Page 107 of Be Still My Unbeating Heart

“A protection charm to cloak us from the council, in case they survive. It should buy us some time.”

“You really can turn people invisible?” he asked.

“Not invisible, exactly, just make them less likely to look in our direction.”

He gave her a wry smile. “You are a marvel. And I would be very surprised if the council survived De Luca’s attack. Their faces slid clean off their skulls.”

“Good,” Whitby said.

Bastian shuddered at the memory of those jaws releasing, the sickly yellow gleam of hungry eyes, and he looked out the windscreen as they drove between fields, shaking off the image. If the councildidsurvive, it would take a while for them to recover, perhaps even a lifetime.

In the distance, the ocean was almost entirely concealed behind a dozen rising plumes of black smoke. The smoke rose above Vernazza, combining to form a dark cloud that hung over the town.

“They actually set fire to Vernazza,” Bastian said, still unable to process the so-called logic behind the Obliterati’s actions. They came to towns to feed on vampires, and they ruined the place if their appetites were not sated. He replayed the image of their bodies blistering and burning as holy water consumed them and felt better.

“Psychopaths,” De Luca grunted, squeezing the wheel. “We were able to stop most of the fires before too much damage was caused, but some buildings are already ruined.”

“And the commissario?” Bastian asked.

De Luca shook his head. “He is blaming vampires. Would you expect anything else?”

“No, dear, I wouldn’t.”

“That’s not all,” Whitby said. She blinked at the inspector. “I think it’s time you told him, De Luca.”

Bastian frowned. “Told me what?”

De Luca took a breath. “Enzo is missing.”

“Your brother? Since when?”

“Since after Salvador’s body was taken away. I dealt with Zappa and the council, and when I went back upstairs to check on Enzo, he was gone.”

“I thought he was bedbound,” Bastian said.

De Luca exhaled. “So did I.”

“Do you think he—” Bastian couldn’t finish the sentence, knowing how badly it could hurt De Luca. He couldn’t bear having De Luca look at him the way he had in the house. Cold and injured and angry.

“I don’t see how Enzo can be the one hurting people,” the inspector said, no anger in his tone. “But after everything that’s happened, I suppose we should consider it a possibility. Either way, I have to find him.”

“Perhaps Arianna knows where he is,” Bastian said.

“Or she took him,” Whitby mused. “She’s his ex, right? And going by the way she behaves around you, Inspector, I’d say that she still cares for Enzo.”

De Luca nodded. “That was my thought, too. Although I have no idea how she got in and out of the house without me seeing.” He sighed, then raised a smile in the rearview mirror. “Who wants another ice cream?”

—

The town was alive with activity when they returned. The scent of smoke clogged the streets and people rushed about in a fevered state. Some lugged suitcases and appeared to be leavingVernazza, while others bore bulging supermarket bags, helping those who had been affected by the fires.

Bastian felt a pang of guilt, then reminded himself that the tragedies that had befallen Vernazza weren’t his fault. He had been trying to help the townspeople ever since the first body on the beach. Just because he was a vampire didn’t mean he was like the council.

He spotted Micio Micio on the left, a little farther down the cobbled street. Outside the cat café, half a dozen bunches of flowers lay on the ground, alongside a number of cards and pictures. Presumably, they had been left by locals in tribute to Luna and Emilio.

Standing by the tributes were two women. One wore a large sun hat, which was how Bastian recognized her.

“Is that the olive oil woman?” Whitby asked, following Bastian’s gaze.