Fangs For The Memories, Part 1 (The Ooo-Spooky Witchy Chicks Round Robin Story)

When I ran the old Witchy Chicks blog, we always did a Halloween round-robin story, as though we were sitting around the campfire, telling a group story. And so, we begin that tradition again! I hope you enjoy the story over the next six days!

Fangs For the Memories,
Part 1: Yasmine

I stared at the calendar. Why the hell had I agreed to go to Tuck’s Halloween party? Granted, he laid out great spreads, with tons of great food, good booze, and more candy than anybody should be eating. But I wasn’t in the mood to dress up and no costume, no admittance. I’d had a long day, I was tired, and I wanted nothing more than to curl up at home with a cup of tea and a good book until it was time for my midnight ritual to say hello to my ancestors. But I’d agreed to go and put on some sort of show for his guests, so if I didn’t want him to whine for the next year, I had to make good. Besides, I owed him one. He’d gotten me out of a bad situation with a ghost last year, and I’d promised him a favor.

I thumbed through my closet, finally finding the most Stevie-Nicks-ish dress I owned. As I slipped into it, then laced up my granny boots, I went over what I’d promised to do. I’d promised to offer free tarot readings for an hour—quick ones, just simple questions. And I was to put on a small show for the kiddies—a few sparklers from my fingers, a spell to conjure up a friendly dragonette, stuff like that. Even though I wasn’t keen on spending the evening with a bunch of noisy strangers, I decided I’d make the best of it and go.

Two hours later, I was decked out in full-on witch regalia and I’d steeled myself for the party. I was headed for the bus when all of a sudden, I realized that I’d forgot my cards. Damn it, what was I going to do now? If I ran home to get them, I’d chance missing the bus. Still, I wasn’t going to find a deck at Tuck’s—he was about as adept with the cards as he was with a spell. Poor guy had been born into a magical family, but he had no magic. Making up my mind, I turned and raced back to my house, ignoring the clouds socking in overhead.

***

Cards in hand, I hustled back to the bus stop, just in time to see the bus trundling off down the street without me.

“Crap,” I said. I couldn’t walk to Tuck’s—it was too far. And the cabs would mostly likely all be too busy. There was Mugwort’s Drivers, which would cost me twice as much as a cab, but they usually arrived within twenty minutes. As I put in a call, the skies opened and rain slashed down on the streets. I huddled beneath the bus stop, trying to scoot back from the rain as much as possible. I called Tuck and told him I was on the way, then settled in to wait for my ride.

About fifteen minutes later, I was soaked through. I was about to call Mugwort’s Drivers again when a car pulled up to the curb. It was a black town car. I rolled my eyes, thinking this was going to cost me more than I expected.

I hurried over to the car and opened the back door, peeking in. There was nobody else there, except for the driver, who was wearing what seemed like way too fancy a suit.

“You’re the driver?” I asked, hesitating.

He glanced back at me. “Yes, now get in before you get soaked.”

That was cheeky, I thought, but I hopped in. “Is this going to cost me more than usual?” I asked.

The driver paused, then said, “No, I just happened to be driving the town car tonight. Where to?”

I gave him Tuck’s address, and then settled back. It was about ten minutes later that I noticed something odd. I stared in the rear view mirror. I could see me, I could see the car interior. But…I couldn’t see the driver.

“What the hell?” I said before I could stop myself. “Who are you? What are you? You aren’t from Mugwort’s Drivers!”

With a laugh, the driver glanced back at me, smiling. I could see the tips of his fangs as he winked at me. “I never said I was. Now sit back, relax, and you’ll be fine.”

“Where are you taking me?” I tried to lunge forward but he raised the partition that separated the front seat from the back. Frantic, I tried to open one of the doors, then the other, but they were both locked and I couldn’t get them open. I grabbed out my phone but there were no bars and I couldn’t do call 9-1-1.

“Relax,” he said. “I told you if you just cooperate, you’ll be fine.”

“But where are you taking me? What are you going to do?”

He laughed again. “I happen to need a witch’s help tonight. So chill out, tell me your name and we’ll be best buddies in no time.

I leaned against the backseat, trying not to sob. Vampires were dangerous. Vampires were predators. And here I was, in the middle of being kidnapped by one. I sniffled and tried not to cry. I should have stayed home, but no, Tuck had to have his party and he had to show off his friend, Lydia, the witch.

I tried to cast a Commune Spell but it fizzled and I realized I was in a no-magic zone.

“I swear,” I grumbled under my breath. “If I end up being turned into a vampire, Tuck’s going to pay. But about twenty minutes later, we turned into a gated driveway and I tensed up again. I leaned forward, straining to see where we were going. As we came around the bend, I gasped.

There, in front of us, was…

Stay tuned for tomorrow, when Renee George unearths part 2!