“Ow. What was that for?” Robin yowled, hopping across the floor.
“Stop dancing around like a medieval jumping bean and help us,” Heathcliff snapped. “We need your bow.”
“And you have it, sir,” Robin yelled with triumph. “Which arrowheads are required? Flame-tipped? Monster-slaying? Duck-hunting? Apple-piercing?”
“Monster-slaying should suffice.” I held out a jar of holy water. “Dip the tips in this water. Have you seen any strange women on this floor?”
“Yes. They had a key and let themselves in, and refused to sit quietly and listen to my stories of bravery and daring-do. When the screaming started, they scattered and hid. We did, too.” His voice wobbled. For all his bravado, Robin was afraid. “Puck’s on top of the Philosophy shelves. Hey, Puck?” he called out. “Come out now. Mina’s here.”
The air twinkled as Puck materialized beside Robin. “There is a woman hiding in the storage closet, in violation of the KEEP OUT sign. Should I turn her into a—”
“No.” I directed Oscar to lead me across the room. He sniffed at the door and yipped excitedly. My fingers found the handle and I shoved it open.
“Who’s in here? It’s Mina. I promise everything is going to be okay, but I need you to come out—”
“Miiina…” Dracula’s voice echoed inside my head, even as it boomed through the shop. “…I’m waiiiiiiting for you…”
“Mina?” a small voice whispered from behind the shelving. “It’s really you?”
“Mum?”
A shadow-cloaked figure moved in front of me. I couldn’t see her features, but I recognized her voice, her distinct scent, and the innate comfortingpresenceof her.
“Mum.” I threw my arms around her. A wave of relief and love flooded my veins, for a moment driving out my Dracula fears. “You’re okay.”
“Oh, Mina.” Mum’s body trembled. “It was so terrible. There was a bloke at the door in a flowing cape. He had the palest skin I’d ever seen. He said he was your friend, and he looked like one of those boys in the rock bands you like, so I let him in to wait for you. None of the lights were working, so we didn’t see what he did. Only that Deirdre disappeared and he…he…he…bither.”
“Sssssh. It’s going to be okay, I promise.” I slid Mum into Heathcliff’s arms. “Heathcliff is going to take you upstairs and show you a hiding place, okay? This is important. Don’t come down here for any reason. No matter what you hear. Do you understand?”
She whimpered, but didn’t reply.
“Mum, if you’re nodding, I can’t see you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes. Mina, I…” Mum’s fingers trembled as Heathcliff dragged her away. “I’m scared.”
Me too. “Where’s Deirdre?”
“…Miiiiiina…” Dracula called me, his voice pulsing in my chest. It took everything I had to remain beside my mother, to not pick up my feet and run to him.
“She’s here, tucked away behind the shelves. She’s very weak, and I can’t stop the bleeding.” Mum’s voice trembled.
“That’s okay, we’ll help with that, too,” Morrie grunted as he bent down behind the shelves and picked up Deirdre. Together, the pair of them took Deirdre and my mum back upstairs to the flat, while Puck disappeared in a cloud of sparkles, leaving me, Jo, Mrs. Ellis, and Robin to keep guard in the stairwell, our weapons raised and ready.
I wished more than anything I could stay with my mother, but Dracula’s calls grew louder and more fervent. His voice shook the building. Books tumbled from the shelves as he boomed my name through the night. “Miiiiina…”
Heathcliff and Morrie rejoined us, shoving their way through our army to stand at my side. I couldn’t see them in the dark but I felt them, their presence as weighty in the air as Dracula’s – the forces of good worthy to oppose his overwhelming evil. Heathcliff’s spice and peat scent mingled with Morrie’s tangy grapefruit and vanilla, tinging the air with memories that filled my heart with love.
I could do this. With them by my side and Quoth in our hearts, we could triumph.
“For our birdie,” Morrie whispered.
“For Quoth,” Heathcliff growled.
For love.
At my feet, Oscar snarled at the darkness. I didn’t know if he’d refuse to go downstairs, but he tugged on his harness and led the way. Dogs were supposed to be able to sense danger, and it was a testament to Oscar’s loyalty and tenacity that instead of dragging me away, he led me right into the lair of my enemy.
We descended the stairs into the silent hallway. Oscar turned left, leading us through the low doorway to the Classics shelves. The air smelled of damp books and cloying, decaying flesh. Morrie thrust the Dan Brown in front of him, illuminating a small circle in front of us.
