So much for getting a single day of peace. While we slept, Sarah took full advantage of the sunny day to barbecue some of our mates. And of course, why not use that opportunity to create a full fucking spectacle. Trembley witnessed the entire event on the news, and thankfully, I called Norman back early. She was apparently on her way to take Sarah on solo when he arrived. I knew it was too soon to take the bolts off the door.

I hadn’t been up five minutes when the pair of them rushed into my room to inform me of everything I had missed. It seemed those five weeks of preparation were a hopeful wish. While the scene this morning was terrible, none of our comrades were among the flayed. It wouldn’t make our time here easier, though. Sarah made it a point to get the locals involved this time. Dooley was only two towns over, but all nearby humans would be freaking out right about now. Those further away might put it down to a weird stunt or maybe rabies, but when events like this hit close to home, people would start taking precautions whether they understand why or not.

“Norman, it might be better if we relocate again. I foolishly believed last night’s invitation was a temporary truce, but Sarah clearly doesn’t care that we are here.” “Where could we go?” he barked. “She’s planned for all of this. Getting Trembley’s father. Having Trembley meet up with us. I wouldn’t put it past her to be behind all of this. She’s probably watching us somehow as we speak.”

Boy, he was heated. “All right man, take a seat and calm down. We all need to have clear heads right now. Yes, we are being maneuvered into this chess match piece by piece, but all is not lost. I’m still here.” Always best to maintain an immeasurable amount of confidence under dire circumstances. People don’t know how to handle a man who seems to have zero fucks.

Norman complied and sat down. Trembley joined him. These two were going to become a problem. I was all for love, but this had horrible tragic ending written all over it. For one, Trembley’s stated biology was still up for debate as far as I was concerned. In my nearly 700 hundred years on this planet, I had never heard of a half human, half vampire. Also, Norman was such a brooding sort. If he found happiness and lost it, I couldn’t imagine living with him for the next few centuries. Disaster, all of it.

“If we leave here, where can we go while we wait for Samhain,” Trembley asked while petting Norman’s hand to soothe him. “How do we know she won’t hurt Aaron if we disappear?”

“We wouldn’t know,” Norman told her, “but I can’t imagine how we stay here any longer with the stunt she pulled.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” I piped in unsure whether it was a good idea to reveal the next bit of news.

“What do you mean?” Norman with confusion that quickly started to morph into clarity. “What have you done?” “I may have asked one or two of the Renfields to join Sarah’s little cult.”

“You’re kidding,” Trembley stated. “What if she finds them? You’re putting humans at risk for your dumb war?”

“Ok, first off, it’s not up to you what I or my people decide to do.” I was for once not amused. I was not going to defend my actions to this random person who’d been forcibly added to our inner sanctum. I liked the girl, but questioning my actions unasked of her opinion was crossing a line.

“Harding,” Norman chided. Yep, problem.

“No, Norman. I know you’ve developed feelings for this girl, and we wouldn’t throw her out even if that weren’t the case, but I will not have her questioning my commands.”

“She is right here, so you can address me directly.” The balls on this girl.

“All right, I will. Your opinion has no weight here. You may have been very successful killing baby vampires and the random sprites, but you are completely out of your league on this. Norman may be love struck, but your beauty and connection to Sarah only goes so far with me; so do us a favor, love, and sit still and be quiet.”

If I thought she was going to have some sort of rebuttal, I was wrong. Instead she threw Norman off her, threw me a look that promised a quick death, and stormed out of the room. It wasn’t necessary, but I’ll take it if it removed any further interruptions.

“Why was any of that necessary?” Norman guilted me when it was clear she was out of earshot.

“You had no problem with those girls volunteering when we initially came up with the plan,” I reminded him.

“No, not that,” he waved off. “I have no issue with that plan. My issue is why you decided to bite Trembley’s head off. Of course, she was taken aback. All of this is new to her. She may be part vampire, but she doesn’t think like us. Give her some time to get her sea legs.”

“And I don’t buy that at all. Do you? Really?”

“What? That she’s part vampire? I didn’t at first, but I’ve seen her abilities up close and personal.”

“I bet you have.”

“Harding, be serious. What do we have to lose by believing her?”

“Nothing, as of yet. But the moment that girl becomes more of a problem than a solution, we have to pivot. We know Sarah’s after her for something, but why. Why did she kidnap her father? Why was he not one of the barbecued this morning?”

“I agree up to a point. I won’t abandon her, but we do need to be careful. I also agree with your other statement.”

“Which was? I’m very brilliant I can’t keep track of all my genius ideas.” “We need to leave. Tonight.”

Amazingly, it only took a couple hours to get the entire house packed. I’m nothing if not an excellent judge of character when it comes to staffing. All the cars were fueled and ready to go, but of course, a plan was never more vulnerable than when it was smooth sailing. When Norman and I were on our way to make up with Trembley, a scream was heard from the lawn. Trembley clearly heard it took because she flew out of her room, down the stairs, and out the front door. We were right behind her to witness a ring of fire erupting around the property so bright it lit of the cloudy night sky.

“I could see it starting from my room,” Trembley panted. “What is this? Is it Sarah?”

“I guess we won’t be leaving afterall,” Norman responded. “She must have known what we’d do. We keep underestimating her.”

“Who screamed?” Trembley asked looking around for another person on the lawn. I heard someone, but it’s just us here.”

“It was them,” I pointed. “One collective scream when the flames started.”

“Oh my god,” Norman barely whispered when he realized the fires were people. Only they weren’t going out. “But they aren’t vampires. Is she using her own people?”

“It’s about time if you ask me. She’s killed enough of us. It’s only fair she sacrificed her own.”

“You can’t be serious,” Trembley yelled. “These were traumatized women that were lured in by a mad woman whose only goal in life was to end you. They were caught in the middle.”

“They knew what they signed up for,” I calmly replied. “I do feel sorry that they ever stumbled across Sarah’s path, but it was their choice to stay.”

“How do you know that? How do you know she didn’t bewitch them the same way she had your friend kill or all those other vampires over the years? How do you know any of these women weren’t yours?”

It was clear this conversation was only going to get more heated. Bad time for pun. I didn’t know if any of the women were part of my household. I would have to do a check-in later tonight to be sure. If they were, it would just be one more thing Sarah would pay for when I got my hands ahold of her.

“I don’t.” Leaving it at that I walked back towards the house. After a little more back and forth about what they could do, Trembley and Norman caught up with me in my office. We sat in silence for a good half hour watching the flames continuing to burn outside the windows. Eventually, Norman pulled the drapes closed.

“How long does she expect to leave them like that?” Trembley asked with horror in her eyes. When I first met the girl, they’d been so full of hope. Yes, there was some clear trauma there. No one started hunted vampires and the other creatures of this world if they lived a carefree life from a happily married home with siblings. I knew she’d seen dark things in her young life, but I don’t think she realized how much darker they could get.

“I would imagine she plans to leave them up until it’s time for you to visit her.” No point hiding truths. We are in this all together now. “So, will you work with us and stop trying to run off?”

“I have been trying to work with you. This morning I didn’t have a plan. I just wanted the murders to stop. I wanted to save my dad before it was his turn to go up in flames. It’s all I can think about. When will she decide that Aaron would be better dead?”

“It’s clear we have no idea what’s going on inside Sarah’s mind,” Norman finally joined in, “but I don’t think she has any intention of harming him. At least not before your arrival.”

“Ok,” she breathed. “What do we do to stop her?”

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