Evra and Darren were off doing chores. Larten had specified that Kuri and Reiko were to stay inside the tent and study.
"So you didn't tell him about the vision?" Reiko said.
The Grimoire was spread out before them and Reiko was placing herbs in a small cauldron.
"I couldn't." Kuri said. "Darren doesn't need to know that I might die soon. But what do you make of the sound I heard—the rabid creature; the red tattoo?"
"I don't know." Reiko said. "Our tattoos are blue. Or at least they will be when they fill in, that's for sure."
"Why do I see these things?" Kuri wondered.
"You always had the sight." Reiko replied. "Remember the story Grams used to tell: one day Mama was feeling a bit sick and she had a vision of a creature come to attack her; only she did not possess that power. That's how she knew that she was pregnant with you."
"Mom..." Kuri said. "Did she really die in battle the way Grams said? And do you think Mana died bravely too?"
"They both did; for sure."
"Hey you two come help us with the last of it, won't ya!" Evra called.
Reiko and Kuri got up after carefully tucking away their Wiccan possessions, and joined Darren and Evra.
They stared into the wolf-man's cage.
"You do it!" Evra and Darren said at once.
"I'll do it ya big chickens." Reiko said, and tossed some meat in. She made a soft growling sound, and the wolf-man came near, eyes full of recognition, and took the food she offered.
The others stared at her.
"W-Wow." Evra said in awe.
Reiko bowed. "I'm here all week."
They stopped laughing as suddenly Kuri had gone rigid, her eyes going silver. "He approaches...the master of their souls...Mr Des Tiny."
Xxx
Kiana slept like she was dead. She was still as death, and the only thing that made it apparent that she was still alive was her warmth. The blood she was constantly drinking made her nice and warm.
Kurda had to carry her through the sunshine completely covered. Unlike vampires, who could survive a while in the sunlight, red vampyres blistered and burned to death in a matter of minutes.
He carried her up to the hotel, hoping that at last, he could help her recover.
Kiana woke slowly, then thrashed at her bonds. The room was dark. Kurda sat next to her, leaning forward to speak, but she tried to bite him.
"I'll tear you to pieces!" she screamed.
"I'm only trying to bring you back!" Kurda cried.
"I was supposed to die!" screamed Kiana. "I wanted to find peace in the Otherworld!"
He thrust a bottle of blood into her mouth and forced her to drink. She spat the red liquid back at him. "Nasty! I prefer my blood flowing as I drain it from my victims!"
"Don't talk like that," Kurda whispered, hope leaving his voice.
Somehow, she hated to hear him sound that way. This man, this vampire, who was so keen on rescuing her.