Byron watched Amelia rub her stomach and screw up her face. “Why don’t we stop and get a sandwich first. That should settle your stomach.”

Amelia nodded. “Okay.”

* * *

It was now early evening, and after dropping Amelia off, Alexis, Byron, and the rest of the guards went back to the house. The cars pulled up in front of the Debrek mansion, and Alexis was anxious to go talk to Katie as soon as Byron was safely inside. The funeral had brought her thoughts and feelings about Katie into sharp focus.

One day she would be attending Katie’s funeral. She’d already realized that she couldn’t just not be in a relationship with Katie. Loving Katie wasn’t a choice. Her heart would simply always be Katie’s. So if Katie was sure, Alexis had decided to help her turn, and then she could spend eternity worshipping her.

Alexis jumped out of the car and opened the door for Byron. Byron got out and straightened her black tie.

“I’m glad that day’s over, Duca,” Byron said.

Alexis was just about to reply when the guard she had put on Katie came running down the front steps.

“She’s gone, Duca. Katie slipped out while I was in the blood room.”

“Fuck. Principe, may I go and look for her?” Alexis asked.

“Of course. I’m sure she’s fine, Alexis. Take Bhal with you.”

Alexis sped off down the road towards the park. She knew that was Katie’s regular route, although she had told her not to cut through the park any more since she had discovered the suspicious dead animals there.

As she got nearer the park, Alexis picked up the telltale scent of blood, and her chest felt like it was under the weight of an elephant.

“No, no. Please, no.”

As she zipped into the park, she came across two dog walkers. She grabbed the first one she came across, looked deeply into his eyes, and said, “Leave the park now and go home.”

The dog barked incessantly, and the man repeated her words, “I’ll leave the park now and go home.”

She did the same with the other human and followed the scent of the blood, all the time her heart pounding with true fear. The scent took Alexis into the cover of trees surrounding the park.

The branches smacked against her body as she pushed through the trees at speed. She slowed down as the blood scent got stronger. She pushed past the last tree and came upon a scene from her worst nightmare—Josie hunched over Katie’s body, feeding from her neck.

The next few minutes were a blur. She grabbed Josie and threw her against a tree. She threw her so hard that the tree trunk cracked. Then she dropped to her knees beside Katie.

“Katie? Katie? No, no, no, please be okay,” Alexis pleaded.