“Yeah, it is.” Alan held up a hand to high-five her. “That was awesome. Smart not to tell us ahead of time. Our reactions were one hundred percent authentic.”
Spencer glowered. “We don’t fake evidence on this show. We’ll lose credibility.”
“It was just a little fake,” she said. “I made the image blurry so skeptics could call it a play on light and shadow.”
“A little fake is still fake.” Spencer shook his head harder and nearly stomped toward the black van parked a few yards up the road.
Well, wasn’t that fangtastic? Lilith had screwed up yet again, and this time, she’d pissed off her supposed soulmate. Dee wasn’t kidding when she said happily ever afters didn’t come easy.
Rebecca chewed her bottom lip, and Alan raked a hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.” Lilith tipped her head back and stared at the moon. A wispy cloud stretched across the lower half, and stars twinkled around it, much brighter than the few visible in L.A.
“I thought it was rad,” Alan said before jogging toward the van.
Lilith watched as Alan said something to Spencer, who shook his head and threw his arms into the air before handing Alan a memory card. If she wanted to, she could have listened to their conversation. Vampires, especially old ones like Lilith, could hear things a mile away. She didn’t dare, though. No doubt what Spencer had to say about her would cut like a pair of fangs to the jugular.
“I should go,” she mumbled. “It was nice meeting you, Rebecca.”
“You don’t have to leave. Spencer’s just…” She pursed her lips and stepped closer. “He’s been blacklisted in Hollywood. This job is the only one he can get, so he takes it very seriously.”
“Blacklisted? What does that even mean? How did it happen?”
“It’s a long story that isn’t mine to tell. He and Alan have been friends forever, and that’s the only reason he’s here. He can’t get a job in movies or TV anywhere else.”
“Oh, my. Who did this to him?” A strange protectiveness burned in Lilith’s gut, the desire to find the person responsible and teach them a lesson making her fangs ache and her mouth water.
“His ex-fiancée, but don’t tell him I told you. He doesn’t like to talk about it.”
“A woman ruined his career, and another woman ruined this episode.” Lilith rubbed her forehead. She had to make amends.
“I don’t think you ruined it, and neither does Alan. Come on, let’s go talk to them.”
She walked with Rebecca toward the van. The back doors were open, and Spencer leaned against the bumper, his arms crossed. He glanced at Lilith and looked away, but in the split second of eye contact, an array of emotions crossed his features.
“I think we should use the footage,” Alan said.
Spencer sighed heavily. “How can a show like The Curse of Oak Island run for nine seasons? They’ve been hunting for the same treasure for years, and they haven’t found jack.”
“But they have.” Lilith stood near Spencer, and his posture relaxed. He uncrossed his arms and rested his hands against the bumper. Thank goodness. The idea of him being mad at her sat like a load of garlic in her stomach.
She continued, “They’ve found bits of wood, coins, tools. I think they even found a piece of jewelry. It’s the little things that keep viewers glued to the TV. Intermittent rewards, like a slot machine. Not to mention the curse. Will someone on the show have to die on the island before they can find the treasure?”
Spencer arched a brow. “Sounds like you’re a fan.”
“I’ve seen every episode.”
Rebecca nodded. “Let’s see the footage.”
Alan inserted the memory card into a computer on a table in the van, and they all climbed inside to watch. Just as Lilith had wanted, her image was distorted, hazy. Viewers could see what they wanted to see in the black shadow peering through the trees.
“We should use it,” Rebecca said.
“It’s fake.” Spencer sank into a chair.
“Is it, though?” Rebecca sat next to him. “I mean, Lilith is a cryptid. We caught a supernatural being on camera, and that’s what our show is about.”
Alan nodded. “Our reactions are real. Technically, it’s not faked at all. I can do a voice-over at the end, questioning what we saw. Was it El Cadejos? Another ghost? A shapeshifter? A vampire?”
