The rooftops of Escrow loomed out of the darkness as the vampires drifted lower. A few windows were glowing with candlelight when Agnes’s feet touched the ground.

Vlad dropped down beside her.

“Of course, you can’t see it at its best in this weather,” he said. “Some quite good architecture in the town square, and a very fine town hall. Father paid for the clock.”

“Really.”

“And the bell tower, naturally. Local labor, of course.”

“Vampires have a lot of cash, do they?” said Agnes. The town looked quite large, and pretty much like the country towns down on the plains save for a certain amount of gingerbread carving on the eaves.

“Well, the family has always owned land,” said Vlad, ignoring the sarcasm. “The money mounts up, you know. Over the centuries. And obviously we’ve not enjoyed a particularly active social life.”

“Or spent much on food,” said Agnes.

“Yes, yes, very good—”

A bell started to toll, somewhere above them.

“Now you’ll see,” said Vlad. “And you’ll understand.”