“This can’t be,” she said. She peered into the trees above. “This cannot be!”
The sediento was gone.
She let out a frustrated growl and stomped her foot. There was nothing in the earth. Not even a single footprint. Though, the lack of light could easily be to blame for her not being able to see much. She wasn’t a sediento. She did not thrive in darkness.
That boy was smarter than any vampiro she’d seen before. They were normally so lost in their bloodlust, they didn’t think of fleeing. Lorenzo couldn’t even communicate. But this one did. Had the sedientos somehow evolved? Were new kinds of monsters coming to hunt her people?
Nena suddenly came through the thicket, panting and sweaty. Leaves and branches clung to her curls.
“You ditched me!” she huffed.
“I was a bit distracted.”
Nena’s eyes flicked about. “Where is he? Did you slay him?”
“No, I…” A breeze fluttered through the trees, bringing with it the scent of smoke. Carolina tilted her head. “Why would there be a fire way out here?”
The nearest rancho was at least seven miles away. She wouldn’t smell anything from here. She rushed forward.
“Carolina, wait!” Nena called after her.
But she was already slicing through the forest at a hound’s pace.
Carolina’s feet skittered to a halt when a lone hacienda popped into view. The rundown manor was the old Alicante estate. No one had lived there in years and yet the tiniest bit of smoke puffed from the chimney on the eastern end of the home. A single candle flickered past one of the windows on the second floor. Carolina’s back stiffened. She couldn’t be certain from such a distance, but it looked as though a lady had walked by. It happened again, and—yes—it was someone. The figure stopped before the window. The woman waited there for what felt like ages. She stuck her nose close to the glass as if she were trying to peer into the surrounding woods.
Was she waiting for him? The monster? Could she be one too?
“Dammit, Carolina.” Nena grabbed Carolina and shoved her behind a tree. “Have you no self-preservation? Someone might see you.”
“That’s not just someone,” Carolina said. “There is a sediento inside.”
“No,”Nena said slowly as if Carolina couldn’t grasp that word. “The Alicante estate is being rented by a family from some port ciudad. Puerto Blanco, I think. I’ll have to check the map and see where that is.”
“What do you mean? How do you know this?”
“It’s only been the talk of el pueblo for a week.”
“I wouldn’t know that because no one has spoken to me since…” She couldn’t say it. She didn’t want to bring up Abuelo now.
“Itold you, days ago. But you were too busy not listening.”
“Who are they?” Carolina asked.
“A brother and sister. I haven’t seen the brother yet, but I did catch a glimpse of the sister in town this morning.” Nena grinned. “She’s…rather attractive, I won’t deny that.”
“You said you saw her in the morning? Was the sun out?”
“Sí. Very much so. And the girl didn’t burn or even flinch. She’s as human as you and me.”
“But we don’t know about the supposed brother. He could be the monster.” She started forward, but Nena grasped her wrist.
“It would be rather rude and highly improper for the daughter of the mayor to suddenly show up on their doorstep at this hour,” Nena said. “There will be too many questions to answer if the siblings tell people we came banging on their door at this time. And what if you’re wrong? Also…you’re in pants!” Nena waved her hand at Carolina’s legs.
Nena had a point. Chewing on her bottom lip, Carolina made her decision. She would go home before her family caught on to their absence. She could stand getting in trouble, but she wouldn’t let Nena be punished for her choices.
“Fine,” she said. “But as soon as I can, I’m coming back here to see what is what.”
Nena smiled. “I’ll come with you.”
