Freaky Fangs, page 28
part #9 of Mystic Caravan Mystery Series
“Don’t even think about it,” he snarled, jabbing forward with the knife.
Cyrus clearly didn’t consider him a threat as Luke easily managed to get in under his guard and slip the knife into the creature’s side. It was nowhere near a fatal blow.
“You little gnat,” Cyrus hissed, swiveling on Luke. “I’ll rip your head off and drink from your neck!”
As far as threats go, it was a particularly gross one. Also, it wasn’t going to happen. I let loose the magic I’d been pooling and sent it careening toward the strigoi. He wasn’t facing me when it hit, but he jerked his head in my direction as the fire engulfed him.
He couldn’t talk. It was over too fast, but I saw the moment he realized it was over. The anguish and fear were real, and I wanted to revel in them.
I turned to help Raven finish off Arrius, but there was no need. She had the creature on his knees, a glowing sword arcing toward his head. She was channeling Nellie this evening with the full-on beheading. The theatrics weren’t necessary, but the look of triumph on her face when the blade sliced clean was enough to have me backing away.
“Is that it?” Luke asked, glancing around. “Did we win?”
I couldn’t hold back the laughter when it bubbled up. “I think so. I ... .” Then I felt her and I straightened, my eyes going to the west. I’d lost track of what was happening with the other half of the battle. I assumed Kade and Max had already dispatched the vanguard of the vampires. Zurie, however, had made her way to the center of things.
“What did you do?” she screeched when she saw the headless body. “What ... where ... where are the others?” She screamed the question.
“They’re gone,” I replied, turning to face her. She was the last truly dangerous foe to take down. Somehow it seemed fitting that I would be able to take a crack at her. “We knew you were coming. We knew how. We were ready.”
“That’s impossible.” She shook her head, bewilderment obvious. “This shouldn’t have happened. How did you know?”
I decided to tell her, because that seemed fitting, too. “We used the midway worker you turned to spy on you. It wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t killed her.”
“But ... .” Zurie huffed as she flexed her fingers. “You’ve ruined everything! Do you know how hard we worked on this? Do you know the blood, sweat and tears that were spilled? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“I believe we’ve rid this small corner of the world of monsters,” I replied blandly. “It feels good.”
“I’m going to kill you. I don’t care if they kill me in the aftermath, but at least I’m going to kill you ... and I’m going to enjoy it.” She started running at me, her intent clear, and then I heard it.
It was a war whoop from another time, and Nellie was delivering it. He jumped from a nearby picnic table, his lavender evening gown fluttering in the wind. He was an adept killer, and even though I wanted to yell at him to stop, that there were still mysteries regarding exactly what Zurie was to uncover, it was already too late.
He swung hard and fast ... and true. He struck his target. Zurie never saw what was coming for her.
As her head detached, I briefly shut my eyes and looked to the stars. There are some things you just don’t need to see.
It was finished.
It was done.
We had won.
The world was a better place for it, even if the ultimate hero turned out to be a cross-dressing dwarf.
29
Twenty-Nine
Luke, Cole, Kade and I took Melissa to the airport on Sunday.
The revelry following the defeat of the strigoi and vampires lasted late into the night Saturday, at which point Melissa finally filled in those who still didn’t know. She looked happy, was practically glowing, and partied with her friends as if she wasn’t about to say goodbye.
A few of us — Raven and me to be precise — had to clean up the remaining vampire mess. That meant dispatching Starla and Dante. Even though it was unnecessary, I had a long talk with the latter. He was bitter and angry … and I didn’t feel bad when I freed him. The same for Starla. She screamed and carried on, but I knew it was the best choice.
Now, in the bright light of a new day, there was another goodbye to say.
While I knew Melissa would miss us, I also knew this wasn’t the life for her. As much as I wanted her to stay, the best thing for her was to leave. I had to suck up my feelings and be strong ... because that was what she needed.
“You guys didn’t need to bring me here,” Melissa said sheepishly as she loitered in front of the check-in line. “I could’ve called a cab or something.”
“It’s fine,” Kade reassured her. He had a hangover that he was trying to mask as he offered her a warm smile. “We wanted to make sure you got here safely.”
“Well ... you did that.” She took a hesitant step toward him. “I don’t know if you know this, but I had a huge crush on you when I first started. I was a little sad when you fell for Poet.”
He looked amused. “I don’t think ‘I’m sorry’ is the appropriate thing to say here,” he hedged. “I’m not sorry, because I love her. But I am going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you, too.” She gave him a warm hug, holding on a moment longer than was probably necessary. When she pulled back, her face was flushed. “You’re really strong and ... hard. Like ... .” She puffed out her cheeks and flexed. “Now I definitely wish I’d seen you naked.”
He barked out a laugh. “Well ... I’m a one-woman man.”
“Yeah.” She squeezed his bicep once more before turning to a frowning Luke. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Well, if you want to know the truth, I’m a bit miffed,” he replied.
“Because I’m leaving? It’s nothing personal. I just need some time. Poet said I can come back if I want, once things have calmed down. I just can’t stay right now.”
“Not that.” He waved off the statement. “I’m miffed because I’m much hotter than Kade — I have a better body, too — and yet you’re not lamenting your crush on me.”
She pressed her lips together and a dimple appeared in her cheek. “Oh, um ... .”
I smiled at her discomfort. “I think you were off the table as a crush, Luke,” I offered helpfully. “She knew she never had a chance with you, because ... well ... you’re gay.”
He shot me a look. “You’re kidding. I never would’ve guessed.”
I ignored the sarcasm. Things were back to normal. That didn’t mean I wanted to risk an argument. “She had a shot with Kade.”
Melissa snorted. “Please. He fell for you the second he saw you. I never had a shot, but I liked to daydream, especially when he worked with his shirt off.”
“Hey! I worked with my shirt off, too,” Luke complained. “I have a way better body.”
“Of course you do.” Melissa’s lower lip quivered and she moved closer to him. “I’m really going to miss you.”
Luke sobered as he pulled her in for a bear hug, his hand going to the back of her head to smooth her hair. “I’m going to miss you too.” He looked lost for a moment, as if he didn’t know what to say. Then he recovered. “You know where to find us if you want to come back. We’ll be out here ... just wandering around. Heck, we’ll be going through your neck of the woods again in a few months. You might feel better then.”
“Maybe.” She smiled encouragingly, but there was an emptiness in her eyes. She knew just as well as we did that this was goodbye.
“You at least have to stop in and visit us,” Luke insisted, refusing to let her go. He was more intuitive than people gave him credit for and he obviously didn’t want to release her for the last time. “Give us that to look forward to.”
She awkwardly patted his back. “I will definitely try to be there to see you guys.”
It wasn’t a promise. She couldn’t make one. Once she got home she would settle into her new life. At her age, six months was a lifetime. She would move on to a completely new set of friends and we would be a distant memory ... which is how she wanted it.
She would remember us. There were far more good times than bad. Unfortunately, the bad times overshadowed everything. She needed to forget ... and I had a way to make her do it.
“Luke, let her go,” I admonished, tugging on his arm. “It’s going to take her thirty minutes to get through security. And I have some things to say.”
Reluctantly, Luke pulled back. His expression was accusatory. “You’re not my favorite person right now.”
“No, but I am,” Cole said, linking his arm through Luke’s. “Come on. I think Poet wants to say goodbye alone.”
Luke opened his mouth to argue, but Kade sent him a firm head shake.
“Let them be,” Kade insisted, holding my gaze for a second. “We’ll meet you out front. As for you ... .” He broke off as he looked at Melissa. “Have a really good life.” He understood better than Luke that this was really a final goodbye.
“Thank you.” A lone tear slid down Melissa’s cheek as she waved at them.
I sent Cole a grateful nod and then turned to Melissa. Now that the moment was here, I didn’t know what to say. I’d thought about little else all morning. I thought I had it all planned out, but now ... .
“Do you have everything?” I asked after a beat.
She nodded. “You guys were more than generous with the severance. You didn’t have to do that.”
“We want to make sure you’re okay.” I swallowed. “I have something for you.” I dug in my pocket and came back with a small potion bottle. “This is a gift from Nixie.”
Melissa eyed it curiously but didn’t take it. “Why would I want that?”
“It’s a memory draught,” I replied, choosing my words carefully. “It will make you forget things you don’t want to remember.”
She looked taken aback. “Really?”
I nodded. “You can take it on the plane and when you land you won’t remember what happened out west. It won’t be part of you. You can start fresh.”
“What about all of you? Will I forget you?”
My throat constricted as I nodded. “It will be like you went away for a few months but don’t remember much of anything except that you didn’t have a good time. It will give you a clean slate.”
“But ... I’ll forget all of you.”
“Yes.”
Melissa swiped at her cheek. The tears were falling freely now. “I don’t want that,” she said decisively. “I don’t want to forget you ... or them.”
“But you’re haunted by what happened.”
“I am, but ... I’m a big girl. I need to remember so I don’t make the mistake of running off again. I had wanderlust when we first met. I don’t any longer.”
“I think you might get over that,” I said. “Once you’re away from the constant danger, some of the bad memories will begin to fade. I need you to take this.” I pressed the potion into her hand. “You don’t have to use it if you don’t want. But there might come a time when you realize that you can’t outrun everything.”
Realization dawned. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Running away, I mean.”
“I think you’re running for your life,” I clarified. “You might not need the potion. But don’t throw it away. Tuck it away. That way you’ll always know you have it if you need it.”
Melissa still looked uncertain. “If I use it I could run into you at the festival next year and not even recognize you.”
“That is a possibility.”
“But ... I don’t want to do that.”
“We don’t want that either. I simply want it to be an option for you. If things get too hard, if you can’t deal, you have an escape hatch. Think of it as a safety net. Most people would love to have a reset switch. You do.
“You won’t forget your family or other friends,” I continued. “It’s just this life that will dim. This life that you’ve grown to hate so much.”
“I didn’t hate all of it.”
“No, but the bad was so bad that it overshadows the fun and laughter … and that’s never good.” I closed her fingers over the vial.
She briefly pressed her eyes shut as she slid the bottle into her suitcase. “I can’t fly with liquid.”
“Right.”
“I probably won’t take it.”
“Okay.”
When she opened her eyes again, the tears were fresh. “I’m going to miss you most.”
Now I couldn’t contain my tears. “Because you had a crush on me?”
It was a lame joke, but it had the desired effect. She let loose a laugh that was half sob and threw her arms around me. “You tried to change my life,” she whispered. “You did your best. Don’t carry this around. You couldn’t have changed what happened. I made my own choices.”
I returned the hug. “Have the best life,” I whispered.
“You, too. I hope you and Kade have a ton of kids and Luke dresses them as clowns to terrorize you.”
It was such an absurd picture I could only laugh. “Yeah. I can totally see that.”
THE THREE OF THEM WERE WAITING FOR ME next to Kade’s truck when I exited the airport. I must’ve looked a mess, because Kade immediately tugged me close.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded as I buried my head in his chest. “I wanted more for her.”
“I know, baby, but you’re not omnipotent. You did the very best you could.”
“And still failed.”
“You didn’t fail. Things simply didn’t work out.” He rocked back and forth as he rested his cheek on my forehead. “She’s going home, where she belongs. This is a win for all of us.”
It didn’t feel like a win.
“Give her to me,” Luke ordered, wrestling me from Kade and shooting my boyfriend an “I dare you to argue with me” look. “Do you know what we should do?” he asked me as he wiped the tears from under my eyes.
I frowned. I already knew the answer to this question. “You’re still going to make me go to Guntown Mountain and pose for photos, aren’t you?”
“Yup. A deal’s a deal.” He slung his arm around my shoulders and dragged me toward the backseat. “There’s a reason we all drove together.”
“Yeah.” I was piteous as I climbed in. “This is cruel and unusual punishment.”
“That’s because you’re a whiner.” Luke fastened my seatbelt before tackling his own, and winked at Cole as the elemental took the passenger seat. “By the way, did I tell you the good news?”
“What’s that?” I was only half-listening because I was trying to stem my tears.
“Cole is leaving his job and joining the circus.”
I stilled, surprised. “What?”
“It’s true.” Cole bobbed his head and grinned. “Max even offered me Melissa’s trailer.” He didn’t mention that I’d made the offer first. I appreciated it, too, because if Luke knew he would melt down again. “Luke and I are still in the getting-to-know-you phase, so I think it’s best we have two trailers. Max agreed ... and even Luke has gotten onboard after a bit of whining.”
“I don’t whine,” Luke shot back.
Kade snorted as I hid a smile behind my hand.
“That’s great,” I said once I was certain I could speak without giggling. “That’s a big decision, though. Are you sure, Cole?”
He nodded without hesitation. “I like what you guys are doing.”
“What are you going to do for a job?” I was genuinely curious. “Are you going to perform?”
“There might be some performing. To start, I’m going to help Kade with security and learn the ropes. I’m still on vacation for the next month, so I don’t have to work. I can learn, but there won’t be any pressure associated with it.”
Something occurred to me. “What about your stuff back in Ohio?”
“Toward the end of my vacation I’ll probably have to take off for a week to deal with it. I was thinking Luke might come with me so he can meet my family, and then we’ll be back in time to start my new job.”
It sounded like an intriguing prospect. “How will your family take to Luke?” I asked.
The man in question scowled. “They’ll love me, of course. What’s not to like?”
Cole chuckled. “They’ll like him a lot more than the part about me joining the circus. That’ll be a battle ... but they’ll live with it. They want me to be happy, and I think I’m going to be really happy with you guys.”
The emotion in his words gave me a warm feeling as I flicked my eyes to the airport we were leaving. Far down the runway, a plane was taking off. Melissa would be on a similar plane in an hour, returning to a life she didn’t think she wanted. Here, though, was a magical man who was joining us because we could give him what he needed.
It was a trade-off ... a good one.
“Well, I think it’s a fabulous idea,” I said as I leaned back in my seat and moved my hand to Luke’s lap. He linked his fingers with mine and smiled. “Now we’ll have endless double dates ... but I’m never going to Dinosaur World again.”
“That’s fine,” Luke said. “I’m thinking Alligator World should be our first stop in Florida. That has double date written all over it.”
That was the exact opposite of what I was thinking. “Yeah, we need to talk about your outing choices.”
“Too late. We already discussed it while you were inside. You’ve been outvoted.”
I pinned the back of Kade’s head with a glare. “You voted without me?”
He shrugged. “I like alligators. Sue me.”
Ugh. There was no way I would put up with this over the long haul. “Eventually, I’m going to get to pick an outing.”
“As long as it’s not a cave, I think we’re all okay,” Cole offered, laughing at my hangdog expression. “So, who wants breakfast before our gunfights?”
Everyone chimed in at once. It wasn’t exactly a new beginning for us, but it was one heck of a continuing adventure.
