Just as Daniel’s hand slid under my shirt, heading upward toward my breasts, my doorbell rang. Henry was gone to Alice's house, so there wasn’t anyone else to answer the door.
I moaned, and Daniel rolled away. “Seriously?” he gasped. “It’s eleven at night.”
“Come on,” I grumbled. “Go with me. This late, it’s probably the police here to ask more questions about Joel.”
He shuffled behind me out into the hallway and down the stairs. When I opened the door, I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong.
A pale, tall man stood on my porch. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but he did look familiar. He had a bit of a paunch and his hair had seen thicker days, but he was handsome, with intense blue eyes rimmed by red. He also hummed with strength, which instantly had me on guard. Was he human?
“Hello,” he said, seeming a little shy and uncertain. “I’m Bryan... and I need Karma’s help.”
Daniel put his arm in front of me and sort of shoved me backward, putting himself in between me and Bryan. “I know who you are. What are you doing here?” There was anger in his voice.
Anger? Why? Who was this guy? He looked so familiar.
The man held up his hand. “I come in peace. I really do need her help.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“He’s a vampire,” Daniel snarled. “A blood-sucker.” He may as well have spit on the floor for the venom in his voice.
“I’m also Carol’s ex-boyfriend,” Bryan said slowly as if he wasn’t sure whether his words would help or hurt him.
Oh! I peered around Daniel again. I had just recently seen his picture in a yearbook. Time had definitely changed him, though not as much as I would have thought. I guess that was to be expected with a vampire though. He still had a little bit of softness to his face, like a young man, but a few wrinkles on his forehead and beside his eyes. His shoulders were strong, even though his overall frame was on the thinner side.
I had a feeling if he was smiling, I would have instantly recognized him for who he was.
“You’re the Bryan who left her without even a goodbye?” I asked, shocked. Though as soon as it passed my curiosity roared to life.
He nodded and shrugged. “And now you know why.”
Because he’d become a vampire? I bet there was a whole story there, and I hoped it could justify why he’d broken my friend’s heart. Otherwise, he might not find Karma so much of a help, as the boot that was going to kick his butt with justice.
With a sigh, I tugged on Daniel’s arm. “Is the old vampire thing true?” I asked. “About inviting them in?”
He shook his head. “No. He could force his way in if he wanted to.”
Well, there was no point in him having to stand on the porch. “Come on in, Bryan. Tell me what’s going on. But start by telling me how you knew I was Karma.”
He started talking before he even crossed the threshold. “Well, as for that, everyone in the supernatural world knows Karma handed down her mantle. We all knew who the old Karma was, too, but she made herself hard to find, unlike you. Don’t be surprised if you get a lot of attention if you don’t go into hiding. Everyone wants to get what they think they deserve.” The last bit sounded more like he was complaining about someone else.
It was the first part that stuck in my mind. More attention was exactly what I didn’t need. It wasn't like the police thought I was a magnet for trouble already or anything...
“As for what's going on?” He continued. “I've been going through my uncle's stuff and found out that there’s something really bad going on in Mystic Hollow.”
"Your uncle?" I asked, unsure who he was related to. I swear my brain had a limited capacity for facts and just randomly deleted stuff, so instead of forgetting things like state capitals when I learned something new, I'd forget things like who Bryan's uncle was, even though I felt sure I knew at some point.
"Cliff Miller. I came back for his funeral."
"Oh, my god. I'm so sorry!"
Cliff was the terrible lawyer who had been Beth’s ex’s business partner. What her ex had done to him, just to steal their business was cruel, but the monster he’d become couldn't just be ignored. As in I, or my karma powers, had turned Cliff into a rat. I guess him missing for so long had been enough for him to be officially declared dead, which had brought Bryan here.
“Are you doing okay?” I asked because I didn’t know what else to say. If he wanted Karma to handle who took out his uncle, he might be in for a surprise.
"I’m okay. We weren’t actually that close," Bryan replied. "The important thing is that we're all in big trouble."
Trouble. Darn it. Trouble was something I had some experience with.
“Better tell us the whole story, and go slowly, we’ve had a few rough weeks…” I motioned for him to come in.
He stepped onto the porch but then froze. “Wait.” Whirling around, Bryan tensed, crouching slightly as if he were about to take off running.
“Someone else is out there,” Daniel said, a low growl erupting from his chest. “Another vampire.”
“Gotta go!” Bryan yell-whispered, and then… he was gone. Disappeared.
I blinked rapidly and tapped Daniel on the shoulder. “How’d he do that?”
“He’s a vampire,” Daniel said, but he was slightly crouched as well. Was he about to take off? “They can run so fast it seems like they’re poofing in thin air.
“Is the other vampire still out there?” I asked, getting a little nervous now.
He shook his head and backed up, nudging me back into the house in the process. “Whoever it was, they followed Bryan. Let’s get inside.”
After closing and locking the door, I peered out into the darkness and shivered. At least I had my powers to protect me.
I hoped.