I had to hold on to the hope that our new sheriff would quickly figure out he had powers of his own. When he’d wandered into the store with Sally the other day, I’d known what he was immediately. Magic swirled around him and the aura he gave off was hella impressive. He was a sight to behold to anyone who could see it. I hadn’t met one of his kind before. Being honest with myself, I’d thought I’d never see one. They were as rare as they could be.
Sally hadn’t seemed to be aware of his power. Neither had Precious. They were much younger of course. Maybe because I’d been a witch for centuries, I could feel his beast even though he hadn’t seemed to know what the hell he was. I’d hoped shaking my hand would dislodge that part of him but the moment he’d clasped my hand, I’d known he remained oblivious.
Out in the woods, I’d watched his reaction to the scene the werewolves had left. I’d also caught the vampire’s scent on him. I couldn’t decide whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that the two men had hooked up. If the vampire turned out to be one of the rare good ones, his powers in combination with the sheriff’s could be a very good thing for this town. If he was a vamp with evil intentions… well, that would be tragic. I really didn’t want to leave Prosper Woods but if the vampire turned out to be evil, I’d pack up the store and leave in a hot minute. I never wanted to deal with that kind of carnage… I wasn’t even sure I was strong enough. That fact made me a little crazy because my magic got stronger with every day I aged.
I didn’t know anything about the vampire at this point.
It was time to open the store. I figured with everything happening, there would be loads of people who needed supplies, food, or just drinks for the road. I hurried back to my car and drove away, leaving the horrid scene in my rearview mirror. If I was needed, I’d know. For now, it wasn’t my business.
Romeo
By the time I finished mapping out the scene where Buck Walters had been slaughtered, I was even more drained. I wondered whether my body was reacting to what Vincent had done to me last night.
You gave yourself to a vampire. What did you think was going to happen?
I didn’t blame him, not really. I’d asked to be bitten. The Prosper Woods medical examiner, Tammy Willoughby, had bagged up the body parts and transported them to her office on main street to get to work on the autopsy. I was aware that this was no random murder. This man had been not only torn apart but displayed for whomever happened by. I pitied poor Mrs. Jensen, the wife of the Lompoc sheriff. When she’d woken from her nap—stumbling out of the trailer with red-rimmed eyes while we were talking to her husband, I knew she hadn’t yet recovered just by the look on her face. Military training withstanding, she’d been freaked.
She took the time to repeat how she’d discovered the body and since her story closely matched the one her husband had given us, we knew she was telling us the truth. Sally and I exchanged a nod when she was done and we let the family head out after getting their phone number. I wasn’t going to make them come into town to give a written statement of what they’d seen. It was a courtesy to the sheriff. Sheriff Carl Jensen thanked me and told me he and his wife would write out a statement after they got home. He’d mail the original to me for my file. I trusted he’d do as promised and we waved at them as they drove away.
I sighed as Sally and I got into the Blazer to head home. The first damn day in a new town and this was what I had to deal with. It was just about as gruesome a scene as any I’d ever seen back home in LA. There, we had to contend with the odd drive-by shooting, or floaters coming up in the ocean; that was awful but this… this had been a slaughter and I had to wonder who’d done it. I couldn’t very well ask my new deputy if something supernatural had killed Buck. All day long, I’d caught her sniffing the air with her head up or glancing my way when she didn’t think I was looking. It was odd behavior and I was certain something was going on with her. How was I going to find out?
“So, Sally, are you a deer or a bunny?” I chuckled from the passenger seat as I thought the question in my head. She glanced over at me as she turned out onto the main road and then headed west. The sun had just begun to set and the sky was gorgeous, dotted with purple and orange clouds against a blue background. It reminded me of those sunsets in Malibu that I’d always loved.
“What’s funny or are you just so tired you’re slaphappy?” she asked from beside me.
I glanced over at her, grinning. “I’m definitely slaphappy… and starving.”
“You wanna stop and get something to eat?” Sally asked. “Todd’s Hash House makes great food.”
“Todd’s Hash House?” I smiled, rolling my head on the headrest to look at her again. “It sounds like a place where you could score some great dope.”
Sally chuckled. “Nope. Todd makes amazing hash—of the corned or roast beef variety. He has fantastic steaks, Mexican food of every kind, and fantastic pies if you’re in the mood for one of them.” She patted her ample belly. “I
