He gingerly laid Hector down on the hay. Hector was awake, but his lips were blue, and he didn’t seem to be all there. “Why here?” Gertie asked, catching her breath as she dropped the shield on the floor beside them. Jeno sat back on his heels. “We’ll call the boy.” “Where’s my mother?” Hector muttered through parched lips. “Is she…?” “Gone,” Gertie said. “I’m so sorry.” Hector stared back blankly, and then nodded. “You will be too,” Jeno said. “Unless you drink blood. Unless you turn into one of us.” Gertie heard the barn latch lift and the door creak open. The boy was coming. Jeno had called to him already. “What?” Hector looked horrified. “You want me to become a vampire?” “Oh, Hector.” Gertie fought back tears. “It’s either that or die.
