Vampire Bride

Chapter Twenty Four - Part One

"That letter wasn't there when I left, so it had to have been left after sunset. Work isn't important if you're dead. You said it yourself. I can't save you during the day. A living breathing human being is working with him. The game has changed and I need you to understand that things just got worse."

"Charlie?" Morgan calls from the front office.

"Morgan, I'm in here," I yell back.

"Listen, I have to go. Morgan just got here. I can get pepper spray or a Taser to put the odds in my favor if I get attacked during the day. Trust me, if I have to, I can take on a human. Plus, they would be stupid to come here."

"You're thinking too greatly of yourself, Charlie, and you could get hurt. No meeting new clients. I hate to say this but maybe you should inform Dave of the situation."

"No! That will just make things worse."

"We'll discuss later...after I pick you up. Promise me you'll be aware of you surroundings."

"Promise."

"Not like the promise you made last time and broke. Keep this one." He lectures.

"Yes. Okay. I'll see you later." My farewell is short and brief to Maxwell as Morgan hovers in my doorway.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were on the phone."

"No big deal."

Morgan remains in the doorway, shuffling her feet.

"Is there something on your mind?" I wave my hand to one of the chairs in front of my desk. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I do, but I know you're going through a lot, so...I understand if you say no. It's just that James and I are planning a little trip this coming weekend. We're planning to leave on Friday, but if you need to be with Juliet and can't arrange the party this Saturday, I don't have to go."

"No, you go on your trip. I can orchestrate the party. I'm seeing Juliet tomorrow, so I'll let her know I'll be unavailable." And there's no way I'm asking Dave to help out even though Maxwell, of all people, thought it would be a good idea to have him around.

"Awesome." She gets up from her chair and heads to the front desk.

The work that's piling up keeps my mind from wandering to dreadful thoughts. As disgusted as the letter makes me, I shove the paper back in the envelope and harshly stash it in my purse. Pleasant hums from the computer draw my mind to what I'm here to do, plan and organize parties. Robert and Justin's engagement party is at the top of that list. Several emails and outlines later, things for the scheduled party on Saturday along with my dear friends' party are gradually being completed.

As the work load gets less, my attention starts to stray. As my office gets darker, my heart feels as if it could break out of my ribcage. I'm not sure if it's my nerves due to the impending nightfall or anxiousness to see Maxwell causing my irrational behavior.

As night covers the city Maxwell soundlessly enters my office.

"Are you ready to leave?" Maxwell says, sitting in one of the chairs across from me.

"Holly shit, Maxwell, do you want to give me a heart attack?" He knows what a wreck I am with this letter materializing on my doorstep in broad daylight and then he goes and sneaks up on me.

"Morgan let me in. I didn't think it would be a problem. I sent her home, by the way, seeing as we're going to be leaving as well."

"Leaving to go to my house, right?"

"No, to mine. It's not safe for you there, Charlie. The sooner you realize that, the safer you'll be. Please don't argue with me, I'm doing this for you...I'll always do everything for you even though you apparently don't think so."