84: The Cost of Doing Business – Pt. 3

“Why is it any time one of you goes missing the other one thinks I had something to do with it or even care to help?” Rowan asked, leaning back against his chair. “I have no idea where your witch has gone off to, Mate. Perhaps she’s found someone more interesting to take to her bed?” Derrick made a threatening step forward and Rowan was instantly on his feet. “Careful now. We wouldn’t want to muss that pretty face of yours before your witch comes home now, would we?”

“If you’ve done anything to her…”

“Save your threats, Derrick. I’ve no interest in harming Victoria. She’s too important. Besides, I thought you had some clever way of always keeping track of her.”

“I do,” Derrick replied sullenly. “But I can’t sense her. Which usually means something bad.”

“Well then. No sense in dawdling here. Go and find your witch. We wouldn’t want the Elders thinking you’re incapable of protecting the poor dear,” Rowan grinned.

Derrick turned and quickly retreated from his Sire’s office with one goal in mind: finding Victoria—and soon.

Continue Reading: "84: The Cost of Doing Business – Pt. 3"

83: The Cost of Doing Business – Pt. 2

“Where is he?” Victoria shouted as she stormed through Rowan’s front door.

“Rowan gave specific instructions he wasn’t to be disturbed,” Marcel said, placing a hand out to stop her before she sent him flying across the room.

“ROWAN!” she growled as she pushed into his office.

“Victoria, please, do come in,” Rowan replied, disregarding her sudden intrusion. “What can I do for you?”

“Did you know what they were doing before you sent me in there?”

“Of course, I did, dear. Why do you think I sent you in there?” he asked incredulously.

“They are killing people; innocent girls in some—some blood ritual!”

“As I said, Victoria, I am fully aware. Only now they have started using supernatural creatures for their exploits,” Rowan said with a deep sigh, dismissively waving his hand. “Witches, Victoria, they are killing witches…and possibly a few warlocks. They are stealing their magic.”

Continue Reading: "83: The Cost of Doing Business – Pt. 2"

82: The Cost of Doing Business – Pt. 1

“Marcel. Hello. Um…can you open the door?” Marcel grunted, but didn’t move. “Come on. Your master is waiting for me. Are you really going to do this now?” Marcel shrugged then stood more erect. “Wait, are you still mad about me shooting you?”   

“It took 8 hours to dig that bullet out of my shoulder! Every time I got it close to the surface, it burrowed back down again,” he growled before his face turned into a pout.

Victoria snickered and hid it behind a cough. “I’m sorry, Marcel.” He grunted again and repositioned in front of the door. “I am. Really, Marcel. I’m very sorry. I was angry seeing you hit Derrick like that and I…overreacted.”

“‘Overreacted?’ You could have killed me!”

“No, I wasn’t aiming to kill; only wound. But I really am sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight that day; surely you can remember why.” He looked away from her and sighed. “Please?” she gently rested her hand on his bicep and his eyes followed the motion. With a frustrated grumble, he stepped away from the door to allow her inside.

Continue Reading: "82: The Cost of Doing Business – Pt. 1"

81: The Dollhouse – Pt. 3

“Um, excuse me,” Victoria turned to find a group of garden gnomes standing in front of her. “We heard you were a witch. We could use your help.”

“Uh…sure. What…?”

“Our brother has gone missing. He’s been away now for quite some time.” Randy Red spoke with obvious fear in his tone. “Would you please help us find him?”

“Couldn’t someone have come in and purchased him?”

“Oh, no, we’re not for sale.” Amber stated.

“None of you?”

“We’re part of a personal collection of the Warner family. Fred makes one of us each year as a celebration of sorts.” Greg the Green replied.

“Yeah, there’s a big party and everything!” Amber exclaimed.

Continue Reading: "81: The Dollhouse – Pt. 3"

80: The Dollhouse – Pt. 2

Victoria looked around at her surroundings. She appeared to be inside of a toy store, at a height that would mean she was considerably smaller than she should be. Without much time to consider her situation, she heard someone clear their throat behind her. “Hello, you’re a new one,” she heard a tiny voice speak. Turning, to face the owner of the voice, Victoria was taken aback when she saw it was a bear…a talking a bear. “My name’s Cuddles. Who are you?”

“Victoria.”

“Ohh, you’re the one!”

“‘The one?’ Which one would that be?”

“The one Dolly Darling was talking about.”

“And who is Dolly Darling?”

Continue Reading: "80: The Dollhouse – Pt. 2"

79: The Dollhouse – Pt. 1

“Victoria…”

Continue Reading: "79: The Dollhouse – Pt. 1"

78: To the Victor Go the Spoils – Pt. 3

“Next up, for the ladies, we have a fine specimen of male prowess, Derrick Constantine.” Derrick stepped out onto the stage, smiling at the throng of women who immediately stormed the front of the room, clamoring near the podium as the barker continued. “Derrick is a local club owner with deep ties to the community and a poker player despite his better judgment. He enjoys fine dining, fast rides on his motorcycle, and quiet evenings at home reading in front of his fireplace with someone special. He’s a learned cook, a skilled masseuse and knows…” the barker cleared his throat and looked over at Derrick hesitantly before continuing. “Knows how to make a woman’s toes curl!” The audience laughed and Derrick gazed down, briefly locking eyes with Victoria before stepping up onto the platform to begin the auction. “Bidding will start at $50.00.”

“$500.00,” an eager blonde near stage left quickly replied, salaciously flaunting her heavy chest in front of her and giving Derrick a peek down her dress. He gave her a slow wink and she tipped the drink in her hand at him.

“I have $500, do I hear $550?”

Continue Reading: "78: To the Victor Go the Spoils – Pt. 3"

77: To the Victor Goes the Spoils – Pt. 2

Awakening to the rough shuffling of ocean waves breaking against the ship’s hull, Derrick looked around the dark space with confusion. Several men were bound and secured against the walls in front of him. Something or someone had kidnapped all of the men from the bachelor auction. Stretching his own arm, he realized he too was fastened with chains and bolted into position. Testing the bonds on his wrist, Derrick was just about to rip himself free when a deep voice broke through the gloom.

“Don’t bother. I think they’re made from steel.”

Relaxing back into his seat, Derrick began thinking of another means of escape, one that wouldn’t expose him as a supernatural being to a boat full of strangers. With another glance through the gloom, he came across a familiar face. “Mike?” his head lolled with the cresting of another wave but he remained unconscious.

Continue Reading: "77: To the Victor Goes the Spoils – Pt. 2"

76: To the Victor Goes the Spoils – Pt. 1

“UGH!” Victoria growled, frantically tearing through her closet for a dress to wear to tonight’s gala, a date auction to help raise money for the Injured Officers’ Fund for the Avondale police department. It was one of many ideas Mike had to give back to those the city ignored and treated as less than for injuries sustained while on the job. He’d witnessed it firsthand with his own line-of-duty shooting and wanted to do something to help. Mike landed on a bachelor auction thanks to Aria’s helpful suggestions and he’d reeled in Victoria for help. With any luck, they were hoping to make it a success. Maybe the red one, Derrick loves red. No wait, maybe that’s bad, he said it makes him hungry. Or was that a joke? “What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never had a problem picking an outfit before! It’s just Derrick!”

The doorbell rang as she tried on the third dress of the evening. “Come in,” she shouted. Derrick strolled in looking like sex on legs and she immediately locked herself inside her room. “Shit! He looks really good.” She growled in frustration looking down at her dress before rushing again to the closet.

“Victoria?”

“I’m upstairs. I’ll be down in a minute. I just have to find…something,” she quickly shimmied out of the gown and tossed it to the floor with the others that came before. “Red it is,” she sighed and hurriedly pulled on a long, sleeveless, red silk gown with jeweled embellishing.

Continue Reading: "76: To the Victor Goes the Spoils – Pt. 1"

75: Trip to the Dentist – Pt. 3

“I thought imps were lesser demons; like sidekicks with no real powers,” Victoria said, once they’d made it back to her home.

“Traditionally, they are,” Derrick started. “This—Henry must have found a way to overcome that. It’s rare but not entirely unheard of.”

“Our main focus right now is locating his vessel. If we can find that, we can reverse whatever magics he’s cast,” Loretta said.

“And how difficult will that be?” Mike asked, glancing at his rapidly aging niece. “I mean, if we don’t find this thing in time…”

“Don’t think like that. Not right now, Mike,” Victoria warned. “We won’t stop until we save Tina. Did you find anything on the Nexus about him?”

Continue Reading: "75: Trip to the Dentist – Pt. 3"