“I’m nothing,” the guy says. “I swear, I’m a Normal.”
A chill crawls up my spine.
Normals don’t know that they’re Normal.
“What do youwant,” Baz says, stepping forward. It’s a threat, not a question.
The guy is smiling. His hands are out where we can see them. “Look, I’m sorry, I really did just want to talk to you. And then I got caught up in the game of it.”
Baz sneers. “This isn’t a game.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ve just never seen—”
“You haven’t seen anything.”
“—a vampire-slaying vampire.”
I feel linked through the heart to Baz and Penelope. I can feel all of us holding our breath.
“We don’t know what you’re talking about,” Penny says, “and we don’t want to talk to someone who’s chased and intimidated us.”
“Look”—he’s still trying extra hard to seem friendly—“I get carried away sometimes. I just knew that if I lost you, I’d never see you again. This is a once-in-a-lifetime—”
“Youarenever going to see us again,” Baz says. “Now get in your truck—wait.” Baz stops. His wand hand dips. “I recognize you.”
“I’m Shepard.” The guy holds out his hand.
Baz doesn’t take it. “You’re the one who gave me the spell. At the Renaissance Faire.”
“Buzz off,” the guy says, smiling.
“If you really think we’re vampires,” I say, “why’d you follow us into the middle of nowhere? Aren’t you afraid of us?”
“I’m Shepard,” he tries again, holding his hand out to me.
I take it, and Penny groans.
“You’renot a vampire.…” Shepard says. He’s looking at me like I’m the Ark of the Covenant, and he’s Harrison Ford. “You’re something new. Or maybe something old. I’m hoping you’ll tell me over a hot cup of coffee.”
“A hot cup of bullshit,” Penny says. “You need to leave now, Mr. Normal.”
“Shepard,” he says, reaching his hand out to her.
“No!” She points at the road. “Go! You’re lucky we don’t call the police!”
“All right.” He puts his hands in his pockets. “I know I handled this all wrong. I’m sorry.” He starts walking to his car. “I can call somebody, if you want, to bring you gas. You spelled the tank, right? And it died when your magic stopped?”
“Who says our magic stopped?” I flap my wings. Unintentionally.
“There’s no magic out here,” he says. “Not for Speakers.”
“Why not?” Penny asks. She must want to know the answer more than she wants to keep our secrets. “Where did the magic go?”
“There aren’t enough Normals here,” he says. “There’s no language to draw on. Nebraska’s one of the least magickal places in the country for people like you—why’d you leave the interstate?”
Penny’s furious. “To get away from you!”
I turn to Baz. “Is that even a thing?”
