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Another laugh from the crowd. Trixie squinted at the lights blinking back at her, counting down the time she had left to kill.
“I’ve got two minutes and thirty seconds left?” Trixie raised her hand to shield her eyes as she glanced at Merci. “What am I supposed to say?”
Merci shrugged, looking appalled. Granted, this was an unprecedented sort of speech.
“Okay, well I’ll wrap this up quickly then,” Trixie said. “I told you my name is Trixie Gardens, and I’m nobody special. My magic sucks. So I’ll spare you guys a vote and cast my support behind...”
Trixie studied the three of us still sitting on the stage like she had a real decision in front of her. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me. Her gaze barely glanced off Levian, but she softened when she saw Lucas grasping desperately toward his unruly hairpiece.
“I’ll throw my support behind Lucas.” Trixie turned back to face the crowd. “So if you were going to vote for me, vote for Lucas Paul the Third instead. He seems honest, and that’s pretty much all I want in a politician. Yes, I realize that’s an oxymoron, which is why it might be good to shake things up.”
I glanced at Levian. His eyes seemed to harden just slightly, as if it was blasphemy that he wasn’t being promoted as the obvious first choice. Even by the chaos of a nominee that was Trixie Gardens.
“But definitely do not vote for this guy.” Trixie thumbed over her shoulder at me. “The vampire candidate Dominic Kent is trying to kick me out of the home I’ve lived in for all my life. It was my mother’s home, my grandmother’s home, and now because he’s selfishly trying to sell his building, I’m going to need to find new housing. I’m just your average twenty-something that’s closer to thirty than I want to admit. I can’t afford a new place in The Hollow.”
A gasp sounded from the crowd. For someone who really didn’t care about painting herself as a real frontrunner for the election, Trixie was doing a hell of a job endearing herself to the crowd.
“I know!” Trixie said, like she was having an easy conversation with the audience instead of giving a professional speech. “I couldn’t believe the nerve of Dominic Kent, either. And with the prices of real estate these days, I’m not going to be able to afford to stay in The Hollow. I’m going to have to move out to Jersey just to put a roof over my head.”
The second, louder gasp in the audience escalated as if Trixie had announced she was moving straight to hell instead of just across the state border.
“That’s three minutes,” Merci interrupted. “Thank you, Trix—”
“Shut up, Merci,” some knucklehead in the audience shouted. “Let the witch finish.”
Trixie threw her hands up. “I don’t want to ruffle feathers. Long story short, don’t vote for the evil vampire. Vote for Lucas Paul the Third. Or, I guess, Levian. Please don’t vote for me because I don’t even really want to be here today. I’m only here because I’m with a friend of mine. The End.”
Trixie offered a big smile before she headed back to her seat and flounced into the chair next to me.
“Nice,” I muttered under my breath.
“It didn’t seem like you really wanted the title anyway,” she grumbled back. “Just doing you a favor. You’re welcome, vamp.”
I bit down on my lip, not sure if I should try to muster up some semblance of annoyance at the fact Trixie had thrown me under the bus, or if I should double-down on the amusement I was feeling. Then Trixie hiccupped a hiccup that smelled like tequila, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.
“You’re something else,” I muttered. “The Fates seriously chose you?”
“Better than you,” she hissed back. “Home-stealer.”
Merci took over, dabbing at her forehead with a handkerchief. She spelled out the closing charms and wished everyone a safe and fair thirty days of campaigning before the elections would kick off and the new wildcard would be elected.
Then the audience dispersed, and the four of us candidates stood on the stage. Levian and Lucas had fallen into low murmured whispers. I turned to face Trixie, extended a hand toward her.
“Happy campaigning,” I offered. “May the best man win.”
“Or woman,” she shot back. “Except I don’t want to win, so have at it. You already don’t care about people’s feelings, so you’re halfway to winning your political title already.”
Then Trixie turned on a heel and marched off into the darkness.
Chapter 7
Trixie
“I know you’re not supposed to mix tequila and wine, but I really can’t stomach any more tequila.” I wrinkled my nose as I studied myself in the mirror of our hotel room. “Sometimes they give a complimentary bottle of champagne at these things. Can you check the mini fridge?”
When Emmy didn’t answer, I turned to face her. She was staring at me like I was a ghost.
I turned back to the mirror. “I knew this color of lipstick looked funny. That’s why you’re looking at me like I’ve got a frog on my head?”
