As Victorija got closer, Daisy saw her pull an envelope from her waistband. She handed it to her, and Daisy broke the seal.

The first line said, Don’t say a word. They’ll be able to hear.

Daisy looked up to Victorija and saw her clutching her midriff in pain. Victorija must have loved Angele so much to be working this hard to keep her vow.

She began to read the letter.

In two days, Drasas is holding a ball to celebrate our new alliance with Anka and her followers. That’s when you will make your getaway. This is the plan. My trusted human servant Jacque will guide you to a place where I can meet you, and then I’ll get you out of here.

Wow. Victorija really had changed, a bit anyway. This was Daisy’s chance to get through to the light in her soul. Daisy gave her a thumbs-up. Victorija nodded and pointed at Daisy’s neck. She had to feign the bite again.

Daisy brought out the small penknife in her pocket and screwed up her eyes as she cut into the wound. It stung really badly, and she made sure she made lots of painful noise. She watched as Victorija’s eyes went red and her fangs popped out at the sight of her blood flowing freely now.

“No,” Daisy cried out, “you’ve had enough, stop.”

Victorija covered her face with her hands and sped out.

* * *

The night of the Dred ball had arrived. It was a day long awaited by Anka. She would bring to fruition her master’s plan for the dark time to take over the earth once again.

She was sitting in her casting circle, set deep in the catacomb system in the basement of her house. Her attendant Asha carefully placed candles, a skull, and other dark totems she had collected over her long life.

Anka sat cross-legged and closed her eyes. “Step forward, dark ones.”

In her mind’s eye, she saw the dark souls of witches who had pledged themselves to her lord, Balor. He was sitting on a high throne behind them. She bowed her head and said, “Balor, we are ready. Once we have the born vampire, then we’ll be able to bring your emissary back to the world.”

There was a figure obscured by the darkness and the sound of rain in the background. He stepped forward but still was obscured.

“This will be over tonight, and I will bring you back to the world. I promise you that.”

* * *

Each time Victorija came into the dungeon, she looked worse. She kept it together until the dungeon door shut, and then she let go, holding her stomach in pain, feeling dizzy, sick. The night of the celebration ball was the worst so far. When the door shut, Victorija fell to one knee. Daisy was over to her in a second to offer help. Victorija stood up without taking Daisy’s hand.