Chapter 2

Charlotte

I awakened with a smile on my face. To wake up in my bed and not a stinking cell made me appreciate all the things I took for granted. I snuggled into the covers because today wouldn't be a pleasant one. My parents were furious with me for disappearing for almost five weeks, but I couldn't tell them the truth. The excuse I'd given was that I had got mugged and hurt my ankle but stayed with someone who came to my aid. It wasn't a complete lie, as my purse and phone were long gone. I would need to replace everything.

I groaned and pulled the covers over my face. Once under the dark quilt, I thought of the quiet but weird as fuck vampire, Samuel. He looked like an average human dressed in a suit, but when his eyes flashed red, he sent shivers of fear down my spine. No matter what Holly said, I wouldn't trust any bloodsucker.

My stomach turned when I recalled Duncan draining our blood. Poor Andrea had been petrified, and Callum tried to be brave for her and console her after each ordeal. I swallowed the thick lump in my throat and hoped they were young enough for those dark images to fade from their memories.

They hadn't been in the dungeons for as long as I was, so they could, in time, forget. I had lost the will to live until they came into my cell. I spoke to Callum for a long time in the hotel and told him he could call me anytime as soon as I arranged a new phone. I didn't know if they would want to forget me and the vampires or if they wanted to talk to someone who would believe them. Either way, I had ensured I left a door open for communication should they ever need me.

I thought of Granny Glenda because she was definitely going to tear me a new arsehole. The bloodsuckers gave me plenty of money in compensation. I should have run away when I had the chance because facing everyone would be worse than I had anticipated.

∞∞∞

After going to the bank with my passport to withdraw money and order a replacement card, I went to Graeme's repair shop to purchase a second-hand phone. It was silly, really, when I had over one million pounds in the bank, but I didn't want to squander the money needlessly. It didn't surprise me that the bloodsuckers were rich. Alexander was over 400 years old. I snickered because that was some age gap between him and Holly. She was only two years younger than me but had achieved so much in her life.

Graeme cleared his throat, reminding me I wasn't alone. I was standing in his shop, laughing like a deranged lunatic.

"Dae yae need ah SIM card?"

"Aye, until ma phone company sends me a replacement, I will need one."

I watched as he unwrapped a small card and proceeded to put the SIM card into the phone for me.

"Just follow these instructions tae activate it and top it up wae some credit," he said, sliding the phone and card towards me. "Ah heard Glenda is gunning for ye."

I groaned but put the phone and card into my handbag.

"Aye, she isnae the only one," I mumbled before I pulled out some cash.

This was the problem in this town. Everyone knew everything about everyone. Nothing was sacred.

"Ah heard yae hud some bother in the city?" he said, taking my money while giving me a speculative look.

I gave him a tight smile.

"Aye, it laid me up for a few weeks. Am fine now."

"That wouldnae be happening here," he said with a fierce scowl.

"Naw, all the grannies would band together and beat them to death with their walking sticks," I said with a grin.

He chuckled and went to open the door for me.

"Aye, that would put anybody aff fae attacking young ladies," he said with a grin.

"Thanks, Graeme. See you later."

I knew everyone in town because I was a home help, and I helped out voluntarily in my Granny's assisted living housing. If I didn't know them directly, I would have known their family.

"Aye, good tae huv yae back, Charlotte," he said, walking out behind me and looking around the street as if to ensure no assailant was around.

Which made me paranoid. I looked around before going down the main street. For all its faults, I loved my town. It was scenic, close to the coast, and it made me feel safe being back in my community. I wandered to the local cafe to have some coffee and breakfast before I began to make calls and send text messages to the people I had numbers for. My final one was to Holly, asking her if she got home safe and thanking her for staying with us the entire time until we made it home.

I sat for a while, sipping my coffee and looking out the window. It was overcast and would probably rain later. It was one of the things I didn't enjoy about living close to the coast. We got battered by the wind and rain. My next stop would be a tough one.

∞∞∞

I made us a cup of tea before taking it to my Granny. She sat on her armchair with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"So you didnae get any boaby?"

I almost threw the tray on top of her.

"No, I did not," I said, cringing at her use of the slang word for dick.

"If you hud that sour expression on yer face all the time, I can see why you didnae get any," she said with a wry smile.

I shook my head and put her teacup on her table coaster. She had her hair done with a slight pink or purple tinge through it.

"When did yae get yer hair done? Maybe you've been getting more action than me," I said, placing the small plate of biscuits between us and taking my cup to sit opposite her.

"I got it done a few weeks back," she said, touching her short, curled hair. "Och, a few sherries in me, and I'm up fur anything," she said while lifting her teacup.

I took a sip of tea, relieved she was cheerful and wasn't as angry as I thought she would be.

"Are yae gonna tell me what really happened?" She asked, placing her cup back onto the saucer.

I choked on my tea before I grabbed a couple of tissues from the box on the table. While I composed myself, I tried to think of what I could tell her.

"I know yae would have phoned us, love. I've no lost all ma marbles yet," she said with a more serious look.

"Granny, ah cannae tell yae, but am alright. I had a problem, and it got sorted," I said nervously, but I couldn't look at her while I spoke.

She was sharper than the rest of my family, and I wondered how bad it would be when I went to see my parents.

"Ah will drop it the now, love. Yuv not been harmed?"

"Am fine, honestly. I'm glad to be back home," I said with a fake smile while hoping my scarf hadn't slipped down my neck.

I felt slightly jittery about being alone after Holly and Alexander left last night. The abduction had happened at lightning speed. One minute, I was walking on the streets of Aberdeen. The next, I had been dragged down an alleyway into a van. I tried to compose myself before I looked back at my Granny.

When I finally glanced at her, she was frowning, but it cleared as she picked up her teacup again.

"Yer parents are angry aboot yae worrying them. Just stick tae yer story. They willnae be mad fur long. Tara might huv a few choice words fur yae."

My sister would lay the guilt trip on me, but that was nothing new.

"Stop yer frettin'. Are yae gonna help Jeanie Shaw set up the dance at the community centre? It will take yer mind aff whatever yer hiding," she said with a wink.

"Oh, I forgot about the dance. Wait, isn't it about four weeks away?"

"Aye, but I cannae wait. Leslie's daughter is gonna set ma hair fur me. Why don't you tart yourself up for the event?"

"Er, ah think I will pass, Gran," I said because the place would be hoachin with pensioners.

I only relaxed when she began to tell me about Kathy Bailey's new man. All these grannies had a better dating life than me.