Always the Vampire

Saber put his arm around me. “She also needs rest. Let’s pack up and call it a night.”


Cosmil and Lia shooed us out of the cabin while they cleaned their potion mess and gathered spell paraphernalia. They’d keep the spell running and call if they got another good hit.

The guys walked away to talk while Lynn and I sat on the porch steps.

“Cesca, you and Triton really are just friends, aren’t you?”

“When I don’t want to whap him upside the head, yeah. I’m no competition, Lynn. I’m a one-man woman.”

“I’ve felt like such a freak since I started shifting. I’ve been scared to let anyone get close.”

“Triton felt the same way.”

“Is he a one-woman man, or does he play the field?”

I grinned. “In his younger days, he was a bit of a player. Now? I don’t think so, but he is a guy. Men can be too exasperating to be worth the trouble.”

“Or wonderful enough to wait a lifetime for,” Lia said from behind us.

I looked up at her then at Lynn.

“When she’s right, she’s right.”





We arrived at Saber’s house thirty minutes later, and he insisted on showing Cosmil how to operate the hide-a-bed in the couch. I could’ve told my darling not to bother, that Cosmil and Lia would be sharing a bed tonight. But why ruin his fun in showing off his home?

While they moved on to setting the thermostat, Lia motioned me into the guest room.

“You’re different today,” she said as she set an old-fashioned cloth satchel on the bed. “I noticed it when you called this afternoon, but it’s more apparent in person. What happened?”

“Besides the bodies on my doorstep?”

“Don’t be facetious. You know what I mean. You experienced a shift. You slept perhaps three hours, yet you emanate a well of energy.” She searched my eyes. “You came into your power today, and I’d like to know how it happened so I can help you channel it.”

I thought back to the moment when the cool sensation first pooled in my tailbone, and the feeling stirred.

“I was angry that Starrack murdered those homeless kids.”

“And you wanted his blood.”

“I still do.”

“Good. The anger will fuel your determination. How do you perceive your power? Like the element of fire? Earth?”

“Water. Cool water. It flows from the base of my spine through my torso and into my arms and legs.”

“Water? Well, of course. You’re the sign of the Moon Child.”

The men came into the hall, and she lowered her voice.

“I want you to practice shielding your thoughts. Imagine they are submerged in water. Only when you purposefully bring them to the surface can they be read.”

“It’s that simple?”

“It can be. Women are more likely to project because we’re more emotionally open. It will take practice to balance shielding with the openness of your nature. But never mind that. You only need to hide your thoughts from Starrack. I’ll prepare a special pouch for you to wear that will assist your focus.”

So I had a water fountain of power? All right, how corrupting to my soul could that be?

“Lia, I know you’ve already cast protective spells on everybody and their dog, but if we have to go up against Starrack and the Void next Friday, will you and Cosmil cast extra protection on Maggie and Neil and the wedding party?”

“We’re way ahead of you on that score, my dear.”

“Here you are,” Saber said from the threshold. “Lia, I’ve told Cosmil he can use my bathroom so you can have some privacy again.”

“Thank you, Saber. Now you go along to Cesca’s. You’ve had an eventful day, and tomorrow will be just as busy with the bridal shower and phoning the liquor stores and then getting Lynn settled.”

Sheesh, getting the bum’s rush out of your own home? Talk about cheek.

But Saber and I left, and drove extra slowly as we passed the Castillo de San Marcos and its expanse of grounds. Since the fort was truly a fortress and was a national park, the feds didn’t spring for a lot of security lighting. They didn’t even decorate for the Nights of Lights when the rest of the town was festooned for the Christmas holiday season.

“Too exposed,” Saber declared. “Too many escape routes.”

“And too much of a chance that Starrack could grab a hostage off the streets.”

“Think the parking garage is open for a quick drive through?”

“It’s open 24-7, but I’d rather explore it on foot and in the daytime when we’re fresh.”

“Works for me. I am beat.”

He parked on the street, turned off the engine, and closed his eyes. “Cesca, when this is all over, let’s take a vacation.”

“Vacation?” I echoed as if I’d never heard the word. And I hadn’t, not from Saber’s lips. “Where?”

“A remote island? A cave?” He rolled his head toward me and opened his eyes. “I don’t care, as long as we don’t have to chase bad guys.”

I leaned across the console and cupped his stubble-roughened cheek in my palm. “Let’s go with the island. Bats give me the creeps.”