“She got greedy. From what I heard, she made good money the day before. Thought she could settle up and leave town once she got her payout.”
“It was always one more big score with her.”
I’m not surprised Rosanna’s greed did her in. I’d spent over two hundred years with Rosanna. In all that time we were always scheming. Working on her next big job. She’d been a whore when they’d turned her and she’d never lost that mentality. It didn’t matter how fine a palace I gave her or how sumptuous a feast. I could lay an entire city at her feet and she’d still be trying to gamble it away for something bigger. Something better.
There was always more in Rosanna’s world. How fitting that hunger for more would bring her the Final Death.
Aubrey doesn’t chat long. I’m grateful for it. I’m in no mood for conversation after finding out about Rosanna. Aubrey goes over the details for my new home address, the particulars of letting myself in and what to expect when I arrive in Vesper Point.
“It’s a small place. Everyone has been there for generations but they’re friendly folks. You’ll fit right in. I bet you’ll get invited to at least three dinners as the new doctor in town.”
Great. Just what I want. Human dinners.
“Anyways, if you run into any trouble at all just give me a ring. I have staff on standby that can clean up any complications if you need. Remember, you paid extra for that add-on so don’t hesitate to make use of the service.”
She means in case I need a body disposed of. I usually handle my own garbage but after my mess with Rosanna, I’ll call them if I need to.
“You’ll run into a few supes in town but they’re local.”
I didn’t expect that. Aubrey never mentioned any supes when we went over Vesper Point for my relocation. “Like what?”
“A few witches. A shifter family or two. I think there’s a selkie down the street from you, oh! I almost forgot the merfolk.”
I make a face. Fucking mermaids. I’ve never met one and I aim to keep it that way.
“Any vampires?”
“Yes but just one. He works at the hospital with you.”
I grit my teeth. “How perfect.”
“It’ll be fine. He’s an old-timer. Bet you won’t hear a peep from him. Might even make a friend,” Aubrey threatens. We wrap up the call and she disconnects, satisfied that I’m as prepared as I can be for Vesper Point, though I’m not entirely sure how prepared I need to be for such a small town.
I mean, what really could go wrong in a place as sleepy as this?
Two
JULIAN
When I pull into Vesper Point I’m not surprised by anything that I see. It’s the quintessential coastal small town. Even the road switches from blacktop to red brick the second I hit the city proper. A white handpainted sign welcomes me into town. The greetingWelcome To Vesper Pointis painted in navy paint on the white background. Next to the words, a red lighthouse is painted and a flock of seagulls fly over the words.
“Quaint,” I mutter as I slow and drive into town.
Old-fashioned lamp posts with filigree around the lights line the streets and the sidewalks are cobblestone. Shops line the streets with flower baskets blowing in the wind and a warm glow from inside the shops shining out into the gloomy afternoon. The downtown area is bigger than I thought it might be. It spans more than a few blocks before it turns into residential neighborhoods. I plug in the address Aubrey gave me to my new home—121 St. Leon Street. The map lights up on the console screen and I see I’m only a few minutes away, even though I'mdowntown. Though, from the looks of it, everything in Vesper Point is a few minutes away.
The blue line from where I am to my house leads me straight through downtown for a block before it turns right and continues on towards St. Leon Street. It’s when I’m about to signal to turn that I see something that makes me stop.
A coffee shop.
The Perky Perch.
I pull a face at the name but I’m not deterred from entering. Yes, I’m a vampire and blood is the life force that keeps me animated but there’s nothing quite like a warm cup of coffee to bring the soul back into a man. After working in hospitals for a hundred years, coffee is my drug of choice. I slow the car and pull into a parking spot. I get out of my car and stretch my arms over my head. I do it more for appearances than anything but it lets me get a good look around me without looking suspicious. Even through the storm, I spy the docks off in the distance and I wonder if that’s where the mermaids will be. Knowing them, probably. The rain has slowed down enough that it’s just a drizzle. A fog rolls in from the sea and blankets the town in cover. It adds another layer of small town charm to the whole scene.
I tuck my hands in my coat and head towards the front doors of the coffee shop. An old woman exiting holds the door open for me and gives me a cheery hello. Fuck. This town is going to tire me out. I can fucking feel it.
“Good afternoon,” I return with a practiced smile.
“Oh my, well, you’re new aren’t you?” she asks, slowing in the doorway.
