TILDA
I don’t know why Max didn’t tell me he was called away because a child had gone missing. I can help. My sense of smell is very keen, and tracking people is what Pierre trained me to do. It’s how I found Mari. Maybe he thinks I’m too damaged to be any good for anyone.
With the sensitive skin of a vampire, the daylight isn’t great for me, but I cover myself from head to toe in pale-green leggings and a light hoodie of the same color. In a baseball cap and gloves, I’m safe from the sunlight, even if I look a bit mad.
The horrible smell of what Ion called a bogeyman leads me thirty miles north of town. Silently, I slow my pace and listen to the birds and animals of the forest. In the din of nature, a child’s soft whimper reaches me.
Dense underbrush fills the space between the trees.
“Sweet little human.”A guttural voice floats out of the black patch ahead.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I drop a pin and send it to Max.
A high-pitched scream rents the air before I can write more.
I move forward, and soon the darkness reveals itself as a cave mouth.
Another scream from Livi forces me to move more quickly. Rushing into the cave, the must and rot of the bogeyman make me nauseated.
The voice echoes against the walls.“I can smell you, creature. Are you a bird? There’s no flying out of my lair. You should turn back and fly away before I have you in my sight.”
The damp seeps into my skin, but all I can think about is how terrified that little girl must be, and I press on, ignoring the warning. Until earlier today, I didn’t even know bogeymen existed.
My several-times grandsire, Ion, arrived in the midst of chaos earlier today. I didn’t even have time to ask why he’d come. He recognized the creature’s stench and told us that it would draw life force from Livi’s innocence until her fear destroys her. Perhaps it is because of my own stolen innocence, but I can’t let that happen.
Deeper and deeper into the winding cave, I’m glad for my vampire sight that allows me to see where I’m going. Livi’s fear is palpable.
A glimmer of flame lights a chamber up ahead, but I stay out of sight in the darkness of the tunnel.
The beast, worthy of the name, stands over the little red-haired girl. A stream of light flows out of her, and it fills him with energy. At least seven feet from head to tail, with long limbs and covered in wiry, black hair, its eyes glow red, and its maw, filled with sharp teeth, drips saliva. Its face is much as Ion described as a sloth from the depths of hell.
Too late to go back now. I step into the light. “Get away from her.”
Released, Livi falls to the rock and dirt floor. She curls into a ball and weeps.
The monster turns toward me. “Bird?” Its voice grates. “Vampire.” The corners of its mouth pull up in what must be its horrible smile.
“You will give the child to me, boogeyman.” I lift my chin, hoping to seem more imposing. “You should not have come to this town to do harm. Dozens of creatures will risk their lives to protect her.”
Its neck moves like a snake assessing its prey. “Who will die to protect you, little bird? You do not think a vampire is any threat to me, do you?” Taking a deep breath, it adds, “Looks like a vampire. Smells like a bird. I admit I am intrigued, but that one will feed me, and I must feed just like you, bloodsucker.”
I blanch at the moniker. “I will trade myself for the child.”
The sound that belches forth from it must be a laugh, but it hurts my ears. “I have you both. I’ll not give up either.”
As it closes the gap between us, I use my vampire speed to zip between it and Livi. “I will not be easy to keep unless you allow me to check on the child.”
The roar it releases is like a tree exploding from severe cold.
I have to resist the urge to hold my ears.
Livi screams and covers her head with both arms.
Backing up until my heel is against her, I have to admit that this creature scares even me. My fangs descend to their full length, and I’m ready to defend this child with every bit of anger built up inside me.
“You cannot bite a shadow, little bird. My blood will not nourish you.” That laugh again, and it grates inside my head.
“That might be true, but my bite does more than feed me, monster.”
