A Vampire for Christmas - By Michele Hauf Page 0,61
minutes later, the car pulled over across the street from what looked like an abandoned house, sandwiched next to a vacant lot. A scrappy wood fence connected the plots, and two girls huddled on a broken bench that hadn’t seen a bus stop for years.
“This is the place,” the driver announced. “I don’t think you should go out there, Miss Adorata. This neighborhood is not safe.”
She glanced down the street. A neon café sign advertised beer and Irish rum. A golden glow from the streetlight highlighted the heavy snowflakes. Looked like a scene that belonged inside a cracked snow globe.
“I’ll be fine. Just give me a few minutes.”
She got out and tugged up the parka hood to conceal her appearance because she was still in full makeup. No one was around but she could never let down her guard. None of that mattered because she was concerned the girls were outside alone with no caps.
The taller of the two approached Olivia as she neared and her posture emulated that of a tough prison guard with attitude. “Who are you?”
“I’m looking for a friend,” Olivia said. “His name is Daniel.”
The smaller girl began to say something, but the one Olivia guessed was her older sister pushed her back toward the fence. It was then she heard the soft singing on the other side of the fence. She approached and put her gloved hands to the wood and listened.
“You can’t go back there,” the girl warned. “Fancy lady like you could get in trouble in this neighborhood.”
“Who is he with?” she asked.
“My mommy,” the littler one offered. She dodged her sister’s hand as she tried to grab her and managed to sidle up along Olivia. “He’s saving her. We don’t want her to turn into a vampire.”
“Charity, you don’t tell strangers stuff like that,” the older one hissed.
A vampire? How could Daniel save a person from becoming a vampire? Had he bitten someone and now as a result, she was changing?
She pressed against the fence, but when the older girl insinuated herself before her, Olivia stepped back out of respect.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” Olivia offered. “If he’s busy helping your mother I’ll catch him later.”
The younger of the two tugged on Olivia’s sleeve and said, “Your eyelashes are really long.”
Olivia blinked. The false eyelashes were also annoying, but much needed on stage. “They’re not real.”
“Like Santa? Daniel told us Santa isn’t real.”
“He did?” How dare he? Though she shouldn’t judge. She had no idea the mood or context in which he’d said that to the girls. “Santa is real if you want him to be.”
“But he still doesn’t bring presents to girls who don’t live in houses,” the little one said and followed with a dramatic sigh.
She didn’t know what to say to that. Hell, she could write a check and put the girls and their mother in a nice hotel for months. But that would never solve their problem if the mother had no stable form of income.
“Aren’t you girls cold?” She placed her hand on the little one’s head and felt little warmth. “How about I buy you some hot chocolate at the café down the block?”
The girls exchanged looks, but Olivia could read the warning flash in the elder’s eyes to her sister.
“Right,” she said. “I’m a stranger. You should never go places with strangers. You two are very smart.”
The soft tones of “O Holy Night” echoed out from behind the fence. Daniel was singing with a woman. For what reason, she couldn’t know. But it wasn’t her place to intrude. She’d wanted him for herself tonight, but obviously, he had more important things to do.
He has a life away from your bed. Get that into your brain. You scared him off by confessing love. The risky move failed.
A life that obviously had much more meaning than she could ever see beyond his fangs and danger.
“Daniel’s a good man,” she said to the older girl. “You can trust him.”
“I know that. He’s been here almost every night since my mom was bitten. Except that one night. Don’t know where the heck he was then.”
Snuggled in Olivia’s bed beside her. Hell.
“He’ll save her,” the oldest offered. “I know he will.”
Olivia managed a weak smile. For the sake of the girls, she hoped Daniel could save their mother. Her heart warmed to know what he was doing. Truly, his soul was worthy.
“Merry Christmas,” she offered, and wandered down the street. The driver followed at a slow creep.