by Apryl Baker
“Gramps, we’re home!” Cecily calls when she throws open the front door. We both have keys to the compound. One thing I’ve noticed is Cecily seems freer when she’s here than when she’s at home. More like herself and not the shell she’s withdrawn into since the kidnapping. I try to make sure we’re here more than at home. Gramps loves having us and tells us whenever he thinks we need to hear it.
Marco McGreggor is in the kitchen stirring a pot of something. It doesn’t smell exactly good either.
“What is that?” Cecily wrinkles her nose and puts the bags down on the counter.
“I’m boiling down skunk essence.”
He’s doing what?
“Why?” Cecily and I ask together.
“It’s good to use in certain spells, and it becomes more potent when it’s boiled down.”
“Are you secretly a witch?” Cecily opens one bag and pulls out a Styrofoam container, checking it before handing it to me.
“No. I’ve told you before that you don’t have to be a witch to use magic, create potions, or cast spells. You need to be good at intent and able to follow a recipe.” He strokes his beard and stares down at the vile brew cooking.
He looks exactly like what a grandfather should with his white hair and beard. He’s got glasses on today, and I know he has perfect vision, so I’m guessing it’s more to protect his eyes from stinging than any actual physical need to have them.
Honestly, and I’m not sure if Cec feels the same way or not, but I’m more comfortable with Gramps than I am with either sets of my other grandparents. Maybe because he’s a stationary figure in our lives, and Mom’s and Dad’s parents are just people we see or hear from on special occasions like holidays and birthdays. Don’t get me wrong, I love them because they’re my family, but I don’t know them as well as I do Gramps. Cecily might feel differently, but that’s my truth when it comes to Gramps.
“What kind of spell are you cooking up?”
“Trust me when I say you don’t want to know.” Last time he said that, I’d asked him to tell me, and it had been something I wish I could unhear. I don’t even let myself think about it now. “Did you bring me anything to eat, or are you going to stuff your faces in front of an old man dying from hunger?”
“Of course we brought you food, Gramps.” Cecily takes his food out of the bag and hands it to him. “Ella ordered it special just for you.”
He makes a noise and gives me the evil eye. I smile blandly in return.
“It’s a turkey club sandwich. There’s bacon on it.”
“What is this horsesh…” He breaks off when Cecily glares at him. She’s not a fan of that particular curse word since she stepped in actual horse doodoo last summer when we were in Arizona.
“It’s steamed vegetables. Ella says it’s good for your heart.” Cecily gives him a kiss on the cheek and sits down at the kitchen island.
“What did you get?” He leans over so he can get a whiff of her burger and fries. “What say you trade with your dear old grandpa?”
“Not on your life.” She mock stabs him with a make-believe fork. “This is mine. I earned it after the day I had.”
“Speaking of, what happened at school today? You wouldn’t look me in the eye at lunch, and you were abusing the hem of your t-shirt, so don’t try to tell me nothing is wrong.”
“Why do you know me so well?”
“Because I’ve lived with you for sixteen years, so spill.”
“It wasn’t anything bad. People just kept asking me questions, questions that brought up bad memories, and it got to me. I started having flashbacks, and I yelled at one point after fourth period. Jordan found me and swept me out of the situation. I need to apologize to Tiff tomorrow.”
“No, you don’t need to apologize. They need to leave you alone.” I make a point to find Cecily’s friends and tell them to make sure people, including them, stop harassing her with questions about the kidnapping. It’s going to set her back in her recovery.
“They’re just curious. We knew they were going to be.”
Knowing and actually experiencing it are two entirely different things. There’s no point in arguing with her and upsetting her more. I’ll deal with the problem myself tomorrow.
Gramps looks like he’s going to question her further, so I change the subject. “Gramps, do you know what happened to Shane Roberts?”
“Yes, and it’s not good.”
“Did Daddy have something to do with it?” Cecily asks bluntly.
“Why do you think that?”
“When we walked into the diner, the whole place went quiet. It was weird. We figured it had something to do with the kid they were talking about at school. And even at school, it got really quiet when one of the football guys asked us if we’d heard about Shane. No one wanted to say anything, and the guy was getting glared at like he’d committed some kind of awful sin or something.”
“That’s because he had.” Gramps sniffs his food and sighs. He’s not happy about the steamed veggies, but tough. He’s going to eat semi-healthy if it kills us both in the process.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re both foreigners.”
“Uh, Gramps, I think you mean…”
“No,” he cuts me off, “I know it means people from outside the country, but that’s the term that’s been used in Appalachia for a very long time to describe anyone who wasn’t born and raised in these mountains. It’s how mountain folk are.”
“That’s weird.” Cecily pops a fry into her mouth.
“It’s just their way.”
“But what does that mean?” I ask. “Why did they get all quiet on us?”
“When it comes to local matters, the town tries to keep it to locals. You weren’t born here, Ella, so they don’t want to talk about this with you. It would be the same as if you were a tourist who was passing through.”
“But we live here now.”
“Yes, but they fully expect you to move on, seeing as who your father is. You might be here for a month, a year, or five, but eventually, they assume your family will move on to your father’s next post.”
“But what if I don’t? I’m a Supernatural now. What if I decide to stay?”
“Sweetheart, I’m a Supernatural creature, and I’ve lived here for almost thirty years. I don’t plan on moving on either, and they still treat me like I’m an outsider.”
“But the sheriff comes and talks to you…”
“Because I’ve been around a lot longer than him and have seen things he hasn’t. And I was the previous sheriff. That holds a lot of weight when it comes to asking advice on cases and procedure, but when it comes to local business, even Ethan keeps his mouth shut a lot of the time.”
“That’s just stupid.” I open my own food container, and Gramps gasps. “What?”
“You can’t eat that!”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s too many carbs. We have the same sandwich, so we can trade…”
I’m shaking my head before he can finish. “I have had no carbs today, so this small amount will be fine.”
“But…”
“No one understands better what I can and can’t eat than me, Gramps.”
He full-on pouts, and Cecily laughs so hard, the pop she’d just taken a drink of spews out of her nose. Gramps pounds her on the back when she starts coughing. I pass her a napkin from out of the bag, and she takes it, wiping her face.
“Girl, don’t make your sister laugh when she’s eating. No one needs the nose spray on their food.”
I shrug, unconcerned. At least she’s laughing.
“So, do you know anything about the Roberts kid? They said he was drained of blood, which doesn’t sound like what Dad’s up to.”
“The Roberts boy was human, so no, I don’t think your father had anything to do with this.”
“He was human?” Now that’s a surprise. I know there are humans in town, but most of the people I know are Supernaturals, or Supes, a
s they refer to themselves.
“Yes, which is what makes this so unusual.”
“It’s a vampire, isn’t it?” A glimmer of excitement streaks through Cecily’s baby blues.
“I think so.”
She starts to bounce in her seat.
“Cec, vampires are not all sparkly and romantic.”
“Your sister’s right.” Gramps’ voice turns a little dark. “They’re dangerous creatures that don’t care about anything but their thirst. They’ll drain you dry without a second thought, young lady. Don’t go thinking all those vampires you see on TV and in books are what they’re really like. That’ll get you killed.”
Her smile wilts a little bit. “Jeez, way to be a downer, Gramps.”
“If it saves your life, I’ll be a downer all day. We almost lost you once, Cecily. Don’t make us go through that a second time, and I guarantee you, we won’t get you back alive this time.”
Harsh, but it’s better it comes from him than me. She’d blow me off if she really got all dreamy-eyed about the idea of Edward Cullen coming to Jacob’s Fork. Forget the dead boy—she’d ignore that little fact if it meant one of her book boyfriends could be real.
Despite what happened to her, my sister is still naive in a lot of ways. She loves her fantasies and can get lost in a book deeper than I ever could, and I live with my nose in a book. Living where we do, and especially now that we know about Dad’s job, not understanding the dangers of our new normal really can get us killed. Gramps isn’t wrong.
It’s her turn to pout, and I make a mental note to keep an eye on her. I don’t trust her not to see if the vampire is “cute” and try to meet him. She’s way too much of a romantic.
“Fine.”
Gramps eyes her, and then he turns his attention to me. I nod ever so slightly to tell him I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.
“So, what happened?” I pop a fry in my mouth, and Gramps stares at my fries like they’re manna from Heaven. Tough cookie. He’s not getting any.
“I’m not entirely sure. I just know the basics.” He heaves himself on one of the bar stools and viciously stabs one of the carrots. “He’s a student at Wolfpack U. From what I was able to overhear in the bakery this morning, one of the wolf patrols found his body before daybreak. He was completely drained of blood, and not just bled out until it clotted, but dry as an old corn husk dry.”
“Do they have any idea of how? I mean, do we have local vampires?”
“No, there are no vampires allowed in Jacob’s Fork. They’re one of the true evils in the world, and we can’t risk the safety of the townspeople.”
“Are they all evil, though? What if they drink bagged blood and just want to be left alone?” Cecily wipes her face with a napkin and talks while she chews. So gross.
His face turns troubled. “I’ve only come across one vampire who was on the straight and narrow, but in the end, he couldn’t resist his inner demon, and he too gave in to the bloodlust. They try. I know they do. Some of them, at least, but it doesn’t matter. Evil wins in the end. Every single time when it comes to these creatures.”
“You knew him well?”
Gramps nods. “He was my best friend for thirty years. When I had to put him down, it almost broke me.”
I’ve never seen such a look of utter sadness on his face, and my heart breaks for him. I don’t know what I’d do if that happened to me. It’d probably destroy me.
“But still…maybe someone…”
“Maybe, sweetheart, but chances are about as likely as a starving bobcat walking past roadkill possum.”
“That’s gross!” Cecily squeals.
“But still true.” Gramps wags his fork at her. “Don’t forget it either, girlie.”
One thing that hasn’t changed about my sister is her ability—no, her need—to see the good in people. I hope that never changes.
“There was a boy who stopped to see me this morning, Philip. He’s Shane’s brother, and he asked for my help.”
“At the school?” Gramps’ eyes go wide, and he turns murderous. “Doesn’t he know…”
“No, Gramps, I don’t think he knows that Dad’s work is watching me. He just wanted help finding out what happened to his brother. Eli told him to meet us here after school. I’m surprised he’s not already here.”
“No, my boy would have found him and told him not to come until he can be here too. We won’t see hide nor hair of them until after football practice.”
“Well, why don’t we finish our food, and you and Cecily can get caught up on that Gossip Girl remake.”
The old man’s eyes gleam, and I shake my head. Who would have thought he’d like a TV series for teen girls?
They both agree, and we settle down until Eli gets here. There’s not much else we can do.
Chapter Five
Eli
It’s been a very tense, somber day. Shane Roberts was not only a current member of the university football team. He was also a former Wolfpack team member at the high school. Not a small feat in and of itself. Most of the team here is made up of Supernaturals, and you really have to shine to not only be able to make but to stay on the team. There are currently exactly two humans on the team, and they barely see turf time during games. They’re sophomores, but still.
I finish toweling off and get dressed before grabbing my comb out of my locker and attacking my hair. It’s still a shock to see myself in the mirror. I changed my naturally blond hair to black via a glamour spell that shouldn’t wear off until I cast the counter spell. All in hopes of achieving my NFL dreams. Part of my deal to come back from the dead was that my family could never know I’m still alive. The hair is a countermeasure. If I’d told Gramps about my secret wish to be an NFL player from the beginning, he’d have given me contacts to hide the unusual aqua color of my eyes. Dark hair or not, if my mother sees me, she’ll know who I am.
And I’m not sure I can deny her if she confronts me.
Though I haven’t told anyone that. What good would it do except to send me back to the land of the dead? And that would be disastrous. Ella needs me. Maybe my need to protect her will overcome my need for my family if that situation ever arises. I honestly don’t know what the outcome would be.
“Hey, man, good practice.” Mark “Raptor” Haines slaps my back as he comes to a halt beside me. His locker is next to mine. We call him Raptor because he has a huge fascination with dinosaurs, raptors in particular. I loved dinosaurs too as a kid, but not to the extent Mark does. He wants to be a paleontologist—people who study dinosaurs. Not my thing, but to each their own, I guess.
“You, too, Raptor.” I put my comb back in my locker and take out my keys and wallet. Glancing around, I see it’s just the two of us. “Can I ask you a question, Mark, without you going all local on me?”
His cheerful expression shuts down. “About Shane?”
“You know Ella and I are close. I look out for her. More than that. It’s my job to protect her, and I can’t do that if I don’t have all the information.”
Everyone knows Ella is a living reaper, but no one knows exactly what I am, only that I’m a Supe.
“Can you give me a ride home? My brother is supposed to pick me up, but he texted to say he’s gonna be late.” He says this loudly enough for the guys just coming out of the shower to hear.
“Sure, not a problem.”
I wait for him to get dressed, and then we head out to my Jeep. It’s not until we’re a good distance away from the school that he relaxes.
“Look, I’m sorry. It’s been hammered into us since before we could talk that you don’t say anything to anyone born outside this town. I know it’s frustrating, but no one is going to tell you anything.”
“Not even you?”
He sighs. “I like Ella. She’s a sweetheart who protects you as fiercely as you do her. It’s neither of your fault that you weren’t born here, and I do think not having the information is something that is going to be dangerou
s for her in the end, especially if anyone asks her to get involved.”
“You mean the sheriff?”
“Ethan can be shortsighted when it comes to solving a case.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning he’ll do whatever is necessary and not think about the consequences.”
“That sounds like something my grandpa would say.”
Mark snorts. “Yeah, well, Ethan arrested my dad a few years back, and it nearly ruined our family.”
I want to ask what happened, but I’m not sure how.
“He was charged with rape and murder. It was his car that was seen outside the girl’s house, or so Ethan thought. It was a car like my dad’s, who’d been two towns over on a drinking binge that night. My old man couldn’t remember that night, and Ethan bullied him into a confession. My mom filed for divorce the day Pops confessed. Kevin and I didn’t believe it, so we did our own investigation and found out what really happened. And even then, the sheriff didn’t want to believe it. We took our college money and hired a professional PI to get the same information, and we had to go to the press outside of the town before he’d look at what we found. He didn’t want to admit he’d been wrong.”
“But…” How to ask this? “Ethan’s a wolf, so wouldn’t he have known your dad’s scent wasn’t on scene?”
“You’d think, wouldn’t you?” Mark fidgeted in his seat, clearly upset. “But I guess all that mattered to him was the win. He had a confession.”
“Did it get straightened out?”
“Oh, yeah. The judge in the case threw out the confession based on the evidence that my father had clearly been on a binger so bad he had no memories of where he’d been, and we proved where he was during the time of the murders. Ethan looked like a fool, and he’s never quite forgiven us for that. Wolves hold grudges like no one else.”
Apparently, so do bear shifters, which Mark is. There’s a grudge here, but I’m not mentioning that. If the sheriff had done that to my family, there’s no way in Hades I wouldn’t still be mad about it.
