Nieema

Pouring a fresh batch of clove-spiced blood into her coffee, Nieema frowned at the text message. She sucked her teeth and grumbled. It was too early for this shit. Too early to be this pissed. Domestic violence and attempted murder? Demon hunting? In Ravensguard?
“Oooo bitch,” Nieema mumbled, stirring her energy booster. “Somebody will get it for this one.”
“Grandma,” Mace called, the time telling on him. “Gma?”
“Mmm?”
Nieema leaned against the counter and lifted the heated mug to her lips. She paid her gbaby no mind and read another text from Buck. It wasn’t helping her one bit. How the hell had this happened? A Voaremont boy was Jasper’s abusive ex.
“Yes, honey?”
“Why did you call my husband?”.
“Well—”
“You and Mama need to mind yours.”
Nieema scoffed and snatched him right on up with one look. Mace knew damn well not to go there with her. “You might wanna check that tone, sir.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma.”
“Mhm. Listen, I only called to see how he was doing. In case you’ve forgotten, I used to change his diapers. His mother is my best friend. I can see about whoever I like. I can call and text a boy I’ve known for over fifty years. And it just so happens, he’s having marriage troubles.”
Mace smacked his teeth and grabbed a pear from the fruit bowl. “You use that as an excuse to go snooping.”
Nieema considered her grandchild, sipping hot blood and cafe mocha.
“Baby, what are y’all gonna do? ‘Cause Patrick is saying this might be it, and he wouldn’t go into why.”
Mace crunched on his fruit and turned away. He stared out the window and shrugged.
“For years, we talked about kids. He wanted them, and you know I do. After fifteen years, I’m read,y and he’s not. Says he has a few more trips in him and I just…”
Time meant nothing to a vampire. Nieema didn’t even think about it most nights. No point. Perhaps without obligations and a large family, she would. Immortality was a gift. She wasn’t the brooding sort. There wasn’t enough humanity left within for that. But when she saw time pass in the eyes of her grandchildren, immortality seemed cruel. Mace was their first grandchild and more orc than vampire. With his mother only being half, that three percent wasn’t enough. The gray at his temples and increasing laugh lines scared her. She’d never lost a child or grandchild; Mace would be the first. Orcs didn’t live forever.
His father was a chieftain and met their daughter later in life.
Mace had a right to want children as he was on a time frame.
“Oh, honey. I know this is rough. And I know it’s not where y’all wanna be.”
Mace shook his head and dumped the core in the trash. He tucked his hands into his pockets and said, “He’s being dramatic, per usual. I didn’t say nothing about divorce. I’m just tired. I want to find a surrogate and start our family.”
Nieema put her coffee down and rushed to hug her baby. Mace enveloped her in his stocky arms and squeezed.
“Aww, it’s okay, love. It’s gonna be alright. I know these things. I feel them. Stay positive.”
“I’m trying, Grandma. But, God. Marriage is hard.”
“Shit, who you telling?”
She stepped back and slapped his shoulder. “Let me make you some food.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’m trying to lose so—”
“Please! I don’t wanna hear that shit! You got orc blood. There is no losing weight, my boy! Now, sit your ass on down. Don’t make me tell ya twice.”
Mace kissed her head and rolled his eyes into the family room.
“Okayyy, a lil somthin.”
Happy to cook and make her baby smile, she put together a staple. Country fried steak, over easy eggs, and grits, no sugar cause Mace uppity like that. Forty-five minutes later, she slid the big man his plate. He sure didn’t refuse and ate every last bite.
Nieema was okay with a mug of blood and cubes of raw meat. As her stress level ascended, her desire for solids dwindled.
On the way to her office, she heard the door and laughter.
Buck and Jasper entered the house gossiping like elder queens. It was pleasant and welcome after the news from earlier.
At six-hundred years young, Nieema was an old hag and nosy like one too. She wanted to know what made Jasper loosen up around Buckley. The man and his wiles might have won the sultry demoness over.
With curiosity driving her, Nieema jogged back downstairs and sashayed into the kitchen, where Jasper and Mace spoke.
“It’s a pleasure, Jasper. I hope my grandparents been treating you nice.”
The succubus was a sight in all them pastels. Shades of purple complemented her red complexion.
“They’re okay, not too bad.” Jasper waved. “Hello.”
Nieema lifted her chin and eyes after winking at the fine woman. “What have you been up to, Mista?”
Buck snickered, chewed his cinnamon gum, and sauntered toward the icebox. “Despite what went down, we got allat paperwork out the way.”
“Thank god!”
Jasper stepped up, and Nieema smirked as the succubus caressed a single braid. If this were any other night, with anyone else, she’d bite them for touching her hair, but she was soft on this one. Nieema wanted Jasper close enough to touch, to scent, to hold.
Finding out Jasper had been abused set Nieema off. Her irritation reached peak and the sun had just set.
“Jasper, how would you like to come with me tonight?”
She released the blue strand and looked at Buck.
“Well, we were going to Maggie’s.”
“Maggie’s?” Nieema inquired and retrieved her keys from the bowl on the counter. “For what?”
“She wanna learn magic,” Buck said, cheek packed with homemade brownies.
“Is that so?”
Jasper looked too god damn cute in her skirt and colorful scarf. Nieema wished to wrestle her out of that there fancy top and dine for hours. She smelled of caramel and cocoa. Something decadent and bad for your teeth. A forbidden treat to eat in private with drapes drawn and phones on DND.
“Uhm…” Jasper twirled and faced the man stuffing his face. “Can we see Maggie later?”
“Whenever you ready. Imma go to the shop, fill in for the night, and see about it.”
Buck smiled, all nice like, but Nieema knew better. She knew her man. He was up to no good and after his text, the glint in his stare wasn’t a surprise.
Sighing, Nieema made way for her husband and gripped his chin. “Don’t make me come looking for you. Be careful and don’t spill blood. Do you hear me?”
“I ain’t got time for none of that.“
“Buckley?!”
Nieema forced eye contact, and he cackled. “I won’t.”
“Where are you going?” Jasper asked.
Mace muttered in passing, “To cause trouble.”
“I ain’t!”
“You are,” Nieema said. “Which is fine. But don’t kick up too much dust, old man.”
“I won’t.“
She twisted the length of his braid around her fist and yanked his ass down to her level. Nieema demanded a kiss and was given her due. Buck devoured her just as he had the fudge brownie. Chocolate and fruit coated his tongue. Tea leaves, sun-ripened strawberries, and delicate lavender petals.
Buck growled with one hand on her ass. Nieema purred and pushed him off.
“You can’t even get it up,” Nieema hissed.
“That ain’t my fault! It’s the tea!”
“Hm.” Running a hand down her tie, Nieema glanced at Jasper. Her slack jaw and wide eyes painted a pretty picture. “Let’s go, girl. He’s such a tease.”
“I told you, it—“
“The ‘tea’, I heard you love.”
Buck giggled, biting into a second brownie. “Don’t make me pin ya lil’ ass to the ceiling, now.”
“If only!”
Nieema started for the patio doors and threw them open with her supernatural mental abilities. She marched out into a humid night and groaned.
In a mood, thanks to current events, she snarled at a sticky, wet heat. Maybe a power suit wasn’t the best idea, but she was on a mission at the moment.
“Jasper?!”
“Coming.” Jasper arrived seconds later and slowed. “Where are we going?”
“To see my brother.”
“For what exactly?“ Jasper prodded.
“We need to talk with the governor of Misthill, and before I, speak with them. My brother sets the table, so to speak.”
“What do you have to discuss?“
“Buck told me what happened, Jasper.”
She stopped dead, and Nieema halted. The succubus glowed beneath the waxing moon. Gold undertones set her skin on fire, but it was the dimming flame in her eyes that gave Nieema pause.
“Nieema, I let it go. I don’t want to make this an issue. I went to therapy, and I’m done with it. I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I need to move on. This isn’t a big deal, and it’s not your problem.”
“Surely, Buck done told you who I am.”
“He did.”
“Well, then, I’ll have you know this is my problem. You are a citizen of Ravensguard, which makes you my, responsibility. I don’t take demon hunting or any other hunting, for that matter, lightly. If this is anyone’s problem, it is mine. Even if a god had hurt you, I still would have flayed them.”
Jasper scowled, shaking her head. “Why would—you and Buck don’t even know me.“
“I can’t say, for sure.” Nieema shrugged, having no final response as yet. “Alls I know is I like you. You sweet. Plus, you started a brush fire in my chest, and I don’t know how to contain it. What is it about you? I don’t know. But what I do, know is that hunting is against the law, my, law. This will bear dire consequences for anyone, even Trevor Voaremont.”