Anka walked a little closer and said, “My, my. You have got so much of your energy back. Your human blood donor must have quite an effect on you.”

“Indeed, she is strong, a strong descendant, and she and Amelia will come for you and destroy you one day, and I will be laughing from the other side.”

Anka laughed. “How sweet. Believe me, there will be no laughter where you’re going. Watch her, Drasas.”

Anka walked a few yards away and started to recite an incantation.

Drasas looked extremely uncomfortable beside her.

“Hello, Drasas. How have you been? Enjoying being Principe? One piece of advice I’d give you. Be careful who you choose as your Duca.”

“I’m going to be the greatest vampire there’s ever been or will be,” Drasas spat back.

“That’s what she promised you, did she?” Torija laughed.

“Listen—” Drasas started to respond angrily.

“Be quiet, both of you,” Asha said.

“Shut up, Asha. I—”

They were all distracted by a red light that zoomed from Anka’s elaborate ring to each standing stone. It spun and spun, gaining speed with every rotation, until it seemed to have gained enough energy and shot into the centre of the circle, near where they were standing.

What Torija could only describe as a huge white portal opened.

Anka began to laugh. “Yes, Asha, it worked. After all this time, it worked.”

“Your work is remarkable, Madam Anka,” Asha said.

“Get them over here, Asha.”

Torija leaned over to Drasas and said, “You’re a them now, Drasas. Did you hear that?”

“I will destroy you,” Drasas said.

“Ooh. You are confident. Good. That’s what I like to hear. Asha? Where would you like us?” Torija could tell that she was getting to Drasas, and she liked it. She had decided that she would face death with the same cocky assuredness that she had lived her entire life by. No matter how much she had changed, there was still a part of her that would always be Victorija Dred.

They arrived at the portal beside Anka.

“Drasas, you know what to do.” Anka handed over a ring.

Torija looked at Drasas and saw how unsure and frightened she was. All she could do was nod.

“Very good,” Anka said. “Victorija, your time on this earth is over. Walk with Drasas to the other side.”

“I walk willingly unto death. Keep up, Drasas.”

“Will I return unharmed, Madam?”

“You will be as good as new, now go.”

With one last look back to Daisy, Torija walked into the portal, and when she emerged, she was standing on a grassy bank near the edge of a cliff. The rain was hammering down, and there was the sound of thunder in the distance.

Drasas was beside her within a few seconds.

“So this is what death looks like,” Torija said. “I always wondered.”

“I’m not dead. I’ll be going back,” Drasas said.