Rory

  It had been an hour since the last patient left the clinic in Alma. Rory sat at her desk, killing time stacking the numbered tiles for people waiting their turn to be seen. She kept a mental record of most stacked. The previous day she’d gotten to fifteen before they came tumbling down.

  The wooden stump underneath her created a dull ache in her lower back, so she paced for a while. More than restless, Rory couldn’t help but notice the overall decline in morale since Doc’s departure. Was it the absence of his thunderous laughter? No, that was part of it, but not all. There’d also been the glares on people’s faces as they walked by the clinic’s entrance. A woman even spat as Rory smiled at her through the open door.

  She sighed and called to the other volunteer on duty. “Hey, Sharla.”

  An older woman in a floral print shift and black hair streaked with silver poked her head from a curtained area.

  “Why don’t we call it a day? I’ll lock up,” Rory said, beginning to put supplies in a lockbox.

  The woman nodded and chewed on her lip. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful…”

  “Don’t worry about hurting my feelings. We’re friends here, out with it.”

  Sharla blushed and refused to meet her gaze. She stared at the motion of her wringing hands. “I appreciate all you and your friends have done for us. Alma, that is.”

  “But?” Rory crossed her arms, worried she knew where this was going.

  “I think this should be my last day here.” Sharla met her eye and deflated. “You’re all marvelous people and I’ve got nothing against any of you but-” She put a hand on Rory’s. “Be careful. Yeah?”

  “Why would I need to be careful?”

  “It’s probably nothing more than an old woman’s craziness,” Sharla said with a nervous chuckle, possessing too sharp of an edge for Rory’s liking. Before she could subject her to any further questions, Sharla picked up her belongings and left.

  Stunned, Rory locked the medical supplies away and started the walk home. She’d only made it a few blocks before another witch, Holga, fell into step beside her without a word. Her black hair tied back in a neat ponytail. She wore a long billowy periwinkle blouse that looked gorgeous against her dark skin and black yoga pants along with the same pair of scuffed Mary Janes she’d worn since first they’d met. And as usual, an old laptop bag was slung over her shoulder, weighted down with books.

  “Hey! Did group wrap up early today?” Rory asked. After a staggering number of loved ones perished in the breach of Alma’s gates by the vampires a year back, to aid the grieving masses, Holga started a daily group counseling meeting, figuring the community might benefit—as much as her—from sharing their feelings together. She dealt with a grief all her own, losing her partner Lena after both were abducted by the brood.

  “In order for a support group to function there must be multiple people present. One person does not qualify as a group.”

  “Wait, no one showed up?” Rory asked, stopping in her tracks.

  “That’s what I said, yes.” Holga continued walking without her.

  Rory sighed and caught back up. “Almost the same thing happened at the clinic. We only had one kid with the sniffles and a sprained wrist. Kind of figured it was Doc being gone. I can’t heal things the way he can, but maybe there’s more to it.”

  “Perhaps no one is injured.” Holga didn’t seem bothered by the revelations, or if she had been, it didn’t show.

  The other woman’s emotionlessness only served to upset Rory further. In an agitated whisper, she said, “We need to get home and fast.”

  “Why are you talking like that? There isn’t anyone following us. Nor is there anyone nearby that would hear.”

  “You know when you have the creeps and whispering settles you down a little bit? It’s like that.”

  “No. Not really. But if it helps you.” Holga lowered her voice. “Then I will speak in a more comforting tone.”

  They quickened their pace. Rory peered down dark alleys as they crossed them and scrutinized each person they encountered for signs of malicious intent. Only to realize how paranoid her behavior was. She forced herself to think of something else. Anything else. “I wanted to thank you again.”

  “For what?” Holga asked, her nose crinkled.

  “The house. It’s been nice having somewhere Byron and I can say is our own.”

  “Why wouldn’t I offer it? It’s been empty for quite a while. Long before-” Holga swallowed hard. “Long before Lena died. When she and I chose to further our relationship and cohabitate, I refused to relocate to her house due to a lack of proper cleaning and poor choices in furniture.”

  “Still,” Rory said, but Holga signaled the subject was closed for further conversation.

  They turned the corner into the Witches Grotto, and a familiar figure stood at Nadine’s door. A part of her mind eased, and she took off towards him as fast as her legs could carry her.

  “Doc!”

  The massive man—at almost seven feet tall—was well over a foot taller than herself and solid muscle. He shifted and held out his arms, which she gladly ran into. He picked her up in a warm embrace and spun her. “I should leave more often if this is the welcome home I’m promised.”

  She buried her head in the collar of the same olive military issue jacket he’d worn since she’d known him. And breathed in the familiar aroma of Doc. A hint of loss drifted through her once she was back on her feet.

  “You made it there safe? Or did you miss us so much you had to come back home?” Rory asked. She knew the answer but enjoyed making him squirm.

  “I considered it. But I made it there and finished the ritual. Portal is open at my place if you’d like to see it. And you need to, trust me.”

  Nadine emerged from the back of the house, wiping dirt from her hands on an old apron that covered her simple homespun dress. She liked to look the part of the Green Witch as the locals called her. Loose curls spilled down her neck and she wore her auburn hair in a perfectly messy bun. Her emerald eyes lit up, and a dimple formed in her cheek. “Thought I heard voices out here. Didn’t expect you back already, Doc. Come on inside. I’ll get some water going for tea.”

  “Don’t bother yourself with that. Only in town long enough to let people know I made it safe.”

  “I’m glad. Since my presence is no longer required, I’ll return to my house and settle in for the evening.” Holga smiled weakly at them and walked away.

  “Are you okay, Holga?” Rory asked before she was out of earshot.

  She nodded and held up a beat-up copy of a horror book with a creepy cat on the cover.

   Rory shrugged. “She’s fine.”

  “Still, I worry about her,” Nadine said with a sigh before her eyes settled on Rory. “And why aren’t you at the clinic?”

  “Yeah, why aren’t you at the clinic?” Doc asked.

  “Slow day. There were two patients the whole time I was there. So we left early.”

  “It happens from time to time.” Their eyes met, and he gave her a shy smile before clearing his throat. “All right, well, I’m heading back. Come by when you can.” He hugged Nadine and Rory in unison and knocked their heads together.

  “Go on before you give us concussions,” Rory said and nudged his side. Before she realized what she was saying, her mouth started moving. “Keep an eye out for company. I’ll talk to everyone and see who can join me.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.” She was overjoyed to see Doc again and he seemed happier than he’d been in a long while. It suited him and she hoped he’d wear the look more often.

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Doc said with a grin so large it threatened to eat his face before turning to leave.

  “Dinner tonight?” Nadine asked. “It’ll be nice to have some company other than Billie.”

  “I’m sure Byron would appreciate it,” Rory said, feeling she failed at the domestic goddess angle of their relationship.

  “Come by in a few hours and we’ll prep together. I’ll make a gourmand out of you yet.” Nadine kissed her cheek as they parted.

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  Rory returned home, feeling the relief of the familiar envelop her. Byron’s smell mixed with her own, with an added hint of coffee. It was the favorite blanket stashed over the side of the chair and the dirty mugs from the morning in the sink. Most importantly, it was the man sitting on the couch.

  “Back already?” Byron asked, setting the book he’d been reading aside.

  She kissed him and flopped down beside him, putting her feet in his lap. “Yeah.” She frowned and said, “Things are getting… weird.”

  “More than normal, you mean? Not sure if you’ve noticed but, you know, things are weird all the time.”

  “Only two people came into the clinic today so I just closed up early.”

  “You leaving early isn’t exactly strange,” he said and tickled her knee.

  “Hey!” She grabbed his hand and nipped his finger before letting it go. “I ran into Holga and no one showed up for group today either.”

  “That could be a coincidence.”

  “I guess.” She shrugged. “Something just doesn’t seem right. Sharla quit the clinic too. She said I should be careful.”

  “For what?”

  “I don’t know. Have you heard anything more?”

  “Nothing we haven’t already talked about. Just rumors from bored vampires stuck in a hole in the ground looking for some entertainment.”

  She nodded and buried her head into his chest. “Let’s take a vacation,” she said, thinking back to Doc’s excited face at the prospect of their arrival.

  “Where? We can’t go to Paris. Hell, I’m not even sure there is a Paris anymore.”

  “Doc made it to the other camp, and the portal is open. We could go there.” She gave Byron the saddest puppy dog eyes she could manage.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “I don’t think we should leave. Not now, at least. The vamps are getting restless, and it’s probably a bad time to leave them to their own devices.”

  She pouted her bottom lip at him, which he nibbled and kissed. Any ideas of leaving home vanished into more homebound activities. Their kisses deepened as they grew hungrier for each other. Hands pulled clothing aside and explored the other’s body.

  He drew her closer.

  The world tunneled away, leaving nothing but him. His grip tightened on her thighs as they cried out in one voice.

  Her body hummed with release, and she buried her face in his neck.

  “I needed that,” she said and breathed a deep sigh of contentment.

  Byron kissed her and pushed a sweaty strand of hair from her face.

  She lingered in his lap with her head pressed against his chest and listened to his heart thudding away. For what seemed like the hundredth time, she marveled at the fact he’d done it partly for her. Where would he be if they hadn’t met? Would he still be a vampire? Or would he have given up the curse for other reasons? Her eyelids grew too heavy for that time of day, and she forced herself to pull away from him.

  “I’m going to take a bath. Care to join me?” she asked and wiggled his favorite assets of hers at him.

  “You go ahead,” he said with a look of regret. “I was planning to leave soon before you got home. There were some reports of unusual activity outside the walls.” He noticed her concerned gaze and held her hand. “It’s probably nothing, but I should double-check to make sure.”

  “Dinner at Nadine’s sound okay?” She watched with a slight pang of loss as his pants covered the smooth skin of his exquisite bottom.

  “Sounds perfect.”

  “Hungry, huh?”

  “You know I love you and will eat whatever you put in front of me.” He glanced sideways at her. “However, it’s nice to have a change every now and again.”

  “Nice try,” she said and swatted his behind. “But I love you, anyway. Meet you at Nadine’s in a few hours?”

  “I’ll be there.”

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  Billie watched as Rory cut the vegetables. She couldn’t help but notice he cringed each time the blade sliced down and wondered if he worried for her fingers or the friends he devoted so much time talking to—he considered the plants in the garden his pals after Nadine told him about their feelings. He’d spent years as a broken man after a vampire drained him dry. His self-healing ability saved his life, but not his mind or soul. The crone Mara restored a piece the vampire took from him, but he was still a little off. By now, it was who he was as a person.

  Byron wandered into the house, forgetting his manners and failing to knock. His face was deep in thought and he met her eyes. There was a flash of something in his posture and he straightened. “So, I was wondering, why don’t you go see Doc?”

  “What happened?” Rory asked, rattled by his unnerving entrance.

  “Put the sharp things down first.” Byron’s gaze fixed on the knife in her hand and he watched as she set it down. “There we go.”

  “What’s going on with the vampires?”

  “Nothing in particular. I got to thinking about what you said, how you needed a vacation and decided it was a good idea.”

  Rory knew him well enough by now. He was hiding something, but it was pointless to make him talk about it if he didn’t want to. If she needed to know, he’d tell her. Eventually. Men. “But the idea was for the two of us to go.”

  “I’ll join you as soon as I can. There are a few things I need to finish up.” He turned to Billie and gave him a serious look. “Now, if Rory goes, I’ll need someone to protect her. Are you up for the job?”

  Billie’s eyes widened, and he nodded his head. “I can do that. Maybe Mr. Sven will help too. I’ll go see.” Rory could have sworn she’d seen the shadow of puckish glee dance across his face.

  “Yes, please do. It’ll be a blessing to have a few days without him hovering,” Nadine said with a smirk. Sven and Nadine had a thing. Sometimes she was into it, and other times… well… Rory figured Nadine needed a break. He could be a little much.

  “I’ll go to his house right now and tell him. He’ll be so happy,” Billie said and dashed away.

  “Why don’t you go pack up your things? I’ll meet you at our place in a few to help.” Byron held her against him and kissed the top of her head.

  “Now? Why don’t we postpone until we can go together?” She pulled herself out of his embrace.

  Of course, he missed the point of getting away. And of course, he’s deciding again without me.

  “I’d prefer it if you left as soon as possible.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but he held a finger to her lips.

  “I’m not sending you away because I don’t think you can handle yourself. I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you. Until I know you’re safe… Please, trust me on this one. Okay?”

  Did he just use the, “It’s not you, it’s me” line on me?

  Rory crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. “Now you need to tell me what’s going on.”

  “I’ll go.” Nadine looked around the kitchen and her eyes fixed on the stove. “Scratch that, the food will burn. There’s a whole backyard if you’d like some privacy.”

  “No. We’re fine,” Rory said, glaring at Byron.

  “All right,” he said and set his jaw. “Trevor’s wandering around screaming for you. From the sounds of it, he might be more than a little out of his mind.”

  Rory’s stomach lurched. Trevor. She hadn’t thought of the vampire she’d bound to her in a while and wondered if that made her a horrible person. But how was she to know he’d react that way to drinking her blood? The ability to speak commands was one thing. A vampire more or less becoming her thrall after tasting her was something else. “I’ve handled him before. What makes you think this time is any different?”

  “It’s not Trevor I’m worried about. It pisses the refugees off that they have to deal with his hollering—but whatever. It’s more that the vampires worry they’re next or I’m being held under your spell like he is. You go and perhaps they see it’s different with me.” He kissed her hands and folded them inside his. “Just let me take care of this and I’ll join you.”

  “So, you want me out of the picture while you clean up my messes?” Rory put a hand on her hip.

  “No. But it is easier if you’re not around while I’m smoothing things over.”

  “Sounds like the same thing to me.” Rory’s vision blurred with rage and she fought the urge to use her abilities to force him to come along. That would show him he’s not the only one able to make decisions in our relationship. “You know what? I’ll go. I’ll go so you can do things Byron’s way. Because his way is always the right way. Isn’t it?”

  “That’s not what I said.” A vein pulsed in his temple.

  “In case either of you has forgotten. I’m still in my kitchen making dinner for you both.” Nadine’s voice had a noticeable edge.

  “Shit, I’m sorry.” Rory hung her head. The shame doused her fury with record speed. “I’ll go pack.”

  “Rory.” Byron followed her outside. “Talk to me, please?”

  “It’s fine. I’ll just fuck something up and add another thing for you to deal with. Isn’t that what you’re talking about?”

  “No.”

  “No? Then tell me what it is about? Because I don’t buy this bullshit. Why does it feel like you’re trying to get rid of me?”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I told you. Because if something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  A long exhale left her nose. “Look, I’m sorry, but I don’t enjoy feeling like the girl made of glass all the time. I’m just as capable of taking care of things. With my ability, more so sometimes.”

  He wiped a shirt cuff against his eyes. “Back in my day, a man treated his girl like a lady and it’s a hard habit to break. I’ll work on that.” He touched her face. “But not yet. There’re too many strange things going on that I don’t want you in the middle of. Just, please, for once, trust me.”

She frowned but nodded. Even though Byron was over three centuries old, he clung to some old values he’d formed in the 1950s. She was the lady of the house and he was the breadwinner who protected her delicate nature. As frustrated as she was with the whole situation, there was something sweet about it too. He meant well.

  “I trust you,” she said and let out a deep sigh. “All right, I’ll go pack.”

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  Later, they sat down to eat, grim but no longer arguing. They all ate in near silence, even Sven was quiet. His messy spiked hair looked greasier than it ever had, and the liner around his pale green eyes appeared to be at least a day old. Doc and Sven were best buddies for so long, the poor guy was going nuts without him. Rory realized it might not have been Nadine that called for a break in their tryst.

  With dinner finished, it was time to leave. Rory shouldered her green canvas backpack.

  “I’ll join you before you know it,” Byron said and kissed her on the forehead.

  Still upset, she nodded and pushed a disheveled hair away from his eyes.

  “Come on,” Sven called as he stood at Doc’s front door and moved his overstuffed bag to the other shoulder. He grunted with the effort of his heavy mail bag containing various alchemical paraphernalia and his overnight satchel.

  Nadine waved at him goodbye as he discovered something or another in his pocket. She frowned and crossed her arms.

  “Keep my girl safe,” Byron told Billie and returned his attention to Rory. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she said. His warm mouth found hers and their kiss deepened. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she held him closer to her. Their fight seemed silly and distant. She thought they might have time for a quick round of make-up sex before she left.

  “Fuck's sake. I’m goin’,” Sven said and walked into Doc’s house. Billie giggled and followed him.

  “Gotta go,” Rory whispered in Byron’s ear, before running to catch up.