Always the Vampire

“Then I suppose he’s not conscious enough yet to do the smoothing. Not a good sign.”


“No, but we’re close now. If Pandora’s safe, maybe she can tell us how to doctor Cos.”

Triton hung another right, and like going from darkness to daylight, we rolled onto a smooth gravel drive. To my right, towering pines and ancient live oaks formed a perfect circle, sheltering a ramshackle cabin on the circle’s perimeter. Uneven steps led to a rickety porch running the full width of the shanty, and the roof looked ready to collapse under the weight of tree debris.

The place didn’t look habitable, much less sterile enough to house an injured man.

You will see, I heard in my head.

Pandora’s voice, not Triton’s. Thank God she was safe.

A single knot of tension unraveled in my stiff shoulders as I climbed from the truck and saw Pandora in her panther form emerge from the far side of the circle. Tail twitching, she eyed Saber and Triton as they eased Cosmil out of the car. The wizard wasn’t steady on his feet, but he was upright.

Pandora paced to Cosmil’s side, sniffed, and sneezed.

“Yes, my friend. I reek, but we are safe for the moment. Go.”

The hefty panther whirled toward me. Come, Princess Vampire, she said, then loped to the shack.

She was her usual brusque self, but I psychically reached for any lurking remnant of the evil Void. Just in case. Since I came up with nada, and since Saber and Triton had Cosmil in hand, I hurried after Pandora. Fortunately, the shanty’s steps and porch felt sturdier under my sandals than they looked. I twisted the rusty doorknob and braced myself for primitive.

What I saw inside was modern. And huge compared to the footprint of the house. My interior design senses were overwhelmed as I glanced at the open-concept space.

The living area reflected more comfort than style, but the upholstered sofa and chairs had a timeless quality. The kitchen was separated from the living room by a stainless steel topped island big enough to be a boat. Beyond that, another mile of stainless counters, appliances, and a double sink made the kitchen look more like a laboratory. The open wooden cabinets and a wall of stainless steel shelves held everything from plates to pickles, along with homecanning jars that could contain eye of newt and tail of dog for all I knew.

A fine illusion, is it not? Pandora boasted.

“The inside or outside?” I countered.

She snorted as footsteps clumped on the porch.

Go. Turn on the shower.

I followed her to a fair-sized master suite. Not magazine layout quality, but I spotted a queen bed and ornate armoire before ducking into the slate-tiled bathroom. A tankless water heater was mounted outside the curtain-free spa shower with built-in bench seat. Wow.

I found plush white towels in the linen closet and set them on the sink countertop. Every texture and temperature sure felt real, and I wondered if Cosmil simply conjured what he wanted. Talk about a cool way to redecorate.

The man himself entered on Triton’s arm, seeming firmer on his feet.

“Thank you, Francesca, Triton,” he said. “I will join you all shortly.”

Dismissed, I scooted out behind Triton to find Saber poking around in the kitchen cabinets.

“Saber, stop snooping,” I whispered. “It’s not polite.”

“I’m looking for the first aid kit.” He opened a deep drawer near the double stainless sink. “Got it.”

Triton sank into an armchair, and Saber set the kit on the coffee table before he settled on the sofa. I glanced at my watch and paced. Yes, I had another two hours before my ghost tour started, but I prided myself on being organized and early, whether for work or for turning in my online-design-class projects.

I was also pacing off my terror. I mean, come on. If the Void could get to a wizard as old and powerful as I suspected Cosmil to be, what chance did Saber, Triton, and I have? With amulets for ammo no less. We needed rocket launchers. And a division of Marines.

Sooner than I expected, Cosmil appeared in the bedroom doorway dressed in black pants and a deep purple tunic, his feet bare. His hand rested on Pandora’s noble head, and he looked a sight better in spite of the jagged gash slanting across his forehead.

He made his way across the room and sank into a chair. Saber snapped open the first aid box and ripped open the packaged surgical gloves before he assembled the sterile pads and gauze on the coffee table. Cosmil pointed to a small clear jar filled with mint green goo.

“Dab that on the cut, if you will.”

“Is it a magical potion?” I had to ask.

“Nothing so exotic, my dear. Over the counter antibacterial cream mixed with a few herbs and a small healing spell.” Cosmil winced as Saber used a cotton swab to apply the cream. “I do wish the local herb store had a wider selection, but we shall make do until I can safely travel the Veil again.”