Chapter 9  When there will be Love at First Sight

“Charlie?”  Alonna stared at the twin she hadn’t seen in years.

“Yeah, it’s me, Lonnie.”  Gunn held out his hand to his sister.

Alonna looked past her brother with a worried look on her face.  “What are you doing here?  If he finds you here he’ll kill you.”

“He’s already planning on it.”  Robin stepped to where Alonna could see him too.  “Mom killed his mate, you know.  He’ll come after Charlie and me anyway.”

“Robbie, you’re here too?”  Alonna undid the chain, and she opened the door.  “Is Mom why I don’t feel like a normal vampire?”

Gunn shook his head.  “I don’t know, but it would explain why William is different too.”

“Who’s William?”

“The Slayer’s fiancée.  He was turned in the last week.”  Gunn shrugged.  “I haven’t had a chance to talk to him, but Xander and Wesley have.  They said he’s just like he was before but with a side of vampirism.”

“What’s going on here?”  A minion stepped out of the shadows.  “Who are these humans, Alonna?”

Robin and Gunn swung their crossbows around to confront the minion.  A dull thud later there was a pile of dust on the ground.  The men turned back to their vamped sibling.

“Let’s get out of here, Lonnie,” Gunn urged.  “You don’t have to let that monster hurt you again.”

Alonna ducked her head in embarrassment.  “I’m a monster too.”

Gunn shook his head.  “Not to me.  Never to me.”  He held out his hand again.

Alonna stared at Gunn’s hand for a moment before she reached out to grasp it with her own.

“Hope this isn’t a mistake,” Robin muttered while he dragged his younger siblings away.

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Rich Chase watched Joyce Summers’ face while she avidly spoke about a particular painting.  He found her so captivating that he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  Words spilled from his mouth before he could stop them.  “Let’s elope.”

Joyce stopped talking at the quiet announcement.  She stared at Rich in astonishment.

“You’re so beautiful,” Rich continued in the same soft voice.  “I’m so afraid that another man will see you and want you for himself.”

Joyce blushed from the passionate compliment.  “There’s no chance of that, Rich.  No man would be interested in me.”

“I just asked you to elope, woman, and I’m a man.”  Rich pulled Joyce into his arms.  “I haven’t felt this strongly about anyone since Cordelia’s mother passed away.”

“But we just met.  We can’t elope,” Joyce protested.  “What would the children say?”

“All of them are old enough to understand, my sweet, even your youngest.”  Rich smiled warmly.  “Marry me.  Make me happy.” 

Joyce narrowed her eyes while she studied her suitor.  “All right, I will, Mr. Chase.  However, if I catch wind of any hinky deals with demons, you’re in big trouble, buster.  My daughter doesn’t get all of her strength from being the Slayer.”

“What’s a Slayer?” Rich asked in a confused voice.

Joyce pulled Rich towards the coatroom.  “I’ll tell you on the way to the Justice of the Peace.”

“Let’s go to Vegas instead,” Rich suggested.

Twenty minutes later, Elizabeth and Cordelia were searching for their respective parents.  When they went to get their fiancées to help them they found out some surprising news.

“Guess you and Cordelia will be stepsisters shortly,” William chuckled.  He put his arm around Elizabeth’s waist, and he kissed her cheek.

“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked while she leaned into the embrace.  She watched while Oz mirrored William’s gesture.

“Father sent a message.  Joyce asked if he and Anya would keep an eye on Dawn for a couple of days while she and Rich go to Vegas.”  William wiggled his eyebrow at his girl.  “Maybe we should try that.”

Elizabeth slapped William’s arm for his trouble.

“Dad likes to gamble,” Cordelia reminded her friends.  “Going to Vegas doesn’t mean they’re getting married.”

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose.  “Mom’s not into gambling.  She won’t even buy a raffle ticket from the quilting bee.  I don’t think she’d go to Vegas with black jack or poker in mind.”

Cordelia chuckled.  “Well, whether it’s true or not, we should plan a party.  It’s time we had one anyway.”

“Like a reception, just in case?” Elizabeth asked.

Cordelia pointed at her friend.  “Exactly.”

William moved to Oz’s side, and he slung his arm around the shorter man’s shoulders.  “That’s our cue to go find a drink or two.  There’s nothin’ like two women plannin’ a shindig.”  He led the shorter man away from the plotting women.

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“What the hell!” Trick snarled when he found the front door of his lair standing wide open.  Chad, the minion on guard duty, was no where in sight.  “Alonna!  Why is this door open, bitch?”

Trick strode into his private quarters, but he quickly realized that the female he sought wasn’t present.  “Damn that whore,” he growled.

Looking around the room, Trick realized that none of Alonna’s possessions were missing except the ratty old bathrobe she wore on a regular basis.  It had been the only thing from her previous life that he allowed her to bring along with her.  “The slut got herself staked.”  It never crossed Trick’s mind that she had left him.  “Good riddance.”

Trick strolled into the main part of the lair where the minions congregated.  Despite the time of night, most of the lesser vamps were already home.  Trick pulled two of the smarter, more loyal of the minions aside to speak to them in hushed tones.  “The Slayer has a sister.  I want to know every move the little bitch makes.  I want to know everything there is about her.”

“Yes, Master.”  The two minions bowed to their boss before they hurried to do his bidding.

Trick surveyed the female minions.  He gestured for a dark skinned beauty to join him in his private quarters.  Just because Alonna was gone didn’t mean his needs needed to be neglected.

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“I heard you’re the best two bounty hunters around.”  Warren threw a wad of money down in front of the two astonished men.  “Bring me the head of Elizabeth Summers.  You’ll get more when I have proof the bitch is dead.”  Then, he stormed out of the storefront.

Jonathan looked at Andrew with a confused look on his face.  “Doesn’t Meers know that the whole bounty hunter thing is just part of a game?”  He indicated the game board sitting on the table between Andrew and himself.

Andrew grinned.  “Just means Galaxies At War is gonna be a hit.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”  Jonathan’s face brightened.  He picked up the wad of cash, and he counted it.  Then, he gave his buddy a speculative look.  “Even if I was a bounty hunter, there is no way I’m gonna go after Elizabeth.  William would hunt us down and make us sorry.  However, there’s enough money here, we could get away from here to someplace where we can find a market for our game.”

“But if we make him think we’re working on it, we could get some expense money from him.”  Andrew grinned at his friend.  He tapped the game board.  “Just like we did in the Nemar Pot campaign.”

“Good idea.  Let’s.” Jonathan agreed.  “Do you think William would be willing to play along?”

Andrew shrugged.  “Doesn’t hurt to ask.  I need to thank him anyway.  Rona loved the gift idea he had.”