by Ruby Raine
Melinda searched through the shelves. “Oh, wait, look. It’s organized by subject, and it’s alphabetical.”
“Not on this shelf it isn’t,” pointed out Charlie, looking at another wall of books. “These look like collected anthologies of varied topics.”
“Well I’ll start here, you start there, and let’s see if we can keep from calling the whole thing off.”
“Wow. Jazz standard pun, have we sunk that low?”
“Apparently. Man, I haven’t listened to that song in,” she sighed. “Since William played that jazz record on Christmas last year.”
It was mid-July but the memory gave her a chill.
So much of William in this space.
They shifted through book after book until they’d piled up a fair few. Some the entire book dedicated to the subject, and some with potentially helpful entries on vampires.
It took hours for them to reach this point.
“How is it we’ve lived with a vampire all our lives,” moaned Charlie, “and know so little on the subject?”
“We’re familiar with William, the man,” replied Melinda. “Like how he’d give us the answers we needed rather than have us spend hours reading because he’d already done the research.”
Charlie found no argument to that statement.
“We don’t so much know William, the vampire,” Melinda stated. There was so much about his history they did not know. So many personal details he kept to himself. “But we do know some stuff. Like how to kill one, or subdue one. We know what vampires are capable of. How fast they move, how good they hear. How strong they are. We’re not going into this totally blind.”
Charlie fired out a sharp sigh, impressed. “You’re right. That is a good start. And like you pointed out earlier, it comes down to how to hunt one. A difficult task, because of all those talents you pointed out a few seconds ago.”
“Unless we have a spare damsel in distress he happens to be in love with we can use as bait,” it slipped out before her mind even had time to think about it. “Um, please ignore I just said that.” Horrified. Melinda was instantly horrified. Where the hell did that come from? Far too soon to make light.
“Yeah, let’s not have that scenario happen again.” Charlie had no idea what else to say to that. Such a sad, simplistic explanation of what happened. “Sis?” he called out softly when she said nothing. Her face turned away from him. He refused to let her and gently coaxed her back.
“Sorry,” she whispered. Tears rimmed her eyes, but the determination in her pupils ordered them not to fall.
“It’s okay to get upset about it. I’m not judging you for that. Or think you’re, you know...”
“Going to my dark place,” she sniffled with a tight grin. “Otherwise known as the four walls that make up my bedroom.”
“You’re not moving back there.” His tone was certain. “I put that place up for sale. It sold fast. It’s gone for good. That room upstairs is just a place you sleep now.”
She sucked in. Calming herself.
“The book stack is getting high,” she noted, getting back on task.
“That it is. It really is a shame William isn’t here to give us the answers. Kind of like cheating on a test and all this reading will seriously damage my brain.”
“You have a brain in there?” Melinda knocked on his head. “Nothing...” She surmised. Charlie was just trying to make her laugh, and it worked.
“Okay, all joking set aside, this stack is a bit daunting. Will take all night to read through it.”
Michael’s voice rang out from the study’s entrance.
“You’re worried there might be another attack before we figure out what to do?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you’ve got my help for a while.” He was Emily-less as he lumbered inside to join them.
“How is she?” Charlie hated to bring up another sore subject.
“Kicked me out of the bookstore.” He plunked down on the overstuffed arm of a chair. “Claimed she couldn’t finish her work because I was hovering.”
His siblings didn’t even bother trying to argue, they were sure he was.
“Anyway, rather than pace around arguing with her, and get pissed because letting her stay there alone will drive me mad, I came home. So what’s going on in here?” He pointed at all the books, having a good idea already but wanted the lowdown.
“Research,” responded Charlie and Melinda at once.
“It’s much slower going without William’s super speedy reading,” informed Melinda.
“Or knowledge in general of what’s in this library,” explained Charlie dejectedly.
“I assume we’re researching vampires?” Michael picked up a book and thumbed through the pages.
“Yes. We’re trying to figure out how to hunt one. How to set some kind of trap,” Charlie explained. “You know, the usual. Need to track and catch something, no idea how to do that.”
“Oh. Joy.” Michael sounded about as enthused as his siblings.
The afternoon drudged onward. As it turned out, they had a lot more information about vampires in their library than any of them had ever realized. Some of the books went back hundreds of years, with data collected and recorded by their own family.
It was fascinating, boring, and tedious all at once.
“My brain is permanently injured,” rumbled Charlie after a few more hours.
Michael snickered. Melinda laughed, thinking about knocking him upside the head again to see if it sounded any different. Instead, she jumped out of the chair she’d gotten comfy in and plopped down between them on the sofa.
“I think I’ve got something. It’s kind of so ridiculously simple it’s stupid really.”
She showed them the entry.
Michael rolled his eyes and leaned back. “I can’t believe we wasted hours researching this.”
Charlie grunted, in annoyed agreement. “Blood. What else would call out a vampire? Freaking duh.” He rubbed his temples.
“It’s not quite that easy though,” continued Melinda. “We need a willing victim. And it needs to be at night, somewhere remote enough that the vamp would not fear getting caught.” Melinda slapped the book down on the coffee table.
“We are really off our game,” muttered Charlie. “If William had been here we wouldn’t have wasted so many hours.”
“Or if we weren’t exhausted and still dealing with...” Michael didn’t bother finishing. He was getting tired of the topic. None of them needed the constant reminders of what they had lost, and gone through.
He ignored the sympathetic emotions pouring out of his siblings.
“So, a willing victim? I think that will be the hardest thing to find,” he said.
“Not that I’m all that excited about it, but it’s got to be me,” said Melinda.
Both brothers turned their heads thundering emphatic, “No’s,” at her simultaneously.
“Why not? It’s not like I’ll be on my own. You guys will be in hiding, close by.”
“If something goes wrong,” argued Charlie. “Just... no. Too many variables to account for. Cannot guarantee your safety.”
“You don’t believe I can do it? Or you just pulling the big brother card?”
“It’s nothing like that,” insisted Michael. “It’s simply too dangerous. Too unpredictable.”
“But not for one of you,” she fired back pointedly.
“Melinda,” Charlie’s tone begged her to drop it.
She jumped off the sofa, arms folded, rant at the ready.
“Everything we do is dangerous and unpredictable. You guys put your lives on the line all the time. I’m not saying I’m looking forward to it, but do you honestly think a vampire is going to be attracted to one of you? Charlie, you’re out, because you know, werewolf. Vamp could kill you. And Michael, you may have a baby face charming enough to change your name to prince, but I’m the only one here that fits the bill of young, innocent, and helpless. A vampire’s favorit
e victim according to what I read.” And worst possible argument, she thought with a disgruntled silent moan. Yes, let’s remind them of how useless I am, that’ll help!
Charlie got up and pinned a firm gaze on her. “I know why you’re doing this and it’s not changing my mind. I get you want to be more involved,” and feel like you have to prove yourself he clipped off. His sister in the clutches of a ravenous vampire, William or not, was not a sight he wanted to see. “Let’s think on it,” he suggested, attempting patience, and in no mood to argue.
“Well think fast.” She kept his gaze, refusing to back down. “Night’s coming and we don’t have another plan. We protect the Isle. Sometimes that means taking risks.”
“Not unnecessary ones,” refuted Charlie. He didn’t like this sudden gung-ho-ness his sister was developing. He understood she might want to prove herself, and have a need to gain some sort of control over her life, but he didn’t want her rushing into something and getting into trouble.
“Why don’t we focus on coming up with a plan that does not include any of us as bait,” suggested Michael, playing mediator. “There must be a safer option.” He hoped this would diffuse this argument. However, Melinda took on the glare of a wolverine going into battle. Charlie straightened to his full height, pulling out all the intimidation he dare with his sister.
“If William was here,” her rebuttal ended right there.
“This conversation would be over,” Charlie stated. “You think he’d allow you to be vampire bait?” His arms folded, body towering over her. There was no arguing this point because no way in hell would William allow Melinda to use herself as bait for anything.
“Okay, maybe not,” she backed down a little. “But I am capable of making my own choices.”
“Really? Name one that’s worked out.”
Her mouth fell open. Her body pulling inward like she’d been punched in the gut.
Charlie’s heart sank. His towering frame deflated in instant regret.
It slipped out in haste to end this idea of hers, the damage of his words already done with no way to undo it. He didn’t even mean it. Not even a little.
His brain was actually just starting a conversation with itself impressed at how she was standing up for herself, even if the argument was not valid.
And he’d responded with a punch-down. Knockout. Game over.
Walls she’d taken down, rebuilding right before his eyes in layers of cement and brick. They’d all made their fair share of mistakes. Judging her more harshly than himself or anyone else was more than unfair.
“Cracking under the pressure much?” Michael ground through his teeth.
Charlie ignored Michael, even though he was spot on, pleading silent forgiveness from Melinda.
Her initial shock wore off, her mouth closing itself, lips biting the insides of her cheeks. Arms around her stomach holding herself up.
“I’m sorry, Melinda. I did not mean what I said.”
“No. It’s good to know how you really feel.” She’d thought it was too good to be true that he did not judge her revelations harshly.
“It was said in anger, nothing more.”
“See, that’s bull though. You had to have been thinking it on some level for it to come out of your mouth so easily.” Her arms dropped to her sides. “And you’re hardly wrong.” She fell into the sofa, sulking.
Damn it. Charlie wished one of them could be gifted with going back in time. He was beginning to think none of them was capable of making a decent choice about anything. He’d promised to try to be more open, and available, and patient, and here he was doing the exact opposite.
“Melinda, I’m not mad at your choices. Really, I’m not, because God knows I’ve fucked up my share lately. But I don’t want you, or any of us, to rush into something and get hurt. You know how I get when I’m on edge, but I can’t use that as an excuse anymore. I think we all feel like we have something to prove, but we’ve lost enough. Let’s do this right. Okay?”
Melinda looked at her brothers, unsure how to explain the things churning inside her mind. Her feet came up to the sofa, knees tucked into her chest. Then forced herself out of the pathetic woe is me pose and got back on her feet. Her arms fidgeted, she finally shoved them inside her shorts pockets.
“Me, being vampire bait is a bad idea. I get it. I’m not stupid and I don’t have a death wish. But I’m sick of being afraid of things. I want to do my share. I need to. I’ve let you guys, and William, handle everything for way too long.”
“But that doesn’t mean we rush in,” proclaimed Charlie calmly.
“No,” settled Michael. “We don’t.” His siblings looked his direction, sensing he had something to add. “We do what Dad taught us. Work together to make a plan we can all agree to, and we stick to it.”
Charlie looked at Melinda for her approval. She nodded, biting the inside of her cheek. Still not quite believing her brother was telling the truth... he did at some level, willing to admit it or not, think her choices were regrettable. There was also the extreme possibility, so very Charlie, he was blaming himself for her mistakes. As if he had anything at all to do with the decisions she’d made. Not all turned out bad, but none were working out in her favor. That much was true.
Tempers doused, the situation diffused for now, Michael got up to leave.
“My suggestion would be let’s take the necessary time to come up with a safe and solid plan. There must be a way to hunt this vampire without any of us directly used as bait. Because I do agree, we have lost enough.”
There was no argument here.
They each nodded in silent, albeit, tense agreement.
Charlie and Melinda didn’t have to ask Michael where he was headed. It was time for the bookstore to close and he was escorting Emily home, whether she wanted him to or not.
Howards, stubbornness, and stupid decisions went hand in hand. Tenacity had its benefits, but it wasn’t working in their favor today.
Melinda reclaimed her seat on the sofa, pretending to shuffle through a book. Poor Michael, she thought. Caught in the middle of sibling differences. Trying to keep Emily together. Not taking care of himself at all. How much more could he take before he snapped?
There was a soft thud... Charlie sinking into the opposite side of the sofa. Melinda realized he wasn’t grieving or taking care of himself properly at all either. He’d been busy taking care of things, like all the things, while she’d been in the hospital. While Michael stayed focused on Emily. Picking up the slack from William’s absence. Securing the mansion and the power source, and a thousand little things Melinda didn’t have the energy to think about.
Yet somehow, Charlie always got it done.
What they really needed was a break. Forget full on vacation, just a break in the craziness. Long enough to catch their breath. Collect themselves into some form not caving in on itself like blubbering boneless skin.
She fought the urge to drag her knees up against her chest, forcing her fingers to turn another page. This life was not being fair at all. Not that it ever was. But a break, was it too much to ask?
Although free in body, not bound to a stake watching one man she loved torture the other man she loved, Melinda’s spirit was helpless. As powerless as it had always been.
Her gaze fluttered upward, peering at the off-white ceiling overhead. Her bedroom right above it. Charlie wasn’t aware, but she was the quick sale buyer of that space he’d sold. The makeover would be simple enough. A comfy space made for full-time living. Make that full-time staying out of the way.
Her brothers had encouraged her to get a life.
Epic fail...
She imagined this topped their list of worst choices made, ever.
EMILY SMILED WIDELY when Michael sauntered into the store. “I’m almost done,” she called out, noting the heaviness in his gait. “You didn’t need to come all the way here to walk me home.”
“Actually, yes, I did.”
“What now?” her entire
body sighed.
“There’s a vampire loose on the Isle. One who’s not like William.”
“Oh. I see.”
Michael hadn’t told her about it yet, having wanted to protect her from even more to worry about, and deal with.
“Any word from William?” she asked him.
“No. He seems to be AWOL, and now Mack is considering him a suspect.”
“Really? William wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“We don’t think so either. But we can’t find him to prove it’s not him. Regardless, I’m here to walk you home because the sun’s going down soon and it’s not safe to be alone with this problem hanging around. How was your day?” He tried to act normal as possible since that’s what Emily seemed to want. Or need.
“Long. Lots to catch up on, but I’m getting there.”
“How about I make you dinner?”
“I’m not really hungry.”
“Did you eat at all today?”
“Um,” she ruffled through a small stack of papers. “Yeah. Can’t remember what.”
Michael was sure she was lying. “Small dinner then,” he decided.
She shrugged in half-hearted acceptance and grabbed her purse.
It was a tense walk home. Emily put on a forced cheery façade that clenched his teeth as she greeted people along the way like any other day.
It was nothing of the sort.
When would she start acting like it? Because happy was not an emotion radiating out of her. It was nearly impossible to dampen happiness.
She’d opened up some, admitting she was riddled with guilt, and blamed herself. But then the next day shut it down like that conversation never happened. Emotions buried some place Michael’s empathy could not reach. And if she wasn’t suppressing her feelings for his benefit, it was because she was in denial. Probably a mixture of both, and neither of which he was certain how to shake her out of.
At the end of the Howard driveway, he stopped her.
“What?” she bleated tiredly. Happy act over.
“Emily...” Just the way her name rolled off his tongue she knew what was coming, and tensed. She attempted to escape but he held her shoulders firmly. “I’ve said it a lot, but you don’t have to hold back your feelings because of me. I can handle it.”
