"So what else do these myths say about them? Do they have any special powers?"
"I have never come across either personally, but it is believed Kresniks can leave their bodies to attack their foe, and are also capable of magic."
Which explained our killer's ability to harm someone both astrally and physically, as well as the hint of magic Azriel had sensed when we'd found Dorothy's body.
"Are Kresniks also vampires?"
She hesitated. "Some legends suggest they are enhanced by the goodwill of the community, and that in itself suggests energy vampirism rather than blood."
Which meant it was more than possible he could move around in daylight, since energy vampires often didn't have the same restrictions as blood vamps. The thought had trepidation shivering through me. "What kills them?"
"Kudlaks are killed by impaling them with a hawthorn stake, then slashing their tendons below the knees and letting them bleed out." Amusement touched her lips. "Of course, such actions would kill anyone, human or not."
Except, I suspected, her. Not because she was immune to such things, but because no one who knew her—or knew of her—would ever be stupid enough to attempt such a thing. "Is Dani Belmore still at the Dove?"
It wasn't likely, given that the man behind this madness had said she'd only an hour left to live, but it didn't hurt to ask.
"No. She hasn't been there for several days, apparently."
So why had Vonda believed that she was? Or was that simply a belief our killer had implanted? "Did you get the club's management to check the security tapes, on the off chance she met someone near the club?"
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "She would not be foolish enough to meet anyone outside the club."
I snorted softly. "She has an addiction, and she'd just come away from feeding it. I seriously doubt she would have been too worried about what she should and shouldn't be doing as she left the place."
Amusement touched her lips again. "You would have made a good guardian, Risa, if you'd chosen such a path."
It sure as hell would have been an easier path than working for her. "Does that mean she did meet someone?"