Chapter 14

We sat in a 50’s themed diner just off of Sunset. I held my pathetic little glass of sweaty tap water to my swelling eye.

“How many laws of vampires did we just see ignored there?”

Killian didn’t lift his eyes from the menu, “I am feeling like a strawberry shake.”

I just folded up my arms and rested my head on the table, “I want out.”

Killian did not seem to be grasping what I was trying to say and replied, “What are you getting? It is on me.”

I couldn’t believe this guy, “Peanut butter pie. A la mode.”

“Good choice,” he said, waving the waitress over and placing our order.

As soon as she left, I hissed, “They were in a cemetery.”

Killian nodded, “Grave dirt and all.”

“They aren’t supposed to be on hallowed ground.”

“So somehow that church had been desecrated. Could the ghoul have done it while he was the pastor?”

I thought about it a bit and then nodded, “Yah. That could have been it.”

“So the vampires have found if they can get a monster to take over the body of a holy person, they can break down the defensive barrier. It is not unheard of.”

“How about vampires being out in broad daylight?”

“It was not broad daylight. It was dusk.”

“Killian, we followed that funeral since 6:00PM. They were out. They are not supposed to be able to be out in sun at all.”

Our food arrived and Killian tried to stall by sucking on his shake.

“Well?”

“I do not know. We shall have to find out.”

“And what is this about them hanging out with my uncle? Who IS Ulrich? He is obviously more than what the fat man was saying.”

“Again, I do not know.”

“And do you want to know the worst part?” I almost shouted.

“Worst?”

“That ghoul is decomposing into slime in the middle of that grave meaning I don’t get my skip money and I’m not going back for him, meaning my rent is not getting paid this month.”

Killian laughed, “You shall be taken care of.”

“YOU ARE NOT GETTING ME TO OWE YOU ANY MORE FAVORS ELF.”

The entire diner stopped and looked at me.

I gulped, “I’m auditioning for a movie. We’re just running lines.”

Normal conversation resumed and the waitress came over, “I’m an actress, too! What are you auditioning for? I think I would make a really great elf. Was it in the breakdowns?”

I raised the glass to my eye, “I’m sorry. I’m a stunt person. I got bumped up to do a line.”

She seemed disappointed and just dropped the check.

I leaned forward and whispered, “Killian, this is not good. We’re not safe if the vamps can come out during the day.”

“Listen, they did not attack. They stretched things out and then waited until dark which means they must not have all their power. We will go back tomorrow at noon and see what we can find. Deal?”

I sighed, “Yah. Deal.”

He opened up his moneybag and pulled out several gold coins.

I placed my hand on his, “Stop. I’ve got it.”

“I told you it was my treat.”

“I’ll take it out of the per diem I’m about to start charging you.”

He gave me a sideways glance.

“You can’t go throwing gold around here.”

He looked down at his little pile of elf money, “I had forgotten that the currency is not the same as the Other Side.”

I patted his hand, “It’s okay, you’ll just have to save my life again, okay?”

He gave me a slow half smile, “You have yourself a deal.”