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“Well, vampire?”
Wilder raised his gaze to the demanding creature sitting on the other side of his desk. Demons rarely asked anyone except another demon for help of any kind. “Well, what?” Wilder asked, rising from his chair. Most demons emitted distinguishing odors, undetectable by most humans. This one just stank. And if it remained still long enough, it left behind a clear gooey residue. As it was, the upholstery on his client chair was ruined. A normal would faint if he had to spend more than a few minutes in its presence. “Are you asking for our services?” Diplomatic or not, Wilder turned his back on the foul demon to open both windows.
“Asking?” The demon sharply got to his feet, making a squishy noise as his bare bottom pulled loose from the chair. He ignored the frown on Wilder’s face. He wrinkled his own face as if at the audacity of such an idea. “You people are servants. Paid servants to do as you are told.”
Wilder again turned his back on him. His nature threatened to spill, if that happened the other being might take offense and challenge him. Touching such a creature was distasteful, but Wilder would still love to drop him where he stood. “I am no demon’s or man’s servant, you foul beast!” Screw it, no one insulted him in his own office. He swirled around. Teeth bared, eyes shining. “Step back,” Wilder commanded. “I won’t endure your foulness.”
“My foulness? Vampire, I will not be ordered by the likes of you!” He clenched his clammy, baby blue complexioned fists. “Foul is you!” he declared, pointing a long fingernail at Wilder’s nose. “A spirit housed in a dead human’s body! You can’t survive without humankind, you pitiful creature!”
“At least, I have respect for myself and those around me. For God’s sake, why the hell can’t you bathe or wear clothing? We won’t take any work from you. Get your slimy ass out of my office!”
“How dare you discriminate against me? I have money just like anyone else.”
“I won’t deal with you any further.” Wilder held a hand to his nose and traveled quickly to his office door. He snatched it open and stepped out into the hallway to take a deep breath and wiped his eyes. “Jesus.”
~*~
Oh God, she moaned to herself once again, even though she held her coat scarf over her nose and mouth. Now, the stinky bastard was dripping on her carpet. A potential client or not, enough was enough. She got up pulling a pouch from her jeans pocket.
“What are you doing?” he demanded when she poured the contents into a water glass already sitting on the desk. The water turned pink and the faint scent of roses prevailed in the office. “What is that stench?”
“Roses and water.” She picked up the glass and inhaled deeply.
“Get rid of that! I can’t stand it!”
“Just get up and take two steps backward. Or try pinching your nostrils shut.” Seating herself, she regarded the stink demon glaring back at her. What? Did he think it was okay to offend her senses but she shouldn’t attempt to counter his funk? She took a tissue from inside the lower drawer and wiped her running eyes. “Now, Mister- uh?”
“My name is not necessary,” he snapped. “For you and your people to complete your task.”
“Untrue. As a business, we must keep records. If you prefer, you can write it down.” She pushed her notepad and pencil across the desk.
“No.”
“Then this agency is not the one for you. We work by our rules, not by every other demon that rolls up in here.” Not that they’d had that many demons as clients. It was usually the other way around.
“Are you refusing me?”
“I have to admit, I’m leaning in that direction.” She crossed her arms trying to see past the repulsive creature to the person inside him. Maybe he wasn’t a monster, but he was a jerk- and Velvet didn’t like him. Of course, she didn’t have to like someone to take his money. “What exactly do you expect us to do?”
“Drive them out. They don’t belong here.”
“Well, technically, neither do you.”
“Has anyone asked you to get rid of me?”
“No,” she answered. But, boy if somebody did. “Odd, a demon coming here wanting me to drive out demons. Why can’t you handle this among yourselves? You know basic banishments, right?”
“Why should I dirty my hands?”
So they won’t be dripping, for one thing, she retorted quickly in her head. “So, it’s dirty work. You aren’t a victim.”
“Hardly. However,” he leaned back in the chair, crossed his wet, bare legs. “These creatures are body snatchers. Preying on your kind.”
“My kind?”
“Humans,” he informed her, pulling his loose lips from his big crooked teeth into something that resembled a smile. “Human females. A special breed called virgins. I believe sex crimes involving children are the lowest form of depravity among humans.” He let his leg dangle waiting for her response.
“Okay, you have my undivided attention. Now, get on with it.” He uncrossed his legs, a sight Velvet could have done without. He pushed a folder across the desk to her fingertips. After opening it, she viewed a portfolio involving young girls seemingly as young as eight up to maybe thirteen. In varying poses of overly innocent to the very absence. She flashed her eyes up to the demon for an explanation. “This is child pornography.” If he didn’t stop grinning, she was going to throw the flower water right into his mouth. “You are in possession of it, which is a crime.”
“Anyone with a computer can have possession of it. I gathered these from several websites.”
Velvet blinked at him then closed the folder. “You telling me there are demons out there taking virgins and using them for organized sex crimes?”
“Is that enough to get you on the case?”
“Just about. But first, you tell me your goddamn name and who the hell sent you here.”
“I told you my name is of no importance in this matter.”
“Tell me your name now.” His mouth opened, but he forced back his voice. Horrified, he covered his mouth with a sticky hand. “Speak!” She grabbed his arm, brought his hand down from his mouth.
“N- No!”
“Velvet Washington commands you!”
“You bitch. You can’t make me.”
“I’m not going to spend all night with you. Speak your name or I’ll banish you. And wherever you ran from will seem like Disneyland compared to where I’ll send you.”
“You would not! You don’t have a reason.” He futilely attempted to pull loose. “Damn you anyway! My name is Clorr.”
“Was that so hard?” She released his arm and sat back, letting him glowering at her at his leisure. In the meantime, she searched her drawers for the box of wet wipes she kept for Carmen’s messy face and hands. That baby was always eating or sucking on something gooey.
“Do you treat all demons this way, or just me?” She wiped the goo from her fingers then tossed the wipe into the trash basket under her desk.
“I could have you brought up on charges.”
“Well, good luck proving I forced your name out of you. Idiot. I gave you the option to write it.”
“All witches are corrupt,” he uttered.
“After this, you just be sure not to cross me because I know your name.” And just about every other thing about him. “Now, you tell me why you want me after these creatures.”
“Isn’t what they do to your children enough?”
“Clorr, when I ask you a question, you answer the question. I don’t want to hear another question instead. You got me?”
Clorr swallowed back what was left of his demonic pride. “I got you,” he said. “These demons are strong and keep getting stronger as they jump from body to body, and they multiply very quickly. Their increase diminishes the rest of us. We might possibly become impotent to their strength over time. That is my fear. Others don’t see it, they call me an alarmist.” He touched the folder she held in her hands. “These are your children. Normally, I wouldn’t give what they do a second thought as any of my business, except they have broken every law from crossing over to abuse of power. Soon life in Fairlight will be hell. Look at those children, when knowledge of demonic interference is exposed, will any demon be safe?”
She opened the folder again examining the girls. He was right, Velvet thought. Young and pretty, most were natural blondes. Greater America would be up in arms, not caring what kind of demon they hunted and killed as long as they got a demon for a child. Clorr’s kind was the easiest to track. She saw his point. Coming to Velvet Washington and Associates was the way to go. She couldn’t blame Clorr for looking out for his own interests.
“Are you on the case?” he asked.
“I have a bit of consulting to do first.”
“But isn’t this extremely urgent?”
Sure, time was crucial for the girls, but she wasn’t about to risk her own life or her team’s barging in on organized crime. “Urgency does not override standard procedure. We will contact you in a few days. Please, do not feel the need to come to these offices in the meantime. A phone call will suffice. Thank you for choosing Velvet Washington and Associates. Have a good evening.” She picked up the rose water then backed out of the confine of her desk and fast walked to the window behind her and opened it wide. “Ah...” She sniffed deeply of the fragrance filling her nose with its pure sweetness. “Better,” she sighed.
~*~
It was a police matter- and he’d tell Velvet that as soon as she tore herself away from that irritating child. So unprofessional, he thought. Behind her desk, she had Carmen sitting on her lap facing her. The child was trying to feed Velvet from a plastic bag of Froot Loops. Wilder stood silently in a corner watching them. Nothing new or unusual about that, yet today watching him watch Velvet bothered him. The vampire kept his own council like most of his kind, but there was something going on with him that Rankin felt almost sure involved Velvet. Something she had no idea about. A betrayal perhaps. The thought flitted through his mind, and by the sudden stiffness in her, Rankin knew she heard it. Looking up at him, she chewed the crunchy piece of cereal Carmen shoved into her mouth. While he’d been indisposed, growing his head back, Wilder had taken the opportunity to up his game, and worm his way back to her side. The jealous bastard had the nerve to smile at him, baring just a hint of his fangs.
Rankin barged in seeing no reason to mask his displeasure with the cozy scene.
“What’s the matter with you?” Velvet asked.
“Excuse me?”
“You are scowling.”
“At me,” Wilder said. He came around the desk and leaned his hip casually against the edge, studying Rankin’s expression. “Unfortunately, this new head isn’t much different from the other one. One might think he’d at least have a new attitude.”
“No such luck for you, dead man.”
“For the last time, I am not dead!”
“Just because that body didn’t rot?”
“Rankin, if I were you...”
“You’d at least have a personality?”
“Right,” Wilder smirked, then went back to stand beside Velvet. He showed Carmen his fangs, making her giggle and climb over Velvet to get to him.
“Vee?” Rankin indicated Wilder letting Carmen play with his mouth. “You want her nipped or what?”
“What did you say?” Wilder placed Carmen on the desktop.
“Wilder.”
“No, Vee. I am done taking this bastards rudeness! I don’t care if his blasted head just grew back!”
“Rankin, maybe you should leave,” Velvet calmly suggested taking Carmen back into her lap.
“Why? Because your pet is upset? I’m here on business, which is more than I can say for the two of you playing house. I thought the brat had a nanny.” Why he let himself get worked up over what non-professionals did was beyond him. But that Wilder was up to something. All of a sudden doing office hours on his own instead of making the scene at the local clubs and parties. He was sticking close to Velvet these days, closer than normal, even for him.
“For your information, Suzanne came by for a visit and she just went down the hall to visit the bathroom. And Carmen is a delightful child, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t call her a brat again. Now, if you have business to discuss, let’s hear it already.”
“Finally,” Rankin said. He ignored Wilder standing behind her like a bodyguard. “I’ve completed my research. There isn’t enough on the Avaricites- or on the demon, Clorr. I’m very suspicious of the whole thing. Where are the discarded bodies?”
“But the websites?”
“Are a police matter.”
“I don’t agree,” Wilder said. “Vee and I were discussing this earlier. These websites are easily accessible, activity is high and yet they’ve only had the slightest of interest from legal authorities, which means they are protected unnaturally. Or being ignored on purpose.”
“Then we should find evidence of demon magik before we get involved officially. Identify all involved.”
“I don’t agree,” Velvet said. “That will take time those girls might not have. Clorr gave me a few names to start with.”
“Where did he get those names?”
“He preferred not to say.”
“You are going to trust an unknown demon?”
“No, Rankin. I’m going to investigate information like I would for any case.”
“Okay, then I’ll say what you two are obviously overlooking,” Rankin said. “How can we save the possessed? We aren’t exorcists, and we can’t fight them housed inside the bodies of children.”
“Then instead of arguing, why don’t you flip through the directory and find the top ten or so exorcists on record. I figure we’ll need at least three.”
“Just like that, you think you can snap your damn fingers and-”
“No, Rankin. I think you are going to snap your damn fingers and get your job done like I told you!”
His face went red and he didn’t utter one word on account he was too angry at the audacity she had to be screaming in his face.
“You hear me, Rankin?”
“I believe the lady asked you a question,” Wilder snorted.
“I hear you, Velvet,” Rankin said overriding his fury. “You sure scream loud enough.”
“Rankin-”
“If you’ll excuse me,” he said, unable to keep the thickness out of his voice. He moved around her to get out of there before he gave in to the urge to punch a wall. Just what he needed to be doing in front of that smirking vampire in her office.
~*~
Velvet had appeared inside his office before he did. He closed the door then proceed over to his desk, where she leaned her tall, dark body. In the office, she dressed normally unless she planned to immediately go out into the field wearing an official battle suit. Today she wore a red skirt with a black blouse. Seemed everything she put on hugged her muscular curves. Her skin was so dark, she was truly an ebony beauty.
“Rankin, I know what you went through was rough and you are feeling pretty stressed.”
“How would you know, Vee? How would you know anything that had nothing to do with Troy Tanaka?”
“Troy?”
“Don’t you remember that werewolf you couldn’t stop fucking?”
“Okay, I’m going to act like I didn’t understand those words that just came out of your mouth.”
Damn. Now, he sounded like a jealous idiot. All those quiet moments she sat with him at the clinic, he was sure her mind was occupied with the wolfman. Probably only came to visit him out of guilt. No, that wasn’t true. Velvet cared about him the same as she did everyone on her team.
“Rankin, I don’t understand what is going on with you these days. I don’t mean to add to whatever it is. If you need more time off, take it.”
“I don’t need time off.”
“At least put in fewer hours.”
“For what? You think I’m not up to this job anymore?”
“I think it was a mistake letting you walk straight from the Madison clinic right back into the office. You need to relax from the trauma.”
“You think I’m traumatized after all this time?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No. I’m fine. And I’ve things to do today.”
“Rankin, you really don’t need to push yourself. Work will always be here.”
“I also don’t need a mother, Velvet.” Or people thinking he was off his game. “When I was laid up, you acted like I was someone that mattered to you. I thought things would be different.”
“Rankin, you know you are a valuable member of this team. You also know I care about you as a dear friend. Of course, I’m going to make sure you don’t overdo it. Not after what I let happen to you that night.”
“That wasn’t your fault. Jerome had a plan and got lucky.” He dropped his files on top of the desk then looked at her. She was sorry about that night and still blamed herself. “If somebody had to lose their head, the better choice was me, don’t you think?”
“No. I’d simply have died, and not have to spend months suffering in a clinic.”
“It wasn’t as bad as you think.”
“Okay, then. What do you need from me to make things easier for you?”
“Easier for me?”
“I mean to cut the tension.”
“Nothing, Velvet. I’m the one with the problem, obviously.”
“So you intend to make me feel bad about you all the time?”
“There is no reason to feel bad about me. Not if you believe you and that bastard is right all the time!”
“Okay, Rankin. We’ll go over it again if you feel so unsure about it. In the meantime, I have to do something about those websites. Suzanne thinks she can identify the victims by sending her mind into cyberspace. Finding a physical location after that should be a snap.”
“I think I should interview the demon Clorr myself.”
“Why? Wilder and I already did that.”
“I have a few questions of my own and I want to see if he’s lying.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know. Just seems the sudden rise in demonic activity and demons suddenly hiring us is more than simple coincidence. Might be more going on. I was out of things going on in Fairlight for a fairly long time. Things have changed.”
“What things?”
“You haven’t mentioned Jerome at all. Why is he so quiet still? Surely, he’s not that afraid of Troy’s claws. Or you.” He noticed the twitch in her jaw at the mention of Troy. After all these months, she wasn’t over that beast? “We also don’t know why Celeste was murdered and left on your front porch.”
“Jerome turned on her and killed her. He put her on my porch to give me a hard time with the police.”
“You think everything is Jerome.”
“He was heard bragging about it.”
“And this witness confessed it to Wilder.”
“You trying to say Wilder lied on Jerome? He didn’t kill Celeste. Why on earth would he if he brought her among us for no good?”
“Maybe she was not as controllable as he wanted. Or maybe she annoyed him.”
“That’s ridiculous. Wilder is an intelligent, sophisticated man. I know him and I trust him with my life.”
“The rest of us can’t afford that luxury, Velvet. He might truly love you, but the rest of us is just baggage.” She refused to see it and was just allowing him to speak so she could get on with her plans. He understood loyalty, but in this case, it could prove fatal to everyone involved on the team. “Velvet, the reason I came back to work so soon is that my instincts not to trust him are stronger. I need to protect you and this business.”
“Wilder is not a threat to me or anyone associated with me. I don’t intend to have this conversation again unless you can give me facts rather than what you think. However, on the issue of investigating demonic activity, if it will make you feel better, go ahead and do your research to get back up to speed. In the meantime, we’ll report the websites to the police, and see that they get shut down. I’ll force them down if the police aren’t able to help.”
“You mean it? Just like that, you see my point?”
“Yes, I see your point. Just don’t take too long.” She started for the door then paused and turned back. “In case I haven’t expressed it properly, I’m glad you came back to us. With Milton gone, it’s been hard. He was the peacekeeper and the butt kicker. You stepped up after he left, I appreciate that.”
“Have you heard from him at all?”
“No.”
“But the bank accounts are steadily showing activity?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t worry, no one but Milton can access those accounts.”
“I know,” she sighed. “I just wish he’d told me what he was doing. Who he was chasing in Europe.” Sadly she turned and left his office.
“No, Velvet,” Rankin said pushing the door shut. “The last thing you need to know is who Milton is chasing to kill.”
~*~
“Miss Washington?”
As usual, the girl let her stroll right past her reception desk before she uttered one word. Seasons took the definition of awkward shyness to a whole new level. Velvet remembered to smile as she turned to reply to the young woman. Twenty years old and she related to other adults as if she were twelve years old. Other than being a witch, Velvet wondered what Wilder saw in the girl to lead him to hire her. Oh yeah, there weren’t that many applicants willing to be interviewed by a vampire at night.
“Yes, Seasons.” Velvet patiently waited for the receptionist to swallow then look down at her own shaking hands rather than look another person in the eye. “Sweetie, my face isn’t on your desk.”
“I know that.”
“Then look at me when you talk to me.”
“Miss Washington, I can’t.”
“Seasons, I know you look at other people. Even Wilder. If you can look a master vampire in the eye, why not me?”
“Your eyes- they scare me.”
“What do you think my eyes are going to do to you?”
“I- I don’t know.”
“My eyes are my eyes. I can’t help what you feel when you look at me, but you can help how you react to what you feel.”
“Can’t you hide the gold?”
“Obviously, not from you. Seasons, my eyes don’t have a mind of their own. You aren’t going to be struck down for looking at me. All right?”
“Yes, Mistress.” Bravely and slowly she raised her long lashes up to Velvet’s dark chocolate face.
“I’m your boss, not your mistress. And stop with the Miss stuff too.” One day she was going to have a long talk with this girl. Not tonight though. “So was there something you needed?”
“Oh yes. A man came in while you were out. He said he’d come back in a couple of hours. If he meant two hours, he’s due back any minute.”
“Did he give his name?”
“Leroy something, I didn’t catch it. I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right. I know who he is. When he comes in send him directly to my office.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thanks, Seasons.”
After closing the office door, she went to her desk to search for a hand mirror in one of the drawers. Not finding one, she snapped her fingers to produce one. As expected her glamor was in place, no golden specks floating around in her eyeballs. Yet Seasons saw through the glamor without even trying. “Hmmm.” There was a story with that one.
“Velvet.”
“Wilder.” She placed the hand mirror in the drawer and closed it. He held back at the door watching her. She studied him back a few seconds, taking in his appearance. He was back to dressing in black pants and white shirts these days. Similar to when they met nearly twenty years ago. His auburn curls now hung down past his shoulders. Funny, of all the men she knew and had allowed herself to fall for, Wilder was in a class by himself. Except for him, she preferred big tall men over six feet tall. Wilder was only five ten.
“You were speaking to Seasons,” he said. “Why?”
“You make it sound like a crime,” she retorted then glibly gave him an answer. “Because she’s the receptionist and I’m the boss.”
“I hired her.”
“I wasn’t harassing her. And look here,” she added as she pushed out from the desk and got up to come around it. Crossing her arms, she said, “I don’t appreciate you coming in here acting like an employee is none of my business, even if you handpicked her for your purposes.”
“She’s a witch who is frightened of other witches, Velvet. I was concerned since you have a habit of showing little patience with your own kind. As if none of you can be weak.”
“There is no reason for anybody to be in a perpetual state of weak in spirit, especially a witch. If she continues to work here, I will teach her this. If you object, then I suggest you take her from behind that desk and train her as your personal assistant or something.”
“I don’t need a personal assistant. Besides, in close quarters, she is too uneasy with me.”
“Why did you hire such a fraidy cat anyway?”
“It wasn’t my first inclination. Then I realized her coming out here at night looking for a job put her at risk.”
“From what?”
“Zombies.”
“Zombies?”
“Yes.”
“Golly, why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“I handled it,” he replied as if to say, and that’s all you need to know.
“Have you declared yourself her protector?” He would have had to if the zombies were off her. “Tell me you didn’t engage the necromancer.”
“I did.”
“God, Wilder! Are you nuts?” No, he wasn’t nuts, just a foolhardy hero with a weakness for witches. “You know that body you occupy died?”
“This body is my own, Velvet. And I guarantee you, my demonic soul is more than a match for a- necromancer.”
“You did all that for a girl you barely know?”
“Isn’t this what we do?”
“When asked. Or for the good of the city.” She eyed him a hot minute, then asked, “How did you know she needed help? Were you following her?” Like you did me all those years ago, she followed up in her head.
“I don’t mean the girl any harm so don’t you interfere or try to frighten her away from me.”
“Away from you? All right, what is going on, Wilder?”
“It does not concern you.”
“Let me tell you something, Wilder. That girl is a witch, and I’m an elder sister. Even if you don’t mean to harm her and you do, I will make it concern me.”
“What you must think of me these days,” he muttered.
“Wilder, if there is something we need to discuss.”
“The last time I tried to discuss Troy Tanaka with you, you went into hysterics and slapped my face.”
“Well, as you can see, I’m feeling better these days. So why don’t you just tell me what you really came in here to tell me?” Velvet walked back around her desk to take a seat. Wilder remained standing and staring at her. “Spill it already.”
“You really haven’t kept in touch with him since he made a fool of you?”
“Wilder, you have two seconds to talk, or get the hell out of my presence.”
“He opened two new club locations, both run by demons.
Obviously, he’s getting demons off the streets and in his pockets for a reason.”
“So? Employed demons make better citizens.”
“Think, Velvet. Why demons and not humans.”
“Why don’t you just tell me, Mister Know It All?”
“Demon magik. The kind that counters witchcraft.”
“Nonsense.”
“In your arrogance, you believe the witches have this city locked up tight. Maybe with occupying you with romance, he was setting you up to become blind and stupid to everything he has planned.”
“Great balls of fire, Wilder. Insult me again.”
“You know demons that are inclined to serve humans tend to remain loyal,” Wilder went on as if he hadn’t heard her. “And werewolves frown on turning others to share their curse. Don’t you see the connection?”
She looked up at Wilder’s wild face. He was on the verge of agitation. “He’s uniting demons with his pack. A formidable combination. Obviously, he wants to strengthen his pack. Some demons are excellent warriors, and some can wield strong magiks. You don’t see what’s bound to come?” She pressed her lips together and waited for him to continue. “All these demons in Fairlight and you witches don’t get it?”
“You think Troy is planning to use demons on vampires?”
“And witches! He wants power, Velvet! Power over this city! Power over you!”
“Wow, that is some theory,” she allowed. “When Jerome was the mastermind behind keeping the demon population under control, I can’t recall hearing nary a word against his wicked efforts to the city. In fact, I was on my own in combating that blight until Tyra took up the cause with me. Remember that?”
“That was then, Velvet. We are talking about now.”
“Right.” Because the real potential victims are vampires rather than humans. “You are working yourself up prematurely. Until I see some real evidence of Troy using demons to take Fairlight, I’m not going to worry about it.”
“When the battles start it will be too late, Vee.”
“Why are talking about war when vampires and werewolves are not even at odds?” The last time the two groups clashed it was personal in nature. Jerome tried to kill Troy and Troy turned the tables on him and left him a bloody piece of meat on the dance floor. Was Troy indeed getting ready for Jerome’s return and his revenge? Wilder know something, and she knew he wasn’t going to tell her. “Is Jerome going to start a war?”
“Jerome is presumed dead by the coven.”
“Dead? You said he was missing because you’d know if one of your sired perished. You’d feel it.”
“I would feel it and I’d grieve. I told the coven I have not felt Jerome’s death. They do not believe me.”
“Why would they prefer to believe you are lying?”
“They believe you went to finish him that night Troy tried to slaughter him as if he were a hog!”
What nerve raising his voice at her over a bastard like Jerome. “You mean that night you just stood there and let all those vampires jump him at once? Oh, and that was also the night he sent a crew to my house to shoot me and slice off Rankin’s head. Boy, Wilder. Right now, I really wish I did kill the varmint.”
“I’m sure you do. But you didn’t, and I convinced the coven you did not go after Jerome.”
“How? Not that I care what those creeps think I did.”
“I reminded them Troy Tanaka had more reason to go after Jerome. Namely his lusts for you. I had to think quickly in order to protect you and Suzanne.”
“You named Troy, knowing the coven will put a hit out on him?”
“Yes, I did. Don’t look at me as if I should be ashamed because I am not.”
“Why? What did he ever do to you?”
“I told him to never touch you again. We had an agreement and he broke it.”
“Wilder, you have to tell the coven the truth. You know it wasn’t me and I’m telling you, it wasn’t Troy.”
“You can only speak for yourself.”
“I can speak for Troy because he was at my house asleep, until way past noon. The police concluded Jerome went missing around sunrise. For all we know, he high-tailed it out of Fairlight on his own. I’m sure he didn’t want any more of Troy’s claws and fangs.”
“That is preposterous.”
“I don’t care what it is. You better go tell that coven of yours that Troy was not the one.”
“I won’t tell them any such thing.”
“It could mean his death. I know you aren’t that evil.”
“If he dies, I will celebrate your release from his base desires.”
“Wilder, you really need to get a life.” She went back to her desk and resumed her seat. “Since you insist on being an obstinate jerk, and I’m not about to beg you. I will pay the Vampire Coven of Fairlight an official visit, in order to explain to them, why it is in their best interests not to place false blame on an alpha humpback werewolf and his girlfriend. But if they don’t want to listen and really want to start something, we- meaning Troy and me, will be ready.”
“I know you aren’t that foolish.”
“I think I can get the message across and get out of there alive.”
“Fine! I will go demand the coven reconsider their position.”
“Too late. I don’t trust you on this.”
“I will make them listen, Velvet. I will go tonight. You stay here while I am gone.”
“I’m going with you.”
“You will stay here until I return! You will not go near any member of the coven,” he insisted. “Ever.” His brow was furrowed. He was doing a lot of that lately. Once upon a time, he made it a point not to show his vampire face to her except in battle or extreme stress.
“Fine,” she agreed tightly. “Who has time for a bunch of grouchy old folks anyway?”
“I will return shortly,” he said.
“Whatever.”
~*~
She turned from the night view of the city out her window at the sound of heavy feet in slick bottomed shoes. Filling up her doorway was Leroy’s stout barrel-chested figure. He’d put on some mass she noticed.
“My, what a surprise,” she said, leaving the window to journey to the sitting area and coffee table. “Please, come in and have a seat. Would you like some coffee or tea?”
“Coffee with cream, no sugar.” He accepted his cup with thanks and took a couple of sips before he spoke again. “I was wondering if I could get my job back.”
“You want to work for us again?” She sat back to study him. He looked great like he’d been hitting the gym and eating a lot. Not surprising, since his wife, Milly was the type to make sure her man was taken care of properly, even if she was the silliest woman Velvet ever met.
“Has the position been filled?”
“No.”
“Then is it a go?”
“Leroy, I haven’t seen you in months. How are you going to roll up in here and just say you want your job back?”
“I need a job, that’s why. A job with a decent paycheck.”
“I thought you were driving a truck.”
“Trucking ain’t the kind of driving for me. I’m gone on the road more than fifty percent of the time, and Milly hates being on the road with me.”
“And you are surprised?”
“Velvet, I know we both said mean things when you kicked me and Milly out of your home.”
“I didn’t kick y’all out. You two decided to leave like you thought it was going to hurt my feelings or something. And I didn’t say one mean word until you both turned nasty and personal.”
“Okay, if that’s how you recall it. Can I come back to work or not?”
“Just like that? You expect me to rehire you? After all I did for you and Milly, you come in here expecting me to jump to give you what you want.” She put her cup on the table. “I’ll have to think about it, Leroy. After all, everyone here knows how to drive.”
“Well, that’s always been the case, ain’t it? But your grand told you it seemed more professional to have a driver. By the way, she’s back from abroad, right? Thought I saw her last week at the park with Carmen. How’s she doing? She looks fine, even like she did some growing. She’s about big enough for a rocking horse I saw at-”
“Carmen has everything she needs.”
“I’m sure she does, but Milly and I would like-”
“Y’all ain’t getting Carmen.” Might as well nip that stuff in the bud, she thought. “Between me, Grandma and Devon she’s growing up just fine.”
“I know that, Velvet. I’m just saying we would like to see that baby sometime. You holding a grudge or what?”
“Yeah, I’m holding a grudge.” She stood up and walked to the door.
“You’re turning me down?”
“Yes.”
“You said you had to think about it a minute ago.” He got up and crossed over to the door with her. “Please, Velvet. At my age with my limited skills and education...”
“Maybe next time you’ll think twice before you and Milly tag team your boss.”
“All right,” he said pulling back his shoulders. “Thanks for your time.” He walked out of her office.
She went back to the small sofa and picked up her cup.
“Gee, Velvet. You really let him have it.” Suzanne suddenly poked her head from behind the sofa then brought the rest of her small form from behind it.
“Sprite, what I tell you about hiding like that?”
“I wasn’t hiding.”
“Then what were you doing back there?” And how did she fit? How small could she get? Velvet examined her sprite in what she always assumed was her natural appearance. Small like a child in grade school with mature breasts, yellow-orange complexion, and bald. She wore cut off shorty short jeans, a tank top, and no shoes on her flat feet.
“I was just returning. I think you should hire him back, even if you’re still mad at him.”
“I don’t have time for mess. And all he and Milly are is mess.”
“I feel sorry for him.”
“Save your pity for somebody who deserves it. What’s to feel sorry for Leroy about? He’s married to the battle ax he loves, and he has a job and a lovely home. There are millions of people way less fortunate than that idiot.”
“Like Seasons?”
“What do you know about Seasons?” And how long was she behind the couch anyway?
Suzanne ran to shut the door then back, jumping on the sofa next to Velvet. “I heard what Wilder said about the zombies. That must be rough on a girl that never learned her craft.”
“What?”
“She was raised by normals then sold to Gentleman Slim.”
“Gentleman Slim? That old Papa? How do you know this?”
“She’s an open thinker.”
Funny, Velvet thought. She never picked up from the girl’s thoughts.
“She ran off before she had to marry him. That’s why he put the zombies on her so he wouldn’t have to set his feet in Fairlight.”
“Smart.”
“But Wilder found him out, told him there better not be another zombie ever in Fairlight. He also told Gentleman Slim, Seasons was under his protection. Wilder is really cool sometimes,” Suzanne said with a smile.
“Yeah, I used to think that too.”
“What do you mean you used to?”
“I mean, I grew up. Suddenly, I saw he wasn’t the man or the vampire I thought I was in love with anymore. Or maybe I changed. I know I wasn’t cool with him lying to me.”
“If I do something you don’t like, how long will you punish me?”
“Until I’m satisfied. Remember that, sprite.”