Real Vampires Know Size Matters (19 page)

“Contract, Sienna.” Rafe carried the guitar to the door. “Let’s go, ladies. Glory, you got what you need?”

I grabbed my purse then at the last minute shoved the voodoo book and my computer into a tote and brought them along. If I had time, I’d like to get started on that list of ingredients. Even if I didn’t have to worry about Mel coming after me, a stay-away potion could help Jerry. I wanted it. And maybe one of my staff would be able to help. With ancient shifters you never knew what kind of connections they had.

“Okay, I’m ready.” I locked the door with my new key. A locksmith had changed the locks during the day, thanks to Jerry. He had a shifter who arranged such things for him. I’d have to pack when we got back, before sunrise. The idea of that peace and quiet upstairs put a smile on my face despite the fact that Aggie and Sienna started bickering on the way down about which musical group they thought had the best sound.

“You guys are arguing about the wrong decade.” Rafe put in his two cents. He named bands from the sixties, some of which were still playing. This set off Sienna, who had strong opinions, and the commotion was pretty loud by the time we stepped into the alley. Rafe came to an abrupt halt, his arm out like he was ready to shove us all back into the building.

“What?” Sienna peered around him. “Paparazzi?”

“No. Something much worse. Use one of your new vampire senses and take a whiff.” He set her guitar down inside the hallway and motioned us back. “What do you smell?”

“Candy?” She sniffed and made a face. “But there’s something off. Did the muffin shop burn a batch?”

“Damn, is she here?” I had already ruled out the zombies. Aggie and Sienna scurried out of the way when I stepped to Rafe’s side. “That’s the smell of evil. Memorize it, Sienna. You and Aggie stay in here until we give you the all clear. I mean it. Do not come out. This is serious.” I glared at both of them.

“I get it. Voooodoooo.” Aggie shook her hands in the air. “Go. Run her off. I know
I’m
not interested in tangling with a psycho bitch.” Aggie pulled on Sienna’s sleeve. “Come on back upstairs. Glory, call us on your cell when we can safely come down again.”

“Sure.” Sienna snatched up her guitar. “Take care of yourselves, you two.” She patted my back, gave Rafe a worried look, then rushed back up the stairs after Aggie. “Hey, wait up. I’m no hero either.”

“Good. Now follow them, Glory.” Rafe grabbed my arm and tried to ease me back inside.

“Not on your life. This is
my
fight. If she’s planning an ambush, it’s for me. I’m dying to hear what she has to say.” I brushed past him, firmly taking his hand off of me. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” I taunted her and why not? I wasn’t convinced I couldn’t take Mel in a fair fight.

“Careful, Glory. I’m reading your mind. Just what makes you think this woman’s into fighting fair?” Rafe stayed close, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the dark alley. The lights were out again.

“Who’s this with you, Gloriana? Moving on already?” Mel stepped out of the darkness. No business suit tonight. Instead she wore a black silk outfit that flowed loosely around her body. A dozen necklaces sparkled in the dim moonlight. I thought I saw a bone dangling from one of them. Or was it a tooth? Did those things help her with her powers? Maybe I’d rip them all off and find out.

“That’s my business, Melisandra. What do you want? Seems like you’ve caused enough trouble around here already. Time to hit the road and go back where you came from.” I grabbed Rafe’s arm. We were supposed to be a couple now. Might as well start acting like one.

“I can’t do that. I have obligations. And one of them is to make you pay for hurting Jeremiah.” She stretched her long fingers toward me and I saw her creepy dead people come out to play again. Spirits, I guess you’d call them. The tiny wisps of howling creatures flew up from her fingertips to gather in a circle above her head.

“You think
I
hurt
Jerry
? What are you smoking, lady?” I let her see my fangs. I had to remind myself of the part I was supposed to play. “
He
hurt
me
, but he won’t ever again. I’ve had it with Jeremiah Campbell and his lies. As if the Jerry I know ever had to be drugged to have sex with a woman.” I brushed off my sleeve, the picture of
Don’t give a damn.
Mel’s face had hardened. Good, my shot had hit the target.

“Is that what he told you?” She managed to sound outraged. Nice try.

“Forget what he told me.” I snuggled up to Rafe. “I’ve got a man now who I know won’t cheat on me. Rafe and I have a history and now we’re back together for good. Isn’t that right, baby?” I didn’t give Rafe a chance to answer before I planted a big kiss on him to show Mel I was serious. Rafe cooperated, but I could feel the tension in his body, the way his bicep flexed where I held his arm. He was still on high alert, obviously worried about the woman standing a few feet away with her ghosts and ghouls doing an aerial ballet above her head. I had a feeling they were waiting for orders.

I pulled back and quirked an eyebrow at Mel. “Still here? Why? Jeremiah’s all yours. If you’re sure you want him. But if my man ran around claiming he only had sex with me because I
drugged
him?” I put a hand on my hip. “Well, I can’t tell you how fast
I’d
kick him to the curb.” I gave her a look, up and down. “Oh. But maybe you did have to resort to a little help in that department. Seriously? Slip a little something into his blood last night, Mel?”

Mel’s hands shook and her creatures became more agitated. “Shut the hell up. Of course I didn’t have to drug Jeremiah. He’s
crazy
about me.” She laughed suddenly, her scarlet mouth reminding me of the silent scream in the mural Flo had painted on my wall inside the shop. Insanity lurked in her eyes. Oh, yeah, this woman knew crazy all right.

“If you did drug him, that would make you pretty damned pathetic, wouldn’t it? Desperate.” I couldn’t resist. “Jerry begged me to take him back last night. Hands and knees, the whole nine yards. Even brought out an engagement ring. Now,
that
was pathetic.”

Mel’s eyes flashed, the spirits above her flinging themselves into a chaotic circle dance. “Liar. Jeremiah would never demean himself that way. Now who’s pathetic?” She smiled, her teeth very white and even. “Does it sting to know that if you’d truly satisfied him he never would have turned to me in the first place, Gloriana?”

I tensed, desperate to throw myself at her. Rafe’s strong arm clamped around my waist, holding me back.

“Jeremiah says my blood is like fine wine. He can’t get enough of it.” She waved her arms, clearly in the middle of building her own fantasy.

I pulled myself back from the brink of joining her in Crazyland, happy to burst her bubble. “He’s a vampire, Mel. Get a clue. We suck mortal blood to survive. The man would build you a temple and worship you like a goddess if it would get him a bite at your vein, honey.” And didn’t I hate that fact. My don’t-give-a-damn attitude was wearing thin. At least Mel didn’t look too happy either. “If Jerry’s so into you, where is he? Why isn’t he with you now?”

The ghosts and ghoulies above Mel went wild, screaming as they darted around like lightning bugs on speed. Her dark hair rose, a nimbus around her head. The freakish squeals became so high-pitched that I wanted to cover my ears.

“That’s enough.” Rafe started forward.

“No, leave her alone, lover. I can take it.” I kept a hand on his arm, willing him to stay safe. “Hear her howls of pain? Lost him, didn’t you, Mel?” It was my turn to laugh and I managed a pretty good one.

Mel’s eyes blazed and her creatures paused in mid-screech. “Last night we made love, Gloriana. Jeremiah and I. It was incredible. I’m sure he’ll be back.” She raised her hands and we were rushed, those ghostie things suddenly tearing at my flesh. Rafe cursed and lunged at her. I touched his back, turning him to stone. I knew he’d hate that, but I didn’t want him getting into it with a voodoo woman.

“I don’t give a damn if Jerry wants you or not. I’m over the unfaithful bastard.” I said it one more time. I wanted to be sure she heard me and knew I meant it.

“Then you won’t care what happens next.” She smiled, smoke and mist filled the alley, then she and her entourage disappeared.

I released my hold on Rafe.

“Damn it, Glory. Why’d you do that? I could’ve taken her.” Rafe stomped over to where Mel had been standing and began searching the alley. “She’s gone.”

“Maybe you could have handled her. Maybe not. I still don’t know what she can do. Did you feel those creatures hit you?” I looked down at my arms, expecting to see blood or at least some red marks. Nothing.

“Yeah. Stung like a son of a bitch.” Rafe rubbed his cheek. “But I still think . . .”

“Let it go. Looks like she’s done with me. But I’m afraid she’s still after Jerry. We’ll see.” I pulled out my cell and called upstairs, giving Sienna and Aggie the all clear to come down. “When we go to the seminar Saturday night, we’ll see how she acts.”

“You still want to do that?” Rafe looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had. I either had a bad case of “Know your enemy” or I was letting Lily’s fab apartment get to me.

“Why not? Sin bought those expensive tickets and I’m interested in Mel’s message when she’s doing her motivational thing and not channeling evil spirits. Own the world. I could get behind that. The woman may be a few ghosts short of a gaggle, but she’s got plenty of confidence. And her Web site impressed me. It’s about time I got ambitious, don’t you think?” I heard the back door open.

“Not touching that one.” Rafe shrugged. “Guess you want to spare the ladies the details of what just went down?”

“Definitely. Just another ordinary night in this alley.” I laughed, relieved to have gotten through the confrontation with Mel without either of us getting hurt.

Rafe shook his head. “Let’s go then. Shop first, but only for an hour. I need to get to N-V.”

“Thanks, Rafe. You were awesome. Sorry about the kiss and turning you into a statue.” I hugged him then kissed his cheek.

“I figured the kiss was a perk. Feel free anytime.” He didn’t let me go. “The freeze thing? Lose it. Makes me crazy.”

“I know. I’m really sorry.” I touched his cheek. “It comes so easily . . .” I kept my arms around him. Maybe Mel was still lurking close enough for a glimpse, though I couldn’t smell her now.

“Yeah, well. Use it on bad guys, not your friends.” He stepped back and grabbed Sienna’s guitar when she handed it to him as soon as she cleared the door. Then he made up a story about a false alarm when Aggie and Sienna peppered us with questions.

We headed into my shop. Aggie couldn’t quit talking about new clothes, and flashy stage clothes didn’t come cheap. We were trolling through my evening wear when the candidate for Sienna’s bodyguard came in.

Danny Potter was a shape-shifter who’d worked for Rafe in the club for a while but had been looking for something that paid more than bouncing out unruly college kids. Rafe vouched for him and we all liked him on sight. He was big, could look mean when he needed to, and his size was intimidating. He stood about six foot six and had a neck the size of Sienna’s waist. His dark skin and eyes matched his black cotton shirt and jeans.

“Call me Danny.” He shook hands with everyone except Rafe, who got a serious fist bump. Then he proceeded to stand back and watch the room. I immediately felt safer.

“Hey, Danny.” Sienna called him over. “Have you met Israel Caine?”

“Sure. He’s played the club several times since he moved to town. Great guy.” Danny smiled.

“Wrong answer. From now on, he’s on your shit list.” Sienna pulled Danny to the back room, I assume to fill her guard in on why she hated Ray.

Fine by me. If she wanted to use her bodyguard to intimidate Ray, that was between them. That left me with Aggie, who had an armful of cocktail dresses and was headed for the dressing room.

“Hold it. Let me look at your choices.” I grabbed the stack.

“What? You said I could shop.” Aggie glanced around the store. We were fairly busy, with only a week until Halloween. I wasn’t going to let her pick my best looks for herself when I might never get paid for them.

“These are going back.” I took the most expensive and separated them from the pile. “Try on these two, then I’m finding you a pair of good silky black pants and a few glitzy tops to go with them. You’re going to have to be practical. If you don’t get a regular gig, you may have to bring this stuff back and let me resell it.”

“Seriously? What are you? The fashion police?” Aggie frowned down at my choices. “These are the cheapest things you’ve got. And I hate black. I need color! Pizazz!”

“You need black if you’re singing backup. And it’s kinder on those new bulges you developed when you pigged out on Halloween candy, Aggie.” I had no sympathy when all I could do was sniff the candy she’d brought home by the bag.

“Halloween candy? I hear you.” A woman stopped on her way to the costumes. “I’m a sucker for candy corn.”

“Candy corn?” Aggie got interested. “I haven’t tried it yet.”

“Pure sugar and pure heaven. No fat grams either.” She looked Aggie up and down. “You look great to me. Honey, quit ragging on her.” This was addressed to me with a glare. “The girl’s got a nice rack. She should go low cut and the muffin top won’t be noticed. Am I right?” The stranger gave Aggie a friendly elbow.

“That’s what I’ve always said. Show off your boobs and the men never look past them.” Aggie snatched back a green dress, the color of her eyes. It did have a deep vee neckline. “This one will look fantastic.” She turned to her new friend. “I’m a singer. These will be my work clothes.”

“No kidding? Here’s my card. June Raymond, wedding planner. If you call me, I might be able to try you out. If you’re interested in another gig. We’re always looking for entertainment. I’d have to hear you sing first of course.” The woman slapped a gold-trimmed card into Aggie’s hand. “‘Wedding’s by June.’ Catchy, don’t you think?”

Clearly Aggie didn’t have a clue about that but she smiled and nodded. “I may be singing backup on Halloween at N-V for Sienna Star and Israel Caine. Come catch the show and see for yourself if I’ll do for your weddings.”