B00724AICC EBOK (31 page)

“
Zacharia, you must speak with your mind. All I am able to hear is a cat meowing. And to answer your question, I don’t yet know why Piers has illuminated us with his presence. Piers, when do you get time to write?”

“
I don’t sleep much so there’s plenty of time for writing. I’ve heard a rumor.”

“
Ah, chit-chat and gossip. Something juicy? A character that you admire on some soap has succumbed and now you are despondent?”

Piers tried to get comfortable in the black chair. He glanced at a car commercial on the television, then turned and nodded to Zacharia. “Well, supposedly, someone has stolen one of the daggers, and you know what that means.”

That statement made Dracula sit up straight; his pupils widened. The possibility of eternal sleep made his eyebrows come to life. “How do you even know about the dagger? You’ve been reading our history books haven’t you? You must have friends in high places. You mentioned me didn’t you? In any case. All I want to know is did they get the real one?”

“
That is impossible to know. You’re not going to just let someone walk up to you and plunge it in are you?”

He didn’t respond and showed the lightest smile.

Stuart flew down the stairs in bat form and that took their attention just as Piers was about to pop another question. Zacharia had to stop the cat in him from jumping at the bat. Dracula had sensed him approaching but Piers did not. The vampire bat morphed into a little person. He was a dwarf and exactly four feet tall. Stuart was quite handsome with short black hair. “Master, I delivered them as you requested.”

“
What was her response?”

“
She seemed pleased to have received the roses, but I must admit that I didn’t read her mind. I forgot. The way she looked at me made me forget. She’s really quite fetching. I guess she distracted me. There’s really no excuse for it.”

“
She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

“
Oh, yes Master. Very attractive.”

The author’s mouth hung open, and when he realized it he took care of it. What was going on here? Was the Master interested in a woman? That had a positive feel to it. That sounded as if it had the possibility of getting him out of his funk. Dracula turned and stared directly at Piers and could sense the gears turning. “Is this what this is all about? Are you infatuated? Smitten? Captivated by a lady that has spurned your advances? Are you lovesick? Dracula, are you enamoured?”

“
I am not.”

“
Depressed over a woman?”

“
You are wrong again kemosabe. Stuart, I want you to do something for me.”

“
Anything Master.” Stuart sat on the chair on the other side of Dracula. There was a long odd silence that ensued, as eyebrows were raised. They were aware that he despised having his interludes disrupted.

“
See this fellow here. This is Piers Anthony the author.”

“
Oh yes, I know him. He gave me his autograph once.”

“
Well, you are to follow him around wherever he goes, for one month. We’ll see how he likes being pestered.”

“
Yes master. Shall I follow him right into his house?”

“
No. But do give me a report of what he does when he’s not annoying me.”

“
Shall I start now?”

“
Right now. And you shall be handsomely rewarded for your diligent work.”

Moon Diamond shook its head as it laughed on the inside. Finally, something delicious that wasn’t a mouse.

Piers turned his head to the left to observe Stuart staring back at him. Then he turned to face Dracula. “You can’t be serious?”

“
Oh, but I am.”

Piers didn’t like the sound of that, but there was no dissuading Dracula from anything that he put his mind to, especially when he was attempting to make a point. “So who is this lady friend that you pursue? I heartily encourage it. Do I know her? That should get the old blood pumping or ah whatever.”

“
Just an old flame.”

Piers showed a smile that was just a little annoying to the Master. “Long walks on the beach? Picnics in the meadow? Dinner by candle light? Smooching under the full moon?”

“
I’m a vampire not a werewolf.”

Piers nodded and nodded. “I imagine I’ll get all the juicy information out of the little fellow.”

A fight ensued between Piers and Stuart, with fists and legs flying everywhere. Stuart’s attack was furious, with punches more powerful than Mike Tyson in his prime. The author managed to block some, with others getting through. The more they fought, the more Dracula laughed, as it was great entertainment; he shook his head to dissuade the cat from jumping into Stuart’s face. Piers had to permit some of his vampire instinct in order to defend against the dwarf. It was a brief altercation and they seemed evenly matched, with multiple blows being landed from both.

“
He doesn’t like to be called little.”

Piers sat back in the chair as if nothing happened. “Will you court her with chocolates as well? And when do I get to meet her?”

Dracula got comfortable and closed his eyes. “One would assume that you would eventually run out of words, but no.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

MICHAEL AND LAUREN WALKED up and down Brighton Beach holding hands and simply enjoying the atmosphere of it all. Their feet sunk into the white sand and it felt good to be close to nature. They were getting closer to one another with each day that passed. The more they knew about one another the more the attraction grew, although Lauren continued to be guarded. She tried hard not to show that she was in fact slowly becoming enamoured. She of course knew that men initially concealed their true selves, sometimes for months. When the monster was finally let out of the cage it was impossible to get him back in.

The scent of saltwater was in the air. “Michael, I love the smell of the beach. This air is invigorating. I remember building castles here as a child.”

Lauren wore a yellow bikini and looked scrumptious, except for the swords on her back. Facing another vampire without a sword would be too much of a disadvantage. Michael wore blue swimming trunks even though he wasn’t much of a swimmer, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. He liked the beach but disliked the water. They ignored the other people as if they had the beach all to themselves, walking close with hands on each other’s sides. The day was special simply because of one another’s company, and they fed off the good vibes. It felt nice to relax for a change.

“
Are you enjoying yourself? You look happy.” Michael looked down into her magnificent gray-blue eyes. He wanted to taste those luscious lips but would wait for a better opportunity that he was sure was approaching.

“
I am. It feels good to take a little time off.”

There was a combination of sun and cloud. The minutes seemed to fly by as seconds. They made it back to their brown and yellow patched quilt on the white sand, where Lauren’s boom box remained. She had kept an eye on it from quite a distance, and of course the swords on her back had not gone unnoticed by the passers-by. It simply wouldn’t be at all smart for a human to steal something that belonged to a vampire. She shook some of the sand off her feet, and inadvertently shook her breasts as well. Michael’s pupils expanded.

“
Michael, what were you looking at?”

“
Nothing. They entered my line of vision.”

“
My eyes are up here.”

“
Exquisite eyes I must say. You have the most beautiful eyes that I’ve ever seen.”

“
I have my mother’s eyes.”

Lauren put her swords down beside the blanket. They got comfortable on the covering and she initiated a kiss. Michael preferred to let Lauren make the first moves even though it probably wasn’t the male thing to do; he didn’t want to be split in two with one of her swords. That thought made him smile. He could sense her energy from quite a distance, and so when they touched it was heartwarming, literally. The kiss turned out to be longer and infused with more passion than either had anticipated. They got looks from passers-by.

On the ocean in the distance were three sailboats that appeared to be lined up, but were actually quite a distance apart from one another. The largest one had red, white and blue stripes at the top of its sail; it appeared to be quite large and expensive. The boats on the ocean made the scene picturesque. A motorboat sped by with a single male occupant seemingly enjoying the water. Seagulls added audible ambiance, at least for Lauren. Waves rolled in as waves do and Michael tracked them from quite a distance away. There amongst the whitecaps he noticed a coke bottle.

Lauren looked at his eyes as they looked out to sea. She thought that he was fixated on something; looking at him and then back out to the ocean he seemed distracted. “Michael, what do you see out there?”

“
Ha, believe it or not it looks like a note in a bottle.”

That immediately took her interest. “What? Where? Are you joking?”

“
No, I’m serious. Look, right there, can you see it?”

Michael pointed into the ocean but it wasn’t easy for her to track it down in such a grand expanse. But she continued to scan the water. If there really was a bottle out there with a note in it she simply had to know what was on it. It was as if she had won a prize but had no idea what it was. It would bother her for days if she couldn’t get her hands on it. But was there really a bottle out there or simply Michael’s sense of humor? She was becoming frustrated so she stood up and got behind Michael attempting to follow his line of vision. She stared over him and into the water.

“
Michael, if you’re teasing me. Not at all funny.”

“
I’m trying not to take my eyes off it but it’s quite far out. Keep looking and you’ll get it. See it?”

“
No I don’t, damn it!” Then Lauren squealed with delight. “I see it. I see it. It’s a Coke bottle and it does appear to have a note it. I’m going out to get it. Guard my swords. Probably something some kid threw out there but still.”

Before Michael could say another word, Lauren blurred into the water and swam out to the bottle faster than any mortal could. The water splashed as people were fascinated as how rapidly she could swim. When she got to its general area she lost sight of it. She looked back at Michael for directions. He gestured that it was behind her and she turned and spotted it and swam backwards. She was excited as she exited the water with the bottle. “I got it.”

“
You look so pleased. You should see your face.” Michael smiled at her happy face.

She pulled the white cloth out of the end of the bottle but due to the moisture inside had to tap it several times before it released the note into her hand. She held it as if it was the most precious thing. “What do you think it says?”

“
I’m stranded on a deserted island. Send food. Anything but fish.”

Lauren unrolled the note, and as she read it she couldn’t believe it. Her face had become such a delightful thing, as if receiving a hug from a long lost friend. She looked into Michael’s eyes and then back at the note. “No way! No freaking way!”

“
Read it to me.”

Lauren read the note as she beamed. “Lauren, there is no one else that I’d rather spend the day with, and it’s signed Michael. Oh, I’m keeping this note. I’ll never forget this. How the hell did you do this?”

“
Remember that motorboat that went by a few minutes ago? He threw it in the water.”

“
Oh my GOD! I’m getting this framed. You are so sneaky.”

“
You forgot to mention cute.” He hadn’t expected such a reaction from the red sheriff.

“
Well, THAT goes without saying. What made you think of such a thing?”

Michael shrugged.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

AFTER BUMPING INTO FRIENDS and talking for over an hour, they finally went their separate ways. Jenny and Allison walked pass the Dress Barn and had sandwiches at the Potbelly Sandwich Shop. They had an appointment at the KK Salon on Maiden Lane but had lots of time to spare. They enjoyed going to places where they’d never been and simply exploring, so they had given themselves extra hours to do so. Outings were adventures in shopping and discovery. They had a wonderful relationship and they knew they would never become estranged as some families. As Jenny exited the sandwich shop she turned to her mother.

Allison looked down at her. “I know that look.”

“
We’re being followed.”

Allison scanned the area and observed lots of people, but no one that she could guess was on their tail. “A biter is deliberately following us?”

Jenny flicked her hair out of her eyes and concentrated. “Not out to hurt us. They seem to be lost in the crowd. More than one vampire nearby and for some reason I can’t tell which one is actually following us. Strange. Mother, someone is hiding in plain sight, and for some reason it’s working.”

“
Well, if they mean us no harm the best thing to do is get on with our day. You could probably kick his ass anyway.”

Jenny laughed. “Probably.”

“
Not ganging up on you are they?”