Katelina woke first the next evening. She watched a spider spin webs in the rafters and wondered how many bugs it took to keep it alive. One a day? One a week? She didn't know much about arachnid biology, just as she knew almost nothing about vampires'.

Jorick woke and the others followed. Katelina marveled that, despite the lumpy bed, she wasn't sore, achy, or stiff. It was another perk of vampirism.

Xandria bounced urgently, and Katelina realized she needed to go. She ...