The necromancer narrows the count’s eyes. I take a deep breath and hope this works out the way I want it to.
“Jean-Claude,” I start as I look up at him. “I’m really very sorry.” And with that, I unleash the one and only holy spell I know. “Holy radiance!” I shout and throw my arms out.
TWENTY-TWO♀♥♂♂♂♂EVERLY
Light springs from the ground and permeates me, the count, and the tree I’m pinned to. The light infuses me with power and does nothing to the tree, but Jean-Claude screams bloody murder, pulls back, and lets me go.
Vampires feel pain.
Interesting. I wasn’t sure if they did. Regardless, now isn’t the time to ponder it, so the knowledge gets tucked away for later.
I spring into action, running past the count as Riddle soars in the air above me. I’m glad to see he’s okay—good thing he isn’t animated the same way other living creatures are or Jean-Claude would have killed him.
As far as Jean-Claude is now concerned, if I’m lucky, he’ll be damaged beyond mobility and I can get to the house where, maybe, I can find help.
Turns out, I’m not that lucky.
The count, or rather, Faunus, charges. The distance I’ve gained evaporates as the master vampire leaps forward and catches up to me within a few strides. I zigzag with Riddle through the trees, feeling my way around the forest, making sure I won’t trip on a root, crash into a bush or flop into a trunk. For every stride I take, Jean-Claude keeps time, sounding as if he’s just behind me. Like he could reach out and grab me around the back of my neck. But he doesn’t. It’s almost as if he’s playing with me, allowing me to think I have a chance.
As I get closer to the castle, a worn path guides me. Clearly, Jean-Claude has walked this forest many times, if the path is any sign. Riddle chirps from high above me, obviously seeing what I see.
I’m not going to win a flat-out race against Jean-Claude, against Faunus. He’s just… he’s just too fast. The distance from the yard to the house is a straight shot but it’s not one I’m going to take. I would do better hidden among the foliage of the forest. And the trees will do their best to hide me—it’s a reassurance I feel in the depths of my being. And I’m grateful to them.
I veer off the path and move back into the darkness of the forest. Beyond it, something large, gray and sleek stalks the open field right in front of the castle walls.
Riddle gurgles, a happy sound. He must recognize—something.
The gray lump makes a stone-scraping-against-stone, cringeworthy screeching sound. Goddess, I hope that thing isn’t part of Faunus’s crew. I dodge through the woods and I can almost feel Jean-Claude’s breath on my neck.
The stone wolf statue, the one that’s usually crouched before the water feature in the herb garden, stands before me, blocking my forward momentum. I slide on my ass to avoid the huge thing as my heart starts to hammer inside my chest.
What did the count say? The statue was here for my protection…
Ready pounce, with its teeth bared and its menacing red eyes, I doubt it’s going to protect anyone.
Before I come to a sliding halt, the wolf leaps over me. It doesn’t make any sound other than the grating of stone.
But I’m not its prey.
The count is.
Stone fangs sink into the count’s arm. Jean-Claude screams and is brought down to the ground by the concrete wolf. The guardian shakes its head, and the count is tossed left to right, giving me time.
Riddle pulls me up by latching onto my shoulders and flapping his wings as quickly as he can. He helps me run across the well-groomed yard, flapping overhead. He’s gotten so much larger and stronger, he actually lifts me off my feet a few times. Over the hedge, dashing past the herb garden and through the hall, I hear the tumble of broken plaster. One last look confirms that the wolf statue, the thing that just saved my life, is now in pieces on the ground, its jaws still open in a silent howl. The master vampire ripped through the wolf and destroyed my stone guardian like tissue paper.
I feel a twinge of sadness and shame that I thought the wolf creepy and disturbing. It was the only thing that stood between me and certain death. Certain death that is quickly catching up…
Riddle howls, shaking as he notices the broken statue, but we have no chance of vengeance now. I scurry down the side hall and into the main foyer. As soon as I do, I feel a hand covering my mouth as an arm grips me around the waist and pulls me backwards. I’m yanked into a closet with coats, umbrellas, and hats. I can hear Riddle squawking from outside the closet. But all I can think about is who has grabbed me.
The slight smell of cologne, old and dead flesh and embalming fluids wars with silk, cotton and cashmere fabric. I nearly gag. Two faint green glowing dots shine a light in the dark closet. The hands that grabbed me let go, and I spin to face Stregen. He holds a finger to his lips and I nod. I trust him.
Then we wait. I don’t hear Riddle outside the closet any longer and I hope he’s gone and hidden somewhere.
Footsteps come. I clench my mouth shut tight even though I want to scream or cry. Just one tiny peep will give us away. The footsteps pass the closet with a calm cadence.
Every hair on my body rises. I cease my panting and hold my breath, looking from a calm
