The Vampire Keeper Read Free

statement seriously reached into her pocket and retrieved a piece of paper, “Here! I made a list of rules to cover since I won’t be here.”
    “I don’t need a list. I think I know what to say to Jezalyn. I have been his Keeper for a long time.”
    Still holding the list out toward him, Ana used the one thing that she knew her husband could not resist, she leaned close and with a sweet murmur said, “I know you have, but it will ease my mind if I know you have it. Please take it—for me.” As Wyler’s hand embraced hers and the paper, she knew her tactic had worked when he gave her hand a tiny squeeze. As his hand lingered awhile, she said, “Thank you. I need to go change for work. I’ll check on Larkin before I go.” Then, she gave a sweet yet seductive smile as she spoke softly, “I will think of you while I am gone.”
    Wyler still found his wife’s allure as intoxicating as the day he had first met her, so he instinctively leaned in and pulled her delicate frame close, planting a long kiss upon her before whispering back, “I will miss you too, my love.”
    ***
    Several hours later, Jezalyn returned to the shop counter where she found Wyler sitting with two plates of food. “Ah, there you are. I was about to come and get you. Have a seat; Ana made us some chicken spaghetti, green beans, and garlic rolls.”
    Jezalyn sat down, “That was nice of her.”
    “Yeah, she mentioned something about lemon chicken and rice for tomorrow.”
    “Oh, I can’t wait!”
    Without responding, Wyler bowed his head and silently prayed. Jezalyn took notice of him praying, so she bowed her head and thanked God not only for the food that she was about to consume, but also for her amazing new apartment and job. Upon hearing the word amen, Jezalyn raised her head and began to eat. After Wyler took several bites, he asked, “Did you get most of your stuff put away?”
    “Yes, sir. I only have a few boxes left.”
    “That’s good. You can put the empty boxes back there,” he said, pointing toward the back room. Jezalyn nodded as she took a sip of her coke.
    “Well, there are some policies, or more like rules, we follow here at the shop that you need to be aware of.” With that, she stopped eating and listened attentively. “This is for our own safety, since we live on the premises; never let anyone in the shop before or after hours, nor let anyone come up to your apartment.” Not having any friends in town, Jezalyn did not think twice about questioning the rule, so she nodded, and let him continue, “Also, there is a door in the back that leads to an underground shelter; it’s off limits. We reside there full time now, since Ana has to work a lot of random shifts. If you need something, just knock. I’m sure one of us will be up shortly. Unfortunately, we are both sensitive sleepers,” he confessed lightheartedly, trying to take the edge of the intensity of his tone.
    “Oh, my grandpa is kind of like that. I think he has insomnia or something,” replied Jezalyn taking another sip of her soda.
    Wyler nodded at her statement. “That’s it I think. Do you have any questions?”
    Jezalyn shook her head; “I will not go downstairs or let anyone in unless the shop is open,” reiterating his rules to show him that she understood before continuing with her food.
    After Wyler finished his plate he said, “One last thing, we don’t invite anyone in our shop or go out and pull people in off the street like other shops. We dislike browsers; they are nuisances. They mess up the shop and never buy anything. In addition, when we are not putting merchandise out, we generally stay behind the counter waiting for customers to come check out. Ana and I believe: if people want to buy something, they will buy it; they don’t need someone bothering them every two seconds saying, ‘come on in, look around, and let me know if you need help,’ so don’t ever use those phrases here. Okay?”
    Jezalyn nodded as she took the last