He scoffed, his expression cold and unyielding. "What kind of stupid, hippie nonsense is that?"
"Maybe it's just Karma," I said softly, allowing my powers to flow through me like a gentle breeze. I focused on the rock Nick had so angrily kicked, willing it to return the favor.
There was a sudden movement in the yard, and the rock shot back toward Nick with surprising speed. It struck him squarely in the shin, causing him to yelp in pain and hop around on one foot.
"Ow, what the hell was that for?" he shouted, glaring at me with suspicion.
"Looks like Karma works in mysterious ways," I said innocently, struggling to hide my amusement as Nick continued to nurse his injured leg.
Nick's face twisted in anger as he picked up a rock, his grip white-knuckled. "Deva was always a bitch," he spat, hurling the stone into his once-perfect backyard sanctuary. "And you're no longer welcome here."
As Carol, Beth, and I stared at Nick in shock, the entire backyard setup began to crumble before our eyes.
"Uh-oh," I said under my breath. Had I pushed my luck with my Karma powers?
Trees toppled like dominoes, their trunks splintering and leaves rustling in protest. The sound was deafening, a symphony of destruction that stopped me in shock. I could practically taste the bitter tang of broken dreams and displaced dirt hanging heavy in the air.
In the chaos, Beth saw her chance and lunged for Nick's hand, giving it a firm shake with her gloved fingers. We held our breaths, waiting for something, anything, to happen, but there was only silence. Well, aside from the continued toppling of trees, of course.
"Let's get out of here." Carol tugged urgently at my sleeve.
"Agreed," I said, my heart pounding like a jackhammer. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, making every nerve sing with terror and exhilaration.
We sprinted back toward the car, leaving Nick standing amidst the wreckage of his once-pristine backyard. His screams of frustration chased us down the street, but we didn't dare look back. Instead, we focused on putting as much distance and sunlight between ourselves and the angry vampire as possible.
Once inside the safety of the car, we couldn't help but burst into laughter. The absurdity of the situation was too much to handle, and our giggles echoed throughout the vehicle like a chorus of deranged hyenas.
"Did you see his face?" Carol gasped between peals of laughter. "He looked like he wanted to tear us apart!"
"Can you blame him?" I asked, wiping tears from my eyes. "We just destroyed his backyard... again. And worse."
"True," Beth said, her chuckles subsiding into a more controlled snort. "And we still don't know who cursed Deva, do we?"
The mood in the car sobered as we considered the gravity of our mission. Laughter might be the best medicine, but it couldn't cure the ache in our hearts for our friend.
"Let's regroup and figure out our next move," I suggested. "We can't give up on Deva. Not now, not ever."
"Agreed," Carol and Beth said unison, their eyes hardening like steel.
Carol exited the car, heading back to hers. Beth turned on the engine, and we all left together, not wanting to leave anyone behind with the angry vampire. The angry vampire who waspissed at Deva instead of just realizing that sometimes life happens.
9
EMMA
The sun dippedbelow the horizon, painting the sky in a vibrant mixture of reds, oranges, and purples. Beth had just left to help someone find their missing cat—or was it a dog?— and Carol was spending some time with Bryan, leaving me to fend for myself. The evening air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the scent of fall leaves as I pulled up in front of Deva's restaurant. The warm glow of candlelight spilled out onto the sidewalk, creating a cozy atmosphere that belied the chaos we'd been dealing with lately. Inside, I found Deva hunched over some papers at one of the tables.
"Who needs electricity when you have good ol' fashioned candles, right?" I said, trying to keep my spirits up despite the heaviness weighing on my heart. She hadn't heard me. "Hey," I said, perhaps a tad too loudly. Deva jumped, nearly knocking over the precarious stack of papers she'd been poring over. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you there."
"Emma," Deva said, recovering quickly and shooting me a wry grin. "You've got the stealth of a ninja, I swear. What brings you here?"
I smiled. "Can't a friend just drop by to see how another friend is holding up in the midst of all this... well, craziness?"
"Of course," Deva said, her face softening. "I appreciate it, Emma. It's just been... overwhelming, you know?"
"Trust me, I get it," I assured her, taking a seat across from her at the table. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the room, but it illuminated the resolve in Deva's eyes. "Hey, at least you're not alone." I nodded toward her stack of papers. "So what's with all the paperwork?"
"Ugh, don't even get me started on the insurance, the bills, the reports, and the paperwork from the contractors." She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Just trying to sort through everything and figure out what needs to be done next. Every time I think I've got a handle on it, something else comes up."
