9. The Sit-down

Chapter 9

The Sit-down

“ D o you think they’ll show?” Hugo asked. He tapped the wooden stake in his palm as he paced around the empty front entrance of Raskin’s Neighborhood Market. The store was deserted of the evening shoppers. He checked his phone. “They’re late.”

“They’re not late. They’re pulling a power play,” Alice said. She leaned back against the checkout counter with her arms crossed and eyes focused on the door.

Hugo stopped. He turned to Alice and smiled. “Hockey lingo?”

She smiled back. “Thought you’d enjoy it.”

“Wrong term, but I’ll let it slip,” Hugo said.

“What term, then?”

Hugo shrugged. “More like delay of game.” He continued tapping the wooden stake in his palm and pacing around like he was on patrol.

Alice focused through the automatic doors, into the darkness outside and the empty parking lot. She checked her phone. It was only 8:00 p.m. This store should be bustling with activity, a haven to commerce. Yet, it was desolate. Quiet. Empty .

Her fingers tapped her arms like they were playing invisible piano keys, striking with purpose and building speed. Anything to keep her mind off what was about to transpire. Her heart raced and anxiety flowed through her like it was the source of life. Every nerve was on edge.

Something in the parking lot caught Alice’s eye. “They’re here.”

Two headlights cut through the darkness as an SUV pulled into the parking lot. The two yellow balls of light grew larger as the car approached the entrance. The vehicle pulled in front of the door. Two ghouls exited the front of the SUV wearing black suits and white shirts. One with a red tie and one with a black one.

“Now it’s a power play,” Alice said.

They opened the back passenger doors, and Sebastian and Sylvia emerged from the SUV. They wore matching outfits—a further attempt at intimidation. He was in an all-red suit and black shirt. She wore a fashionable red leather jacket, red pants that accentuated her figure, and a simple black top. Their hair was immaculate. They strode with confidence with their shoulders pulled back and chins high, wearing black sunglasses covering their eyes. They took their time as they approached the automatic doors.

Alice straightened her posture—shoulders pulled back, head tilted up, and no longer leaning against the counter. Eyes focused on their every move.

Hugo stood next to her in a show of support. “Sunglasses might be a tad much, don’t you think?”

Alice didn’t reply. She pulled down on the brim of her hat. Her eyes peeked out from under the black brim. Hugo unzipped his black leather jacket and pulled back his shoulders. It was a stalemate of body language, a precursor to the verbal and mental battle about to commence.

The automatic doors opened, and the Savinos entered with the ghouls following behind.

“They have to remain outside,” Alice said. “It’s only the four of us. ”

Sebastian and Sylvia checked with each other in silence. It lingered for more than a moment as if they were communicating with each other in an unspoken language. Only the occasional eyebrow twitch or lip curl gave insight to their conversation.

Alice’s finger twitched. She gulped, holding her breath.

Sebastian turned away from Sylvia, and with two fingers, pointed to the SUV. The two ghouls spun around and went back to the car.

“Satisfied?” Sylvia asked.

“Yes,” Alice responded.

Sylvia removed her sunglasses. She tilted her head, staring at the object Hugo held in his hand. “I’m flattered you’d bring a stake to a sit-down. Are we that big of a threat to you?”

“Consider it protection,” Hugo said.

“We had our protection too, and you sent them away.” Sylvia brought her hands up to her chest as if feigning being the victim. “As a sign of good faith, we’d expect you to return the gesture.”

Alice glanced over toward Hugo. He gripped the wooden stake with both hands. His eyes focused on Sylvia and Sebastian.

She turned her attention back to the Savinos. “We offer to stash it behind this counter,” she said, tapping the side panel. “Your men outside. Our wooden stake here. That’s the best offer.”

“Deal,” Sylvia said without hesitation.

Alice nodded to Hugo. He went the long way around the counter, avoiding getting close to the Savinos. He placed the wooden stake on a shelf.

“Satisfied?” Alice asked.

“Tremendously,” Sylvia said with a wicked grin.

“Are we to conduct business here in the entryway or do you have someplace more comfortable for your guests?” Sebastian asked.

“I’ll take you there,” Hugo said as he marched off into the store.

“After you.” Alice gestured with her hands.

“I’m loving the hospitality,” Sylvia said. “So welcoming.”

“ So welcoming,” Sebastian said as he removed his sunglasses .

They followed Hugo with Alice following behind, keeping an eye on the Savinos.

Hugo led them through the store and past the empty shelves of the wine section. Alice and Hugo had set up a folding table in front of The Neighborhood Witch display. Hugo and Alice took chairs, so the Savinos had to stare directly at the display.

“Sold out of wine?” Sebastian asked.

“Or are you having problems stocking it in?” Sylvia added.

Alice and Hugo didn’t answer. Their faces remained solemn and focused on the Savinos. Alice’s blood boiled at their comments. Adrenaline pulsated through her veins. She wanted to lay into the Savinos, but used every fiber of her arcane being to hold herself back.

“Please, sit.” Alice pointed to the chairs.

The Savinos joined Hugo and Alice at the table. Sylvia tilted her head to the side. Her wavy, strawberry blonde hair cascaded down her side. She crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knee. Sebastian placed his elbows on the table and interlocked his hands.

Hugo remained motionless, focused on their every move. Alice constantly scanned around the store, waiting for some trick, some ambush they had planned for them. There was nothing. It was quiet. No one said a word.

Time stood still. It could have been minutes or hours or only a few seconds. She didn’t know. The silence was unbearable. The only sound was the reverberating noise in Alice’s head of her breathing in and out. Her stomach churned.

“This is the part where the first to speak loses, right?” Hugo asked. “So, why don’t we cut to the chase and stop wasting everyone’s time?”

Sylvia leaned back in her chair. “You’re no fun.” She winked at him.

“So, what do you have to offer us?” Sebastian asked.

“We want you to leave the Raskins alone. Restore all of their inventory and lay off their employees,” Alice commanded. “This town is under the protection of the Coven of the Moon. Any further action taken against this town will be in direct violation of the Vampire-Witch Accords.”

Sylvia and Sebastian beheld each other with shocked, knowing expressions. They smirked at each other.

“We aren’t in any direct violation of any accords,” Sylvia said. “I’m sure they explained fully to you what occurred.”

“This is a business dispute,” Sebastian said. He pointed to the bottles behind her. “That has more to do with these empty shelves than anything we did.”

Alice gulped.

“As for the employees . . . we had no knowledge of who worked here and who didn’t. I believe the accords state we’re free to feed as long as no one dies. The last time I checked, no one died, so we aren’t in violation of anything.”

“We know you tried to enthrall us,” Hugo said.

“Enthrall you?” Sebastian asked with a knowing grin. “We would never.”

Sylvia once again placed her hand over her heart. “We merely invited you into our home, cooked a good meal, and offered you some of our finest wine. You were the ones who left in a hurry. How are we the ones at fault for anything?”

Hugo peered toward Alice as if searching for what to do next. Alice had nothing. Her mind erased all thoughts as they unraveled before her.

“We know you tried to get in the house after we left,” Hugo said.

“Was that us?” Sylvia asked.

“Are you sure?” Sebastian added. “Did you see us? How do we know you aren’t making it up?”

“It seems to us, it is you who violated the Vampire-Witch accords,” Sylvia said. “We’re merely business owners trying to eke out a living. Harassed and tormented by a witch. Thank you for confirming, by the way.”

“Confirming what?” Alice asked.

“You’re the witch of Newbury Grove. That you were the one caught riding a broomstick—in daylight—in front of a crowd of people,” Sylvia said. “Shame on you.”

Hugo slumped back in his chair.

Sylvia uncrossed her legs, placed both of her arms on the table, and leaned forward. She continued, “We’ve been looking for a witch. Someone who is on the run. Someone who is hiding. Someone we’d like to make a deal with.”

“Imagine our surprise when we came across the news headline. Well, we figured we should investigate. Maybe she was the witch we sought,” Sebastian said.

“Lo and behold, we found out there was a new wine being distributed and marketed with a witch on the label. The witch we were after loved to make wine. Isn’t that right, my love?” Sylvia asked.

“You’re correct,” Sebastian answered.

Sylvia continued, “And then there was a house for sale. A nice, lovely house that happened to be right next door to a purple house. Love, what was the witch’s favorite color?”

“Purple,” Sebastian answered.

“Well, we thought this was surely the witch we sought. We thought what a perfect place to move our operations. I had my doubts, but well, you confirmed it.” Sylvia sat back in her chair and grinned.

Alice’s heart sank. Each word, each answer, like daggers to the chest. She had been so foolish. Of course, she had to be herself. She couldn’t lie low. It nearly cost her life, and now . . . now the very people she was on the run from sat across the table from her. Her reflection was right, and she was never going to let Alice hear the end of it.

Alice’s eyes darted to Hugo. His elbows rested on the table with his head in his hands. A passing thought surged through her mind toward the devastation Hugo must be experiencing, knowing he led the Savinos here. There wasn’t time to dwell on the past. She needed a plan, something to turn the tide. Maybe they didn’t know about the spell.

No. They had to know. They had to know about the spell. They were teasing and toying with her. Waiting. Making her suffer before they mentioned it. Their ultimate bargaining chip. Don’t mention the spell .

She glared at Sylvia. “So, what do you want?”

“Immortality,” Sylvia answered, never breaking eye contact with Alice. “A decent return on my investment isn’t bad either.”

“It seems we hold all the cards. There is nothing you can offer us,” Sebastian said. “We’re very generous. Your friends, the Raskins, are free to renegotiate a new contract with us. Of course, their rates will be slightly higher. But their shelves will be fully stocked.”

“Or there is another way,” Sylvia said. “We want you to work for us.”

Alice gulped, holding her breath. Her body tightened. Her head pounded as her ears rang. Rage, anger, fear, hatred—a cocktail of mixed emotions surged through her.

“Why would I work for you?”

“You’re the best. You’d be a great asset,” Sylvia said. “We could give you everything you ever wanted. Why be in a local regional grocery when you could be worldwide? Your wine all over the world. You’d be like a princess in our empire. All you have to do is work for us.”

A shiver ran down Alice’s back at the thought. Her wine . . . sold worldwide.

“You’d be a bridge to a better future. A brighter future. Vampires and witches working together. Just think about it. All because of you.”

Sebastian’s words flowed over her ears like a siren-song—tempting, teasing, and compelling her to choose their offer. She had already achieved her goal. Her wine was in stores, not hidden away in a clandestine nightclub. This was her chance to go to the next level. Worldwide.

Alice studied her wine display. Her eyes inspected greenish-black bottles glistening in the store lights. She imagined shelves and shelves full of those bottles—her wine—all over the world.

“There is a catch, though,” Sylvia said. Alice fixed her gaze on Sylvia. “You have to give us something in return. We want The Lovers’ Kiss . We know you have it. A friend of yours told us you had it. Her name slips my tongue, but not the taste of her blood. Very sweet, I recall. She wore a lovely red hat.”

Alice clenched her fists beneath the table. There was only one person she knew who wore a red hat. Sam. Alice’s inhales became pronounced. Her emotions were a mixture of anger and concern for her former lover.

“Is she still alive?” Alice asked.

Sylvia smiled and tilted her head.

“Is she?” Alice pressed. Her nose snarled.

“Why would I kill a valuable asset? She helped to lead me to you, didn’t she?” Sylvia asked.

Alice released her clenched fists.

Sylvia continued, “We know you have it. We want it.”

Alice couldn’t hand it over. Not after promising her grandmother to guard and hide it. Not after all the people who died to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. It was her duty—her obligation—to protect it, and at the moment, she was failing.

Why shouldn’t I hand it over? It’s brought me nothing but pain and suffering since I’ve had it. I wouldn’t have had to move and uproot my life if not for that stupid spell. I didn’t want it, anyway. Give it to them, and end this stupid war.

“Everything you ever wanted. Right there. For the taking,” Sebastian teased.

His words pulled her ever closer to blurting out the word yes.

“Let’s make a deal. What do you say?”

What about Hugo? If not for that spell, that wonderful spell, I would have never met Hugo. The love of my life. He’d still be lost and broken. I’d be miserable with Sam. I can’t give it up now.

Alice turned to Hugo, hoping for a confirmation to take the deal and live out her dreams. He lifted his head, his eyes watery as if they were holding back tears. He swung his head left and right as if to beg her to turn down the offer. Alice shook her head, wiping away the temptation. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t do it to her grandmother, her family, Ez, and Hugo. This was her burden. Her responsibility. Her legacy. She knew what she had to do.

Alice raised up to look at both Sylvia and Sebastian from under the bottom brim of her hat.

“Why would I want to be a princess when I’m already a witch?” she asked.

Sylvia slammed her hands down on the table.

Alice jolted in her seat.

“This is your last chance. Give us the spell and join us, or else face the consequences,” Sylvia shouted.

Sebastian placed his hand on hers.

“Or what?” Alice growled in a low voice. She ignited a purple flame of arcane energy in her hand.

Sylvia cowered back in her seat.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Sebastian said as he threw himself against Sylvia’s body, attempting to shield her. “Let’s not do anything hasty.”

Sylvia snarled at Alice. “If you walk away or run or do anything else, we’ll find you.” She displayed her elongated fangs. “That’s a promise.”

“How about we all calm down?” Hugo said. “Maybe we should walk away for now and think about this later.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Sebastian said.

Alice lowered her arm and dissipated the flame.

Sebastian stood. “We’ll give you some time to think it over. Until you decide, we won’t do anything to anyone. You have our word.”

Sylvia glared at Alice, never taking her eyes off her. She stood and joined her husband. “You have our card. We expect to hear from you shortly.”

They turned and strutted toward the entrance .

Alice and Hugo stood and followed them, never letting them out of their sight. The Savinos left the store and entered their SUV, taking off.

“What do you plan on doing?” Hugo asked.

Alice paused. “I don’t know.” She turned to Hugo, locking eyes with him. “But I do know they’ll never get the spell as long as I live.”