“Sid Farrell, but everyone around here knows me as the storekeeper on main street. Your contractor, Lydia, ordered me to stock up on ketchup.”
Even with the danger all around, I wanted to laugh. “Nice to meet you, Witch Farrell. I’m Vincent Lasco.”
“Sid is fine. It might be awkward if we met each other in town and others overheard you calling me Witch Farrell.” When I opened my mouth to speak, he raised his hand. “Before you go on, the answer to your other question is yes, I know you’re the proprietor of the new antique store in town. I see that you got all moved in last night. It would have been nice if you’d have stopped by to say hello.”
“I didn’t know about you,” I replied.
“You would have felt my magic if you’d tried, vampire. We both know that. To choose a place to live and not know about everything living here was just sloppy and stupid on your part,” Farrell said. “It’s a good thing I have only good intentions where Prosper Woods is concerned. You can learn a lot from me, vampire. I can be a guide and a friend if you’ll let me.”
I sighed. He was right. I should have done more checking into the town and its residents before I moved in. It wasn’t that I was unhappy he was here, especially if he was being truthful about who he was. I could sense his magic and I knew it was very old. In fact, witches were the most powerful of all supernatural creatures since they used the elements of fire, water, and air to create—or in manipulation of—magic.
“That tea, vampire?” he asked, snapping me out of my drifting thoughts.
“Yes, of course, but you’ll have to make it yourself. I’m not letting go of this sword.” I did, however, retract my fangs.
Sid sighed, turned, and picked up his staff. He lifted it and pointed it toward me before whispering something under his breath. Instantly, a glowing red flame appeared at the end of the staff. I watched in fascination as the flame separated itself from the tip of the staff, coalesced into a swirling red-orange orb, and drifted toward me. When it was within a foot of my broadsword, the swirling, violet sparks vanished from around the blade, leaving only the cold gray steel in my hand as its magic evaporated. My jaw dropped and I glanced back at the witch. He was grinning.
“What did you do?”
“You know what I did. I proved to you who I am and what I can do. Now, about that tea?”
I stared at him for a second before lowering my sword, turning my back on the witch, and walking to my kitchen. I was putting the kettle on to boil when I felt Romeo’s presence. I glanced up and spotted him standing in the living room too close to the witch. Before either could blink, I’d flashed out of my kitchen and stood between them, baring my fangs, and creating a barrier to keep my lover safe from the witch.
Sid threw up his hands. “I’m not going to hurt him. Relax, vampire. I’m here to help, just as I said. Now, put away those fucking fangs before I do it for you.”
“What’s going on, Vincent?” Romeo asked, looking adorably perplexed. “And why are you here, Sid?” I noticed he was staring at the shopkeeper now. He’d come out of the bedroom dressed in the same clothes he was wearing when he arrived. He glanced back at me before the witch could answer. “Did I hear the howling of wolves outside?”
“Werewolves,” Sid answered before I could reply.
The tea kettle whistled, startling all of us, and I retracted my fangs, flashed into the kitchen, prepared two cups of tea, and flashed back to the living room before the two men could track my movements. I handed off the tea as Romeo smirked at me.
“Not used to that yet.” He held out a hand as he looked at the witch. “Come on, sit down, Farrell. I need to know what you mean about werewolves, why you’re here, and just what the hell is going on.”
We all moved into the living room and sat down. I kept Romeo close beside me on the couch while Sid lowered himself to an easy chair, leaning his staff against the coffee table. I kept my broadsword close though I was quite sure it would be of no use against the witch. I opened my mouth to explain but Romeo shot me a glance.
“Let him tell me, Vincent,” Romeo said, admonishing me yet taking my hand in his at the same time.
I nodded and we both turned to the witch. He glanced between us and then turned his focus on Romeo.
“You know me as the proprietor of the general store in town but I’m also the resident witch in Prosper Woods and I’ve been protecting this town and the people who live in it for the last hundred years.”
I wasn’t that shocked. In my experience witches lived for centuries. When I felt Romeo squeeze my hand, I turned to him, noting the surprised expression on his face. He spun around to look at me.
“Witches are real too?”
Sid chuckled but I ignored him, nodding at my lover. “Yes, witches are the most powerful of all the supernatural beings in nature. He claims to be one and I believe him.” I glanced away from Romeo and at my broadsword lying on the couch beside me before looking back at him. “He says he’s here to protect you from the werewolves outside.”
“Those howls I heard came from werewolves and they’re outside your house right now?”
I nodded. “Yes, they’re here to kill me though I suspect if you get in their way, you’ll be killed as well.”
“It won’t happen,” the witch
