North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Bad Toto

With an intro like that, we adjourned and regathered on the rooftop patio.

"Your school is just up the road that way a few blocks." I told Nakoma.

"Yea. And that's Lady Bird Lake! And we can see the sun setting from up here!" Nakoma enthused, more interested in the view than the proximity to her school.

"Small observatory over there. Isolated and elevated on the roof. Not great, because of city light, but better than nothing." I pointed toward the center of the building. "Have a seat. I'll get drinks going."

Nakoma went with me to the patio covered outdoor kitchen and looked around at the fixtures as we worked. "I have never seen an outdoor kitchen like this." She finally commented after her examination.

"Be nice for the parties up here on nice evenings, don't you think?" I asked. "The cover protects the appliances from the worst of the weather. The counters and sink and such don't care. The counter acts as a double cover for the coolers and dishwasher below them. Pretty nice."

"Nice? Nice dad? This is... I am very confused. How did you do all this?" Nakoma asked.

"Sold my soul. I'll explain. Drinks first."

Nakoma pulled a cork on some wine. Claremont Cab. She poured one for Helen and a smaller portion for herself. I smiled. Nakoma did not need to be told there is going to be a toast.

The little ones get milk.

Seated around the outdoor low tables in the comfy loungers, I stood and held up my beer. "To my family. You are my everything."

We drank to that.

"Alright, Adrian. We have been very patient. How did you do this?" Jessica demanded.

"As I was saying in the closet, this started as an idea for where to put the bar. I thought about an apartment for Nakoma near campus if she had a late night and did not feel like driving home."

"Aww... Dad!" Nakoma said

"Things steamrolled, and this plan was well underway by the time Cert dropped Alexander off at Ninovan. I wanted a place we could hide from the Vampire world before all that, but now Casa de Gato is in the middle of Ninovan."

"Thought that would be a good thing at first." Jessica noted.

"Not so much now." Denise nodded in agreement.

"The house is about to be seriously renovated to make more room for the kitchen and dining table. I also have another plan for that campus I will get to. We needed a place all of us could live for a while. It all gelled into this place. When we started dancing downtown, the idea got its capstone. I reacted poorly to the suits, and I wanted to turn that around with the dresses. I still hate suits: Do not misunderstand me. I know Helen likes to go dancing with me in costume, so I made peace with them."

"That explains why you did all of this. Not to sound ungrateful, but the question remains. How? This is downtown Austin. A place like this is millions. I share your bank account as part of our businesses. We are doing well between Holly's, 'Olsen and Sagan', and our various Council incomes, but you did not touch a penny. Helen did not know about this, so you did not use her resources or your accounts she manages. How did you do this?" Morgan asked.

"I am on Council. I have access to Crew everything. I know how we, as Vampires, hide our money around the world. Helen thinks I do not listen, but I do. She told me I needed to learn to manage my money. It is not fun or interesting, but I did. Further: I listened enough to find out what resources she is not connected to, so I could do this without her knowing."