The servant girl shrank back into the dark room, her fear rolling through the open door, thick and choking.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I've had a rough day."
She peered back out, her light blue eyes wide. "I can see that. You've been crying."
Vampire guts had exploded over me, and yet she pointed out the tear tracks, triggered by the impossible photo on Detective Appelt's desk, that had surely cut through the grime? Strange, but also telling of her empathy levels if she chose to home in on that. Maybe she could be trusted. Eventually.
I waved a hand at the rest of the house. "So...the library?"
After a moment, the girl came back out and crossed the entryway toward the opposite door. "This way."
I followed, and the dog brought up the rear, its claws clicking the marble floor
