Dusk, Halloween 2024.
Vera stood looking out of the window of her kit as the sun dipped below the horizon a a trail of violet that blended up the spectrum to red and finally deep e. Taking a deep breath, she looked to the opposite side of the window the best she could and shook her head as the colors from the desding sun matched the burning colors of her home city, ial Heights. It was the small oven arm that broke Vera’s trand she quickly pulled out her test batch of blood-infused cupcakes ahem on the ter. While she khe cakes didn’t o cool off for the ohat would be eating them, it was a matter of pride to the former blood bunny for her to do everything correctly for her former masters. Pressing the little button to shut off her oven, Vera picked up a small towel and began fanning the thirteen cakes to cool them faster when Daniel walked in. “Hello there mistress Daniel, I was just finishing cakes that you could eat, since you know…” Vera winked pyfully.
“Good evening.” Daniel offered politely, “You have been amazing. Thank you for the lightout shelter, the rest of us really had no pce to go.”
A quick step past Daniel, Vera opehe refrigerator and poio the bag of ig she’d po put on the cakes. “I only need a few more minutes of cooling before these are dohen I top them with that. It should give you enough blood for the evening.” She closed the door and leaned against the wall. “Whew.” She exhaled and wiped her brow, “I wish I had enough blood to go around mistress, but I am not the vibrant…blood bunny?” Vera paused and ughed, “That is su odd but fun name. Either way, I ’t replenish like I could back then.”
With a quick look back to Jason to make sure her new boyfriend hadn’t fled, Dahen turned and patted Vera on her shoulder. “Not that it would matter much today. Halloween, remember?”
“It’s why I used the remaining stores I had and made the cakes. If you take it easy tonight you should be just fiil tomorrow.” Vera touched each of the little cakes and shook her head, happy with herself. “Where are the others? You might wo each, but that should be suffit…”
“Wait, what?” Daniel sounded panicked, “You mean you haven’t seehers?” When a worried look came over Vera’s face Daniel held up her hand. “No, no. Dear. You aren’t in any trouble.” With her index finger lifted into the air, Daniel made little circles. “ you hear that song? Sounds alluring and sweet, right?”
Popping one of her light-brown and grey eyebrows up, Vera nodded. “Yeah, it sounds like church bells that won’t stop tolling. I was about to e in there with you and Jason to watch the unfoldis.” Vera shrugged, “I don’t know what I will do if the fire es…”
“Vera.” Daniel cut off the old woman, “Focus.”
“Yes, Mistress Daniel.” Vera blinked her soft brown eyes. “I apologize.”
“No biggie. That song is pulling at us and I have a message for the others from Miss Rivers.” She turned so her ear was visible to the old woman. “I have an earbud in and have the oddest song pying to teract the effects.”
“That makes sense, Mistress Daniel. Your hearing is so good that you hear on multiple … what are they called…um…” Vera began snapping her firying to think of the word, “I got it, wavelength. Right?”
C her mouth to hide her smile, Daniel enjoyed how ihat Vera was in her acts and speebsp; Seldom had she been able to enjoy a normal human’s presence for very long without either leaving or killing them. Figuring it was just part of her physiology of being a former blood bunny, Daniel let the matter drop and finally answered Vera. “Yes, dear. That is right, whatever this is…it’s blog the wavelength and I am effectively immuo that sweet bell.” Daniel closed her eyes and was instantly reminded of how the song had been pushing her and Jason to leave, right until the time they got Casey’s message the couple used each other for support and it had started to fail. “I don’t know how Miss Rivers figured it out, but this works like a champ. Jason hasn’t wao take his hands off me.” Daniel winked with a mischievous grin on her face.
“Either way, Mistress Daniel…” Vera retrieved the ig and started piping it over the baker’s dozen cupcakes, “…I have not seen them since you all arrived st night.” She made a few quick swirls and looked back to Daniel. “I did hear them joking around and I do believe they were teasing Mistress Brienne about her phone use.” She set the ig on the ter and spun on her heels to face Daniel with her hands on her hips. “You know…” She pursed her lips, “…Sihe bells started, I haven’t heard them.”
“Damn it!” Daniel flung the door open to the basement and in a blur was at the bottom and staring at ay space. “Jason!” Daniel screamed though she didn’t have to.
About a sed ter, Jester was at Daniel’s side and oblivious to why his small blue-pink haired mate was screaming. “What, what?” He looked around frantically, then scooped Daniel into his arms. “Are you okay?” Jester began studying Daniel’s form.
“What?” Daniel momentarily fot where she was as the room spun right wheer picked her up. With the initial fear removed due to her partner’s arms, Daniel settled down and looked into Jester’s chiseled face. “N…no, I’m fine…” She hit Jason on his shoulder, “..put me down and look around dummy.”
Doing as asked, Jester first gave Daniel a kiss on her forehead and cleared her colored hair from her vision. Once his arms were free, Jason spun around a few times looking at ay basement. “It’s a basement, love…you know Vera’s lightout shelter.” He perked a brow, “What about it?”
