I did as I was told and —oof!— bashed into Danielle.
“Watch ou—” she complained, but Gen slapped a hand over her mouth.
I whirled, checking the vampires. It was uncanny, the switch from the crisp, clear view I’d had “out there” to the washed-out,view out a dirty windowof Gen’s shadow. Not that I was complaining.
The vampires gathered around their fallen comrade. Within seconds, his body turned to ash that was whipped away by the wind.
Good riddance.
“Spread out,” one vampire ordered the others. “He can’t be far.”
I wasn’t, but we were upwind now, which meant we could slowly inch away from the villa. It was awkward as hell, moving while mashed up against each other to fit within the shadow Gen cast. But I would take that over being out in the open.
We crept steadily along until Danielle slipped in the snow and yelped. The vampires whipped around, eyes shining blood red.
“Over there.” One pointed slightly left of us.
“No, over there,” another countered, pointing higher up.
“Wait,” one of the vampires called, flaring his nostrils. “I smell someone. Not just that cat. There’s a woman too.”
Gen froze.
“With very alluring blood,” the vampire added a moment later.
The other two whipped around, eyes glowing.
“How alluring?” one asked, coming closer.
Gen dug her fingers into my fur. I nudged for her to keep moving. Slowly.
The first vampire huffed. “Better than that bitch in Auberre who refused to talk.”
Gen froze, and I barely bit back a snarl. Did he mean Claudette?
“Where? I don’t see anyone,” another vampire demanded.
“She’s out there,” the first confirmed.
I bared my teeth, ready to tear all their throats out and avenge Claudette. But getting Gen to safety was my priority.
Don’t even get me started,she barked.Those bastards killed Claudette!
It’s time to escape, not exact vengeance,I hissed.
Maybe we can do both,Gen shot back, flooding my mind with an entire battle plan. Then she paused.Can you do that?
The wind and snow intensified, making the vampires hunch and turn their backs. This was our chance to escape.
Forget revenge,I urged Gen.We need to get out of here.
She shook her head fiercely.They killed Claudette.
My gut roiled with conflicting emotions, and I finally nodded.
All right. But the minute I call a retreat, you retreat. Understood?
She nodded, practically baring her teeth at the vampires.
