Page 75 of Magic and Muffins

“Thank you,” Hugh said. “Make your escape before news crews invade.”

“Wait,” Vena said to them. “How do you become a vampire hunter? Is there a test?”

“You just have to be quick and a little crazy,” a female hunter said with a laugh. “And good with a knife.”

“That’s me!” Vena said. “I’m in. How do I sign up?”

Anchor groaned when the lady handed Vena a card.

Vena stared at it as if she’d just received a golden ticket.

“Good luck with that,” I said to Anchor.

Hugh stepped over to me. “I’m really sorry we were delayed. I had to make sure everything was by the books, and I needed as much evidence from the glasses cam as possible. We need the world to see Orphia’s deception for what it is. Hopefully, we’ll be able to save more lives.”

“Evidence is great, but what about answers?” Vena asked. “I thought the goal was to come in and ask questions. The guy on the stage was human.”

“Not everything went as well as we’d hoped.” He took the glasses back from Vena. “I’ll be in touch to get each of your statements, but you can go while I deal with this. It’ll take a while.”

I stared after him in disbelief as he walked away, and my gaze again caught on the pancreatic cancer man. My whole body started to shake with residual adrenaline and anger. Yet, the need to cry burned my eyes.

“Everly, look at me.”

My gaze found Cross’.

“Tell me what you need,” he said tenderly.

“To leave quickly.”

He took my hand, and as we headed out at a hurried human speed, I saw personnel walking in with armfuls of empty body bags.

How many lives could have been saved if things had happened differently? If people had shown up sooner? If they’d taken at least one of Orphia’s people alive?

Outside, we veered to the bus to grab our phones, which were still in the box. Some of the other people had already claimed theirs. I glanced at the phones left as Cross grabbed mine and saw the lifeless bodies in my mind again.

A van with a city news station logo on it pulled in. A reporter and camera person hurried out, and Cross and Anchor steered us toward the vehicles.

“Wait. Can I interview you?” one of them called to us.

I shook my head as Vena said, “Sure.”

A man put a heavy camera on his shoulder and nodded to the reporter.

“What happened in there?” the reporter asked Vena as Cross continued to lead me to the SUV.

“What about Vena?”

“Anchor has her.”

Behind us, Vena said, “Vampires just slaughtered people who were there to support them. No hesitation. No consent given. That’s all I have to say.”

“Wait,” the reporter said. “Where are the vampires? Tell me more about what you witnessed.”

I glanced back and saw Anchor and Vena moving toward his car and Shepard jogging our way. The camera person filming the reporter caught sight of Shepard and did a double-take.

Cross helped me into the backseat and looked up at Shepard.

“If you’re in back, you’re focused on her,” he said.

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