by Zoe Arden
"Is this supposed to be making me feel better?"
"Hey, Trixie only gave me a few general bits of information. She didn't get into the nitty gritty. I had no idea what I was stepping into here."
Aha! So, it was Trixie who'd called her.
"I want to be alone."
"You want to sulk."
"Yes. That, too."
"Ava, it's not too late to fix this."
"How?"
"Colt cares about you. Just talk to him. Make him understand why you did what you did." She paused. "Why did you do those things?"
"Because..." I was that close to telling Lucy about Melbourne. I'd already told Colt though and look what had happened. I'd made a mess of things. There was a tap on my window. Lucy and I turned toward it but there was nothing there.
"What was that?" Lucy asked.
I shrugged. "Probably just the wind. I'm on the second floor. What else could it be?"
"True."
But then I saw two eyes staring at me through the darkness. I jumped out of bed.
"What's wrong?" Lucy asked, turning to look behind her, where my eyes were fixed.
"Nothing. I just realized how late it is." I grabbed my phone off the end table. "Look! It's almost nine."
Lucy was looking at me like I had mustard smeared across my face. "So?"
"So, you should get home. I... I need to rest. I want to think over what you said." I practically shoved her out my door.
"Are you sure you're all right?" she asked.
"Yep. Right as rain."
"I've never understood that expression. How is rain right?"
"Google it and let me know what you find. Tomorrow. For tonight, I need my beauty sleep. And so do you."
"What does that mean? Are you saying I look tired?" Lucy wasn't vain, exactly, just conscious of her looks. I felt guilty for playing into that but had no choice.
"No, those bags under your eyes are perfectly natural. Anyone could get them. Even someone your age."
"I'm only twenty-three," she said.
"Yeah, I know. That's practically halfway to thirty."
"You're saying I'm old? You're the same age as me."
"Not yet. But I will be in a couple of months. For now, at least, I still have my looks." I squinted at her, scrunching my whole face up into a tight little ball. "Are you sure those bags are normal? They look kind of gray. Maybe it's just the crow's feet throwing me off."
"Crow's feet!" Lucy screamed.
That finally did the trick. She dashed out the front door, declaring that she had to get a full eight hours sleep tonight. Maybe even nine or ten. When she found out the truth, I was going to owe her big for scaring her like that.
I went back to my room. Melbourne was already inside, waiting for me.
"I thought she'd never leave," he said. "Lucy always did like to talk. I don't suppose you know how Coffee Cove is doing without me?"
"It's fine," I said. "Never been better." His mouth thinned but otherwise he remained expressionless. I stood with my arms folded across my chest, tapping my foot on the floor.
"Something wrong?" Melbourne asked.
"You scared the bejeezus out of me! That's what's wrong!"
"I don't have another way to see you except to show up. I can't speak to you when others are around. I explained that."
"Yeah, but you can trust Lucy. You know that."
"Lucy would never harm a fly, but she likes to gossip."
My lips were dry. I tried wetting them but my mouth was even drier. "Melbourne, I need to tell you something."
"Did you get my book?" he asked hopefully.
"No."
"Ava, it's of dire importance that I have it."
"Well, then, maybe you should have told me where you hid it. I went to your house but couldn't find it anywhere."
"Yes, you see, the thing is... I don't quite remember."
"You don't remember?!"
"No. I was in a hurry to get away from Vlaski before he came for me. I knew I had to put it somewhere no one else would find it..." He shrugged.
"Do you remember what room it's in at least?"
"The bedroom," he said, sounding certain.
"I looked there."
"Oh. The living room?"
I sighed. "Melbourne, how am I supposed to find it if you don't even know where it's at? What's so important about this book anyway? It has something to do with the Cult of V, right?"
"Who told you about them?"
"Esther Winslet."
Melbourne's face tensed. "You spoke with Esther?"
"That's right. I got a better look at Forgotten Spells and Lineages and found your family in there. Who's been updating that book anyway?"
"I have," Melbourne said softly.
"Why?"
"I just didn't want the old families to be forgotten."
"Esther said you tried to give her the book before you died."
"I thought it would be safe. That no one would even think to look for it with her. But she refused to take it." Melbourne eyed me suspiciously. "Who else did you talk to?"
I knew this was coming. I had to tell him. "Colt. I... I told him you were still alive."
His eyes turned from suspicious to angry. "Why would you do that? I specifically told you not to."
"Yeah, well, people seem to be forgetting lately that I'm not a trained poodle. I don't do everything that I'm told the second that I'm told."
"You don't understand. Colt is already in danger. This puts him at even greater risk."
"Why? Does Vlaski want Colt dead? What does this have to do with his dad or the book?"
Melbourne was shaking his head. "It's more than just a book, Ava. It's a map of their movements. I've been tracking them for decades. I have photographs. Addresses. In that book, Ava, I have a list of every known member of the gang, from Vlaski all the way down. It's evidence."
Finally, things were starting to make sense. "So, that book could actually get Vlaski locked up?"
"Exactly."
"Why didn't you use it sooner, then?"
"I had just finished compiling the last piece of evidence I needed when Vlaski showed up. I lied when I told you that I asked him to come to help me with Pennyweather. I'm sorry. I didn't want to scare you. The truth is, Vlaski found me. That day you showed up at my house, he'd just threatened me and everyone I loved if I didn't give him the book."
"So, you faked your death?"
"Yes, and I waited until I thought it was safe to come back. But Vlaski knows I'm alive."
"How?"
"It's not nearly as easy to fool a vampire as it is a human or a witch. No offense."
I thought of Lucy. "None taken." My mind was racing now. "So why is Colt in danger? I know Vlaski killed his father. We know about Russell's undercover work, too, but what does any of that have to do with Colt? Colt doesn't know anything about the Cult of V that isn't already out there."
"It's not as simple as that. Colt's father—"
The door to my room opened just then. "Ava, did Lucy come by—" Trixie stopped in the doorway, her feet motionless. Her face expressionless. Melbourne and I had been so engrossed in our talk we hadn’t even heard her enter.
She blinked once, twice, then kept blinking. She finally turned to me. "Am I hallucinating or is Melbourne standing beside you?"
"You're not hallucinating."
Her face crumpled, and her eyes began to water.
"Hello, Trixie," Melbourne said. "I'm back."
* * *
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
.
.
.
* * *
* * *
.
Trixie's knees buckled. Her eyes fluttered. She fell face first toward the floor. Melbourne moved so fast that I didn't even see him until Trixie was already in his arms. He lifted her off the ground and carried her to my bed.
Part of me wanted to run and get Eleanor. She was probably downstairs and would want to know what was going on. Bu
t somehow, I thought Trixie might not want that. If I were her, I'd want a minute to process everything before everyone else started asking questions. I was positive that Trixie would have a few questions of her own.
"I'll just get some water," I told Melbourne. He nodded silently and held her hand as her eyes opened and tried to focus. "Be right back."
I hurried downstairs. Snowball darted out in front of me. I almost tripped over her.
"Has Mama seen Tootsie? Snowball is 'it.' "
"No, Snowy. Sorry."
I grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water, then added a couple of ice cubes. Snowball was watching me. I suddenly realized how quiet it was in the house.
"Is Eleanor here?" I asked.
"No. Auntie went to fiancé's house. Auntie says she'll be staying there from now on."
I'd almost completely forgotten Eleanor's announcement that she was moving out after the wedding. Melbourne either had the best timing showing up right now, or the worst. It depended on Trixie's reaction. I started toward the stairs.
"Snowball smells vampire," she suddenly said.
I stopped on the first step. "You can smell vampire?"
"Sometimes," Snowy said.
"It depends."
"On what?"
Tootsie suddenly zipped by. She turned her head and stuck her tongue out at Snowball, who took off after her.
"Can't catch Tootsie," Tootsie cried.
"Oh, yes, Snowball can," my familiar meowed back at her. They zipped out of sight, and I headed back to my room.
Trixie was sitting up when I came in. Melbourne's hand was caressing her cheek. He quickly pulled away and Trixie blushed. I handed her the water.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Like I'm dreaming."
"Would that be a good dream or a bad one?" Melbourne asked.
She lifted her blue eyes to his.
"Good," she said. "Very good."
"But confusing, I imagine," Melbourne said. She nodded. "I wanted to tell you what was going on, but I didn't want to endanger you."
"So, you endangered my niece instead?" Her voice had an edge to it that I hadn't often heard.
"It's... complicated. Ava was already indirectly involved."
"With what? How?"
"I'd like to know that myself. I still don't think you've told me everything."
"Believe me, Ava, you're safer not knowing all the details. I'm only telling you what you need to know to get by."
"I'm getting tired of hearing that keeping me in the dark is for my benefit. You came to me, remember? You asked for my help."
"Melbourne." Trixie rose from the bed and, despite her funky peach-colored dress and leopard-skin tights, she made a formidable figure. It had to do with the way her eyes darkened and her cheeks began to glow a violent shade of purple.
"I want you to tell me what is going on," Trixie said. She stared hard at Melbourne. "Now. Or I'll call Sheriff Knoxx and let him decide what details are and are not important."
"Trixie, you don't understand. I'm in danger." He shook his head. His dark hair fell to his shoulders. Every time he shook his head, it looked like there was a fan blowing on him. "Not just me, the whole world."
"How?"
"I thought the Cult of V was over. Finished. Its members had all died out and with them, their dreams of enslavement. But I was wrong."
I was watching Trixie's face for any sign that she was about to cast a spell and turn Melbourne into a rat. Witch's spells didn't work the same on vampires, though. Instead of a rat, he might turn into a roach or a strawberry.
"You mean that the Cult of V is still together?" Trixie asked.
"Not just together. They have an actual plan. A viable plan. Something that I think might actually work."
"What is it?" Trixie and I asked at the same time.
Melbourne's face was grim. "Water," he said simply.
Trixie and I looked at each other. Confused. "Water?" I asked.
"Everyone needs it. Not just humans. Not just witches. But every living creature." He took hold of Trixie's shoulders, locking eyes with her. "Every living creature."
"Oh, my roses," Trixie said. "You mean that they plan to infect the drinking water?"
"Rivers... lakes... oceans."
"With what?" I cried. "Poison?"
"Not poison. Venom."
I gasped. "Colt told me about that. It tranquilizes you, right? So you don't fight back."
"Which is exactly what they want," Melbourne said. "Once they have everyone sedated, they can start to manipulate them."
"But how can they get to so much water?" I asked. "There's only a small number of vampires and an even smaller number of V members."
"Ava," Melbourne said, smiling. "One thing vampires have is time."
"This is terrible," Trixie said.
"I wish I had something good to follow it with," Melbourne replied.
"Oh!" Trixie suddenly shouted. "I almost forgot. Wait right here!" She hurried out of the room, leaving the door wide open.
Trixie returned a minute later. "Blood sausage cake with O-negative frosting," she declared, handing Melbourne a pink cake box. His mouth opened in excitement. He took his pointer finger and ran it along the edge of the cake, gathering the frosting, then put it in his mouth.
"Oh wow," he said, looking at Trixie. "You made this?" She nodded happily. "It's delicious."
"Do you really like it?" She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"It's the best-tasting thing I've ever eaten. Thank you."
"I'm so glad you like it. I've been trying to sell them at the bakery but nobody seems to like them."
"Well, I love it."
The front door opened downstairs, and my dad's voice call up to us. "Ava? You home?"
I hesitated a second before responding. "Up here, Dad."
Trixie gave me a look but I shrugged. What was I supposed to do?
"Don't worry," Melbourne told her. "I'll be back. Make sure and save me another one of these cakes."
"I will," she said. Then Melbourne took his box and jumped out the open window, disappearing.
* * *
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
.
.
.
* * *
* * *
.
Trixie was in a surprisingly good mood this morning. Well, not so surprising to me, but surprising to everyone else. After weeks of moping around and baking blood-infused pastries, she had come into work today acting as though she'd gotten the best night of sleep ever. She'd even opened the shop early.
"Well, someone woke up on the right side of the bed," my dad said when we walked into Mystic.
Trixie had already lined the shelves with tins of sugar teardrop cookies and chocolate cheesecake wonders. The display cases were filled with lemon poppy peppy bars and super-seeded sensory bagels. The whole place smelled of sugar and cinnamon and everything good.
"Yes,” Eleanor agreed. “What's gotten into you?"
"Me?" Trixie asked in mock surprise. "Why nothing. Nothing at all." She winked at me when no one was looking.
Trixie went into the back and returned a minute later with a plateful of rich-looking dark chocolate brownies and double chocolate muffins with drizzled caramel.
"Try one," she said, beaming proudly at us.
My father and Eleanor looked at them uncertainly.
"They certainly look delicious," my father offered.
"Yes, they do..." Eleanor agreed.
Trixie laughed. "Don't worry. no O-negative blood in these anywhere."
Eleanor's expression softened. She and my father each grabbed one and dug in, but I held back. I knew Trixie better than to trust her food, especially after Melbourne's proclamations of her blood sausage cake being the best thing he'd ever eaten.
"Delicious!" Eleanor proclaimed.
"Amazing!" my father agreed.
"AB positive!" Trixie yelled triumpha
ntly.
Eleanor and my father stopped chewing and looked at each other. My father shrugged then shoved the rest of the brownie into his mouth. Eleanor gaped at him.
"What?" he asked when he was done licking his fingers. "Good food is good food. And that was to die for."
Eleanor smiled but I noticed that when Trixie's head was turned, she folded her brownie into a napkin and set it deep inside the trash can.
With the morning prep already done, I had extra time to go through my mood extracts. Eleanor, Trixie, and my father stayed out front and opened the doors, while I went through my things and made a list of what we were low on, out of, and had way too much of. It was good therapy. It was also a really good distraction.
Colt was ever present in my mind. He had completely ceased returning any of my phone calls or texts. I had no idea how I was going to fix his getting fired, but I knew that I had to do something. I'd thought about calling Dean, but was afraid that would only make things worse.
My dad had asked me about what happened. He liked Colt and didn't like the idea of him being bullied by Dean Lampton.
"I went to school with Dean," my dad said. "Maybe I can put in a good word."
I shook my head, thanking him. But the only thing worse than me talking to Dean Lampton would be sending my dad to do the talking for me. Colt would not be happy with that. No, if I was going to get Colt his job back and find a way to convince him to give me a second chance, I was going to have to prove that Dean Lampton was hiding something.
I chewed on the end of my pen, wondering if this was a job for Snowball. She had an amazing ability to sneak into places unnoticed by anyone, and she'd helped me with investigations before. Not that I was investigating, per se, more like... developing my powers of observation.
I looked down at my list. Empty: exhilaration, energy, and nerves of steel. Almost empty: joy, satisfaction, cheer. Never running out again: tenderness, delight, hope. I sighed and set to work. It was going to be a busy morning. Sometimes that was when my best ideas came to me though. When I was busy not thinking about the problem I was trying to solve.
