Page 50 of Blood and Bonbons

“Okay. No more attitude from either of you,” I said before either could say more. “Cross, would you mind showing us the hidden compartment?”

“And maybe explain how you know there is one?” Vena added.

“I’m familiar with this brand of desk. Like many other pieces in your home, it’s older.” He walked over to the desk, removed a drawer, and pulled a latch inside. The decorative front piece in the center popped open.

“How is it that two women with no men can afford a house filled with luxuries of which they are unfamiliar?” he asked.

“It’s Vena’s family home,” I said as she opened the drawer.

“And where is her family?” he asked.

“Gone for now,” I said.

“Holy shit,” Vena breathed. “It’s here.” She pulled out the book from the picture and laid it on the desk.

“Delightful,” Cross said in a dry tone. “Now, may we leave?”

Instead of answering him, I went to Vena’s side as she opened the book to the first page.

Herein rests the original accountings of the first encounters. Lest the reader believe this fiction and fallacy, be assured it is not. The truth is a danger to all who read. Proceed cautiously lest the shadows devour you as well.

“Dramatic much?” Vena said under her breath before turning the page.

“Ladies, I understand that the fairer sex is recently enamored of the written word, but I’m afraid my needs can no longer safely wait. I can hear your racing pulses, and they are tempting me within a breadth of reason. Unless you have a large family pet you wish never to see again, we must leave.”

Vena and I both slowly turned to look at Cross. His eyes were black again, and he was gripping the back of a chair.

“I’m not getting in the car with him,” Vena said under her breath.

I agreed with her but didn’t voice it.

Instead, I said, “Eating pets isn’t a good idea. But there are deer in the area. You can find them all along the river. We can go to the pawn shop after you feed.”

“Yeah,” Vena said. “Deer are delicious. Go out and hunt like a manly man.”

His eyes darkened with vivid black veins as he pushed away from the chair and left the room.

We cautiously followed him to the front door, where he opened it and walked out into the sunlight. He didn’t burst into flames or even smolder a little as he lifted his head and sniffed the air.

He disappeared a moment later.

“What the hell?” Vena said.

I glanced from the sunny front yard to Vena. “How is he able to be in the sun? Wasn’t that supposed to kill him?”

“I’ve never heard of a vampire walking around during the day before.”

Closing the front door, we returned to the office. She went over to the shelf and weeded through the books until she found one that was leather-bound and closed with a clasp.

She opened it and flipped through to the back.

“I’m so glad I took the sun charm. It wouldn’t have done a thing,” I said. “No, not true. It would havereallypissed him off. You have to stop taking risks like that, Vena.”

She snorted. “Like making him blood bonbons wasn’t a risk?” She shook her head and closed the book. “Nothing.” She slid the book back onto the shelf. “If there is a way for a vampire to walk in the sunlight, he’s probably the only one who knows how.”

Vena smirked. I thought for sure she’d be upset by the lack of information.

“Why are you smiling?”

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