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"

74: Trip to the Dentist – Pt. 2

“Mike? Hey! I was just about to call you. I heard from CSU. They left the key for the Sinclair house at PD. We’ll have to go and fill out a requisition form first though.”

“That’s fine, Vik. But that’s not why I’m here.”

“Oh? OK…” she said as he stepped inside. He was followed by an elderly woman dressed in a cropped top and skinny jeans. “Who’s your friend?” Victoria asked after following the two into the living room.

“Vik! It’s Tina.”

“Um, what do you mean? Tina as in…”

“My niece! This is my 12-year-old niece!”

“Hi, Miss Victoria,” the elderly woman smiled and waved as she moved toward the couch and slowly sat down.

Continue Reading: "74: Trip to the Dentist – Pt. 2"

73: Trip to the Dentist – Pt. 1

“Lunch time, Partner. And please, tell me you’re going to suggest something OTHER than sushi this time,” Victoria said, dropping a stack of papers onto Mike’s desk. He didn’t look up as she spoke and she waved a hand in front of his face to try and get his attention. “Mike? Yo, Mike? Mikey? MICHAEL SEAN RIZZITELLO!”

“Hmm? What?” Mike shook his head and sighed. “I’m sorry, Vik. I was a little distracted.”

“A little? You completely missed the tiny, green alien running across your keyboard singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!”

“I know. Wait, what?”

“Nothing,” Victoria laughed. “What’s going on?”

“Tina is in town for a visit and I’m super excited to spend some time with her. I’ve been looking up stuff we can do together while she’s here.”

“That’s great, Mikey! How is she?”

“She is doing wonderfully. She’s about to be a teenager and just lost her last baby tooth. Now she keeps telling me she’s no longer a child and that I should ‘respect her womanhood,’” he smiled. “It’s something she learned from this new pack of friends she’s made in Spring Glen.”

Continue Reading: "73: Trip to the Dentist – Pt. 1"

72: Ready to Grumble – Pt. 3

The screaming had stopped minutes ago, but Mike could still hear them echoing off the thin metal walls of the diner. That woman; that poor woman had been eaten alive by the creatures outside and Mike and Victoria could do nothing but listen to her horrific screams and harrowing pleas for it all to end.

“These things are multiplying too fast! We have to get out of here!” Mike huffed as he slammed his hand against the floor.

Again, Victoria glanced at her phone, pausing briefly to wonder why she hadn’t heard anything from Derrick. Anxiety was beginning to set in. If he was unable to find a voodoo priest to help them then they would certainly need another way. “Mike, do you still carry that amethyst stone for good luck?”

“Of course, I do. Why do you ask?”

“May I borrow it? I think I may have another way to get rid of these things.” Handing over the gem, Victoria unfolded the map from her pocket and set it out over one of the tables. “I may be able to scry for the original source of this spell.”

Continue Reading: "72: Ready to Grumble – Pt. 3"

71: Ready to Grumble – Pt. 2

The news reports were growing increasingly more alarming. Dozens of stories were coming in about random, violent attacks around town with descriptions of the assailants ranging from “animal-like psycho with uncontrollable rage” to “raggedy, bleeding menaces who smell like death.” It didn’t take long to track the path the mob of newly turned zombies was blazing but it did, however, cause concern.

“If we don’t get a handle on this soon, they may infect the entire downtown area,” Victoria said, looking over the map she and Mike had created. Just as Derrick had predicted, the zombie population was growing exponentially and they had their hands full trying to track down their Patient Zero.

“How exactly are we supposed to stop them?” he asked. “I mean are they still people that have been affected by magic or are they…”

Continue Reading: "71: Ready to Grumble – Pt. 2"

70: Ready to Grumble – Pt. 1

“Morning!” Derrick greeted Victoria with a smile as she sauntered into the kitchen. He was busy preparing breakfast, expertly tossing pancakes around a skillet before plating them for her.

“Good morning. You seem cheery. Add a little something extra to the coffee?” she asked, taking a seat at the bar counter as he set a plate and mug of hot coffee down in front of her.

“What? Can’t a guy just be happy? The woman of my dreams; love of my life is with me, safe and…whole. What more could I ask for?”

“I guess.” Grabbing her phone, she began checking her messages and responding to a text from Mike. “Hmm. Looks like we have a new case.”

“New case?” 

Continue Reading: "70: Ready to Grumble – Pt. 1 "

69: Which Witch is which? – Pt. 4

Victoria sat on the sofa across from Derrick and herself, nervously tapping her foot as they waited for Brad to join them. Mike paced the room. His nerves hadn’t settled having met his partner’s twin. “So…Victoria,” Victoria started, glancing over at her other half. “How much of what happened do you remember? Because I’ve been trying and I gotta say…” 

“Look, I don’t know what this is or even if it’s real. That…thing back at the docks—it had glowing eyes. There is no way that’s possible, right?” 

Continue Reading: "69: Which Witch is which? – Pt. 4"