The Accidental Vampire(100)

Victor's sudden about‐face last night, and, finally, the incident in the garden shed.

Mabel listened with eyes that grew wider as Elvi told her how both Teddy and Victor

and even Edward had pretty much blamed her for nearly getting killed, as if it were her

fault.

"Men!" Mabel snorted with disgust as she removed the last bag, then stood and

headed for the bathroom door, saying, "Now, I really have to pee."

Chuckling, Elvi stood and followed to waited outside the door in case she suddenly

became weak or passed out, but when the sound of the toilet flushing was followed by

the shower turning on, she reached for the doorknob.

"Mabel, I don't think you ought to shower yet. What if you pass out or something?"

she asked, opening the door.

"I won't. I feel fine," Mabel assured her, retrieving a towel and washcloth from the

cupboard. "Besides, it's been almost twenty‐four hours. You were up and around after

twenty‐four hours."

Elvi glanced at her wristwatch, startled to see that it was late‐afternoon. She'd been up

here for quite a while.

"What's wrong?" Mabel asked, catching her expression.

Elvi grimaced. "I'm just wondering what the men are doing."

"Who cares?" Mabel said with a snort.

"I do," Elvi admitted. "And you should too. Why hasn't DJ come up to check on you?"

"He did," Mabel announced. "He opened the door and stuck his head in while you

were telling me about the Night Club. When he saw I was sitting up in bed, fine, and

you were with me, he blew me a kiss and backed out."

"Oh," Elvi murmured, but began worrying her lip. DJ had been hanging over Mabel

ever since he got to Port Henry, more so since the turning, and now he was suddenly

downstairs with the men… It made her suspect that they were up to something.

She pondered what that could be while Mabel showered, and then stiffened where

she leaned against the bathroom counter when there was a tap on the bedroom door.

Mabel stuck her head out of the shower to ask with a frown, "Was that the door?"

Elvi nodded.

"DJ wouldn't knock," Mabel said the obvious.

Nodding again, Elvi stared out at the bedroom door as if it were a snake, only relaxing

when a second knock came, followed by a female voice calling, "Hello?"

"Karen," she said with relief. "I'll get it. Shout if you have a problem."

"I'm done, I'm getting out," Mabel announced and ducked back into the shower. Elvi

heard the water shut off as she left the room.

"There you are," Karen smiled when Elvi opened the door, and then asked anxiously, "I

didn't wake Mabel, did I? DJ said she was awake and you two were talking when he

last checked, so I thought it would be okay to come up."

"Of course it's okay, and no you didn't wake Mabel," Elvi assured her, stepping aside to

let her in. "She's in the shower."

"Oh, good. She's feeling better, then, is she?" Karen asked as she entered.

Elvi nodded and closed the door. "Much."

"Well, I came looking for Mike when he didn't come back after the fire and found the

men in your dining room having a powwow. They say you've been having some

trouble?"

"A little," Elvi admitted with a grimace. "But I'm sure it's nothing."

"Oh," Karen hesitated, and then told her, "Well, the men said you and Mabel weren't

going to the fair tonight so I thought I'd come up and see if you wanted me to take the

pies and—"

"They said what?" Elvi asked sharply.

Eyes wide at Elvi's tone of voice, Karen said uncertainly, "You aren't going to the fair?"

"Who said that? Victor?" she asked, her temper rearing its head.

"Well, actually, I think it was Teddy who said it first, but they all seemed to be in

agreement."

"Teddy's still here too?" she asked with surprise.

"Yes. He and Mike have been here since the fire."

Elvi let her breath out slowly. She'd known they were up to something.

"I can take the pies for you," Karen repeated. "I mean, if you're in danger, maybe it is

best if you stay here."

Elvi frowned. "I forgot about the pies. I still have another dozen to bake I think."

Karen shook her head. "The men did them. They're all done and the last three are

cooling."

"Oh." Elvi stared at the wall, wondering how men could be so wonderful and so

annoying at the same time. On the one hand, they'd helped make the pies, and now

helped bake them, which was really sweet, but on the other hand, they were plotting

to keep her from taking them to the fair to be sold.

"So I'll take the pies for you?"