Page 29 of Midlife Vampire Unexpected

“Yeah, we use cell phones and things too obviously. You’ve seen me with mine, but if you want to get into the old school, you asked how the dark Fae communicate. They use dark crystals.”

“Do you know how any of this works?” Bianca asked.

“Well, you have to get hold of a dark crystal.” Antonio shrugged as if it was an obvious response.

“You’re not being helpful here,” Jane said.

“I’m giving you every single answer to the questions you’re asking me.” Antonio responded.

“Can you get us a dark crystal?” I asked.

“There’s only one place I know where they’re sold. And it’s not here in Cougar Creek. Cottonwood Arizona.”

“Can’t you order them online?” I asked.

Hilda looked over at me like I was a little crazy.

“Well, you’ve got a corporation, right?” I pointed out. “Why can’t they set things up to sell on Amazon or Etsy or eBay?”

“You can either go and get the crystal or you can have them brought to you,” Drake said. “That’s how it works.” He looked over at Mae. “I take it you’re footing the bill?”

“The Estate will,” Mae said.

Hilda nodded. “We can’t leave the cemetery. We’ll need delivery.”

“I’ve got some connections,” Drake said. “It’s not going to be cheap though.”

A low murmuring rose out of Jane’s lips and we all turned to watch her deliver a low series of grunts and sounds that didn’t make sense in any language we knew.

“What is it?” I asked.

Hilda leaned in close so she could hear what Jane was saying.

“Demon tongue.” She stood up shaking her head. “Damn. The demon’s still in there.”

“Do any of us know what she’s saying?” I asked.

“If the demon’s in her and she’s speaking a demon tongue, it’s not her who’s doing the talking. They’re doing something to her.” Hilda shook her head, worry etched in her face. “He’s got complete control of her body.”

“Except we’ve got the binding spell on her,” I said. “Right? That’s what’s holding her down?”

“Yeah, but he’s trying to free himself.” Drake moved around her body watching as it moved and jerked in awkward ways.

“Will the bindings be able to hold her?” I asked.

“Long enough,” Hilda said.

“Long enough for what?” I asked.

Hilda made a clicking sound with her tongue. “Long enough for us to figure out how to get the demon out of her.”

A crippling pain shot through my stomach making me double over.

Blood. I needed blood.

I looked up, feeling the hunger in my gaze as I looked at everyone in the room.

I was the murderer. I was the perp. I was the predator.

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