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‘We’ll leave them to work their way back along East Cliff,’ Aidan said. ‘Come on, let’s get going.’
We made our way down the hundred and ninety-nine steps, Aidan running ahead of us, deftly dodging people who were coming up them, while Killian and I walked more sedately behind.
‘You don’t mind me bringing Aidan?’ Killian asked.
‘Of course not. Why should I?’
‘Ah, I’m glad of that. He needs a distraction. Now that the wedding’s all arranged and it’s just a matter of time until he’s forced to marry Derwa, he really could use something to take his mind off things.’
‘I’m so glad my sister was kidnapped then,’ I said.
Killian stopped dead and stared at me. ‘I didn’t mean that, and well you know it. What’s up with you, anyway?’
I ran a hand across my forehead, feeling dazed. ‘I’m sorry. I know you didn’t. I can’t explain it. My mood’s just dipped so badly, ever since we landed there…’
I looked up to the churchyard and Killian took my arm, turning me back towards the foot of the steps.
‘Forget that,’ he advised. ‘Let’s get you out of here and focused on finding your sister. That’ll lift your mood.’
He was right. Well, about getting away from the churchyard anyway. As soon as I headed down Church Street I started to feel much better. We caught up with Aidan and made our way through the throng of tourists, heading over the bridge and crossing the River Esk to West Cliff.
‘We haven’t got a photo of her,’ I groaned, realising my error.
Aidan and Killian looked at each other and laughed.
‘Sure, that’s a huge problem,’ Killian said, rolling his eyes. Instantly a photograph of Trinity appeared in his hand. ‘There you go. Now, let’s get investigating shall we?’
I laughed, too. When was I ever going to learn?
We decided we’d make our way along the harbour side first, and when we’d explored all that we’d head back and make our way to the harbour and the railway station.
It was a hot, sunny day, and with the throngs of people jostling for pavement space I was feeling exhausted, not to mention hungry. Only the thought of saving Trinity kept me going, and I was so grateful to the O’Brien brothers who, after all, had no obligation to help in the search, but were doing so out of the kindness of their hearts.
After a couple of hours, during which time we must have asked hundreds of people with no joy whatsoever, we took a five-minute break to buy ice creams, because I didn’t think I could take another step unless I cooled down a bit.
Seagulls swooped around us, clearly hoping to make off with our cornets. I leaned against the railings, tilting my head back in the hope of catching a breeze. Behind me boats bobbed on the river, and noises from amusement rides and machines boomed through the air. West Cliff was so much louder than the East Cliff.
‘Well, at this rate we could be here forever,’ Aidan said, quickly catching a stream of his vanilla ice cream that was melting down the side of his cornet. He nudged Killian and grinned. ‘Would you look at that?’
I followed their gaze and saw they were eyeing a seaside attraction based on the Bram Stoker story, Dracula.
Killian chuckled. ‘Bless them, aren’t they funny?’
‘What’s funny about it?’ I asked.
‘Ah, humans. They make an attraction out of a vampire tale. They pay money to go in there and be scared.’ Aidan shook his head in amazement. ‘Now, if they bumped into a real vampire they’d definitely not be so cheerful about it.’
I stared at him. ‘Pardon?’
‘Ah, come on. Don’t be going all human on us again,’ Killian urged.
‘Vampires?’ I gasped. ‘You can’t be serious. They’re not real!’ Then again, hadn’t Hector spoken of reapers not so long ago? Did I know anything?
The brothers exchanged amused glances.
‘Can they not?’ Aidan said, stroking his chin. ‘Well, well. My mistake.’
‘Are you having me on?’ I asked suspiciously.
