Always the Vampire

Snowball peeped from under the sofa and meowed as Saber closed the front door. I sighed. I really could get used to this cohabitation thing. Here or at Saber’s place. Let’s face it, the way my afterlife had gone for the last seven months, Maggie and Neil would certainly be safer if I moved. They’d have no trouble renting the cottage to a nice, quiet Flagler college student.

As long as I had daylight to burn, I was determined to knock one task after another off my maid of honor list. And since both DennyK and John lived out of town, I pulled double duty seeing to the best man and groomsmen chores.

Maggie’s wedding dress had hung in her closet since August, so I ticked that item off my list. The tuxes were ready for pick up on Friday, along with the extrafancy cuff links. The bridesmaid dresses, sans bustles, were also ready and waiting. I phoned the caterer, the florist, and Daphne, diva of wedding cakes, and all was a go. The rental company would deliver and set up the tents, tables, and chairs Saturday morning by noon, and the florist would work her magic inside and out at two. Since my fridge was nearly always more empty than full, the caterer and Daphne would use my kitchen as well as Maggie’s.

After putting calls in to the pastor to remind him of the rehearsal plans and the wedding party to be sure everyone knew when to be where, I left messages for Maggie and Neil confirming the week’s wedding details had been checked. In Neil’s message, I also asked about the parking arrangements and the musicians. I’d sent the business that was letting us use its parking lot a letter a month ago, following up for Neil. We should be good to go on that front, but I needed to know if Neil was paying the valets in advance, or if that was something I’d need to do the day of the wedding. Neil might not want my help with the details he was supposed to take care of, but it didn’t hurt to drop a reminder.

Of course, I’d double-and triple-check the details before Friday, but that was my job. I also needed to get both the essential and emergency wedding-kit supplies gathered, boxed in little plastic bins, and labeled. Since Maggie would dress for the wedding upstairs in her bedroom, Neil downstairs in the den, most of the supplies were already in the house. But I’d make up the boxes anyway to save us from searching for needed items at the last minute.

My maid of honor duties for the day completed, I sat at the kitchen table to make a new, completely different plan of attack.

Yep, much as I didn’t want to do battle on Friday night, I had to face the strong possibility I’d be doing exactly that. In which case, I needed to move from basic training to war games. I needed to be as prepared as possible to do more for the team than suck Void energy.

Really, it was too bad we couldn’t just shoot Starrack.

Or could we?





TWENTY-TWO




“A magical bomb?”

Dumbfounded, Cosmil looked from me to Lia, then at Saber and Triton. He even cast a glance at Pandora lounging in panther form at the front door.

Yes, I’d managed to bring Saber and Triton on board with my mini battle plan. I’d also made a stop at the special events field and parking garage en route to Cosmil’s to snap photos from every angle I thought we might need. I’d even flown to get aerial shots.

That’s why at eight o’clock Triton, Saber, and I had rolled into the parking area by Cosmil’s shack, ready to present a united front.

Though I hadn’t expected the question to strike Cosmil mute.

“Yeah, a magical bomb,” I repeated. “Like the kind that hit the COA compound. Would that kill Starrack?”

Saber turned to Lia. “You implied that Starrack is cocky. Believes he’s unbeatable in a fight with us. With his ego, would he think to ward himself from that kind of attack?”

Her brow furrowed in thought. “I honestly don’t know.”

“It doesn’t have to be a big bomb with a lot of flash,” Triton put in. “Just enough bang to do the job.”

“We’d try shooting him with a regular pistol, but that will make too much noise and draw attention.”

Lia snorted at me. “I should think so.”

“Any chance Starrack would use a mundane weapon on us?”

“Like an Uzi?” Her eyes twinkled. “No. He would consider that primitive and beneath him.”

“Then we’re going to need that bomb.”

Cosmil shook his head. “Lia and I do not use our magick to attack others, Francesca. We use it only for defense.”

“Technically, Cosmil, you wouldn’t be the ones attacking. We would. The best defense is a good offense, and we’re gonna need every weapon at our disposal.”

“Francesca, you have feared that embracing your powers would corrupt your soul. I believe you are beginning to understand that will not come to pass, but if we use our magick to kill, it may well kill our magick.”

“Killing hasn’t put a crimp in Starrack’s,” I groused.

“It still may,” Lia said. “Besides, if you kill Starrack before you have some control over the Void, it’s likely to run amok without its maker. The ownerless thought form we have locked in the Council compound hasn’t yet died, and it’s been there three years.”

“No problem. I’ll be draining the Void’s energy as soon as I find enough of it to suck.”