Flight of Frost and Aurora

Chapter 23

"So you finally bucked up the nerve to defy Carmilla," Alastor chuckled, a teasing glint sparkling in his eyes. "So, little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes has finally decided to rebel. I knew it was only a matter of time."

Vagatha rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Can we please change the subject?"

"Why? This is a monumental moment for me! At last, you're breaking the rules! You're doing something the sisters forbade! Oh, this is just splendid!"

"Enough! Now is not the time to gloat! I came here to warn you about Madame Katia. Lord Zestial is away again, which means she's probably lurking around here. In fact, she tried to kill you the other night while you were skating."

"Oh, I'm well aware," Alastor replied, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a deep gash running down his arm. "No doubt her rusty scythe did this."

"Wait, you already knew?"

"You still think I'm just a big idiot, don't you?"

"What am I supposed to think? You know she's after you, yet you're acting so calm! You do realize you can't see or hear her anymore, right?"

"Yes, but I can sense when she's nearby, and I'm familiar with all her tricks. You see, my dear Vagatha, we are like two foxes raised in a domestic setting, while Madame Katia is a mindless, savage hunter. Now that we've left our sheltered lives, we've become prey to the hunters and hounds. However, because we were domesticated for a time, we know some of man's tricks and can combine that with our natural instincts. Do you get my point?"

"Sort of."

"In simpler terms, we may be human now, but living with Mother Rosamund and Carmilla has taught us all about their kind, including Madame Katia. That gives us an edge."

"I suppose that makes sense, but I think you're taking this too lightly."

"No, I'm not. I'm just pretending to."

"Why?"

"Because I don't think she's figured out who I am, so to speak. If she had, she wouldn't have let me slip away so easily the other night. Therefore, I can't let her know I'm onto her. I have to make sure she thinks I'm just an average human—nobody important."

"But she'll probably figure it out eventually."

"I doubt it. She's not exactly the most cunning predator. She's like a hunter's dog; she can track prey but always makes noise when she spots it, scaring it off."

"But you can't hear her."

"Figure of speech, my dear cousin. It's not the noise that alerts me to her presence; it's the sadistic energy I sense when she's near."

Vagatha crossed her arms, concern etched across her features. "Still, Alastor, this isn't just some game. She's dangerous, and you're underestimating her."

Alastor shrugged, a hint of a smile dancing on his lips. "Underestimating? Hardly. I just know that panicking never helps anyone. Besides, I've faced worse threats than her."

"Like what?"

"Well, for starters, you," he replied with a smirk. "I still have the scorch marks on my britches from last year."

"You're still upset about that? I said I was sorry!"

"You did it on purpose!"

"I did not! I was just trying to thaw out my flowers that you froze. You walked by, I sneezed, and, well... one thing led to another. And while we're on the subject, let me remind you of the time you froze my hands so badly that the sisters almost had to cut off my fingers!"