Chapter 73
Lorelei went out to meet Padfoot. She got his attention, then slipped out of sight so no one would see him change back. When the black dog became the ragged wizard, they both spoke at once.
“What did you do? Esme’s gone!”
“There are vampires in the woods!”
“What?” They both said, stopping in confusion. Their faces went in opposite expressions. A grin split Sirius’ face, while Lorelei’s froze in horror.
“She got away!?”
“The vampires are here??”
“No, tell me about Esme. What happened?”
“I - I didn’t see. But they said she was there, and then she was gone!”
“Haha! Good! I knew she could do it.” He sobered quickly. “All right, now, listen. The Nalicus family had a hunting cabin on the other side of the Forest. It’s crawling with vampires.”
“How do you know?”
“I followed Rosie and Raye there.”
Fear became fury in Lorelei’s eyes, but she didn’t let the change make it to her face. Her voice went as cold as the wind.
“Were you bitten?”
“No, just scratched.” He half-turned to show his bloodied back. “The one who grabbed me thought I was a werewolf.”
“Did it taste your blood?”
“Um. Yes. I think so. I saw her lick her fingers.” The silence that greeted that statement went on so long it made him nervous. “Is that as bad as being bitten?”
“No,” she said at once. “No, I’m sorry. But it isn’t good. If she can taste you, she can… know you, in a way. You mustn’t go back there. If she has made part of you a part of herself, you won’t be able to get away from her again.”
“I wasn’t planning on going back,” he grumbled, trying not to let on that she was unnerving him.
“I’m pretending you’re Esme,” she said with a very faint smile. “And what I’m telling you is true. You must not go back there. If she was young and stupid enough to mistake a Tranfigured human for a werewolf, she might not be able to destroy you, but she’ll try, Mr. Black. You might only be practice for the victim she does destroy, but that won’t be much comfort.”
“Neither are you, at the moment!” he half-growled.
“I’m supposed to be looking for Esme,” she said, ignoring that. “If you see her before I do, try to keep out of sight.”
“And you stay inside the wards.” It was only fair to unnerve her right back, Sirius figured. “I don’t know if Brohm is with the bunch at the cabin, but better safe inside, right?”
“Right,” she said softly. The fear came back and he was almost sorry he’d said it when she looked past him at the dark Forest before hurrying inside. But then, his mind turned to her sister. Where would Esme go? Back to their roomy broom closet if she couldn’t get out of the castle.
And if she could get out? There was only place he knew of that she’d been. He dropped back to Padfoot and started off to his cave.