Daisy picked up the bag and followed Victorija down the alleyway. She heard the sound of car horns and the chatter of lots of people. “We’re in the city?”

They stepped out into the street, “Yes, welcome to the centre of Paris, and the first place I ever saw Angele.”

“But you met her in a little village—her notebook showed me the day,” Daisy said.

Victorija looked uncomfortable about someone knowing so much about young Torija. “That was a long time ago. The city has expanded since then. This street is the marketplace. You see the bakery, down at the end?”

Daisy nodded.

“I was standing there, and the market stall owner wasn’t very friendly. I took off, and Angele caught up with me.”

Daisy looked around. She could see it now. “I was standing here with Angle when she showed me that memory.”

“I don’t know why I made any impression on her. I was weak back then, not even a full born vampire, and a continual disappointment to my father.”

“Well, you did, and even after all these years, your happiness still matters to her,” Daisy said.

“I don’t know what happiness feels like any more, just power. And this, our bond, is making me weak again. Just like I was before.”

“Let’s go and check into the hotel. Where is it?” Daisy asked.

“There.”

Victorija pointed across the street to one of the fanciest hotels she’d seen. There was gold and lights everywhere, and a doorman in a top hat and white gloves.

“This is where you want to hide from a clan of vampires chasing us?”

“I’ve got to have some standards. I’m still Victorija Dred.”

Victorija bowed in the most flamboyant of ways, and it made Daisy laugh. “Of course you are.”

Yes, Victorija Dred was making her laugh. No, that wasn’t quite true. Torija was making her laugh.

* * *

Drasas paced up and down as she waited for Anka to come to the phone. She, Leo, and her vampires were in the forested area behind the Dred castle.

Leo stood a few paces away from her. “What will we do if we can’t find her?”

“We will. There’s a compound in the medicine bottles that Anka can track. As long as Victorija continues to drink it, Anka can point us in the right direction.” She then put her fingers to her lips for quiet and spoke into the phone. “Yes, of course we’ll find them. I promise.”

When she ended the call, Drasas said, “They are at the one of hotels in Rue Parliet. Let’s go.”

* * *