Vanessa had total confidence in Yves's abilities, and besides, there was little she could have done at that stage. Using the verbis diablo was always an absolute last resort, and it was very much not something she wanted to ever have to do, at all, even less so in front of Yves. It was too dark a part of her, and always took her a step closer to being a Nightcomer.

And Daywalker magic, of course, was useless in this situation.

Instead, she started to go through the bodies, heart beating hard every time she saw long, blonde hair. But it was never Mina.

And then, suddenly, she found herself face to face with what she had no doubt was the Master so talked about by the human-looking vampires. This one would be called humanoid at best. It was naked, and entirely hairless, its skin pale and eyes blood-red. Its long fingers ended in sharp claws, and its mouth was full of fangs. It drew itself up in front of Vanessa and appeared to watch her curiously.

"Yesss," it hissed in a rumble of a voice. "You are she."