Frozen Reverie: The Dream Slayer Series, #4

By Jill Cooper

Cameras, interviews, celebrity endorsements.... 

After a demonire plague ravaged the mountainside of Meadow's Creek, Natalie did the unimaginable and came clean about it all—vampires, her job, and the reality of the supernatural. 

It has thrust her into a world of spotlight where she is both revered and ridiculed. 

With fan clubs, television specials, and a talk show on the horizon, Natalie and her friends are caught up in celebrity as the undead move against Natalie to send her to an early grave. Their ultimate goal--undead human rights. 

And their ally? The people Natalie sought to protect the most—the survivors of the vampire curse. 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jill Cooper
• Release date: Mar 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524280154

Book preview

Chapter Two: Natalie Johnson

When you told the world about vampires, boy did it change.

And here she is. Miss Natalie Johnson! Chip, the host of Meadow’s Creek’s only evening talk show, bellowed into his microphone. His hair was peppered with gray and gelled into place.

The small studio audience clapped with over the top excitement as Natalie stepped onto the stage.

Nervous, she played with her hair while she made her way across the stage toward the desk. Natalie waved to the audience which got an extra round of clapping out of them.

Some in the audience were holding signs, WE LOVE NATALIE or STAKE ME, NATALIE! Internally, she cringed, but on the outside she was all cheer.

Some were wearing the blue Paladin t-shirts that seemed to be all the rage while others were wearing the Fizzies red t-shirts where the words were spelled out with rhinestones.  There was even a little girl in the audience wearing a Tristan T.

Wasn’t that cute? He’d be so happy when she told him about it. Much to his chagrin, his T shirts were on clearance in Monte’s World.

Look at all those people clapping for us!

Us? When did I become an us?

Like two months ago, dork.

Wow, that was quite the welcome, huh? Chip smiled.

That’s great. Thanks. Thanks for having me here too, Chip.

What’d you have for breakfast?

Natalie thought about it. Nothing that special. Just some cereal and low fat blueberry yogurt. I had breakfast with my dad and Fizz.

You forgot to mention that part of a donut you ate when you thought no one was looking.

Natalie grimaced. "Oh you saw that, did you?"

Yup, I even shared in some of the jelly yummies.

Just mentioning Fizz’s name got a series of happy squeals from the audience from some teenagers.

It was almost easy to forget that the town’s vampire and demonire population was still greater than zero when surrounded by celebrity.

She always agreed to interviews to help address the real issues everyone was facing, but no one ever wanted to talk about it. Even those who were touched by the virus seemed to avoid it.

Instead she was a celebrity who was distracting the crowd rather than informing them. Natalie didn’t know how to change it.

He’s almost as much of a celebrity as you are.

Almost but not quite. Natalie pointed her finger and gave it a wave.

Chip laughed and the audience chuckled. Now this week the mayor of Meadow’s Creek has deemed Paladin Appreciation week, which I’m sure you already know.

Natalie nodded. I already started getting cards and gifts from everybody. Thanks, everyone. It’s great.

Sniff. The greater and better Nat-One is so neglected!

But, I need everyone to know I don’t do it for appreciation. That got another round of applause and even Chip joined in. I love this town and I want to see you guys safe so please be careful out there.

Ahh, you really are a gem, kid. Chip laughed, which was really starting to get on Natalie’s nerves.  We have someone who wanted to meet you. Do you mind?

Natalie shook her head. Of course not. She stood and smoothed out her jeans as a woman was brought on stage. She seemed a little timid until she saw Natalie and rushed the paladin with a hug.

Oof! Natalie hugged the woman back. She certainly was strong. Nice to meet you.

I don’t trust that one, she smells funny. Like old cheese.

It’s Sally. Sally McGuire.

Hi, Sally. Natalie took her seat again as Sally sat in the chair beside her.

Now, Sally. Why don’t you tell us and Natalie why you wanted to meet her so badly?

I wanted to tell her that what she’s doing is wrong. The crowd ooooh’d. Demonires aren’t all monsters. Some just want to live. Go to work. See your kids off to school. You know, normal things.

That’s ridiculous, Natalie said with eyebrows raised.

And how is it you know that, Sally? Chip asked.

Because— before her eyes, Sally morphed into a green skinned vampire —I am a demonire.

Natalie leaped to her feet while the crowd gasped and some even screamed. Chip shrugged.

Wow, that was totally unexpected. But my nose knew. It’s a good nose.

I wake up every morning and go to work. I go out to dinner with friends. I’m just like you.

And what do you eat at this dinner? Natalie asked, reaching inside the lining of her pocket.

Every creature has the right to live.

Do they? Natalie asked, with a tilt of her head. What was the last thing you ate? Girl, boy? Grandmother?

The crowd fell silent.

Sally’s eyes watched the stake as Natalie whipped it around in her hand. You need to know that we’ll get our own rights. We’ll be protected under the law. You can’t stop the movement, no matter how many of us you kill. We just want to be part of society.

Then stop eating society. Natalie lunged forward. One hand pinned Sally at the neck to the chair while her other hand staked her through the heart before Sally thought to react.

Natalie stepped back and watched as Sally turned into a puddle and began to drip onto the stage floor. The crowd behind her erupted into thunderous applause.

We’ll be back after this commercial break.

Once the cameras were off he turned to Natalie. Man, that was great! I couldn’t have asked it to go better if I had told you about her!

Natalie scowled. That was low, Chip. I hate it when you use me for ratings. Having me on with kids who used to pick on me is one thing, but inviting a vampire on the stage? What if someone else got hurt?

She stormed off the stage despite the screams from the audience demanding that she sign autographs.

C’mon, Chip chased after her, you know that demonires aren’t the animals vamps are. They’re more civilized. They deserve a chance. Besides, it’s good TV.  Wait for the promos!

When did he become such an expert?

Natalie reached her dressing room door, but she turned around with a scowl. What? You think demonires should be allowed to just live among us?

You can’t find all of them. They’re already living with us.

And killing us, don’t forget that. Natalie huffed and pushed past him to grab her things.

Her jacket was a long white one and her tuque was the same. Once ready to brace the cold, she headed outside.

The cold was biting outside and she shivered. The flashbulbs of cameras were waiting for her and they warmed her up a little bit.

Eventually Natalie pushed past and trekked toward the cemetery.  The photographers followed her for a while but eventually tapered off. Maybe they were too cold to follow her any further.

Hey, you okay? The slayer asked her, feeling the waves of emotion coming off of her.

Yeah, I’m fine. It was low of Chip. But what can I expect from someone named after a potato?

Or a cookie! The slayer laughed. You don’t think it’s really happening, do you? A demonire movement for equality?

Natalie was certainly cold but her ride was missing from the studio and she had a feeling where he’d be.

She worried about Tristan. He seemed to be losing track of time a lot lately.

She hoped he was really managing all right and it wasn’t just a story he was telling her. Her thought process was interrupted when she nearly bumped into Dirk, a CDC agent, getting out of his black car. Natalie raised her eyebrows.

Dirk lifted his sunglasses to look at her. Well, if it isn’t Natalie.

I seem to be most of the time. Natalie puffed up her cheeks and moved passed him.

Still feeling well? Haven’t got a fever, have you?

Like a million bucks, sorry to disappoint. Natalie kept her head down and hurried down the street. 

She could see the cemetery coming into view. She sighed as she came to the gate. For a moment she put her hand on the iron bars and glanced behind her before making her way inside.

The sky was overcast with the smallest of snowflakes cascading down in a gentle downpour. With her hands in her pockets, she rounded the iron gate.

She remembered when she would send her alter here to do battle, everything then seemed like a game. Now, everything was much more serious and Natalie was somber as she walked through the rows of tombstones.

The cemetery used to border a park but since Morach’s virus was released three months ago the city ran out of burial space; the fence was taken down and the place where children used to play was turned into a graveyard.

Quite literally.

Eight hundred and fifty people were claimed by the virus. Natalie thought it would end there, but some of the demonires escaped; more than she liked to admit out loud.

It seemed that, no matter how tight of a perimeter they formed around the hospital, vampires had been at large.

Natalie didn’t know how many people the demonires had turned or slaughtered for dinner.

When the death rate hit a thousand, she stopped counting.  She felt guilt, some days so strong she thought she couldn’t go on or breathe.

But it was easy to ignore when everyone was treating her like a star or some type of celebrity. She signed autographs like she was a movie star when in reality she was a failure.

Natalie tried to swallow back her grief as she saw Tristan, crouched down on his feet in the snow with his head partially hung. Natalie took a long breath to gather strength before she bent down and squatted beside him.

In Tristan’s hands he played with a small planter of flowers. They were dried up and withered. His eyes weren’t on them, they were on his mother’s tombstone. While his face was dry from tears, his expression was grim. 

They tried not to talk about it, at least lately, but Natalie knew how hard it was for him, for her too. But Tristan was the one who watched her stake his mother.

Natalie placed her hand on his shoulder. It didn’t startle him like she thought it might, but he didn’t look over at her either.

Her flowers are dead. I should have brought other ones. Tristan’s brow furrowed as if he somehow wronged her.

You can bring some tomorrow, Natalie said softly. We’ll get those purple ones she liked so much.

Tristan nodded and Natalie thought he might be struggling not to cry.  You must think this is stupid. She’s not really even here, right? She was nothing but a giant puddle. They probably got hospital maintenance to clean those sheets and clean the floor, like she was a stain. Clean up in aisle seven, that’s what we used to say, right? Like they were never someone’s family.

Natalie swallowed. He was so angry now and not much like ‘the boy’ she fell in love with, but she loved this one too. I don’t think it’s stupid. This is where you come to remember her. There’s nothing stupid about that.

We spent all night running around that stupid hospital and no one, not even me, ever thought to make sure she got the cure. I figured she’d be fine.  She was Mom. Mom was always fine. Until we walked into that room, and there she was...  Tristan squeezed his eyes shut as the memory filled him.

I’m sorry, Natalie whispered. If I could fix it...

People were dying in that hospital and what did we do? We spent time introducing your parents to Fizz. If we had gone to check on her then, we could’ve saved her. It’s your job to save people, Nat. She was alone in that room while she died, changed. She shouldn’t have had to be alone.

I know. Natalie’s voice was filled with grief. She wished his speech didn’t sound like he blamed her. But maybe he did. And maybe he was right. I’m sorry. It keeps me up at night too. I didn’t know. Please...

You think she went to Heaven?

I... I don’t know. Natalie shook her head.

Tristan laughed. I wish you could go back to lying to me, just this once.

His eyes were filled with despair and it broke Natalie’s heart. Of course she’s in Heaven. She probably has her own cloud where she plays her magical harp before long pedicures that she loves so much. And in the evenings, she always looks down on you. I’m sure no matter where she is she’ll always love you, Trist.

Tristan closed his eyes and leaned his head against Natalie’s. She slipped her arm around his shoulder as he cried and she held him in silence for the duration.

If anything could have saved him from this grief, Natalie would have happily done it.

Instead there was nothing, but the memory of sweet Maggie’s face turning into an evil creature. Sometimes at night when she closed her eyes, the image of staking her replayed in her head.

Natalie knew it was the fate of hundreds of people, but they hadn’t braided her hair when she was little.

I forgot to pick you up again, didn’t I?

That’s okay. I don’t mind the walk. One of these days I’ll get my own car. I promise. It would help if she could save some money.

With giving money to her sister, her mother, and the Millers, Natalie was lucky to have enough to afford coffee these days, but she didn’t care. She made a mess and she needed to fix it.

I didn’t mean to attack you. I’m sorry. Tristan hung his head, glum.

You didn’t. Natalie kissed his cheek and rocked back on her heels to look at him.

Just things were getting better, with Dad’s job. We got through the worst. Mom was smiling again like she used to when I was little. Tristan’s eyes brightened at the memory. I just wish— his chin trembled and it broke Natalie’s heart all over again —I want her back.

Natalie nodded. Me too.

Tristan shook his head, wiping at his face. Sorry for whining.

You’re not. I know how hard this is for you.

It’s no walk in the park for you either. I know you don’t talk about it, Nat. But I know you. I know the burden of all this—Tristan’s eyes looked around the cemetery—you carry it with you all the time. You won’t let anyone share it.

We all share it. In our own way. But I was the one who failed to stop Morach in time. I didn’t piece it together. It wasn’t anyone else’s job, it was mine. This is all on me. I created him, it’s my mess.

This place managed to hold it together because of you. Don’t short change yourself.

Because I failed.

Tristan raised an eyebrow. You always were a glass is half empty type of girl.

Natalie laughed. And you were always my optimist.

I don’t feel like him anymore. He frowned so deep that wrinkles formed around his lips and Natalie hated it. She hated that he hurt so much that the bright, funny guy struggled to shine through.

He’ll be back, Natalie said and was sure of it. She squeezed his hand. Maybe we can go get something to eat, unless you want to stay longer. I want a burger.

Tristan grinned and took her hand. That’s my girl. A Fizz open patty? Or maybe the Paladin Double Burger special? I’m kind of partial to the Triple Cheese Tristan melt.

Natalie scoffed at the idea. I don’t like the idea of eating food named after me. It’s weird. All these people in town could be eating me and I don’t even know it. Natalie made a face. That sounded bad.

Tristan laughed at her and pulled Natalie to her feet. He gave a parting glance at his mother’s memorial, but neither mentioned Maggie again.

Things were back to normal between the two by the time they reached the gate of the cemetery. Tristan had his arm around his girl’s waist as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.

There was a car pulled over and beside it Rick was standing, looking forlorn toward the cemetery even as the two walked past him. You can go inside. You don’t need an admission ticket.

Visiting a slab of rock won’t bring her back. You think it earns you points? Rick said.

Tristan went from calm to angry in point two seconds. Where do you get off? You weren’t here. You have no right to be angry. You left us just when Mom and Dad needed you so get off your damn high horse, Rick.

Rick regarded him levelly. I have every right as you do. I went off to build my own life. I shouldn’t be made to feel like I did something wrong.

No? Tristan challenged. You ignored our calls. You wouldn’t give them the time of day to tell them how bad it was. How we nearly lost the house?

Rick glanced away, unable to hold his brother’s gaze.

"Big reporter man couldn’t spare maybe a few hundred bucks a month for them? So Mom would stop crying? You have any idea what it was like last year, being able to hear her crying all the time?" Tristan’s hands coiled into fists. Natalie saw it and placed a hand on his arm.

Rick took a deep breath, and Natalie saw tears in his eyes. I ... didn’t know.

Because you wouldn’t bother to listen! And now you give Nat a hard time because why? Because you feel guilty? Well guess what, you are guilty. And Mom, Mom never stopped loving you. Tristan clenched his jaw. She pleaded with me day after day not to be mad at you. My brother Rick was going places and I should be proud of him.

His brother went pale, staring down at the snow.

But guess what? Then she’d go up to her room and I could hear the sniffling. The sobbing. Because of you! My big brother. Tristan narrowed his eyes. Natalie and Rick were both caught off guard as Tristan throttled his brother and smashed him into his car.

I’ll never forgive you. Never! Tristan made a fist and smashed it into his brother’s face while Natalie struggled to separate them.

Knock it off. You guys are brothers! Natalie screamed at them, but was unable to pull Tristan off him. For some reason, even though she was now an expert on using her super strength, she had none. She tugged on Tristan’s arm and pleaded with him to stop.

He didn’t seem able to hear her until she was overcome with dizziness and nearly fell over. Distracted, Tristan caught her arm. Nat, are you okay?

Is she all right? Rick asked with light concern, adjusting his tie and collar.

Tristan glared at him. It’s none of your business. Get out of here. Why don’t you go back to New York while you’re at it? We don’t need you.

Right. And who is going to support you, or Dad? He’s a deadbeat.

Don’t talk that way about him. Tristan made a fist. He’s grieving for mom and if he hadn’t hurt his back—

—That was years ago. Wake up. You surround yourself with losers. Rick snorted at his brother before getting in his car and driving away.

Tristan sighed and grabbed Natalie by her forearms. Are you all right?

Natalie nodded. Suddenly I just had no strength at all. She cradled her arm in her hands and gazed down. Inside it felt weak and brittle.

Like she was ... normal.

Maybe you just need something to eat or have too much on your mind. Tristan cushioned his arms around Natalie. We both know what tonight is even if neither of us want to talk about it.

Wasn’t that true. Tonight was the night they finally got a blood sample from Tommy Tracker, Michelle’s younger brother. It was time to know if he was friend or a fanged foe.

Natalie knew what she wished for, but if he turned out he was slowly turning into a demonire, well, then all bets were off. She would have no choice but to stake him.

And what that would do with her friendship with Michelle—God only knew.

Chapter Three: Charles Buckle

The SURVIVORS banner hung above the refreshment table covered in the usual goodies from the Magic Bean café—coffee, and an assortment of gluten-free muffins and brownies—but Charles Buckle stuck with his usual