“But that’s just a story we tell to scare children,” Priscilla said.

“I thought so too, but Jared is dead, and that devil worshipper’s grave is empty. I heard it from the sergeant’s mouth.”

“Even so, they executed her almost a century ago! Surely all that remains is fleshless bones.”

“If you ask me, they should have burned her at the stake instead of hanging. But at least that thing won’t be able to hide or blend in with people. The sergeant is preparing for an expedition to hunt it down. Until then, everyone stays inside – even when it’s sunny out.”

“We’ll have to board up the windows then – ” Priscilla stopped as she noticed Druscilla. Three pairs of eyes focused on her; it was mildly discomfiting. Druscilla covered her eyes with her palms. “We shouldn’t talk about this around her,” Priscilla whispered to her husband. “It might scare her.”

“I don’t think she’s all there in the head.”

Druscilla heard something smacking. “How rude! And you, young lady, why did you live her alone in your room? She was terrified! I found her huddled in the corner – frightened half to death.”

Pen’s eyes went wide. “I-I didn’t know! What was I supposed to do anyway?”

“You could’ve brought her down to the table for one.”

Pen pouted and walked over to Druscilla. She started gently stroking Druscilla’s hair with her hand. It was quite a pleasant feeling. No wonder cats enjoy this so much… Wait, does this mean I’m an animal now?

Patrick filled the silence with his voice. “Well anyway, we’re going to be stuck here for a few days at least; enough time for you two to spend together. Ah – I forgot to mention, we passed by the temple and had some weapons enchanted. Best familiarize yourself with this.” He handed his wife a small dagger. Just by looking at it, Druscilla knew it could cut her. I have to be more cautious – as if I wasn’t walking on eggshells already.

“You’re not thinking of giving weapons to the little ones, are you??”

“I pray they catch that thing soon.”

“Um, Father?” Pen tentatively interrupted.

“Yes, what is it, Pen?”

“Do you think that thing attacked Dru last night? I mean she was covered in mud and blood; maybe she was trying to get away…” Druscilla suppressed a smile. So long as she and the roaming undead were different entities, she would be alright. Dru also liked the nickname Pen had bestowed on her.

“You may be right – but we don’t know for sure. It’s not like we can ask her.”

“Maybe we can. Yesterday, Mother asked what her name was and she seemed to understand the question.”

“Well,” Priscilla said. “If a blood-sucking demon undead were to ambush me and I barely manage to escape while scarring my mind in the process, I would not appreciate being prodded on the thing.”

Pen was silent. Her father spoke on her behalf: “Still, if she knows something, she might be useful to the sergeant. We have to try. Pen, ask her some simple questions about the undead.”

Priscilla did not hide the disdain on her face. Pen sat down next to Dru and took her hand in both of hers. “Druscilla?”

“Ah?”

“Do you remember what happened last night?”

Druscilla put on her best confused look.

“Simple questions, Pen.”

“Yes, father…” Pen intertwined her fingers with Dru’s. “Druscilla?”

“Au?”

“Home? Where?”

Druscilla tilted her head and pointed at the floor. “Ha.”

Pen was looking flustered. “No, Druscilla.” She lightly poked Dru’s chest with her finger. “Your home, where?”

Crap, I can’t dodge that. I have to be consistent with my level of insanity. If she suddenly could not comprehend simple questions, eyebrows would be raised. “Uwa…” Dru pointed directly in front of her and started waving. In truth she did not know what was in the direction she was pointing, so she was trying to keep it vague.

“Ask her if there were painted walls,” Patrick instructed.

“Walls? Big walls? Colours?”

Druscilla nodded dumbly. What am I getting myself into…

“Ask her about the moat.”

“Below walls, water?”

Well, I said yes last time. Druscilla shook her head.

“I knew it!” Patrick exclaimed. “She’s from the Capital.”

“How could you tell?” Pen asked.

“The only city with painted walls and no moat is Ginawaine. She might be a noble for all we know.”

“I don’t think so,” Priscilla said. “Look at how sullen she looks. Ginawaine must be full of bad memories for her. Maybe she was a concubine or a courtesan.”

So concubines are a thing eh? And what exactly does a ‘courtesan’ even do?

“I’m willing to bet there’s a reward for delivering her unharmed to her former mas…” Patrick stopped mid-sentence and reconsidered his words. “Her friends or relatives can give her better care than we ever could.” Maybe even shed some light on what happened to her. Once this whole undead business is over, why don’t you see to taking her to the capital, Pen?”

“Eh? Me?”

“Yes, you. I have to stay here to hunt, and your mother has to take care of your sisters so…”

“But I’ve never been further than Anderwaine!”

“The town will still be here after you return,” Priscilla soothed her.

“You too, Mother?”

“You’ve always been harping on and on about wanting to see the world.”

“But that would be when I was older!”

“You’re nineteen, Penelope, a woman grown.”

“Not to mention you’re a competent ranger, so you won’t get lost,” Patrick added. “The roads are kept safe by the king, so you need not fear.”

“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“It’s for Druscilla’s sake,” Priscilla said.

Pen shot a glance at Druscilla. “Awu!” she cooed helpfully.

“I can’t say no to you, redhead. Haaaah, fine. I’ll take her. When do we leave?”

“In about two weeks,” Patrick intoned. “The sergeant and his garrison should have caught the beast by then.”

“Hear that, Dru? We’re going home.”

Putting some distance between me and Sergeant Vampire hunter would be a good idea. The capital – Ginawaine was it – is bound to be more populous. It should be easy to slip away into the crowd. I can find something to do with my skills in the city too. And since this body is a century dead, I don’t have to worry about being recognized. “Au!”

The rest of the day was spent boarding up the windows and doors. It was terribly ironic that they were actually locking the vampire in, instead of out. Patrick had mentioned that they had enough supplies for about a month or so, but they needn’t wait so long since the sergeant was a famous monster hunter. I should really avoid that man.

After supper, Pen and Dru bathed together and retired to their attic bedroom. Once again Pen wrapped her limbs around Druscilla. She leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Druscilla couldn’t take it anymore. Her senses were screaming for Pen’s blood. Druscilla turned around and faced Penelope, untangling herself from her embrace. Druscilla could see Penelope’s eyes glistening in the darkness. She licked her gums and felt her canines had grown into fangs. Penelope didn’t react though. There’s probably not enough light to see.

Druscilla could feel Penelope’s blood rushing up the girl’s arteries. She leaned in and sunk her fangs into Penelope’s neck. Penelope let out a strangled moan as the hot liquid filled Druscilla’s mouth. The Vampire’s taste buds exploded with the flavour of iron; it was the sweetest thing she had ever consumed. After two, maybe three gulps Druscilla forced herself to stop. She instinctively licked the wound, and the skin sealed up, leaving only two scars the size of pinpricks.

Dru looked up at Pen’s face to see she was dazed. Her eyed were half-lidded and closed. A drop of drool hanged from her half-open mouth. She was alive at least, Dru could clearly hear her heartbeat. Crap! What have I done? This will blow my cover…I can’t run, they’ll hear me break down the boarded windows. Maybe she won’t remember a thing…ooooh, I hope she doesn’t remember.

Dru turned around and tried to sleep. Unlike the previous night, Dru’s instincts were not screaming at her to kill and drink from Pen; it was more… manageable now. Still, sleep eluded Dru until the double-sun rose in the East.

Pen woke up with a yawn about an hour after sunrise. To Dru’s horror, she smiled conspiratorially at her, like they had a secret not privy to the rest of the world. I’m done. Finished! She knows…but why is she smiling like that; does she mean to blackmail me?

“Um, we need to talk,” Pen said, and Dru’s stomach sank. “Well, I talk and you listen – hey, don’t look at me like that; it’s not like I’m going to eat you. Haaaah, anyway, last night, I really enjoyed it.”

Huh?? Dru must’ve let the surprise show on her face.

“Haha, don’t look so shocked. Mother guessed you might be a courtesan, turns out she was right.” Pen looked embarrassed, and awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. “I’ve never done that before, much less with a woman…”

Just what exactly does she think happened?

“But you don’t have to do that with me, okay? I liked it, but it’s wrong. In fact, I think I’ll talk to my parents so that they don’t send you back to a brothel.”

A brothel? Oooooh, she thinks we had sex last night. Interesting. So I guess courtesans must be high-class prostitutes or something similar… Above anything else, Dru was glad that she had passive brainwashing abilities.

“Not a word about any of this, okay? Our little secret.”

“Hae!”

“Good. Now let’s go eat.”

The morning was bright, but they had to use candles for illumination because the boarded-up windows kept out the sunlight. Breakfast was the same as yesterday, albeit with the entire household together. One of the twins kept trying to straighten Dru’s hair, only to burst out laughing when it recoiled itself.

“Why don’t you two go play with Dru in the living room,” Pen suggested, and the twins were more than happy to drag her away. They started pretending she was a great tree and that they were squirrels. While they certainly seemed happy Dru listened in on what the adults were talking about.

“I don’t think we should take Dru back to the capital,” Pen said in hushed tones.

“Why not?” her mother asked.

“Because.”

“Because what?”

“It’s not the right thing to do.”

“Pen, darling, we’ve talked about this. She’ll be better taken care of wherever she came from.”

“We don’t know that.”

“We do. That girl hasn’t seen a day of manual labour in her life.”

“Yes, but, what if it’s because she doing other sorts of work.”

“Even so, there’s not a mark on her body. Whoever she worked for clearly valued her, and would be willing to pay a sizable sum to have her back. Or would you rather she remain here, and callus those pretty hands of hers as she helps with the laundry, the farm, and the tailoring?”

“Well, no, but – “

“Exactly. Staying with us will do her no good. Just take her to the capital to someone who knows her.”

“Okay.”

And that’s the end of that. I still have to think of a way to give Pen the slip once we make it to the capital. But there’ll be time enough for that later.

Despite being locked in, the days flew by. Nothing of note happened until about six days after Dru showed up. A group of footsoldiers came knocking in the early hours of the night. “Patrick Poulsen! This is Bert, Captain under Sergeant Trory,” a voice announced. “Are you in there?”

“Yes, I’m here, no need to shout. I’d invite you in, but I’m afraid we’ve boarded up the windows and doors.”

“It is fine. These are frightening times after all.” Bert lowered his voice until Dru had to struggle to listen in from the attic. “We’re here about the undead. The sergeant set up patrols around the perimeter of the barony to prevent the undead from escaping. Afterwards, the captains, myself included, were sent along with groups of men to scour the barony for it and to promptly report back. None of us has caught a trace of the thing – there aren’t even any new victims since Jared.”

“Really? I thought undead were creatures with a burning hatred of the living?”

“We did too – but this particular undead is anomalous. The sergeant thinks it might be intelligent; that it is blending in with the population.”

“That’s grim.”

“Grim indeed. I think that it is most probably in Anderwaine; though I don’t rightly know how it can have remained hidden for so long. Maybe the sewers, or an attic somewhere.”

“I think someone would notice a rotting undead in their attic.” The irony was not lost on Druscilla. “Is it possible that it might have slipped past your patrols?”

“Impossible; we set up [flare] all around the border that would have alerted us if any undead happened to pass through. It must be in the barony. Thus, we must leave no stone unturned. I am loath to ask, Patrick, but have you seen anybody strange since Jared died?”

Dru’s muscles tensed.

“No, I haven’t. It’s just me and my family here.”

“Thank you. Just as expected. Anyway, if there’s nothing else, we’ll be off. Good night.”

“Goodnight sir.”

The soldiers marched off, taking with them Dru’s tension. Why did Patrick lie about me though?

Pen was already snoring softly beside Dru. She had restricted herself to a mouthful a night; sufficient to knock Pen unconscious without making her anaemic. The silence made it easy for Dru to eavesdrop on Patrick and his wife.

“Did you hear all that?” Patrick asked.

“Yes, I did. We should stay in for a few more days.”

“Agreed – oh.”

“What is it?”

“I just realized I forgot to mention Druscilla.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“Didn’t she show up after Jared’s death? Maybe she’s the undead?” For the second time that night, Druscilla tensed up.

“Don’t be silly, Patrick. She came the same night Jared died. The cemetery is at least half a day away, so unless she can fly, she wasn’t there. And besides, aren’t Undead supposed to be rotting corpses? Druscilla is the fairest maiden I’ve seen.”

Hahaa! Mother Priscilla to the rescue.

“I suppose you’re right. Also, I was thinking we should send Pen with the girl to the city early as possible. The provisions should last us longer then.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“She’ll be safer away from here too, so yes, it’s necessary.”

“Fine then. Just don’t tell her about the undead.”

“Why? The more she knows, the better.”

“Do you want her jumping at every shadow all the way to the capital? No? Then don’t scare her. We’ll just tell her to be extra careful.”

“Okay.”