Harlwood granted us time to consider the offer and to discuss it with Brad when he returned. He offered to return tomorrow at the same time, giving us a full twenty-four hours to consider our options.

While we waited, Anzide and I continued to clean the debris and set aside the possessions that were still in good order. Everything else was put in the pile that was destined to be trash.

Hearing the familiar sound of Brad's car, I strolled over to see the madness he was dragging behind it.

"He's bought a caravan. Is he crazy?"

"I'd say thinking outside the box is closer. The two of you have to sleep somewhere tonight."

We waited next to the driveway as Brad struggled to get the car up the hill.

"That thing is going to give out at any second."

"It certainly sounds like it is struggling."

Brad had a gleaming smile on his face as he passed us, continuing to the back of the property where there was plenty of space. There was also shade to cover it so that the caravan didn't get too hot during the day.

Getting out of the car, he gestured with a wide smile.

"Look, one problem solved."

"You're a legend, Bradley. How much did this cost you?"

"Nothing," he said with far too much enthusiasm. "I was in the hardware, and they were looking at me like I had lost the plot so I said that the house was demolished and we were starting the clean-up. I told them it was a gas explosion. I think they bought it so if anyone says anything, go with that, okay?"

"Sure."

"Anyway, sitting at the end of the counter was Henry Greene. Have you met him yet?"

I shook my head. I hadn't bothered to delve into this town or the people that live here. Too busy trying to avoid the paranormal creatures in this place. Brad unhitched the caravan, then pulled some bricks out and placed them behind the wheels.

"Nice guy. Said he had a caravan that he'd be happy to give to us, no money needed so long as when we're done with it, we pass on the same charity to the next person."

Brad stabilized the caravan with metal supports, giving the caravan gentle pushes as if he thought that would help. This was a case of the blind leading the blind.

We were useless. I'd never even been inside a caravan.

"I figured that was easily done, so here we are. I know it's not enough to stop the vampires or the demon, but it's a start."

"About that," I murmured.

Opening the door to the caravan, I was hit with a musty wave of air that made me cough.

"We need to discuss it, but damn, maybe air the place out first."

"It was sitting in his shed for a while. I brought cleaning stuff as well."

"Great, more things to do."

I leaned against the kitchen counter. Brad sat at the narrow dining table.

"Harlwood turned up."

Brad glanced at Anzide, who was leaning against the door frame, watching the outside world.

"There's another demon in this town, and apparently, he wants it gone. Drakkus is feeding the demon, so he is missing out on all the souls that die because of the vampires."

"That must make him pretty hungry."

"And desperate," Anzide murmured. "Which is not a good thing, if you're wondering."

"I figured that. Okay, so what's he offering?"

"To remove vampires as I demand, and if this demon comes to us and asks to be our soul feeder, we have to refuse. In return, he will keep the veil over the town, which is why no one sees what's really going on, right?"

Anzide looked at me and nodded.

"An obscuris veil is quite common and has no side effects, no issues. It's a plain and boring spell that is chanted once and forgotten about. He can remove it at any time and reinstate it whenever he pleases. The only purpose it has is to keep those within the boundaries of the veil oblivious to everything. They go about their lives with happiness and are completely unaware of the darker side of this life. This town has had a veil over it for a very long time. You saw it didn't you? That day when we first met, I heard your words that you noticed the peculiarities. You saw it because you were new to the town, and of course, you are immortals, so it doesn't affect you."

"So, what's your opinion on this? Should she accept it?"

Anzide shrugged as he moved to the table, sitting opposite Brad.

"At surface level, his offer is genuine and without complication. You could try to go on your own and take down Drakkus and all those vampires that are following him, but it is a dangerous path that neither of you are equipped for. You might be a vampire and a shapeshifter, but the shell of this body is human. You were raised as a human, and you know nothing of your true ability. As for Evelyn, we only need to look out the door to see the pros and cons of her life. Yes, she is powerful, but she has no control or knowledge."

The wind caught the lace curtain, flicking it up for a brief moment. Neither Brad nor Anzide noticed it. When I looked out the dirty glass, I saw a figure. The shadow turned into the forest, and my heart leaped with happiness. Niko was out there. He was alive.

"Where's the catch here?"

I snapped back to the conversation.

"He's a demon, they are not trustworthy, but they do offer things that are honest and good. They are always out to make their own lives better, so don't think that he's doing you any favors. This is purely for his benefit."

"But if Drakkus and his followers are gone?"

"Then it serves a worthy purpose for Evelyn. You need to figure out who is on his side and who is scared of Drakkus and complying to save their own lives. I suspect that you will have very little in the way of followers when this is over."

"I think that I'll have none."

Anzide shook his head.

"That won't serve Harlwood. If he's offered to specifically remove your enemies, then he knows that there are some who do not fall into this category. He doesn't want all the vampires dead. He just wants the trash to be taken out."

With a heavy sigh, I dumped myself onto the seat next to Anzide, looking through the lace to the forest.

"Niko was out there," I said softly.

"What?"

Brad frowned at me, then turned to the window, pulling the lace back.

"He's dead, right?"

"No," Anzide answered. "Badly wounded, recovering slowly. Give him time, leave him in peace and keep his presence unknown. Niko will return at the time he feels is right and not a moment before."

Anzide and I continued to scour the mess for anything worth salvaging while Brad cleaned and set up the caravan. There was a shed at the end of the driveway that Brad had said several times that he was going to find the key and open it. He wanted somewhere to store the car during bad weather. Now he was going to use the bolt cutters to open the padlock.

That was next on his list. For now, he was ensuring the caravan was ready for us tonight.

Brad would constantly flip on his thoughts, making my anxiety about staying here rise considerably. He wanted to keep me safe but knew that Anzide would be rather helpful in that respect. He didn't want me to face any form of confrontation, even though he knew that I'd scraped through reasonably well so far.

And he didn't want me to agree to anything with Harlwood but stated that it was the best option we had at the moment. While Anzide was good for protection, he was of no help regarding the vampire threat. That is, of course, aside from the information which he happened to be full of.

When Brad called us in for the night, I picked up the box of stuff that was getting locked in the shed. Keepsakes that I knew Niko would want. The important stuff, the things that might be necessary, they were stuffed into my bag, which I could grab at any moment if need be.

Looking at the forest, I wondered if he was out there.

"They won't come here tonight," Anzide murmured. "And even if they are that brazen, it won't do them any good. Harlwood's put a temporary protection over the property. I suspect it's a sweetener to make you more compliant, but it's useful nonetheless."

Anzide turned, gripping my shoulders.

"Rest easy tonight."

I paused, sadness finding me quickly as the vision of the forest framed Anzide.

"I want to talk to Niko."

"That's perfectly fair, Evelyn, but we don't know where exactly he is. It's a large forest, and he's hiding. You could go out there and search, but then you're vulnerable to whatever else is out there. He could come here but then he is exposed. For his safety and yours, be patient. You will be reunited with him again."

"I will?"

As I looked up at Anzide, he nodded, carefully wiping the tears away.

Together we returned to the caravan that was slightly homelier than when it first arrived. It was old and dated, but it was better than some of the motels we'd stayed in while traveling. That was part of the reason that I had changed my mind about leaving Hades. The house was reasonable, it was structurally sound, and it was not infested with anything.

Well, that was not entirely true, but the point was that I was settled, and there wasn't a single roach or rat to be found. Vampire, yeah, we had one of those, but he was okay.

As for the house, it used to be solid. Now it was flat.

Brad had bought new linen and washed it at the laundromat after figuring out what we needed. Life was going to be rough for a few days, but I was ready for it. I was not going to complain. Technically this was my fault. No. It was completely my fault. I had no control over the powers, they had come in fast and heavy, and as a result, the worst had happened.

We were alive. That's all that mattered. We will rebuild, and we will see another day. There were bigger issues that had to be dealt with, issues that needed answers.