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“Yes. I’m wonderful, actually,” I said.

Julian’s body shook against mine.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“I guess I’m just relieved,” Julian replied.

“Me too. We’re not finished yet, though,” I said. “There are still things to do and people who need our help.”

“Yes. Absolutely. And after that, we’ll go home? Did you mean what you said to Nathaniel? Are you going to be okay? We’ll stay together?”

I nodded. “I meant it. You are my purpose. We’ll find a way to make it work.”

Julian let out a long breath, buried his head in my shoulder, and squeezed tightly.

I winced, and Julian released me and stepped back. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll be there soon. Let’s get moving, though. I want to get those people away from here long before sunrise.”

Julian nodded and picked up the rifle, staring down at Nathaniel’s body.

“Why don’t you head upstairs and give me a minute, okay?” I asked.

“You sure?”

But I knew I needed to handle this myself. “Yeah, go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.”

Julian turned and walked away. I listened for his footsteps on the stairs before I bent down and grasped Nathaniel’s head. I couldn’t look as I did what needed to be done. I didn’t glance at what I held as I climbed the steps and crossed the living space. Nor did I let my eyes fall on the face and hair I knew so well as I stepped over Richard’s body and placed Nathaniel’s head into the fire alongside the blackened skull resting there in the flames.

I stopped by the kitchen, rinsing my hands and face before heading outside to join Julian. In the yard, Julian sorted through a set of keys he’d found in the house, using the lamplight as he waited for me.

“There’s still one left, Anna,” I said.

Julian’s head snapped up. “She’s not dead?”

“No. But she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. I should deal with it before we go.”

Julian tossed me the key ring and shouldered his rifle. “I can take care of it,” he said, his face set. “Where is she?”

It made sense he would be the one. I nodded and pointed toward the tree line. “Right there, by that tall pine. You don’t need to do anything messy. Just a shot to the head, then leave her where the sun will reach her. She’s not going to recover before sunrise.”

Julian didn’t say anything; he just turned and stalked off in the direction I’d pointed.

I approached the wooden building and unlocked the padlock with one of the keys on the ring. It took several attempts to find the right one, and a single gunshot rang out before I got the lock off. I gently eased the door open and was hit by the smell from within. But there was more than just the scent of filth and unwashed bodies. It reeked of misery and hopelessness.

Shuffling sounds rose in the dark as the occupants braced themselves for whatever was about to happen. Before I entered, my nose caught a distinct scent, and I paused.

Julian came up beside me as I stood there. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you going in?”

“I smell something,” I said.

“Is it sickness?” Julian asked, alarmed. “The vampires were drinking from each of these people and didn’t get sick.”

“No. It’s not the disease. And I don’t think they drank from all of them.” I paused, thinking it over. “Julian, I’ll wait here while you free them. They’ve been through a lot. I should have as little contact with them as possible.”

“Are you worried about what you’ll do around those humans?”

“No, that’s not it at all. I feel fine, I assure you. But Julian, please don’t tell them what I am. They must not know. This is important.”