From Darkness Comes: The Horror Box Set (11 page)

In the end, I decided that
it was unlikely that we could be standing on another of those thing-a-ma-jigs that bound us like at Voodoo. If her request was too unreasonable, I could just refuse and walk away. What would happen? She would hate me more? She would want to kill me? Twice?

“Okay, what is the favor?” I asked.

I was expecting something really terrible. In fact, I was already trying to figure out which way to run when I changed my mind. Let’s face it, I still didn’t know what sorts of powers this chick was packing. I already knew that she could erase herself from my memory and raise zombies. Although, from what I’d seen, she was not all that good at the latter.

“I need you to dispose of this,” she pointed to the crumpled and armless figure at her feet.

“You want me to dispose of…mmrglllph?” I asked, not entirely sure of what her definition of dispose might be. I knew what mine was…stupid sharkmouth. How was I going to ask my question like this?

“Yes, and quickly.”
Adrianna didn’t seem to have a problem with the way in which I would be disposing of her failed attempt at creating a zombie.

Have you ever watched the news when they show the ne
west little creature born at the zoo—especially the chimps. Sometimes they are really shy and timid when they deal with their handlers. They sneak forward, grab whatever food is offered and then scurry back to what they consider a safe distance.

I imagine that is a pretty accurate description of how I snatched up the old man’s body and then quickly moved out of
arms’ reach. Adrianna didn’t seem at all interested in me, though. And I went to town.

“Now, hurry with your question, I have something to do.”

“Why here?” That seemed simple enough. Of course, without the
ju-ju
or mojo thing, I had no idea how much truth I would be getting. I already knew that Adrianna was not that interested in sharing information with me.

“Haven’t you figured it out yet, you silly ghoul?”
she laughed. The thing was, it wasn’t one of those ‘laugh with me’ type laughs. This was definitely an ‘at me’ type of laugh.

“Maybe I just want to check my facts,” I retorted as I wiped the last bit of ghoul drool from my chin. To his credit, Horace was pretty tasty. I had expected something f
ar more stringy. And when I burped, I got a distinct aftertaste of whiskey.

“
I doubt that.” Adrianna opened the screen door that Betty had vanished through. “However, I will answer your question.” She let the door shut at her back and turned to face me.

Hmm, this must be a doozy
, I thought.

“My ancestors left the country shortly after I came into my powers. Whether out of fear or some other reason, I have no idea. Through whatever bizarre set of circumstances the Fates have spun, the bloodline is here.”

I had to take a few seconds to process what she had told me. I guess I never really got into tracing my ancestors. Sure, I see those commercials for the genealogy sites, but I just never cared. Just my luck, I would discover that I am from a long line of waitresses and bar maidens that have had their asses grabbed and pinched over the centuries.

“So these are you great-gr
eat-however-many-times-over grandparents?” I asked.

“Something like that,”
Adrianna said with a nod.

“
So you came here to find your family?” I wasn’t sure I was seeing the big picture. In fact, if my history tells you anything…I barely see what is directly in front of me.

“That is another question,”
Adrianna said with a dismissive wave of her hand. With that, she turned her back on me and went inside.

I considered going after her. After all, she had turned an old man into a zombie and now she was inside with the wife. She claimed that they were relatives. I didn’t see what that might have to do with anything
. I just knew that I was missing something.

“Maybe we should go.
” Jeremy had my arm.

I snapped out of it and glanced at the vampire. Then I felt a wisp of something brush across my skin. My brain felt all funny, also, I wasn’t sure, but I thought I might have eaten something that was having a strange effect on me.

“Where in the world are we?” I looked around and could not recognize a thing. That couldn’t be good. Do ghouls sleepwalk?

“C’mon, Ava,” Jeremy urged, tugging on my arm.

I heard something and glanced at the rickety house that I was standing in front of. Something in the back of my brain tried to break loose, but just that quick, it was smoothed over and I was back to being confused again.

“Wow,” was all Jeremy said. He took my hand and led me back to my car.

My head started to swim, and it took me a few seconds to realize what the problem might be. Although I didn’t see how that could be possible.

“You better drive,” I said, digging through my carry bag for my keys.

I had enough experience with this particular sensation to know it exactly for what it was: I was drunk. I had no idea how it had happened, but I was ‘Last Call’ drunk. In other words, it felt like I’d been at the club since the doors opened sucking down the booze that some guy had given me all night with the hopes that I would be putting out. I have to confess…that worked way more times than it ever should.

I found the keys and tried to hand them to Jeremy, but a
pparently I tried to put them in the wrong hand. To clarify, of the three Jeremys that I was currently seeing, I handed my keys to the one on the left. That one turned out to be a mirage or something.

I tried to bend down and pick up my keys, but was faced with a new dilemma: two sets kept swirling back and forth and changing places with each other.

“This can’t be good,” Jeremy muttered as he bent down and grabbed my keys on the first try!

“We
ll aren’t you just special,” I said while admiring the view of what I discovered were surprisingly firm buns. I say ‘surprisingly’ only because I have no idea how I had not noticed them before.

I reached out to grab a set, hoping desperately that I got the real ones this time. Nope. And now I was sitting on the ground. Actually, sitting is not the right word. I was on my side, sorta, and leaned up against my car.

Yikes! Had I scratched my beautiful new baby? I ran my hands over the shiny red surface and put my face really close so I could see. It looked okay, but I was amazed at how cool the polished red metal felt against my cheek.

“Up we go,” Jeremy said as he reached under my arms and pulled me to my feet.

Now I was face to face with this very cute, and for some reason, very serious looking, vampire. I ran one finger under his smooth chin and was thrilled that I got the right one. His face was so close to mine that I didn’t actually see two, but the one I did see was all wavy and shimmery.

Now just a second! I know what you are thinking. I said shimmery. I did not say sparkly. I have no idea why that whole thing started, but vampires do not sparkle or glitter…or whate
ver. So don’t start accusing me of saying something that I didn’t.

But back to the curiously attractive vampire. I leaned in close and kissed his cheek.

That was all it took. I shoved him away from me and stumbled to the curb where I leaned over and hurled. Hey…I didn’t know that ghouls could puke either, so this is news to both of us. A glance over my shoulder proved that it was a surprise to Jeremy as well.

I looked down at the slurry that was all over that drainage grate. I was pretty sure that I could make out most of a liver and all of the heart. I got news…it did not taste nearly as good the second time.

My head was still spinning, but it seemed that I was at least over the puking. I staggered back to the car where Jeremy had remained with the cutest look of confusion on his face. I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and tried to smile.

“Are you going to be okay?” Jeremy asked.

“I think so…why?”

“Because you have a strange look on your face.”

So much for my ‘sexy eyes’ look. I guess when they are solid black, it is difficult to make them sexy. I tried another approach.

“You wanna fuck?”

“Umm…”

That is never a good response. You see, I have discovered in all my years with men that they are pretty much in the mood twenty-four hours a day. They could be on their death bed and would want to give it one last go ‘round. Seriously, ladies, next time your man is sick. Get him into bed and
slither under the covers. A lick and a tickle and the little soldier is ready for duty.

“Are you sure that you are in any condition—” he began.

“My condition?” I snapped. “I’m not pregnant. I just ate something that obviously did not agree with me. I’m fine now, and I have noticed you sneaking a few looks here and there…” I sniffled big and dabbed at my eyes. The fact that there weren’t actually any tears was irrelevant at the moment.

“Ava,” Jeremy said in a soft voice as he stepped close and wrapped his arms around me, “I just mean that you might be poisoned or something. In fact, if I didn’t know any better I would say that you are drunk.”

“Can supernatural beings get drunk?” I asked with another big sniffle as I burrowed my face into Jeremy’s chest. Oops, big mistake. Remember that whole thing about vampires smelling like chocolate cake frosted in filth? I turned my head to the side and tried to suck in some clean air in hopes that it would keep me from yakking all over him.

“I know that vampires get a version of it from over-indulging in fresh blood. It is what makes them sloppy. A blood-drunk vampire is not as diligent in tidying up his or her mess. That is why we usually feed in groups.”

“Like a designated driver?” I tried to fight back a giggle.

“In a way, I guess.”

This was some of the worst foreplay in history. I did the only thing I knew to do. Yep, I reached down and grabbed it.

“Whoa!” Jeremy yelped like he’d been shot…or staked.

“I take that as a no,” I huffed and pushed away.

It would figure, after all the books and movies, I had come to the assumption that vampires had this super libido. Either this was one of the myths and misconceptions, or I was not the type of girl that Jeremy found attractive.

“It’s not that, Ava.” Jeremy put his hands on my shoulders. “But I don’t think that Belinda would be all that happy about it.”

“Screw her!” I growled and jerked away. Then a thought came like a bolt of lightning. “Or is that what might be the pro
blem? Are you and her doing the nasty?”

“Me and Belinda?” Jeremy had the sense to sound more put off by that notion than he had about the idea of having sex with me. “Not hardly. She would never stoop to having sex with a
nother vampire…at least not one of her subjects.”

This was probably all really good material. I am sure I would like to delve deeper into it later, but at the moment, I had an itch that needed scratching.

I pulled away from Jeremy and staggered towards the pizza place. With my exceptional hearing, I could hear a few people in there having fun. The sound of pool balls clacking against one another could be heard along with at least a handful of male voices.

I finally found the actual doorknob and went inside. If Jer
emy followed…fine. If not, I didn’t really care. Except for the part where I’d given him my keys, but that was a problem for later.

The place was actually surprisingly clean. I guess I was e
xpecting something seedy and dingy. After all, I was in Estacada. Sure enough, a trio of guys were over at the pool table, They had a few pitchers of beer on a table nearby.

A quick look around revealed that there were two emplo
yees behind the counter. One was a great big guy with a ridiculously small tie that rested awkwardly on the enormous gut straining against the buttons of his brown checkered shirt. The girl behind the counter had some serious teen acne going on. I wondered if she had seen those commercials for all those face cleansers or not.

At a booth sat a young man and what I had to assume was his date. They were leaning against each other whispering. Since I have exceptional hearing, I heard the joke. To be honest, she laughed a little too hard. It wasn’t that funny.

One table had a cluster of women and several empty carafes of wine. They were much louder than the guys playing pool. A quick look had me wondering who might be the designated driver because they were all pretty well sauced. Even worse, they kept making outwardly lewd comments directed at the three guys at the pool table. If they could hear what was being said in response, they might have shut up and slinked out like whipped dogs.

“Check her out,” one of the guys hissed as I took a seat in the corner and pretended to care about the heavy plastic menu that was stuffed between a half-empty
parmesan cheese shaker and a napkin holder.

Yay for me and my hearing!
I thought.

“Dude…is she gray?” another asked.

Crap, I hadn’t bothered with airbrushing. In fact, with Lisa gone, I doubted that I could do a very good job anyways. She had been the one to practice until she got it perfect. Bless her heart, she had gone down to the basement and practiced on the bodies I brought home for dinner.