Vincent
Hours after Romeo fell asleep in my arms, I woke up hearing the howls of wolves in the woods. Even from my basement room thirty feet below ground, I knew something was wrong. I kissed the top of his head and eased away from his sleeping form, dressing in a flash, and taking the elevator upstairs. As I stepped into the bedroom, I was hit with a wave of magic and I knew I was in trouble. Something had surrounded my cabin and I could feel its magic pulsing through the walls. I glanced back at the elevator doors and then rushed to close up the room, pushing the bookcase back in front of the room to keep Romeo from harm.
Even though I knew the werewolves outside my house couldn’t penetrate my home, I was in danger. If they decided to set the place on fire, it would force me back underground to be trapped with my lover. Somehow, I knew that I’d miscalculated. I’d tried to stay off the grid and out of their space, preferring to keep to myself but somehow, I’d done exactly the opposite. They might have eventually sensed me but letting Romeo venture from my house with my scent all over him had to be the biggest mistake I’d ever made. I never should have brought him here and now it seemed that instead, I’d endangered his life.
“Let me in,” a voice said from outside my front door. “I know what you are, vampire, and I know who you have inside your home.”
I trembled as I realized the man had to be telling the truth. He knew I was a vampire but more importantly, he knew what Romeo was. I hadn’t yet been able to determine what he was. How was any of this possible? I had very strong magic; after all, I was very old.
This man is stronger. My fangs instantly descended and I hissed as I realized how helpless I truly was.
“I cannot enter if you won’t let me,” the man continued. “I mean you and the sheriff no harm,” he said, sounding as though he were pleading from outside my door. I closed my eyes tightly, balling my hands into fists as I cast about for answers. I wanted to trust him. Once again, I wondered what he was. There were many creatures who could sense a vampire in their vicinity but there was incredibly strong magic outside the house… magic, werewolves, and someone who said they wanted to help. If I miscalculated, Romeo and I would both die.
“If I open the door, the wolves will kill Romeo and I won’t let anyone take him from me.”
“We both know he is too powerful to kill. Come on, vampire, let me in.” His voice grew quiet. “I will help you. I am your only hope. I’ve helped your people before.”
I knew his magic was powerful. I could sense it coming through the walls, surrounding my house in an almost gentle hug. I glanced around the front room, letting my gaze finally come to rest on my broadsword. Hope suddenly bloomed in my chest. If he was what I hoped he was, there was one way to prove it. I flashed over to the stone fireplace and took the sword into my hands. Sparks crackled from the hilt of the sword where my hands gripped and held on, swirling purple around my fingers, then igniting and swirling up the massive length of the ancient steel weapon before blasting violet light and fire into the room.
“You are safe with your sword in your hand. Open the door and let me in. No others can cross the threshold unless you invite them. You know this, vampire.”
He was right. I flashed over to the front door, my sword still in hand. “Open.” The front door locks slammed open with the aid of my magic and the door crashed open. Silhouetted in the doorway stood an older man, short and stout. He leaned on a staff and wore a red and black plaid lumberjack shirt, old blue jeans, suspenders to hold them up, and thickly soled boots.
“I’m alone. Let me in,” he said.
I regarded him for a moment, trying to sense the danger he posed before looking past him at the large pack behind him. They stood silently behind him in a semi-circle, some holding torches. They were both male and female wolves and I could hear their low growls on the wind. Hatred radiated from them so thickly, I could cut it with my broadsword. I glanced back at the man.
“You’re not alone.” The magic around my broadsword swirled and crackled purple, sparking around me.
He glanced out at the mob before looking back at me with a pointed stare. “They’re not going to harm you, vampire. They might want to, but they know they can only posture when my magic is much stronger.”
“You’re a witch,” I said.
The old man chuckled. “A very powerful one, vampire. Now, let me in. It’s so cold out here, my nuts are as shriveled as the raisins in Schwarzenegger’s ball sack.”
I almost smiled. “Years of anabolic steroids will do that to a guy.”
“I warned him,” the witch said with a smirk. He shivered. “Now let me in. I’m freezing out here.”
“Come in, witch,” I said, stepping aside.
He easily crossed over my threshold and the front door slammed of its own volition behind him. He let out a massive sigh of what could only be relief as he leaned his staff against the wall. He turned back to me.
“Well, put down your sword, put away those fangs, and offer me some tea, vampire.”
“Who are you?” My sword would remain in my hand until I was certain there was no danger
