Eilidh rose at sundown with a new determination. She was going to find her daughter today, tomorrow at the latest, whether Flip found her or not. This had gone on for far too long already.

When she got downstairs to the Quill & Query she found Miriam and the new girl, Karah, with their heads bent over the computer on the counter and a laptop that had suddenly appeared.

"What are you two up to?" Eilidh asked. Although her tone was a little harsher than she'd originally meant it to be, neither woman reacted to it.

Miriam said, "Karah's been setting up an online storefront for us. What do you think? Do you like it?"

Eilidh peered at the laptop and had to admit that the website Karah had created certainly looked like it could have been part of the Quill & Query. Only with more neon lights and symphonic music.

"Yes, it looks good, but is it functional?" she asked.

Eilidh watched as Karah clicked through a few screens and showed her the different pages she'd set up. Overall, Eilidh was pleased. There was still a lot that needed to be set up, so that purchases could be made online, but progress was definitely being made.

Eilidh suggested that as the first hour or two after sundown was usually quiet in the store, it would be a good time for Karah to learn how to work the cash register, if she was happy to stay on for another hour or so.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Once Karah was settled behind the counter, Eilidh and Miriam settled into the reading nook where they could chat and still be available if Karah needed help.

"Is there any news from Flip?" Miriam quietly asked.

"Nothing yet. Did you get hold of that Lesley Sharp person?"

"I left a message but she hasn't got back to me yet. I know she's human so might not hear anything from her until tomorrow, during the day. Have you, I mean, do you, still...feel...Reagan?"

"Yes, I do. That's what makes this whole thing so bizarre. I can still feel her so I'm sure she's not dead. But I can't understand why nobody's heard from her. We vampires aren't usually able to disappear like this. Even those of us who prefer to exist alone and on the fringes are still in contact with somebody at some time."

Miriam got up to help Karah attend to a customer so Eilidh was alone with her thoughts for a few moment. Her thoughts got darker. For humans, death is always the worst thing but for vampires? There are many states they can get into that are far more torturous than death. Eilidh didn't want that for her daughter.

"Karah seems to be coping well with the till, she's going to be a great asset, I think. And her IT skills are unreal. The two of us can manage the store if you want to go looking yourself. I know how you like things done and Karah will learn. I'm used to sleeping odd hours so I could do the nightshift and Karah could manage the day. We'll be fine."

Eilidh took Miriam's hand in an unusual gesture for the vampire. "You're a good soul, Miriam, and I couldn't ask for more in a daylighter and if Flip doesn't come through tonight and if we don't hear from this Sharp woman tomorrow then yes, I'll hand the place over to you and you two can run it while I find her."

The bell over the door sounded and soon after, Eilidh heard the sound of Flips heels walking towards her.

She stood. One look at Flips face, and she knew what she was going to say.

"I'm sorry, Eilidh, Reagan's dead."