Keeley Thomson (Book 3): Mistress of Souls by P.S. Power Page A

basics were all taken care of for everyone else as well.
    "Sherry too. The Yorks as well. I'll get you the needed addresses."
    "Certainly... Keeley."
    She'd been about to say Mistress, but Sherry walked in with a giant bowl of ice cream covered in marshmallow fluff. It looked like a disaster and got a sniff from the Hsreth for not being pretty enough, but Keeley dug in after mumbling her thanks.
    "This is really great. Thank you both. I think this should about do for now. We can leave the kitchen for now. I'll get to it before I leave in the morning. I made most of the mess and it was all for me."
    That made both of the women look uneasy. Clara cleared her throat.
    "It wouldn't be a problem..."
    "Oh, go on. I can do it. True, mom will redo it in the morning, but I can do the heavy lifting to start. After I make more of a mess I mean." For as well stocked as they were, the food was starting to run out. She'd have to go out to find something then. Maybe borrow something from Darla?
    That made up her mind to go and see if she could scrounge some food and chat with Rebekah who would still be up, nearing one or not. Vampires were creatures of the night after all. She slept mornings for the most part. So did Elis. Balthias was like Keeley and didn't need sleep at all.
    It should be safe enough to visit.
    Grabbing a school backpack filled with odds and ends from her room she stepped and twisted, then carefully walked through the gaps, looking at everything carefully, going slowly, before making the next step, ending just about ten feet from Darla's door. The pack had pulled at her hard, but it wasn't something she couldn't manage really. She had to hide the pain still, but didn't go down or feel half as bad this time. She was starving again though as she knocked firmly.
    The door opened to show Darla standing there with a strange copper tube with a closed and rounded end that looked like it had a perfectly smoothed crystal tucked into place. The projections on it made the whole thing look a little bit like someone had been experimenting with a saxophone and failed utterly. It looked incredibly dorky and cool at the same time though. No doubt it was capable of ripping her apart with a single though on her sister's part. That or the thumbing of the G tab.
    "Good evening. I've come to try and collect foodstuffs for the Keeley Thomson charity fund. Because a hungry Demon is a terrible thing." It came out deadpanned.
    Darla just stood watching her closely for a while, not taking the weapon off of her. Keeley assumed it was a weapon at least. That or Darla was trying to bluff using one of her devices meant for something else. Either way it wasn't a great idea to push the issue. Maybe she just didn't want guests?
    "Who are you?" The words weren't friendly at all. In fact they sounded dangerous. Like Darla was serious or something.
    "If you've harmed my sister I swear I'll see to you dead thrice." The words held a thick accent that hadn't been there before at all. It sounded Slavic.
    "Um, Darla? It's me. Come to buy some food from you so I don't have to make a special trip to a fast food place or twenty-four hour market? What's wrong, did my make-up smear on the inroads?" Was that a thing? She felt her face, but it seemed fine, nose in the middle and everything.
    Her sister shook her head slowly, scowling hard and fierce, teeth showing between pulled back lips.
    "No. I don't think so. Prove who you are. Now!" The right hand tightened slightly on the trigger.
    "Um..." What could she do to prove she was herself?
    An idea finally hit her after an awkward quarter minute.
    "Balthias, would you attend me please? Quickly." She tried to sound relaxed but the huge animalistic demon form ran from his room down the stairs, hooves clattering like thunder on the living room floor, stopping to stare at the scene in front of him.
    Seeing the weapon he didn't hesitate, picking up a large side table to hit Darla with.
    "Wait." Keeley held out her left hand,