Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

seen her since.” Anne walked us to the door. “I will write to her. Tell her how happy I am with Malcolm. I doubt she has much influence, but it can’t hurt to try.”

“It’s a good idea. Do it now. Jeremiah and the laird are sending a man to Edinburgh in the morning. He can take your letter. I am going for a walk. Florence, are you coming?” I left Anne pulling out paper and quill and headed down the stairs. Flo caught up with me at the bottom.

“What are you doing?” She dragged me outside. Valdez stayed close, never letting us get far enough away that he couldn’t hear what we were saying. “Why would you go see that witch again?”

“She gave me a potion the last time I saw her.” I heard Valdez rumble, as if he’d turned cat and was giving me a warning.

“This is news to me. What kind of potion? Did you take it?” Flo looked me over, as if I had sprouted wings or a tail. “Aye, I can see that you did! You know I don’t trust those streghe. I have heard their potions can kill, even vampires.” She looked around, trying to keep her voice very low.

There weren’t many men about, since we were short some guards. But when we walked through the open drawbridge, there were two standing there, Dollar men. They were taking their duties very seriously, eyes on the path we took.

“I couldn’t resist. She had promised it would calm me and it did. In a way. At least it didn’t kill me. I’m still here, aren’t I?” I threw open my arms.

“Hah! So far. What did it do for you that you are seeking another? Calm? In what way? You are making no sense.” Flo grabbed one of my arms and shook it. “Are you pazza? Sick in the head? Under a spell?” She crossed herself, made one of her other signs and spit on the ground. “Glory! No one trusts witches. I sure don’t trust that one. She is beautiful and probably has her eye on your man or mine.”

I kept walking until we were far enough away from the drawbridge that I was sure we couldn’t be overheard. “Her potion gave me visions, Flo. Helped me see parts of my past.” I looked up into the dark sky. More clouds. Did it rain here every night? It suited my mood. I felt Flo staring at me.

“I have no idea who I am, really, or where I came from. Can you imagine how that makes me feel?” I could feel Valdez’s eyes on the back of my head, disapproving. He was dying to say something but had vowed to restrain himself. I knew that wouldn’t last long.

Flo touched my shoulder, willing me to look at her. “I can’t imagine what you are going through. But to use a witch’s potion? That is dangerous, amica. How did you feel after you took it? Tell me everything.” She stared into my eyes, reading my memories of last night.

I told her what I’d seen. “I am convinced what I saw was true. That I might have really come from that strange land.” I kept walking toward the beach and the hut. “I admit the potion made me weak for a while.”

“First, if what you saw was true and not just a wish?” Flo hugged me. “That is meravigliosa! But then to make you weak? I do not like it, not at all. A vampire must have her powers.” Tiny Florence seemed to swell, her eyes bright, her fangs showing against her pink lips for just a moment. Powers. I didn’t doubt she had them.

“Think, Glory! The pirates know you killed their queen. They might want to seek revenge. You must be strong if they come again.” Flo gripped my hand. “You must be ready.”

Valdez was rumbling again. No, maybe it was a growl, low and dangerous.

“I didn’t kill their queen. I just fought her until she gave up.” I hated that the locals had made me into a kind of hero, telling the story of my fight on the battlements until I might as well have run through poor Zarah with my sword.

“A detail. You fought. She died. You cannot take a witch’s potion again. That’s what I’m saying. Surely Jeremiah has told you the same thing.” Flo put her hands on her hips, her stance when she was trying to have her way. I wasn’t giving in.

“Jeremiah knows how important it is that I find out who I really am.” I glanced over my shoulder at Valdez. “Jeremiah said that, if I want to take the potion again, I should do it.” Let my bodyguard think about that!

“I am surprised. The laird told me there was a witch who attacked you before called Red Mary. Just the name makes me shake.” Flo was busy again, crossing herself and making her signs, ending with a spit on the ground. “This one, this Helen Haig, said she hates what she calls ‘others.’ That means vampires like you and me, Glory. Then she gives you a potion? Why? Ask yourself that question?”

“Red Mary and I came to terms, though you are right, she scared me. I met another witch named Gertrude who saved me. I saw for myself that not all witches are evil, Flo. Helen gave me the potion and it helped me. I am thinking it was a kind gesture. I have to try it again.” I could see Helen’s hut. There were men working on the beach but Jeremiah and the laird were nowhere in sight so they must have been rowed out to the ship. “Are you coming with me?”

“I will not let you go alone.” Flo stayed by my side as we walked up to the door.

I took a breath and knocked. The smell coming from the chimney made me think of burning feathers, hot wax and a stable that had not been cleaned. I pinched my