Holiday Shopping with an Immortal Guardian

  Dianne Duvall

  Friday, December 21, 2018

  Since Holiday Shopping is in full swing, I thought I’d share a character interview I wrote back in 2011 for Rabid Reads that will give you a glimpse of what can happen when one tries to do a little holiday shopping with an Immortal Guardian. In it, Roland and Sarah (hero and heroine of Darkness Dawns) are being interviewed by Todd, a human guard at The Network in my Immortal Guardians series.

  Todd: Thanks for joining me for a second interview.

  Sarah: *smiles* We're happy to be here.

  Todd: I have to admit I was surprised to get your call.

  Sarah: *elbows Roland*

  Roland: *grunts* We're happy to be here.

  Todd: Really?

  Roland: *looks askance at Sarah* Sure.

  Sarah: *big grin*

  Todd: Okay, what's going on?

  Sarah: What do you mean?

  Todd: The only one Roland is ever happy to see and spend time with is you. And your smile, while lovely, is way too bright.

  Sarah: *wilts* Okay, here's the thing. We're kind of . . . hiding out.

  Todd: Why, what did Roland do?

  Roland: How do you know I did something?

  Todd: Because you're . . . you. They don't call you antisocial for nothing. So, what'd you do?

  Sarah: I took him Christmas shopping.

  Todd: You what?

  Sarah: Well . . . I just thought . . . the immortals have all been so sweet and wonderful, welcoming me into the fold . . . and I've been trying hard to bring Roland into the fold along with me, since he usually lingers on the outskirts . . .

  Todd: Roland doesn't linger on the outskirts. He lingers about a hundred miles beyond the outskirts. So far beyond them, the outskirts can't even catch a glimpse of him, which frankly, neither the fold nor the outskirts mind.

  Roland: *scowls*

  Sarah: Anyway . . . while we were shopping—

  Todd: Did he hold your purse for you?

  Roland: *growls*

  Sarah: Don't poke the bear, Todd. While we were shopping, there was an . . . incident.

  Todd: Ah, man. He didn't kill anyone, did he?

  Roland: You like to live dangerously, don't you?

  Sarah: You see, I know Darnell likes to play video games and wanted to get him some of the newest ones. There was quite a crush, what with Christmas right around the corner, and . . .

  Roland: That little snot pushed you.

  Sarah: Yes, he did. A boy pushed me.

  Roland: He wasn't a boy. He was twenty if he was a day.

  Sarah: It doesn't really matter. What does is that I would have handled it myself if you hadn't decided to step in and protect me. You know I can take care of myself.

  Roland: *smiles* She can. She kicks ass.

  Sarah: Yes, I do.

  Roland: I love that about you.

  Sarah: I know. And I wish you would have remembered that when that moron shoved me.

  Roland: *eyes flash bright amber* He put his hand on you. He's lucky I let him keep it.

  Todd: What exactly did you do?

  Sarah: *jerks a thumb in her husband's direction* That. You know immortals can't keep their eyes from glowing when they're in the grips of strong emotion. Well, Roland was furious.

  Todd: Oh, boy.

  Sarah: And he flashed his fangs.

  Todd: Ah, man.

  Sarah: And tossed the man across the store as if he were a tennis ball.

  Todd: Way to keep a low profile there, chief.

  Sarah: Utter chaos ensued. Which led to more shoving and pushing.

  Todd: *groans* Come on, man. There must have been children present!

  Roland: The children thought it was cool. It was the parents who freaked out.

  Sarah: I ended up having to call Richart and have him teleport us out of there. Chris had to send in Cleaners. Seth had to wipe a lot of memories. It was a mess.

  Todd: *shakes his head at Roland* You just spread that . . . cheer wherever you go, don't you?

  Sarah: I thought it would be best if we lay low for a while and do pretty much anything we can to get back on Seth's good side.

  Roland: I don't think I've ever been on Seth's good side.

  Sarah: Yes, but I have, sweetie.

  Todd: Okay, well, let's see if another interview will help. *jumps when Seth appears*

  Seth: Really? You can't even go Christmas shopping without scaring humans?

  Todd: I'm out.

  Sarah: What about the interview?

  Todd: *on his way out the door* Call me tomorrow . . . if you can.

 

 

  Dianne Duvall, Holiday Shopping with an Immortal Guardian

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