"I was only doing what I was told," Nist Hatterly whimpered. "I nearly had a heart-attack when I saw him on the floor. Not just because of all the blood. I'm used to blood. My mistress... I'm sure you know what I mean. But when I opened the door, he was looking up at me with that face. God, that awful face. That's the reason I screamed. Oh, Mr. Harles! Who would have hurt that man? You know he let me scratch behind his ears once? They usually hate that. He let me do it. He was a gentleman."
Happigo tried desperately not to roll her eyes. The girl looked like she was about to cry. "Where were you right after dinner?"
"I went to the powder room after clearing the table. I was feeling nervous, being the only human, so I didn't want to talk with the guests much. Talatia followed me, but she was feeling ill and I let her use my room for a lie down. I was putting on powder, and after that I just sat around."
Nist did appear to have spent some time on her looks. Pity all the crying made it a wasted effort. "Did you notice anyone else?"
"My room is actually at the back of the powder room, and I never saw Talatia come out, so I doubt she had anything to do with this. Other than that, Honduras was in the hall, and I saw Corund while I was clearing the table. He was looking at the statues in the dining hall before I left. I think he made some of them. Like, a long time ago."
She sniffed, and still refused to look at either Lily or Happigo.
Lily asked, "Why do you feel afraid of them? Or nervous? Haven't you been working for a vampire for some time?"
"Yes, but I'm a freemealer."
Happigo raised an eyebrow. "You mean you want to be a vampire?"
Nist nodded.
This was interesting. Only true vampires had the power to change a human into the undead, and one couldn't be more pure-blooded than Dame Venetti.
"You've been bitten before?" asked Lily.
Nist seemed to perk up. She said, almost happily, "Twice, although not recently. I'm pretty convinced I want to do it, but Mistress Venetti says I'm not ready yet, and that I shouldn't rush things. They are such gentle creatures! Nothing like you read about in history books. And the power that woman has when she looks into my eyes and her spell falls over me...it is a wonderful feeling. I barely feel the bite, and it is like being indifferent to death. My mistress has more than power and compassion; she's the smartest person I know. I trust her with my life."
"Obviously," Happigo said, before she could stop herself. She rallied with another question. "Was there anything strange that you noticed at all, during or after dinner, or when you entered the room and found Mr. Harles?"
Nist responded with more verve, having confessed her obsession and desire. "No, but...I just don't know why anyone would go into a vampire's room. Even a werewolf! That's home advantage for a vampire." Nist waved an imaginarey penant between thumb and forefinger. "I don't even know if Corund would be a match for Mistress Venetti in her own room, and that man can lift a truck."
Happigo guessed a truck wasn't the limit. Mummies were slow, but made up for it tenfold in strength. Also, she was becoming impatient with an excitable boo-hoo girl that always looked at the ground. "I suppose that's good enough for now. Could you fetch Mr. Ponent for me? Thank you. And good luck with...you know. The biting thing."
After Nist left, Happigo glanced at Lily. Lily seemed lost in thought.
"Lily?"
"Hm?" Lily jerked her head round, suddenly.
"Anything come to mind?"
"No. I was just thinking about that girl."
Happigo gave her a questioning look. Lily went on.
"It's just that it's true. We can smell fear on people. She was afraid. I was pretending she was afraid of me. Reminded me of stories about the old days. Running through the woods, a scared girl, desperately racing back to her village, all the while..."
Happigo let Lily continue. There was an end table to Happigo's side, and she reached over, picking up a newspaper, and casually rolling it up. Then, she raised her arm and brought the paper down on the back of Lily's head.
"Ow!"
"Stop being alpha," Happigo said.
Lily rubbed her head and snarled. "I wasn't being alpha, I was being feral. You know, werewolves have to try harder than everyone else. You could give me a break."