———

Anne froze. “But Dad told me she died.”

“She did die.” Grand-mère grasped the wine glass’s stem as if ready to snap it in two. “But she died here.”

“So, she really worked at a bakery in Paris? She lived here? With you?”

“She did, for a brief time,” Grand-mère admitted with a nod.

“Then why did my dad lie?” Anne asked. She didn’t feel calm, but neither her hands nor her voice shook.

“That’s something to ask your father. I’m sure he had his reasons for saying what he did.” Grand-mère reached across the table, took Anne’s bowl coated with a bit of onion and broth, and left the room before another question escaped Anne’s lips.

Grand-mère returned quickly, brushing her hands off against one another, and she looked at Anne as if it were any other day, any other moment, any other conversation. “Be careful when you go out,” Grand-mère said. “Two boys were killed last night in a nearby suburb—”

“I watched the news this morning.”

“Since those boys died last night, there’s been some burning of cars—as if that would effect any change. But you should be careful. When people get angry, they don’t always do the smartest things.”

“Why wasn’t I told that my mom moved to Paris?”

“Darling, it’s in the past. What do you say in America? ‘Let sleeping dogs lie.’”

Grand-mère left the room again, leaving Anne alone, staring at the vase of daisies, wondering what else she didn’t know.

“Not great, detective.” Lauren motioned for him to come in. “I don‘t want to beat around the bush. Do you think we will find Lisa?”

Smith sighed. This part of his job never got any easier. “I think you need to prepare yourself for the worst. It looks like Lisa is pretty heavily involved in the local vampire culture. Are you familiar with it?”

Lauren shook her head. “Just what I read in her journal. I thought she just liked to dress funny and pretend. I never knew it went as far as drinking blood. What is wrong with these people?”

“Most of them are harmless. They fixate on vampire mythology and live as if vampires are real. Some drink blood and call themselves vampires. Others offer their blood willingly.

“Typically, these ‘vampires’ don’t go after anyone who isn’t willing, and they keep to themselves. But–” Smith stopped as he noticed Lauren beginning to look faint. “Lauren, maybe you should have a seat.”
Lauren nodded and moved to the couch.

“There have been a couple missing girls in the past few months. They all had ties to the local ‘vampires’. And there has been no trace of them. I’m hoping for the best, but your sister’s disappearance fits the pattern.”

Smith could see tears in Lauren’s eyes. Even though she asked for the truth, he knew she had been hoping he could give her some shred of hope.

Thanks.

“Dead again, Ms. Wilhelm.” Mr. Sundberg said loudly in her ear.

“Yes, sir.” Kate closed her eyes and tried not to breathe in the pungent sweat streaming from Mr. Sundberg’s body.

“Ms. Wilhelm, stay in your seat. Everyone else may leave,” he said. The customary noise of students collecting their belongings followed his announcement. Kate could tell several of the students wanted to remain behind. Not out of sympathy for her, but from some twisted desire to see her in emotional tatters.

The last student shut the door with an echoing boom as the reinforced door thudded close, sending an explosion of sound into the silence of the now empty room.

“Ms. Wilhelm,” Mr. Sundberg said, turning his back, “do you know why I kept you behind?”

Because you’re a narcissistic Neanderthal and a piss-poor teacher.

“I kept you because an irresponsible child like yourself needs discipline. If you aren’t willing to put the work into learning this, you may just end up dead.” His voice sounded pleased at the prospect of her dying. Mr. Sundberg wished death upon Kate at least twice a month. It had stopped bothering her some time ago, mostly.

Mr. Sundberg turned back to face Kate, and started at the sudden change in her appearance.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Sundberg?” Kate asked innocently.

His eyes bulged and his breath wheezed.

“I don’t think that shade of purple is natural. Should I call a nurse?”

“Get. Out. Now.”

Kate quickly collected her books and left, smiling.

Alexandra wanted to cry…. “Do not do this. Please.”

The Minion stared her down with reddish, bloodshot eyes. “Kill me.” He licked his pasty lips, tasting the salty rain. “”Kill me.” He smiled. “Do it.” He pressed the knife just a bit more into Alaster’s neck; he twitched, fear injecting more into his stare, a stare bleeding into Alexandra’s soul. “Do it! Save him, Miss Glade. Save him! Kill your trusted guardian of faith! Do it! Do it!”

The Minion was mocking her.

“Felix!” she cried.

Rayment roared. “Dear God, Alex, don’t be manipulated!”

“Ray, please! Please!” she cried.

She shook as she gripped her gun even tighter. “Cardinal…” she whispered.

She stood just a few feet in the water, aiming the gun. The Minion and Alaster stood in the water about fifteen feet from her. Time locked itself with death in a shielded room. The whole world felt like the shielded room. It was just her. Facing the two of them. On the brink of death.

“Cardinal, please…” she said, her voice shaking. “Felix!”

The Minion roared. “Your Cardinal is not here! Gone!” He smiled again, chuckling silent. “Gone, gone, gone. Here’s something for you, this you will like—

“Abide with me…. Fast falls the eventide….”

It was a shot in her heart. Anger welled up…. Somehow, it wasn’t even the Minion’s voice…. To her, she actually heard her mother.

“Kill me.” he said, smiling. “Lord, with me abide….”

Dindi wedged her knees into the airshaft just as Brena and her slave entered the storeroom below. Not daring the rest of the noisy climb, she froze half way up. She hoped they wouldn’t wonder why no light came through the hole. Fortunately, they seemed concerned with other matters.

“You can’t seriously think to keep me by your side day and night, all the time,” the slave, Rthan, said.

“Why not?” Brena opened the cage and released six pixies, who fluttered up to the ceiling and entered the airshaft. Seeing Dindi, they exclaimed in delight. “Hello! Hello!”

“Shhhh!” Dindi nearly dislodged herself trying to signal the winged blabbermouths to shut up.

“Oh, don’t worry Dindi,” said a Purple pixie. “Those two can’t see me.”

“Me either,” laughed a Red, landing on Dindi’s thigh, which was beginning to cramp.

“Will you come dance tonight?” asked a Yellow pixie.

“Yes, come tonight and dance by moonlight!” said the Blue pixie.

“What?” Rthan, below, sounded shocked. Brena stiffened.

Dindi smacked her hand over her face. Doomed by pixies. I might have known.

Brena jabbed a finger at Rthan. “Did you just ask me to dance with you?”

He looked as suspicious as she incredulous. “You asked me to dance with you!”

“I certainly did not.”

“In the moonlight.” He grinned slyly, stepping close enough to trap her between himself and the wall. “You really do plan to stay by me day and night, hmm?”

Shelby’s visiting her grandparents for the first time.

Papaw picked up his cane and pulled himself out of his chair with difficulty. “I need to check on the pigs. That fool-headed pup of Danny’s has it in his head to aggravate ‘em to death. If the old boar gets aholt of him it’s gonna be ugly.”

Grammy let the oven door slam shut, and Shelby saw Papaw wince. “You stop right there, Thomas. Walk out that door and I may get so worked up I’ll decide I need to make a trip to the necessary house. And since you pretend not to even know how to open the oven door, your cornbread will burn and then where will you be?”

Papaw reluctantly lowered himself back into his chair. “There’s no need for you to get worked up at all, woman. The boy was simply calling a spade a spade.”

“Why, she’s just a child, not a woman at all. I won’t have him calling her such.”

Shelby wished she could escape to her bedroom. The conversation was becoming extremely embarrassing for her, but she could see Papaw wasn’t ready to give up.

“All girl children are women sooner or later. It’s just a matter of time as to when they get there. To us she’s a child ‘cause we’re older than daylight. But to another young person, on the verge of growing up, she’s a woman. And, with my vast knowledge of women, you can be comforted in knowing she’ll always remain a child, too.”