Page 9 of Castings & Curses

Fabian had a point. If Hanne was such a bloodthirsty monster, she wouldn’t have been able to keep up the act with someone she’d been intimate with for such a long time. “She looked afraid to me,” Lucille admitted. “I believe her that it wasn’t hers.”

“Heads don’t just turn up like that, Lu.” Jan was slowly losing his patience. “If it wasn’t her, then I want to know who else is running around, ripping people’s heads off. Yes, yes, the community.” He rolled his eyes before barging on. “How sure can we be that a) she wasn’t lying about that, and b) that the other vampire will simply stop? And also, do we really know Mikaela is an innocent in all of this? It might all just be their go-to act.”

“Mikaela didn’t know anything. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have freaked out like this.” Fabian shook his head. “Why look for trouble when there isn’t any?”

“Uhm, head?”

Fabian paled a little. “Do we know if it’s a human head? If monsters kill monsters, then I’d say let them.”

Lucille stepped in between them, her hands raised. “That’s enough, boys. We all want the same thing here: make sure Greenvalley is safe. That means we can’t just let them go like this. We can check the news to see if someone has been decapitated in the area, but right now, we have no lead on this mysterious community. Our only way is through Hanne, and that means we need to make sure she stays around.” A plan was slowly forming in her mind. “And there’s only one person who can get her to stay. Mikaela.”

“But Mikaela stormed off,” Fabian protested.

“Yes, but you said she wanted to marry Hanne. Would she really give up this easily?”

Slowly, Fabian started smiling. “Are you thinking of meddling with them?”

Lucille grinned. He understood her. There was hope for Fabian yet. “That’s exactly what I’m planning to do. If Mikaela can convince Hanne to stay, we might uncover Hanne’s secret before she’s gone, never to be seen again. Plus, Mikaela will keep her accountable. It’s a win-win situation. So, are you with me?”

“Making a match between a human and a monster?” Fabian shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“Have you guys lost your mind?” Jan thundered, drawing quite a few glances.

Fabian smiled innocently. “I rather pair them up than kill them.”

For once, Lucille was totally enamoured with his hesitance in hunting a monster. She hooked her arm into his and grinned at Jan. “That’s my kind of plan.”

“Without me.” Jan crossed his arms. “This is a dumb plan, even for you two.” He huffed. “Well, have fun playing Amor. I have to go back to work. Just in case there are any more lost heads or the sixth graders make me lose mine.” Hands in his pockets, he stalked off.

Lucille pouted. In her mind, the plan was brilliant. “It’s not a stupid idea, is it?” She was well aware that she used to stubbornly rush into things, but for once, she wasn’t rushing. Hanne had moved her with her story.

Fabian shrugged just a little bit, as if afraid to accidentally shake her off. “I think it’s worth a shot. I mean, if the whole fiasco with Matt taught us anything, it’s that monsters are capable of love. Even if they’re too stubborn to accept it.”

It felt weird to call their friend a monster, but Lucille understood what he meant. “I’m glad you’re not still mad at him.”

“Oh, I’m plenty mad at him,” Fabian assured her. “But Hanne seems a lot more in touch with her feelings, so I’m willing to give her the benefit of a doubt if it saves us some bloodshed.”

It wasn’t as romantic as Lucille had hoped, but she would take what she got.

FABIAN

It tookFabian and Lucille a few minutes to find Mikaela. As suspected, she hadn’t returned to the hostel but stayed around. If Fabian had to guess, she was hoping for Hanne to come for her, which in turn gave him hope that not all was lost.

“You go to her,” Lucille whispered.

“Alone?”

Lucille scoffed at him. “She’s human, just like us. You already talked to her before, so she’s more familiar with you.”

Begrudgingly, Fabian let go of Lucille’s arm and made his way down the riverbank, where Mikaela’s lonely figure sat. “Hey, Mika,” he said softly as he approached.

Mikaela’s head whirled around. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Can I sit?”

“Sure,” Mikaela said, her voice lacking substance. Her gaze had already returned to the dark river.

Fabian crouched down beside her and put his arms around his knees. The sight of running water always calmed him as well. “That was a lot, wasn’t it?”

---