I frowned, trying to think of which books he was referring to. When it dawned on me, I felt my stomach cramp.
“Hang on a minute, Scott. Are the books you’re referring to, a set of eight volumes bound in brown leather with red lettering and gold leaf on the spine?” I squeezed my eyes shut, wondering how my personal belongings had been loaded into the moving truck meant for the store and not my house. Come to think of it, I hadn’t even looked at the books my contractor, Lydia, had neatly lined up in the bookshelf in the master bedroom upstairs.
“Yes, sir. Those are the exact volumes he wants to p—”
“That’s a mistake!” I practically shouted into the phone, cutting him off. How in everything unholy had Robert’s books gotten mixed in with the store goods? Much less, everything else packed in that moving box. “Those aren’t for sale. In fact, nothing in that box is for sale, Scott. I’m sorry. I’ll be right there.”
“Y-yes, sir. I’ll be here but based on the way this gentleman is frowning, you’ll need to talk to him if I don’t sell these to him,” Scott said. He sounded nervous.
“I’m on my way.” I disconnected my phone and instantly flashed into the bathroom, showered off in less than a minute and was dried off, dressed, and out the door in less than three. I forced myself to climb into the Civic for the one-mile drive into town even though I knew I could easily make it there faster on foot using vampire speed. Over the centuries I had trained myself to remain as incognito as possible especially when in new and unfamiliar surroundings. Blurring into town faster than a car probably wouldn’t be a good idea if I was going to keep up appearances.
If the truth be told, I wasn’t so sure that humans outnumbered paranormal creatures in Prosper Woods, California. I certainly hadn’t met many…then again, I hadn’t had a lot of contact with many of the residents at all since I mostly came out at night. The sky was sinking on the horizon, losing some of its ability to fatigue me, as I parked in front of the antique store and got out. The Rolls Royce already parked in front of the store was a bit of a surprise to me. I looked it over as I locked my car door and as I turned to the store, I caught a distinct whiff of something familiar on the air. Instantly my hackles went up when I realized what the scent was.
Vampire…no…more than one…there were multiple vampires here.
The door to my shop was closed and as I walked toward it and reached out for the doorhandle, my entire body began to thrum with a feeling I hadn’t had in centuries. I knew these vampires and they were very old, older than even I was. That explained their ability to travel in the Rolls Royce in daylight, though, I had noticed one shaded pod in the backseat. It resembled an upright coffin, and I knew they were common in vehicles transporting younger vamps. Moreover, it explained the dread that suddenly coursed through my body.
I stepped inside the store and my stomach turned over as I spotted the three vampires standing beside Scott at the counter. They had already turned and all three were regarding me with smug smiles…smiles showing fangs. I felt my stomach lurch just a little as I lifted my face and took a deep breath. Scenting only Scott’s utter terror and no other humans in the vicinity, I was only slightly relieved. My other employee, the bookish high schooler, Bryce Adams, wasn’t present and since there was no scent of blood on the air, I knew Scott was the only one in the store at peril.
“M-Mr. Lasco…” Scott began.
I raised a hand to silence him just as Justine flashed in front of him. Her hand shot out and circled Scott’s neck, baring her fangs as she hissed loudly.
“Stop!” I shouted, and she halted only millimeters from his neck before turning to glare at me. I could smell as well as hear Scott’s blood coursing through the juicy carotid artery in his neck. His heart pounded in his chest.
I looked him straight in the eye. “Scott, don’t speak,” I said quietly, as though gentling an animal. He didn’t move, frozen in horror—most likely from the strength of Justine’s one-handed grip on him. She had been a French heiress when she’d been turned in the fifth century.
Justine Ferrand had the breeding, beauty, and hubris that was commonplace to all aristocracy in my experience. Just because she was a vampire didn’t mean her personality had changed from that which she’d had in life. Legend had it that she’d been made vampire by a stunning young sojourner she’d set her sights on. Her human life had ended many centuries before my own transformation in 1304, thus, I hadn’t known her as human, but I’d known many others like her. She would have been a royal bitch then and was definitely a royal bitch now…one with inch long razor-sharp fangs capable of tearing a human throat out.
Sergio, the tallest vampire in the room, raised a manicured hand, turning half toward Justine and Scott but keeping his eyes on me.
“Down, girl,” Sergio said, sounding bored. He smirked, showing off fangs longer than my own and just as dangerous. “We shouldn’t go around killing blood bags on a whim, now, should we?” He chuckled and the evil sound crawled over my skin like a midnight wave of black sludge. I’d always hated Sergio Serrano, who’d been a farmer as human. Rumor had it, he’d been turned
