Chapter 7

Ivy was sitting at the table, checking her messages on the computer. Rachel was sitting on the other end looking through what looked like a spell book. The blonde man, who I guessed was Kisten, was sitting next to Rachel with an arm over the back of her chair and the elderly black man was sitting at a chair off to the side, sipping on a cup of coffee. Leaning against the counter, I watched Ceri cut a piece of pizza off the tray and set in on a plate, before sliding it to me. The aroma of the food made my mouth water. I took a bite and closed my eyes. It was delicious. I finished the piece in about ten seconds flat. I must have been more hungry that I thought. I pushed the plate away and Ceri picked it up, setting it in the sink. I turned to face the group. For some reason, my gaze kept landing on Rachel. She seemed enticing to me in an odd way.

"So... Um... How long was I out?" I asked, trying to make conversation to end the awkward silence that closed in about the kitchen.

"Two days," Ivy said without looking up from the messages that flashed across the screen, her voice distant and void of emotion.

"Yeah, we thought you weren't going to make it without crossing over," Rachel added as she looked up at me from her book.

"Oh... Wow," Was all I was able to say. I suddenly felt four different gazes on me. The old man, Rachel and Kisten all had looks of curiosity, but Ivy's look was guarded among the blank mask that took over her features. I could feel that she hadn't fed in a few days and something in the back of my mind and the haunted look that loomed about her told me that she didn't enjoy the feeding. I didn't really know why she would feel like that. I, myself, grouped feeding right up there with sex. It was sweet and satisfying to me. Suddenly there was more silence. I chewed on the corner of my lip, not sure what else to say. "Well, thanks for saving my life. I really appreciate it and I owe you all one," I said softly.

"Keasly and Matalina were the one's that stitched you up and Rachel and myself kept you in what good health we could," Ceri chimed in. Keasly must be the old man, but who was Matalina? Just then, a female pixy flew through a hole in the window screen with an armful of plants and handed them to Ceri. She looked like a tiny ethereal angel in her gauzy white gown and the fair blonde hair that surround her. "Thank you Matalina," Ah, so she was a pixy. What the hell was the deal with all the pixies?

Ivy stood quickly, making me take a step back, going into defense mode. She gripped up her leather jacket and her purse and took off down a hall opposite to the one that led to the livingroom.

"I'll be back in a few," She called out over her shoulder. Kisten stood and grabbed up his own jacket.

"I should go with her. Make sure she doesn't do anything that is going to make her hate herself in the morning," He said and ran after her calling "Wait up Ivy!" I looked around the room at who all was left and asked in my head 'Well, what the hell is her problem?'. My silent question was answered by Rachel.

"Ivy's been cranky lately. She's probably going to get her feeding over and done with," She said softly, her hand going to her neck where there were a few old bite scars. She had been bitten... and not claimed? That answered why she had seemed so compelling to me since I had walked into the kitchen. I would need to be careful if I was ever alone in a room with her. "Don't worry. I don't think that you're the reason. She's always been this moody," I let out a soft sigh of content and scooted the chair that Kisten had occupied, away from Rachel and sat in it, leaning my elbows against the table. The pain shot up my side, making me cringe as a small pained sound squeezed passed my clenched teeth. Rachel smiled. "I can give you a pain amulet if you want. They really help," I nodded showing a smile of relief.

"That would be great. Thank you," I said. She got up and pulled a box down from a cabinet and pulled out an amulet and a finger prick. She invoked it and handed it to me so I could put it on. Once it touched my skin, the pain faded to just a dull throb. "Wow. That feels so much better. Thanks again," I smiled a genuine smile and Rachel returned it.

"No problem. I have a lot made up for cases like this, so don't be afraid to ask once that one runs out," She said and dove back into her book. Her fingers skimming over words that were written almost a millennia ago in what looked like blood and reeked of magik. I sat quietly, watching her, sipping a new brew that Ceri had placed in front of me only a few moments before. The bitter taste was lessened, covered by the cool taste of peppermint. I let the coolness of the tea soothe my soar throat, smiling. I might like becoming part of the Vampiric Charms team. Hopefully Ivy, Rachel and their silent partner will agree to let me in.

We stayed like this until the wee hours of the morning, chatting about idle things that most women in our age range talk about. Both Keasly and Ceri had retired to Keasly's house across the street, but not before Ceri made me drink another cup of brimstone-laced brew. She seemed satisfied, beaming at me like a proud mother, when I showed her the empty cup.