In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 by Rhiannon Frater

You have so much on your mind already.”
    “Nah, I actually do. You're my friend. Share.” Vanora tucked a hand under her head, focusing on her friend.
    “Well, I tried to calm him down, but he got into my personal space and started screaming. So I fired him and had him escorted out of the store. The district manager came by in the evening to talk to me about it. We're going to have extra security for the next few weeks just to make sure he doesn't come back.”
    “Rhonda, did he hurt you?” Vanora sat up with alarm.
    “No, but he threatened to.” Rhonda lightly shrugged. “I was careful coming home. I took a roundabout way and the security guard escorted me to the car. It was just...Scary. And to make matters worse, inventory is scheduled to happen in two weeks’ time, so I really need to hire someone new right away. Plus, working every single day for twelve plus hours is going to kill me. I’m so taking a vacation when it’s over.”
    “That really sucks,” Vanora said sympathetically.
    “Yeah, but in the grand scheme of things, I guess that's just how life works, huh? Good stuff happens. Bad stuff happens. Just gotta roll with it.” Rhonda slid off the bed. “I just don't want you worrying about it. Though if you see anyone weird hanging around, call the police.”
    “I will. I promise.” Guilt ate at her. Rhonda was considerate enough to warn her roommate about potential danger, yet Vanora couldn't tell Rhonda about the vampires. Again, she was made to face the fact that she was being immensely selfish staying with Rhonda even if she was taking every precaution she could think of to keep her friend safe. She'd even given Rhonda a small cross necklace as a gift.
    Rhonda reclaimed the bat. “It'll all be okay. I just need to survive the next two weeks. I hate inventory. See ya in the morning.”
    “Night,” Vanora called out as her bedroom door closed.
    Sliding back under the covers, Vanora checked the time on her phone. A message from her sister had come in while she was asleep telling her that she loved her. Vanora typed back the same sentiment, then took a deep breath. She pulled up Roman's phone number that was disguised as Uncle Matthias.
    I miss you and love you , she typed out.
    It wasn't even a minute later when a message dinged.
    I miss you, Vanora. I love you. With all my heart.
    She read the words in Roman’s voice in her mind and fresh tears flooded her eyes.
    Laying the phone on the bed stand, Vanora turned off the light and snuggled into her pillows. Tears on her cheeks, but a smile on her lips, she finally fell asleep again.
     
    The werewolf stank of fear, immediately putting Armando on edge. He hadn’t seen Hank in nearly a decade, but he looked virtually the same. A receding hairline of a nondescript color, big open face, a crooked smile that revealed far too many teeth, and a penchant for wearing clothes two decades out of fashion and two sizes too small. The werewolf paced in front of the bar at the indicated distance set by the smoking ban. He resembled a cartoon choo-choo train, puffs of white smoke drifting behind him as he stalked back and forth.
    “ Hank,” Armando called out, approaching the werewolf cautiously. The guy was jittery by nature, but had sounded even more on edge than usual when he had called earlier asking to meet with the vampire.
    “ Armando, thank God you’re here!” Hank surged toward him, smoke trailing from his lips. Waving his iPhone in one hand, Hank pointed to it with the other. “I was about to call you! I'm heading underground, but I wanted to give you heads up.”
    “Underground?” Armando lifted both his eyebrows.
    “Not literally. The pack lying low, hiding out. Going to our safe haven.”
    “ What's happening?” Armando hoped this wasn’t some sort of false alarm. Hank tended toward paranoia and was a conspiracy junky when it came to both human and supernatural news. It was that paranoia that also made Hank a very good resource for the