Fuck!
I pulled out my phone and held it up, making a calculation I prayed would work. “Fine then. I’ll call the Conclave. Dragging them to the US only to have to adjudicate this matter once again, is going to enrage them but since you insist—”
Sergio snatched my phone, slammed it to the ground, and smashed his heel onto the screen in a sickening crunch, faster than the human eye could see.
I glanced down at the pulverized smartphone and then back up at the Spanish vampire, throwing him a smirk. I’d won this go-around but the air between us was thick with rage. I really needed all three of them to leave town as soon as possible. If they decided to linger…an idea came to me in a flash.
“I declare Prosper Woods as mine by the Law of Embargo,” I said quietly.
All three vampires sucked in a breath at once, understanding filling their consciousness at the same time.
“You need a witch to declare the town yours by the Law of Embargo,” Justine spat as the other two hissed in rage.
“He has one!”
All eyes turned to Sid who’d stepped into the store, unnoticed by any of us. The witch stood by the front door holding his staff which lit up with swirls of red lighting that encircled it, pulsing out waves of power. I could feel it from the soles of my feet to the hair on my head. I was certain the vampires could feel it as well because all three interlopers stepped back.
Sometimes I forgot about witches and their power, especially one as powerful as Sid. In fact, I’d not encountered a witch as formidable as the old man before. I’d guessed that he was several centuries old but now I wondered if he was even older than that. Only one thing in the supernatural world of Prosper Woods had more power than this witch before us…my true mate, the unicorn called Romeo.
I lifted both hands and called out. “I declare Prosper Woods, California, mine by Law of Embargo, the witch, Sid Farrell, mine by the Law of the Soul, and the unicorn, Romeo Harmon, mine by the Law of the Heart,” repeating the words I’d heard said in other places over the centuries. “No vampire can lay claim on anything living nor dead, nor supernatural in this town nor the areas within its surrounds by the Law of Embargo. You and any others wishing to do harm to me or mine, are banned from Prosper Woods until I should meet the true death.”
I watched in satisfaction as the three vampires were lifted off the ground and propelled by an unseen force toward the front door. It slammed open and the three of them disappeared outside. I ran to the door and stuck my head out with Sid at my side. Blurring across the middle of the sidewalk were the three vampires. The doors to the Rolls Royce slammed open and the two of us watched them being unceremoniously dumped inside.
As if compelled by magic, Sergio touched the push button, dash ignition switch, and then I watched as the wheel to the car turned without any hands on it, backing the car out of the parking space. In seconds, the Rolls had navigated a precise three-point turn and was racing down the road and out of town. I felt a massive wave of pulsating energy as the automobile burst through the bubble of my embargoed town a minute later.
“They’re gone,” I said, feeling the relief of the vampires’ absence immediately. A high-pitched scream interrupted my relief and I frowned at Sid for only a second before I remembered I had a human to attend to. I flashed into the store and squatted in front of Scott, catching the screaming old man by both cheeks and turning him to face me. Tears streamed down his face. As our eyes met, I felt my compulsion take hold as he slammed his mouth closed, ending the scream.
“You’re okay,” I said quietly. “You had a fall which is why you’re on the floor,” I purred. “Tonight, when you find bruises on your neck, you’ll remember hitting the counter before you passed out.”
Scott nodded dumbly, staring deeply into my eyes.
“You pulled out your phone and called me when you found the box of old books and then accidentally fell down as you twisted to set them on the counter.” Scott nodded. “You feel embarrassed because you don’t want me to think of you as too old and doddery to do the job you love like crazy. Wake up.” Scott jolted in my hold and I felt the thread of compulsion break between us as I dropped my hands.
“Oh, my! Thank you for getting here so quickly, Mr. Lasco,” Scott said, blushing bright red. “I feel so foolish for falling like that. I must be older than I thought.” He blushed even brighter.
“It’s fine, Scott. I was in the parking lot, on my way to see you after you called me about this box of books. Let me help you stand up,” I said.
He took hold of the hands I offered, and he let me help him to a standing position. When he was steady on his feet, I let go. That was when he seemed to notice Sid standing close by and he flashed him a smile.
“Oh, Sid, what are you doing here?” he asked.
Sid smiled broadly at him. “I saw Vincent rushing into the store when I was out sweeping the stoop and I thought something might be wrong,” Sid said,
