Page 50 of The Cursed Fae

I called Lena’s cell back, but it immediately went to voicemail. My subsequent five attempts met the same result. I paced the attic and contemplated my next move. Hopping on the next plane to California wasn’t logical, and it might’ve been exactly what the vampire wanted. Maybe he was trying to lure me out of Arcane Landing, away from the wards and protections of my family and fellow fae. In that case, did I truly believe he hadn’t hurt Lena already? Or that he wouldn’t in the future?

My thumbs flew over the screen, redialing Lena’s number from memory. Straight to voicemail. Again. Think, Winter. I considered calling my great-grandmother again, but quickly dismissed the idea. Telling her about the vampire’s phone call would’ve been the smart choice, the logical choice. Who was I to think I could handle a vampire—a magic-using vampire—on my own? Still, something held me back from completing the call to Essie.

Mom and Nana were hiding so many secrets from me. For all I knew, they were aware the vampire was in California stalking Lena. I told myself I was being paranoid as panic constricted my chest. My family might’ve been secretive, but they weren’t callous. They wouldn’t leave a human defenseless, not if there was something they could do to help.

I dialed Lena’s number again. Straight to voicemail.

My frustrated cry echoed off the rounded walls. Then it hit me. I could call the restaurant where Lena worked. They would at least know whether she’d showed up for her shift. It took less than a minute to look up the number.

An annoyed man answered on the fifth ring.

“Yeah, hi. I just wanted to know whether Lena is working tonight?” I asked.

“We’re in the middle of dinner rush,” the man snapped before hanging up on me.

I wanted to scream a second time.

“Trying to get your steps in?” a voice quipped behind me.

I spun to face the newcomer. “Missy!” Seeing her curious spirit face, I wanted to smack my head against the wall for not thinking of her earlier. “I need you to do something for me.”

The manic energy swirling inside of me must’ve shown in my expression, because Missy backed away as I rushed toward her.

“I need you to go to California and check on my friend Lena. She might be in trouble.”

Missy held up her hands as though afraid I might attack her. I stopped short and let my arms fall to my sides.

“How do you expect me to get to California, Winter?” she asked, with only a fraction of her usual snark.

I threw my hands in the air. “You’re dead! You go all over the place!”

Missy rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the reminder. And no, I travel between areas I know. Places I can picture. I’ve never been to California.”

“You showed up at Nana’s house. In my bedroom. You can’t tell me you’d been in that room before,” I countered.

Her eyes narrowed. “No, but I had been to your great-grandmother’s house. It’s very different.”

I glanced down at my phone, the website for the restaurant where Lena worked still up on the screen. I held the cell up, practically shoving it in Missy’s face.

“Look at the pictures. If you can imagine the restaurant…” I trailed off and let my eyes finish the unspoken plea.

Missy sighed loudly, but she looked through the images. Then I showed her my lock screen background—a picture of Lena and me drinking champagne on the beach from last New Year’s Eve.

“Okay. I’ll try. No promises.”

With those parting words, the spirit vanished. I resumed pacing while I waited for her return. The seconds ticked by like hours. What was taking Missy so long? I called Lena’s cell three more times. Why couldn’t the guy on the phone just tell me whether she was at work? I was about to call the restaurant again and hope someone different answered when Missy popped back into the room.

Oddly, the spirit was panting. I was too worried about Lena to ponder the ins and outs of cross-country afterlife teleportation.

“Are you okay? Did you see her? Is she okay? What about a vampire? Did you notice a vampire?” My questions came out rapid fire, barely a breath between each one.

“I’m fine. She’s working. I saw her. No vamp in sight.”

Missy’s confirmation was the single greatest thing I’d heard in ages. I sank to the floor and shed several relieved tears. Lena was okay. The vampire had told the truth. Did that mean his threats were also serious? Would he hurt Lena if I didn’t learn to use my magic? I was pretty certain the answer to both questions was a resounding yes.

The phone buzzed in my hand. Through a watery haze, I saw Lena’s face flash on the screen. I looked up at Missy as I answered the video call, my voice shaky when I spoke. “Hello?”

“Are you dying?” Lena demanded.

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