My old vampire bite tingled at the obvious aroma of amorous vampires that permeated the one-bedroom, open-floor-plan apartment. Or maybe I just miss the intoxicating mix of sexual thrill and heart-pounding adrenaline she pumped into the air when she got tense. Frowning at my own shallowness, I looked over the small, plush, well-decorated sunlit apartment and the evidence of their love. I knew what it was like having people tell you who not to fall in love with, and my thoughts pinged on Trent before spinning away.
Stay there, I said to Marsha, now at the door. My amulets were still green, but I was only five feet into the place. There could be person-specific spells.
Person-specific spells: a nice way of saying a bullet with your name on itand Jenks couldnt detect them. They were a necessity when making lethal, illegal charms. Vampire politics would keep the hit quiet, but if the spell took out an innocent, theyd track down and jail the black witch whod made the lethal charm.
Senses searching, I did a quick walk through the living room before checking out the small kitchen. Ivy was in the bedroom, and I slowed, eyes on the amulets. It was easier to hide stuff among the gleaming metal and new appliances, but if there was anything here, itd show.
Hey! Ivy exclaimed, muffled from the walls. My head snapped up and I lurched to get in front of Marsha. Shit, Id been right.
Jenks! Ivy shouted, exasperated this time. Why didnt you tell us about the dog?
I slid to a stop, peeved as Jenks dusted an embarrassed red. Marsha had come in, eyes alight, and I waved for her to stay where she was.
Sor-r-r-rry! Jenks said as the jingle of a dog collar became obvious. Its just a dog.
No one had been here for two days? The place smelled like candles, not dog crap.
Buddy! Marsha called out, exuberant as she pushed around me to drop to her knees, and I eyed the small, scruffy pound puppy that timidly walked, not trotted, into the living room. Come here, baby! You must be starving. I thought Luke had you!
My eyes narrowed. Id never had a dog, but I knew they generally underwent the throes of delight when their owners came back after checking the mail, much less two days. Ah, Marsha? I said as the dog took a hesitant step in, his tail just hanging there.
I think were good, Ivy said as she came out of the back room. You want to sweep it with your charms?
Sure, I said slowly, something ringing false.
Buddy? Marsha called again, and the dog gave me a sideways look as he passed me, a mix of excitement and hesitancy I wouldnt expect from an animal.
At my wrist, an amulet flashed red.
Shit, its the dog! I shouted.
Marsha looked up, her beautiful little mouth in an O of surprise. Her hands were outstretched and the dog was almost to her. Id never get there in time.
Rhombus! I exclaimed as I pulled on the ley line, feeling it scream into me, harsh from my demand. The energy pooled and overflowed, and I shoved it out again, my word tapping into a hard-won series of mental handsprings that harnessed the energy into a molecule-thin barrier. It took the easiest forma sphere with me in the centerand the dog predictably ran into it.
But instead of the expected yip of surprise, the energy levels spiked.
It was the only warning I got, and I cowered as a bright flash of energy exploded inside my circle, coming from the dog! The loosed power reverberated, making my circle chime like a sour bell, and I froze, skin crawling as the illegal death spell flooded over me, then fell back into the dog when it didnt find its intended victim.
Buddy! Marsha screamed as Ivy shoved her into the wall, covering her with her body.
Get her out of here! I shouted, afraid to move. The spell had been invoked, but it hadnt fastened on its intended victim. It was a loose cannon, and it was trapped in here with me.
Thats my dog! the woman protested, wild with fear as Ivy manhandled her into the hallway. Buddy! Buddy!
Slowly I realized I was unhurt. Buddy, though . . . Wincing, I looked at the dog, prostrate and beginning to shake. He wasnt dead, and he wasnt a dog. It was her boyfriend, Luke.
I hate vampires, I thought, realizing what had happened. Someone had turned Luke into a doppelganger of their dog and tacked a secondary spell on to him that would kill them both when Marsha touched him. Luke was halfway gone, but until the spell found Marsha, it wouldnt invoke fully. I had a chance.
Marsha! I stood, carefully watching the energy flow as I broke my own circle. Where do you keep your salt?
Stay put, Ivy snarled. Tell me.
In the cupboard beside the stove! the woman sobbed from the hallway. What happened? Buddy? Buddy!
I ran to the kitchen and snapped on the faucet. Its not your dog, its your boyfriend.
Maybe that had been a mistake, since the woman totally freaked out. Luke! she screamed. Oh God, Luke!
Stay in the hall! Ivy shouted, and the sounds of a struggle grew louder.
Salt, salt . . . I thought, pulse fast as I found a mixing bowl and dropped it into the sink. Dont let her touch him! If she touches him, they both die!
Luke! the woman sobbed, and I triumphantly found the salt. I wedged a nail under the spout and ripped it right out. Hands shaking, I shook it into the mixing bowl.
Is he going to be okay? Jenks asked, his dust pooling on the surface and running like mercury, but I didnt know.
Oh God. Hurry! Marsha begged, and I gave the salt water a quick stir, tasting it before I picked up the bowl. The woman was hovering over the dog, terrified. My heart went out to her. Vampire masters were sons of bitches. Every last one of them. Help him! she screamed, her perfect face twisted in terror. Ivy held her, and I moved fast, bowl of salt water before me.
Stay back, I warned as I stood over the little white dog and dumped it. Water splashed, and Marsha backed up, white faced and breathless. I had no idea if the entire concentration was optimum for breaking earth charms, but thered be enough to not just turn him human, but to break the lethal charm as well.
As expected, the dog vanished behind a thick puff of brown-and-blue aura-tainted energy. Luke! Marsha screamed, and Jenks frowned at her. Hed seen enough spells break to know this was normal. I backed up, tense as the cloud grew to man size. Slowly the mist broke up to show a naked, bruised, and beaten man huddled on the soggy white carpet.
Luke took a sobbing gasp of air. He was going to make itfor now, and I eased back to sit on the edge of the cushy couch, elbows on my knees and head dropped into my hands. The amulets on my bracelet clinked, and I sighed. The salt water had ruined them. Id tack it on to Marshas bill, but I didnt think she had the money. Besides, she was going to be a little busy trying to survive.
You can touch him now, I said, realizing that Marsha was still hovering over him.
Frantic, she dropped to her knees. Water squished from the carpet, and she pulled him to her. Oh, baby! she gushed, oblivious that he was covered in salt water. Did he hurt you?
By the bruises, clearly someoneprobably his own masterhad, but he raised a shaky hand and brushed her cheek. Im okay, he rasped, a flash of ugly memory finding me at the sight of him, his black hair plastered to his face and his eyes not quite open. It hurt like the devil to shift with earth magic, but his toned, athletic, and beaten body covered in easily hidden scars looked as if it was used to pain.
Crying, Marsha cradled his head to herself and rocked him. I wondered how many scars were hidden behind Marshas expensive clothes. This sucked. Vampires looked as if they had everything, but it was a lie. My eyes shifted to Ivy, seeing her inner struggle. A big fat ugly lie.
The clatter of Jenkss wings was a short warning as he landed on my shoulder. He looked like a dog to me, he grumped.
Thats because he was one. I plucked at my wet shirt, sticking uncomfortably to me. The question wasnt how, but why. Why had two minor vampire camarillas spent this much on a double-whammy spell like this on a simple Romeo and Juliet? It was expens-s-s-sive.
Ivy was in the hall to convince the neighbors nothing was going on. It didnt take much. Clearly they were familiar with the situation. Not happy, Ivy shut the door and stomped into the kitchen to turn the faucet off.
Im sorry, Marsha, Luke was saying, and the crying woman stretched for a blanket to cover him. When they told me I couldnt see you again, I went to a witch. She said she could turn me into a dog so I could be with you. No one would know it was me.
I watched as Ivy pulled the living room blinds. Her expression was empty, hearing far past what the man was saying. Closing the last, she sat across from me in the shadow light, worried.
I didnt care if I was a dog, Luke continued, his eyes still not open as his hand gripped hers. I knew you wouldnt leave Buddy. His eyes opened, and I stared. They were the clearest shade of blue Id ever seen. I love you, Marsha. Id do anything for you. Anything! Crying, he pulled himself into a ball in her arms. Im so sorry.
My God, theyd tricked him into buying the charm that wouldve killed them both. Ivy and I exchanged a worried look. This was bad, but we couldnt just walk away. Jenks, too, was looking ill, and he moved to the decorative bowl of pinecones on the coffee table. Hed loved and lost more than Ivy and me combined, and this wasnt sitting well with him either. But it wasnt one master vampire wed have to outwit, but two.
Ivy was still silent, and I sourly thought of my bank account. You think we should help them? I said softly, and Jenkss dust shifted to a hopeful yellowish pink.
Ivy didnt look at me. The couple on the floor was silent.
You think we should help them, I said again, this time making it a statement.
Ivys eyes flicked up. I could see her tremendous need to give, to make it right. Shed done so much wrong, and it chewed on her in the small hours. My heart ached for her skewed view of herself, and I wished she could see herself as I did. This would rub the guilt outfor a time.
Okay, well help them, I said, and Marsha gasped, her tear-wet eyes suddenly full of hope where thered been only despair. Jenkss wings hummed his approval, and I sat up, gesturing weakly. But I dont know what we can do.