Page 91 of The Neighborhood Vampire

Hugo shook his head, his mouth agape. “I don’t know. It’s like the anger and rage is fueling everything inside. It’s as if all my senses are exploding at once. I’m having a hard time controlling it. My body is calling for you. Is this what it’s like to frenzy? Am I frenzying?”

“You’re not frenzying. Vampirism heightens everything. It’s like pouring gasoline on a candle. It’s also what makes nights . . . fun,” Alice responded. “Hold it for later. Trust me.”

“You’re such a tease.”

“I know.” She grinned at Hugo.

“Come on. Let’s check the basement,” Hugo said. “I can still smell them. They must be there.”

They charged down the steps and back into the hallway. They traveled through the dining room and into the kitchen. No signs of anyone.

Hugo approached the white door leading into the basement. He gripped the brass knob.

Alice nodded.

He flung open the door. The warm, incandescent glow of the basement light greeted them. They used their eyes to communicate with each other to go down, both nodding in agreement. He gave a three count with his fingers, and together they rushed down the stairs.

Hugo descended the steps with Alice following behind him. One of the ghouls stood at attention against the cinderblock wall. It was unmoving, smiling back at them. Hugo charged the ghoul and pinned him against the wall. He brought the wooden stake up to the ghoul’s throat.

“Where are they?” Hugo shouted.

The ghoul was silent, smiling back at Hugo.

“Where are they?” Hugo shouted once more at the ghoul, who smiled an unnerving, unwavering grin.

“They won’t tell you,” Alice said. “She entranced them to not speak.”

“If he’s no use to us, then what’s the point of keeping him alive?” Hugo asked as he readied the stake to strike.

Alice seized Hugo’s hand, preventing him from striking. “Because we’re not like them. He’s not a vampire. He’s not attacking us. Let him go.”

Hugo grunted, releasing the ghoul who remained still—smiling and smiling. Hugo stormed off around the corner.

Alice bent over and rubbed her hands over her face. She closed her eyes and shook her head.Why? Why put us through this and not be here?

“Alice!” Hugo shouted. “Come look at this.”

Alice opened her eyes. The basement was barren. Nothing scattered across the gray floors. Nothing stacked up against the cracked cinderblocks. Yet, something was around the corner. Alice kept an eye on the ghoul as she rounded the corner. He didn’t move. The ghoul only smiled.

As Alice turned to find Hugo, the sight of a wood door, blackened with iron ornate fixtures, inlaid into the cinderblock wall, greeted her. The last remaining ghoul stood guard with an unnerving, overstretched smile.

“How?” Alice asked.

She didn’t recognize the door, but she knew what it held within and where it could lead. She wasn’t the only witch who could conjure a door to a secret location.

“I thought you said vampires can’t cast magick,” Hugo said.

“They can’t,” Alice said.

She touched the door and tried to pull on the handle. It wouldn’t budge. She examined the edge of the cinderblocks around the door. Shock filled her eyes. She recognized the arcane symbols. They were protection symbols, similar to the ones protecting her house.

“How did they do this?” Hugo asked.

“Someone cast it for them,” Alice said. She slugged the door with the palm of her hand. “Someone is working for the Savinos.”

She hit the door over and over. The blows of her hand echoed inthe barren basement, each blow harder than the last. She clenched her teeth.

“Someone betrayed us,” Alice continued.

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