Free Invitation to a Stranger by Margaret Pearce Page A

have a settled identity and live like a proper human being,” Drake explained. He paused as if thinking of how to express himself. “I hate them and their absolute power over us. I want to escape.”
    â€œWill said you are doing well with your studies,” Katie said. “Why do you need help?”
    â€œI am much older than I look. I finished the degree years ago, but because we moved around so much I had to keep re-enrolling under different names. I only have a few units to do to finish at this college. Also without the wealth of my family behind me, I will need money to survive.”
    â€œ So how can we help?” Ronnie asked.
    â€œI need a job to go to if I manage to escape the family.”
    â€œDad has a very small engineering company,” Katie said slowly. “I don’t know if he is large enough to employ you. As it is he is holding a space open for Will when he graduates.”
    â€œPerhaps he might hear of other vacancies? " Drake sounded suddenly desperate. “Before the ceremony next week at the full moon.”
    â€œPerhaps,” Katie said thoughtfully.
    Ronnie pulled her jumper around her more tightly, and shivered. It had got very cold and dark up in the swaying gum tree, and no longer pleasant. Also their conversation was getting a dreamlike, no, a nightmare like quality to it. How else could she explain sitting in the darkness talking to an almost vampire?
    â€œThere are the missing animals and children and there are probably others , aren’t there?” Katie’s voice accused through the darkness.
    â€œI will show you how to rescue them if you hide me from their vengeance,” Drake’s voice whispered. “You have no idea how powerful they are.”
    Ronnie gulped. Did this mean that her little brother Jamie and his mate Herbie were still alive? Were they going to be able to rescue them?
    â€œHow?” Ronnie asked.
    â€œNone of us can come in to anyone’s place without a formal invitation,” Drake’s voice explained. “Keep them out of where ever I am hidden.”
    â€œHow can we rescue the people and the animals and perhaps discourage your kinfolk?” Katie repeated.
    â€œI can show you the entrance to the underground cellars and a whiff of ammonia should rouse the captives enough to get them out,” Drake whispered. “But I’ve never heard of any way of killing them except by fire.”
    â€œRonnie! Katie!” Mrs. Campion’s voice came from down below. “What are you doing up there in the darkness and why are these rugs and cushions still all over the ground? Will’s turned up to collect Katie. Come down at once.”
    â€œComing right now,” Ronnie called down to her mother.
    â€œMeet you up here tomorrow night,” Katie whispered to Drake. “I’ll talk to Dad about a vacancy around the industry.”
    Ronnie felt the platform sway as though someone had jumped off it.
    Katie fumbled for the rope ladder. “ Should have bought the torch up here,” she muttered.
    â€œYou can tell where it is by feel,” Ronnie said. “You go first and I’ll follow you down.”
    The yard itself was brightly lit with the outside light. Katie and Ronnie collected blankets, cushions and homework. Will leaned against the back door waiting.
    â€œCatch up with you at school tomorrow,” Katie promised as she piled the extra cushions and blankets on to Ronnie. She then left with Will.
    â€œAnd about time,” her mother said irritably. “What on earth were you doing up there in the cold and dark.”
    â€œJust thinking,” Ronnie said meekly.
    There was a lot to think about. Her little brother was still alive and they were going to try to rescue him somehow. What sort of weird creatures Drake’s kin were if they took nourishment off human beings, but weren’t vampires?
    She suddenly remembered Drake saying that they raised meat cattle,