La Vida Vampire

“Yes. They’ve rolled back prices this week on small appliances.”


“Oooh, I need a fanthy blender,” Cici lisped. “Do they have Cuithinargh—” Cici broke off when Claire elbowed her in the ribs.

Poor Cici. I felt sorry enough for her to take her to Wal-Mart myself—and talk her into doing something safer than hanging out with vampires.

Ike gave me a steely look, then surveyed his crew and growled so low in his throat the ground vibrated beneath my thin soled slippers.

“Another time,” he said with a mocking bow. “Perhaps by then you will decide, eh, Princess?”

“Decide what?” I asked.

“Whether to exist with the mortals or truly live as a vampire. You cannot straddle the worlds much longer.”

He clapped his hands once and swept his entourage in a glance.

“Children, drive yourselves back immediately,” he said to Claire and Cici. At the vampires he barked, “Come.”

The vamps took five steps up the street and poof! They were airborne, flying. Not with arms out like wings, not facedown like birds. It was as if they’d hopped on a moving sidewalk powered by a wind current heading south.

“You have to admit,” Saber said, leaning in to whisper in my ear, “that’s damned impressive.”

“Yeah, it is,” I breathed. “Just think what they save in gas.”





SEVENTEEN


When the vampires disappeared into the starry sky, I expected Saber to blow his stack. I didn’t expect him to glance at his watch and say, “You want a drink?”

“A drink?” I echoed stupidly.

“Sure. There’s not enough time for you to drag me all the way to Wal-Mart before we meet Eugene.”

I peered closer into the cobalt depths of his eyes and saw them twinkle. Then he smiled and took my arm. “Lighten up, Cesca.”

I couldn’t help but smile back as I fell into step with him, but I shook my head. “Aren’t you, um—”

“Pissed as hell?” Saber supplied.

I gulped. “We can go with that.”

He flashed a full-on grin. “I’m not angry. I’m surprised. When you told me you survived being buried by feeding off energy, I didn’t picture you sucking it like water through a damn straw.”

“I didn’t feed that way,” I said defensively. “I only had a sip here and there.”

Saber leaned to peer at my face. “You didn’t know you could pull aura like that, did you?”

“No, and it shocked me,” I admitted. I’d be coming to grips with that knowledge for days.

“Shocked Ike, too,” he said with an edge to his smile.

“He was threatening my friends, Saber. I couldn’t just stand there.”

He stopped and turned me, laid his warm hands on my shoulders.

“Cesca, you used your powers, your skills, to protect your friends and defuse the standoff. My skills come with a gun, yours come with being a vampire. You don’t have to be like Ike to be what you are.”

Maybe he had a point, but I’d still scared myself silly.

Saber tucked my hand in his arm, and we resumed strolling. “The only thing that worries me is that you showed your hand to Ike. He’s sure not going to leave you alone now. You’re a challenge.”

“And you sound happy about that why?” I snipped.

“Because,” he said, steering me the final steps to Scarlett’s, “I’ll just have to hang around and protect you.”

A wave of pleasant shivers showered me, then my cell phone chirped. I fumbled it out of my pocket and checked caller ID.

“It’s Mick,” I told Saber.

He nodded. “Take it while I look for a table.”

I flipped the phone open. “Mick, are you and Janie okay?”

“Yeah. We’re exhausted but alive.” He sighed. “Thanks for whatever you did to get us out of there.”

“Sure.” If they didn’t remember what a close call it had been, they’d have fewer nightmares. “Can I do anything for you?”

“No. I brought Janie to my place. I have—” He hesitated. “—certain safeguards here. Janie’s already sleeping, and I’m headed for bed.”

“Good. And, Mick, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t blame you, Cesca. I just wish I’d asked more questions when the office told me your tour was a sellout. ” He sighed again. “Next time, huh?”

“Right,” I said. “I’ll call tomorrow.”

I disconnected, then whirled at a touch on my back.

“Easy,” Saber said, handing me a glass of sweet tea, heavy on the ice. His drink smelled like bourbon, neat, and Eugene Cassidy stood behind him holding a cola.

“I ran into Cassidy inside, but we can’t find a table.”

I glanced across the street at the courtyard of a closed coffee shop. Four people at one of the small metal tables were leaving.

“There?” I asked.

Saber nodded, and we trooped into the shadows of huge oaks.

“Miss Cesca,” Eugene said as he pulled a chair out for me.

He still spoke in that deep North Carolina drawl, but it was no longer Gomer-ish. His black slacks and dark gray cotton shirt weren’t tailored, but they fit him correctly.