Suburban Vampire Ragnarok

Chapter 26

Scott didn't get home until about six o'clock the next morning. When he did get home, he headed straight to bed without any stops on the way. He had to be to work that afternoon and needed the rest. He fell into his bed and started in for a well-needed sleep, satisfied that the Grace Montoya situation was now concluded, and no more threats to his vampiric existence remained. He could sleep peacefully now. And he did, for all of two hours, when his mother came barging into the room.

"Scotty? Scotty? Scotty?" Irene Campbell called as she shook him awake.

"What? God, Mom, I'm trying to sleep!"

"Scotty? Have you seen that Natasha girl?"

"Natasha? No, Mom, I've been out all night!"

"Really? Where were you?"

"Taking care of some business. Why are you asking about Natasha?"

"Because she left late last night, apparently before you got home."

"Oh, well, maybe she found somewhere else to crash."

"Well, maybe she did, but I think she stole something from us."

Oh shit. Scott probably should have thought about that. After all, Natasha was a vampire, and vampires are not by nature exactly trustworthy (excepting Scott, of course). But could a vampire also be a thief? Isn't that, like, a little too much? "What do you think she stole, Mom?"

"You know that wood box or pedestal thing you found? I think she stole that."

Scott bolted up in his bed, eyes now wide open. "Well, why didn't you say so?"

"I just did! Maybe it's not the TV, or money, but still, it was your father's, and it had sentimental value!"

Scott remembered all that had happened since he found the wood stand. The odd vibrations he felt at first. The dead house plants. The melted candy. "Was that the only thing she took?"

"Why, yes, it seems to be. Odd, don't you think?"

"Yeah, odd."

"Should we call the police?"

"Over that old thing? It's not worth the trouble, Mom."

"Well, still, I'm rather upset at this!"

"Um, Mom? Could you excuse me for a minute? I'm gonna make some calls, check on some things. Okay?"

"Oh, certainly. And I won't bother the police with this."

"Yeah, you do that."

Mom removed herself from Scott's room and began her daily morning routine. He retrieved his iPhone and called the only person who might know what this wooden item could possibly be. And he hoped Jeremiah was nowhere around.

"Unified Scientific, this is Dr. Weems. How may I direct your call?"

"Kitty! Kitty, it's me!"

"Scott Campbell? Well, good morning, sunshine! I didn't think vampires were morning people! How's it going?"

"I'm not a morning person. I don't know about other vampires. But that's not important. Jeremiah isn't around, is he?"

"No, he's in his bat cave, fast asleep. Want me to wake him?"

"No! No, Kitty, no, that's fine. In fact, I'd rather he didn't know I was calling."