AVAILABLE NOW!

House of Shadows
Enchantment in Crimson
~ Book One ~

A Dark Adventure of
Dangerous Enchantments

***

- Four -
Correspondence

The email appeared on Rowan's computer on Monday.

***
I have a problem. A distant cousin has dropped in to say hi.
Can you advise?
V^^V
***

"Well, that was quick." Rowan frowned at her computer screen as she sat at the kitchen table. There was a cell phone number after the signature followed by the phrase; Call anytime. She turned around and checked her kitchen clock. It was two in the afternoon on a bright sunny day.

"Moron." Rowan picked up her cordless phone. Let's see, what kind of message can I leave and then do to avoid his return message after sunset? She smiled as she dialed the number

The phone rang twice. "Hello?" The voice was digitized.

Rowan's brows rose. "Hi, this is Rowan." She bit her lip. Shit, he didn't give me his name. I don't know who to leave this message for!

"Oh, hi. I didn't think you'd answer my email that fast."

Rowan blinked. "Is it actually you?" She checked the window. Yep, it's still daylight.

"Yeah, this is my cell phone."

Rowan frowned. "Aren't you supposed to sleep during the day?" She heard a sound that might have been an undignified snort.

"Nope, I just have to stay out of direct sunlight. I can even go out in daylight as long as I wear a coat, sunglasses and a hat."

"And a hundred proof sun-block?"

"Never leave home without it." He chuckled softly. "The miracles of modern science."

"Okay. Um, I don't know what to call you." She made a face at the wall. Other than: amazingly cute, blood-sucking parasite? "Cute signature on your email by the way."

"Glad you like the signature." He laughed. "And I'm Rick.

Vampire Rick? Rowan swallowed hard to keep from laughing out loud. "Well, Rick, what can I do for you?"

"I have a guest."

She nodded then realized that he couldn't see the gesture. "Your note said that he was a cousin?"

"You could say that."

"A cousin. You mean he's like you, he's a… "

"Yep, you don't need to say it." There was a pause. "He's very, very distantly related and from the old country."

"Old country?" She frowned.

"Yeah, old country as in, from Europe. I think he's Russian, Czarist Russian not Soviet Russian."

"Okay." Rowan blinked at the wall. "And?" she pressed.

"And, I can't get rid of him," he said very softly.

"I see…" Rowan bit her lip and frowned. "Um, Rick, I really don't think any of the more traditional methods for getting rid of unwanted, um, cousins, are going to work for you." She had a sudden vision of Rick attempting to chase off another vampire by holding out a cross with oven mitts on. She bent over in her chair to muffle her sudden fit of nervous giggles.

"You don't say." His voice was very dry. "Are you laughing at me?"

"Uh, no." She coughed and wiped her eyes. "Of course not." She cleared her throat. "Um, how did you get, uh? I mean, how did your cousin find you?"

"Would you believe, I found him on my couch yesterday, when I got up?"

Rowan's brows rose. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

"Can't you just drive him off? You are supposed to be stronger, faster, etcetera, etcetera?"

"He's an older cousin. A lots older cousin." The frustration traveled over the phone. She could just see his handsome face frowning as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"How much older?"

"You know that mirror thing with us?"

"I think so…" She frowned. Is he talking about the seriously traditional, no reflection thing? But, I thought I saw him reflected in the mirror over the bar?

"Let's just say, that if I needed to check the closeness of a shave, I can actually do so. He can't."

"You shave?"

"Uh, no." She thought she heard a soft growl. "But the point is, if I wanted to, I could actually see what I'm doing." There was a pause. "He can't. There's not a trace of him, not even a shadow. Come to think of it, I don't think he casts a shadow either."

"Oh, weird…" Rowan got up from her chair. "Wait a minute, that doesn't make sense. Either you are there enough to have a reflection and a shadow or you aren't. What the Hell is he? A ghost?"

"Well, for someone who isn't there and might be a ghost, he sure is taking up a lot of room on my couch." Rick's voice was a harried whisper. "Any ideas?"

Rowan frowned. "So far, the only thing I can think of is a basic barrier spell. But, anything that might work on your um, cousin, might cause a problem for you too." She nibbled on her bottom lip. "I'm going to have to do some serious research on this one. Whatever I come up with, will probably have to be made for you specifically."

"I figured as much." She could hear fingers tapping over the phone. Rick was a lot more agitated than he was letting on. "When can you come up here?"

Rowan's mouth fell open. "You want me to go there? To where you live?"

"You're the um, professional. I have no clue as to how to do this kind of thing."

"Look, I have no interest in learning secrets that might get me killed, such as where you live. I'll email you the uh, recipe."

"I still have to get him out of the house before the uh, thing can be set, right?"

Rowan frowned. "Yeah, so?"

"Now do you see my problem? It's probably going to take your glow-in-the-dark routine to send this one packing. Then you can cook up your, whatever it is, to keep him out."

She made a sour face, knowing that he couldn't see it. Rowan absolutely did not want to go out there. He was cute, sexy and very interested; unfortunately she seemed to be just as drawn to him. Using her magic would generate an appetite for sex that would make her very vulnerable to his persuasion. She could already feel her body's simmering awareness. I don't need to hop in the sack with a vampire...

She paced the kitchen fishing for an excuse. "You are just as much a threat to humanity as the other guy, how do you know I won't go up there and just fry both your asses?"

"Easy." She could almost hear his grin. "I'll meet you somewhere neutral, like a diner or something and have you do the same thing I did. We can go from there."

Rowan frowned. "Do what you did?"

"Yeah, you can swear not to harm me." Rick chuckled. "Exactly the same way I did."

"Forget it, I am not going." She angrily stood up, jerking her kitchen chair back. Rowan flinched as she heard the sound travel across the phone. I need a cigarette…

"You're supposed to be um, one of the good guys aren't you?" he said softly. "Isn't there some kind of rule that says you have to answer a call for help, especially in your particular um, practice?"

Rowan flinched. "I thought you said you didn't know anything about this stuff?"

"I've been doing some reading."

Some reading, he says…Rowan swept her hand down her face. What the Hell is he reading? I had to learn that lesson the hard way. And she didn't want to repeat it. Now I really need a cigarette… She picked up her clove cigarettes and lighter from the table

"Well, isn't there?" he pressed. "Along with something about telling the truth to a direct question, sort of thing?"

Damn it all! Rowans marched the cell phone out onto her back porch. I can't believe a vampire is pressuring me for help! This is so messed up…

"I can hear you pacing and you haven't said no, so I'm assuming I'm right." He sounded insufferably pleased with himself.

Rowan grit her teeth as she stood in a warm patch of sunlight. "Since when does the good guy ride to the rescue of the bad guy?" She frowned fiercely as she lit her black cigarette then exhaled the fragrant smoke.

"How about, when the bad guy is smart enough to ask?" He definitely sounded extremely pleased with himself.

"You suck," she said through clenched teeth.

"Why yes, I do." He actually chuckled. "There's a diner right around the corner from my house. I'll email you directions. Give me a day to expect you."

"You are gon'na owe me big for this," she spat.

"I'll write you a check. When can I expect you?"

Rowan blinked at the tree. "You have a checking account?"

He sighed. "And a credit card, a cell phone and a computer, just like the rest of the world."

"Good, cause I expect a fat one for this little favor." Her heels thumped on the wood of the porch as she paced. "Do you actually have a job?"

"I work in an office, just like every body else. As a matter of fact, I'm calling from my desk."

"You're calling from your desk?" Rowan had a sudden vision of her devastatingly handsome vampire in a business suit, toting a briefcase. She shook her head. Too weird…

He chuckled. "I told you, I just have to stay out of direct sunlight and most offices are fairly windowless. My personal office is windowless. I own a small company."

Rowan's mouth fell open. "You own a company?"

"I um," he coughed. "I inherited it. My um, grandfather invested very wisely. It's a long story and I'm racking up a hefty bill on my cell phone here. Give me a day to expect you."

"How about next year?" she said sweetly.

"Very funny." Impatience marked his voice. "How about today? I live in Watertown."

"Not today, Watertown is about four hours down the highway, that means an eight-hour turn around drive and it's already after two." Rowan rubbed the back of her neck in frustration. I can't believe I'm actually going to do this… "Shit, I'm going to need to arrange for a place to sleep. I do not want to make a four-hour drive after I've done spell-work, I'll pass out and wreck on the way home."

"Don't worry, I make sure you have a place to spend the night." Rick's fingers tapped impatiently again.

"Day, please? Preferably this week?"

"I have to make arrangements with a friend to come in and check my cat. How about Friday afternoon?"

"It's Monday. I don't know if I can deal with um, my cousin for that long." He sighed. "He's been here since yesterday and I need to get some sleep. Wait a minute you have a cat? Isn't that a little cliché?"

"She's a gray tabby not a black Persian, get over it. You haven't slept with him there? At all?"

"Let's put it this way," Rick whispered harshly. "I have yet to see him um, dine and don't like the way he watches me. I got a bad feeling that his appetite is even more refined than mine."

"More refined?" Rowan frowned. Does this mean he drinks something other than blood?

"I told you why I uh, drink as much as I do. It's real possible that he's in my living room because he can't get his um, full nutritional value from ordinary, um sources."

"He feeds off of other, um, members of his own family? Isn't that against the rules somewhere?"

"I don't know for sure what he finds um, appetizing, but from the way he's always watching me, I get the impression that Klaus doesn't exactly take the uh, no relatives rule into account." He sighed and added softly. "Or any other rules for that matter."

Rowan grinned. "So, you're chock full of vitamins?"

"Keep laughing. Remember, I found you very appetizing and you're not that far away. If he gets me, as powerful as you are, you could be next on the menu."

Rowan felt a slight shiver. And he wants me to go out of my way to meet him?

Rick was tapping again. "How about tomorrow?"

"Uh, I can't leave tomorrow." Gods, no! I do not want to deal with vampires tomorrow… Rowan turned to look at the collection of magic tomes on her shelf. "I have to go to work, laundry to finish..."

"Work? What else do you do, beside the uh, hocus-pocus stuff?"

She closed her eyes and sighed. "I work in the state library right by the university."

"You're kidding?" She clearly heard him choke back a laugh. "You're a librarian?"

"I'm a research assistant actually. I help locate resources for students and professors."

"A witch that's a librarian..." He was sniggering, the wretch. "What time to you get out of work?"

"Four, and I'll have to pack too."

"Pack? For an overnight trip?"

She sighed. "Yes, pack. Quit your bitching. I expect you to at least, take me out to dinner and I'm a girl. How about Wednesday after work? I have Thursday and Friday off for the holiday."

"What are you doing home at two in the afternoon today?"

"If you must know, I called in, they owe me vacation time."

"Are you all right?" His voice had dropped to a whisper and he actually sounded concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine, just tired." She winced. How do I explain that I needed to catch up on sleep because I haven't had any all weekend from masturbating? She took a deep breath. "About Wednesday?"

"Wednesday's good and I know a nice restaurant."

"A restaurant that's not a diner?"

"Yes, a restaurant that's not a diner. If you can take care of my cousin, that's the least I can do." She thought she could hear a soft chuckle. "I'll send you directions by email."

"I am so, looking forward to this," she said very dryly.

"I can tell." She could also tell that he was grinning. "See you Wednesday." The phone cut off.

Rowan lit another cigarette. "Terrific, I've been hired to ward a vampire's house from another vampire." She bit her lip. "I just hope I can keep my sexual appetite under control." She collapsed into one of the lawn chairs on her porch. "Maybe I should find a safer career? Like law enforcement."

V^^^V

The story continues with Rowan meeting Klaus, a very old and very classic vampire from Russia. Oddly enough Klaus has a problem that needs Rowan's help too.

Rick and Rowan are caught up in a whirlwind of dark sorcery as Klaus drags them deeper and deeper into a world of magical intrigue where the Good Guys and the Bad Guys are not so clearly defined.

And one spell only leads down yet another, darker pathway into a culmination of blood and shadow.

V^^^V

Chapter One: Auspix

Chapter Two: Fortuneteller

Chapter Three: Copper Kiss

Chapter Four: Correspondence

House of Shadows
Enchantment in Crimson
~ Book One ~

AVAILABLE NOW!

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