9: Ha, I Am A Fool

I arrive at Mystic Moon mid-afternoon the following day, exhausted. After that dream it was incredibly hard to sleep. After being threatened by a vampire it’s even harder to sleep.

Gretchen studies me before saying what’s on her mind. “You took advantage of your day off apparently. Even though you were supposed to be resting.”

“Oh yeah. It was a late night full of dancing and drinking...lots of drinking.” I keep the whole werewolf and vampire drama to myself, but I’m sure she’ll find out sooner or later. My finger shoots up in the air in a eureka moment. “Oh,” an excitement rushing over me, “I saw Icky.”

“No.” The horrified look is pure satisfaction.

“Yes.” I chime. “He’s a nice guy with a really bad name. You should give him the benefit of the doubt. A terrible name can’t make him a terrible person.”

“Hazel.” Her voice thick with a stern strictness worthy of being the boss. “You didn’t.”

“I didn’t…” I squint my face, “guarantee it, but may have implied it.”

“If you didn’t already do inventory, I would make you.” She hollers at me, but not ‘I’m going to fire you’ holler, just ‘slightly frustrated’ holler.

She can deny liking Icky all she wants, but we know, we all know.

Gretchen quietly huffs as she turns, “I’ll be in my office.” With her back still to me she begins to ramble off instructions. “I have a full schedule all afternoon and evening. Send them in as they get here.”

The customers begin to thin the later it gets. Humans slowly replaced by denizens. The clock rolls on and familiar faces glide by the counter and point them on, hollering through the shop Gretchen’s name. She whisks them away to read palms and give advice worthy of a fortune teller.

I’m lost in thought about, fumbling a crystal in my hand as a customers sneaks in when a couple of juvenile witches walk out. He moves within the shadows of the shelves probably thinking I didn’t notice him. A hot flash of anger and surprise fluster me to the point where my fingers go numb and the crystal clacks against the countertop.

I leave the stone behind, as I dash onto the sale floor, weaving through the shelves to sneak up behind him. “I thought I had three days.”
He’s not at all surprised by my sneaking as he smiles a grin that most girls couldn’t refuse, but I fight the pull. “You do, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to harass you for those three days.” His voice is as seductive as his tough guy exterior. “And the harassing gets worse as the days progress.”

“Is that so.”

“Ready to meet Phillip yet?” He flashes a toothy grin.

There’s that name again. Phillip. Vampire royalty, Phillip Fairswale is master to hundreds of blood suckers and considered a vampire monarch. He rules the city and has a vendetta against all other denizens that stand in his way of being on top. Top of the food chain. Top of the demizen pyramid. Top producer of vile creatures. Top, top, top.

“And I’m just supposed to go with a stranger, whose name I don’t even know? Who do you take me for?” A fool? Ha, I am a fool. Teasing and taunting a vampire, definite traits of a fool.

“Gabriel.”

“Well, Gabriel, vampire with the name of an angel. Today is not the day. I have to get back to work.”

I show my bravery and stupidity but turning my back on him, leaving him speechless in the aisle. One knows never turn your back on a vampire. Apparently, I didn’t learn that lesson. And that’s the lesson that landed me here in the first place.

The counter is within touching distance. His footsteps match mine as he follows close behind, but not too close to cause panic. But in the snap of one’s fingers he’s in front of me blocking my path. He leans on the corner of the countertop, his chin propped up on his hand. Slick smile on his face. “I can’t tell if you’re fake bravery is attractive or stupid.”

The sound of my pulse echoes in my ear drums temporarily blocking everything else out except for a whooshing that is in sync with my heartbeat. Did he just call me stupid? Only I can call myself stupid. And then my thoughts turn. Did he just call me attractive? I brush it off, vampires think anyone is attractive especially when they’re hungry.

“You see, your face doesn’t give you away,” he stands up to his full height which is at least a foot taller than me. One step forward, “but the quickening of the blood rushing through your veins does.” Two steps. “Are you scared of me Hazel?” Three steps. He’s so close to me now, within grabbing distance. “You should be.”

“Point taken. You can go now.” I meet his bright eyes. It hurts to look into his gaze. The tug of wanting to be closer to him eats at me, thoughts of him seep into my mind. I physically shake myself. “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” He tips his head down bringing his face closer to mine. “I’m not doing anything.”

“I said not today, Vampire.” Guilt and anger fill me to the brim. I’ve never been so helpless and it doesn’t feel good. I usually don’t stick my neck out either, but for some reason I can’t stop myself from doing that apparently.

His laugh is like music to my ears. The annoying chime of the antique bell rings loudly behind him cutting off his rough laugh. I flinch. He doesn’t. His golden eyes eyeball me ready to pounce.

“Is everything alright here?” Caleb walks to my side, his hand instinctively rests upon my back.

Talk about being saved by the bell...or werewolf. “Yeah. He was just leaving.” My voice quivers at the end. I quickly clear my throat to cover up my jittery nerves.

Gabriel backs away. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

Caleb watches Gabriel go. Once he’s clearly out of sight and maybe out of smelling distance Caleb turns to me. His hand that had been laying on my back grabs my arm forcing me to face him. “This has to do with the vampire in the cemetery, doesn’t it?” His eyebrows are crunched in half suspicion and half scold.

“Maybe.” I say sheepishly, but as his eyes bore into me, I change my tune. “Fine, yes.”

“What does he want?”

“Nothing I can’t handle. My business. Your business. Right?” It’s been a downfall of ours, arguing about boundaries. Where they blend and where they end. Him with his business that he never let me in on, because I wasn’t one with the pack. No matter how well he takes my breath away, I’ll never be on equal ground with him and I hold it against him.

“I’m here for-”

“Ah, Caleb.” Gretchen shimmies out of her office. “I have the pack’s order completed and already packed up.” She slips through the beaded curtain behind the counter only to reappear with a box filled with things.

Now she comes out, but when I was nearly screaming bloody murder where the hell was she?

Caleb places several bills on the counter before taking the box. “Thanks Gretchen.”

I’m speechless as my eyes go back and forth between Gretchen and Caleb. How did I not know about this? I’ve been sitting here bored all day and I could’ve been packing an order.

“I put a few extra little goodies in there on Monty’s behalf. Be sure to convey that to Marcus. I value my employees' life as should he.” The mother in Gretchen shakes her finger at Caleb. The statement is a threat, but she covers it up with a soft tone and genuine smile.

“Yes ma’am.” His eyes skim over to me. “Have a nice night ladies.” His head dips to the floor as he smiles that charming smile of his.

I wait for the bell to stop ringing before turning on Gretchen. I toss a stare that Medusa would be proud of at her.

“Give the boy a break Hazel. He’s obsessed with you.” She retreats back to her office.

But before she slips inside, I belt out, “Isn’t everybody.”

She comes to an abrupt stop, eyes questioning. I mumble, “never mind,” under my breath.

I wish it was a never mind kinda situation. Once she finally lets me leave all I can think about is, day two here we come.