Magic Graves

journeywoman, one hysterical journeyman, two dead vampires, one pissed off Beast Lord with bloody hands, and a half a dozen terrified restaurant staff." Quick enough for you?
    Ghastek's voice snapped into brisk tone. "Where are you?"
    "Arirang on Greenpine. Bring a decontamination unit and body bags."
    I hung up. Our waiter edged out of the doors and approached our table, looking green. The rest of the staff were probably huddled together in the back room, terrified, not knowing if it was over.
    "Is it over?"
    Curran turned to him. "Yes, it's over. The People are on their way to clean up the mess. You can bring your people out, if it will make them feel better. We guarantee your safety."
    The waiter took off. Someone shouted. A moment later the doors opened and people ran out: an older Korean man, the older woman who had greeted us, a woman who looked like she could be their daughter and several men and women in waiter garb. The younger woman carried a boy. He couldn't be more than five.
    The owners piled up into the booths around us. The boy stared at the two vampires with dark eyes, big like two cherries.
    I dropped into the chair next to Curran. He reached over and pulled me close. "I'm sorry about the dinner."
    "That's okay." I stared at the dead woman. Twenty years old. She barely had a chance to live. I'd seen a lot of death, but for some reason the site of Amanda laying there on the floor, her boyfriend weeping uncontrollably by her body, chilled me to the bone. I leaned against Curran, feeling the heat of his body seep through my T-shirt. I was so cold and I really needed his warmth.
    *** *** ***

    A caravan of black SUV's descended onto the parking lot, their enchanted water engines belching thunder. We watched them through the broken window, as the SUVs parked at the far end, killed the noise, and vomited people, vampires, and body bags. Ghastek emerged from the lead vehicle, ridiculously out of place in a black turtleneck and tailored dark pants. He came through the door, surveyed the scene for a second, and headed to us.
    Curran's eyes darkened. "I bet you a dollar he's running over to assure me that we're in no danger."
    "That's a sucker's bet."
    The People were efficient, I gave them that. One crew went for the headless vampire, other headed for the woman's body, the third for the despondent journeyman. Two women and a man in business suits made a beeline for the booth where the owners sat.
    Ghastek came close enough to be heard. "I want it to be clear: this was not an attempt to kill either of you. The journeymen weren't supposed to be here and the guilty party will be harshly reprimanded."
    Curran shrugged. "Don't worry, Ghastek. If this was an attempt, I know you'd bring more than two vampires."
    "What happened?" Ghastek asked.
    "They were having dinner," I told him. "They seemed happy together. The boy handed her a necklace and it choked her to death."
    "Just so I understand, Lawrence himself wasn't personally injured."
    "No," Curran said. "He was in shock from watching his girlfriend die in front of him."
    Ghastek looked over the scene again, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "Once again, we're dreadfully sorry for the inconvenience."
    "We'll live," Curran said.
    One of the People stepped away from Amanda's body. "The necklace adhered to her skin. There doesn't appear to be any locking mechanism. It's a solid band of gold."
    "Leave it," Ghastek said. "We'll remove it later."
    If I were them, I'd cut it off during tech and stick it into a hazmat container.
    A middle-aged man shouldered his way inside the restaurant, followed by a young woman and a boy, who looked about seven. I glanced at the woman and had to click my mouth shut. She was in her late teens, right on the cusp between a girl and a woman. Her body, full in the bust and hips, slimmed to a narrow waist. Her long slender legs carried her with a natural grace. Her hair streamed from her head in a shimmering cascade so precisely matching the color of gold, I would've sworn it was gold if I didn't know better. Her face, a pale oval, was angelic. She glanced at me in passing. Her irises were an intense deep blue and her eyes were decades older than her face.
    She was beautiful.
    She was also not human. Or she had bargained with something not human for that body.
    Curran was watching her. His nostrils flared a little as he inhaled, sampling the scents.
    Ghastek focused on the woman as well, with a kind of clinical interest usually