ACADEMY OF THE UNDEAD; BOOK TWO Stand Together ... Or Fall Together
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Carpe Diem-ing In The Witches Lair

Chester was up before the sun had fully disappeared, and she raced into an adjoining cabin and roused one of the girls.

The girl woke sleepily and yawned, “Ches, what’s going on?”

“Hey Dinny, get up, I need to look in your wardrobe.”

“How come?”

“We’re about the same size, so I’d like to borrow some of your clothes.”

“Huh, what?”

“I’m kinda wandering out tonight, so I thought, yeah, wear something nice, and I know you’ve got some nice stuff.”

Dinny pushed out of bed and ambled over to her wardrobe. Dinny’s partner Brett rolled over lazily and said, “Evening Ches.”

“Hey Brett.”

“How’d the meeting go?”

“Yeah, it’s official, we’re in an alliance with the vampires and the witches.”

“God, who would have ever thought!”

“Yeah, that’s freaky Ches, I mean freaky good!” Dinny stated.

“If it makes us safer, it’s a good result.”

“Where ya going Ches?” Dinny asked.

“Arhhh, I’m just gunna tick off a few last-minute issues, you know, the fine details of the alliance.”

“Ohhh, so the Boss is going as well?” Brett asked.

“Ummm, ummm, no.”

“So just you by yourself?” Dinny asked, “Will you be okay?”

“Yeah of course, I mean we got the alliance.”

“So what, ya not gunna wear the Cammie pants Ches?” Brett asked.

“I’m going out, so I’m gunna wear something different.”

“I’ve never seen you wear anything but the Cammies.” Dinny said.

“I’ve only ever seen ya in the Cammies or else bare-assed.” Brett added.

“Jeez, cut the yabbering guys, and Din, can I look at your stuff?”

“Sure, so what kinda pant’s and singlets are you looking for?” Dinny asked.

“Well I was kinda thinking about some of your nice clothes, you know, going out stuff.”

“Sure, I’ve got smart pairs of either black or white pants.”

“Errr, I wasn’t thinking about pants.”

“No?”

“I was thinking about a nice dress or skirt or something like that.”

Dinny was confused, and she asked, “Who for?”

“Well, for me.”

“You gunna wear a dress?” Brett asked in surprise.

“I’ve never seen you in a dress.” Dinny added.

“It’s no big deal.” Chester said shyly.

“Get outta here Ches, you in a dress is a big deal!” Dinny exclaimed.

“Yeah, what’s going on?” Brett asked.

“Look, it’s no big deal, so have you got a nice dress or skirt or something?”

Dinny flicked through the hangers and pulled out a smart knee-length black, satin dress. “This is my favourite, and you’ll look great in it!”

Chester considered it, then mumbled, “Arhhh, I dunno, you got something, you know, shorter?”

“Shorter?” Brett laughed.

Dinny laughed as well, then she looked at Brett and asked jokingly, “Hey, have you seen Chester recently?”

Brett understood that his partner was playfully teasing her best friend, so he replied brightly, “No I haven’t, although there’s someone in our room claiming to be Chester!”

“That’s not the real Chester,” Dinny mocked, “I mean this imposter wants to look at my mini-skirts!”

“Yes, very funny guys, but Din, help me out here.”

“Okay, sure. So I’ve got a black, red or white mini-skirt.”

“Can I have a look at them?”

Dinny excitedly pulled them out and handed them over. The mini skirts were indeed mini, and as Chester held them at her waist, she noted that they sat halfway up her thighs. “Which one do you think suits me best?”

“White!” Brett declared.

“Yeah? What do you think Din?”

“Yes, go the white because it’s a glorious contrast to your colour, and it highlights your legs.”

Chester remembered the previous night, the statuesque witch dressed in a red jumpsuit, and the stunning vampire dressed in a black jumpsuit. “Okay, white it is. What should I wear with it?”

“Hmmm, you want a shirt or a singlet?”

While Chester was pondering, Brett said, “Maybe give her the blue and white singlet Din, I mean you always look smashing when you wear that singlet with the white mini-skirt.”

Dinny pulled the singlet out, the singlet hooped with alternate blue and white bars.

Dinny sat on the bed next to Brett and said, “Try them on Ches, see how they feel.”

Chester walked into the bathroom, slipped into the outift, then presented herself before them.

“Ohhh my God, you look sensational!” Dinny exclaimed.

Chester blushed and asked, “Brett, what do you think?”

“Wow Ches, I’m in love with you!”

“Okay, so you don’t mind if I borrow then Din?”

“Of course not,” she replied, “What about panties?”

“What about them?”

“Have you got any nice ones?”

“Ummm, I haven’t got any panties, I mean panties hitch up my ass, so that’s why I never wear ’em, and I always wear Cammie pants.”

“Sure, so have a look through the third draw on your right, that’s wear I keep my sexy numbers.”

“Nahhh, I don’t need panties.”

“Ches, that is a mini-skirt, so to prevent unintentional flashing, panties are a good idea.”

“Arhhh, I’m not going out in public or anything.”

“So where are you going Ches?” Brett asked.

“Well you’re probably gunna replace out, because if you don’t mind, I’d like you to drop me off and then pick me up before dawn.”

“Of course he will Ches, but where ya going?” Dinny asked.

“You know, just to the witches place.”

“Fuck me, the witches mansion!”

Surprised, Brett asked, “Jeez Ches, what did the Boss say about you going out to the witches place by yourself?”

“Yeah, he’s cool with it, and I won’t be by myself, I mean a vampire’s gunna be there as well.”

Dinny and Brett stared at one another in disbelief, until Brett faced Chester and said, “Okay, I’ll drive you out there, and I’ll round up a few of the boys and we’ll all come in with you.”

“Guys, everything’s cool, I mean we got the alliance.”

“No Chester, you are not going to be surrounded by a bunch of witches and a vampire without having a dozen bodyguards!” Dinny exclaimed.

“Two dozen!” Brett stated.

“Ohhh God, resurrect me again,” Chester huffed, “Look, okay, I wasn’t being honest with ya before, because I ain’t ticking off nothing, I’m catching up with the witch and the vampire and just having a drink or you know, whatever.”

“Whatever?” Dinny wondered aloud. She loved Chester, loved everything about her, and she saw the sparkle of excitement in the big, green eyes, so she asked excitedly, “Ohhh, ohhh, Ches, you, you and a witch, you and a vampire; I mean are you gunna rumble with other supernaturals?”

Chester sucked her bottom lip, then lowered her gaze as she mumbled, “Yeah okay, I’ll be straight with you guys, and yeah, the Big Banga witch is kinda interested in me, and me, I’m kinda interested in this vampire.”

“Is it the vampire that the boys keep talking about?”

“Yeah, her.”

“Is she as gorgeous as they say she is?” Dinny asked.

Chester already felt exposed, so exposing a little more wasn’t going to cause any damage. She said quietly, “Nahhh, the boys didn’t get anywhere near properly describing what she looks like.”

“Ohhh Ches, I’m so happy for you!” Dinny stated.

“Does the Boss know?” Brett asked.

“Of course, I don’t do nothing without his permission.”

“Anyway Gorgeous, sit down and I’ll do your make-up.”

“Arhhh, I don’t wear make-up.”

“Ches, do you want to impress these bitches?”

Chester thought about it, then mumbled, “Guess so.”

“Okay, so sit down and shut up.”

Ten minutes later, holding her hand, Dinny escorted Chester to the barn. Devil and six others were waiting by the barn, and Dinny asked brightly, “What do you think Boss, how gorgeous does she look?”

Devil held both of her hands and gazed into her eyes as he said delightedly, “Wow, you’ll have to dress like this more often.”

“If you want me to I will, but I feel a bit, you know …”

“A bit what?”

“Sheesh Boss, I feel a bit, you know, girly.”

“You are a gorgeous little creature life-mate.” Devil said as he kissed her on the lips.

“Who is that?” JimBoy asked as he stared at her.

“Piss off JimBoy, me and Din have already teased her enough.” Brett replied.

“No, I’m serious, who is that?”

“It’s our sweet little Chester, and she’s going on a date.” Dinny replied proudly.

“What the fuck’s going on?” Charlie asked.

“Looking like that, you kin date up with me Ches!” Freddy called out.

“People please, clear a path and let me escort our Queen to her chariot!” Dinny stated.

“Huh, chariot? I thought I was gunna drive her.” Brett muttered.

“Hooo God, give me strength,” Dinny moaned, then she glared at Brett and said, “Just open the door you clown!”

Brett opened the door, and as Chester got in, Charlie muttered, “She ain’t wearing no knickers.”

After the door was closed, Dinny leant on the open window frame and said knowingly, “See what I mean?”

Chester smiled shyly and said, “Carpe diem.”

Dinny crinkled her nose and asked, “What does that mean again?”

“Seize the day, or in my case, seize the night.”

Dinny kissed her cheek and said encouragingly, “Go and seize sister!”

Brett began driving away, and Dinny called out, “Ches, I’ll be in your room first thing tomorrow night, and I want the whole story, everything!”

Chester waved out the window, and JimBoy asked, “Where’s she going?”

Affected by seeing his young charge look so desirable, and also caught up in a desire to reply to the question in the poetic tongue of Latin, Devil turned to JimBoy and said, “Clausit irrumabo usque.”

“Huh, what?”

“The loose translation my friend, is shut the fuck up.”

Dinny laughed, then nudged JimBoy as she said, “Our little JimBoy don’t know how to clausit irrumabo usque!”

“Wait up here, how come she’s wearing a skirt, and where the hell she going?”

*

Inside fifty minutes, Brett drove carefully down the dirt track, and he knew that Chester was nervous, so to break the building tension, he said, “Bitches are sure out in the sticks.”

“Yeah, but so are we.”

“True enough. How ya feeling?”

Chester thought about her response, then replied, “I’m not feeling undead, I mean I’m feeling really alive.”

“You’re not nervous?”

“Jeez Brett, I’m feeling really alive because I’ve never felt this freaking nervous before!”

They drove into the clearing, and the mansion came into view. A figure stood in the driveway, dressed in a red jumpsuit, and Brett pulled the car to a halt.

“Ches …”

“What?”

“She, her, I think she’s a witch.”

Chester rolled her eyes, then said, “Brett, we’re on the witch’s property, so I was expecting that we might bump into a few witches.”

Brett caught the sarcasm, although he said nervously, “Ask the witch if I can wait here for you.”

“No, you don’t have to wait, just pick me up an hour before dawn.”

“Sheesh Ches, I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here by yourself.”

“I’ll be fine man, I mean we got the alliance, so shit’s cool, see.”

“Okay, but if you wanta leave, ring me and I’ll come straight away.”

“Sure, thanks.” Chester said as she opened the door and stepped out. She felt like an alien in a skirt, although she smoothed it out then leant back into the car. “Thanks brother, and I mean that, I really appreciate it.”

“Hey Buttercup, I’d do anything for you.”

Chester bit her bottom lip, then said, “Brett, I gotta tell ya something man …”

“What?”

“Every time you call me Buttercup, I feel like smashing you one.”

“Sorry, but I’m nervous okay.”

“Yeah, you wanta know something, so am I.”

“Okay, so I’m staying right here.”

“No, go and spend some quality time with Din, and I’ll see you later on.”

“Quality time? Jeez Ches, I’m just gunna be pacing around all night until I hear from you.”

“Brett, everything’s cool man.”

“Yeah? So how come you’re nervous then?”

“Fuck man, maybe I ain’t nervous, I mean I don’t know what the fucks going on on in my head, but I’ll see ya later on okay, and thanks again.”

“Ring me if you need me, okay?”

“Brett, just go.”

The car began reversing away slowly, although Chester was aware enough to realise that he stopped the car as she approached the figure.

“Hello Chester, we meet again.” Jenna said brightly.

Chester nodded and said, “Hi.”

“You look very nice tonight.”

Chester was as nervous as she’d ever been, and she mumbled, “Thanks.”

“Come with me.” Jenna said as she took her right hand and led her not into the building, but down the side of the mansion.

“Where we going?”

“Our Mistress and her other guest are waiting for you out the back.”

Chester assumed that the statuesque witch wanted to get intimate with her, although she harboured severe doubts that the stunning vampire did. The vampire could gaze around a room full of people and pick and choose those who would be lucky enough to engage with her, because she was beauty in its purest form. In any room full of people, Chester wouldn’t stand out, because while she knew that she was pleasant looking, or as the Boss kept telling her, She was so cute; she didn’t make hearts flutter, and she didn’t make knee’s tremble, she just made people say, Yeah, she is cute … So Chester suspected that the vampire with the blue eyes wouldn’t be here on this night, although Jenna the witch had clearly said, Mistress and her other guest … Chester drew in a breath, then asked quietly, “Her other guest?”

“Yes,” Jenna replied, “Aleisha.”

Chester tensed, wishing that she hadn’t asked the question, because merely hearing her name was sending tingles up and down her spine. In a blazing flash of a moment, she wished that she hadn’t come, for she had no right to stand in the presence of the Queen of the Witches and the most stunning looking female she had ever laid eyes on. If she was so nervous simply by hearing the vampire’s name, what would she be like when she saw her again? She clutched her phone tighter, thinking that maybe she should ring Brett right now; Arhhh sorry to be a douch man, but can you come back and get me right now?

Jenna noticed her tensing, and she stopped and faced her as she asked, “You okay?”

Chester blew out shakily and said, “Man, I’m shit scared.”

“Hey relax, there is nothing to be scared about, because this night is just about you guys getting to know each other better.”

Negative thoughts were zinging through Chester’s mind, and she said meekly, “Yeah, but those two are larger than life, I mean they’re legends, and I’m just a little shit-kicker zombie.”

“I can assure you that my Mistress will look after you and make you feel at home.”

Nerves were crippling her, and the negative thoughts were multiplying dramatically, and Chester wheezed out, “Crapper, I mean I’m trembling all over ma’am.”

“Just take a moment to calm yourself, and when you’re ready, I’ll take you out the back.”

Calm myself? Chester thought. She bit her bottom lip, thinking that this was the stupidest thing she had ever done. Gazing shyly at the witch, she said, “Calming ain’t gunna come to me ma’am, I mean shit, maybe I should just go home.”

Jenna lightly took hold of the girl’s right hand, then said compassionately, “Chester, if you’d like to leave, I can arrange for you to be taken home.”

Chester felt tears rolling down her cheeks, and she sniffled, “Yeah, maybe I should go, because I’m freaking out.”

“Okay, I can do that for you, but please, take a moment to think about things. My Mistress is larger than life, and the vampire Aleisha may grow to become the most legendary supernatural creature in history, but Chester, when we strip them back, they are just like us; they are simply supernatural creatures searching for their destiny.”

Chester wiped her eyes and said despondently, “I understand what you’re saying, and I’m sorry for fucking you around, but I’m just not ready for this, so I’ll ring my friend and tell him to come and get me.”

“Are you sure, I mean this could turn out to be one of the most significant nights of your life.”

“Nahh, nahh, sorry, I’m freaking out ma’am, and I just wanta go home.”

Jenna waited a moment, nodded, then said, “As you wish.”

Jenna took her hand, and they turned around, although Chester froze when she heard the voice.

“Excuse me, you are not going anywhere.”

With a startled expression, Chester looked at Jenna, and Jenna said demurely, “I think she’s talking to you.”

Chester’s whole body was shaking, and she didn’t dare turn around, instead she stared helplessly at Jenna.

Jenna understood how rattled she was, and she said compassionately, “At the very least, let’s go and say hello before you ring your friend.”

Chester turned slowly, and she saw a figure, the figure silhouetted in the darkness, then another figure emerged, this figure bigger, the bigger figure saying, “It’s rude to leave without even saying hello.”

Jenna wiped tears from the trembling girl’s eyes, then she said, “Say hello Chester, walk among the legends, but remember, they are larger than life, but they’re just like you and me.”

Jenna patted her hand then walked away, and Chester watched her all the way until she turned around the front corner of the building, then slowly, she swung her gaze back to the figures. The little shit-kicker street kid from Baltimore was now second-in-charge at the Laveau Voodoo’s, although compared to the deeds of those who stood before her, she was now just a little shit-kicker zombie who was standing alone in the witch’s lair. Chester suspected that she was going to make a complete dick out of herself, because she was so nervous that she was bound to fuck everything up, although a part of her swelled, a nervous yet resilient part of her, and she drew in a breath and whispered to herself, “Carpe diem, carpe diem.”

She pulled her shoulders back, and just as she was preparing to will herself to move forward, a calm voice said, “Indeed Chester, sieze the day.”

Hearing the vampires voice again multiplied her anxiety, although Chester began walking, towards them, towards the legends, and her heart was beating so furiously that she thought it may very well explode, although the figures slipped away, out of sight. Chester walked to the end of the building, then after drawing in a huge breath, she slowly turned to her left.

The courtyard was uncovered overhead, and earthy-coloured tiles covered a forty-square-yard area, a table and chairs sitting in the middle of the area, while a Jacuzzi bubbled away invitingly on the corner nearest to her.

The blue-eyed vampire, resplendent in the black jumpsuit, pulled out a chair at the end of the table and said quietly, “Come, sit with us.”

Apollonia, wearing a red singlet and a red miniskirt, approached her and guided her to the chair, and she whispered, “Welcome to my humble abode.”

Aleisha watched the zombie sit, then she said mockingly, “When Apollonia says humble, she means Gracelands-kind of humble.”

The legends sat, and the witch asked, “What can I get you Cutie?”

Chester gulped, then said shyly, “Whatever your having is fine.”

Apollonia looked behind her and said, “Thank-you Davina.”

Davina emerged from the shadows of the building and poured a glass of champagne for the girl, placed the bottle in the ice bucket on the table, then she stepped back into the shadows.

“You look gorgeous Cutie.” Apollonia said sweetly.

With some many emotions rattling through her, Chester simply nodded.

“You look ravishing.” Aleisha added.

Chester wanted to look at the vampire as she nodded a response, but she couldn’t look at her, because the vampire was making her brain do somersaults again, the somersaults contorted, loopy and complex. She wanted to ask the witch for a joint, a big, fat one; although she knew that you don’t ask legends for stuff, you just do what they tell you to do. She wished that she had of bought a few big, fat ones with her, although Dinny’s skimpy mini skirt didn’t have any pockets. She made a mental note to advise Dinny, Short skirts is no good, cause they don’t have no pockets.

Apollonia sat at the opposite end of the table looking at her, while Aleisha sat on her right, and the vampire swivelled her chair around so that she could look at her. “A toast allies, a toast to begin our night. May we all flourish and prosper.” Apollonia said brightly.

“Here, here!” Aleisha agreed.

Chester nodded.

The legends sipped the champagne elegantly, although Chester gulped hers down, and she was so nervous, she poured another one, and she gulped that down just as quickly.

Aleisha asked, “Are you okay?”

Chester nodded and said, “Yeah, I’m just thirsty.” She poured herself another one and gulped it down, and Apollonia said, “Boy, you are thirsty!”

Chester didn’t want to blurt out, Man, I’m freaking out! so as an explanation, she offered, “I’m thirsty cause I been working all night.”

“Hmmm,” Apollonia mused, “You probably only got up an hour and a half ago, and it would take you an hour to get here, but you’ve been working all night?”

Chester bowed her face, knowing that her greatest fear, making a total dick out of herself in front of these intimidating women would be realised. With her head still bowed, she mumbled, “I was working for about ten minutes.”

Aleisha understood that the girl was over-awed, and she said sweetly, “Relax Chester, because your main tasks are still in front of you.”

Chester gulped, her knees trembling, and she knew that relaxing wouldn’t come to her, because the vampire had said, Your main tasks are still in front of you … In this state of paralysing anxiety, Chester knew that she couldn’t handle even the simplest of tasks, because her brain was being a douchebag, and she wanted to crawl under the table, because she didn’t deserve to sit in such exalted company. A witch and a vampire, the witch being the Big-Banga of the witches, The Boss of the witches, and the vampire … Chester stole a glance at her, and her cheeks blazed, and her heart thumped, and she hated Brett for driving her here, and she hated Dinny for lending her clothes, and she wasn’t wearing panties, although something was hitching up her ass big-time, and the hitching went to a new level when the Big-Banga witch said, “Stand please, young Laveau.”

Chester assumed that the witch was talking to her, so she sucked down a gulp of the champagne, then stood.

Apollonia said, “Thank-you Davina.”

The witch called Davina moved across in front of her, and she ran a hand over her skull as she whispered, “I like your braided hair.”

Chester nodded.

The witch gathered her hands at the base of Chester’s singlet, and she said quietly, “Please lift your arms.”

Most of all, Chester wanted to skoll the remainder of her glass, although she raised her arms obligingly, and the witch gently peeled Dinny’s singlet off. Davina looked at her and said, “Please face the yard.”

Chester looked at her, then she swung her gaze to look at the Queen and the vampire, then she turned away from them and faced the yard. With respectful movements, Davina undid the button of the mini skirt, then she pulled the zip down until it could travel no further. Davina pulled the skirt down to her knees, then she fell to bended knee as she guided the skirt down past her calves and onto the ground. Chester was freaking out, although she reflected that miniskirts were easier to take off than Cammie pants, although something weren’t right. The witch had basically undressed her, and while Chester had no problem about stripping down, maybe the witch should have asked her permission. Although if the witch did ask, Excuse me, do you mind if I undress you? Chester would have nodded, because nodding seemed like the only physical action she could do competently right at the moment. The witch, still on bended knee, said quietly, “Please lift your legs.”

With stilted movements, Chester lifted her legs until she felt the skirt sliding away. Davina gathered the singlet and the skirt, placed them on a smaller table, then faced Apollonia.

“Thank-you Davina, you may go.”

Davina bowed respectfully for her Mistress, then she opened the sliding door and slipped into the house.

“Cutie, Chester …”

Chester was too nervous to talk, or too somersaulted to talk, or too hitched-up to make any sound, so she simply cocked her head to the side.

“Chester, please turn around.”

She tarried not out of modesty, she tarried because as soon as she turned around and put herself on display, the night could start heading south. The Queen of the witches had obviously seen the blue-eyed vampire unencumbered by clothes, and Chester fretted that if the Queen viewed her unencumbered, it promised to be a significant drop in visual sensations. Chester knew that she was slim and slender, although she anticipated that the Queen would gaze upon her, and then Chester would see disappointment in the Queen’s eyes, or even worse, she may see nothing at all. She desperately craved a bong, or a joint, or the mini-skirt, or Brett to come and get her; although she lowered her gaze, drew in a breath, and in a stuttered shuffle, she turned to face them.

With her gaze still lowered, Chester waited for an audible reaction to her nudity, although when none was forthcoming, she slowly raised her gaze. They were both looking at her, and Chester had never felt so exposed, and she saw the witch look at the vampire, and the vampire looked at the witch. To Chester, it seemed like the dream where you’re standing naked in front of your class, and some smart-alec yells out, Hey, you’re offending us, so put your clothes back on! Chester wondered whether the legends could see her cheeks burning with embarrassment, although the Queen said quietly, “Creature, you make me yearn.”

The blue-eyed vampire returned her gaze to her and said calmly, “Yearning happening over here as well.”

Chester wanted to ask, Arhh, what does yearning mean again? But she couldn’t talk, and she couldn’t breath proper, and right now, she wasn’t wearing nothing, although something was hitching the shit outta her, but then they, them, moved.

As one, the witch and the vampire stood, and zips were pulled, mini-skirts and jumpsuits coming down, and soon the statuesque witch was unencumbered. Chester stared at her, the witch cutting an impressive figure, everything toned and athletic, and then patting her chest, Chester timidly swung her gaze to the right.

The vampire unencumbered, the blue-eyed vampire in all her natural glory.

Chester felt so alone, and so afraid, and she knew she was making a dick of herself, because she started crying.

*

Seven hours later, and Brett was waiting for her, so Chester strolled over and climbed into the car. Brett seemed embarrassed, and he looked straight ahead as he mumbled, “Din was right.”

Still coming down, still not her, still lost, or found, Chester asked, “Huh, what?”

“Din was right; you shoulda wore panties.”

Chester caressed the hem of the mini-skirt down and leant her head back against the headrest, closed her eyes and then said quietly, “Thanks for coming to get me man.”

“My pleasure Buttercup.” Brett replied.

Chester frowned and said, “Shitcakes Brett, don’t call me Buttercup.”

“Sorry, so anyway, how was it?”

Chester thought about it, then sighed, “My brains a bit fucked up, and I’m half-pissed and totally powdered up, so I’ll tell you about it when I can think proper.”

Back at the Ranch, Chester hugged Brett and kissed his cheek, then whispered, “Thanks again, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.” She watched him walk away, then with a glittering array of emotions still popping in her mind, she slowly strolled to her cabin. She undressed, then snuggled into her Master.

Devil was awake, and he asked quietly, “What happened?”

Still dreamy, still unable to think proper, Chester gazed at him and asked, “Do you really want to know?”

Looking into her serene eyes, he replied, “Chessie, I was fretting, thinking that one of them would try and recruit you, and I was thinking how do I compete against them? How can I compete against the most powerful witch in New Orleans or the most stunning vampire in history, so I’m really pleased that you came back to me.”

“Hey Boss, this is where I belong, at the Ranch … with you.”

He kissed her affectionately, then said, “I guess I would like to know two things, one is salacious, the other is more important.”

“I’m listening.”

“Did you, errr, engage with them?”

“I’m guessing that’s the salacious one?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Importantly, did they treat you with respect?”

Chester looked at the ceiling and said quietly, “I ain’t special Boss, but tonight, I felt special, I mean they made me feel like I was the most special person on the planet.”

“Gorgeous,” Devil cooed, “To me, you are the most special person on the planet.”

“Hmmm, I’m still feeling really special.”

“I’m proud of you Baby, because being in the presence of those two would intimidate most creatures.”

“Yeah, I was intimidated, and I was shitting myself, but I just thought that this may never happen again, so …”

Devil waited a moment, then asked, “So what?”

With the memories of the night still fresh and sweet, Chester sighed and said, “Carpe diem.”