The ceremony of innocence is drowned

"So what do we do now?" asked Benny, as the two of the slouched dejectedly back towards Ethan's house.

"We get weapons and go and hunt these vampires," replied Ethan, with a confidence that he didn't really feel. His earlier enthusiasm for an encounter with vampires had, in reality, been dependent on Sarah doing most of the actual fighting. Now it seemed like they were on their own, and he didn't rate his and Benny's chances.

"How do we know what we're looking for?" asked Benny. "They could be anyone."

They looked at each other, and then at the other people in the street. Ethan gulped. "Well, uh, think logically about this. They're new, so it won't be anyone that we recognise."

"Oh, well, lucky that we know everyone in Whitechapel, then!"

Ethan shrugged. "It was only a suggestion!" He looked thoughtful. "I think we need to talk to your grandma. She might know a way of detecting a vampire. Also – three fighters are better than two."

"Grandma? I mean, she's pretty good with magic, but – she is rather old to be fighting vampires. It's not really something that people of her age can really do."

"I think she'll be just fine, Benny," said Ethan, smiling at his friend's doubt. Then he stopped suddenly, and frowned. Benny walked on for a few paces before noticing that his friend was no longer by his side, and then turned back in consternation.

"Ethan? Something the matter?"

Ethan stood, pondering, in silence for a while, before his expression gradually cleared and he looked up with renewed energy at Benny, who had retraced his steps. He grinned. "I think I've got it!"

Benny narrowed his eyes. "Got what?"

"I know what we're looking for."

"Like you did last time," said Benny, a warning note in his voice.

Ethan ignored the slight. "Old people!"

"What about them? They exist, and that's hardly a revelation."

Ethan shook his head irritably. "No, no, that's not my point at all! The vampires are old."

"Lots of them are," said Benny, not really seeing where Ethan was going with this. "It doesn't really help us much…"

"Benny, are you being deliberately obtuse? The vampires are all old people. Not just from a long time ago, but in the bodies of the elderly."

Benny frowned. "But all the vampires we've ever met have been young. It tastes better, or something."

Ethan wrinkled his nose at Benny. "How would you know that? That's disgusting!"

Benny blushed. "Well, uh, before I, uh, focused entirely on you, uh, remember that I used to hang on Erica's every word? She makes comments like that all the time."

Ethan hesitated, and then nodded. "Yeah. Now you mention it, I do remember her saying something like that. But that's exactly why these vampires are so hard to pin down. Nobody expects old vampires. Not anymore."

Benny looked thoughtful. "Now I kind of see it… So it was still a policeman that was a vampire – it was just not the one you thought it was."

"Exactly. And – remember how most of the people we saw yesterday were elderly? Any one of them could have killed the man we found."

Benny nodded. "But it still doesn't help us much. There are loads of old people around."

"Not at night, though," pointed out Ethan.

"So what do you suggest we do until then?"

"We get ready. We speak to your grandma, just in case she does know a way of identifying vampires, and also ways to kill them."

Benny looked apprehensive, but agreed. "OK…" he said, as they walked on and towards his house.

"You know," panted Ethan, "for – people that – live – in Whitechapel, which is – full – of vampires, we do – remarkably little – slaying." He grunted out the last word, twisting around to press the stake he was holding firmly into the straw bag hanging from the ceiling.

"Well, our vampires are pretty cute and cuddly, really. And, really, is that what we're calling it? Slaying?" said Benny, raising his eyebrows.

Ethan shrugged. "Why not?"

"Bit stylised."

"Well, yeah, but what we're doing is pretty archaic."

"Mmm. Maybe," said Benny distractedly, reading from his spell book. He muttered something. Ethan exclaimed in surprise as blue bands appeared around his waist, arms, and legs, pressing him against the wall. He struggled vainly, but couldn't free himself.

"Benny!"

"No, hang on, this is just a test. Try to wriggle free."

Ethan squirmed and twisted, both pushing and pulling at the bonds. Eventually, he gave up, shaking his head. "Nope. Stuck."

Benny nodded and murmured a counter spell. The bands disappeared, and Ethan stepped forwards, rubbing his wrists. Benny smiled. "So that spell works properly."

"Well," said Ethan, warningly, "it works on humans."

Benny nodded. "Might slow them down a bit." He closed the book and looked at the clock hanging on the wall of the shed. "Not long now until sunset."

He pulled the stake out of the straw dummy and carefully lined it up in height order with the others that they had prepared. He stared down at them for a while, before turning back to Ethan, his expression mournful.

"Look, E, we're probably not going to survive this, and –"

Without saying anything, Ethan interlinked his fingers with Benny's, and then leaned in to kiss him –

They were interrupted by a sharp set of raps at the rickety wooden door. Ethan stopped leaning forward and the two of them span apart busying themselves on opposite sides of the shed.

"Who is it?" called out Benny.

The door opened slowly, and Sarah's head appeared in the gap. "It's only us. Your grandma said hat you two were here."

Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "But I thought that you couldn't help?"

Sarah shook her head. "We can't kill other vampires, but we can help you two to do it. And, besides, like the pair of you would last five minutes on your own!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sarah," said Benny, holding the door open. Behind Sarah came Rory and Erica, carrying something big and heavy between them.

Ethan frowned. "What's that –" he started, until, when the two vampires dumped the large stone object in the middle of the floor, he understood. "You stole a font?"

Erica shrugged. "No-one else was using it, and I think you nerds need as much help as you can get." She held up a hand before either of the boys could respond. "I want to make it quite clear that I'm here because I want to continue snacking on the people of Whitechapel – I don't care whether either of you survive."

Benny pouted. "Come on, Erica, you know that's not true…" he wheedled.

"You're right," she said, with a sneer. "I really don't care whether either of you survive."

Rory, oblivious to the coldness of Erica's expression, broke across, enthusiastic. "Have you got any water pistols, Benny?"

Benny grinned, and went over to a dusty shelf and, after a little rummaging, pulled out a pair. Rory held out his hands for one, but Benny shook his head.

"I'm not sure that you should fill it up, Rory. You don't want to get splashed."

Rory paused, considered, and then nodded as he watched Benny plunge his hand into the font as he filled up the reservoirs. Carefully drying his hands on his jumper, Benny handed one to Rory, keeping hold of the other one.

"Harass them from a distance – but don't waste water!"

Rory nodded and started to pump up his weapon. Ethan and Sarah, meanwhile, had been threading stakes and crosses through a pair of belts, which Ethan and Benny then put on."

"You two are just going to have to rely on your natural strength," said Ethan, apologetically.

"My favourite," grinned Erica. "Not," she corrected hastily, "that I'm looking forward to this. In any way."

Sarah smiled. "Of course not!" She ignored the look that her friend gave her, and headed to the door.

She peered out. At this time of year, Whitechapel was prone to very sudden nights, and, as the last rays of the sun winked away over the hill, the darkness pervaded everywhere almost immediately. Looking around, she noticed that there wasn't even much of a moon to give them a little light.

Sarah turned to Ethan, and jumped, for he had been right at her shoulder. "Ready?" he said, calmly. Benny, who was secretly holding Ethan's shaking hand steady, knew different, but even he was reassured by Ethan's confident air.

"Let's get going!" Sarah declared, throwing open the door.