The last bell made Jon's heart skip a beat. Karyn's sudden appearance behind him dodged around several more. She snickered at the sight of him leaping clear of his skin and halfway into his open locker.
"Jesus!" He gasped for breath. "Don't do that!"
"What? Use my natural silent stealth? Can't help it."
"I mean, don't scare me like that!"
Karyn's expression slowly lost its smile. "Am I really scaring you?"
Jon's expression softened in response. "No, no, you're not. It's just a lot to absorb."
Karyn nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. Guess I'm taking it easier because it's something I've wanted."
Several awkward minutes passed as they walked out into the warm spring air. Karyn finally broke the silence. "Wanna talk about it tonight? I mean, we have to baby-sit Zoë and the rock anyway."
"Yeah, I was hoping we would. Actually," Jon cleared his throat, "I was hoping you'd you know "
"Change for you?"
Jon nodded, looking away quickly. Karyn reached out, touching his cheek ever so gently, stroking the flesh until his attention returned to her. "I'm not going to hurt you. Ever. Do you believe me?"
"Yes," he said, without hesitation.
The wolf girl smiled again. "Okay. And to answer your question, yes, I'll change for you. No biting, I promise." They continued walking. "Unless you, um, ask."
Jon wondered at the sudden addition, but kept it to himself.
He wondered again when her hand took his in a gentle, almost passive, grip. It merely encouraged him to return the gesture.
The greatest day of Zoë's life had taken a definite downswing.
She had no one to blame but herself. Remember thee the Rule of Three. Well, she didn't.
It would take a lot of work to undo her perfect failsafe on the rock. It wasn't safe for anyone but her to work. As it stood, she estimated that she would have to endure her twin hexes about thirty times. Calculating breaks to rest after each unweaving, she'd be tied up for the next three weeks.
She sighed in exasperation. Goodbye, social life.
The elf tossed her backpack onto her beanbag chair and flopped gracefully onto her bed. Her mind mulled over the possibility of outside help. She needed someone powerful, tireless, and trustworthy.
The 1,000 watt in her head lit up. Heath!
She seized the cordless phone and speed-dialed his number. He'd be grumpy, but he'd deal.
"Mmmello?"
"Heath, wake up! It's Zoë. I need a favor, my man."
She heard the sound of restless stirring. "Christ, Zoë, it's a school day! Do I call you at 4 A.M. with favors?"
The elf smirked. "Yeah, you do. Pisses my folks off to no end. Listen, I need some help undoing a hex."
He sighed. "Hex? What kind?"
"Um, Witch Tits and Warlock Cock, about thirty times over, each."
"Thirty times! What the fuck're you warding, a Pinkerton shipment!?"
"Nope, something bigger. I'll explain when you get here."
"Gotta wait for the sun to go down. Lucky for you, I've got a half-night of school."
"Okay. See you about 1 A.M. then?"
"Sure. Remember, I've never actually been inside your place. You'll have to invite me in."
"Got it. Oh, and no necking, so feed before you come over."
"Tease." He disconnected.
Zoë breathed a sigh of relief. Sneaking Heath in wouldn't be too difficult, what with Mom in Aspen for another week.
She heard the front door open, and two voices downstairs. Jon and Karyn!
Panic set in. What if she stayed over?
Could a werewolf and a vampire stay in the same house without killing each other?
