Demon's Doorway (29 page)

"I can hear you out there!" Leese shouted.

"That was great!" Tracy said, leaning over to touch his shoulder. "Did you see her face?"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "Yeah."

"You probably weren't checking out her face, were you?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Not every second."

"I like you, Kevin. You're okay."

They watched TV until Leese walked into the living room once again, this time fully clothed. She still wore the tights with a pair of boots that stopped above the ankle. She took mercy on Kevin, and wore the gray blouse. Smiling at him, she seemed to have recovered from her earlier embarrassment.

"I see you've made a friend." She leaned over the arm of the couch to pet Clover. She was so close he could smell her shampoo. "Clover usually hides when people come over."

"I wouldn't hide from him, either," Tracy said, giving an exaggerated wink. "He's hot, Leese."

"Thanks, Tracy. You know he's right there. He can hear you."

"I know. You two crazy kids have fun."

Kevin and Leese were nearly to the door when Tracy cursed behind them. They turned to see her clenching her fists, sitting at the computer.

"I told you," Leese said, laughing. "It's not working right."

"What's wrong with it?" Kevin asked.

Tracy spoke before Leese. "It's a piece of shit. That's what's wrong with it."

Leese smiled. "It just stays on for a few minutes. Then it either locks up or turns off."

"Hmm. Sounds like it might be overheating. I'm guessing if you wait a while, it stays on longer?"

Leese and Tracy traded looks as Kevin crossed the living room. He gestured to the computer on the floor.

"You mind if I get under there?"

Tracy smiled and stood up. He dropped to his hands and knees and crawled under the desk to unplug the power.

"You fix computers?" Leese asked.

"A little. If a CPU doesn't keep cool, it'll lock up, just like you're saying."

"Wow," Tracy said. "Cute, smart, and a nice ass. Where did you find him, Leese?"

Kevin was glad they couldn't see his face turn red. His suspicions were confirmed when he opened the computer and stared at the CPU fan.

"Whoa."

"What's the matter?"

"I think there's a second cat living in your computer."

It took a minute to pull out clump after clump of cat hair from the CPU fan. He plugged the cord back in and powered it on. The fan spun easily, and he heard the familiar sound of a computer booting up. He slid the side panel back on and stood up.

"Okay, I think you'll be good now. Let me know when we come back."

Tracy pointed back and forth between Kevin and Leese. "If you don't like him, I call dibs."

Leese grabbed his hand and pulled him to the front door. "Let's go, before Tracy falls in love over there."

They exited the building, and Kevin took a step toward the Jeep, but Leese pulled him toward her Civic.

"I invited you out," she said. "I'll drive."

"Sure. Just let me get my coat."

He slid in the car next to her, and she flashed him a smile.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"I'm at your mercy. I'm up for anything."

"Okay," she said. "Just to get this out of the way now, I'm very nervous."

Strangely, Kevin was not. "Really? Why?"

She shrugged. "I guess…I want to make a good impression."

"You've already done that." A smile slipped out. "Just no drool yet."

"Yeah," she said, driving out of the apartment complex. "That wasn't embarrassing at all. You'll have to take your shirt off, to make it even."

They laughed, and Kevin could see Leese relaxing. Still, the thought that he could make someone nervous was strange to him.

Leese took him to the harbor. She laughed when she saw the look in his eye. He'd never seen so many people in one place. They enjoyed each other's company as they walked, laughing and talking. She told him the story of how she met her roommate Tracy, bumping into her at the grocery store. He could listen to her talk and laugh all night. Leese did the little things that told him she felt the same way. Touching his arm. Laughing at his stupid jokes.

Her stomach growled as they passed a restaurant. She stopped in her tracks, putting a hand to her belly.

"Wow. I'm determined to humiliate myself tonight."

Kevin smiled. It didn't bother him at all.

"Hungry?"

"I guess so."

He gestured to the restaurant next to them. "Let's go."

He playfully extended his arm. Leese laughed as she hooked her arm in his, and they went inside.

Kevin carefully shrugged out of his coat as they were led to a booth. It would certainly change the evening if a vial spilled out and broke on the floor.

The restaurant wasn't very crowded, but Kevin took a moment to watch the people that were there. A few families and couples, along with a businessman in the corner eating alone.

"The three of us used to come here a lot," Leese said. "Cindy, Alex, and me."

"How are things going there?" he asked, hoping he wasn't being forward. "Is everything okay?"

"I think so. I know I'm probably being crazy. I just hope I don't end up being a fifth wheel."

"Well, if they're off doing married things, just give me a call."

"Kevin." He liked hearing her say his name. "You don't even live here."

"Yeah, but I'll visit. I like it here."

She gave him a smile, and they held eye contact just a moment longer than necessary.

Their food arrived. Kevin laughed as her stomach growled one more time. Her cheeks turned red under the mood lighting.

"It's okay. Let me see if I can make my stomach growl, too."

"And the shirt. Don't forget the shirt has to come off."

They shared another laugh, and a look of sadness flashed across Leese's face. She poked at her food a moment before asking a question without looking up.

"So, how long are you staying here?"

"I'm not sure yet. I'm kind of on vacation, and Victoria might need my help with some things. I think it'll be a while. I have to admit, she tricked me into going to your work today. I hope I didn't embarrass you or anything."

"No way. That was so awesome. I'm glad you came. Speaking of work, you wouldn't believe what happened. Remember that German shepherd that showed up?"

He clenched his fork, and had to force himself to relax. "Yeah."

"He got off his leash, and was hit by a truck. No one thought he'd make it. Broken ribs and a punctured lung."

"Oh, man. That's terrible."

"I know. We brought the family in to see him, and he's up and running around. Barking, wagging his tail, like nothing ever happened."

"Holy crap."

"Yeah. We x-rayed him again, and he was completely fine. No broken bones or bleeding at all."

"Now that's just weird. That's a good thing, though, right?"

"It's a
great
thing." She smiled at him. "So, how did you do it?"

He nearly choked on his food, and had to gulp down his soda, drawing a giggle from her.

"Uh, huh? Do what?"

"Heal the dog. What did you do?"

His mouth opened and closed several times in a false start to speak. "Leese, I don't know what you—"

"Don't let the hair fool you," she said. "I'm pretty smart. You know Victoria, and I'm sure you know about my brother. I know you're not just a normal good-looking guy hanging out with a vampire."

He looked around to make sure no one heard her, but it didn't matter. She could stand on the table and shout
vampires are real
, and no one would pay any attention. They'd probably only stop eating long enough to look at her figure.

"You think I'm good-looking?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes at the terrible attempt to change the subject. "You're very sexy. Now, what are you?"

Kevin cringed, but she didn't say it in a nasty way. It was a simple question.

He sighed dejectedly as he forced a small smile. That moment he told Jack about, when being a witch ruined any chance with a woman, was upon him much quicker than he thought.

"I'm a witch."

Her reaction surprised him. She didn't scowl, or run from the restaurant.

"Seriously? A witch? That's just cool. What can a witch do?"

Her enthusiasm brought a smile to his face. "Magic."

"Like healing a dog?"

"Like healing pretty much anything."

She smiled and paused for a drink, totally at ease with what Kevin was telling her.

"So…magic," she said. "How does a girl impress you?"

"I don't know, but you're doing a great job."

"Well, I don't think I'm gonna be taking my shirt off every time I see you."

He feigned disappointment. "Damn."

They laughed, and something amazing happened. Magic was forgotten as they continued their meal. Kevin knew she probably had many more questions, but in one of the kindest things anyone ever did for him, she didn't push. They talked about the strange Maryland weather, different places she wanted to take him, the recent kidnapping in D.C.

She made him feel normal, without even trying.

*****

It was nearly eleven o'clock when Leese parked outside her apartment. She turned off the engine, but made no move to get out of the car. Kevin was confused, but was content to simply sit next to her. There was nowhere else he'd rather be, and the thought of the night ending was a sad one.

"I had a really great time," she said.

"Me, too. Listen, this will sound weird, but thanks for not freaking out about the witch thing."

She shrugged. "My brother flies around. One of my best friends has fangs. What's to freak out about?"

Leese smiled, and Kevin knew he had it bad. He had to see her again. The problem was figuring out how to do that without seeming too obvious.

She felt the same way, only she wasn't near as subtle.

"I'm not ready for this to be over yet."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Glad I'm not the only one."

"There's a park just down the road. Want to go for a walk?"

"Definitely."

The streets around Leese's apartment were nearly empty, a sight much more familiar to Kevin. They passed only a single man walking his dog on the way to the park. They were halfway there when he decided to take a chance, and reached for her hand. She smiled and laced her fingers in his, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She reached for the back of her neck with her free hand.

The park was empty. It was quiet and serene, with a large pond in the center. They sat on a bench nearby, and Kevin grew excited when she not only didn't let go of his hand, but rested her head on his shoulder. He did the same, and she squeezed his arm with her other hand. Very simple touching, but it sent shocks through his body. The simple things were always the best.

There was a single light-post on the other side of the pond, throwing light across the water. Leese looked up as the glow slowly flickered, struggling to stay on, before going completely dark.

"Holy crap," Kevin said.

"Yeah. It's almost spooky."

"This is how horror movies start."

"Probably not the best thing to say. I've lived enough horror."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's put it this way, I haven't been to a baseball game in two years."

He put the clues together. Baltimore. Two years ago.

"The terrorists at Camden Yards?" he asked.

"Yeah. I was there. But it wasn't terrorists."

Kevin nodded. He'd seen the grainy Internet videos, and knew from Victoria what really happened. Wild, out of control vampires.

She squeezed his arm once again, shivering slightly.

"I hate to sound like a girl, but I'm scared."

Kevin thought for a moment, then stood up and looked around. They were completely alone. He reached into his coat.

"Let me see if I can help."

He grabbed a handful of mothballs along with a potion and poured a few drops on them. He tossed them in the air. They stopped just when gravity began to pull them back down. Leese held her hands up to protect herself, but didn't need to.

The mothballs floated in mid-air, each glowing a different color. White, blue, orange, purple. Leese grinned and stared in amazement.

"Shit."

"Yeah. Pretty cool, huh?"

She stood up and reached out to touch the lowest one. It wasn't hot to the touch. It felt like a regular mothball.