Daniel rolled his shoulders and tried to pop his neck. It wasn’t like him to get this ruffled. He wondered if it had something to do with the blood on his arm and in the air, the portal with its weird humming energy, or the two witches. His temper felt closer to the surface, like a pot boiling almost over. He turned his profile so that he could see Melody and Jazz out of the corner of his eye.

Just keep singing. He began to whistle the melody to Danny Says. The song was doing its job, so he felt safer chancing looks at them.

The chunk of mineral flew back into their world and struck the older woman near her ear. It was a small, stinging slap, not bad enough to bruise, but man, that had to smart. His laughter was a sharp bark, more surprise than real humor, the vampire’s eyes wide and glistening.

“Expect that?”