“I’m not a wereleopard, you’re not pregnant, I’m not in love with you, nobody else is possessed, we’re not going to kill each other…right?”
“That just about sums it up.”
He
slowly shook his head. “This has been one fucked-up week,” he said. I agreed.
Edward and I went to sit with the group for a while. Jean-Claude and Asher promised to keep an eye out for any future signs of trouble from Belle. We still had another couple months until her representative, Musette, was set to arrive. We would be prepared. Richard, Cherry, Zane, Micah, and Nathaniel decided not to stay at the Circus. They took a separate vehicle back to my house. I told them I’d be there later. I wanted one last talk with Edward.
I caught up with him as he was getting ready to shower. “I just have one question.”
“Yes?”
“Things aren’t going to be, well, weird now between us, are they?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Because we had sex?”
“Not just that.” I stared at my feet. “Because of everything that happened. I know it wasn’t you talking or acting. But it’s still kind of unsettling, hearing that kind of stuff from you.”
Edward inhaled, then blew out the breath slowly. “In all actuality, none of it really happened. Let’s just call it what it was, a bad dream. I won’t hold anything against you…if you don’t hold anything against me.”
“Sounds good.” Hesitating, I turned to go. “When are you leaving for home?” I asked.
“Tonight. I’ll catch a cab to the airport.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you around then. Goodbye, Edward.”
“Bye, Anita.”
I left
him to his shower. Then I gathered my weapons bag, got in my Jeep, and
went home.
Edward crouched low in the bushes, night vision goggles on. The man he had in his sights was unaware of his presence. It was an easy enough job. His target was a gopher for an undead Mafia based in Chicago. The sniper rifle Edward used was loaded with his special ammo: Hornady XTP bullets. The silver hollow points were filled with holy water and mercury, designed to kill on impact, or at least severely maim the vampire.
The sky brightened as clouds drifted to reveal the full moon. Edward fingered the trigger, waiting for the perfect moment. His back started to itch suddenly. It felt like his skin would peel off. Stifling a shout, Edward bent double as his skin rippled on his back. In horror he stared at hands that elongated into claws. Fur flowed over his human form, bones shifting and popping, until a leopard burst fully formed from his body. The animal growled, eyes glowing amber in the moonlit night. It scented the vampire, and began to stalk across the damp grass. Sensing movement, the vampire flunky darted his gaze around. The leopard surprised him from the side, tearing the vampire’s throat out before he could utter a sound. Finished with its kill, Edward the wereleopard set out to hunt for a better meal…