Page 78 of Night of the Vampire
"Don't you, though, Liz?" When I just looked at him blankly, he said, "He's doing for you what he's never done for me. He's giving you your freedom."
Yeah, I guess he was right. And I shouldn't waste this opportunity because I had a feeling it was the only one I was going to get to have my life back. And like Killian said, I could always come by when I was in town and see him.
Jamal wandered over to me and laid his large hand on the top of my wet head. "I'll miss you, though. So, make sure you hit me up whenever you're in the area, because you know damn well Killian won't tell me."
"I will," I promised.
"Cool." He cleared his throat. "I gotta get to the club, too. The ladies aren't gonna wait all night." With a flash of his white teeth, he strode out the back door and I was alone once again.
Wiggles came waddling out to the kitchen from wherever he'd been sleeping and started slurping noisily from his water bowl. Wiping my eyes, I got up from the table to get him his dinner and let him outside.
While I waited for him to get done, I was overwhelmed by what this would mean. Not just that I would finally realize my dream, but what I’d be leaving behind.
Other than a quick phone call to thank her for all she had done, I hadn’t spoken to my aunt since that night at the swamp. If I was going to be leaving, I owed her a visit. She was my family, as was the rest of the coven. And even though I wasn’t ready to explore what magic I may or may not possess myself, I’d seen what it could do, and I knew she meant well.
Grabbing my coat and Wiggles’ leash, I locked up the house and went to see my aunt.
“I just stopped by to tell you that I'm leaving,” I told her once I was ensconced in her kitchen with a hot cup of tea between my palms.
She sat down across from me at the table. “Leaving? Lizzy, you just got here.”
“I know. But I have an audition with a talent scout from Broadway Across America.” I tried to make her understand. “I can’t pass this up, Aunt Jude. Being on stage has been my dream for as long as I can remember.”
Lines of worry creased her face. “Lizzy, you can't just up and leave like this. You just can’t.”
I sighed. “Aunt Jude—”
“He won't just let you go.”
“You’re talking about Killian.”
“Yes! Lizzy...didn't he tell you? Don't you understand? You’re his now, honey.” Her mouth twisted in disgust, much as she tried to hide it. “You belong to a vampire.”
A few weeks ago, those words would have made me bristle in anger. But not now. Now they only gave me a rush of warmth. “Killian is the one who got me the audition,” I told her with a sense of satisfaction. He wasn’t the epitome of pure evil she seemed to think he was.
“What?”
“He got me the addition,” I repeated. “Apparently, he called in a favor to someone he knows.”
“Hmph, I bet.”
I gave her a look and she sighed.
“So, he got you a part. Just like that.”
“No.” I shook my head. “He got me the chance. I have to try out just like anyone else.”
She took a sip of her tea, eying me over the rim of her cup. “You seem pretty sure you’re going to get it.”
“I have to,” I told her. “I don’t think I’ll get another shot after this.” I reached across the table and covered her hand with mine. “Don’t you get it, Aunt Jude? He’s letting me go.”
She shook her head. “There has to be a catch.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s no catch.”
“But he’ll die without you.” A sudden gleam lit up her blue eyes. “Or is that your plan?”
“No!” Yanking my hand from hers, I sat back in my chair. “How could you think I would do something like that?”
