"You do know that she is the strongest in a five mile radius. Probably more. She could overwhelm everyone in that castle." Penelope spoke, walking over to them and pulling something out of her pocket. "Here." she handed Stella a candy bar, opening one for herself. Stella suddenly remembered how hungry she was. The last meal she had had was breakfast when she arrived at June's mansion, and it was past dinner time now.
But she as she stretched out her arm to reach for it, Sharp took and pocketed it. "She doesn't need anything sweet. She's tempting enough as it is." he almost growled at his cousin, who only shrugged and munched on her own candy bar.
As soon as she finished her candy bar, Penelope turned around and ran in the direction they had been going. "Come on." Stella turned her head upon hearing Sharp's voice, and her heartbeat quickened upon seeing his outstretched hand. Stella looked uncertainly at Sharp's face through her eyelashes. She never liked whenever he was this good to her. It almost always meant that he was mistaking her for Helen, once again. And well, sooner or later Stella was bound to do something that would make Sharp realize she wasn't Helen. And things never ended well when he remembered that.
"Come on McCarteny, I want to see that stupidly brave kid who isn't afraid of vampires." Sharp muttered, holding out his hand further and Stella chuckled before placing her hand in his.
She had no idea what was going on, but she had realized that Sharp needed her right now. She did not know why, or whether he needed her or just the ghost of another person. But she was going to be there for him. And she was going to follow his instructions to the word, Stella thought as her face took on a mask. She was going to act like she was the strongest in a five mile radius, and was going to make sure that everyone in Sharp's house would believe it.
Stella started running at full speed as soon as Sharp tightened his hold on her hand. She ran so fast that she was dragging Sharp behind her. They soon caught up with Penelope, and Stella saw the expression of warning on her face, and knew that they were already in earshot.
"Which direction?" Stella spoke and rushed in the direction Penelope pointed out of for her. Sharp helped her with two turns, and after a minute of running, Stella needed no directions. Her breath hitched and eyes widened as she stared at the castle in front of her. Stella had expected Sharp's house to be big, all these vampires were filthy rich. But this was a full fledged castle, not a mansion like June's house. Stella felt a pressure on her hand that was holding Sharp's and remembered. "Haughty indifference. Right." she thought as she wiped every expression of awe from her face.
By the time the castle came in full view, they had been running for about ten minutes in total and Stella had begun to pant a little too much. She stopped when Sharp pulled her hand. "Let's wait for Penelope. We'll go in together." he said, and Stella nodded, thankful for the rest. She wiped her brow and evened out her breathing.