Okay…maybe honesty wasn’t the best way to go.

Tye escorted me away from them and to the doorway, watching them cautiously. The only vampire who didn’t completely lose it was Michael. He merely stood with his arms crossed, grimacing with disgust. “Michael, what are they doing?”

“They’re mourning our master’s disgrace, Celia. To be forced to drink the blood of an animal is the ultimate insult, specifically if it involves the blood from a swine.”

I gaped at Edith, jabbing herself in the eyes. “Is it really that bad?”

Michael knitted his brows tight. “It would be like someone forcing you to eat feces to survive.”

I tried not to gag. “Okay. I get it now.” I took in the state of the other vampires. Their grief was so dramatic, it was difficult to watch. “How long will they continue to mourn?”

“Not much longer. They will take the offense and transfer it into anger, to fuel our vengeance.”

Tye brought me out to the cabin and encouraged me to lie on the long velvet couch. “Let them do what they have to. In the meantime, try to rest. We have a hell of a fight ahead of us…especially if Lucinda knows we’re coming.”

—

We reached Guatemala in six hours. Misha’s latest message jolted me awake just before we began our descent. “Change in plans. We need to land in El Salvador and double back to Guatemala.”

Hank peeked over the seat in front of me. “Shit, Celia. Are you sure? We’re going to lose hours if you’re wrong.”

“It’s what Misha wants us to do.” That was all I needed to say. Hank rushed to speak to the pilots.

Liz watched him disappear into the cockpit. “Why do you think they changed their plans?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Tim hissed. “Wherever they are we’ll find them and destroy them for shaming our master.”

I thought back to the smile Lucinda gave me. She didn’t fear us. If anything she couldn’t wait to get her psycho hands on us. “Agnes, do you know if El Salvador holds any significance to Lucinda?”

Agnes thought about it. “It’s where she was born. All the whackos are from there.”

I narrowed my eyes. “My mother was El Salvadoran.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Although she apologized, I had the feeling she didn’t really mean it.

Tye frowned at her, but it wasn’t because of the slight against my mother. “Agnes, do you know if she’s one of those witches who are stronger on her home turf?”

“Technically it’s not where the witch is from, but where she made the most sacrifices. That’s why dark witches tend to stay in one area, rather than migrating to different regions,” she replied.

I dragged my fingers through my hair and swore. “But if she was born there, and she spent her life there, it’s likely that’s where she’s murdered most of her victims.”

Everyone exchanged glances. Tye’s fist knocked on the table. “Celia’s right. We need to stop her before she returns to El Salvador. We don’t want her stronger than she already is.”

Soldiers with machine guns the length of my body served as our welcoming committee when we landed in San Salvador. Thankfully none of the imposing males were immune to the vampires’ charms. After Misha’s family enjoyed their breakfast, we jumped into three awaiting SUVs constructed roughly around the First World War.

The worthless shocks jostled, shook, and rattled us down the highway. The humidity sky-rocketed the temperature to over one hundred degrees and none of the vehicles had working air conditioners. Good thing I wasn’t nauseated and dehydrated from puking or anything.

Tye had handed me a bottle of water upon landing, but I managed only a few sips at a time.

“You don’t look well. Do you have motion sickness?”

I caught a sign indicating our arrival in Santa Ana. “I haven’t been the same since we arrived back from Chaitén. But I’ll admit traveling this much isn’t helping.”

Edith handed me her hair tie. “Here, Celia.”

Next to setting up the unicorn bedroom, that was probably the nicest thing Edith had ever done for me. “Thank you.” I pulled back my mess of curls and welcomed the air against my sweat-soaked body. “That was really kind of you.”

Edith smiled and fixed her gaze on my throat. “You’re welcome. Now I have a full view of your neck! I love how your jugular dances against your hot skin, glistening with sweat and begging me to pierce its yummy goodness—”

“That’s enough, Edith.”

She frowned. “I’m trying to give you a compliment.”

“No. You’re not. You’re talking about eating me.”

“But—”

“Just turn around before I hurt you.”

Edith pouted her outrageously plump lips before turning to face the window. Her long black hair blew majestically in the breeze in true photo-shoot perfection. Like all of the good Catholics she had probably always been beautiful, even before being turned.

I admired her exotic looks and yet not much more. Of the four naughty schoolgirls she remained the wildest and her antics disturbing at best. Still, she had a heart and was completely devoted to Misha. She glanced back, likely sensing me watching her and smiled with perfect teeth…perfect teeth that elongated when she focused back on my throat. I sighed, knowing one day I might have to kill her.

Thankfully, she turned away at my glare, allowing me to take in my mother’s homeland in peace. Like in most third world countries, the poverty level was extremely high. None of the women risked walking in public with handbags. The ever-escalating gang violence and crime rate made everyone a potential victim despite their threadbare skirts and faded jeans.

Bright colors decorated the rows of cinder-block homes we passed, bars protected the windows and doors, and broken bottles ran along the edges of the high walls to keep intruders out. It was sad. These people probably didn’t have much, but all they had they’d fight to protect.

Hank pulled over when he noticed a woman selling food on the street. He and Tye climbed out and approached the old lady, completely intimidating her. Beside each other they were night and day. Hank with his dark hair and fair skin, dressed in a polo and khaki shorts, and Tye with his white blond hair, T-shirt, and cut-off jeans. Their long, muscular legs, arms, and torsos, combined with their scorching level of hotness, drew a crowd who watched them with cautious awe.