Page 7 of Vampire's Cupcake
"So register a business."
"But then the board will demand I pay taxes, and they'll inspect me."
Thano understood.He'd bite anyone who demanded to know where he'd sourced his things from.It was none of their business who he traded with."A stupid system.You should barter your flowers for favors instead."
"Lettuce, not flowers, and I need money to pay rent, or the board will evict us from our house.I'm sure I could find someone who'd trade them for eggs or something, but I need actual money, real money."
Money was a stupid system, made up, and yet the humans allowed it to rule them."Then I fear you need to follow stupid human rules."
There was a small smile on her lips.It was rare that humans smiled at him in any other way than to conceal fear, but she looked amused.
"I still think you should register."Eli spoke softer now, and Thano watched him touch the lettuce plant."This is great, Alice.Pots are hard to come by, and this is a clever idea."
Thano noted the piece of branch she'd planted the lettuce in and had to agree, it was a clever solution.It allowed the plant to live far longer than if she'd cut off the leaves."Maybe Romeo has a book about plants you can put in pots."
"Shh."Both Alice and Eli shushed him at the same time.Thano looked around, confused.What had made them make that sound?He listened for something strange or out of place.Eli didn't have crows around, so maybe there were mice in the shop.He tried to locate where.
"I don't hear anything."And he believed he had better hearing than humans did.
"Hear what?"
"Mice."
Eli stared, his eyes going wider and wider."You think I have mice?"Worry stole over his face, and he looked around.
"No.I told you I don't hear anything."He focused on Alice again."You should check the books, there might be--"
"Shh."
Thano bared his fangs and looked around, but there was still nothing."What?"
"You can't talk about...that."Alice's voice was nothing more than a whisper.
"Can't talk about plants?"
"Books."This time he had to strain to hear."They're forbidden."
Thano waved a hand.Humans were so stupid."Have a look around next time you visit Romeo."They never visited Romeo.He didn't know if it was because they didn't want to leave the paved road or why.It was smart of them.Humans off the paved road didn't last long, but no one would touch them if they drove to The Moonlight Ranch.They were Romeo's coven.
He focused on Eli who'd lost most of his color.Was he ill?Humans tended to get ill a lot."Is he ill?"He looked at Alice again.
"No, I think he's okay."
He didn't look okay, but Thano didn't have time to worry about it.He wouldn't have cared if it was some random human, but Eli was important to The Moonlight Ranch."I need to ask you a few questions."
Eli took a deep breath and nodded before grabbing a key from underneath the counter and locking the cash register."We have to go to the bank.Everything is kept there since papers aren't allowed."
Thano stared at him."You want to go to the bank?"Humans.They should all be food.He bet Eli was delicious.His stomach tightened as he imagined his blood on his tongue.
"Yes, it's where I keep all papers.The store ledger with all my transactions--"
"So you have pen and paper at the bank?"
Eli stared at him."Yes.Or I don't actually have it, the bank does.Every time I buy something for the shop, I have to go there to make a transaction, and at the end of every day, I count the money in the cash register, take it to the bank, and book it."
Thano turned to Alice."Explain this to me.Papers and pens are forbidden, books are forbidden, the board is willing to shoot at vampires if they believe there is a book nearby, and yet here Eli has a book and a pen waiting for him at the bank every day, and it's the law that every business has them."
"Ah...I'm not sure how it works."
