Page 112 of The Neighborhood Vampire

The Dark Night of Alice’s Soul

“He’s gone,” Alice said into her phone through her tears. “Hugo’s gone.”

“I’m sorry, kiddo,” Ez’s voice said through Alice’s phone. “Hugo was a good man.”

Was?

The word stabbed into Alice’s heart, Alice’s soul.Was. As in Hugo was no more, a thing of her past. Alice sniffled and wiped away the tears from her eyes. She had sobbed on the car ride all the way home. The cathartic end to the Savinos broke down the flood barriers, and her tears had flowed all morning.

Alice was frozen, unable to speak back to Ez. She didn’t know what to say. All she could think about was Hugo, her fiancé, and his contorted face as the wooden stake pierced his heart. The image was burned into her soul for all of time.

“How are you doing?” Ez asked.

Alice gulped. She wiped away the tears flowing down her face. “I’m fine. Just fine.”

I’m fine, by the way.

Hugo’s words to her from the night they met tore through hermind. She wasn’t fine. She never would be again. Her body, her mind, and her soul craved Hugo. She wanted nothing more than to celebrate this victory with him by her side. She was finally free from her past. There was no longer a need to hide. She was free from those who tried to use her, hurt her. But she couldn’t. The wooden stake pierced more than Hugo’s heart—it also shattered a portion of her soul.

“I spoke with the Vampiric Conclave. They agreed it was a business dispute. Nothing more,” Ez said.

A business dispute?

“They thanked us for taking care of the Savinos. Apparently, they were a thorn in their side as well,” Ez continued. “If it makes you feel any better, I told them to shove it, and if another vampire shows their face around any of us, the next time it won’t be abusiness dispute.”

Alice sniffled again. “Thanks.”

“I also told them there’s a new owner of Red Heart Distribution, and they can call her Ms. Primrose,” Ez said. “I’ll make sure the Raskins get everything back.”

“Thank you,” Alice said.

“I’ll send a crew to clean everything up. What about Sam?”

“I left her in the nightclub. I don’t know where she went,” Alice replied.

“Don’t worry about her. I’ll keep an eye out for her. Do you need anything?”

Alice needed Hugo back. “I’m good. I’m at the Raskins’ house. I’ll break the news about Hugo to them, then I’m going home. I need to sleep. I don’t know what I’m going to do next.”

“Take your time. Take all the time you need. If you need anything,anything, I’m only a phone call away,” Ez said.

“Thank you.”

“Alice, I want you to know I’m very sorry you had to go through this. I’m proud of you. I’m proud you stood your ground and took care of them. I know it wasn’t easy, and it hurts now. It’ll never beokay. I want you to know I’m always there for you. You’re like a daughter to me.”

There was a pause. Alice wiped away a tear from her eye. “Thank you. You’re the best friend anyone could ask for. I’m so sorry you had to get involved in this too.”

“Go home. Get some rest, then we’ll figure out what to do next together. I love you.” Ez hung up the phone.

Alice sat in her SUV, parked in front of the Raskins’ home. She focused on the light blue colored house. Its white trim shone brightly in the early morning sun. She sat there frozen, waiting to tell them what had transpired. She didn’t know what to tell them. How could she? They were unaware of the fact that Hugo was a vampire, and now she had to tell them he was dead.

Her lips quivered. Her body hurt. She wanted to yell and scream and break everything. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair she had to go through all of this. It wasn’t fair she had to be the one to tell them. She didn’t ask for any of it. There was still one more thing to do, one last torture the Savinos had to put her through. She got out of her SUV.

She trudged up the entryway, each step heavier than the last. She stood in front of their white door. If she didn’t knock, then he’d still be alive. Alive in their hearts and minds. If she knocked, then he would die yet again. She hesitated, not wanting to do it. She couldn’t. Not to them. Yet, she had no choice. It had to be done.

Alice knocked on the door.

Carol opened it and peered around the corner. “Sweetie, what’s wrong? Come in.”

---