Hester:On it.
We slow down to a dawdle, nervously peering around as if Alexander is going to pop out from behind a tree trunk and yell ‘Surprise!’
Floss:Don’t speak aloud from now on. Use telepathy. In case he’s nearby.
She projects the thought clearly into our minds, and I gape at her.
Floss (happily):I know, I’m getting better at this. I think my connection to Damian is helping to increase my powers.
Hester:Speaking of which, where is our baby vampire? It’s gone worryingly silent.
Floss:I can sense him. He went this way. Tread carefully and try not to make any loud noises ...
As soon as she says this, I take a step forward, and myfoot connects with a fallen branch; it snaps in half with acrackthat echoes through the silent forest like a gunshot.
We all freeze in place.
Me:Ah, sorry about that.
Floss (sarcastically):And try not to get us drained.
***
Hester:Is it Hadrian’s Wall, do you think?
We peer up at the mighty stone fortification blocking our way. Having eventually reached the edge of the forest, this is now the current obstacle to deal with. There still hasn’t been any sign of Damian, though Floss insists he’s around.
Me:Don’t be silly. We haven’t crossed into England! And this is much too high to be Hadrian’s Wall.
Hester:Great, just checking.
Floss:It has turrets and window slits. I think it’s a castle.
Me:Alexander’s castle?
Floss:Possibly, though I can’t feel him as strongly anymore.
Me (excitedly):If it is, Elliott could be inside! We have to get in.
Hester (cautiously):Let’s not get our hopes up. It could be an Airbnb rental, and we don’t want to give the guests a nasty surprise.
Floss:Besides, we can’t enter unless we’re invited.
Me:I really hate that rule.
Hester:Do you want me to do a little reconnaissance?
She makes a clawing motion with one of her hands, and I narrow my eyes.
Me:This isn’t the time to show off.
Hester:Who said anything about showing off? Floss shouldn’t get any closer in case it’s Alexander’s lair. So it makes sense that I check it out, and my alternate shape is perfect for that.
Wordlessly, I nod and link arms with Floss. We step back to give her space. Hester crouches down, folds her arms around her body, and mutters what sounds like a spell.
A millisecond later, I blink; and there’s a black cat sitting there, staring at us with slanted green eyes. It saunters over to me and butts its head against my leg.
Hester:Stroke my fur. You know you want to.
