Page 50 of Fangs and Fudge

“When we found Miles, she couldn’t name the vampire because he’d never given her a name,” I said.

Shepard sighed and watched her continue to search the bushes lining the path ahead. “Yeah. There’s a possibility she doesn’t know. But she’s also my only lead that might help us find Anchor.”

Vena’s attitude evaporated as she considered Sierra, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. Since Sierra’s vampire had sent her to Blur to gather information on the werewolves, it made sense that Sierra might know something useful. If we could get it out of her.

“Can we talk to her?” I asked.

Shepard looked hesitant for a moment, but he gave a nod. “Maybe she’d like to talk to you instead of me.”

Vena and I walked over to Sierra while she was still poking around in the bushes.

“Master?” she whispered. “Are you there?”

I glanced back at Shepard and quietly asked, “Is she on medication?”

He shook his head no.

“I think the vampire took more than her blood,” Vena said to me.

I gently elbowed Vena, not wanting Sierra to hear her. If Sierra had been thralled and fed upon, she was a victim and should be treated like one. Still, I moved to the bush to see if there was something inside that would cause Sierra to think a vampire was in it. But there was nothing that I could see.

Was this then what being thralled meant? Desperately looking for the vampire who controlled you? I thought of what had been done to Gunther and hoped it hadn’t been done to Sierra. How would it feel to want someone who tortured instead of loved? It would break my mind.

“Hi, Sierra,” I said gently. “How are you?”

She glanced over and immediately glared when she saw Vena and me. “Why are you here?”

“We brought fudge as a get-well for Gunther. There is plenty in the kitchen if you want some.”

“For Gunther?” Sierra scoffed. “He was let off easy.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She walked to the next bush, peered into it, then walked to a cluster of flowers.

Vena shot me an annoyed look. I knew her well enough to understand Sierra was one more smart comment away from losing her soft approach. Vena was worried about Anchor and wanted answers now.

“Are you looking for something?” I asked, watching Sierra’s continued search.

“Don’t you have someone else to bother?”

“I just thought you might want a friend to talk to,” I said.

She snorted. “Why would I ever be your friend, mutt-slut?”

“What is your problem?” Vena demanded, lurching forward a step. I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Interesting pet name coming from you,” I said. “Is that why your master wanted to kidnap people? Because he hates werewolves?”

She tilted her head at me. “Is that why the werewolves kidnapped me? Because they hate vampires?”

“You weren’t kidnapped,” I said at the same time Vena angrily said, “You drugged and kidnapped my brother. Don’t act like you’re the victim here.”

“But she still is, Vena,” I said. “She didn’t ask to be bitten by a vampire.”

Sierra laughed like I’d said the most hilarious thing in the world.

Vena narrowed her eyes at Sierra. Sierra grinned as she held up her hand, giving Vena the middle finger.

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