To Curse the Darkness by P.G. Forte

elsewhere after our break. This room will need to be cleansed—most thoroughly.” He glanced at Drew, who stood as before, watchful, wary, still awaiting orders. “You seem very young. When were you fledged?”
    Drew swallowed hard. “A little over two months ago, Master,” he replied.
    â€œNo!” Conrad growled. “Do not call me that—ever.”
    â€œConrad,” Georgia corrected gently, rolling her eyes in fond amusement. “Conrad, or sir, or my lord—you may address him by any of those—even sire, if you prefer it. Just not the other.”
    â€œConrad,” Drew repeated obediently. “Yes, milady. Thank you.”
    â€œTwo months.” A frown had creased Conrad’s brow. If Georgia didn’t know better, she’d have said he looked even more worried now. “It was not Brockwell who sired you, was it?”
    Drew shook his head. “No, sir. My sire was named Magdelena.”
    â€œAnd where is she now?”
    Grief shone briefly in Drew’s eyes. “She is dead, sir.”
    â€œHow?”
    Drew’s gaze strayed to Brockwell’s body. “By his hand, sir. He killed her.”
    â€œBrockwell did.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œWas she ill?”
    â€œIll?” Drew repeated the word blankly. “Why, no, my lord, not that I know of.”
    â€œAre you certain?”
    â€œYes, my lord.”
    â€œWere you there when it happened? Did you see her die?”
    Drew bowed his head. His voice was but a pained whisper. “Yes. I-I was there when he did it.”
    â€œAnd? What did he do afterward? How did he behave? Did he drain the body after he killed her?”
    Drew winced. “Yes, my lord, he did.”
    Georgia frowned. It seemed cruel, forcing the boy to relive what had clearly been a painful time. “Conrad, what’s this about?”
    But Conrad ignored her. “One more question,” he said to Drew. “Why did he kill her?”
    Drew shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know how to answer that, sir. He didn’t offer an explanation and I…” There was a hint of tears in Drew’s voice. He paused, and then continued in a more even tone, “I did not view myself as being in a position to ask for one. It happened very suddenly. She angered him somehow, I suppose.”
    â€œI imagine that’s happened often of late.”
    â€œYes, sir. She was not the only one. I have seen more than half a dozen meet the same fate. He was…easily angered.”
    â€œI don’t doubt he was,” Conrad said with a sigh. “No, I don’t doubt that at all.” He shook his head and added, “Very well. There should be some servants about somewhere; go and find one of them and inform them of what has happened. I would have wood and kindling brought to me here, and a fire made. And fetch me some clean clothes too, if you would be so kind. Someone will direct you where to find them.”
    Georgia watched in silence as Drew bowed obediently, then turned and left the room. “You know, my liege,” she murmured when she and Conrad were once again alone, “while I do appreciate your actions—not least of all because blood is so difficult to wash out of this fabric, and I would have hated to have spoiled my new gown—still I would like to point out that I could have handled things quite well on my own.”
    â€œI am sure you think so.” Conrad glanced sharply at her. “And you may be certain that I am aware of your abilities. They are well known to me. But as for sparing your gown, you should know there are more than a few spatters upon your skirt.”
    â€œAre there?” Georgia spread out her skirts and frowned. “Bother!”
    â€œHave you anything else to change into?”
    â€œWhat, here?” Surely he was joking? “Are you of the opinion that I keep a wardrobe in each of your houses? I should warn you, I will