Always the Vampire

I eyed Triton’s crumpled body and the wisp of smoke curling from the charred circle on his shirtfront. Oops was not gonna cover this.

Saber shot me a sardonic glance as he rose to go to Triton’s aid.

Cosmil chuckled, and I whirled on him.

“You told me the amulet wasn’t a loaded gun.”

“I also told you the medallion responded to intent.” The wizard’s eyes twinkled. “Triton agreed to, I believe the expression is, piss you off.”

“With the amulet in my hand?” I dropped the still-warm crystal on the sofa. “Cosmil, I could’ve killed Triton.”

“No, for no matter your words, you had no true intent of murder, manslaughter, or maiming.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about the maiming,” I muttered.

Cosmil shook his head. “Francesca, it was our way of testing your ability with the medallion. Triton’s crude remark elicited your reaction, and the medallion focused your disgust.”

“In other words, I got ticked and I went after him.”

“Precisely. Of course, lashing out is not the way to defeat Starrack and the Void.”

“Duh,” was on the tip of my tongue, but I got distracted seeing movement from the corner of my eye. Triton was on his feet. Wavering but upright, with a hand on Saber’s shoulder.

“You okay?”

I started toward him, but his sour expression and “stop right there” gesture halted me.

“Next time,” he bit out, “Saber gets to bait you.”

“Like hell,” Saber shot back. Wise man, my honey.

Triton ignored us both. “Cos, are you still determined to let Cesca take the amulet with her?”

“I am.”

“Then you’d better show her some finer points of using that thing before she blasts some bitchy bridesmaid this weekend.”

“Maggie doesn’t have any bitchy bridesmaids.”

“No? Look in a mirror.”

“Get off my case, cretin.”

“Children, cease,” Cosmil barked. He took two long steps to the sofa, picked up the amulet, and slammed it into my hand. “Francesca, close your eyes and imagine a bubble of peace encasing you. Do it now.”

The picture that popped to mind was a shower of white light, not a bubble. A narrow waterfall, comfortably warm like the amulet in my hand.

“Good. Now expand the image to include me.”

The waterfall widened to splash over and around Cosmil.

“Enfold Saber in the peace with us.”

I did, and my heartbeat slowed to match the steady, measured pulse of the disk.

“Extend the protection to Triton, then see it grow until the peace blankets my property.”

All right, I admit I had to push for Triton. Once I saw him within the shower, the image exploded. A Niagara Falls of light bathed my vision, brighter sparkles winking like silver and gold glitter.

“Open your eyes, Francesca.”

I obeyed, swaying a little as the room came into focus.

“That, my dear, is how the medallion works. There are words for the banishing ritual, yes, but you will not need them this weekend.”

I gave him a long, steady stare.

“You’re sure about the no banishing bit? Wizard’s honor?”

“As long as you keep yourself out of trouble.”





I woke at two the next afternoon, an hour earlier than usual, but a quick shower got me fully revved. Saber had left a note on the bathroom deco mirror saying he’d been called to Jacksonville on VPA business but that it was nothing to worry about.

Good thing, since I was focused on breaking the case of the missing necklaces news to Maggie.

Her cell rang to the max before she picked up.

“Cesca, the Victorian tussie-mussie charm necklaces I ordered for the girls haven’t come in yet,” she wailed. “The store is checking but—”

“No sweat, Maggie,” I interrupted. “I had a feeling we might need a backup plan, so I got just the thing from Triton.”

“So you have seen him again.”

“Just as friends.”

“Let me guess what he gave you. That mermaid-on-the-treasure-chest charm like the one you used to wear?”

Okay, so maybe Maggie is a little psychic, too. “How did you know?”

“I saw them in his shop. Did you get just the charms or necklaces, too?”

“Silver charms on silver necklaces.” I pictured Cosmil waving a hand to erase Triton and Saber’s energies from the two charms they’d worn, and the wizard promised they would attune to their new owners. “Really, I think they’ll be fine, Maggie.”

“They’ll be perfect. Fernandina Beach might be a Victorian-era town, but the mermaids will suit our beach-getaway theme. Hold on.”

I did, and heard Maggie and Neil murmur, then smoochy sounds.

“Okay, I’m back. Neil insists we drive his SUV for the weekend so we’ll have room to ferry the bachelorette-party ladies to dinner and shopping. Will you still be ready to go by three?”