Page 3 of Coven

The long hallway ended in a wide room. A fireplace was burning merrily to the left, two long couches were centered around a wooden coffee table, and two overstuffed armchairs filled the rest of the space. The right-hand wall held one closed door.

“Sit. They’ll come soon.” The wolf pointed at the couches briefly before spinning on one heel and walking back the way they had come.

Kana swung his backpack around and sat in one of the armchairs with the bag in his lap. He opened an outer pocket and pulled out a small notebook with a pen jammed down the metal spiral spine, then carefully placed his bag on the floor between his feet.

Only a minute passed before the door swung open and another werewolf walked into the room. This wolf was tall, at least six foot five, and his light blond hair was cut tight to the sides of his head and an inch long at the top in a very military style. His eyes were deep brown as they studied Kana, and his shoulders were…yum. Kana had to look away before his eyes betrayed his thoughts.

How yum? I wanna see! Mika demanded. Kana bumped his heel against his bag to tell Mika to be quiet.

“Can I get you some coffee or tea?” the werewolf asked, and his voice was low and rumbling in a way that sent a happy shiver up Kana’s spine.

“No thank you,” Kana replied, glad when his voice didn’t waver and betray the gutter his thoughts kept falling into. “I’m just here to conduct the preliminary interview.”

The wolf’s nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath, and Kana hoped his spell hiding Mika held, but all the wolf did was nod.

“They’ll be here in a moment. Let me go see how much longer.” He left, but the door didn’t latch firmly behind him, and Kana could hear him talking to someone on the other side. “Tell them to eat first. This one’s no good.”

Damn. Kana let out a breath and forced his fingers to relax from where they were clutching at his notebook. He didn’t know if the werewolf had already figured out he was a witch, but he knew something. At least Kana wouldn’t have to prove he had power by fighting off a vampire looking to turn him into dinner.

However, that wouldn’t save his coworkers if the vampires decided to snack on them when it came time for the big interview.

Five more minutes passed before the door was pushed open again. The wolf led the way, followed by a man and a woman. Both were pale white, their skin almost translucent. The man had a beaked nose like a hawk and wore a vest, jacket, and cravat over embroidered pants. The woman’s black hair was pulled up high on the top of her head in some sort of updo that matched the wide skirts and corseted bodice of her equally embroidered dress. Kana didn’t need magic to know they were vampires. Despite the fancy clothes, a heavy air seemed to emanate from them.

“You requested to speak with us,” the man said. “My advisor informed me it would be in our best interest to agree. So speak.”

Kana swallowed but obeyed. “I’m from the Herald. We’re a local news agency, but we’re also part of a larger media conglomerate. There has been some concern that vampires have moved into the neighborhood, so we’re looking to do a piece to help alleviate those fears.”

“They fear we will kill them to harvest their blood,” the man said. “They need not fear such. A dead human can no longer produce fresh blood, so it is of no use to us to kill our prey.”

Kana, nodded, focusing on the content of their words rather than the phrasing. “The people need to know they have nothing to worry about, which is why the Herald and Channel 7 are looking to produce a piece.”

“A number of humans would come to our territory to interview us?” he asked. It seemed like a rhetorical question, but Kana couldn’t help noticing the pointed look the two vampires shared: hunger and eager anticipation.

Territory, Mika hissed. It’s always about territory.

Of course. The vampires were forced to behave outside of their castle. Vampire hunters and other supernatural species forced them to obey society’s rules. However, there was no one to stop them from misbehaving inside their own territory.

“I accept this proposition. It will be interesting to learn whether the new technology allows our visage to appear on film. Set it up, Ember,” the male vampire added to the wolf.

Ember nodded. “It will be done.”

The vampires stood and walked from the room without so much as a glance at Kana, let alone a goodbye.

“What else do you need today to be prepared for the interview?” Ember asked.

Kana looked away from the closed door and over to Ember, who had finally sat in the other armchair. His deep brown eyes were looking at Kana as if he were trying to read Kana’s innermost thoughts. Given one glance at Ember sent Kana’s innermost thoughts into the gutter, Kana really hoped Ember couldn’t actually read them. Kana forced himself to look down at his notebook where he had some questions scrawled.

“I need to know their names,” he began and then recklessly added, “and I need some assurance my coworkers won’t become lunch.”

Ember’s lips quirked slightly, as if he found Kana funny, but he didn’t actually smile. All of a sudden, Kana wanted to see that smile, to see what Ember’s face looked like if he lost his seriousness.

“You met Master Octavius and Mistress Penelope. They will likely be the only vampires you will encounter while you are here. As for your coworkers, I make no promises. Perhaps knowing they might get fed on while they’re here will convince them not to come. Any other questions?”

Kana looked at his notes again to double-check, but his duties as the initial contact were simple: find out who was being interviewed, any interesting tidbits the interviewee should ask, and set up the date and time for the formal interview.

“When would it be best for us to come?”

Ember stood and pulled a card out of his pants pocket. He held it out for Kana to take. The card read, Ember Maxwell, Security Chief, and included a phone number.

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