Page 29 of Blood and Bonbons

“I thought you were figuring out the sun charm spell-thingy.”

“Multi-tasking. I say we check out the coordinates on the way to Blur tonight.”

“No way. You heard the creepy goblin. Miles was working on something dangerous. It’s not safe.”

“Think about it, Ev. We searched his phone and apartment and didn’t find anything besides the scrotum to explain what he’d been working on. Then, hours after he disappears, he gets this cryptic text. This could be our clue to finding him.”

I knew I couldn’t say no. If it was a clue to find Miles, we owed it to him to look.

“Fine,” I said. “We’ll drive by it. But nothing else. No stopping. No questioning people. Once we figure out what is there, then we can plan our next steps.” Which would not involve any more risks. Having to deal with the threat of a recently woken vampire was enough.

I turned to consider the pink milk. I didn’t have another can to replace it. But . . . the bonbons were for a vampire anyway. Maybe the extra ingredient would be the perfect addition to this please-don’t-be-mad-at-us gift.

And it wasn’t as if he hadn’t already had a taste of my blood. Unwrapping my finger, I allowed a few extra drops to stain the milk then cleaned and bandaged my cut.

I had the bonbons cooling in the freezer before Vena finished what she was doing.

“I’m going to go pack then shower,” I said. “Don’t eat those bonbons.”

“You made bonbons?”

“Yes, but they aren’t for you. They’re bribe food, and I counted each one. No eating them. I’m serious.”

She made a face as I walked past her.

In my room, I packed enough for several nights away, on the off chance things didn’t go as Vena planned, then got ready for work. By the time I finished, Vena was in her room packing as well.

The ring pouch sat on the table, partially covering a note from Vena. There was no sign of any trap or sun charm. Relieved that she’d changed her mind, I read her note.

Didn’t know vampires were real. My bad.

I snorted and grabbed the notebook to write a new one.

We humbly apologize for accidentally transporting your ring away from you. When we discovered the mistake and went to return it, you were already gone. I hope that finding it in impeccable condition and these treats will make amends.

We are truly sorry.

When I finished, I retrieved the bonbons. Vena emerged from her room as I set them next to the new note.

“You made him dessert?” she asked.

“It can’t hurt.”

“You know what? You’re right. It actually might help this look more authentic.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, eyeing the ring pouch. “What did you do?”

She plucked the ring, which I’d thought was in the pouch, from her pocket.

“Just a little switch.”

I glanced at the pouch again. “What’s in there?”

“The sun charm. Miles figured out a way to turn it into a bomb of sorts. The vamp will never know what hit him.”

“But I made bonbons as a peace offering.”

“Ev, he’s a vampire. He’s dangerous. Get over it.”

---