First Thirst (Craving 1)

I looked at both of them and realized they were seriously concerned. “Wait, what is this all about? Why would someone looking for my mom mean that I could be in danger?”

“My vision was shrouded in a dark mist and, Bobbie…you were in it,” Aunt Elle said. “I have a good feeling about this job in Scotland…about this man, Ascot. You must take the job.”

“I’m off,” Rafael said suddenly.

“Where to?” I was amazed as I watched him march towards the still open door to the elevator.

“Going to find out a little more about this Frenchie vamp,” he said, and smiled broadly. He looked at Elle. “I’ll be in touch.”

“But you said he left?” I called after him.

“Even so, would like to find out who his clan is,” Rafael called out and left.

“This is all so crazy,” I said, and shrugged off all the nonsense about a French vampire. “So, you think I should take the job…go to Scotland?”

“Yes, and while you are there, find an hour to go to the ‘Witching Wall’.”

“The what? Is that a joke?”

“No, you might connect with your grandmother’s memory there. It is a stone monument she created and left there in Inver Park, just outside MacLeod Village.”

“Wait, what? You said MacLeod Village. Are you telling me that the job I am taking is where my grandmother was from?”

“Yes, it is why you must take it,” Aunt Elle said, and looked away from me.

I just stood there, my mouth open, with nothing coming out.

“This is getting way weird,” I finally said.

“I know your mother didn’t speak about her much t

o you…she always believed you would have forever together.”

“All she ever said was that my grandmother was a dear and good immortal witch that loved her and would have adored me had she lived. It always struck me as horrible that both died…I mean, they were immortal. How does that happen?”

“I know, baby. Your mother knew how your grandmother died, but she told me it wasn’t something she was ready to share…”

“Which begs the question, Aunt Elle, was I recommended for my skills, or for my bloodline?”

“Does it matter, Bobbie girl?”

“Yes, no, no—not really. At the moment, I need the job and well…the salary and Scotland is just too much to turn down,” I answered, getting excited, really excited now for the first time. This was real.

“Bobbie, with this strange vampire asking questions, I want you to be careful during your travels. Do what you need to do to protect yourself from vampires…you have it inside of you to hurt them. You know that, right?”

“Sure, I know that, but…I only had to do it once when I was walking back to the dorm and a newbie attacked me. He didn’t know any better and one flick of my wrist and he learned right quick that witches were off limits.” I looked at her and giggled.

“This is serious, Bobbie,” she said without smiling. “There was one thing your mother told me about your grandmother that you should know. You were too young when we lost your mom, but you should know that your mana was inherited directly from your grandmother. She was not only immortal, but considered amongst her kind…of which there are not many, to be the most powerful of all immortal witches on earth.”

“Are you kidding?” I was amazed.

“The power, her power skipped your mom…but your mom told me she saw that power inside of you. She said you glowed with untapped magic. With such power comes great responsibility, and now that you are going to Scotland…well, you should know all of that, because you may soon be called on to make use of that power.”

I started to say something but she hurriedly interrupted. “Let me finish,” she said. “What you call your Shama is an altered state and one that I couldn’t expand or teach you about, as I have no clue just what it is except that your mother mentioned that she believed it was powerful enough to open portals to other realms.”

“Whoa!”

“That’s it, that’s all I got, kid. Are you okay…do you need traveling money?”