Book 3: Chapter 10
Zayde
The large clock in father’s office dinged 3pm. Tiffany was busy, and I’d been summoned.
“He gave her the yellow diamond?!” Yelled father a second time in disbelief. “Are you Positively Sure?”
“Aye.” I said sitting in his office. Mother kidnapped my wife to go tasting cake, shopping and other things. I was handling the business.
“Then you know what that means.” He said seriously.
“I don’t…” I admitted.
“Then you will soon. The master enjoys surprising we little mortals. I won’t take the wind out his sails. In the meantime, I have a job for you, it’s why I asked you to come.” He slid a photo across the table.
The photo was a small girl, a human one with a teddy bear. She was blonde, with dark brown eyes. She was about 7 or 8 by age, and likely had been told about the woods, but adventured and found a tunnel anyway. The second photo he showed me was what she took, an emerald the size of a softball… It was cut by the previous victims, flawless, and was valued at 24 million US dollars.
But it wasn’t the money the little honey blonde child needed right now. That she’d touched it meant she needed her Lord…. I’d seen how Paanix kills. He enjoys it more than even grandfather. People like them savor their kills, since there’s restrictions on their intake.
“This is the child who entered Paanix’s lair. She’s related to the Metters family.”
“But this is A child?! It’s only been two weeks!” I yelled. “Surely, he isn’t That hungry after only a hundred years.”
“Yes, but we all have to eat eventually, now, don’t we?” He countered, shuffling files on his desk. “The master does not want that one in particular devoured.”
“Why?” I asked.
“I didn’t ask. He doesn’t want that mortal culled, so make sure it doesn’t happen. Since I tasked you to speak with the humans, go… speak with them. They all think we’re vampires anyway.” He complained.
“What am I to tell them?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Telling them outright will make them want to gather a posse, buying it will send More of them skittering around… They won’t listen if you tell them it’s cursed. You watch TV, you’ll come up with something.” He encouraged. With a flick of his wrist, I was outside.
I rolled my eyes so damn hard…. “I’ll figure it out.” I grumbled out loud to myself with a scoff….
Gods damn it.
I already had my keys, so I just drove to town. The girl was school age, so that was the first place I went. It was 3:40 now, since the town was so close…. Children got out at 3:30, so when I saw her, I made it my business to park.
I got out in front of the flower shop, because between it and the bookstore was a rarely used alley. It was also where an escape tunnel was buried, in case things went sour.
“Invistros.” I said after I ducked into the small alley no car could ever dream to fit through. I made sure no mortals saw. It was my lucky day. I’d seen the girl without having to search, but she was also headed this direction… Had I been a moment later, she would have seen me.
I followed the mortal at a steady pace. She kept looking back at me, but she couldn’t see through my illusion. It meant she didn’t have Second Sight… Thankfully…. I didn’t know what I’d say to her either.
I Could have just gone to the Metters family home, but that farm was at the edge of town, run by another human who dealt with us… so I’m sure her grandfather knew what we really were, and they’d probably hide her And the gem.
She opened the door to her home, and I followed. There was a rule about entering a home, but the ‘welcome’ doormat invited me in.
That’s one thing humans forgot… Technically there isn’t any *real* magic stopping us other than the bylaws of this world, but most of us followed said rule. If we’re welcomed, we’re a guest… typically that makes hunting more fun.
“Awe Maica, there’s dirt on your face.” Complained her mother. “Why didn’t you ride with Hans?”
“I told Hans he can eat a potato! He said the treasure I found wasn’t real!” She huffed, stomping her feet.
“And you missed out on ice cream. So instead, *you* get to eat potatoes.” Said her mother sternly. She huffed. “You can’t keep fighting all your siblings all the time Maica. Your father will be upset to see all of you are still arguing.” She hugged her daughter, and I’d seen enough.
I took this time to silently look around. They had soup bubbling, about to burn. I took it off the stove for her. Their home was modest, only 3 bedrooms and one bathroom, but I know they have 9 children…. Their father was a farmer with Mr. Metters…. He’d be home soon.
That was why Paanix targeted her. They have a lot of small ones. Each child was about a year apart, with the oldest being 15, and the youngest was 6… The mother looked to be only 28, so she too was young. Mr. Matter’s son was I think 30?
Young, fresh meat… a fucking feast.
“Maica did you take the pot off the stove?” Asked her mother.
“No, but I set the table.” She said running with the emerald. Bingo…
I could just take it.
“What did I say?” Said her mother.
“…. not to take it out until the gem dealer comes.” She said looking down. She went to go put it back, and I followed closely.
“I’m home early!” Shouted the father. Shit.
I watched her put it in her mother’s nightstand, and covered it with a cloth. I took it, and put it in my pocket after she left, and I debated on should I compensate them…
If I did, they’d probably know it was a Yoltier…. If I didn’t, I didn’t want the little girl punished….
I didn’t know what to do… fuck.
I knew the father, as much as he works with us would know me, and see through the illusion. I knew he had Second Sight…
I wrote a check for 50k Euros. I used my alias name of Dan Dannyson, but the goblin clerk would see my royal crest on my check, and cash it. I’ll also call to make sure.
The treasury is going to have a fucking fit, but Archer can explain why he spent 90k on ‘expenses’ last year with his wife.
I had to break the window to get out of there, and I was already halfway down the street before they rushed into the bedroom.
But one thing still bothered me… Why did the Horned One give them mercy?
----Tiffany----
Two weeks passed, and the yellow diamond sat on the nightstand… It just wasn’t the right time to imbue it with my magic, since we weren’t bonded yet… I wasn’t a Yoltier by blood, so the spell I had in mind won’t work.
It won’t be long though. I only had a little bit of time before the wedding… I hadn’t seen Zayde at all today. He was out, I think on some kind of errand for his father, while I was tasting the cake.
“Oh my gods, that’s amazing.” I whisper yelled. The chocolate was dark, but the sweetness of the raspberry jam made all the flavors Sing… the black frosting wasn’t vanilla either. It was a combination of raspberry and chocolate as well…
“I’m glad it’s to your liking.” Bowed the human. The bakers knew we weren’t human, but thought we were vampires… They were all brunette, as I think they were related. The son and daughter all looked like the one who bowed, their father.
The humans looked nervous…. But I grabbed both hands of the wife when she walked out… Her hair was brown too, but a little darker. “Thank you! My wedding will be Amazing.”
“Every bride deserves a happy day.” Said the mother. “I remember when we got married, me and my husband were married in the church here…. He carried me through the threshold of this bakery, and promised me as many children as there will be loaves of bread.” She smiled blushing.
“Aye… It’s a blessing to be with good people, and better food.” He smiled. “I didn’t know that vampires ate though.”
“We do. It doesn’t give us nourishment, but it is nostalgic.” Said Hekki swiftly.
She’d likely said that to other humans before…
“That sounds fair enough.” Smiled the husband. “I would like you to try the pasta we’ll prepare as well… *without* garlic as requested.”
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