Sara Humphreys - Vampire Trouble

“Great.” Maya swallowed hard and tried not to show how unsettled she was by what Lottie was saying. “Like I don’t have enough problems. What do you mean a curse?”

“Remember how I told you all of the gypsies used to gather their clans together but stopped a couple hundred years ago?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it was because of this clan I’m telling you about. According to the story my grandfather told me, the dark magic used by this clan brought the wrath of the werewolves down onto all of the gypsies. There were random wolf attacks on our people off and on for years, and that was when the gatherings of the clans stopped. After that, everyone kept to themselves and the dark magic clan was considered cursed because its members had encouraged the wrath of the wolves.”

“Well, I guess I’ve lived up to that part of the family reputation,” Maya said with no humor. She sent a sidelong look at Shane, whose expression had grown increasingly concerned.

“He showed us a photograph of a young gypsy woman.” She waved her hand in the air absently. “It was one of those old sepia-tone tintypes, but I can still remember it as clear as day. The woman in the picture was wearing the same necklace as the one your grandmother was wearing, and come to think of it, you look a bit like her.” Lottie pointed at Maya. “You, young lady, are descended from the dark-magic gypsy clan.”

“Can I see the picture?” Maya asked hopefully.

“No, sorry.” Lottie shook her head and looked at Maya sadly. “There was a flood many years back, and I lost almost everything on the first floor.” She looked around and sighed. “I never really did get it back in top shape around here.”

“What was the name of this clan?” Shane asked quietly.

“Vanator,” Lottie murmured.

Maya’s gut clenched, and Shane’s grip on her hand tightened. “That’s what Bella called me,” Maya whispered and looked up at Shane through wide eyes.

“Who’s Bella?” Lottie asked, folding her arms over her breasts.

“A ghost who haunts the Presidium’s offices in New York.” Shane sat on the arm of the sofa and rubbed Maya’s back reassuringly. “She only speaks Romanian, and according to our friend Xavier, it means—”

“Hunter,” Lottie said. “I know.”

“You speak Romanian?” Maya asked.

“Nope. But my grandfather did, so I know a few words.” Lottie scoffed. “Mostly swear words.”

“What significance does the necklace have?” Shane asked. Maya held his hand tighter and waited for Lottie to answer.

“Not sure.” Lottie looked from Shane to Maya. “But at the very least, it represents the Vanator clan.”

“I was wearing it that night.” Maya’s hand fluttered to her throat where the heirloom usually lay, and she turned her eyes to Shane, the pieces coming together. “That night at the club when everything happened with Horace and his pack.”

“Son of a bitch,” Shane seethed. “That’s got to be why Horace is so intent on getting his hands on you.”

“I’m not going to go near him or any other werewolf ever again,” Maya said firmly. However, the look on Shane’s face gave her pause. “Shane? What is it? There’s something else that you’re not telling me.”

“Remember how I told you that Horace still hadn’t left the city?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he’s refusing to leave until Olivia and Doug turn you over to them.”

“He must have recognized the necklace,” Maya said quietly. Dread settled in her chest because she knew what she had to do. “We have to go back, Shane. I’ll give them the necklace. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for Olivia or anyone else.”

“No. Aside from the fact that I’m not letting those wolves near you, we’re not going anywhere until we find out what the hell this necklace does and why the wolves hate the Vanator gypsy clan so much that they’re willing to start the war all over again.” Shane turned to Lottie. “What exactly did the Vanator clan do that incurred the wrath of the werewolves?”

“I got no clue.” Lottie narrowed her eyes and wagged a finger at Maya. “You’re full of surprises, young lady, and I have a sinking suspicion that you have even more to reveal.”

“The necklace hasn’t ever done anything magical, though.” Maya’s brows knit together and frustration crawled up her back. “How the hell are we going to figure out what kind of magic this necklace can do anyway?”

“In my experience, most objects don’t do the magic. The person who holds the object does. Chances are that the necklace is just a family heirloom passed down through the Vanator gypsy line. Based on what you’re saying about this Horace character, the wolves must have been keeping an eye out for the necklace and the Vanator gypsies.”

Lottie held up her left hand and wiggled her middle finger, which was adorned with a gold band with an oval ruby at the center. “This was passed down through the generations of my clan, and like your necklace, my ring is a symbol for the Fogg gypsy clan.” She let out a curt laugh and shook her head. “I’ll be damned. Not only do I have two wayward vampires stayin’ in my house, but one of ’em is a Vanator. My grandfather is probably rollin’ in his grave.”

“I’m sorry, Lottie.” Maya stilled and held Lottie’s stare. “Do…do you want us to leave?”

“My grandfather always was a crazy old bastard.” Lottie shrugged. “I’m a shitty gypsy woman. I don’t speak Romanian. I didn’t get married or make babies, and I use my magic to make money but have no one to teach it to. Believe me, he’s been rollin’ for so long, he’s probably been around the world twice.”

Lottie rose to her feet and padded across the room quietly, her sandal-clad feet whispering over the faded oriental rug before she came to a halt at the edge of the coffee table. She looked from Maya to Shane and then back to Maya before a huge smile cracked her face and she gently patted Maya’s cheek. “I don’t want you to leave. In fact, I’m as curious as you are to find out more about your kin and the dark magic that has the wolves so worked up.”

“I don’t think I have any kin left.” Maya’s brows knit together again. “My grandmother died. When you were doing the reading, it opened up more memories and I saw a funeral, but I’m pretty sure I was the only one there.”

“Yes.” Lottie nodded and let out a sigh. “Is that why you don’t think you have any other kin?”

“Well, after I became a vampire and my human life ended, no one came looking for me. It’s like I just disappeared and no one cared. There was no missing person’s report filed anywhere.”

“Well, of course not.” Lottie made a sound of derision. “You’re a gypsy. We live off the grid, girlie. Hell, I don’t have a social security number and there isn’t even a record of my birth. I was born out here, like the generations before me. In fact, my clan was considered freakish because we stayed in this house. Most gypsies are nomads and don’t stay in one place for long. Report a missing person to the cops? Ha! Gypsies take care of their own business.”

Maya had about a hundred more questions, but before she could ask them, a strong cramp flared in her chest. She grimaced and squeezed Shane’s hand tightly. “What the hell is going on?”

It’s the pull of the sun, Maya. Shane’s mind touched hers like a soothing caress. The blood exchange must have heightened and accelerated your abilities.

“Holy crap, that took me by surprise.” Maya gave him a weak smile. “This is not what I would consider one of the perks.” I guess that whole daywalking part takes a while to kick in?