Page 19 of The Accidental Witch

“Knock it off!” Robbie hissed. “And behave yourself. No Swiffers, understood?”

His sigh was loud and aggravated. “Fine-fine, but you can only deny a lover like me romance for so long before I must fill ze cup!”

“Hervé, hush!”

“Hey there, Sassafras,” she heard Mrs. Campisi call from one flight below. It was a sin this woman had to walk up three flights of stairs at her age without accommodation—though, to be fair, she could still do a backbend.

Squeezing Hervé tight to her side, she whispered. “You stay quiet.”

She saw the top of Mrs. Campisi’s gray head appear at the bottom of the third flight of steel-green steps. “Hi, Mrs. Campisi! How are you? You need help with anything?” she asked, sounding almost too cheerful.

She tucked her gnarled hand around the loose railing and began to take slow strides up the steps. “Ain’t me who needs help. How are you after our wild night? And who are all those purdy ladies and the handsome looker in the big black SUV with the cats? You movin’?”

Everyone had seen her jump when the planchette transferred Gwinnifer’s power, but thankfully, they’d all gone home by the time she’d set her hair on fire.

Robbie tucked her hand tighter into her pocket as she came eye to eye with her neighbor. She looked tired, her short hair mussed from the wind outside, her floral housecoat under her jacket wrinkled. “I’m fine, thanks, and nope. You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’m just going to a friend’s for a few days. I’ll be back for some more fish. Couldn’t keep me away.”

Mrs. Campisi patted her arm with a brief smile, as if she knew her fish stunk to high heaven—literally and figuratively. “Good to know. Would hate to lose ya. You’re a nice kid, no matter what the feckin’ papers say.”

Smiling warmly at her, Robbie remembered what she and Greer had discussed. “Speaking of moving, do you remember who lived here before me?”

Mrs. Campisi clucked her tongue. “Apartment was vacant for a long time. Years, maybe. Who wants to rent a dump like this unless they have to? But the last girl who lived there, think her name was Siobhan Something. Sad bit about her.”

Robbie cocked her head. “Sad how?”

“She died. Didn’t find her for a week.” She waved her arthritic hand in front of her nose. “Phew, that was some stank.”

Robbie fought a gasp as Hervé stiffened under her arm. “What happened to her?”

Mrs. Campisi leaned into her, her red lipstick bleeding into the wrinkles around her lips. “They said it was natural causes, but if natural causes looks like that, I hope the good Lord takes me by a big fat heart attack.”

“Looked like what?” she asked, fighting to keep the tremble out of her voice.

“She was all shriveled up. Dang near passed out when I saw her just before they zipped up that body bag. I’ve seen a dead body or two, kiddo. They found old man Carter after almost a week, right down there on the first floor, and he looked bad, but not like she did. Poor kid. She was so young, too. Only twenty-three.”

A chill zinged along her spine. If what Greer said was true, and Gwinnifer had stolen her youth, would that leave her all shriveled up?

“Hey, Firestarter, what’s takin’ so damn long?” Nina called, making her stiffen as she heard the vampire stomp up the steps, her work boots echoing in the stairwell.

As she approached them, Robbie stepped in front of Mrs. Campisi, still unsure about Nina.

But Nina pushed her out of the way and stuck her hand out, enveloping Mrs. Campisi’s fingers in her palm. “Who’s this?”

Robbie cleared her throat. “This is my neighbor, Mrs. Campisi. Mrs. Campisi, this is…Nina. My…” She licked her lips. “One of my friends.

Mrs. Campisi whistled. “Ain’t you purdy? Like a dang model.” She squinted. “Man, wish I’d used whatever you use on my skin when I was your age.”

Nina grinned and winked. “Not near as purdy as you, young lady. Nice to meet ya, Mrs. Campisi. You need help up the stairs?”

Robbie watched Mrs. Campisi virtually melt under Nina’s coal-black gaze as she patted her arm. “I’m fine, youngin’. You take my girl here and have yourselves some girl time. She’s had a rough go of it for bein’ such a good kid. I’m gonna go upstairs to my shitty apartment and have a cuppa tea and watch someBridgerton.”

Nina grinned with a knowing look in her eyes. “First season, Simon and Daphne. Still my favorite couple.”

Mrs. Campisi cackled and fanned herself. “Ain’t he a treat for the eyeballs?”

Nina nodded, her dark hair shining under the glare of the fluorescent lights. “Ain’t he ever,” she crooned. “We’d better get goin’ now. You sure you don’t need any help?”

Mrs. Campisi flapped her hands at Nina. “Nah. I’m a tough old bird. You go have a good time with your girlies.” She gave Robbie a pinch on her cheek and smiled, flashing her graying teeth. “I’ll see ya soon, Sassafras, and I hope I see your friend again, too.”

---