Page 144 of You’re So Vein

Oh, Alaric, don’t ever change.

We rush through the foyer of Black Crag Castle, then through the Stabby Chic hall, Augustin ripping a handful of swords off display and slinging them over his shoulder. I know he’s worried about protecting Hannah if there are lots of vampires in the castle.

“Councillor Durant, I’ve never seen such wanton disregard for signage,” I tease him. “Wait until the voting public hears about this! Hey, can vampires control the weather? Because if I didn’t know better, I’d think this storm is a convenient way for you to delay your inevitable defeat to Reggie—”

Augustin’s shoes squelch on the carpets as we make our way towards the noisy hum of the ballroom. We round a corner and run into Celeste, her arms filled with brightly coloured quilts.

“Komal, there you are!” Celeste drops the quilts and throws her arms around me. “We’ve been so worried about you.”

“We’re fine.” I laugh.

“Speak for yourself,” Augustin mutters.

“Don’t mind Augustin. He’s grumpy because his feet are wet. We waited out the storm in the helicopter, then picked up Mamma and Papa on our way back. What’s happening here? What can we do?”

“Everyone is sleeping in the ballroom. Luckily, Alaric had a ‘quilting’ century, so they have lots of quilts to keep everyone warm.”

“What about Hannah?” Augustin asks anxiously.

Celeste’s eyes darken. “We should go somewhere private and—”

“Miss Komal! It’s good to see you safe and sound.” Reginald staggers in behind Celeste. There are deep cuts across his face, but he’s up and walking around and that’s the best news ever.

“And you too!” I give him a big hug.

“If you need anything at all, let me know. Nothing is too much for our heroine. I even happen to have an old fuel tanker in the shed, from when I was inspired by my lord to take up a hobby and I started flying an old Russian MiG, should you require it.” Reginald turns to Celeste. “Do you think a vat of hot chocolate will help lift everyone’s spirits?”

“It certainly couldn’t hurt.” Celeste grins. “I hope you don’t mind, I’ve been using the kitchen to keep everyone fed. I have a couple of loaves in the oven for breakfast in the morning.”

“It’s an honour. I only wish I could have been here to help.” Reginald presses my hands gently in his, and does the same with Augustin. “I am so grateful to you both.”

We follow Celeste into the ballroom, which looks rather different from the last time I saw it, when it was filled with dancing vampires. Every mattress in the castle (which is quite a lot of mattresses), sofa cushion, pillow and quilt has been set out to create makeshift beds. Tables beneath the stained-glass window groan under the weight of Celeste’s food, and Alaric has a group of children in the corner, leading a still life painting class.

“You see, to create the illusion of depth, you—” A glob of pink paint hits him in the eye.

Kiaan and Nikhil run over with Preeti. “Komal Massi, you’re here! And you brought Nana-ji and Nani-ji!”

“Were you out being a hero?” Kiaan hugs my leg.

“She sure was,” Augustin says. “Your auntie rescued me and my daughter from a bad man, then saved your grandparents from the roof of your house, and she flew through the storm without crashing.”

“Wow!” Kiaan’s eyes grow wide. “Will you do it again? Can you do a loop-the-loop?”

“There will be no loop-the-loops,” Preeti scolds her son. She embraces our parents, and then me, squeezing hard. “I’m so happy you’re safe. And I never got to say it, but I’m so, so sorry for everything.”

A lump forms in my throat. “Preeti, you don’t have to—”

“I do! Because you were out there tonight literally saving Mamma and Papa’s lives and I’ve been treating you like a servant. I didn’t mean to take you for granted, but I realise that’s what I did. In a way, it’s your own fault, for being such a good big sister who was always there for me. I guess I got used to it.” She shrugs, but she’s smiling. “You must be exhausted. I’ll take Papa and Mamma to the rest of the family and make sure they get some food. I’ve even made up beds for them. You do what you have to do. I know Madam MacGyver is going to be all over the place, helping anyone she can.”

“Thank you, Preeti.” I hug her.

Celeste motions to the other Nevermore Coven members to follow us into the library. I tug the collar of my jacket over the bite on my neck and ask about arrangements for the vampires.

“We put the coffins in Alaric’s private wing,” Celeste whispers. “The majority of the vampire population are sheltering at Sanctus, which hasn’t been so badly hit, plus most of the houses are on stilts in the trees.”

“What about Hannah?” I lower my voice. “Where have you put her?”

My friends exchange a pointed look. Augustin surges forward, but I hold him back.