West Coast Witch (31 page)

I did a double take. “We're not...I mean, it was just a date, and two raids.”

Diana chimed in, catching in on Sam's game. “Oh, raids, is that what vampires in tactical
gear call it?”

Sam laughed hard, clutching her chest. “Oh, jeez, I haven't laughed that hard in a
while. So worth the aching ribs to see that color of red on your face again.”

“It's like a tomato.” Diana continued.

“Told you it was hilarious.” Sam's grin was huge. “That brings back some good memories
from college.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yea, you and Rhi used to love that.” Sam and I were silent for
a long moment, the mention of Rhiannon and that part of my past hanging in the air.
Sam and I had been close, too, though in the past few months that had dropped to friends,
maybe even just acquaintances.

“Anyways,” Sam said. “I really am thankful. You guys saved my butt back there, and
I'm in your debt.”

I walked over to the couch, and offered my hand to Sam. “Any time. Just, well, don't
get abducted by psycho-vamps again, all right?”

She put her hand in mine. “Deal.”

We shook hands, and I couldn't resist. “Okay, what about Robert? A vampire lawyer,
seriously?”

Now it was Sam's turn to blush. “He's sweet. He really is. And, I don't know, I really
like sweet.”

Diana piped up,, hands crossed across her chest. “Oh, Robert, that's the name of Mister
Mystery Date?”

“Yea, he's a lawyer at the firm I work for. That's why you didn't smell anything new
on me when we started going out.”

“He's a good guy.” I said. “He's the reason that we knew to look on the docks.”

Sam relaxed back into the couch. “Yea, he's a great guy.” She had a little sloppy
grin. “And, Eric, if you ever need any legal help or anything, I'll get you an in
with my firm, all right?”

“Hey, have I ever not called in a favor?”

“No, Mister Trouble Magnet.” She chuckled. “Thanks for visiting, but I have some quality
time with vicodin and crappy television.”

“Lucky,” I teased. “All I've got is some surprise party.”

Sam laughed again. “Oh, God, you're still letting Matt throw those parties?”

“The things I do for friendship.” I answered. “I've been assured there will be no
trips to Monterey at three in the morning. I'll catch you later.”

As we said our goodbyes and left, Amy asked. “Trips to Monterey at three in the morning?”

“I'll tell you some day, but as a brief summation, I would recommend never learning
to scuba dive on two hours of sleep.”

“To Eric, the Dirty Harry of Arcanes!” Matt called.

A number of glasses clinked together. Matt, some of my coworkers, Terry, and Amy were
all present. Amy, I noted, was drinking ginger ale.

“So, Eric,” Terry said. “Are you still sticking with the bar now that you're some
fancy supernatural cop?”

I shrugged. “I dunno, I guess so. I'm nor sure if a Knight gets paid.”

“Wait, wait,” Matt stopped me. “You're doing all of this, working with vampires and
weres, and dealing with just general nastiness, for no money?”

“Well, hey, it's not like anyone else will do it.” I moved to sit down in one of the
booths. “I mean, come on, would you take the job?”

Matt stroked his chin for a moment, as if considering. “No. Never in a thousand years.”
He said, and took a swig of his mug. “I deal with counseling kids, and that's ridiculous.
I'd take that any day over what you do.”

“Great.” I sunk into the cushions of the booth, sighing. I sat in silence for a long
moment, thinking about what had happened since that fateful night in the alley behind
the bar. I still ached a bit, but I was on the mend.

If anyone had told me this was going to happen, I would have called them nuts, but
here I was. I knew then that I had a lot of catching up to do on the supernatural
community.

“Hey, man,” Matt snapped me out of my reverie as he moved to sit across from me. “If
you ever want someone to help with this, I'm not a fighter or anything, but I'll help
out however I can.”

I reached out and clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks, Matt. You're going to regret
that some day. I definitely will take you up on that.”

He rolled his eyes, and looked me over. “So, you don't look like you did when you
were in the hospital. I know it's not the diet, since I know you can't cook for shit.”
He smirked. “Or is Amy cooking? She didn't strike me as the domestic type.”

“She is not.” Amy said. My guardian was standing behind Matt's shoulder.

Matt turned around, color draining from his face. “Uh, hey there, Amy.” He offered
a weak smile. “Fancy you hearing that.”

She deposited herself next to me on the booth. “You would be amazed how good my hearing
is. By the way, Eric, I have been speaking with Terry.”

“Yea, and?” I asked.

“I am going to work at the bar, for a few days a week.”

I froze just a moment. What the hell had just happened? “You are what?”

“I am going to be working at Cameron's.” She said. “I think you need your hearing
checked.”

“I know what you said.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Just...Was not expecting
it. Are you even a licensed bartender?”

“Indeed.” She nodded. “Granted, it has been a while since Prohibition, but I still
remember how to tend bar.”

“Prohibition?” Matt gave her an inquisitive look. “That is just whoa, man.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to Amy. “Seriously, why?”

“Well, my 'job' as bookseller at West Coast Books was only a ruse to meet you. I do
need work.” She took a sip of her juice, looking at me over the glass. “Besides, if
you insist on continuing your reckless behaviors, I wish to remain close to you.”

“And so you're working with me now.” I rolled my eyes. “Fan-freaking-tastic. I need
a drink.”

“You've got a drink, man.” Matt pointed at my mug.

I sighed. “Something way stronger.” Great. I stood up from the booth. “Hey, Amy, let
me out? I need some air.”

My guardian- and now coworker- moved aside, and didn't ask as I walked towards the
back of the bar. Before I could head out the back, I heard Jen call for me. “Hey,
Eric!”

I turned, and my heart immediately sank. I had forgotten about this little tidbit.
I had watched her boyfriend get killed. I could not have been too popular. My eyes
glanced to the tanned man behind her. Was he a vampire looking for payback?

“Eric?” Jennifer started.

I looked to Matt and Amy. I was on my own on this one. Those two were caught up in
their conversation. “Uh, yea, hi, Jen. Listen...”

“You said you wanted to meet Darius? You said he bit you?”

My mind faltered for a second. “Yea, I met him that night, actually...”

“Mister Carpenter,” the man behind her said. “I have never bitten you. I prefer females.”

I pulled a double take. Uh, what? “I don't follow.”

“I'm Darius, Jennifer's beau.”

I wish I could say I kept my composure. I laughed, hard. “Oh, oh God. Oh my God...”
I slapped my hands on my thighs. “I got bit by another Darius, if you'd believe it
or not. Oh, that was gonna be real awkward.”

“Uh, Eric?” Jennifer's brow furrowed.

“I'll tell you what went on when I'm back at work, I promise.” I looked to the vampire.
“Pleasure to meet you, Darius, and, well, Jen's crazy about you. She won't stop talking
about you. But, uh, I'm just going to go step out for a second.”

As I walked out, I heard the two sharing some joke. I walked out of the bar into the
alley. The San Francisco night was chilly, the fall weather really kicking in. I walked
out down the alley way, towards the spot where, just two weeks ago, the other Darius
had bitten me.

There weren't any signs of it, but I knew it was there. It was a good thing he attacked
me, I supposed. A good thing that he'd bitten me, nearly killed me, violated me. Without
that violation, Amy would have never saved me. Maybe Amy would have approached me
still, but Darius's attack was what had made me want to help Samantha Coolidge in
earnest. Without the attack, I might have just kept to myself, ignored the world around
me.

But now here I was. Stronger for it, I guessed. I had killed someone. It didn't weigh
on my conscience. I was protecting Amy, protecting myself. I didn't regret it. But,
I still had killed someone. That was something. I had crossed a line. What was next?

I looked away, about to turn back to to the bar. Nick was standing there. This time,
he wasn't wearing his usual suit and tie. He wore a leather jacket, jeans, and he
had a motorcycle helmet in one hand. “Hey, Glinda.”

I really wanted to shoot him. I didn't want to speak with him, but somehow, I knew
we'd be having a conversation. “I said no to the job offer.”

“That's not what I'm here about.” He said. “You have a very specific aura about you,
Sir Carpenter.” Nick smiled. “Yes, I heard about your confirmation. Congratulations,
I hope you serve well.”

“That's not why you visited, was it, just to celebrate?”

“No, I have an appointment this evening that requires this...outfit. However, I was
in the area, so I wanted to ask you something.”

“And that was?”

“What was the Other Side like?” At my look of confusion, he smirked. “Amy told me.”

Goosebumps raised across my skin.“It was...odd. I don't know. I can't explain. It
seemed very real, but the magic there was potent. And the shades, whatever they were.”

“The Fae haven't left the Other Side in almost fifty of our years. If the shades,
as you call them, still exist, well, that would explain some things.” He reached up
a hand to stroke his chin, thoughtful.

“What are they?” I asked him. “One of them nearly touched me, and would have gotten
me if it wasn't for Amy.”

“Eric, this is very important.” Nick said. “Under no circumstances, never kill anyone
on the Other Side again. Lucien, I understand. That was self-defense, and you needed
to do it. But every death there gives more power to those shades.”

“I have no intention of going back there.” I said. “It was creepy enough for one lifetime.”

“Tell me, why did one nearly attack you?”

“Amy said that they were drawn to magic.”
 
I answered. Nick stared at me. He seemed, for the first time I'd seen him, at a loss
for words. “He was about to finish off Amy, I thought. I didn't think. I just...I
drew power.”

He gaped at me. “You used magic?”
 
He shook his head. “Well, that is...something. Amy hadn't said that.”

“I guess.” I shrugged. “Listen, Nick, I've got a party to get back to.”

“Ah, yes, your mortal friends, celebrating what they don't really know. Protect them,
Eric. You don't want any of them dragged into this because of you.”

I glared at him. “Don't try that chord, Nick. Not tonight. I'm not in the mood.” I
started to walk past him. “Good night.”

“Good night, Mister Carpenter.” Nick said behind me.

I didn't look back. I figured he would do that disappearing act.
 
I didn't want to think about that right now. I headed back into the bar, welcoming
the warmth and the noise of the place.

Terry approached me. “Hey, Eric.” The big black man started. “That vampire girl is
at the bar again. I told her this was a private party. Want me to-”

I shook my head. “Definitely not. Thanks, I'll be busy, man.” I saw Terry grin out
of the corner of my eye, and I sighed. “Oh, stop it, you big perv. It's not like that.
At least, not yet.”

“Yet.” Terry echoed, and I ignored his chuckles as I walked to the bar.

Teresa's dark hair was puled back into a simple ponytail tonight. She was dressed
probably the most plainly I had ever seen her, with a sweatshirt and jeans. Somehow
she made that look like high fashion. Then again, I was sure she would look great
in a potato sack.

She turned her head before I got to the bar. “Hello, Eric.” She purred. “So nice to
see you.”

“I didn't think you'd want to be here, with no other Arcanes, so I didn't think to
invite you.”

Teresa patted the bar stool next to her. “For the intriguing Knight? I'll suffer through
a few humans.” Her eyes darted to Amy for a moment. “And her, whatever she is. She
smells...odd.”

“Odd, like me?” I asked as I sat down.

She shook her head. “Like nothing I've ever sensed before. I can't even describe it.
It's...odd.” She shrugged. “But I didn't come here to talk about your friend.”

“No, I didn't guess so.” I looked down to her drink. “Keep coming here, and I'll have
to see that Terry starts buying some of that synthetic blood.”

“I would appreciate that. Of course, someone on your staff would have to learn how
to mix a few vampire cocktails.”

I grabbed a peanut from the bar. “And, just what makes a good cocktail? What goes
good with blood?”