Chapter 5 Lemon
Lemon
It takes me a few hours to unpack my things and shower. I worked myself into a lather about everything that happened and crashed out for a few minutes under the hot water. Thankfully, the water pressure was good, and I sorted myself out after a quick little cry of frustration.
Now I’m staring in the mirror, arranging my blonde waves as I consider dinner. Remembering Shadow referenced Amadala writing something for me, I poke around in the boot box. A stapled packet rests beneath the sparkly boots.
Smiling as I think about Amadala pulling this together with less than a day’s notice, I withdraw the packet.
It starts with a letter about how much she loves me and how she knows I'll get to come home soon because I’m a badass.
That part brings tears to my eyes. What follows is two pages of her thoughts on every spot she’s been to in downtown, plus a little history of the town itself, including info about the abandoned Keeper’s mansion and Mabel the train.
She suggests I hit up Betty’s Burger Bar for a great dinner since the Gulch doesn’t have any blood banks—not quite enough vampires here, I suppose.
But, according to Amadala’s document, a couple of the restaurants have vampire-themed drinks on their menus plus a killer pumpkin mead she swears is better than anything in the city.
Pfft. I’ll believe that when I see it. I can admit to being a mead snob.
I ponder calling Shadow, but decide I’ll put the boots on later and do a little fashion show for her. Per usual, she’ll be up until all hours of the night, so I can ring her when I get back.
Changing into my only pair of jeans, a cute spaghetti-strap top with a bow on the front and some strappy heels, I check out my reflection one more time before grabbing my wallet and heading out.
It’s not horribly late, but the sun’s already setting over the horizon.
I wave to the abandoned Keeper’s house as I pass her, but she only creaks and groans in response.
“I see you,” I say with a laugh. “I’m gonna break through that prickly exterior.
” I toss my hair over my shoulder when she shimmies the wrought iron fence in a slightly menacing manner.
She doesn’t scare me, though. Some of the prickliest folks I’ve ever met were real sweethearts on the inside. They just needed to get to know me.
Ultimately, I decide that heading back to Whiskey Business feels pretty safe. Hopefully Oz will still be there, and I might even get a few more rounds of karaoke in.
When I get there, Oz is nowhere to be seen, but a human-looking woman with long blue hair in double space buns waves at me from behind the bar. “You Lemon?”
Shocked that she’d ask, I nod as I slip onto a barstool and set my clutch down.
She’s darling, an upturned nose and pale blue freckles. A witch, I’d guess, messing with her natural coloring to make it match her hair. That’s cute as hells.
“I’m Bluebell,” she says. “Oz told me he thought you might be back. He’s working a shift over at the dance hall, which, if you haven’t seen that yet…it’s a good time.”
I shake my head. “Dance hall sounds great, to be honest. Is it…line dancing?” I gulp. I can’t say I’ve ever learned anything about line dancing.
“Little bit of everything, but mostly line dancing, yeah.”
Bluebell and I both turn to where the deep voice came from. A huge chestnut-colored minotaur in a gorgeous three-piece suit swirls amber-colored liquid in a glass. He flares his nostrils and smiles at me. “Varek Shorthorn the Third. You’re our new resident, I hear?”
I laugh as I nod. “I didn’t realize there were so few of us that everyone would know about me, but, yeah, I’m Lemon.”
He grins. “Merit and Bryony pay you a visit yet?”
I scoff as I look between him and Bluebell. She’s eyeing the minotaur with a wary expression.
“As a matter of fact, they did.” I laugh. “I’m guessing that’s not unusual? They brought me some kind of pound cake.”
Bluebell sets a menu down in front of me.
“They’re not the official welcoming committee.
I heard you met Furyon already, and he’s way better at it.
But they do love to get in everybody’s business.
They are nosy as hells, but feel free to not tell them your life story.
Don’t skip out on the pound cake though. They’re incredible bakers.”
The minotaur chuckles. “Oh, those two’ll find out everything about you in short order. It's what they do best.”
Bluebell purses her lips, glancing at him before looking at me. “Can I get you something to drink, Lemon?”
I wave at the minotaur. “Whatever he’s got looks good.”
He beams at me. “Put that on my tab, Bluebell. I love having new neighbors.”
She outright frowns, but nods and spins to the point of sale, punching in a series of items.
When she disappears behind the bar’s glass shelves, I look at him. “Thanks for the drink, Varek. You don’t seem like a typical Pine Gulcher… Am I right in assuming you’re not from here?”
He takes a sip of the drink as he shakes his head, perfectly coiffed hair slicking back from his forehead. It doesn’t move when he does.
“Originally from Hearth Headquarters, but monster headquarters was a little stifling for me. These days I’m a Gulcher all the way, doing my best to bring a little bit more finery to this gorgeous haven.”
Bluebell returns, setting a glass down in front of me as she scowls at him. “If by finery you mean rows of townhouses and mini ranches nobody asked for, then yeah.”
I glance between them, brows raised as I take a sip of the drink. Varek just grins at Bluebell.
“Just because you don’t want to live in a mini ranch doesn’t mean others wouldn’t be attracted to the PG vibes without an entire ranch to care for.” He looks back at me. “Gulchers don’t really love change, as a general rule. But eventually someone’s gonna see my vision, I guarantee it.”
Bluebell rolls her eyes and looks at me, waving at the menu. “Can I get you something to eat, Lemon? I recommend the burger if you’re a burger fan. We make the best one in all of PG.”
“Can confirm,” Varek says politely. “Just don’t tell Betty on account of her literally putting burger in the name of her place.”
Bluebell narrows her eyes, poising her pen over a small pad.
“Give me your favorite thing.” I push the menu back toward her.
She nods and turns to the point of sale. Varek rises from his chair and rounds the curved end of the bar, halting next to me. I look up into his dark red eyes, but I don’t necessarily get a creepy sense from him, despite Bluebell’s reaction.
He slides a big hand into his vest and withdraws a card, setting it down next to my drink.
“Listen. The welcome scavenger hunt really is a great way to get to know the gulch, but I think it’s more fun done with a friend.
Feel free to call me, and I’d be happy to escort you around.
It’ll be a good time; I’ll make sure of it. ”
My nostrils flare as I try to gauge if he’s hitting on me or just being nice. But he says nothing else, just taps the card twice and grins. Then he disappears, leaving behind the slightest hint of expensive cologne. I watch him go.
“Good riddance,” Bluebell mutters as the door closes behind him.
I glance at her. “Not a fan of mini ranches?”
She shakes her head. “Naw. He’s been here a few months and keeps trying to buy up big plots of land to develop.
But the thing is, Pine Gulch is wild and free.
It’s giant swathes of farmland and wild mustangs, and there’s an entire festival about moving cattle around.
It’s a tight-knit community, but we like our space.
He’s trying to change all of that. I wish PG would kick him out already. ”
The ceiling creaks softly.
I hold my tongue because I’m not entirely sure I agree with Bluebell. Then again, I’ve been here all of twelve hours, which isn’t long enough to develop much of an opinion.
Half an hour later, I’m firmly Team Bluebell as I devour the best burger I’ve had in my entire life.
Bluebell refuses to tell me the secret ingredient and only says if I stick around, she’ll eventually spill the beans.
Over dinner, I learn she’s also my landlady, and she makes me promise to comm her if I need anything at the cottage.
All in all, I’m feeling pretty good after filling my belly. The only thing I’d really like that I haven’t found is a blood bank or maybe a willing partner who wants to get bitten by a sexy vampire.
The bar starts to fill, and after a few curious looks, I find myself longing for the peace and quiet of the cottage. I’m not sure I’m ready for the shenanigans of Whiskey Business at peak rush hour, so I head home.
Monsters walk along the street, heading to and from downtown.
I get a few stares and waves, so I wave back.
I guess it’s what they do here? At the cottage, I take a quick shower to wash off the bar smell.
Then I dig into the molasses peach pound cake.
Varek was right—it’s fucking delicious. I don’t love the idea of the nosy pixies digging into my personal business, but they can bake the hells out of a cake.
Eventually I head to bed and comm Shadow to check in. She doesn’t answer, so I leave a message as sadness drifts through me. She’s probably out on the town right now with Dain and the girls, drinking and having fun.
Grumbling at my current state of upheaval, I slip into a restless slumber.
Awoo! Awoo!
I shoot upright in bed at the howls. They sound like they’re right outside the damn window. Throwing my legs over the edge of the bed, I grab my silk robe and toss it over my shoulders.
At the window, I look out into the dark, and there, at the far back of the yard, three wolves snarl and snap at something. They seem to be focused on the ground, but I don’t see any sort of prey. I frown at being woken like this. Wolves in the back yard?! That’s irksome.
Half an hour later, there’s no sign of them stopping, so I give in and comm Bluebell. She picks up with the sounds of the bar raging in the background. “What’s up, girl?”
“Wolves in the back yard,” I mutter, rubbing my eyes. “Not shifter wolves, though. Just like…regular ones. Kinda smallish.”
She laughs. “So go outside and see what’s up.”
I jolt, scowling at the blue-banded watch that allows me to make calls within my current haven. “With the rabid wolves? Are you serious?”
She chuckles again. “They’re gonna run away the moment you step outside, Lemon. You’re a vampire. They’ll see you as a predator, and they’ll skedaddle. Probably take whatever they were hunting with them. Just go; I’ll stay on with you.”
I stare outside, fully concerned at the idea of stepping out into the darkness by myself.
She’s not wrong that I’d probably appear to be the bigger predator to a wolf, but even so, I flare my shadow wings wide, holding them above my head to look bigger than I am.
I’m a vampire. I’ve got huge wings. I can most definitely be terrifying. Rawr!
The moment I open the bedroom door onto the back porch, the wolves stop and look at me. When I take a step forward, they whine and dart off into the trees.
“Did they go?” Bluebell chuckles softly.
“Yeah.” I look around. “I don’t see anything dead, and they weren’t carrying anything in their mouths. What were they doing out here?”
“Go see.”
“This is how horror movies start, Bluebell,” I snap, but I walk across the yard all the same. If shit goes down, I’ll bullet up into the sky. It’s fine; it’s all fine. Just a city girl walking toward a creepy forest, no big deal.
As I cross the yard, a dark, yawning hole comes into view.
“Bluebell, there’s a godsdamn trench in the backyard,” I hiss.
She clears her throat. “It’s a water testing thing. I’ll explain it later. They’re all over the Gulch.”
But when I get to the edge of the hole, I gasp.
At the bottom lies a crumpled animal, its head at an odd angle. Its eyes are open and fully white, which doesn’t seem right. Its legs twitch as if it’s dreaming.
“Oh gods,” I whisper into the watch. “I think it’s a moose or a deer or… It looks wrong. It might be dying, Bluebell. It doesn’t look too good!”
“Fuck,” she hisses. “Is it moving?”
I shrug, then remember she can’t see. “A little? It’s huge, like it would tower over me if it wasn’t folded in half. Holy shit.”
“I’m coming,” she snaps. “Don’t touch anything, and whatever you do, don’t touch it.”
As if I’d go into a hole with a wild animal. Sighing, I watch for another minute. The moose’s hooves twitch pitifully, its breathing shallow. Knowing I can’t help, I head back into the house to change into something more presentable than a silk nightgown.
I imagine calling my father to update him on my first day here.
Hey, Father, yeah, it was great. Letitia hates my guts, and there’s a half-dead moose in a hole in my backyard!
Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose as I head to the front porch to wait for Bluebell.