“Mel, you should’ve stayed in town.”
I approached with caution. “Well, there are people that heard gunshots over here. Bryon told me what he heard from Rick. Why don’t we put down the gun before you make a big mistake? Let the guy leave, dad, I’m sure that you’ve scared him plenty.”
“Look, I didn’t know that would strike a nerve. I was only looking out for—.” The businessman’s words were silenced as dad pumped the shotgun.
“You know nothing of what’s best or not for my family. If you did, then your little group wouldn’t be trespassing everyweek with different terms. This land belongs to my family. We protect it, we nourish it, and it gives us what we need. I won’t sell it to you to ruin that,” Dad snarled with a look that I had never seen in his eyes before.
He was furious. He was ready to kill this man and might’ve if I hadn’t shown up. How did some city stick manage to get under his skin so badly that he would entertain murder?
“You,” I addressed the man. “Get in your car and leave. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”
I didn’t need to tell him twice as he quickly backed away until he was back in his car. Once he was out of sight, dad disarmed the gun and rested it against the swinging porch chair that he slumped onto. With the situation handled, I finally let out a relieved sigh.
“You should return to those city people. I’m sure they need you.”
I took a step in his direction, frowning. “Dad, you went off the handle. You had a literal gun pointed at a man,” I mentioned. “I don’t think I can leave you alone.”
“I’m fine, Mel. You know your old man couldn’t hurt a fly. I was just upset because he tried telling me what the money could do for your future. He spoke like he was more of a salesman than a person. I overreacted, but it won’t happen again.”
An excuse that was tinged with lies. I couldn’t pinpoint what those lies were, but I knew well enough that dad wanted space so I agreed to go back. The ride back into town was not as rushed as before, but I felt as though I missed something crucial with the events that had transpired with my dad.
My thoughts tore at me until I arrived at the shop to find the two missing. Nothing had been disturbed beyond a random jar and the books. However, the storage door no longer sported the padlock that had kept it sealed off to unwanted guests. Theycould either be in there or had been. Crossing over towards the door to investigate, I opened it more suddenly than I intended and walked inside to an unexpected sight.
Blood bags.
I stared at the one in Isadora’s mouth, almost empty. As well as the already empty one that Ambrose held over the trash can. Blood. They were drinking blood. Forming a cross with my fingers, I backed up a few steps.
“What the hell are you? Don’t even try to say it’s not what I think because I know well enough that drinking blood is not normal. Demons? No? Are you vampires?”
Ambrose let out a frustrated grunt before slamming the empty blood bag into the trash can. “Yes, we’re vampires. So, is this the part where you round up these townies to go after us with pitchforks and torches?” he asked with a tone as dark as the emerald magic swirling around his hands.
My hand lowered slightly as I saw the magic he wielded. Green light pulsing with life that swirled between his fingers. It was mimicking a serpent.
Magic was real. Vampires were real.
It suddenly became too much for me and my knees gave out, crashing onto the floor as I lost the strength to stand. Isadora finished her bag before discarding it to appear by my side. Her speed startled me, causing a flinch. This only increased her nervousness over the situation.
“Vampires. Vampires are real and now there’s two in my town,” I spoke without a clear train of thought. I needed the words said aloud so that it would instill the realness of the discovery I made. “That’s so–.”
“Weird? I know,” Isadora interrupted. “But we don’t–.”
“Cool,” I finished my sentence, thus interrupting hers. “That’s fucking cool! How long? Can you go in the sun? Wait, what am I saying? Of course, you can because I met you in themorning. Can you use magic too? Who turned you? Was Agatha one?”
Isadora squeezed my shoulders, “Breathe. I’ve got all the time in the world to answer your questions.” She waited for me to take a deep breath before continuing. “For now, I will answer the ones you’ve asked. I’ve been a vampire my whole life, same as Ambrose. We are born vampires from vampire parents. The born ones can use magic. Yes, Agatha was a vampire. But with her old age, all she could do was use magic. She had gotten too old to hunt so that’s why she has these blood bags.”
“This is a dream,” I squealed in excitement.
“I guess since we’ve already broken one rule then we might as well break more. And you,” Ambrose said with a disappointed shake of his head at me. “You are in the presence of two very powerful vampires and yet you are shaking with excitement instead of fear. Are all mundanes as strange as you?”
“Not all, but anyone that’s cracked open the right book would be. Two vampires are in the same room as me!”
“And if you don’t keep your voice down then all of this God forsaken town will hear you,” Ambrose hissed angrily.
I waved a dismissive hand at his words. “Oh relax, I sound proofed this room at the request of Agatha. No one can hear a single thing that goes on in here. I mean, we can hear out there, but no one is hearing anything in here. Not even a pen dropping.”
The room was silent for a moment, then Ambrose left without a word and Isadora was left scowling at his back. She began muttering something in another language that I didn’t recognize. Despite my ignorance, I could tell she wasn’t saying anything nice about Ambrose.
“Now that the party pooper is gone,” she beamed, shifting her mood entirely. “What is there to do for fun around here? I’ll answer your questions while we have some fun.”
