Chapter Twenty-one
Armed with a good night sleep and a visit, albeit an imaginary one, from Cameron, Abby felt better than she had in years.
She needed some time to think, to strategize. And the park had led her to Livvie, so she thought, just maybe, she'd find more answers there.
She sat down, on the same bench as before, when she realized she forgot a book. Actually, she forgot her bag.
Sleep might have been a bad thing. She was never this forgetful when she was working on little or none at all.
It was not often that she just let it all go. Abby decided just to enjoy the fresh air for a few minutes.
She closed her eyes and raised her face to the sun, it's warmth spreading through her pores. Sighing she said to herself aloud "OK Abs. What next?"
Well, she figured, since Rafe was her cousin - Lucy's first priority would be to have her meet him. Which, of course, meant she'd finally meet Alison.
Abby was suddenly unbelievably nervous.
Don't be silly. It'll be fine, she thought as she tried to convince herself.
She thought that she knew them, cared about them as if they were her dearest friends in the world - but had never spoken a word to them.
She fiddled with her necklace again, silently asking Cameron for a clue, some sort of sign that she was doing the right thing - hoping she was on the right track. Just a moment later, she heard an annoyed voice behind her.
"Dude, shut up! Keep your halo on. I'm going. Alright, already!"
Abby turned and saw the most peculiar girl, dressed - it seemed - for a rock concert. Abby took a glance at her own simple pink sweater and faded jeans and thought, not for the first time, how boring her own taste in clothes was. But she'd never be caught dead in all that leather - so it was kind of pointless to compare. Abby had an eerie thought. Was this girl was a vampire? She sure dressed the part.
The girl continued to yell to herself, "You see me walking toward her, don't you? Man, it's not my fault Ed's such a hard-ass." Though the sky remained bright, thunder clapped in the distance. "You see? Now you got me in trouble! Sorry, boss."
Abby began to get up to walk away. She didn't know who this person was and didn't care to find out. She was acting way too crazy.
A hand reached out and grabbed her arm before she could, causing her to gasp. She turned around, reluctantly, becoming more frightened by the second.
"Hey. Wait a sec. Hold on. You're Abby - right?"
Abby's worry increased, her heart began to pound. "Yes. I am." She tried to pull her arm away. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"
"Nah. You don't. My name's Casey." Removing her hand from Abby's arm, she stretched it out for a handshake.
Stunned, Abby tentatively placed her hand in Casey's and shook it.
Casey smiled as she sat down on the bench. Not knowing what else to do, Abby did the same, but made sure leaned back a bit to put some distance between them, still feeling cautious. When she finally was able to find it, her voice was a bit shaky.
"I'm sorry - how exactly do you know me?" she asked.
"It's a long, long, long story, man." Casey said, turning her eyes heavenward. "But listen, your psycho, obsessive, completely annoying but hey, let me tell you, pretty damn cute boyfriend wanted me to give you a message."
"Who? What? Wait. Are you saying that.Cameron sent you?" Abby asked in disbelief.
"Yep. And seriously, he does not give up. He's been badgering me all day to go and find you."
"But how? Who are you?"
"How? Well, we met like.I guess, about 3 years ago. He and I work together and we used to hang out, you know? And who? I already said, I'm Casey,"
"W-w-w-wait. Whoa. Hold on, just a second. Hang out where? Cameron's been gone four years. The only place you'd have met him is in, well. Heaven, I guess. Are you - are you seriously saying you're like, an angel or something?"
"I'm not saying anything - but if that's your guess, it's a pretty good one." Casey grinned Looking up at the sky again she continued, "Cameron. Dude, she is pretty smart, you were right."
"An angel? That's impossible." Abby said, shaking her head at the mere thought.
"Girl, you're here to help save this town from vampires because you have the ability to see the future and it's impossible for me to be an angel?"
Abby sighed and then could only laugh. Her life became more unreal by the second. "Point taken. I'm sorry. Hi Casey." She said as she held out her hand this time.
Casey took it again and said "No problem. Nice to meet you. And I'm a guardian angel actually. Not to brag or nothin' but it's a pretty big deal. You understand."
"Well, since you're the first one I've met, I'll take you word for it." Abby said, still laughing.
"OK, now. I've got to give you this message so that your boy will stop screaming in my ear."
"Tell him I said to calm down. He should know better. I never listened to him when he raised his voice before and I won't start now."
"You hear her?" Casey asked, and then continued. "Stubborn."
"What??"
"That's what he just said. You're too stubborn for your own good."
"He always said that when I didn't agree with him."
"Which was all the time."
"Casey, I'm sorry, but this is really too bizarre, having a conversation with Cam through you." Abby said with a chuckle.
"It's OK. Keep going - at least he's stopped yelling for me to talk to you. Just don't get all lovey dovey on me. That'd be too freaky."
"I won't. I promise. Please, just ask him what he wants me to know."
"OK. Here it goes. You're doing great. Don't be nervous, Alison will love you, they both will. Seriously, what's not to love? Make them listen to you. They need you to take that monster down."
This was her sign. Unconventional, but a sign just the same. "Thank you. Is there anything else?" Abby said, sighing with relief.
"Yeah. One more thing, I need you."
"Oh Cam." Abby's eyes filled with tears as she turned away.
"Sorry, whoops. He's stopped talking. I was saying that. I need you to help me Abby." Casey said.
Abby laughed out loud. "Oh - sorry!! What can I do?"
"Here's the thing. These bloodsuckers are winning. I can't seem to stop them and I need you on my side."
"I'm here."
"Good. 'Cause you see, I used to have Rafe, but he's way too worried about his girl right now to really help me out and I'm stuck. This town feels like the Titanic and it's gonna hit that iceberg any minute."
As if a catalyst, Abby's head filled with visions at precisely that moment.
People getting turned, quickly now, nearly one a day. People who you'd never expect.
The town slowly becoming enveloped in darkness.
Livvie, jealous and bitter, returning to her old evil ways.
Alison, taken without a thought, and left without a choice but to go along with the plans of that madman.
Rafe, desperate to save her.being turned away, brokenhearted.
Joshua, gloating, gleefully orchestrating it all.
Casey watched her closely. Something bad was going down. She could see it on Abby's face. She began to shake her gently, needing to know for herself.
Coming out of it, Abby said quietly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she looked straight at Casey, "It's so unbelievably horrible. And, oh my God it just keeps getting worse. I don't know how, but I'll do whatever I can to help you."
"So we're partners?"
Still unable to believe that someone was there to help her she spoke the words anyway,
"Yeah. Partners."
"Cool. C'mon. There are people I need you to meet."
***********
The cell phone rang.
Joshua gazed lovingly, first at his ring, then at the portrait of his lovely bride to be before he answered.
"Go." The one syllable came out like a bark.
"He's been turned."
"Excellent work. Good boy. Bring him here to me. Now, where is my bride?"
"Rafe took her home." Frank reported.
"I don't care a bit about where he is. When will she be here?" Joshua asked, his voice laced with impatience.
"As soon as possible, sir."
"Sooner, Franklin, if you truly want me to be pleased."
Ending the call with a touch of a button before Frank could begin to reply, Joshua sighed.
He was handy, that Franklin, but he needed to focus more.
So much to do to prepare. Snapping his fingers, two lovely specimens emerged from the wings. One blond, one raven haired. "Hmm," he thought with a smirk, "When will I find the time to add a redheaded one to my little harem?" Soon, he decided, though the two he had currently were certainly beautiful playthings. Joshua snaked an arm around their respective waists as they each brought up a hand to caress his face.
His gaze returned to the portrait. He had them spellbound. Neither held a candle to his deliciously darling Alison, his precious little sacrificial lamb, who he knew he could convince to love him without such tricks. He'd wear her down until she was unable to resist.
"I need your help, my sweets," Joshua cooed. "The lady of the manor is nearly on her way, and all needs to be positively perfect for her arrival."
Armed with a good night sleep and a visit, albeit an imaginary one, from Cameron, Abby felt better than she had in years.
She needed some time to think, to strategize. And the park had led her to Livvie, so she thought, just maybe, she'd find more answers there.
She sat down, on the same bench as before, when she realized she forgot a book. Actually, she forgot her bag.
Sleep might have been a bad thing. She was never this forgetful when she was working on little or none at all.
It was not often that she just let it all go. Abby decided just to enjoy the fresh air for a few minutes.
She closed her eyes and raised her face to the sun, it's warmth spreading through her pores. Sighing she said to herself aloud "OK Abs. What next?"
Well, she figured, since Rafe was her cousin - Lucy's first priority would be to have her meet him. Which, of course, meant she'd finally meet Alison.
Abby was suddenly unbelievably nervous.
Don't be silly. It'll be fine, she thought as she tried to convince herself.
She thought that she knew them, cared about them as if they were her dearest friends in the world - but had never spoken a word to them.
She fiddled with her necklace again, silently asking Cameron for a clue, some sort of sign that she was doing the right thing - hoping she was on the right track. Just a moment later, she heard an annoyed voice behind her.
"Dude, shut up! Keep your halo on. I'm going. Alright, already!"
Abby turned and saw the most peculiar girl, dressed - it seemed - for a rock concert. Abby took a glance at her own simple pink sweater and faded jeans and thought, not for the first time, how boring her own taste in clothes was. But she'd never be caught dead in all that leather - so it was kind of pointless to compare. Abby had an eerie thought. Was this girl was a vampire? She sure dressed the part.
The girl continued to yell to herself, "You see me walking toward her, don't you? Man, it's not my fault Ed's such a hard-ass." Though the sky remained bright, thunder clapped in the distance. "You see? Now you got me in trouble! Sorry, boss."
Abby began to get up to walk away. She didn't know who this person was and didn't care to find out. She was acting way too crazy.
A hand reached out and grabbed her arm before she could, causing her to gasp. She turned around, reluctantly, becoming more frightened by the second.
"Hey. Wait a sec. Hold on. You're Abby - right?"
Abby's worry increased, her heart began to pound. "Yes. I am." She tried to pull her arm away. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"
"Nah. You don't. My name's Casey." Removing her hand from Abby's arm, she stretched it out for a handshake.
Stunned, Abby tentatively placed her hand in Casey's and shook it.
Casey smiled as she sat down on the bench. Not knowing what else to do, Abby did the same, but made sure leaned back a bit to put some distance between them, still feeling cautious. When she finally was able to find it, her voice was a bit shaky.
"I'm sorry - how exactly do you know me?" she asked.
"It's a long, long, long story, man." Casey said, turning her eyes heavenward. "But listen, your psycho, obsessive, completely annoying but hey, let me tell you, pretty damn cute boyfriend wanted me to give you a message."
"Who? What? Wait. Are you saying that.Cameron sent you?" Abby asked in disbelief.
"Yep. And seriously, he does not give up. He's been badgering me all day to go and find you."
"But how? Who are you?"
"How? Well, we met like.I guess, about 3 years ago. He and I work together and we used to hang out, you know? And who? I already said, I'm Casey,"
"W-w-w-wait. Whoa. Hold on, just a second. Hang out where? Cameron's been gone four years. The only place you'd have met him is in, well. Heaven, I guess. Are you - are you seriously saying you're like, an angel or something?"
"I'm not saying anything - but if that's your guess, it's a pretty good one." Casey grinned Looking up at the sky again she continued, "Cameron. Dude, she is pretty smart, you were right."
"An angel? That's impossible." Abby said, shaking her head at the mere thought.
"Girl, you're here to help save this town from vampires because you have the ability to see the future and it's impossible for me to be an angel?"
Abby sighed and then could only laugh. Her life became more unreal by the second. "Point taken. I'm sorry. Hi Casey." She said as she held out her hand this time.
Casey took it again and said "No problem. Nice to meet you. And I'm a guardian angel actually. Not to brag or nothin' but it's a pretty big deal. You understand."
"Well, since you're the first one I've met, I'll take you word for it." Abby said, still laughing.
"OK, now. I've got to give you this message so that your boy will stop screaming in my ear."
"Tell him I said to calm down. He should know better. I never listened to him when he raised his voice before and I won't start now."
"You hear her?" Casey asked, and then continued. "Stubborn."
"What??"
"That's what he just said. You're too stubborn for your own good."
"He always said that when I didn't agree with him."
"Which was all the time."
"Casey, I'm sorry, but this is really too bizarre, having a conversation with Cam through you." Abby said with a chuckle.
"It's OK. Keep going - at least he's stopped yelling for me to talk to you. Just don't get all lovey dovey on me. That'd be too freaky."
"I won't. I promise. Please, just ask him what he wants me to know."
"OK. Here it goes. You're doing great. Don't be nervous, Alison will love you, they both will. Seriously, what's not to love? Make them listen to you. They need you to take that monster down."
This was her sign. Unconventional, but a sign just the same. "Thank you. Is there anything else?" Abby said, sighing with relief.
"Yeah. One more thing, I need you."
"Oh Cam." Abby's eyes filled with tears as she turned away.
"Sorry, whoops. He's stopped talking. I was saying that. I need you to help me Abby." Casey said.
Abby laughed out loud. "Oh - sorry!! What can I do?"
"Here's the thing. These bloodsuckers are winning. I can't seem to stop them and I need you on my side."
"I'm here."
"Good. 'Cause you see, I used to have Rafe, but he's way too worried about his girl right now to really help me out and I'm stuck. This town feels like the Titanic and it's gonna hit that iceberg any minute."
As if a catalyst, Abby's head filled with visions at precisely that moment.
People getting turned, quickly now, nearly one a day. People who you'd never expect.
The town slowly becoming enveloped in darkness.
Livvie, jealous and bitter, returning to her old evil ways.
Alison, taken without a thought, and left without a choice but to go along with the plans of that madman.
Rafe, desperate to save her.being turned away, brokenhearted.
Joshua, gloating, gleefully orchestrating it all.
Casey watched her closely. Something bad was going down. She could see it on Abby's face. She began to shake her gently, needing to know for herself.
Coming out of it, Abby said quietly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she looked straight at Casey, "It's so unbelievably horrible. And, oh my God it just keeps getting worse. I don't know how, but I'll do whatever I can to help you."
"So we're partners?"
Still unable to believe that someone was there to help her she spoke the words anyway,
"Yeah. Partners."
"Cool. C'mon. There are people I need you to meet."
***********
The cell phone rang.
Joshua gazed lovingly, first at his ring, then at the portrait of his lovely bride to be before he answered.
"Go." The one syllable came out like a bark.
"He's been turned."
"Excellent work. Good boy. Bring him here to me. Now, where is my bride?"
"Rafe took her home." Frank reported.
"I don't care a bit about where he is. When will she be here?" Joshua asked, his voice laced with impatience.
"As soon as possible, sir."
"Sooner, Franklin, if you truly want me to be pleased."
Ending the call with a touch of a button before Frank could begin to reply, Joshua sighed.
He was handy, that Franklin, but he needed to focus more.
So much to do to prepare. Snapping his fingers, two lovely specimens emerged from the wings. One blond, one raven haired. "Hmm," he thought with a smirk, "When will I find the time to add a redheaded one to my little harem?" Soon, he decided, though the two he had currently were certainly beautiful playthings. Joshua snaked an arm around their respective waists as they each brought up a hand to caress his face.
His gaze returned to the portrait. He had them spellbound. Neither held a candle to his deliciously darling Alison, his precious little sacrificial lamb, who he knew he could convince to love him without such tricks. He'd wear her down until she was unable to resist.
"I need your help, my sweets," Joshua cooed. "The lady of the manor is nearly on her way, and all needs to be positively perfect for her arrival."