The Short Story Collection

A witch and a vampire

I wouldn't call myself a witch. It sounds a bit obnoxiously stupid when you say you're a witch. Witch invokes images of old haggered women in a run down cottage or a black haired red lipped woman stuck to a burning pire. Herbalist, nature lover, spiritual practitioner sound a bit less stupid and more hippie weirdo. I still would say I'm open to most things, legend's and myths had to come from somewhere and everything is connected through atoms vibrating millions of times a second. Its scientific, proper and real. Being open to the idea of other things and meeting that idea in the flesh is something else entirely. So when Sam showed up I brushed him off as an eccentric. An anemic man with looks only countries like Italy can bestow. I'd nodded politely as he explained he was a vampire , stealing peoples energy and leaving them a husk. Smiling politely I had excused myself before rejoining my sisters at the table they had found in the pub. Laughing I told them about the man named Sam I had met at the bar when ordering our drinks. It was all rather enjoyable and pleasant. Three hours later and multiple vodkas and coke same now sat at our table as I grinned my teeth together.
'A vampire like a blood sucking one?' Cassie laughed grinning at him. Sam chuckled shaking his head before tipping his drink back.
' no so I'm a energy vampire. I steal people energy feed off of it till I'm full. They are usually left feeling down and really tired' . My eyes narrowed , just sounded like a narcissist to me.
' so what you're saying is, that your so full of negativity that it's exhausting to be around you' my little sister Amy snarked. I laughed then shrugged as cassie and Sam glared at us .
' oh come on , you can't say that someone who leaves you feeling like shit everytime you're around them doesn't sound like arsehole behaviour' I said .
Annie shrugged before smirking ' I never said that' . Sam glared outright at me. ' I guess you could say that although I wouldn't say I was an aresehole' cassie patted his shoulder before telling him we were just being bitchy. ' I never said you I said behavior. Two different things ' I shot back. Sam shrugged the conversation off and the creeping dread lifted off our table. Cassie and Amy did a deep dive into Sam's personal life which I zoned out on. Could I have a good book and a cup of tea instead ? Why had I come out? I knew a good erotic novel and a cup of tea worth eating the China was waiting for me. I sighed perhaps I could fein sickness from too many vodkas an coke. Sam was now glancing over at me quizzically at my sigh.
' you okay?' He asked . Staring I nodded ' just tired I don't come out often' I told him truthfully. He gave me a small smile as cassie face suddenly lit up as she lunged for me dragging me across the table excited.
' oh I completely forgot. You said you were a vampire , well Ellie here is witch' she nodded looking like Churchill the bulldog with her enthusiasm. Amy lounged in her chair as she proved her legs on the table. I glared at her as she smirked at me . I wasn't going to start drama she didn't need to get so comfy. She raised an eyebrow before I sighed.
' I wouldn't really say that but I dabble in a few things' . Sam now had a frown marring his chocolate eyebrows. His finger tapped the side of his glass as he turned away from cassie fully facing me. Amy pulled her feet of the table.
' oh , what kind of things ' eyebrow raising. Cassie squeezed me before i pushed her of sitting back into my seat.
' oh you know just light divination and things' brushing the creases out my top.
' divination?' Sam sounded confused but his brown eyes sparkled , amused . Amy saw it too because she sat up down her drink .
' yeah I'd like to call her pussy because she won't curse a bitch but I will' giving Sam a toothy grin and slamming her glass on the table. Cassie sighed dramatically tutting.
' you know tarot cards , that kind of thing, she is really good to you should get her to read you' she was nodding now drink sloshing in her glass as she gestured at me.
' I can't exactly magic them from thin air I don't have them on me' I glared at her. She glared back before slamming her glass down.
' thought you were a witch isn't that what you do. Besides you can do the hand thingy' she said wriggling her fingers at me. She was not getting the memo. Sam was now smiling into his glass as I glared. Amy was now sat upright in her chair staring him down. It suddenly dawned on me what he was doing. Energy vampire. We were having a good night before he showed up , he was draining the positive vibes. Smiling stared him down.
' I know what you're doing' . Cassie opened her mouth but Amy shot her a shut the fuck up look before they both watched the show Down.
' I don't know what you mean' sam frowned.
' energy vampire.' I stated. Sam glanced at us , reassessing the situation. Two witches , three sisters. His brown eyes dulled in his sockets as he realised his mistake.
' oh come on its just a joke' he laughed. Looking at my sisters , cassie gave a small smile but shrugged an apology. She wasn't sure what was happening but she was with us no him. Amy's shoulder were tense as she took his empty glass and swirled her finger around the rim of his glass.
' I'm not laughing.' I deadpanned. Sam scoffed before standing towering over us. One look around the pub showed me that it was mostly misogynistic old farts. I didn't need a brawl tonight because some old man wanted to defend our sisters respect and honour. Not that we had any when we got going.
' let me read you're hand then I'll forget all about it' I smiled. Gesturing to Sam to give me his hand. Sam's eyes widened alarm settling over his face. Cassie audibly exhaled relaxing into her seat deeming everything over. Amy slid the glass bewteen us , a quick glance told me she had done it on purpose he still had over half his scotch , the dark amber liquid sloshing in the glass. Sam sighed sitting back down and giving me his hand.
His hand was rough and dry . He knew a day's graft and I found myself respecting him a little for it. Cassie was now leaning in hovering over us both her hot breath fanning me. I glanced over at her clearing my throat.
'Sorry' she said leaning back. Looking at Sam i regarded his face to his hand. His eyes were brown orbs sparkling in a strong jawline framed by black stubble accentuating his foreign allure. I suspected he did it on purpose. A girl loved a hot foreign man. His hand however told a different story .
' You're a hard worker , use You're hands alot' I told him . His lip quirked at the obviousness of it. I cringed, I sounded like a fraud . I'd never read anyone outside of our family and I knew most of their life so did it even count? Focusing on the heart line the top of the three main line in his hand I studied it. It was long but curving towards the end meeting at the index finger with crosses and lines cut through the line. Glancing up at Sam I swallowed. It felt deeply personal reading someone like this I felt like I was violating him.
' You're rational , usually the clear headed one in the situation. You're passionate and driven by you're desires.' Sam was staring now face fierce .
' I can stop if you want me to' I offered. Sam shook his head.
' it's okay carry on , you're sister is right you're good' . I nodded before continuing.
' well always consider everyone else's feeling before your own and I think that's backfired because you've been betrayed and hurt . More than once. A lot actually' . Looking at the line I frowned. ' for all the consideration of other people you put first you dont ever think maybe they don't deserve it' I blurted. ' sorry I didn't mean that' I rushed as Sam grabbed his hand away from me. Cassie was now looking at Sam like he was a pitiful animal in deep need of love and safety. Sam avoided looking at her his jaw clenched. Amy leveled him a satisfied look before scrolling through her phone.
' well ladies it's been a pleasure, thank you Ellie for the reading . Not sure I agree with it but keep practising ' he smiled politely before rising from his seat and marching off. Cassie jumped up knocking her seat over.
' hey wait' she called after him but he was already gone weaving through the old men and out the door.
' why do all the arsehole have a sob story as an excuse? ' Amy remarked. I shrugged. I didn't know but I felt quilt on my chest . I never gotvto finish the reading. He should know he will have a happy ending.