Always the Vampire

“I didn’t say I’d do it.”


But I could tell he was changing his mind, so I let it go for the moment, closed out the computer screens, and removed my camera cord.

We dove into the new training regimen with a vengeance, first identifying each other by essence in a version of blind man’s bluff. Next we practiced hiding and revealing our thoughts, projecting both to individuals and to the whole group.

Our final drill of the night was the one I’d anticipated, and the exercise played like dodge ball. Cosmil and Lia began by slow-pitching spheres of energy and gradually zinging fastballs. We practiced leaping away from them, and with each flying jump I took, I felt bursts in my cool well of power.

“Watch their eyes,” Saber said when we took a break to huddle on the far side of Cosmil’s enchanted circle. “It’s like in football. If the quarterback looks at his receiver, the defense knows right where to go. Our wizard and sorceress may be going easy on us, but right now they’re not looking us off.”

“Should we tell them?”

“Hell, no. I’m enjoying winning against magical forces.”

While we can. That was left unsaid, but I heard Saber loud and clear in my head. From the grim smile Triton gave me, he’d heard, too.





Tuesday morning saw me up at the crack of eleven o’clock again. My dreams had given me an idea on organizing some of the wedding supplies beyond those I’d put in clear boxes, so I slathered on the super sunscreen to make a run with Saber to Dollar Tree and Target. I bought two hanging shoe storage units with clear plastic pockets for easy viewing, small clear plastic boxes, and white labels. I also stocked up at Dollar Tree on men’s and women’s toiletries, and plastic zipper bags. I even found the treat that Lia had wanted when she got off the plane, and bought two boxes of chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow goodness.

I already had both serious and funny wedding cards for the happy couple, so Saber made his selection while I bought a sewing kit that included thread in nearly every color known to dye lots. Of course, I had spools of thread that matched Maggie’s gown and our bridesmaid dresses, but it didn’t hurt to have extras for the guys and for those in the bridal party who weren’t walking down the aisle.

I spent the rest of the afternoon grouping supplies into categories, stashing them in zip bags, and making labels. Tomorrow I’d get with Maggie to collect those things from the house that needed to be at hand, and to go over the seating chart a final time.

Saber spent his time printing multiple copies of the photos I’d taken, and more copies of the daytime aerial shots of the parking-garage roof we’d found on the Internet. That night at Cosmil’s the subject would be strategy.

We again gathered around Cosmil’s coffee table, Saber distributing the printouts, me handing out pencils and highlighters. Pandora was present and listening, and I knew she’d contribute if she had anything to say. I also gave Lia her boxes of MoonPies, which she put on the counter for later.

“Let’s take it from the top,” Saber began. “I’ll be with Cesca at the rehearsal. It starts at six, and we should be parked and on the festival grounds by seven fifteen.”

“Right. According to the Internet, it will be full dark by seven thirty.”

Triton cleared his throat. “A newspaper article mentioned the Nisiotes Dance Troupe will be doing demonstrations.”

I blinked at the left-field comment. “So?”

“I’ve been thinking,” he responded. “To lure Starrack to the garage, do we need to stand out in the crowd?”

I read his next thought. “You want us to horn in on the dancers?”

“Yeah. Make a spectacle like we did when we scandalized my mother.”

“It could work,” Saber said.

“You think?”

He shrugged. “If it feels right at the time, go for it.”

“What do you want us to do?” Lia asked from her place beside Cosmil on the sofa.

“Can you set up your tracking-spell stuff in Triton’s truck?”

“Of course. We will take care of the security camera on the roof and in the stairwells, too, if you like.”

I looked at Lia. “Can you take care of the cameras with magick? Not knock them out, or someone is sure to check on them.”

“You want them to show the normal, empty spaces?”

“That’ll do,” Saber confirmed.

“I’ll see to it.”

“Then I’ll pick you up at six,” Triton said, then eyed me. “I’ve decided to go along with your dead-battery scheme. Should I park on the roof first thing?”

I beamed. “That would be great. We’ll drive up, and we can play with how far apart to park so we take up the maximum space. And if Cos and Lia wait in your truck afterward, it won’t look like either of the trucks are abandoned.”