what then?” “She already knows about us,” Rom said. “Not that,” hissed the other. “I’m talking about if she really knew what had happened.” I’ve already figured it out, wise guy, I thought to myself. I know it’s you who killed the boy and the old man. But then Rom said something that almost made me drop to the floor in shock.
“This Kiera can’t ever find out what happened to her mother,” he said.
“Leave that to me,” said the other, his voice fading as they walked away down the corridor to the custody block.
Sliding to the floor and pulling my knees up beneath my chin, I sat in numb shock at what I’d just heard. It was as if I’d just woken from a deep sleep – dazed and confused. What did my mother have to do with what was taking place in The Ragged Cove? She had disappeared three years ago on her way to buy me a birthday cake, she had nothing to do with this, I told myself. Perhaps I’d misheard what had been said. But in my heart I knew that I hadn’t. Why had she come to The Ragged Cove? Who had brought her here, and why? But the one thought that ate away at me more than any of the others, was: What had happened to her?
Pulling myself to my feet, I felt sick and frightened. Not for me, but for her. Where was my mother? I felt more determined than ever to uncover what was happening in The Ragged Cove – however dangerous that might be. But I knew I had little time left before the Vampyrus, the vampires, or both came for me.
Listening against the door to make sure Rom and his companion were not on the other side, I slowly turned the handle. Opening it just a fraction, I put my eye to the crack and peered out. The corridor was empty and the hatch was closed, fastened again with the rusty padlock. In the distance, I could hear the sound of voices. Opening the door another inch, I listened. It was the sound of them talking. Their voices hollow and coming from the custody block.
Sneaking from behind the door, I stepped into the corridor. With their voices fading behind me, I glanced down again at the hatch. Through its metal grating, I could see only darkness as it spiralled away into hell. Reaching the main office, I crept around the front counter, unlocked the door, and left the police station.
It had started to snow again, and with no other option but to return to the Crescent Moon Inn, I set off towards it. I just prayed that I reached it before either the vampires or Vampyrus took me.
Chapter Sixteen
With the Crescent Moon Inn within sight, I ran as fast as I could towards it. It had taken me over an hour to walk from the police station and every minute had seemed like an eternity. It hadn’t just been the freezing snow that had made my journey so miserable; it had been the constant fear that at any moment, I would be rushed at by screaming vampires or snatched into the air by flying Vampyrus. With Luke banished to The Hollows, I felt exposed and unprotected. I wondered now if he could be trusted, and although I’d refused to dwell earlier on Potter’s comments about Luke’s guilt, I now feared what he might have to feel guilty about.
Ever since overhearing Rom mention my mother, I knew that whatever had happened to her, the Vampyrus had been involved and I feared that Luke had played a part in that.
Reaching the Inn, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The bar area had the usual number of locals clustered around the tables, warming themselves by the fire, cradling a neat whiskey in their hands. Again, they all looked up at me and the room fell into a hushed silence. I felt like screaming at them, WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT? but I didn’t. I skulked across the bar with my head down, just wanting to get tonight over with. As I reached the foot of the staircase leading up to the bedrooms, Roland appeared in the doorway of the small back office. I jumped, his sudden presence making me gasp. He looked at me, his jowls glowing red, as he wiped his meaty hands against his stained apron.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you,” he blushed.
“It’s okay,” I said,