11

Cora crept to the door to peer into the hall. “I believe it is clear,” she whispered as she returned to Cerie’s side.

“Untie me, then,” Cerie urged.

The doubt Cora felt was obvious as she asked, “Are you certain that you are strong enough?”

Although Cerie’s flesh was beginning to smooth and plump up, she still had the appearance of an old and feeble woman. Cora worried that the witch’s magic was not up to the task of getting her and Bess out of the castle before the vampires discovered what was happening.

“Trust me,” Cerie hissed as she struggled against the bindings on her wrists. “Untie me and you will see.”

Filling her lungs with air to help reinforce her nerves, Cora’s shaking hands fumbled with the bindings that had prevented the witch from using her magic and caused her to suffer the humiliation at the hands of the vampires.

“I am unsure where to