Chasing Wolves (completed)

Chapter 13 Isadora

Chapter 13

Isadora

The flight was uneventful and we now find ourselves standing around Peony on the Tarmac, trying to decide what to do first. "I think it's pretty obvious. First we need to drop off Rob, give Mrs. Bedevere a little peace of mind, and then I think a surprise visit to Jan and Dimca is in order." Lin bursts out laughing, catching everyone off guard, and I can't help but laugh too. Just imagining their faces when we show up out of the blue nearly a year later. Married. Priceless.

Lin finally gathers his sanity and nods, "I don't know about you guys, but that sounds like a plan to me." Everyone just shrugs, having no idea what else we'd do or who we're talking about, and everyone piles into our makeshift clown car, fitting like Tetris pieces into our usual spots.

I'm so absorbed with the scenery outside my window, my beloved city once again surrounding me, that I don't notice when we stop in front of Rob's house. Everyone piles out, bringing me to attention as Em jumps off my lap and hops out the door.

We let Rob knock on the door and we only have to wait a few seconds before she answers. She screeches in delight and suffocates him in a hug. He towers over her and she has one pudgy arm wrapped around him as she turns him to us and takes us in.

Oh, crap. There's one thing I forgot to factor in. "Rob, whatever you do, DO NOT look your mother in the eyes. At least until tomorrow when I'll be able to turn you human again."

He looks confused and like he's about to argue and I shake my head at him imperceptibly. "No. This is not up for debate. You live with a human now, in the city, where wild animals are no longer readily available. I know you loved being a vampire but you just can't risk it and I will not see you stoop to eating alley cats." He nods, albeit begrudgingly, and I turn back to where his mom is looking us all over.

Her eyes land on mine and she shrieks, vaulting down the stairs and enveloping me in a bone-crushing hug. I hug her back with just as much glee (minding not to snap her in half) and we step apart, huge smiles on our faces (luckily I've perfected hiding my fangs). "Deedee, dear, how have you been?!" I barely manage to squeeze in a quick 'great' before she's off asking more questions. "Where have you been? You've been worrying me nearly sick and you haven't even had the decency to call once! How did you run into Robby, were you in Florida too?"

This time she actually waits for an answer and I have to think fast to come up with a reasonably solid explanation. "No, we met at the airport earlier today. I've been traveling through Europe with my boyfriend-" Lin waves and she smiles at him. Hopefully he doesn't mind that I didn't call him my husband, she would have killed me if she found out I didn't invite her to the wedding "- and friends. They all wanted to see New York so we came and apparently Rob was just arriving from Florida with his friends. We offered to give him a ride because they were late for something and... here we are."

I open my arms in a flourish and she nods, completely buying my story. Mentally breathing a sigh or relief, I silently thank her for always believing me.

After a quick round of introductions he grabs his bag and we depart, leaving them both waving from the doorway. As we pass my old house I affect a tour guide voice, "and if you look to your right you'll see the former home of one Isadora Corvus, the coolest freak to ever grace this city." Everyone bursts out laughing and once I can breathe again I ask Lin if he knows how to get to Jan's warehouse.

"Of course I do, I've been their friend since before you were born." Ack, that's so weird, I keep forgetting how old he is.

"Well then, by all means, lead the way old man." He pulls away from the stop sign and pokes me in the rib. I can barely feel it, thanks to the corset, and I feign indignation at him. He feigns it right back, soliciting chuckles from the back seat peanut gallery as we continue on our way.

He whispers 'young whippersnapper' and I have to turn back to the window to hide my grin and pretend I didn't hear him.