I escaped before Montoya and Kaden’s parents arrived. That part was none of my business, and truthfully, not a scene I wished to witness.
Plus, I’d promised Tricks a birthday party before we kicked off Samhain, and I didn’t want to disappoint. Mom and Dad would be there too. Once we switched to Samhain, all the lodge guests and permanent residents had been invited. It would be a night Tricks could remember for years.
An officer gave me a ride back, dropping me off in the parking lot. A few police and investigators were clustered by the maze with civilians who I assumed were school officials. The parking lot was mostly empty, with a few cars scattered here and there. A certain elf leaned against mine, head tipped back, watching the stars.
I stopped to watch his silver hair gleam in the moonlight. He hadn’t hesitated today. He never hesitated to put himself in harm’s way to keep others safe. Yet he trusted me to take care of myself. If I faltered, he’d be there to take up the slack, be it fighting a vampire or fighting for our wedding. In between, he’d plan and cook romantic dinners. Thank the earth he could cook. I’d over-boiled an empty pot of water last week.
Somehow, after everything, he’d chosen me as surely as I’d chosen him.
“See anything good?” I closed the distance between us.
He pushed away from the car and caught me in his arms. “Yes.”
My hands slid into his hair, ruining the delicate braids, as I melted into his kiss.
He pulled back. “Is it done?”
My heels sank back to the ground, and my hands drifted to his shoulders. The moment was gone. Not lost, but put aside. “My part is done. It’s a bitter tale.”
“You can tell me tomorrow, when the spirits do not listen so closely.” He turned me in his arms and pointed at the sky. “Mars is bright tonight.”
“So it is.” I relaxed into him. I didn’t fear the spirits. They’d had their say. “They’ll stake him by morning.” Little by little the story came out.
Elron never let go. “The demons weren’t the only evil in the world.”
“He didn’t choose to be evil. His actions were evil, but he didn’t set out to be a monster.” We’d never know if he’d wanted to be a vampire. Courtney’s nest had nothing but good things to say about her. From what Montoya had relayed through Rodriguez, they’d seen her as a young but responsible vampire. We might never know why she turned Kaden, but from the reports of the two of them, I couldn't believe this was their plan.
Elron simply held me.
“I don’t want to go home and fight again.” Not tonight.
“They promised to be on their best behavior.” Elron squeezed gently. “I believe they were shaken. They had it in their minds that you sat in an office, throwing orders at others, never in any danger yourself. In their minds, previous reports of your magic were greatly exaggerated. Their minds have been opened.”
“And you stayed behind to tell me?”
“I had to stay, for the police and university.”
Right. Work.
“And you.” He released me, cold air rushing into the space left behind, and came around to look me in the eye. “I will always be here for you.”
“As unrelenting as the ocean?” I suppressed a smile.
“Tougher than dragon hide.” He grinned.
“I love you.” I went up on my toes to kiss him. Long seconds later, when my bones were part jelly, he broke away.
Elron cupped his hands around my face, the heat of his skin sinking into my cheeks. “I love you too.”
Meow.
I looked at the car. A cat-shaped shadow sat on the trunk.
Meow!
“Wunho,” I said. A soft orb of light appeared above the trunk.
The black cat stared at us with bright orange eyes. Meow.
“If you’re the hell cat, you can turn into a human shape to talk.” My voice had an edge. Nothing like a private moment being watched and interrupted. “I’m not guessing what you want to say. That’s beneath both of us.”
The cat’s tail lashed back and forth.
“We should return home. They are waiting on us before starting Tricks’s party.” Elron held out his hand. “I will drive.”
I handed over the keys without a complaint and then gave the cat a pointed look. “You won’t want to be there when we leave.”
The cat didn’t move.
“Typical.” I muttered.
Elron unlocked the car and held the door open for me.
“Thank you.” I got one foot in the car before the cat leapt onto the seat behind me. I retreated.
The cat sat, tail curled around its paws, head forward.
“That’s my seat.”
The cat didn’t move.
“You can ride in the back.” I pointed.
It flicked a single ear.
Elron leaned around me. “Move.”
The cat turned to look at us.
One way or another, I was riding home in the front seat. “It’s my car. Get in the back or get out.”
The cat flicked its tail. A moment later, moving as slowly as possible, it stretched, sauntered across the seat, over the center console, and to the back seat.
I sat before it could reclaim its spot. “Thank you.”
Elron thanked the cat, who had settled in the seat behind me, and we were off. The ride home was quiet. There wasn’t much to say. Elron’s fantastic efforts to create a Halloween we’d never forget would be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
For me, there was little victory in catching the killer. Sure, he wouldn’t kill again. But his victims were still dead. Nothing could change that. And to me there was a difference between Kaden, the boy who’d wanted to become a vampire, and the creature we’d captured.
Five dead because one vampire didn’t follow the rules.
Elron turned on to the gravel road, slowing to a crawl behind the car in front of us. We had to pull off to the side three times to let cars out.
“A little late for trick-or-treating,” I said.
The corner of Elron’s mouth quirked up. “Word must’ve gotten out.”
“Word of what? Landa didn’t invite half the town to Samhain, did she?” If so, I’d never hear the end of it from Enor and Erwin. One more thing to add to the list of why they hated me.
“Nothing like that.” Elron’s smile was anything but reassuring.
“Great.”
In a moment, we rounded the last turn. Actually, it was great. Landa was handing out candy with Ty next to her. While Landa had dressed up as a Godmother, Ty had been more adventurous. Since he didn’t have thumbs, someone had helped him design and don a T-rex-sized, neon-pink unicorn horn and tiny, purple pegasus wings. The neon-pink horn matched the stripes that started along his spine and faded into the purple of his body by his belly. He was the biggest, happiest pegacorn I’d ever seen.
A little girl dressed as a superhero ran over to Ty. He lowered his head, and she wrapped her arms around his nose. Ty’s horn came within inches of whacking her mother in the head.
Elron parked. I got out and opened the door for the cat. Without so much as a glance, the cat ran off into the darkness. I thought about warning her to avoid the cars but decided she could take care of herself.
Over the top of the car, I could see kid after kid hurl themselves at Ty or timidly walk up to give him a single pat. Every one of them, even the kids who weren’t so sure a full-sized T. rex was a friend, left with a smile. The parents smiled too. Between taking pictures of their kids with him, they got a few pictures for themselves.
This was it. This was why it was worth it. We couldn’t save five, but by stopping Kaden, we had saved so many more. Those people could meet a pink and purple T. rex dressed as a pegacorn, and years from now, it would be a story shared with friends. And maybe a few of them would dress up as a T. rex pegacorn.
Elron pulled me against him. We watched two more kids. Elron squeezed me gently. “They’re waiting for us.”
“You’re right.”
I thought we’d go around back, but Elron took me in through the front door. “You need a moment to freshen up, and I’ll make you an energy-boosting tea to get you through the night.”
“That would be lovely.” The memory of the little girl hugging Ty wouldn’t leave.
At the door to my apartment, I looked up at Elron. “Could you ask Ty, not tonight, but later, if he’d be happier somewhere with more people?”
Elron cupped my face. “He is happy here.”
“I know, but…” I leaned into him. “He looked so happy.”
“I will ask, but I know the answer.” Elron pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll have your tea in a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
It took me all of ten minutes to freshen up and another five sitting on the sofa and trying to find energy to go over to Elron’s apartment. I stared out the window, not that I could see much.
Family, work, they only got so much easier. Compared to the worst, this was better. That didn’t make this week’s case or this month’s family dynamics easy. Each event had its own challenges. Comparing them didn’t make me feel better, and it didn’t change what kept me up at night. All comparing them did was make me feel bad. I’d gotten through the demons. Why did these five deaths hurt?
With a perfunctory knock, Elron slipped in, a mug in hand. He set it on the coffee table and settled in next to me. “Michelle?”
I picked up the mug and sipped. Peppermint, rosemary, and clove: sharp and bright to keep me alert, spicy to chase away the evening chill. “Thank you.”
“Are you okay?”
“Thinking.” I sipped the brew.
He arched a brow.
“Tonight hurt. This month has hurt. After everything…” I sighed. “Why does it still bother me?”
“This is now.”
“So?” I asked.
Elron shook his head. “You are not hearing me. This is now. These are the current problems. What you have weathered before does not change today’s difficulties. You can be sad for the deaths. You can be angry with my parents.”
“I know that, but shouldn’t it hurt less? I’ve been through worse.”
“And how would you have felt without what you’ve lived through?” He held out a hand. “Perhaps without your past, you would have made mistakes that caused harm or given into my parent’s demands. You cannot know how today’s events would have affected a past you.”
The mug warmed my hands as I took another sip. “It’s not fair to judge past or current me by the other standard.”
“Yes.” He opened his mouth to say more and then closed it.
I drained the mug and set it on the table. “Makes sense.”
“No time in your life has exclusive rights to your sorrow, fear, frustration, or any other emotions.” He held out a hand.
Scooting closer, I intertwined my fingers with his. “They get to hurt, in their time, in their way.”
“Precisely.” He pulled me in for a hug.
I leaned into him. “You don’t seem as bothered.”
His sigh ruffled my hair. “Victim or not, the vampire had to die. He couldn’t be allowed to continue killing.”
The unspoken words laid heavy on his voice. He’d always been more comfortable than me at taking justice into his own hands.
“And,” Elron continued, “my parents would test the patience of a saint.”
I snorted. “They are a bit much.”
“They were always rigid, fixated on traditions. I do not remember them being obnoxious.” Elron leaned his cheek against me. “If only they had been slower at making the trip. We could have married before they even showed up to complain.”
“The dream.” I couldn’t help my grin.
“Our dream.” He pressed a kiss to my neck. “Now, we need to hurry, or we will ruin Tricks’s dream.”
“Right.” I shook off my musings and followed Elron though the back door.
A small fire and floating orbs of light illuminated the green space behind the Lodge. The stone altar sat just outside the ring of light, with two plates and one fat candle honoring Samhain. Chairs circled the fire, and a small table held a cauldron and tidily wrapped presents. My parents and Nana, my paternal grandmother, had come. Nana had trapped Enor and Erwin in conversation. Mom, Dad, and Tricks were laughing.
Tricks spotted us and bounced over. “You made it! I wasn’t sure you would.” Her smile faded. “Or would want to.”
“Of course I want to. Birthday parties are the best.” I gave her a quick hug. “Work took a bit, that’s all.”
Her eyes searched my face. She must’ve found what she was looking for because she nodded. “Are you ready for cake? Landa has tons of food in the side garden, but that’s for Samhain, so all we have is my cake.”
“I would love cake, but let me say hi to my parents first.”
“Oh, right.” Tricks smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t think.” She bounced over to Elron.
I marveled at her energy.
Mom and Dad held back enough to look me over from head to toe. Mom extended a hand, a tendril of magic probing me for injuries. “We heard about the excitement.”
“Ruined Halloween, but I’m fine.” I caught Mom’s eye. “I promise.”
She withdrew her magic. “So I see. Can’t blame me for checking.”
I gave both of them hugs. “I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow, but I think videos are already online if you want to see for yourself. Four murdered spirits, crazed vampire, and all.”
“I’ve had enough excitement this month.” Dad looked past me.
It didn’t take a clairvoyant to know he was watching Enor and Erwin. Not much I could do about them. “I hope it wasn’t too awkward while you waited.”
“We managed.”
Well, that was the best any of us could hope with Elron’s parents. “Tricks and Samhain, remember?”
Dad nodded. Mom grimaced but agreed.
“Michelle! I have missed you.” Nana deftly turned me away from my parents while pressing a kiss to my cheek. “All that excitement. I saw the video. You did good catching that vampire. The one tossed in the air, she was out cold.”
Since I couldn’t get a word in, I nodded.
“Now, we need to sing so this girl can get her cake. I wanted it to be memorable.” Nana pointed at the cake.
What I’d thought was a cauldron was actually the cake. It didn’t look like any cake I’d seen before. Tricks’s cake was matte black, with a handle on each side and smoke spilling out of the top. “It’s perfect for her.”
Nana beamed. “That’s what I thought. Now, go get Elron and the birthday girl so we can sing, and she can open presents.”
I did as ordered, and all of us belted out a birthday dirge for Tricks. By the end, she was laughing so hard it took her two tries to blow out the candle that had risen out of the cauldron cake.
We feasted on pumpkin spice cake, being sure to leave a couple of slices on the altar. Once we’d finished, it was time for presents. Frankly, I was proud of Enor and Erwin. Other than pursed lips and the occasional glares, they didn’t fuss about the party. True to their word, they gave Tricks her own phone. She squealed and hugged them both.
Nana gave Tricks a voucher for a one-way dragon flight anywhere in the country. Mom and Dad gave her a set of books about growing up, picking school, jobs, careers, and all sorts of good life advice. I gave her a trio of spelled note boards. Hers was the master board, and she could use it to send notes to the two others. I’d hoped she would give Elron and I the secondary boards. She gave one to the two of us but gave Nana the other.
I had to turn away and dab away a tear. We’d done it. Tricks knew she was loved and wanted. If nothing else, that was worth the annoyance of her parents.
That left Elron’s gift, the one I’d thought would be her favorite. That had been before the phone, so this would come in at a close second.
She unwrapped a wooden box about ten inches across and four feet long. She opened it and found an elven-forged longsword, a matching bracelet, and a note from Elron. She stared at the sword and bracelet before opening the note.
I knew most of what it said. The sword and bracelet set was like Elron’s and would allow her to summon the sword from anywhere. He’d gotten permission from her parents, but she couldn’t have it until they agreed she was trained and responsible enough to carry it full-time. I figured going after Kaden had added six months to her training, but that was fair.
She jerked her head up, “I can keep it?”
Elron nodded.
Erwin might have smiled. “Yes.”
She hurled herself at Elron. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!”
That made this month worth it.
Tricks didn’t get a chance to test the sword. It was time for the bonfire. Enor and Erwin sent her back inside with her presents. She ran back out as a gong sounded.
I linked arms with Elron, and we went round the Lodge to the side garden. Landa and her husband Mander had set up a feast. Trays, bowls, and platters filled two tables. A stack of soul cakes towered above the rest of the deserts. Paxton and Baden, both long-time residents, came out. Priscele, an off-and-on resident, was back too. A few overnight guests and friends of Landa’s joined the party as well. Ty loomed off to the side, happily accepting cheek scratches from anyone who ventured near.
Landa welcomed everyone, lit the bonfire, and the party began.
The next few hours flew by in a mix of food and friends. We enjoyed the food, left offerings for spirits, lit pumpkins and a late addition, carved turnips. Those of us who were staying at the Lodge brought the light back inside and lit the fires. We finished the night with spiced wine and toasts.
A hearty meow pulled my attention away from the last toast. The cat was back. It looked up at me.
“What?” I hissed.
It sat and stared.
I went back to the toast.
The cat lingered beside me as I said goodnight to family and friends.
It was late, and I could hardly keep my eyes open when I turned to go inside.
The cat darted in front of me.
I swore. “What?”
It looked at the Lodge.
“You want to come inside?”
It bobbed its head.
“Fine, but you better not mess on anything. Or shred my sofa.” I glared at the cat.
It bobbed its head again.
“A deal is a deal, no going back on it.” I snagged an extra plate of ham on my way inside. There were plenty for the spirits. They could spare a few slices for a cat.
The cat followed into my apartment. I set down a water bowl and went through my workroom until I found sand and a plastic tub. It would have to do for now.
Elron stopped by, raised a brow at the cat, kissed me goodnight, and left.
Like I could blame him.
While the cat inhaled the ham, I made it a bed with an old blanket and a pillow. Surprisingly, it went for the bed and not the sofa.
I escaped. The cat was tomorrow’s problem.