DISCLAIMER: Isn't it odd that my favorite "Talk Soup" host, John Henson, is the only "Talk Soup" host to have faded into obscurity? I mean, Greg Kinnear is doing films and getting Academy Award nominations, Hal Sparks is doing witty commentary on VH1, and Aisha Tyler is analyzing DNA on "CSI." So wherefore art thou, John? I heard CNBC cancelled John McEnroe's show; maybe you could take over the 10pm slot. Please come back to us, Skunkboy!

Enough of my random thoughts. You came here for Chapter 22, didn't you? Well, here 'tis. Stick with me, people. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Which might be an oncoming train, but let's stay optimistic…

Consciousness came very, very slowly back to her. Sara felt the cold floor against her cheek and tried to raise her head up. Finding that her hands were bound with rope behind her back, she was unable to sit up and resignedly sank back to the floor.

"Ah, have you decided to rejoin us, Miss Cross?"

Sara looked from the expensive Italian leather shoes that had come to a stop in front of her, all the way up to the face of Malcolm Ryland as he stared down at her, casually cleaning his glasses with a handkerchief.

"Professor Ryland? You shot me," she croaked through a dry throat.

"Yes, I know. But you were about to kill my lord and master, and I couldn't very well let that happen."

"Your lord and master?"

"You see, I serve a higher power, Miss Cross. Something you would know nothing about, what with the Council and its endless miles of red tape, its bowing and scraping to one politician after another. Now I realize it's very heartwarming to think that you're doing God's work but tell me, Miss Cross, has the world become a better place since you started fighting? The countless demons and vampires that you've killed, the many times that you've risked your life, has that helped the fate of humanity become any brighter?"

"You think Davrok wants to help humanity?"

"No, of course not. Humanity is beneath him. We humans are lost in doubt and insecurity, conflicted by emotions and morals. When Davrok takes control of this world, life will become so much simpler, so much clearer. Kill or be killed."

"Ryland, why are you doing this?"

"Because I want what every human wants—immortality."

"Believe me, immortality is over-rated. Think of having to relive those horrid fashion trends over and over," she sighed. "You wannabe's with your romantic notions of vampires. They're not seductive, superior beings poncing around in fancy clothes with Eurotrash accents. They are ruthless demons who set up shop in your body, parasites that have to feed on the living. Your mind and your soul won't be around to enjoy all the perks you think you're gonna' get after you're turned. So you might want to think long and hard about this. There's no way back when you become a forsaken one."

"Oh, we both know that's just anti-vampire propaganda perpetuated by the very narrow-minded Council," he said dismissively. He kneeled down to be closer to her eye level. "Frankly, I'm surprised you've never tried to cross over. Think of it, Sara. No more human weakness, all the strength of an immortal. There's nothing you couldn't do."

"Apart from walking in daylight."

"Very well." He stood up and walked out of her line of sight. "I gave you a choice, Miss Cross. And you chose death. How nice that you won't live to regret it."

Grayson pulled up to the front of Kimbolton Castle. He couldn't see Ryland's car nor the one Sara had taken from the garage. He could only assume they'd parked around back.

Shaun unbuckled his seat belt. "Right, what's the first thing we need to do?"

"Evacute the school. And we better get a move on. We're losing daylight, and it's not gonna' be easy to get several hundred kids to leave school."

"You kidding me? It's an excuse to leave school; I'm fairly sure they'll jump at the chance. Or we could tell 'em there's free ice cream down the street or something."

"Good thinking."

"Let me just check on Ed." Shaun opened the back door and made sure Ed's restraints were still in place. "Listen, we'll be right back, Ed. In the meantime, I need you to stay right here, okay? Do not move."

The zombie moaned sadly in compliance. Shaun touched his forehead to Ed's for a moment, then shut the door and went to join Grayson as he walked up the steps through the columned entrance.

They approached the reception desk in the grand foyer. "Hi, we need to speak with the school administrator," Grayson began. "It's a very urgent matter."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, I'm afraid this is an emergency. You see, we…um, detected a gas leak in a part of the old building. And according to protocol, it's imperative that we evacuate the school as quickly and efficiently as possible."

"Gas leak?" She looked at them quizzically. Then her wide eyes registered recognition. "Oh, yes, you must be from the Council. Mr. Simmonds told us you were on the way. I'll let Mr. Pascoe know that you're here. We've already begun evacuation procedures. Would you like a cup of tea while you wait?"

"I'd love some," Shaun offered.

In short order, a fleet of buses was mobilized in the school's parking lot, and the children were loaded onto them enroute to a nearby village. Daylight was fading quickly as the last bus pulled away, and the school's staff went to their individual cars to join the convoy.

Shaun and Grayson stood in the doorway and watched the last of the cars depart. "Guess we need to find this private chapel now?" Shaun inquired.

"Yeah, Pascoe showed me the way to the old part of the castle. He says it's down a few corridors and some stairs, and we can't miss it." He was scanning the horizon as the warm orange glow of the sun succumbed to a midnight blue. Something seemed to be moving in the trees ahead of them.

"Is that what I think it is?" Shaun asked warily.

"If you think it's a bloodthirsty legion of the undead, then yes it's what you think it is."

"How many?"

"Lots." Grayson shoved Shaun inside and closed the door as the vampires started to emerge from the trees and move quickly across the lawn. He ran up the stairs, and Shaun tried to keep up.

"What are we gonna' do?" Shaun demanded. "We don't have time to get in and rescue Sara and set up Ed with the explosives."

"We need to rescue Sara first. She's the key to the seal."

"How do we do that?"

"I don't know, I'm making this up as I go." He burst through the door to the old part of the castle, and they continued running down corridors and a narrow flight of stairs. "First thing we need to do is keep all those extra vampires out of the chapel."

"Any suggestions?"

"Unfortunately, this building is a school. It's open to all, so the vampires won't have a problem getting in."

"Can we lock the doors or something?"

"They'd break through. We need to do a counter-spell to cancel the invitation."

Finally they came to a stop outside a set of large double doors with crosses carved into the wood. "This must be the chapel," Grayson stated. He reached into an inside coat pocket to produce a small book which he placed in Shaun's hands.

"The Little Book of Useful Spells?" Shaun read in disbelief as he looked at its cover of swirly letters and a cartoon cauldron. "You gotta' be kidding me."

"Hey, don't judge a book by its cover…or its size. There's some very powerful incantations in there. Look for the one to repeal consent." He hurriedly removed the crossbow from his backpack and began to load it. The faint sound of breaking doors and hurried shuffling feet grew nearer.

"Is this Latin? I don't know Latin," Shaun said, panicking as he flipped to what he thought was the correct page.

One vampire after another began to appear at the other end of the corridor, walking slowly toward them.

"It's easy," Grayson said, opening one of the chapel doors and stepping inside. "Just make sure you pronounce every single letter. Oh, and say it in English as well, to be on the safe side."

The vampires were at a run now, trying to get inside the chapel before it was too late.

"His verbes, consensus rescissus est," Shaun stammered with uncertainty as he followed Grayson into the chapel. "By these words, consent repealed."

"Sorry, guys, this is a private party." Grayson slammed the doors shut on the advancing horde and grabbed an iron torch from the wall, threading it through the door handles as a precaution. The two men braced for an imminent assault on the door, but none came. They sighed in relief that the spell had worked and then looked around the chapel, letting their eyes adjust to the flickering glow of the torches.

Sara continued to lie on the cold stone floor of the chapel. It was after sunset, she was alone and defenseless, and there would be no last-minute rescue. If the Council was sending anyone, they would have been here by now. She closed her eyes and wished that all of this were some bad dream, a product of too many amaretto sours.

But it felt all too real when a massive, clawed hand closed around her throat and roughly pulled her to her feet to stand in front of Ryland at the altar. Davrok continued to hold her firmly by the throat as they stood above the seal in the floor, La Trayectoria Luz.

"Ah, yes, I think I have everything now," Ryland proclaimed. "Shall we begin the ritual?"

"I grow impatient to spill her blood," Davrok snarled.

"All right, all right. Keep your chain mail on. I suppose it won't hurt to start a bit early."

"You're messing with forces you can't begin to understand, Ryland," Sara attempted to say through her nearly-crushed throat.

"On the contrary, Miss Cross, I believe it was your Council's translator that failed to realize that you were the necessary sacrifice. I can see why there was a little confusion, some bits of the prophecy were a bit obscure. But I assure you I know perfectly well what I'm doing."

"You won't get away with this," she continued.

"Oh, that's so cliché, Sara. Can't you think of any other last words?" Ryland asked condescendingly. "I suppose you think some Council cavalry will come busting through those doors, but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The several hundred vampires that we've summoned to this site will keep them far too busy to get to you in time."

"Look, mate, I've met some very powerful shamans in my time. And when they bring me back to life, you are so gonna' get your ass kicked," she added. Davrok's grip grew tighter, silencing her.

"Language, Miss Cross. We are on holy ground," Ryland chided. "Now if we could avoid any further interruptions…"

He opened his arms wide and looked upward, beginning to chant. "The center is dark. Centrum est obscurus. The darkness breathes. Tenebrae respiratis. The listener hears. Hear me. Unlock the gate, let the darkness shine. Abre la puerta a la noche, abre La Trayectoria Luz. Accept our humble offering. With the blood of the warrior in light, shall the earth be cleansed. The world will once again belong to the Old Ones, and the blood of men shall flow like wine."

Ryland removed a silver dagger from its sheath. He started to bring it close to Sara's throat, but Davrok grasped his hand and stopped him. "I have waited long to taste the blood of a slayer. I need no dagger to open her veins."

"I really think it best if we stick to the ritual…" Ryland insisted. He was quickly silenced when Davrok growled at him. "All right, all right, but if you end up opening some hell dimension, don't expect me to close it."

The vampire gently pulled the hair aside from her neck to expose it. Sara closed her eyes tightly and tried to prepare herself for the pain. As his fangs moved closer to her skin, Davrok suddenly felt a presence behind him and the point of something sharp in his back.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice behind him interrupted.

Davrok turned with Sara still in his grip and found himself staring down the length of a sword.