Pretty When They Collide (7 page)

The inky blot in the shape of a human bolted to one side, avoiding the magical barrage while the suffocating human thrashed against the car. The heavy body armor rang against the metal and glass. Aimee ignored the dying mortal and concentrated on avoiding the demon
’
s next attack. It darted at her, slashing with its claws. She cast another wave of magic at it, the diamonds in her bracelet flashing in the headlights of the SUV idling behind the limousine.

“
Of course,” she whispered.

A black magic spell hurtled into her and knocked her off her feet. Her flip-flops skittered across the asphalt and vanished under the car. The spell slid over her skin like icy water. It tried to sink through her protection spell, but was thwarted when Aimee pumped more power into her shield. She was draining herself too fast and she knew it. Whip-like tendrils of black magic lashed at her face and chest. The purple and black magic again tried to burrow into her protection spell. Aimee worried that the demon was about to spring and she had no idea where the black magic witch was hiding. Gripping the aggressive spell in both hands, she jerked it away from her body, holding the squirming mass in a tight grip. Again, she cursed Frank
’
s ridiculous fashion standards. She had a bracelet with just the amulet for this type of aggressive spell. Instead she had to take a big risk in order to save all of them.

Rolling onto her knees,
Aimee observed the demon retreating to the other side of the car. The dark magic spell viciously attacking the limousine was almost through her protection spell. The witch and demon had distracted her in order to get closer to Frank. Now she
was
about to make things even worse.

“
Dammit!”

Encapsulating the writhing tendrils in a thin sheen of white magic, she hurled the black magic spell at the limousine. It splashed into the other spell, its tentacles whipping out to grip onto the bigger mass before sinking into it. Even bigger and stronger than before, the black magic spell jerked at the limousine like a predator ripping into flesh.

“
You
’
re stupider than I thought,” a male voice called out, amused.

Ripping the diamond bracelet off her wrist, Aimee whispered under her breath. The demon added its power to the assaulting spell. Another blast of black magic hurtled
towards
her. She leaped out of the way and sent a countering wave in the general direction of the attack.

“
Blood calls to death!” she shouted, and hurled the diamond bracelet at the car.

The demon
’
s glowing red eyes gleamed brightly just as the diamond bracelet clipped the car and bounced into its face. It howled in agony as the banishment spell Aimee had infused the bracelet with gripped it and dragged it into the depths of the sparkling diamonds, entrapping it. The reek of sulfur filled the air as the black magic spell ripping at the limousine vanished instantly. Somewhere nearby a man screamed in pain and terror.

“
That
’
s the problem with black magic witches,” Aimee called out. “Once the demon you
’
ve made a deal with is vanquished, you
’
re a powerless piece of shit.”

Retreating footsteps pounded into the darkness. The doors to the limousine banged open and the two guards pursued the fleeing black witch. Aimee smiled triumphantly, swaying slightly on her feet. The adrenaline surge was the only thing keeping her standing. Weakened by the heavy expenditure of her magic, Aimee limped toward the car.

Frank slid out of the backseat, his cellphone clutched in one hand. “Why didn
’
t you kill the witch?”

“
Fuck you, Frank,” Aimee answered.

She was dimly aware of the vampire catching her when she fainted.

Part Two
:

Home

Chapter 7
:

Memories Lost

Snagging the mail out of the battered mailbox, Cassandra headed up the walkway to her mother
’
s small house tucked behind towering cedar trees on a quiet street in a small town in Texas. The light spring breeze brushed through the branches, ruffling leaves and shifting the sunlight that dappled the flagstones. The colorful oleanders bordering the porch needed to be cut back
,
and Cassandra used her overnight bag to shove the pretty flowers aside.

Behind the screen door she could see the flicker of the TV and heard the voices of the morning talk show hosts chatting with the latest Hollywood rising star. The clink of dishes and the rushing sound of water indicated that breakfast was over and cleanup was underway. Knocking on the screen door, Cassandra quickly scanned her mother
’
s mail. It was a relief to see she hadn
’
t gone on any shopping network sprees.

The shadowy form of her mother hurried down the short hall from the kitchen and into the gloomy living room. Cassandra smiled at her mother through the mesh as Galina fumbled with the lock.

“
Hey, Mom,” Cassandra said.

“
I
’
m so glad you
’
re home!” Galina exclaimed breathlessly. Pulling the door open, she wrapped Cassandra in her arms.

Kissing her mother
’
s cheek, Cassandra snuggled against her. The scent of jasmine and baby powder filled her nostrils and she inhaled deeply. It was a comforting fragrance
,
and one she always associated with her mother. “Like I promised, I
’
m back safe and sound.”

Drawing back, Galina studied her thoughtfully. “Something happened?”

“
Nothing to worry about,” Cassandra answered with a reassuring smile.

Cassandra knew she strongly resembled her mother, but she didn
’
t think she was nearly as beautiful. Galina
’
s blue-green eyes flecked with gold were heavily fringed with dark lashes and her lush chestnut brown hair fell in silky waves to her mid-back. Where Cassandra had a much stronger nose, Galina
’
s was delicate, but they shared the same lush mouth and Slavic complexion. Being a dhamphir gave Cassandra a much younger appearance than her thirty-five years
,
while Galina look
ed like a youthful early forty
-
year
-
old
and not her actual sixty-five years of age. Her mother
’
s years as a blood minion to vampires had kept her preternaturally youthful, but regular infusions of Cassandra
’
s blood maintained it. People always thought they were sisters, not mother and daughter.

“
You
’
re lying,” Galina said, her eyes narrowing.

“
No, really. Everything is fine,” Cassandra promised.

She brushed past her mother and into the darkened living room. Her mother
’
s years living with vampires had
instilled
her with a healthy dislike of sunlight. The house was always dimly lit and the trees were rarely cut back. Cassandra wasn
’
t too fond of sunlight either. Her last girlfriend had always insisted on having the curtains open to let the sunlight stream in through the windows. Cassandra should have realized the relationship was doomed.

“
I had such terrible nightmares,” her mother said, her voice wavering. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she sank onto the overstuffed pillows decorating the shabby-chic couch.

Cassandra tossed her bag on the floor and settled beside her mother. The look of confusion that often graced Galina
’
s features settled over her face. Another aftereffect from spending so much time with vampires was that her mother
’
s mind was quite fragile. Dr. Summerfield, the man who had helped Galina escape Austin and hide from Cassandra
’
s father, had explained that the vampires had often wiped her memories of their atrocities to keep her compliant and the end result was that it was difficult for her to retain memories or deal with unexpected events. Medicine didn
’
t help, but structure did. Galina lived quietly in the small house Cassandra had bought her and had a housekeeper who came to help her three times a week.

“
You were gone for so long,” Galina said, her bottom lip trembling.

“
I was gone for two days,” Cassandra reminded her.

“
Did Felicity go with you?”

“
Felicity broke up with me a month ago,” Cassandra answered. She gently took her mother
’
s hand and squeezed it. “Remember?”

“
Oh, that
’
s right.” Galina
’
s voice was doubtful, but she didn
’
t argue. “She didn
’
t like your traveling?”

“
She didn
’
t like me.” Cassandra shrugged, but the sting was still there. Felicity had left her for a woman she had met online. She supposed it was for the best. Felicity had been a very jealous and suspicious girlfriend. Cassandra couldn
’
t blame Felicity for being upset with her. Cassandra did keep secrets. They just weren
’
t the secrets Felicity thought they were. “She said I was keeping things from her and that she didn
’
t like being cheated on. So she cheated on me and moved to Phoenix.”

Shaking her head, Galina stared at the notepad on the coffee table that she usually kept close at hand. Picking it up, she pulled the pen she kept tucked into the spiral and made some notes. “I need to remember that I do not like Felicity.”

Giggling, Cassandra lightly stroked her mother
’
s hair. She loved her so much, but she often felt their roles were reversed. It had been that way since she had been a child. Dr. Summerfield, a vampire hunter and paranormal investigator, had arranged for Galina to have full-time help when Cassandra was a child because Galina would simply forget to do simple things like feed her daughter. When Cassandra had become old enough, she had started watching over her mother. She didn
’
t mind it though. Her mother was everything to her.

Galina finished her notes and underlined a few words, her brow scrunched. “I also put down a reminder that you were only gone for two days. I don
’
t know why I got so worried.”

“
Because you
’
re my mother.” Cassandra nudged her with her elbow before leaning her head on her mother
’
s shoulder.

“
I was dreaming about your father and he was trying to find you,” Galina said, changing the subject abruptly.

“
He doesn
’
t know about me,” Cassandra reminded her. “And he
’
s far away in Austin. Dr. Summerfield told me just last week that Cian
’
s dating some cute little blond human girl now and trying very hard to be human.”

Galina
’
s eyes filled with tears and she tugged at the sash of her bathrobe. “He
’
s forgotten me.”

“
Mom,” Cassandr
a said in a gentle voice. “It’s just
thirty years ago since he killed the cabal and sent you away. That
’
s like a blink of an eye for a vampire. I
’
m sure he remembers you.” Silently cursing herself for her insensitivity, she embraced her mother. “He loved you. He sent you away to keep you safe.”

“
But now he
’
s dating someone else.” Galina covered her face with her hands.

“
Mom, you were with him a very long time ago.” Cassandra struggled to think of a way to comfort her mother. Galina was still madly in love with Cian Lynch, Cassandra
’
s vampire father. She would probably love him until her last breath. A few times Galina had attempted to go to Austin to find Cian, but had been stopped in time. Vampire fathers killed their dhamphir offspring and it was the only solid argument that kept Galina from risking everything to find the vampire.

“
It was a very long time ago. Look at you
,
all grown up and looking so much like him.”

“
I look like you,” Cassandra said gently. She had no idea what her father looked like and wasn
’
t sure she wanted to. Dr. Summerfield and her mother both claimed she looked like her father, but when she looked in the mirror she saw her mother
’
s genes stamped into her features.

“
You do look like me,” Galina said with delight. “But much more beautiful.”

“
Oh, no! You
’
re much more beautiful than I will ever be!” Cassandra kissed her mother
’
s cheek and snuggled into her side. She felt her mother tense and peered into her face. “Mom?”

“
Something
’
s wrong, isn
’
t it?” Galina rubbed her brow. “You
’
re keeping something from me.”

“
Mom, it was a simple job. Nothing dangerous.”

“
I should have taken Cian
’
s money. Then you wouldn
’
t have to do these things.”

“
Mom, it
’
s fine.
I
’
m
fine.” Gripping her mother
’
s hand tightly, she said, “I
’
ll always be fine. I
’
m too smart and too much of a bad ass to not be okay.”

“
You sound like him when you talk like that,” Galina said with a pout.

“
The only weird thing about the trip was this girl I saw.”

“
You met a girl?” Her mother looked keenly interested.

“
I literally ran into a girl. When she touched me I felt...” Cassandra stared at her hand. “I felt magic.”

“
Did you get her number?”

“
Not that kind of magic. Real magic. Or at least I think it was.”

Galina cocked her head, her expression thoughtful. “So you didn
’
t get her number?”

“
It
’
s not like that,” Cassandra said swiftly. “It was just odd. To feel that.”

Narrowing her eyes, Galina studied her daughter intently. “You liked her.”

“
Mom! I don
’
t even think we spoke to each other!”

“
You have this little glow though,” Galina insisted. “I can see it.”

Biting her bottom lip, Cassandra stared at the hand that the mysterious woman had touched. Though the sensation was faint now, she could still feel the slight tingle. “Honestly, Mom, I
’
m not sure what to think about what happened. It
’
s not like I
’
m ever going to see her again.” To her surprise, her words elicited a small pang of regret inside her.

Galina picked up her notepad and started a new notation. “Oh, maybe you will. If it is meant to be, it will work out. Maybe you will get a chance at the love I never had.”

“
Mom, don
’
t say things like that,” Cassandra protested.

“
No, no. I mean it. Maybe you
’
ll have good luck to even out all my bad luck.” Galina smiled at Cassandra lovingly. “A mother can hope, can
’
t she?”

“
Of course.” Cassandra knew better than to argue with her mother. Besides she didn
’
t want to upset her. A certain spark had come to life in her mother
’
s eyes when Cassandra had mentioned magic. It had been a long time since she had seen her mother look so enthralled.

“
Besides, a little magic might be exactly what you need.” Galina made stars around several words and underlined them. “I like magic. I wish I had some. I would wave my hand and make your life perfect.”

“
Mom, it
’
s perfect. Right now, right here, it
’
s perfect.” Cassandra scooted down on the sofa and laid her head on her mother
’
s lap. Her mother
’
s gentle touch was soothing as Galina stroked her daughter
’
s hair. “As long as you
’
re happy, everything is fine.”