They laughed and continued their conversation as they strolled along the city streets. Ashton grabbed tacos from a food cart, and Darašius assured her he didn’t need to feed for another day or two. “I will agree to your terms, Ashton, if you agree to one of mine.” “What’s that?” “You have to sign up for an art class.” Ashton opened her mouth, but Darašius held up his hand. “Now, don’t argue. I can pay for the class. You can still be a pre-law student and do something you love.” Ashton grinned. What seemed impossible yesterday, felt so easy today. “It’s a deal.” Night fell as they made their way back to Ashton’s place. Darašius agreed to stay the night on her couch until he found more suitable lodging. Ashton secretly hoped he’d move in and help pay rent. He wouldn’t eat her groceries, steal her clothes, or hog the bathroom. Did vampires use the bathroom? She shrugged, adding it to her mental list of questions to ask Daro. They were passing a park when the streetlight blew out with a loud pop. Two figures emerged from the darkness, grabbed Darašius and Ashton, and pulled them into a nearby copse of trees. “Darašius of Wallachia, I found you at last,” said a tall woman dressed in a long dark robe. “I see you found a pet.” She stepped closer to Ashton, opening her eyes wide. In a melodic voice she murmured, “Go home child. Forget me, this night, and that you ever met Darašius of Wallachia.” She turned away without a second glance. Ashton let her eyes glaze over and started to stumble away, recalling how the men had acted when they were glamoured. The female vampire didn’t know that her glamour did not work on Ashton. By the hopeless look from Darašius, she had him fooled, as well. When Ashton was out of view, she hid behind a tree to watch what happened next. “Jusztinia, you’re alive!” Darašius exclaimed. “That I am, despite your attempts to wipe out my entire family.” She snapped her fingers, and her companion approached with a long, thin chain. “Silver?” guessed Darašius. “Only the best for you. I want you to suffer as my sons and husband suffered. As I suffered being married off after Vlad’s death. How could you
betray him?” “He was a monster, Jusztinia. He had completely lost control. And Mathias was a shell of his former self, no morals, no deduction. He was a walking killing machine.” “He was my eldest son!” she spat. “He was my friend.” “How dare you! Wrap him in the chain, Larry. She turned to her companion. He appeared to be a human under a spell. Larry complied and wrapped Darašius' wrists in the silver chain. Darašius cried out in pain. His skin began to sizzle and burn wherever the silver touched him. Ashton kept waiting for Darašius to make his move, but the silver chain seemed to incapacitate him. She gulped. Jusztinia cackled as Darašius writhed in pain. “Hey you!” Ashton cried as she snuck up from behind. Jusztinia whirled around as Ashton swung a large tree branch at her face. Crack! The branch smashed into the vampire’s nose, and she cried out clutching her face. Ashton scrambled over to Darašius and unwound the silver chain. It stuck to his flesh as she yanked it away, making him yelp in pain. Jusztinia was already on her feet and fast approaching. Luckily, her human Ken doll didn’t seem to operate without explicit instructions. Larry stood there, drooling a bit. Ashton removed the last of the chain and sprang back, holding the tree branch like a bat. “You won’t connect twice,” Jusztinia said icily. “My father taught me to swing a bat,” she hollered with more bravado than she felt. Darašius climbed to his feet and put himself between the two women. “This is between you and me, Jusztinia. Ashton, go home.” “Yeah, right. You’d be dinner by now if I hadn’t stuck around.” “We can argue about this later!” he exclaimed. “If there is a later,” interrupted Jusztinia with a growl. She launched herself at Darašius and they grappled in the moonlight. Ashton stood there, looking as befuddled as Larry. Deciding she should at least even the playing field, Ashton wound up and took a swing at the human. She knocked him out cold. Checking his pulse, she breathed a sigh
of relief. Her attention was drawn to the fighting vampires. Ashton was concerned that Darašius was not beating Jusztinia easily. She seemed to be stronger than him. Ashton saw a glint in the moonlight and remembered the silver chain. She made her way to the pile of leaves and picked it up. It was hard to believe the thin chain would do anything. Realizing that’s why Jusztinia needed a human to wield it, she felt her determination grow. Darašius was on his knees now, blocking blow after blow from Jusztinia. She was unaware as Ashton approached from behind. Using the chain like a lasso, Ashton whipped the end of the chain at her. It swung around her neck, and Jusztinia screamed in agony. She fell to her knees grasping at the chain that burned her neck and fingers in the process. Darašius got up shakily. “Yield, Jusztinia,” he said. “Never!” “Yield, I do not wish to kill you.” She spat blood at him. “You are beaten. By the old ways, yield,” he declared formally. Jusztinia stopped thrashing. It was disconcerting to see her kneeling so still as her flesh smoked. Finally, she nodded, once. Darašius nodded to Ashton. She carefully approached the vampire and removed the silver chain from around her neck. Jusztinia glared hatefully at her. “Go, Jusztinia, this city is mine now,” he said. “This isn’t over, Darašius,” she snarled. “Yes, it is.” Jusztinia hissed at him. In the blink of an eye, she turned into a bat and flew away. “What the hell?” Ashton’s jaw dropped. “Yeah, she is a show-off,” grumbled Darašius. “Can you do that?” Ashton asked curiously. “I don’t want to talk about it.” “Ooh, a contraction, you must be pissed.” “Well, it’s not every day you have to be saved by a human.” Darašius sounded indignant. “What? Am I ruining your street cred?” teased Ashton. “Something of the sort.”
“What should we do about him?” Ashton inquired with a thumb toward the unconscious man in the pile of leaves. “Eh? Let him sleep it off, he’ll come to and be fine.” Ashton shrugged and they walked home. “I guess we’re even now,” she smiled. “Yes, I suppose. You handled yourself well.” Darašius conceded. “I suppose we should start your training.” “My training?” “Well, m’dear, if you are going to associate with a vampire, you should know how to handle yourself.” “Fair enough. But I totally kicked butt back there!” “Indeed.” A few weeks later, Darašius and Ashton were at the coffee shop playing chess. A small crowd was watching their game including Donny, Johnna, and Barry Landon, the reigning chess champion on campus, next to Darašius, of course. Ashton still hadn’t beaten Daro, but she was getting better. “Argh,” she complained. “You have me in five.” She resigned her king. There was a collective exhale from the crowd and a few groans of disappointment. Darašius shook her hand. “Good game. You saw that ending faster this time.” “Not fast enough to win.” But Ashton didn’t mind. She was proud of her progress. Donny whispered to Johnna. “I don’t see it?” “See that knight on f5, he’s pinned her bishop. It’s over,” Barry replied. Donny looked perplexed and stalked away. He still refused to play Ashton. Barry smiled at Ashton. “Better luck next time.” “Thanks! You want a rematch?” “Not today.” Barry chuckled. “I’m still nursing my wounds from the last time you spanked me.”
Ashton grinned. Donny might not play her, but everyone knew she had beaten Barry last week. She didn’t need to beat Donny to know she was a better player. He had taught her an important lesson, never throw a game. Izzy approached with two steaming mugs of coffee. She handed one to Ashton then kissed her. “You ready to go, babe?” she asked. “Yep! See you back at the apartment, Daro.” “See ya, Ash.” Aww, he looked like he wanted a cookie for his appropriate use of slang. Ashton giggled and linked hands with Izzy. She had a best friend, a new girlfriend, and a new lease on life. Whatever the world threw at her, she could handle it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kat Zaccard spends her days singing with the birds and her nights howling at the moon. She/They are the bestselling author of Moon Shadow and the Mount Henley Trilogy. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching Kundalini Yoga, riding horses, or creating art of all kinds. Kat lives in Madison, WI with her true mate, two kids, and an assortment of creatures. Find them on Instagram @katzaccard or online at katzaccard.com.
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