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“Well, that’s all thanks to the magicks I’ve learned over the years. Magicks which can help with a certain Miss Delaware.”
My relief at there being an explanation for everything couldn’t be captured in words. Suddenly there was hope. Promise for the future. But before that, there were a lot of loose ends to tie up…
“Looks like we need to go find her, don’t we?” I told him.
“Or you lead her to you?” He said with a hint of mischief.
It took Smith to call Leonie and get her to arrange a night out with Cynthia again. With Smith’s promise of an explanation afterward, Leonie rang Cynthia telling her that she had a lot of gossip to tell her about me and my four lovers.
In the meantime the rest of us talked everything through, with Smith telling me all about his drinking and the blackmail. About the photos of him with Cynthia.
We arranged to meet in the bar at the Dream again, which Ted closed for an hour for a ‘private function’.
“Well, well, what’s this? Is someone staging an intervention?” Cynthia stood before us, arms crossed. Her hair hung in ringlets around her pale face. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at us all, her chin lifted in disdain.
“I know you’re a shapeshifter.” My father addressed Cynthia. “I’d like to know why you’re causing my daughter grief.”
“Awww, did Serena get her feelings hurt?” She pouted before turning to Leonie.
“Well, I thought you were my friend, but like everyone else you’ve pushed me to one side. Story of my life.”
I stood up. “Why did you do it, Cynthia? Go to all this trouble to create problems for us? What did we ever do to you?” My patience was wearing thin and the vampire in me wanted to tear her limb from limb.
She sauntered over, sashaying her hips while balancing on her Louboutins. She took a seat among us, not a hint of remorse on her face.
“Well, let’s see.” She turned to Flynn. “Dearest, Flynn. I was your fiancees best friend. We went on double dates and saw each other often and yet when she left, it was like I no longer existed.” Her gaze moved over to Jayden’s. “Then there’s you. Enjoying your fame through your childhood and you’re given the chance to act an on-screen romance with me, and you turn it down. In one fell swoop my potential reality-show career is dead in the water because of you.”
He looked at the floor.
“Carter. I’d pursued you for ages and eventually we fucked. Then you fucked me over. Told me it was a mistake and just like that, I’m the dirt on your shoe. And Smith, well, I thought we’d get along, with our common interests in addictive substances. But you never gave me the time of day. Always looking at me like you were so much better than me.”
She looked over them all. “No, you made damn sure I knew I wasn’t good enough for the filthy rich playboys. The final straw came when she arrived and I met her at your party.” She nodded at Carter. “You dismissed me like some not needed servant, so you could focus all your attention on her.” She looked at me with derision. “A nobody from New York.”
“She’s more than you’ll ever be.” Smith said.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well it’s about time the tables were turned so I’ve been a little busy.” She crossed one leg over the other.
“Your pathetic attempt at compulsion doesn’t seem to have worked. See you can’t manipulate a shapeshifter. So, your secret life of a vampire is about to hit the press after all.” She told Smith.
Leonie touched my arm. “She’s unhinged. Compulsions, shapeshifters. She needs a shrink.” She whispered.
“When did this happen? Us getting together?” Smith asked, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “I don’t remember any of it.”
“Easy. All you need is one sad drunk in a car and I shapeshift into Serena and take you back to 66. You had no idea what you were doing other than trying to get in my pants. So I let you make out with me a little. Imagine my surprise when I discover you’re a vampire. Those teeth sure did feel good against my neck. I shifted back into my own body but you were so out of it you didn’t notice until after I took the selfie and then you passed out.” She looked at me. “I can see why you’re hooked. It made me come in my panties.” I leaped forward but Flynn held me in place, shaking his head at me. “A nice sum of money has ensured Denny is going to leak the photos of that bite far and wide.” She tipped her head back and laughed. “He’s happy he can pay his debts. He doesn’t realize he doesn’t really owe anyone anything. Serves the bastard right. He dated me back in high school. Took my virginity and then didn’t want to know. I’ve waited a long time to make him suffer. Tricky when your ex is a demon.”
“Why are you admitting to all this?” Jayden asked.
“Because it’s fun to see your faces and because I’m not finished and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. For once I have the power, the upper hand, and you have to take notice of me.” She inhaled deeply, the satisfaction licking at her features. “I shapeshifted into my brother’s form. I robbed the place easily by shapeshifting into Denny’s form. The staff let me go everywhere, no questions asked. I shapeshifted into your father. That was fun. Did you believe Daddy was a drug dealer?”
“If he did, he had the brains to come ask me himself.” Smith’s father pushed open the door and stalked in. “I don’t take kindly to people imitating me and playing games. If you play with the big boys you have to accept the consequences, Miss Delaware.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I don’t need to threaten you.” He looked her over coolly. "Slowly over the years I’ve been purchasing your dear daddy’s empire under pseudonyms because he’s made one too many wrong decisions. I knew there was something about him. I’ve never liked the man. I couldn’t understand why someone with his background became an overnight success. Now I know you’re a family of shapeshifters, it makes a lot more sense. He cheated his way to the top. Seems fitting that my own identity subterfuge should bring him down.” He went in his pocket and brought out the cell phones, throwing them at Smith. “Deal with those. Denny is no longer a problem. He’s moving turf. He went up a level in his career so he won’t be bothering you again.”
“Do you think I don’t have copies?” Cynthia snarled.
“How did you know I was in New York?” Flynn interrupted.
