Always the Vampire

“And in this case, it would not have helped,” Lia said. “A lab would have been placed near the medical clinic, and our clinic was damaged in the incident. Even without the injuries and fatalities, you can imagine the chaos that ensued. Factions suspected each other of the deed until I informed them we had a rogue wizard.”


“Is the COA helping to look for Starrack?” I asked.

“I implored those holding seats to spread the word, but I cannot say that anyone is actively looking for him.”

“Except the two of you,” Saber said.

When Saber put it that baldly, hiring mercenaries and Marines for backup sounded better and better.

“One more question, Lia,” I said. “Cosmil told us you’d dealt with Starrack before, and might be able to find him. Did you try a spell on your own?”

Lia’s glance darted to Cosmil before she spoke, an odd energy zipping between them.

“My solo tracking spell failed,” she admitted as she turned back to me. “However, I talked with a nymph before I left France. She hasn’t seen Starrack in more than a year, but she gave me a focus to assist us in locating him. She also swore she’d ask her friends if they’d seen him recently. Nymphs are notorious gossips, so I should hear back from her soon.”

“Gossipy nymphs are good,” I said, “but what the heck is a focus?”

“It is a tool,” Cosmil answered. “Hair or nail clippings are most often used for a location spell, or it could be an object the target has handled often.”

“In this case,” Lia added, “I have the wine goblet generally reserved for Starrack’s use during nymph gatherings. It is customary to leave dregs in the cup, and the goblets are not cleansed until the next use.”

Saber looked skeptical. “You think Starrack’s DNA is still on the goblet?”

“Enough for magical purposes, yes,” Lia said, “provided that the goblet remained untouched by others. Given the nature of nymph parties, well, we shall see.”

On that note, our meal concluded, and Cosmil paid the check, with cash money, no less. I idly wondered if he had a stash under his mattress or had conjured the bills. No matter because I was certain the bills were real. I couldn’t see him stiffing the restaurant.

Outside, we agreed to meet at Cosmil’s the following night at seven, then Saber walked me to my car while Lia and Cosmil chatted a few minutes more.

“I’ll be home as soon as I drop Cosmil at the cabin,” Saber said.

“You may beat me there. Lia wants us to go clean Triton’s apartment.”

“Want my help?”

“Nah. Maybe Lia will use her sorceress powers and wave away the mess. Although, I suppose you could pay a call on the Clarkes.”

He glanced at the magical couple. “Might as well. I don’t know when I’ll get to it once we start training.”

“You got that right. I’ll get Lia settled, give her your other spare key, and be ready to get the scoop on Melda and Clarence. Oh, and warn them about Gorman, would you? I forgot to mention him, and you know he’s obsessive when he has a vampire in his sights.”





Lia didn’t wave the apartment back to order, but we still finished tidying, dusting, and vacuuming Triton’s place in under an hour. I made the effort to sniff for any smell that didn’t belong, but the intruders had dumped tilapia and salmon in the sink, still half-wrapped in foil. The defrosted, spoiled mess masked every scent but a slight gasoline smell that I chalked up to the apartment being built partly over the garage.

As we drove to Saber’s house, Lia asked me about my maid of honor schedule, and I promised to get her a list of both my wedding and ghost-tour commitments. Then, after showing her how to work the thermostat, I gave her the extra key and headed home.

Saber had the Cowboys-Eagles Monday Night Football game on the tube when I came in and collapsed on the sofa beside him.

He lurched away. “Did you clean Triton’s place with fish oil?”

I crossed my eyes at him. “Lia stuck me with the gag-inducing mess in the kitchen while she took the bedroom and bath. She smells lemon fresh.”

“She outmaneuvered you, huh?”

“I’ve known her five hours, and I’m worn out trying to keep up with her. The best thing about training will be coming home.”

“You don’t like Lia?”

“Actually, I do. It’s just that she’s just so busy, and always thinking and planning and scheduling.”

He chuckled. “Honey, you’re the same way. You’re just not used to marching to someone else’s drum.”

“Maybe, but I’ll be glad to get back to my quieter afterlife. Did you see the Clarkes?”

“They weren’t at home. Before the game started, I fired an e-mail to Dave Corey asking for a copy of the Clarke’s entire file.”

Dave was the Jacksonville VPA agent who was also my handler, though he seldom bothered to keep tabs on me.

“Dave’s a good guy,” I defended.

“But he’s not as on the ball as Candy in Atlanta. He should have notified me about the Clarkes as soon as he dispatched them here.”

“True, but no one is as prompt as Candy.”