Page 31 of How to Stake a Vampire

“Well, if you must know, mademoiselle,” Baron Beaumont started in a friendly voice, “the perpetrator moved like a wraith?—”

“A shadow,” Lady Atkins interrupted, bobbing her head firmly.

“Indeed,” Baron Beaumont continued with a trace of irritation. “A creature of the night more terrible than myself.”

Count de Vile sneered. “There are stray dogs more terrible than you.”

“Is there anything useful you wish to contribute to this conversation, William?” Barney said icily while Baron Beaumont spluttered. “Or are you just flapping those bloodless lips of yours?”

Count de Vile waved a hand vaguely. “He was fast. And the reason we couldn’t fight back is because of what he did to immobilize us.”

My scalp prickled. “Immobilize you?”

I glanced at the others, a vision of the crystal skull rising at the back of my mind. From Didi’s and Gavin’s looks, they were having similar morbid thoughts.

“In darkness deep, a predator came,” Lady Atkins recited solemnly, “with Beethoven’s tune and bloodred flame. He pierced my flesh with needle bright and stole away my precious might?—”

“So he really was humming Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony?” Barney cut in sharply.

I furrowed my brow. “Wait. He used a needle?!”

Lady Atkins deflated. “Yes and yes,” she confirmed a smidgen sullenly.

“He injected something into our necks,” Count de Vile grunted. “It must have been some kind of drug. It drained us of our strength and pretty much paralyzed us.”

My mouth went dry.

A muscle jumped in Barney’s jawline. “There are not many drugs that can paralyze a vampire.” Unease underscored his words.

“Some clever Dick obviously came up with one,” Count de Vile said darkly. “Amberford is full of them, after all.”

Gavin’s horns had popped out and his nostrils were sparking alarmingly. “So not only do we have a psychotic ancient vampire intent on purifying his race going around Amberford doing God knows what, we’re also dealing with a narcotics case?”

Baron Beaumont blinked slowly. “Purifying his race?”

Didi shot a dirty look at Gavin. I swallowed a sigh.

Bo plopped down on his haunches. “The cat’s out of the bag now.”

Count de Vile’s eyes had shrunk to slits. “Don’t tell me that quack wrote some kind of blood purity manifesto?”

“He did.” Barney shrugged at Didi’s glare. “They were going to find out soon anyway. Gregory has a duty to inform them.”

“Can you describe the man who attacked you?” I asked warily.

“Tall, as pale as moonlight, dressed as though he’d stepped out of a daguerreotype,” Count de Vile said promptly.

“His eyes were as red as fresh blood,” Baron Beaumont contributed with a shiver.

I sighed. That could be any vampire.

“Anything else?”

Lady Atkins fidgeted with the neckline of her gown.

“What is it, Muriel?” Barney asked.

“My memory is hazy, but I think I heard him say some strange things before he left.”