Page 11 of Lost

“I imagine you’ll want to be on your way to join them quickly?”

“Yes. That would be best,” Grandma Redbird said.

“Actually, you’re going to save me a trip. I baked a dozen loaves of bread and finished canning my blackberry jam. Never knew vampyres loved fresh bread and jam so much before Neferet changed our world, but they certainly do.”

Kevin’s mouth was watering as he watched Tina finish packing the bundles of fresh homemade bread and jam into canvas bags.

“Who doesn’t like homemade bread?” he said. “And yours smells incredible.”

Tina stopped to look at him. She shook her head. “It’s tough to get used to it.”

“It?” Kevin asked.

“I supposeyouis a better word thanit. What I meant is it’s tough to get used to having a red vampyre who acts like a normal, rational person in my kitchen.” She snorted and added, “It’s almost worth going out with you in the cold and dark to see their reaction.”

“I don’t expect that it’ll be easy for them to accept me,” Kevin said.

“You want the truth?”

Kevin nodded.

“It’ll take a miracle for them to accept you.”

“That’s okay.” Kevin grinned at her. “I have it on good authority that Nyx is in the miracle business.”

“For your sake I hope so.” Tina returned to packing the canvas bags.

“For all of our sakes, I hope so,” Grandma Redbird said.

“Okay, Miracle Kevin, help me carry these.”

Tina loaded Kevin down with as many bags as he could carry, leaving only one for his grandma. Then they followed Tina out the back door and past a built-in pool from which mist was rising like forgotten spirits.

“That looks awesome!” Kevin said.

Tina smiled. “That and the Scotties are my two major indulgences. Well, if you don’t count my love of craft beer and pasta. I keep that pool heated all winter. It’s a beautiful thing to float in it and stare through the mist up at the stars. Makes me forget how messed up our world has become.”

“My friend, would it help to tell you that because of what has happened to Kevin, we have a real chance at defeating Neferet?” Grandma Redbird said.

“Sylvia, I would love to believe we could go back to how it used to be.”

“How about more than that?” Kevin spoke up. Both women trained curious looks on him. “How about a world where humans and vampyres are truly allies and friends? Like the two of you are with the Resistance. It’s more than possible. I’ve seen it. It can work, and it makes for a world that’s better than what we had here before Neferet started the war.”

“You’re not from around here, are you, son?”

“Actually, I am. Let’s just say I’ve traveled a lot recently.”

“I want Kevin’s world,” Grandma Redbird said, smiling fondly at her grandson.

“Well, your world sounds good, son. But I’d settle for peace.”

“Ma’am, my g-ma taught me not to settle,” said Kevin, sending a cheeky grin to his grandma.

“He’s a little fresh, but I believe I shall keep him,” said Sylvia Redbird.

“I’ll tell you what—if you can get the Resistance to trust and accept you, I might believe in that world of yours,” said Tina. “AndI might fix you up with a Scottie pup.”

Kevin’s grin was like sunrise. “Promise?”