by Ruby Raine
“I’ll be sure to stay extra out of the way today,” Emily promised. “Actually, I might close up early and head home. Dad’s was sounding tired when I talked to him a bit ago. I want to spend some time with him, and it’s been slow here anyway. I think the entire town is glued to their TV’s or phones today.”
“Going home early sounds like a good plan, Em. I’d feel so much better knowing you’re out of harm’s way. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to figure out what’s going on around here, but I’ll call you later, okay.”
“You be careful too. I’ll talk to you later,” she said. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Em. Bye.”
Emily handed William back his phone but William was staring into nothing, his emerald eyes burning with thought.
“Wow!” exclaimed Lizzy. “I can practically see that vampire brain of yours churning inside your head. What are you thinking?”
“Something Michael said to Emily. Sorry,” he aimed at her. He’d heard their entire conversation.
“Eh, we’re all kind of used to you hearing everything, William. I’m more sorry for you, and everything you’re forced to hear.”
“Yes, well, it can’t be helped I suppose. But something Michael said about a wild goose chase... it suddenly seems a bit strange to me that we’re all finding ourselves preoccupied. One sighting after another. Always in different locations. If I were not charged with investigating the Soul Hunter, I’d be assisting in these sightings as well.”
“You mean, someone’s keeping you busy for a reason?” realized Emily.
“A diversion,” whispered Lizzy. “For what purpose?”
“I believe that is the new question of the day,” said William. “One I fear we might not discover the answer to, until it is too late.”
“Should we warn the others?” asked Emily.
“Yes. It’s time we regrouped. Are you still planning on closing up early, Emily?”
“Yeah. I want to check in on my dad. But if you guys need any help, just holler. And I’ll keep my eye on that blog, too.”
“What’s a blog?” asked Lizzy.
Emily rolled her eyes. “You guys really should consider taking a class.”
Lizzy frowned. “Do they have a class where I can just magically learn everything I don’t know? I swear, it’s going to take me the rest of my life to catch up. I thought I picked up a lot when I was a ghast, but as it turns out, I’ve missed more than I can possibly ever learn.”
“You’d have to ask the Howards if there’s a magical solution,” responded Emily with a chuckle.
“There is no such thing,” informed William. “Do you think I would not use it on myself if it were possible?” He held up the phone.
“Right,” said Lizzy. “I suppose this is where we part ways, William?”
“Yes.” William smiled politely.
“You take all the time you need to think about what we discussed. Although I already know your answer, so I’ll see you around.” Lizzy tossed him a wink, to which he just shook his head in bemused acceptance. A friend. Someone that didn’t fit in these modern times much better than himself. Someone that admitted to basically spying on him for years. Someone he did find amusing. And interesting. And witty. And could put up with his temperament. Although he would outright refuse to ever agree he brooded. And she’d absolutely have to stop purposely pushing every button that riled him.
Emily eyed the two of them suspiciously.
“Would you like company on your journey home, Emily?” Lizzy asked, tearing her gaze away from the wary vampire.
“Company would be nice,” she agreed with a smile. “I’ll tell you all about blogs.”
“Oh, fun.”
William waited until Emily had closed up the bookstore and she and Lizzy were ready to leave. They said their goodbyes and separated.
William walked through the bustling streets making his way towards the mansion. He listened to the buzz of voices, almost all discussing the sightings. His mind sorted through all the details, piecing together what might be happening.
If it was a distraction, what were they missing? What was happening that they were not supposed to notice? And was it even about the Howards? Or something else?
He came to a stop across the street from the Wicked Muddy Cafe, where his nose unexpectedly caught the appetizing scent of Melinda Howard. He glanced over, seeing her alongside Lucas and Riley. They were just coming out of the café with coffees in hand, most likely headed toward the mansion. William made to join them and then stalled, unsure whether he should approach or just return home.
Melinda was nearly home; she’d make it fine from here. She was safe.
Arms waving caught his attention. Melinda had caught him gawking and smiled wide, waving him over. The scowl etched on Riley’s face when he saw her excitement pleased William more than he cared to admit. He strode across and joined them, not wishing to appear distant or rude.
“Hey,” she called out when he was near. “I was just saying goodbye to these guys, decided to grab another coffee. Got a feeling it’s going to be a long night.”
“You’re all okay?” William asked them, although his gaze did not leave Melinda.
“Yeah. All good,” she said lightheartedly. “Right guys?”
“All good,” agreed Lucas.
Riley didn’t reply. Melinda noticed him eyeing William with a spiteful look in his eye.
“Riley?” she called out, hoping to get his attention off William and back on her.
“Um, yeah,” he finally answered. “Everything’s fine,” he mumbled.
“Are you really really sure you’re okay?” she asked him for the umpteenth time.
They had taken Riley for a checkup at the hospital and the doctor had given him the all clear, but Melinda still felt like something was off. She breathed out nervously. Just how was she supposed to deal with a boyfriend that was endlessly jealous of her best friend, confidant, and co-worker? And the second man you’re secretly in love with, who stars in steamy dreams I cannot stop from having.
Regardless of it all, the point being, William wasn’t going anywhere.
Riley still didn’t answer her, so she called out his name again, more forcefully this time.
“You can stop asking me how I am,” he responded coldly. “Like you really care.”
Melinda’s mouth fell open, shocked by his bitter response. Her heart stammered almost to a stall. Lucas even gave his brother a what the hell, glare.
William stared him down, his eyes flashing a dark warning at the young man. Riley didn’t flinch. If anything, his stance hardened, almost like he was preparing to fight the vampire.
Melinda closed her mouth and fought back tears. Something wasn’t right. Or maybe it was. She and Riley had been dating a few weeks now; there was so much she didn’t know about him. Maybe this was normal for him, she had no idea.
No. Lucas said he didn’t normally act like this.
Only since he’d started dating me.
Great! So it really is me. I make men crazy. Or push them away. Or let them treat me like shit because... she let it go with an embittered exhale.
This is not my fault. Whatever this is, it’s not me.
Something tells me it’s not him either.
Still, she was not impressed with this side of him.
Lucas tried to lessen the tension. “Today was definitely an odd day, but we were glad to help. We’ve never had a run-in with a Feyk before. He was very creepy looking, with a face I’ll never forget. But Melinda knows her stuff. She did good out there, kept things under control.”
Melinda smiled, impressed. She expected he wasn’t being entirely honest though. “Thank you, Lucas,” she said graciously anyway. God, did he and Riley trade places all of a sudden?
“You know this island well. It shows. Flip-flops on your feet or not,” he chuckled, giving her shoulder a playful pat.
Just like his brother, Melinda reeled. Charming, and yet his sim
ple movements spoke so many things. They were weird that way, these Deane men. Lucas’ actions said, Sorry if I was a little harsh today. Sorry about my brother. Sorry we can’t be more help.
She laughed and looked down at her feet. “Yeah, it might be time to invest in better footwear.”
William was about to agree, as he’d never been fond of her footwear choice when heading out on a job, but stopped when Riley let out a low growl, his gaze firmly fixed upon his brother. “Now you are definitely flirting with my girlfriend,” his voice held a tone of warning.
“Wh-what? Um, no,” stuttered Lucas. “Just trying to be nice.” He lowered his voice adding, “Mainly because you’re being a major fucking dick right now.”
Melinda heard William grunt an agreement and rolled her eyes at him pleadingly.
“Right, of course I am,” defied Riley.
“You know, let’s not do this here,” said Lucas. “It’s time to go home, let these guys get on with their day. They have work to do.”
Riley hardened his gaze. “What are you now, my babysitter?”
Melinda grabbed Riley and took him aside.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked him, her voice strained.
He frowned.
“You’ve been acting strange all day, Riley. Even stranger all afternoon. I do not understand why you’re being like this. Lucas said you don’t,” she stopped, eyes wide.
He let out a snap of air, throwing an angry glare at her. “Fucking nice. You’re all talking about me behind my back now!”
“Riley please?”
William’s hands fisted, ready to handle the situation his way. His treatment of Melinda deserved no less. Melinda saw and stepped between the two of them. “Please. No fighting.”
Riley let out a puff of air and spun around with a shake of his head.
William stepped back but let Melinda know silently, and with no conditional terms, that this was not acceptable. He would not stand by and let her be treated like this.
Lucas just looked worried. He’d never seen his brother like this.
Melinda walked around Riley. His head hung low, a slow breath releasing. He saw her and looked up.
“I’ve done it again. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never thought I was a jealous guy, but...”
“But what? And jealous of what?” she needed to understand, although she would have preferred a more private conversation.
“It’s like every guy, or vampire, on this freakin’ island wants to steal you away from me.”
“Oh my God! Are we having the William talk again?” she groaned under her breath. Her skin got hot and prickly. William was listening to everything they said. “And what other guys, Riley? Your brother? Are you being serious? Sorry, Lucas,” she called out hotly. “No offense.”
He just shrugged, hoping she’d talk some sense into his suddenly idiotic brother.
“You’re not making any sense, Riley,” she continued.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that,” Melinda cringed impatiently. She took in a calming breath, having no desire to fight. Just hours ago she’d been depending on him to brighten her mood. Now, he was killing it. Stomping on it. Crushing it completely.
“Look. I don’t know how to be clearer. You have no reason to be jealous.” Although as she said it, her heart did that flutter it always did when she was thinking of William. Her eyes went to look at him, but she forced her gaze to stay focused on Riley.
She wasn’t sure what else to do, so she grabbed Riley and kissed him. Against his lips, she pleaded. “Please let this go. I don’t understand why you think people are trying to steal me away from you, but they’re not. And I’m not available to be stolen.” It was hard to say, but the truth. She and William were not a thing. And wouldn’t ever be a thing.
“You’re right Melinda,” Riley whispered. “I’m being such an idiot.”
“You kind of are,” she replied crossly. “And an ass.” She was surprised at herself for standing up to him. But also pleased in a way. This was new for her. She was pissed and she faced it, rather than ignore, make excuses, and run away from the problem.
But where was the Riley she fell so instantly head over heels for? It was like he’d just vanished, replaced by crazy jealous guy who could not deal with her even standing near another man.
“Can we just forget today?” he begged her. “I know I keep apologizing but I’m really, really sorry, Melinda. I don’t... I don’t feel so well.”
“Is it your head?”
“No. My head is fine. I just feel... weird. Maybe I’m getting sick or something.” He leaned in and kissed her, softly, then jumped back.
“What?”
“If I am getting sick, don’t want to give it to you.” He shook his head, not wanting to say sorry, again.
“Oh. Right. Okay. No kissing. Kind of too late though,” she smiled weakly.
“I guess we’d better go.” He stalked around her, and his brother. “C’mon Lucas,” he ordered. Melinda wasn’t sure anything had really changed at all. Lucas tossed her an apologetic shrug but followed Riley back to the truck. It was parked a block away.
“William,” Melinda muttered. “I’m sorry.” Now it was her turn to apologize. She could barely find the courage to face him, but when he did not reply she had no choice but to look up.
William wasn’t even looking or paying any attention to her. His gaze firmly fixed across the street at... Holy. Shit. Melinda lost her ability to speak, her vocal chords freezing up. Her eyes frozen on, Me. Another Me. A spitting image, standing all the way across the street, looking back at them with wide eyes that shouted I’ve been naughty, and I’ve just been caught.
“Oh my God,” Melinda let out in disbelief. “What is this?”
A long lost twin none of them were aware of? If so, they’d just met her.
The look-alike spun on the spot vanishing into the crowd of tourists.
William bounded across the street in pursuit, but painfully slow, as he could not use his vampire speed in broad daylight with so many people around.
He scoured the area. There was no sign of the imposter anywhere.
How could this other Melinda disappear so fast?
William suspected he knew the answer.
He made his way back to Melinda, still in shock outside the Wicked Muddy Cafe. The enticing sweet smell that was distinctively her blood gushed underneath her skin, instantly proving to him that she was the real Melinda.
“Who was that?” she squeaked out.
He put his hands on her shoulders, to steady her. “Another mystery. She vanished before I could find her.” Melinda thought he actually sounded out of breath.
“How did that just happen?” she asked. “That was me over there. Me! Or,” she lost her breath. “Oh, William, you don’t think?”
“Shapeshifter,” he finished, letting go of her. “We’d theorized the shifter was still alive, it appears this is now proven.”
“But why me, William? Why take my form?” Melinda shivered, a creepy prickle crawling down her spine at the thought of someone impersonating her.
William gasped, all the puzzle pieces falling into place. The reason they’d all been preoccupied that day. He broke the rules, gone in a flash. Melinda spun around, dazed. No one noticed a thing.
They were all staring into their phones, stranger talking to stranger. She overheard the words D.E.S.I. Blog and her heart sank.
“This day just keeps getting worse and worse.”
Melinda assumed William had headed home and followed as fast as her human legs would allow. She heard a horn honking and saw Charlie and Michael turn into the driveway ahead. She reached them, out of breath.
“You’ll never guess what just happened,” she said through shallow breaths. “I really need to get into better shape,” she added in a self-deprecating tone.
“What happened?” asked Charlie and Michael at the same time.
Meli
nda explained what she and William had just witnessed. After finishing she exclaimed, “We think it was the shapeshifter.”
Charlie had already surmised this. “William came home?” he asked, his tone serious.
“He left so fast, but I think so.”
“This day keeps getting stranger and stranger,” groaned Michael.
“Funny, I was just saying something similar,” Melinda returned.
They headed inside, only to freeze at the sight.
“Ransacked,” said William, appearing suddenly in the kitchen from a whirlwind of speed. Drawers and cupboards had been emptied, their contents strewn across counters, spilling onto the floor.
“The study looks the same as this,” explained William.
“Anything missing?” asked Charlie.
“I do not know. I have not done a thorough search. My suspicions tell me if something is missing, it will be from the study.” The study being where their most valuable assets were kept. Books, research, spells, pretty much the entire Howard family history on paper.
They filed into the study. Otherwise known as William’s office.
“Oh my,” said Melinda upon entry.
“I wonder if they found what they were looking for,” said Michael, knocking a book lying on the floor with his foot.
“I had planned on having a meeting once we’d all returned,” explained William, his tone vacant. “I had a theory. One obviously now confirmed.”
“And that would be?” asked Charlie.
“That today’s events were a distraction meant specifically for us.”
“I guess you were right about that,” whispered Melinda.
“And we were right about the shapeshifter definitely being alive,” said Charlie. “Has to be, right?”
“I’d wager that’s a yes,” replied Michael bitterness cutting his tone.
“How do we figure out what’s missing? Or what they were looking for? Or if they even found it, maybe they didn’t,” spouted Melinda.
Michael had a hard time being in the room. Between his own anger and disappointment over this intrusion, combined with his siblings’ feelings, he found himself sinking deeper and deeper into helplessness and gloom. It took everything he had to block them out and deal with just his own feelings.
