Page 66 of The Vampire Always Rises

“Darling, if you would just listen! I’ll say it as plainly as I know how: I know vampires are real because Iamone. Carlo demanded that dear Armande turn me, and he did, and it’s all really rather exciting. There goes the music cue—must dash, sweetie. Don’t want to miss the first contestants! Smooches to you and Kelso.”

I stared in stark, absolute disbelief at the wall across from me, unable to believe my ears.

What the Jolly Green Giant was going on?

Chapter Fifteen

“Right,” I told Kelso a half hour later, consulting a map of France on my phone. “Savian says driving there is too far, even though it looks close on the map, so driving to the town where Ellis is being a vampire is out of the question. We’ll have to take the train. Luckily, we can catch one in half an hour. Done pottying?”

Kelso wandered over from where he had been watering a shrub, and snuffled my shoe. I took that as an assent, and went inside to order a taxi to the station. A short while later, we were seated, the countryside slipping past us in a hypnotizing blur.

From: Merrick

What are you doing?

To: Merrick

Right now? Sitting on a train looking out of a window, and trying to ignore the woman across the aisle who is glaring at Kelso sitting on the seat next to me.

From: Merrick

Where are you taking a train to?

To: Merrick

St. Gennevier. It’s the town that Carlo had a rental house. Ellis is there. Didn’t Savian text you? He said he would.

From: Merrick

No. What is he texting about? Why aren’t you at the hotel?

To: Merrick

Ellis called me. He’s fine, so I told Savian to stop looking, and to cancel the other guy. I’m so relieved that Ellis is OK. Which ... uh ... reminds me that there’s something I need to tell you.

From: Merrick

Are you insane? You can’t go there by yourself! Get off at the next station, and go back to Nice. I’ll return as soon as your cousin lands in Rome and we capture him.

From: Merrick

You’re making a face, aren’t you?

To: Merrick

Yes.

From: Merrick

I knew it. I would apologize for sounding domineering, but you know as well as I do just how dangerous Carlo is. You can’t go to his house alone.

To: Merrick

I’m not alone.

From: Merrick

The dog doesn’t count.