Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six (35 page)

“What? No!” Flo ran up to the mirror and patted it, finally pressing her nose against the glass. “What have you done?” She whirled and glared at the demons. “Get out of here. If my husband smells demons in this house, he will get out his holy water.”

“She’s right.” I frowned at Spyte, who was picking through Flo’s blouse collection and had settled on a bright yellow one with green trim. “And Richard’s is the real deal. It really hurt Alesa. What would Lucifer say if you were sent back in a steaming pile and landed right in his lap?”

“Don’t think you want Richard interfering, do you, Florence?” Cary strolled up to her and plucked at her dress with a black claw. “You’d never see your reflection again.”

“What do you want?” Flo glanced at Spyte. “Get away from my clothes.”

“You have exquisite taste. Lucifer would love you.” Spyte giggled as he threw her blouse up in the air, then ripped it apart with his claws. “I do so hope you do the right thing.”

“I told you to leave my friends alone!” I started to jump up but, wouldn’t you know, Cary waved his hand in my direction and I was stuck on the bench, solid as a rock. When I tried to scream, my mouth was sealed shut. Oh, man, did I hate this. Now I was going to have to just sit and pray that Flo had the will to resist what these demons had to offer.

“Ignore Glory, Florence.” Cary pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “Now, here’s all you have to do to keep that reflection you’re so fond of.” He pulled out a piece of expensive paper and the envelope disappeared while a red pen appeared in his other hand.

“What is it?” Flo glanced back behind her, to make sure her reflection was still gone. Her hands were trembling and not just because Spyte had moved on to her dresses and was humming “Come on, Baby, Light my Fire” as he pulled out a red number. He held it up, then shook his head. In seconds it was full of blackened holes and lying on the floor with wisps of smoke curling up from it.

“Just sign this little contract giving your soul to Lucifer and your reflection will be restored.” Caryon smiled, showing all his fangs this time. “No biggie. You’re immortal. What difference does it make where you go when you die?
If
you ever do. Hmmm?”

“I, I can’t. My Ricardo. He would never forgive me.” Flo cringed when Spyte pulled open a drawer and began ripping his way through silk panties. “Make him stop. Why is he doing that?”

“Spyte, bad boy. You’re upsetting our Florence. And she’s on the verge—”

“Out of my house!” The roar made the crystal chandelier in the center of the closet rattle. Richard held his Bible in front of him and wore a crucifix around his neck.

“Spoilsport.” Cary whirled and let his true and hideous scaly snout show. “I’d refuse but I have other business else-where and this was getting boring. Come, Spyte.”

“Aw, I was having fun.” Spyte blinked. “Here’s a parting gift, Florence, to keep us in your heart.” He grinned, then disappeared along with Cary. Suddenly the air was filled with flying insects.

“Moths!
Mio Dio!
They will devour my silks, my wools! Ricardo, do something!” Flo collapsed in his arms, tears running down her face.

I leaned over, feeling sick, like maybe I could throw up. “Glory, are you okay?” Jerry sat beside me and put his arm around me.

“No, I did this. Got them interested in Flo.”

“Yes, you did. You’d better leave.” Richard still held Flo but he was staring at me. “Darling, calm down. I’ll call an exterminator. Surely they can’t do that much damage.”

Flo jerked away from him, grabbed a leather bag and started swatting at the hundreds of moths. This just made them dive into her clothes to hide. “This is too cruel. I can’t bear to watch.” She threw herself on Richard again and buried her face in his shirt, sobbing.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean . . .” I wiped the tears off my cheeks.

“Glory!” Flo pulled away from Richard and held out her hands to me. “I don’t blame you. I am weak. I never should have listened for even a minute.”

“They’re clever, Flo. And Richard is right, I got you noticed.” I stood, my legs rubbery, and leaned against Jerry. “We’re going. I’m sorry for this . . .” I waved my hand, batting at the moths that had ventured out again. I felt some on my hair and brushed them away.

“Not your fault,
amiga
.” Flo frowned when he tried to stop her and finally stepped away from Richard to hug me. “I will call you tomorrow.”

“I won’t hold you to that. Just save your clothes. I’m so, so sorry.” I noticed Richard didn’t say anything. Jerry was quiet too as he led me out of the house and to his SUV. It wasn’t until we were driving back down the hills and toward his house that he finally spoke.

“What did we walk in on?”

“The demons were trying to get Flo to sign away her soul.” I took a shaky breath. “I swear, if you two hadn’t intervened, I was afraid she was going to go for it.”

“This demon shit has got to end, Glory.” Jerry reached over and took my hand.

“You think I don’t want it to?” I sighed.

“This all goes back to Valdez.” Jerry squeezed my hand.

“I’m still helping him, Jer. Besides, I don’t think they’d let me back out now anyway. They seem to be having too much fun at my expense.” I sighed and looked out the window at the dark night. “Take me home. I need to make sure Penny gets in all right.”

“Fine.” He took his hand back to the steering wheel.

I decided that it was past time for me to make some things clear with Jerry and this was one of them. Yes, I hated the demon thing, but I was going to have to resolve it myself. End of story. I just hoped none of my friends ended up as collateral damage.

“
W
e need to talk.” This time I said it and Jerry was the one making the face like “Here it comes.”

“Fine. What do you want to talk about?” He brought me a bottle of synthetic and settled me on the couch. “I know you’re still upset about what happened with Florence. So am I.”

“Yes. The demons are out of control. I’m surprised they haven’t approached
you
.” I took a sip of the cold drink but it didn’t help. My insides were still Jell-O.

“I think they sense that it would do them no good. They obviously poke about for vulnerabilities. I’ve learned to hide mine pretty well over the years.” He sat beside me, his arm along the back of the couch.

“But you have some.” I studied him in the dim light from the kitchen, the only light we’d turned on. Penny wasn’t home yet, but I really didn’t expect her until right before dawn. She still had two more hours.

“You, of course. And my family. I have that need to protect what I consider mine, you know.” He met my gaze, his dark eyes serious. “I know you hate when I say that. The ‘mine’ thing.”

“Yes, I do. I don’t belong to anyone but myself.” I sighed. “And you see that as me being difficult.”

“Gloriana, I made you vampire. To me it’s simple. I’m responsible for you. It’s been bred into me not to shirk my responsibilities.” He touched my cheek. “And then there’s the fact that I love you. So I want to keep you safe. It’s a strong need that I can’t seem to deny. No matter how many roadblocks you throw in my path.”

“I guess most women would be honored, would let you have at it.” I sighed at the touch of his hand. “I just wish we could be together without complications.”

“What you see as complications, I see as simply the way things should be.” He tugged me closer. “You are so damned stubborn about this. Is it because of Valdez?”

“Don’t put this on him. It’s all about me. Because I have to be free to choose my own way. To fight demons by his side. Or make love with you.” I threw out my hands. “Or even spend time with Ray if I wish.”

“You ask a lot, Gloriana.” Jerry withdrew his arm and stood. “I don’t know if it’s in me to share you like that.”

“I know.” I didn’t cry, my eyes suddenly very dry as I felt that truth down to my toes. “I’ve always known, Jerry. But I don’t want to lose you. So my wish is that you’ll work on being less, uh, I hate this word, but
controlling
.”

“That
is
a harsh word.” He ran his fingers through his hair and walked around the coffee table to pace the length of the room. “But I learned to do it at an early age. It’s what a commander must do to his troops.”

“I’m not a troop.” I leaned back, glad we could talk calmly about this.

“Of course not.” He stopped, his back to the TV. “I’m trying to explain where my attitude came from. Da taught it to me as a boy. Along with the way the men in my family have always treated their women.”

“Oh, yes. Don’t get me started on that.” I leaned forward. “You know your father isn’t exactly a good role model for you. Your parents have been separated for more decades than they’ve been together. And when they’re together, it’s like being in the middle of a battlefield.”

“True enough.” Jerry started pacing again. “’Tis the fate of the Campbell men to love strong women, it seems. Bloody hell, but I can’t just talk this out and suddenly be a different man for you, Gloriana, much as I’d like to be.”

“Obviously. Or I think you would have done it long ago. You’ve always seemed motivated.” I stood and walked over to him. “I’m just asking for an end to this constant jealousy. To this feeling I get that I have to hide things from you, tiptoe around you or you’ll go off.”

“You are hiding things from me?” He grabbed my shoulders.

“See? That’s all you heard.” I stepped back. “Stop it. Don’t do this again. No, I’m not hiding anything. Or I don’t think I am.” I put my hand to my head. What I’d told Jerry or what I hadn’t seemed impossible to keep straight right now and I wasn’t sure I had it in me to even try.

“Come here. Let me hold you.” He pulled me into his arms, which felt way too much like a safe haven.

Oh, but it was seductive. I was feeling much too vulnerable after that whole demon incident with Flo. It was tempting to just take the easy way here. My head hurt, my stomach still rolled and Jerry’s broad shoulders could take on everything, even demons.

And those evil slimes were always watching, apparently, just waiting for a chance to swoop in and try their luck with anyone I came in contact with. It was enough to make me want to put my head down on Jerry’s strong chest and weep. Who would they try for next? Ray? Another “easy takedown” as Spyte had said.

“Gloriana, sweetheart. You’re shaking. I don’t know what those bastards are doing to you, but please let me help.” Jerry picked me up and carried me to my bedroom. He laid me on the bed and knelt beside it. “Let me get Richard involved. He helped before, didn’t he?”

“He’s furious with me. He won’t let Flo within miles of me now.” I stared at the ceiling. “Not that it will do any good to keep her away from me. Now that they’ve started in on her, I don’t have to be around for them to do their seduction routine. This was just their first pass.”

“You’re not responsible for Florence’s soul. If she’s weak, that’s her fault.” Jerry held my hand. “And anyone else who gives in to their offers, it’s on their heads, not yours.”

I looked at him. “So why can’t you say that about Rafe? He isn’t making these demons do anything. They promised they’d be satisfied with Simon and the Energy Vampires. That, if we get them, they’ll leave us alone.”

“And you believe them?” Jerry shook his head. “Haven’t you learned anything from this latest incident?”

“You’re right.” I sat up. “We’ve got to make sure the demons know that after this they’re never welcome in Austin again.”

“That would be quite a trick.” Jerry got up off the floor to sit on the bed beside me. “How on earth could we do that?”

“We? So you’re in? You think you could work with Rafe and me to do this?” I grabbed his hands. “Without getting into a fight over it?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to make you safe. And if it means giving up jealousy.” He winced. “Well, I’ll be working on that. Maybe there’s a twelve-step program I can join.”

I hugged him. “There is! I’ll get online and find a meeting for you here in town.”

“Seriously?” Jerry had obviously been bluffing and I’d just called him on it.

“Seriously. Bottom line, either you trust me or you don’t. I’ve told Rafe we’re done. Do you think I’m so weak I can’t resist him?” I leaned back and gave him a look that meant business.

“No. You’ve proved time and again that you aren’t weak, my girl. You’re getting stronger all the time and I love that about you.” He leaned down and kissed me. “So the fault here is mine. I’ll go to the bloody meetings and do whatever it takes to prove I want us to work.”

“Thank you, Jerry. And I take blame too. I betrayed you. You have reason to wonder about Rafe, I know that.” I kissed
him
this time, showing him how much I loved him.

“Now all we need to do is survive.” Jerry held me close. “I’m talking to Richard. He can’t guard Florence twenty-four-seven. He’ll want to help us send these demons back to hell and he’s something of an expert with these matters. Am I right?”