacation. I’m surprised you have time for this.”
“For what?”
He pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her deeply. She let herself be swept away.
When he released her, she said airily, “You know, if I had known ol’ Dracula was really you, I wouldn’t have been so hard to get.”
“This is our goodbye,” he said. “We won’t get a chance in the morning. I’ll be deeply immersed in playing my part as the Count. For the guests, of course. Although Lenora and Beth know my secret, Federbal and Frank have no clue.”
“I understand.” She wasn’t too surprised to find out the Bingers knew. “You’re letting Frank stay the night again?”
“You let him off the hook. I suppose I can cut him a break, too.”
She nodded.
Kellen’s shimmering purple eyes centered on her with sudden emotion. “I want to tell you, I cherish the time we, Dracula and I, have had getting to know you. Both of us have fallen in love with you.”
Zo’s mouth tried to form words, but she soon found she was speechless.
“But my life is too complicated, Zo. I can’t pursue anything more. It wouldn’t be right.”
“Don’t worry about that,” she said, though her heart did sink a bit. “I wish you the best. But I was serious when I said we should keep in touch. I want to know how you’re doing from time to time.”
“I can do that. I would love that too. See you in the moonlight, my lovely.”
He escorted her back to the castle with an arm out like a gentleman. Now that it was Kellen, and not his old counterpart, his black robes looked rather suave and sexy on him as he moved.
“Kellen—just a thought,” Zo said, strolling up his castle’s drive.
“Yes?”
“If you are a real vampire, would that mean so is Lacey?”
“Not if my brother was never bit. Lacey would have no blood relation to the toothy-but-charming—to put it in her words—‘Old Drooly.’”
They smiled over that.
“Also, Kellen…”
“Yes, my darlink?”
“I would advise you get a bug man into the studio, castle, and your house.”
He paused his steps and looked confused. “I’m not having any ant or spider problems that I know of.”
“I know. But your obsessive stalker has your places bugged.”
“Really! I would have never guessed that she could go that far…”
EPILOGUE
As Zoey and Claire lay in bed that evening, remembering all the scary, fun and romantic moments they’d had while on vacation, a deep mellow bell rang.
They sat up in their blankets, alarmed.
“Is there somebody in the church?” Zo asked.
“No. Everyone had to leave.” Claire looked at her cell phone’s time. “It’s after one o’ clock, and you and I saw that everything was locked up tight, even guarded.”
They jumped out of bed and stared out their window. They could see the chapel in the darkness. A guard quickstepped along its wall. His flashlight beamed up at the tower. Another guard appeared from around the corner. They were both shrugging their shoulders at each other, as if confused.
Then the bell rang again. DONG.
Claire softly said in wonder, “This bell should never joyfully chime until what I’ve lost is again mine.”
DONG.
That made sense to Zo. “The message from Isobel in the tower…”
DONG.
It continued ringing
Claire said, “Isobel and her love are together.”
“Yes.” Zo dabbed at her eyes with a sleeve, and Claire followed suit.
The End.
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Z & C Mysteries:
The Riddles of Hillgate, Book 1
Cruise to Murder, Book 2
Hexes and X’s, Book 3
Legend of The Lost, Book 4
A Grave Situation, Book 5
