Page 110 of You’re So Vein

“Oh, yes, for as long as we have existed, we have been hunted.” Irene runs a manicured finger down the Latin text. “This is why we are so secretive, and we prefer to live apart from humans. During the Middle Ages, the Vatican hired fallen priests and lapsed nuns to hunt vampires. Angeline was one of the most famous. But this text tells a story I’ve never heard before. She was born from a human nun – a holy woman – and an imprisoned Upyr, as part of the church’s program to breed holy Dhampir vampire hunters.”

All of this makes a sick kind of sense. “If Dhampir were being bred to hunt vampires, then this would explain why the courts would want to get rid of them.”

“Yes.” Irene turns the page. “It would. And it would also explain why this information has been erased from the court archive.”

Augustin and I exchange a look.

“So this means that Dhampir aren’t terrifying monsters who must be killed at birth. The Upyr laws are wrong.”

Surely this means that Hannah can be free?

“It also proves that Dhampir are a danger to Upyr,” Irene says without raising her eyes from the page. “It could be used as a justification for our laws. I concede your point and declare you the winner of my challenge, but I’m not certain this information has the power you think.”

But my mind is already racing with ideas for how we can use this knowledge to win the vampires over. This proves that Hannah isn’t a danger to them, unless she’s trained as a hunter. There has to be hope.

There must be a way to fix this, and I’m going to find it.

42Komal

WHEN WE RETURN TO THE village, I offer to walk Augustin and Hannah back to their cottage. Hannah gleefully accepts. Augustin raises an eyebrow in question. He’s remembering holding me while I lost myself in a stationery cupboard.

“I’m fine,” I whisper as I take Hannah’s hand.

Augustin fixes his mouth into a firm line, but his eyes kindle with fire. His eyes say, I would walk anywhere with you.

What am I doing?

I’m offering to walk a vampire and his Dhampir daughter home.

Alone.

In the dark.

I thrust my other hand into my pocket to fist the spell bag Dora made for me. I’ve been touching it on and off all night, when the edges of the darkness creep too close for comfort. But I find that I need it less and less, especially when I look across at the creature who walks beside me, the one who watches the shadows with a ferociousness that dares them to attack us.

As we meander along the dim path in silence and I fight to keep my fear deep in my chest, a million questions swirl in my head. Something has shifted between us tonight, but I don’t understand what it is. All I know is that, like Hannah, I want to be brave.

I look over at Augustin, his eyes fixed on the path, and I try to call up my usual annoyance at his existence, but all I feel is a hunger that can’t be cured with Celeste’s baking.

I stop at their carved letterbox, glad to be among the fairy lights that line the path up to their home, and sadder than I’d like to admit to be saying goodbye. “Did you have fun tonight, Hannah?”

“I had the best time.” Hannah throws her arms around me. She barely comes up to my waist, and I’m a shortie. She’s so tiny for a ten year old. “I love hanging out with Reginald, and I love that I got to serve food. Thanks, Komal.”

“It’s been an exciting evening,” Augustin murmurs, handing Hannah a container of treats from Reginald. “Hannah, will you be okay inside by yourself? I’d like to speak to Komal alone.”

“Of course.” Hannah stands on tiptoes and kisses us both on the cheek. “Goodnight, Komal!”

As soon as the door shuts behind her, and we’re alone in the night, my nerves creep in.

“I guess I’ll go home, then…” I fumble with my phone, searching for the torch app.

“Komal?”

My name.

He said my name.

I snap my neck up in surprise. “Augustin?”