“The sun! Vamp-daddy could stand rays, but didn’t like it. Most vamps become crispy-critters with prolonged exposure to the sun, you know. Those movies get some things right.” She gestured wildly with her arms. “Just look at this place. An indoor amusement park. Isn’t it the cat’s meow?”
The ride stopped and Elena’s stomach lurched. She sprang to her feet and jumped off the carousel. No. It was not “the cat’s meow.” It was horrible. Nik was somewhere being tortured while she was in an amusement park with a sorceress wearing a cat mu-mu, speaking in ghastly colloquialisms. It was screwed up beyond belief, and she had to do something about it. Tears stung her eyes as she stormed for the front door.
Pop!
She slammed right into Uza, who appeared out of nowhere. They glared at each other for a moment, and then she heard it.
“Oh my God. Is that your outfit meowing?”
Uza grinned and stroked all the way from her neck to her thighs. “Mmm hmm. Couldn’t just leave ’em.” She winked and whispered, “I like my kitties. Girl’s gotta get some tail, right?”
Shit. Her mu-mu was purring. “Stop it,” she shouted. “This isn’t a joke.”
“Oh, so are you ready to get serious now?” Uza put her hands on her ample hips. “Done screwing the hottie and ready to save the world, are ya?”
“I wish I could screw him! I can’t very well do that while they’re torturing him, now can I?” And at that, she totally broke down. “He thinks I set him up.”
Aunt Uza put her arm around her shoulders and led her to the snack bar. “Now, just set yourself down. You want a blue Slurpee? You used to love those things.”
“No!” Elena plopped down on the wooden bench of the picnic table. Her chest ached so bad that she was sure her ribs were disintegrating. Again, she searched her mind for a vision of him, but came up blank.
“How do you know they are torturing him?” Uza asked.
“I saw it. I had a vision or dream or something.”
“When?”
“Right before the Slayers came.”
She tilted her head and studied Elena. “Were you doin’ the hanky panky?”
“What? No!”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. There had to be a catalyst. What were you doing right before you had the vision?”
“Well, I… It’s none of your business.”
The entire building froze. The rides stopped, kids froze mid-giggle, and all around them, time had seemed to stop. Uza put her face within inches of Elena’s, and her eyes flickered between black and the faded blue that was customary. “Now you listen to me, Elena Arcos. Without me, you would not have a fortune, a future, or even the shitty existence you’ve experienced so far. Every breath you take is my business, and if you get defiant with me, life’s gonna suck so bad you’ll wish you had kicked the bucket in that convenience store.”
“I already do! I’ve lost him, don’t you see?” She felt like the little girl she’d been the last time she was here.
“Watching millions of humans and immortals die will make losing your lover look like a trip to the amusement park. Joke intended.” She nodded her head, and the world spun back into motion. Kids giggled from rides while their mothers continued to brag and gossip at the tables around them.
“You can stop time?”
“No. I can speed us up so fast it seems that way. It takes a lot of energy, though. Were you impressed?”
“Uh, yeah…”
“Good.” She pulled a wad of cash out of her pocket and shoved it into Elena’s hand. “Try to stay in the human realm. It uses less energy for you. Only use the Veil when necessary. You are part of both realms, but your natural place is above the Veil. Now get yourself together so you can save the world…and that hottie of yours. He’s too yummy to waste if you ask me.”
She took a deep, ragged breath and studied the cash. “What is this for?”
“You’ll figure it out. Now, answer me straight. What were you doing right before you had the visions?”
“I bit him.”
Uza grinned. “Like father, like daughter.” She winked. “Body fluids are the most common catalyst for seers.” A loud purring emanated from her dress.
Elena covered her ears. “Ugh. Just stop.”
“What did you see?”
“He was chained to a stone wall. He was bleeding and hurt.”
“But alive.”
Elena shuddered.
Uza shook her by the shoulders. “But he was alive, right?”
She nodded.
“Well, then. You need to get it together quick-like, because I didn’t see him dead, either, and I would have if it were a done deal.” She gave Elena another shake. “You are made for this. It’s what you do.”
“What do I do? What am I?”
Uza grinned. “You hunt baddies. You snuff ’em. You’re a Dhampir.”
“What is that?”
“Half vampire, half human—or in your case, half almost human. You’re a mix.”
“Wait. My mom was human.”
“Sort of. Her great-great-grandmother had a little tooky with an immortal. It’s why your mom could get knocked up by a vamp—they’re the least compatible with humans, you know.”
“What kind of immortal did my great-great-grandmother…?”