Her Blood Sings: Episode 01 by Vivian Wolkoff

People were
clustering around Evie now. They were asking her if she was OK, if
she needed a doctor.
    "Chris," Evie called.
    He turned around. They were on opposite sides
of the street now. But at that moment, with their eyes locked
across the space like that, he felt like he was right next to
Evie.
    "Thank you," she said, her voice a whisper
lost in the chaos around her.
    He nodded at her, his lips tugging in a
smile.
    Chris forced himself to keep moving down the
street, walking without looking back. He had to put as much
distance between himself and the crash as possible.
    But he knew he would be back for Evie.
Soon.

Chapter 14
     
    The myths were gathered at Moonlight, in the
back, secret rooms good ol' earthlings couldn't get to. The place
was owned and run by elves. It was a safe, neutral ground. Elves
had washed their hands clean of the whole vampire affairs and petty
squabbles.
    Besides the elves Switzerland-like attitude,
Moonlight had an extra feature that made it attractive to all
myths: the secret back rooms. Since Moonlight was a nightclub that
earthlings also visited, the myths did most of their myth-like
things in these secret dens. That was where the succubi and the
incubi stayed, where they could have the bizarre, magical drinks
the elves loved so much. It was where they could take their
glamoured "blood donors" or play card games with potions and
amulets. Once a month these rooms were used for something called
The Random Market, a gathering of shady mythological characters
that a group of renegade witches ran for their own shady purposes.
It was said that one could find anything at the Random Market...
all they had to do was ask.
    This particular December evening, the Random
Market was buzzing with activity. Myths from all parts of the world
had flocked to Thunder Bay and they all wanted something.
    Tamara was having tea with her aunt and
uncle. Her eyes slid from time to time to the men and women walking
around, keeping an eye on the events and making sure everybody
played fair. They all wore coats in shades of white and golden,
pins of eastern dragons. These renegade witches were called,
fittingly, White Coats.
    Aunt Sandra followed Tamara's stare. She let
out a disgusted tsk sound. "Queen Vanessa really should look
into these White Coats."
    "You think they're dangerous?" Tamara
asked.
    "They have their fingers in every pie of the
Witching Realm, which makes them untouchable." Aunt Sandra shook
her head. "I don't like it."
    "For a small group to come out of Brazil and
start doing business with everyone like that..." Uncle Baltus let
his disapproval hang in the air, like his words. He turned to
Tamara and gave her a bright smile. "How about a shot of something
stronger for this cold evening?" He turned to Aunt Sandra and
wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Maybe some Strawberry Passion for my
little strawberry?"
    Aunt Sandra swatted Uncle Baltus's arms
playfully.
    "Maybe later, sweetie." Aunt Sandra winked at
her husband. "But I think Tamara is old enough to have Honeysuckle,
don't you think?"
    Uncle Baltus leaned back. "Are you sure?"
    Tamara gasped. Honeysuckle was one of the
drinks witches weren't supposed to have. She'd be high as a kite
for hours, until her faster-than-normal metabolism burned it.
    Aunt Sandra nodded.
    Uncle Baltus picked up her hand and started
doing a disgustingly accurate Gomez Addams impressions. "Oh, Tish,
I love it when you-"
    "Oh my Gods!" Tamara rolled her eyes.
"Please, stop."
    They both laughed at Tamara.
    "Three Honeysuckles coming right up!"
    Uncle Baltus left Tamara and Aunt Sandra
alone.
    Tamara followed her uncle with her eyes,
suddenly uneasy to be left alone with her aunt. Tamara would be
lying if she said Aunt Sandra's reaction to her friendship to Lucy
and Evie hadn't stung. It wasn't just her suspicion; it was also
the fact that she couldn't see all the wonderful things Tamara saw
in her two friends.
    "I'm sorry,” Aunt Sandra said.
    Tamara's attention snapped back to