"So,it is just the local vampires you can feel?' George lifted his head from thetable.
"Yes?Wait. No." There was a tugging on my consciousness. Closing my eyes, Ifollowed the pull to the southeast. "No. I can see them in Ashville, too.Eighty-seven of them. Yuki, call your mother. She is worried about you andangry at herself that she didn't warn you about your father. George, yourfather misses you and regrets what he said to you about your sexualpreferences." I opened my eyes and stared at the two of them with theirmouths hanging open. Amir chuckled beside me.
"Andthe two of you doubted me."
Yukilooked at Amir. "How did you know?"
"SinceI wasn't at the graveyard and had already sworn my loyalty to Lady Dorothea, Ifelt it as soon as he died."
"Who?"I was behind on the conversation, but I had a feeling I knew who he was talkingabout. I just wanted him to say it.
"LordAbernathy. When you sent him to the earth, you took his power."
"No,I didn't. I had a vampire side before that. It's what got those sweet kidskilled."
"Youhad vampire powers beyond belief," he answered. "Almost on par with avampire lord."
"Yes.They thought I was one. Abernathy didn't like his power being questioned."
"Exactement. But when you killed him, you tiedall of his line to you."
"Huh?"
"You'renot just my master, Master." She motionedto the vampires behind us and then spread her hands and included the rest ofCedar Falls into her quantification. "Ashville, too. Apparently. It's howyou know what my mother and uncle are feeling."
"No.Not possible. I'm not a vampire, I'm a witch. A witch who needs a fucking cupof coffee and some aspirin." I motioned at Marge and made the universalsymbol for 'I need some fucking coffee' by pouring an imaginary pot into animaginary cup. Either she would know what I was talking about or get a goodlaugh at my mime skills. She grabbed four mugs and a fresh pot and headedtoward us. Apparently, I didn't suck at charades.
"You'remore than that, and you know it, Master." She said the words almostreverently. I didn't like it. Not one bit.
"I'mjust Dot."
Allthree of them laughed. It was probably a good thing. I could feel the vampirictension leave the room. Thankfully, I wasn't sitting close enough to the othersto smell their fear. The fear I could feel. Luckily, the feeling didn't set offmy fangs and hunger.
"So,what does this mean?"
"Itmeans that you have a lot more on your plate than you thought, Lady Dorothea."Yuki bowed her head.
"Oh,you just knock it the fuck off, Yuki." I reached across the table andbopped her over the head with the tips of my fingers. The calmed vampires' fearswelled inside my head as they backed the whole table a little farther away fromus, scrunching against each other like minnows in a bucket. "Relax,"I shouted across the diner. "That was a play tap. I'm not going to hurther or any of you."
Margedropped the pot of coffee.
Therest of the diners, the human ones, stared at me like I'd lost my mind. Which Iwas about three seconds from doing.
"What'sgoin' on, Darlin'?"
"Theywant to make me the leader of their youth production of Romeo and Juliet butthink I'm too mean to be a good director."
"Yeah.Sure. Let me get this cleaned up and get another pot of coffee. Sorry, youscared me!"
"Sorry,Marge."
"Hungry?"
"Pie.Double."
Shenodded in understanding. If I had a drug addiction, it was pie. At least I onlyindulged when the shit hit the fan. With the way my life had been going, I wasrunning a serious risk of getting fat. "I'll have it right out."
Sheleft us sitting there, Yuki trying very hard to stifle her giggles. Miguelbrought a broom and swept up the glass and then cleaned up the coffee with amop.
"Thisis just perfect."
"Iknow this causes you discomfort, Lady Dorothea. Some of us were afraid, too.Some still are." Amir nodded at an uncomfortable looking George. "Butthis will be a good thing."
"Whatwill?"
"Havinga lord who will do right by us, not exploit us or others for personal gain."
"I'llspeak to your mother and my father," George told Yuki and stood up. "Ishall inform the others, as well. My lady," he said to me, bowed low, andheaded back to the table of vamps.
"He'spissed," I said, not caring if he could hear me or not.
"Well,his father or my mother should have become the next lord of the clan."
"Tohave a witch is probably a little insulting."
"Notso much insulting as it is a financial nightmare."
"What?"
Shelaughed and Amir patted my arm in sympathy. "You don't understand,"Yuki said with a sad smile.
"Understandwhat?"
"Youget it all."
"Allwhat?"
"Everything.The houses, cars, boats, and limos. Hell, even the blood banks will go to you."
"Idon't want them," I answered adamantly just as Marge returned with a potof coffee, pouring cups for all three of us.
"Youdon't get a choice, Lady Dorothea."
"Yuki,if you call me that again, I'm going to flog you with spaghetti. Dot. My nameis Dot."
"Yes,Master."
Margegiggled. "Pie will be done in a minute. I'll bring it out. Carry on."
Coveringmy face with my hands, I rubbed vigorously. Shadow walking to the far side ofthe moon seemed like a better and better idea every minute. Every time I turnedaround, I was in charge of something, or someone, else. My mother had one covenand it turned her into a raving lunatic. Nana, too. I had a coven, a dark elf,an elf, a couple of races, and a godly sphere. There was no way I was going toget through everything with my sanity intact. I'd be drooling by Wednesday.
Ididn't realize I was staring at the teal Formica top of the table until therewas a piece of pie blocking my view. "Thanks, Marge," I said withoutlooking up.
Thena thought nudged its way into my brain.
"Wait,if I'm the head bitch in charge, I can do what I want, right?"
Yukiand Amir exchanged a glance but nodded slowly.
"Good.Tell your mom to stay right where she is in that big assed house. George's father,too. And first order of business once the blood banks are in my name is everyvampire in the clan no longer has to pay for blood." I grinned and took abite of my pie.
"What?"They asked
