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Hardcastle mansion with both her aunt and her best friend was strange.  One of the idiots she went to school with reckoned it was some kind of bride of Dracula deal – with Andrew Hardcastle as Dracula and Kylie, Maggie, and Bea as his brides.  He reckoned they had orgies up there every night.  It wasn’t helped by Gary the nutjob fishmonger making accusations about people flying off into the sky carrying Kylie away.  Gary had gone away for a little rest now, and Brenda had told her classmate where to stick his theory.  Yes, there was a reason she wasn’t making friends easily.
    She supposed Kylie’s living arrangements were none of her business.  Although it had been a little weird around town lately, rising from completely boring to merely mildly boring.
    Both Andrew’s friend and his fiancée left town suddenly.  Uncle Chris thought that was odd and even mentioned it in passing to Andrew when he saw him in town.  He thought Brenda wasn’t listening, but she heard every word.  Andrew looked worried for a moment before he told Chris that they left because he found out they were having an affair and kicked them out.  He didn’t look very cut up about it.  But then he virtually panted after Maggie, so maybe he was relieved.  Chris wasn’t entirely satisfied with this explanation, but then he was naturally paranoid.
    Maybe something weird was going on at the house.  God, she hoped it wasn’t orgies.  So gross.  She’d lost her virginity to Kevin, and they’d had sex a handful of times after that, but in no way was she experienced when it came to those matters.  All her times with Kevin had been awkward and unsatisfying, but Kevin assured her it got better.
    Brenda sighed.  She missed him.  Or at least, she missed not feeling lonely.  Chris was great to her – she begrudgingly admitted that, but he wasn’t around much.
    “Jeez, Bob.  Looks like you’re my best friend.”
    He stopped licking himself and looked up her.
    “Real classy, Bob.  Let’s go home.”
    She tugged on the leash but froze as she heard a growl.  Bob whined.
    “Maybe it was a car backfiring,” she suggested hopefully.  “You don’t get bears up here, do you, Bob?”
    No answer.
    “Maybe we should go.”
    Bob was jogging away before she even finished her sentence, dragging her with him.  The odd thing was, she could swear that the growl came from the Hardcastle grounds.

Chapter Seven
    Ric tensed watching the deer, readying to pounce.  His mouth was almost watering at the thought of fresh meat.  The type Kylie got – prepared and in plastic wrapping – was not the same.  It should be, but it wasn’t.
    The thrill of the hunt thundered through his body, and blood pumping, he leaped forward just as the deer looked up, startled by a noise.  The animal evaded his grasp and sprinted away.
    Ric growled and turned just as a human female skidded to a halt in front of him.  Her mouth fell open in horror, and Ric held his breath.  Faint, tinny music sounded from her earphones.  She was wearing tight clothes and what he understood were running shoes.  Kylie had a pair - he had not seen her wear them.
    He hesitated, unsure what to do or say.  It was one thing to want to get out in the world and speak to strangers.  It was another to come face to face with one.
    They both stood still, staring at one another for a few beats.  Her in disbelief; him, unsure as to what to do next.
    Slowly, she reached up and pulled her earphones out.
    Ric held up his hand.  “Hello.”
    Her eyes widened, and wordlessly she ran in the opposite direction.  Ric growled and hurtled after her.  She was impressively fast for a human, but not fast enough.  He reached her and grabbed her in his arms.  She kicked and struggled, but it was no use.  His arms were like steel bands around her.  Eventually, after realizing the futility of her actions, she stopped and went limp.
    “Please don’t hurt me,” she whimpered.
    A flash of annoyance