Chapter 13 #2
“OMG,” Dewey said, pausing with the spoon halfway to his mouth. “He’s getting worse.”
Paige wrinkled her nose as she continued to eat. “Yeah.”
Dewey shrugged and returned to his food. “Oh, well. The food should help return him to normal from Keanu Reeves mode.”
Paige threw her head back with a laugh. “That’s funny. I loved that movie.”
Dewey played a fake air guitar. “Wyld Stallyns!”
“Wait, why would anyone want to snap out of Keanu Reeves mode? That’s a step backward. The man is a national treasure.”
“Very true, Paige. Perhaps even a global gift,” Dewey said, with a nod.
Paige continued to chuckle as Devon eyed them. “What are you talking about?”
“Come on, you don’t know Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure ?”
“No,” Devon answered. “I wasn’t allowed to watch a lot of TV.”
“You grew up in a vampire castle, and you weren’t allowed to watch TV? Are you serious?” Paige asked before she nudged her plate toward Dewey. “Hey, is it possible to get another helping?”
“Coming right up.” Dewey grabbed the empty dish covered in a red smear and fluttered to the refrigerator door.
“No, I didn’t watch TV. I don’t really know a lot about movies.”
“Wow,” Dewey called as he dumped more of the sweet treat on Paige’s plate, “that won’t pass muster. If you want to get on Paige’s good side, you’ll have to attend at least a few movie nights. I think you’ll enjoy it. You wouldn’t believe the creative license they take with supernatural facts.”
“Really?” Devon inquired.
“Yeah, like day-walking vampires are good guys who kill other vampires to help humans.”
Devon screwed up his face. “Seriously? That would never happen. Even on a bad day, I wouldn’t kill one of the Transylvanians just out of principle.”
“It’s Hollywood, what do you expect?” Dewey said, shuttling the plate to the microwave and sliding it inside. He swung the door shut and poked around at the numbers.
“So, what did you do in that big castle all day if you couldn’t watch any TV? I lived on books and TV at the convent. It was my escape.”
Devon polished off his food and let the spoon clatter down to the plate. Dewey delivered the steaming cobbler to Paige, along with a large cookie for Devon.
“Thanks,” he said, biting into it before he continued. “I played lots of games.”
Paige scooped up more of the berry dessert and crinkled her forehead. “Like chess?”
“No, mostly like vampires and knights. Stuff like that. I was always running around in my grandpa’s cape, with a stick for a sword.”
“Oh, so you loved knights, huh?” Paige said with a flick of her eyebrows as the sweet aroma of the berries filled her nostrils.
Devon froze mid-bite, glancing at her with a confused expression. He tore off another piece of cookie and chewed it slowly before he shook his head. “No.”
“Well, you said a cape and sword…”
“Yeah, I was the vampire. Slaying all the horrible knights who tried to kill all my people.”
Paige fluttered her eyelashes as she stared at him with the spoon raised halfway to her mouth. “Oh, right.”
“You’ve got a lot to learn, Paige,” Dewey said, clapping her on the back.
“No kidding.”
“Here’s a hint,” Dewey said, leaning forward and lowering his voice to a whisper, “it’s the knights who hoarded the gold.”
Paige pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes. “I will never live down that comment, will I?”
“Not if I can help it.” Dewey lifted his empty plate and flew to the sink, dumping it inside. “I’ll leave this for Mom to clean. Boy, it’s nice to be home.”
“Dewey,” Paige said as she polished off the last of her second helping, “we shouldn’t be rude.”
Dewey hefted up a massive sponge. “You want to do it?”
Paige’s lips parted as she stared at the large object. “Oh, uh, okay, leave it for Mom.” She dragged her plate over and pushed it into the sink before she stretched.
Her mouth opened in a giant yawn. “Oh, wow, I’m tired. Think anyone would mind if I took a nap while we waited for your family to come back?”
“Not at all, Goldilocks. Try any bed,” Dewey answered.
Paige stared down at the floor and puckered her lips. “Devon, would you mind flying me to a bedroom?”
He arched an eyebrow at her and tugged his lips back into a smirk.
“Oh, that sounded wrong. Don’t take that the wrong way.”
“I’ll take it whatever way I want,” Devon said with a wink before he transformed into his vampire form and grabbed hold of her.
He followed Dewey, who led him to a second level. They ducked into the second door down the hall. A cheery blue room decorated in an elfish theme greeted them.
A nest stretched under the room’s large window. “Oh, that looks perfect for a nap.”
“It should be big enough,” Dewey said. “My parents got me an oversized big-boy bed, just in case the doctors were wrong.”
“Awww,” Paige said as he flicked his gaze to the floor with a disappointed expression. “Well, I, for one, am glad they weren’t. Otherwise, we’d never be able to do all the things we do together.”
“Thanks, Paige. I appreciate that.”
Devon dropped her off on the soft, round bed before he transformed into human form again. “I’ll just camp out on the floor. I could use a nap, too.”
“Okay, sounds good. If you don’t mind, I’m going to head over and use my sister’s room. She has a really nice weighted blanket.”
“Have a great nap! See you soon.” Paige nestled into the covers and closed her eyes, drifting off immediately.
When she fluttered her eyes open again, the sun had lowered in the sky considerably. “Hmm, looks pretty late,” she said, with a yawn and stretch. “Can’t believe no one is home yet.”
She kicked back the blanket and stretched again before she peered over the edge at Devon. The floor spun a little, and she blew out a breath as she tried to steady herself.
“Must be dehydrated. Hey, Devon. Devon! You up?”
She slid off the corner of the bed and landed neatly on the floor. Devon stirred from his spot, rubbing his eyes, and stretched. He glanced at her and did a double-take.
“Uhh, Paige,” he said, scrambling to his feet. “Don’t panic.”
“What? Don’t panic? Why would I panic?”
He waved a hand in front of her, his eyes wide. “Just stay there.”
He inched to the door, calling down the hall. “Hey, Dewey! You better get in here.”
“What’s wrong with you? Are you still high?”
Dewey’s voice answered from a distance. “What is it?”
Devon stared at Paige and swallowed hard. “Paige has been poisoned.”