Let us start with the basics, shall we? A vampire is a reanimated dead person. It rises from the grave and feeds on the blood of the living. It is averse to garlic, crucifixes, holy water, sunlight “Sunlight?” I cut in. “Then we can’t be dealing with a vampire, Dimity. The twins saw . . . whatever they saw during the day.”
Rendor was wearing a long, hooded cloak, was he not? Such a cloak would shield him from the sun. I would also point out that the English sky, in October, is not famous for its abundance of bright sunshine.
Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter
35
“The sun was in and out of the clouds on Sunday,” I acknowledged. “So I suppose the boys could have seen a—” I broke off abruptly, gave myself a mental shake, and went on. “I interrupted you, Dimity. Please, continue. Tell me more about vampires.”
A vampire casts no shadow, has no reflection in a mirror, and cannot be photographed. It can turn into a bat or a cloud of mist. It can be immensely charming when it wishes to be, which is usually when it’s attempting to seduce a potential victim. It possesses great strength and heightened senses. It is virtually immortal, but it can be killed if a wooden stake is driven through its heart. Decapitation after the staking is advisable, as is the burning of the corpse. And there you have it, my dear, the sum total of my knowledge of vampires.
“Thanks.” I glanced at Will’s drawing again, then asked hesitantly, “Do you believe in vampires?”
The concept of vampirism has been embedded in the folklore of many cultures for thousands of years, Lori. Although some dismiss it as mere super stition—a naive misreading of easily explained natural phenomena— learned scholars have written dissertations and treatises supporting it. People all over the world believe in vampires.
“People all over the world believe in a lot of things that aren’t true,” I pointed out. “As do a few allegedly learned scholars.”
Let us say, then, that I prefer to keep an open mind on the subject. After all, there are those who would tell you that I don’t exist.
“But you do,” I said thoughtfully.
Strange as it may seem to some, I do. But it doesn’t really matter whether vampires exist or not, does it? Will and Rob saw a queer figure lurking in the woods where they ride Thunder and Storm. I, for one, would like to know who—or what—they saw.
“So would I,” I said firmly. “And I intend to find out. I went into hiding when Abaddon came after my sons in Scotland, but I’m not going to hide this time. I’m going to Anscombe Manor tomorrow, to do a little vampire hunting of my own.”
I would expect nothing less of you. It would, however, be foolhardy to pursue
36 Nancy Atherton
Rendor by yourself, Lori. He—or it—might resent your interference. If challenged, he might become dangerous. Cornered animals often do, you know.
I gulped nervously and brought a hand up to cover my neck. “I take your point, but who’s going to come with me? Bill will be in London, Emma’s always busy, and I need Annelise to take care of the boys while I’m looking for Rendor.”
Might I suggest enlisting Kit’s help? As you know, he’s intimately familiar with every corner of the Anscombe estate.
“Ask Kit to help me find Rendor?” I said skeptically. “He’ll think it’s a waste of time.”
I’m sure you’ll find a way to change his mind. Just think of how satisfying it will be when you prove him wrong.
“It’ll be satisfying to prove that Will and Rob are telling the truth,” I said virtuously.
A noble goal, my dear, but you won’t prove anything if you run into a situation you can’t handle on your own.
“All right,” I said, shrugging. “I’ll ask Kit to come along with me, but if he refuses, I’m going after Rendor without him.”
You’d best get a good night’s sleep, then. You’ll need your wits about you in the morning.
“I’ll need more than that,” I muttered distractedly, then added, in a normal tone of voice, “A good night’s sleep is the next thing on my agenda, Dimity. I’ll let you know what I find at Anscombe Manor.”
I expect to be kept fully informed on your progress. Good night, Lori.
And be careful.
“I will,” I promised. “Good night.”
I waited until the lines of royal-blue ink had faded from the page, then closed the journal, leaned back in the chair, and gazed at the fire, stroking my neck absentmindedly and wondering, for the fi rst time in my life, if I believed in vampires.
I would have scoffed at the notion a day ago, but after speaking with Aunt Dimity, I no longer felt like scoffing. Vampires might be Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter
37
imaginary creatures born of superstition and kept alive by dark imaginations, but then again they might be as real as Aunt Dimity.
As I sat and watched the dancing flames, I decided that I, too, would keep an open mind on the subject. There just might be more things in heaven and earth than were dreamt of in Bill’s philosophy.