It was the end of the day and Miriam still hadn't managed to get anything organized for Reagan's funeral.

The Quill & Query had entertained a steady stream of human visitors all day, many of whom were daylighters just like her. Because the store wasn't open at night, the vampires couldn't come in to get their weeklies so they were sending their staff in to get them.

Miriam knew Eilidh would be pleased with the sales. The humans from The Village who were too frightened to come in while Eilidh might be here, even though she would be effectively dead in daylight hours, were coming in and spending hours browsing through the rare occult books.

And the vampire trashy mags. They were popular with everybody but the witches who found them to be exactly what they were: trashy soap operas in book form.

*****

Miriam was grateful that Karah had come into their lives when she did, she was a genuine asset to the store and was fast becoming a good friend.

"Karah, why don't you head off early tonight? There's not many customers left, I should be able to manage on my own. You've already done more hours than you signed up for."

Karah looked up from whateve she was doing on the laptop and said "Nah, you're all good. I just want to get this last box of books uploaded to the site and then I'll head off. I'm happy to help."

"How are the funeral plans going? Need any help with that?" Karah asked.

Miriam brushed away a couple of stray hairs from the side of her face. Did I even brush it today?

"I'd love some help but honestly, I haven't even started with it, I just haven't had the chance. I'll make some calls tonight and organize the catering, and the flowers, and the speakers, and the guest list."

"Okay. And you'll sleep when?" Karah grinned.

"Yeah, you're right, I'll probably only get half of that done, if I'm lucky. I'm beginning to wonder if this was such as good idea after all."

"How about this? Why don't I take care of the guest list and the speakers? I have some contacts in the supernatural communities that could help. I could probably sort the catering for you too. That way you only have to worry about the flowers and you've got a better idea of Reagan and Eilidh's taste than I have."

"Karah, that would be fantastic, but I feel bad making you do all the work. The whole thing was my idea so I should be doing it, not you."

"Oh, it's no bother. I like organizing things. It's kind of my thing, you know? Besides it will give you more time to concentrate on the store."

"Well, ok, if you're sure.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

*****

Karah always enjoyed her walk home from the store. Well, she did when it was daylight. During the darker hours, the walk was a whole different ballgame. But, today, there was just enough light to ward off any of the night-time beasties.

Karah loved living in Redbough. She'd come upon the place by accident and had just never left. That was how a lot of people, of all races, ended up in Redbough.

In Karah's case, she'd left the city she was born and raised in to travel and see the country. Her parents were elderly and both in care, and the big city just wasn't for her. She wanted to live among nature, to hear birds not sirens and to smell the rain, not the smog. She was no city girl, no matter how hard she'd tried to be. That was why growing up she’d always had her head in a book or her fingers on a keyboard.

When she arrived home that particular night, her friend Finn, was sitting on the doorstep of her bus flipping through one of her favorite novels. Despite the intrusion into her personal space, Karah was happy to see him, although she thought she should probably start locking the bus up when she was gone for the day.

"Hey, Finn," she called. "Ever heard of boundaries? You know some people knock before entering a home."

"What? I knocked. You didn't answer. So, I went in. Why do you read this crap? Sparkling vampires?" he scoffed. "What do you think would happen if you went up to a vampire in The Lights and asked him to sparkle for ya?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but the whole point of books is escapism. They're not real. Unless you read nonfiction, of course. I bet you could sparkle if you wanted to. You're a witch, after all. You must know a spell."

"I don't sparkle now? Wow. You wound me with your words. Where've you been anyway?"

"I do have a life that doesn't revolve around you, you know."

Finn feigned shock and Karah laughed at him.

"I have a job, Finn. An actual job. It's kind of fun. I'm working at the Quill & Query in The Lights. Do you know it?"

Finn frowned and suddenly took on a somber tone. "Why the fuck are you working there, Kar? You know its owned by a vampire, don't you?"

"Of course I know who owns it. And as far as vampires go, Eilidh's on the nicer side. She's treated me well and besides she's not even there right now, she's going through some stuff."

"Yeah, we heard. Well, the coven heard. You want to be careful, Kar. Even if she herself isn't all that dangerous, and I don't believe it myself, she's probably got a lot of enemies who are. I know of plenty of witches that hate vampires. My beloved mama included. You don't wanna get caught in the crossfire."

"I'm careful, Finn, I'm always careful. You know that. But is there something you want to tell me? About Eilidh, I mean? Something I should know?"

Finn ducked his head and stood to follow Karah into the bus. "You know me, Kar, I'm an open book. Just be careful, that's all. And what kind of work are you doing in that store anyway? I know you love books but you don't look like a librarian."

"And what does a librarian look like exactly? I'm doing some computer work mostly, a bit of customer service. And I'm helping Miriam while Eilidh's away. Actually, I could use your help with something I'm working on for Miriam right now. If you'll try not to be a dick about it."

Again Finn faked an injured look. "Moi? A dick? I'm the least dickiest bloke you know. What kind of help? I'm not rounding up necks for them to suck on and I'm not spelling humans into eating bugs either."

"That's exactly the kind of dick behavior I was talking about. Do you think you can turn it off long enough to help me? Me, that is, you don't even have to meet Miriam or Eilidh."

"I've already met Eilidh. I wasn't that impressed, and I sure as shit wasn't scared of her either. But, because it's you, I'll behave myself. What do you need?"

"Just info, really. You're good at info, aren't you?"

"Me? Oh I'm the best."

It wasn't until a few hours later and they'd finished compiling the guest list for Reagan's funeral and had gathered a couple of quotes for the catering that Karah thought she should have asked Finn when he'd met Eilidh, but he'd already gone home by then.