“Helena, I must shop. I have nothing to wear tonight. Do you want to come with me?”

  “Normally you couldn’t keep me away, Lil’, but I want to keep researching these spells.”

  “Okay. I should be fine. I have an idea of what I want,” I say. “Maybe I’ll text Hannah on my new phone and see if she wants to shop with me. She could get ready over here too, do you mind if she spends the night at your house?”

  “Of course not, Lily,” Helena says with a smile.

  I grab my iPhone and text Hannah. She replies instantly and agrees to meet me in about an hour at the first store on my list. While I’m talking to her, Sebastian sits down next to me and tries to put his arm around me. I let him until he starts running his hand up and down my arm, then I move.

  “You should have fun, ma petite. I wish I could go with you but I have to get the rest of your present ready.”

  I sigh internally. I need a little space right now to think about what has been happening. It will be good to go shopping with Hannah. Wait a second…

  “What do you mean the rest of my present? Sebastian,” I say warily.

  “Shhh… you’ll see.”

  “I better get going so I can meet Hannah. Sebastian, I’m serious about the presents.”

  “I understand, ma petite. I believe you will approve of this one.”

  Everyone gathers their things so we can leave at the same time. Julian and Helena are going to do research at UC Berkeley and Andrew is going back to the manse. Sebastian turns me around and surprises me with a long, sweet kiss goodbye.

  “Have fun.”

  Dammit, so much for him slowing down.

  20 . AIDAN

  I’m following the witches again. I don’t trust them, only my desire to spend time with Lilith keeps me from watching them full time.

  They’re on the move and I am in the shape of a beetle in the back seat of their car, an old, pile of dung Lincoln. We’re headed to Berkeley to ‘pick up a package’ but I don’t know what it is because I caught up the conversation after they started talking in their lame code. These two would make America’s Dumbest Criminals if they weren’t so dangerous. We’ve already stopped for Icees and licorice. They speed down the freeway spouting noxious fumes out their muffler. How this vehicle ever passed its smog test I don’t know.

  I would have caught up with them sooner if I hadn’t been with Lilith, but I wouldn’t have missed that for the world. Holding her in my arms was heaven. When she kissed me she affirmed she had feelings for me and gave me the green light to kiss her. I had never done that before. It is my new favorite thing to do. She tastes so sweet. Her energy sparks and flies when we kiss. I feel complete when I am with her. I feel something I never knew I was without. Not physical safety but emotional and mental safety. I have no more thoughts of suicide in me. How could I leave a world that has Lilith in it?

  The witches are getting pretty excited as we approach the University. Their speech is animated and they keep bouncing in their seats, as they look for a parking place near the libraries. Supreme witches and masters of the universe get foiled because they can’t find parking. I’m enjoying their frustration but I decide to help them to find out what the hell they are up to. With a point of my antennae there is an opening up ahead. After much maneuvering, not only is the car a piece of crap, but it’s as big as a boat, we pull in and I switch to a fly so I can keep up with them. They stumble out of the car to lurk near some trees. Sunlight dapples the grounds of the prestigious school. Iris says a small incantation to divine the presence of someone. I hear Julian’s name. This can’t be good. Despite my earlier convictions, I’m growing rather fond of him. He is truly a child at heart, discovering the world through continually fresh eyes, something I would like to do again. He wants to learn about me, not harm me. This family of vampires would rather feed on anything except blood but have no choice in the matter.

  “He’s still in there. We’re in time. With luck we won’t have to call Alex,” Iris says.

  Indio takes another bite of licorice.

  “Stop eating that, you cow. We have to be ready when he comes out.”

  “Fine! I’m hungry though. We’ve been working all morning.”

  Indio sucks the last of her Icee, hitting rock bottom, makes a frown. She tosses it on the ground receiving a nasty look from a college student who bends over to pick it up and recycle it. Indio sneers at her.

  “We can eat when we get back home. We’ll have plenty of time after we get the package,” Iris says with a laugh.

  At that moment Julian and Helena exit Kroeber Hall. Iris is on them. She starts her incantation and Indio adds her voice immediately. I notice they start to perspire. It’s taking a great effort on their part. It’s the same spell they used the other day with Bertrand. It is in Latin and is soon completed.

  Iris whispers, “Come here.”

  Julian and Helena start to walk jerkily over to the sisters. Iris starts to laugh. Julian’s and Helena’s eyes are wide with horror, their faces contort with pain.

  I’ve seen enough. I fly around the trees and change into my human form so Julian and Helena might recognize me, point a finger at them and nothing happens. Okay, the witches want to play hardball. I hit Helena and Julian with a minor plane disruption blast. Unfortunately it mostly hits Julian but it does the trick. The vampires both collapse then run for their car, which means they move faster than even witches can follow.

  I change into a fly and get cozy with Iris. The girls stand with their mouths open. Finally Iris says, “It must have been Helena. She must know some way to counteract the spell. She must know more magick than we thought.”

  “Yes, but that much? I can’t believe she knows that much magick,” Indio says.

  “Are you saying that my spell was faulty? How dare you imply I made a mistake?” Indio says with sparks in her eyes.

  “Of course I’m not saying that,” Indio says, backing away as Iris starts walking back to the car. “I just can’t imagine what went wrong,” Indio says, keeping a discrete distance.

  “Nothing went wrong. Helena knows something that’s all. I don’t think they saw us, though, so they don’t know it was us.”

  “They’ll have a good idea.” Indio continues to point out the obvious. “They’re going to be on their guard now.”

  “Let them. I think our spell will still work if we can get one of them alone without Helena,” Iris says.

  “Let’s get something to eat. I’m starving,” Indio whines.

  “God, all you think about is your stomach and Sebastian.”

  “And staking Lily Goodwill, don’t forget that, sister. I can’t wait to do that.”

  21 . LILITH

  “I like this one, Lily. It says ‘Take me I’m yours’ but not in a slutty way,” Hannah says as she throws me yet another black dress.

  We’ve decided black is THE color for a vampire birthday and you can’t go wrong with a little black dress.

  “That one isn’t bad. I like this one too. I love the layers going down the side. It’s got a lower neckline too. I think I may have found my dress. I need to try this on.”

  “Finally, whew.”

  “I know this has been a pain in the ass, Hannah. What are you wearing?”

  “A red Valentino I had lying around.”

  “Oooooh. Cool! Do you need shoes or anything?”

  “Nope, I still have my original shoes and stuff. That’s the cool thing about being a vamp. That and the hippie blood,” she says with a giggle. “I just imbibed last night and I still have a buzz.”

  “You are so bad! How do you think this dress looks?”

  “Girlfriend, it’s epic! You have to get it.”

  “Cool, I have shoes and everything else so I’m ready to go. Let’s head back to the house.”

  I’d already packed my things to stay at the manse the night before so Hannah and I just had to take our things up to our rooms.

  We get back just as Sebastian pulls up. Hannah checks him out and I have to smile. There aren’t many vampires around and the opportunities are limited. She’s going to be disappointed. I’ve cooled off enough to see Sebastian’s side of things. I’m still not happy over the issues we fought about but we can talk about that later.

  “That is one fine piece of vamp meat.”

  “Hannah!”

  “Well, it’s true.”

  Sebastian meets us at the door, grabs my garment bag and luggage and bends to kiss me on the lips. I don’t respond, but Sebastian ignores it.

  “I see the shopping was a success, Cherie,” he says giving me a smile that heats me from head to toe.

  He kisses Hannah on the cheek.

  “Bienvenu, Hannah.”

  “Thank you, Sebastian, how are you?” Hannah raises an elegantly penciled eyebrow at him.

  “Much better than I have been in my long life,” he says looking at me.

  “Well that’s good,” she says.

  “Why don’t you let me take that, Bast, I can put it away.” I reach for the bags.

  “Nonsense, do you want it in your closet, dearest?” he asks.

  “Yes please,” I say.

  Sebastian is up the stairs in a blur and back down them before we can put our purses on the hall credenza. He puts his arm around me and leads us towards the library. God, he smells good.

  “Why don’t we have something to drink before we all start to get ready?” Sebastian offers.

  “Where are Julian and Helena?” I ask.

  “They went to UC Berkeley to the Anthro Library to check some things out. Ring for Andrew, darling.”

  “This should be fun,” I say under my breath.

  Andrew comes in, sees Hannah and immediately blushes. I am afraid to ask. I screw up my courage and hope it turns out well.

  “Andrew, could you bring us some of the raspberry liqueur?”

  “Of course, Miss Lily, I’ll bring that right in.”

  Hannah grins at him and he stumbles.

  “Hannah, don’t do that, you naughty girl,” Sebastian admonishes her.

  “What?”

  Hannah looks genuinely perplexed.

  “Don’t you know how smitten that man is with you?” I say.

  “But I thought Andrew swung the other way?”

  “Well we don’t quite understand it either. The heart loves who the heart loves, dear,” I tell her, like I know what I’m talking about.

  “Speaking of hearts,” she says as she points her two red polished fingers at Bast and me just as Andrew walks in with a tray.

  “Oh, I know all about them, Ms. Hannah,” Andrew gushes, eager to fill her in. “It’s so romantic. Mr. Sebastian spent the whole morning holding Miss Lily while she slept. Can you imagine? It was so beautiful.”

  “And now it is so public,” I seethe.

  “Easy, ma petite, Hannah is family and Andrew is just a romantic at heart.”

  “That is so sweet.” Hannah sighs.

  “Andrew, serve the drinks, please,” I beg.

  Andrew gets a little huffy with me - he arches his brow, purses his lip and makes sure to pour my drink last. Sebastian tries not to smile at this. I give Andrew the evil eye. When I finally get served, I drink mine down as soon as I get it and ask for another. Julian and Helena come in just as I am sipping my third drink. Julian looks like he has been through a battle. His clothes are singed and he is frazzled looking.

  “What happened, Julian?” Sebastian rises to help Julian.

  Julian brushes him off, not unkindly, and gets a drink before he sits down. We can’t get drunk but we still feel the fortification alcohol can give. Julian bypasses the raspberry liqueur and hits the scotch instead.

  “Iris and Indio tried to kidnap him,” Helena says. “We were leaving the library when the spell hit us. It was an immobilizing spell. I felt like a puppet. All we could do was walk where they told us to. It was horrible.” Julian nods in agreement. “We would have been at their mercy completely. We wouldn’t have escaped except, I think, for Aidan. He has been following the witches and knew what they were doing. Fortunately, Aidan did something to release us.”

  “It must wear them out to cast the spell, because they were not able to do another before we got away,” Julian adds.

  It’s the first thing he’s said since they’d walked in. He’s really shaken up and with good reason. He almost lost Helena because they were after him. I know that weighs heavily on his mind.

  “You have to find a counter spell, Helena,” I say.

  “Don’t you think I’m trying, Lily?” Her voice rises. She composes herself. “That’s what we were doing at the library. I think I might have found something but I didn’t have time to try it. I had to copy it down and study it.”

  “I’m sorry, Helena. I know you’re trying everything. If they had taken either of you today, I don’t know what we would have done.”

  “We would have gone after you!” Sebastian says with his hands fisted.

  “Yes! YES!” cries Andrew, a little premature, ready for battle, considering he’s brandishing his silver serving tray and a swizzle stick.

  “Of course we would,” exclaims Hannah. “I’m not sure what all is going on but I’m up for a serious ass kicking of anyone who tries to take on my friends.”

  Hannah’s fangs have come out.

  “Hannah, darling, we need to tell you about the witches, Iris and Indio,” Helena explains.

  “I already don’t like them, hate their names. Tell me more, I’m in.”

  I couldn’t help laughing. Hannah is so loyal, she doesn’t care about the details, she’s more concerned about what she wears to battle. She was probably wondering whether her army surplus boots would be better for ass - kicking than her platform boots with the little spikes along the sides.

  “They are responsible for the five vampires who were staked. And they are trying to summon and bind a jinni. We think that once they have a djinn they will wreak havoc all over the city or world for that matter,” Bast explains. Hannah gets serious.

  “Besides the fact that binding a djinn is the same as slavery and we do not condone it in any way, shape or form,” I add glaring at Sebastian, getting a noncommittal look back.

  “I am so anti-slavery! This sounds like a job for Ganja Girl! Why didn’t you call on me sooner!?”

  This time everyone laughs. Just what we need to lighten the mood. Those bitches are putting a serious damper on my birthday. I’m just getting ready to say that, when I feel that increasingly familiar whoosh of warm air.

  “Aidan,” I whisper. Everyone looks up as he pops into the room.

  “Julian, Helena, are you all right?”

  Aidan walks across the room to Julian’s side and shakes his hand.

  “I’m sorry I had to blast you that way. I tried a couple other things that didn’t work. It’s a tight spell. I think the best defense is going to be to block it from taking hold in the first place,” he says looking at Helena.

  Helena throws her glass into the fireplace. We all stare at the petite, demure woman.

  “I’m trying dammit! I just don’t know where else to look.”

  “What about the spell you found today?” Sebastian asks in a calm voice. I pat her hand to soothe her frustration.

  “I think it might work,” she says in a voice full of exasperation. “It ‘releases the body from restraints’. I don’t know if that means physical restraints or paranormal. The problem is I have no way of testing it.”

  I’ve never seen Helena so upset. She is an old vampire and an accomplished witch. There isn’t much that can rattle her. Her soul is sweet and loving. Julian and our family is the focus of her life. Losing Julian would be like losing half of herself. They have been together roughly five hundred years. I can’t imagine that kind of commitment or devotion. She sits, hair a mess, clothes singed and hands shaking.

  “I can bind Julian’s legs magikally, Helena. You could put the spell on him first and you can test if your spell releases him. I know it’s not the same spell as Indio and Iris are using, but it will tell us if we can use it for paranormal restraints,” Aidan says carefully.

  His face is tight, mischief is one thing, genuine distress another. I imagine the energy in the room is probably unpleasant. It might even be painful to him. I hope not. I can also sense his weakening towards the other members of the family. In spite of himself I think he is beginning to like them. Well, everyone but Sebastian. I’m not sure what I can do about that. Sebastian doesn’t like him either. I’m impressed that Hannah isn’t freaking out yet. She must be dipping into more than hippie blood these days.

  “What are you exactly?” Hannah finally asks.

  She isn’t wigged out, just curious. Aidan laughs at her expression.

  “You are a delight, my dear. I am a djinn. A fire spirit. A jinni. And who are you?”

  “I’m Hannah, I’m from Berkeley.”

  “Hello, Hannah, from Berkeley. I’m Aidan.”

  “Aidan, are you seeing anyone?”

  “Hannah likes “herbally enhanced” blood and I think she is still flying, you’ll have to excuse her. Hannah, can you focus? We kind of have an emergency here!” I plead.

  I shake her a little.

  “Sorry, Lil’,” she says with a stupid grin on her face. Aidan eats it up. Probably literally. With every word out of Hannah’s mouth he grins wider. I’m happy someone can forget the serious problem we’re facing.

  Helena is busy whispering and pacing around Julian. When she’s done he glimmers for a second.

  “He’s ready, Aidan,” she says. “You can try and bind his legs now.”

  “Julian, stand up for me and walk across the room.”

  Aidan points to Julian’s legs and nothing happens. Julian keeps walking. Aidan frowns and then points again. This time at Julian’s body in general, still nothing happens.

  “I think you found a good spell, Helena. I’ve never seen anything stop me before and he’s still walking. I tried binding his whole body too.”

  “Yes!” I can’t help pumping my arm.

  Helena moves to Julian and plants a kiss on his lips.