Dryad's Blade by Kater Cheek

Author:Kater Cheek
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: vampire, shapeshifter, romance, mystery, magic, curse, faerie, urban fantasy, spiritual, love, female protagonist, witch
Publisher: Kater Cheek
Published: 2020-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The cloudy day had turned into a stormy night, just warm enough to alternate between snow and rain, dousing hopes of a white Christmas in the hearts of the romantic. The rain would freeze by morning, making the roads slick and increasing the usual crop of alcohol-induced fatalities. Another lovely holiday to bear.

Mom came over on Christmas Eve at around eleven p.m., ready with a bottle of eggnog and a speech full of recriminations.

“Where have you been all day? I thought you’d spend Christmas with us!” Mom wielded her guilt well. She must have been practicing on James.

“It’s not technically Christmas yet. I went to work, and then I went to the dojo for a few hours.”

“They didn’t close the dojo today? It’s a holiday.”

“The Kishimotos are Buddhist.”

“What about your boss? What kind of woman makes people work on Christmas Eve? Doesn’t she have family over?”

“I don’t ask about her private life.” Ms. Yseult drinking eggnog and listening to some Christmas carols on the radio? Ms. Yseult had probably been old before Jesus was a twinkle in God’s eye, and I doubt she cozied up to her family once a year, even if her family still walked these hills.

“You should have taken the day off.”

“I have to run an errand out of town after the New Year, so I’m trying to get most of the job done before then.” I had worked twelve hours that day, and every day in the past week, still taking time to go to the dojo, but not much else. Did Ms. Yseult comment on my puritan work ethic? No, she just bitched about me not yet “dreaming the forest.”

“You working tomorrow too?”

“I was planning on it.”

“Don’t.” She had that hurt look again, trying to make me feel guilty. It worked.

“I’ll spend tomorrow with you, but I really should work a few hours. Let me know when you want me to come over to James’.”

“Let’s meet at my new place instead. I’ve decided to move here. Did I tell you?”

“Really? That’s great.” The horror! “When did you move out of James’ apartment?”

“Two weeks ago—”

“Really stupid of me not to even notice.” I said, before she could throw it in my face. Verbal judo. Push when they expect you to pull. “And of course I’m going to Mass with you tonight. It will be a good chance for us to get together, pray together, especially on Christmas Eve.”

Mom blinked, startled.

“And can I have a little of that eggnog?”

She handed it to me. It was non-alcoholic, but good nonetheless.

***

Mom navigated slowly along with the other cars inching their way towards the relatively wind-free parking lot. Usually volunteers draped banners (painted by the pre-school children) around the church. This year the driving slush reduced the banners to sodden lumps of paper and paint. Only the devoted came to Mass this evening, running from their cars or from the bus stop to the safety of the carved stone doorway.

St. Bridgid’s was a beautiful place, even when not bedecked in holiday splendor.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.