Free Courted by the Vampire by Sandra Sookoo

to take the chance? Give me what I want and I won’t need to make this your new home.” She tossed the jar into the air and deftly caught it. “I have no problems using it.” She’d never admit she hadn’t used it successfully before.
    “You wouldn’t dare!” Narcissa scoffed. She took out a small hand mirror and proceeded to admire herself. “The Forest Witch told me all about you. She said you didn’t have enough confidence in yourself to make a carrot levitate.”
    “Marilyn has apparently underestimated me because her mind is filled with an overload of sex,” Hannah muttered as she unscrewed the top of the jar.
    “She also said once you are dead, Edwin will come back to her when he’s not consumed by one as common as you.” She raked her thin fingers through her blue hair then shook the long tresses out. “The Forest Witch has a healthy appetite for human men.”
    “Really.” Hannah surreptitiously plucked a gold charm from her bracelet and dropped it into the jar. “I rather doubt her influence on the bounty hunter is so strong. Edwin has more sense than to consort with a Witch.” She shook the jar, smiling wickedly when the charm tinkled against the glass. “This is your last chance, Narcissa. Will you give me the mirror?”
    “Of course not. It’s mine.” She continued to admire herself in the mirror, primping on the log as if she had nothing better to do.
    Hannah shrugged, wincing at the throb of pain in her wrist. “Suit yourself.” She concentrated and delved through her mind for the half forgotten words of the spell. “Little fairy with tiny feet, play before me but please be sweet. Little fairy with face so charming, I leave this trinket for your disarming. Little fairy, into this jar I bind, until I release thee at a future time.” In order for the spell to work, she had to make sure the inflection of the syllables was correct and the offering was good. Fairies had a weakness for shiny objects and sweet things.
    “I won’t go! Who will admire me now?” With a plaintive whine, Narcissa vanished into shimmering air once again. She gave off a faint ping when she landed inside the small prison. Because the jar was enchanted, once a being was spellbound, their size automatically adjusted in order to fit comfortably inside the container. Upon release, they returned to their original shape.
    Hannah stared into the glass, gave a wobbly smile to the tiny fairy, and screwed the brass lid on tight. She squinted through the faint light. Edwin, where are you?
     
    *****
     
    Edwin frowned as he observed Hannah from his hidden position in the foliage. He hesitated to reveal his presence, not wishing to break her concentration. When she held the jar up, he stifled a chuckle. She was not like any other human he had encountered. He shifted, careful not to disturb the dry twigs.
    She stuffed the jar back into her bag, and scrambled to her feet then retrieved a silver mirror, which glinted in the faint moonlight. Apparently, she was unimpressed since she shrugged and threaded the chain of her pendant through the handle of the mirror.
    Tiny threads of lust streaked through his stomach when she dropped the necklace under her tank top. She did have a most desirable body. “I knew you could tap into your power if you needed something bad enough.” He stepped out from behind a cluster of birch trees.
    Hannah whirled around, relief on her face. “How long have you been there?”
    “Long enough.” As he approached her, a tiny smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “I am proud of you, spatzi . Never doubt yourself. Confidence will always win out over fear. It is the way of things.” He enfolded her in a hug. His chest tightened when she sighed against him. Even after a stint through a humidity-filled forest, the elusive floral scent of her teased his nostrils.
    “Thank you. No one has ever believed in me before, except for my Gramma. She understands, all too well actually. Some her stories are quite