Steve's apartment was a dump, it was falling apart. In fact it was barely standing, the places on either side had already collapsed in on themselves and it would only be a matter of time before Steve's place did the same.
"Knock, knock," Steve growled, kicking open the door.
"Look who's finally decided to turn up," someone mumbled. Steve walked into the room and I followed, nervously. When I saw who was sprawled out on Steve's moth eaten sofa I couldn't stop myself from grinning. I tugged on Steve's sleeve and he looked at me questioningly so I put my finger to my lips and crept round the back of the sofa. The vampaneze that was laid there hadn't seen me, I wanted to surprise him, I couldn't believe how many old friends had turned up in the last couple of days. I reached over the back of the sofa quickly, put one hand over the vampaneze's eyes and my arm around his neck.
"What the…." He began, trying to sit up.
"Guess who," I giggled.
"No! That's impossible! Surely that's not Ember?" he gasped.
"Hiya Harlan," I said, grinning, taking my hands away from him.
Harlan twisted round and stared at me open-mouthed.
"I'm sorry, am I missing something here?" Steve asked.
"He was one of the vampaneze at Vampire Mountain," I explained.
"Was he now?" Steve said, I didn't like the way he said it.
"That was before I knew you Steve," Harlan said, he seemed to be defending himself.
"By the way, thanks for the presents you left me, they kept me warm on my way home," I said.
"I've got a heap in the other room if you want one now," Harlan chuckled.
"What's that?" Steve asked, suspiciously.
"Fags," I replied.
"Oh no, you're not smoking in here," Steve said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Smoking is a habit, if you're with me I don't want to see habits, habits lead to all kinds of trouble!" Steve snapped.
"Seems like someone's suddenly aged eighty years Grandpa," I mumbled.
"Are you always like this?" Steve snarled.
"No, she's alright," Harlan said.
"Good, I won't kill you then," Steve said to me, smiling. I think he was joking.
I spent all evening at Steve's place. I met his 'defenders', his 'club members', they helped him to plan and construct ideas. His main aim was what he was going to do about Shan but I found out that there was a war going on between the vampires and the vampaneze just as Kurda had predicted there would be and Steve had some big part to play in that. I wasn't quite sure what it was, he was very vague about it, but he was involved largely in the War of the Scars in some way. I had decided that I didn't yet trust Steve but he didn't make me nervous, his friend Gannen, on the other hand, terrified me. He seemed to have taken an immediate disliking to me for some reason.
"But Steve, Kurda said that if this war did break out then the vampaneze would win it and destroy the vampires," I said, worried.
"I should bloody well think so too!" Steve laughed.
"But Steve you're forgetting that I'm a vampire, I don't want to get wiped out!" I cried.
"Easily solved," Harlan said.
"How?" I asked.
"We'll blood you as a vampaneze, it's pretty dangerous but it's been done before," Harlan replied. I didn't say anything, I wasn't definitely saying no but it would take a lot of thinking about. The door opened with a bang and we all twisted round to see who was there.
"You're turn Gannen, good luck out there man it's raining cat's and dogs!" the man in the doorway said. He had a bushy black beard and black hair but my eyes were immediately drawn to the ends of his arms where he had hooks instead of hands. Gannen stood up and nodded, he shot me a filthy look as if he thought I was going to attack his back and then he wandered out of the door.
"Who's the girl?" R.V. asked.
"R.V. Ember, Ember R.V.," Steve yawned. At times like that I usually shook hands but somehow I didn't think that would be a very good idea with R.V. so I waved instead and smiled.
As it turned out I got on quite well with R.V. and with Gannen gone I was able to talk more comfortably with Steve as well. It was long past midnight before I decided I would have to head for home, I hugged R.V. and gave Harlan a playful punch on the shoulder. I offered my hand to Steve to shake and he brought it up to his lips and kissed it lightly.
"Come back tomorrow," he said, I nodded and made my way out of the door. I threw my school bag over my shoulder as I stepped out into the street, Gannen had been standing on the remains of the building next door but when he saw me he jumped down.
"I don't like you," he told me.
"Why?" I asked, my voice level.
"You remind me too much of Steve," he replied. That confused me but he'd leapt up onto the roof before I could question him further.
When I knocked on the door Kealan was pleased to see me, he hugged me so tightly I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head.
"Kealan, you're hurting me!" I gasped. Kealan let go of me, his eyes were watery.
"Why didn't you tell us you were safe?" he demanded.
"I was upset, I'm sorry," I replied.
"You had us really worried," Kealan sniffed.
"I'm sorry," I repeated.
"No matter," Kealan, said, smiling, "What have you been eating?"
"Nothing," I said, shrugging. Kealan frowned at me, opened the cupboard, pulled out a loaf of bread, got some butter out of the fridge and started spreading at the speed of a madman. He'd buttered up eight pieces of bread before I had to tell him to stop, he wandered over to the fridge and pulled out a jug of blood, he poured it into a glass and shoved it into my hand. Then he sent me off into the living room with the bread and blood and shut the door on me. Christo was lying on the sofa, he saw me come in but didn't bother to put his feet down.
"You're back then," he muttered.
"Kind of looks that way doesn't it?" I said.
"I was watching you, I don't like that Steve," Christo growled.
"Why not?" I asked.
"There's something not right about him, he's unhinged, I don't want you seeing him anymore," Christo spat.
"Since when were you the boss of me?" I asked, outraged.
"Since I found out you can't even look after yourself," Christo replied. I swore at him and stomped off upstairs with my meal.
Jasper woke me up at about four o'clock the next morning.
"I'm so glad you're home," he said quietly so he didn't wake anyone else.
"Where have you been?" I asked.
"I applied for a night job, I'm starting tomorrow," Jasper replied excitedly. "How about you? I heard what happened with your friend Finch,"
"I was helped out by an old friend, his name's Steve, he's a half-vampaneze," I replied, "I've been at his place."
"Steve who?" Jasper asked.
"I forget, his last name's like Lombard or something," I replied.
"Not Steve Leonard?" Jasper said.
"That's him," I said, smiling.
"Charna's gut's
Ember, don't get mixed up with him," Jasper sighed, "He's
nothing but trouble."
"You know him?" I asked.
"Not personally, but I'm a vampaneze, he's the lord, the amount of horror stories I've…" Jasper began but I interrupted.
"Lord?" I gasped, "Steve is the vampaneze Lord? As in Kurda's vampaneze lord?"
"You didn't know?" Jasper asked. I shook my head, stunned into silence. That was why Steve had been so frosty towards Harlan after he found out Harlan was one of the vampaneze helping Kurda at Vampire Mountain! If Kurda had succeeded then the rein of the lord of the vampaneze would never have happened, there would have been a forced truce between the clans.
"What's he really like? I've only heard from others, I've never met him," Jasper said.
"He seems nice enough," I admitted, "A bit of an extremist maybe and he's quite easily wound up but apart from that we're pretty similar, on the same wave length I think."
"I just hope you know what you're doing Ember," Jasper sighed. I smiled at him and before I knew what was happening he had his arm around my shoulders and was kissing me deeply. I pushed him away, shocked.
"Jasper!" I cried, "What the… why… what do you think you're doing?"
"I thought that… you know… you and me…" Jasper stuttered awkwardly.
"You thought wrong," I told him, "I like you Jasper but I loved Oric."
"But he's dead," Jasper said, his eyes brimming with tears.
"I know, but I never spent enough time with him, I realized my feelings too late, I'm still regretting that, I'm still missing him and wondering what it could have been like. That's all I want to do and that's not about to change any time soon," I sighed.
"Ember you have to stop living in the past, that was two years ago," Jasper murmured.
"I know," I cried, "But I can't help it."
Jasper nodded and walked out of my room, shutting the door gently behind him.
Finch came into school the next afternoon, I saw him for the first time during the auditions for the school play. I smiled and waved at him but he just glared at me. I had science last lesson with Mr. Ovo, for once I was dreading it. I was sat next to Finch in science and I wasn't sure what chaos this might cause.
"Look, Finch, I'm sorry," I mumbled. He looked at me, his eyes confused, hurt, angry, scared.
"You should have just told me," he hissed.
"I was scared you'd react like this," I replied.
"How else was I supposed to react?" he asked.
"I thought you'd at least try and hear me out, try and understand," I said.
"Well come to my house tonight and explain it to me, I'll listen, then I can decide for myself," Finch said. I was on the point of agreeing when I remembered that I'd promised Steve I'd go to his.
"I'm going to my… uncles house tonight, I can't," I said.
"Can't I come with you?" Finch asked.
"No," I replied, a little too quickly.
"You're lying to me again Ember," Finch whined.
"Ok, I'm going to a vampire friends place," I sighed, giving in to him.
"I'll come, I'm not scared," Finch said. I shook my head.
"It will be too dangerous, my friend's are the bad sort of vampires not the good sort," I said, trying to explain it simply so a human would understand.
"There's different types?" he asked.
"Yeah, different clans, they behave differently, I'll explain tomorrow if you like, you can come to my house and I'll tell you everything," I said. Finch nodded reluctantly. I was desperate to get out of class as soon as the bell rang, I needed to see Steve about the vampaneze lord thing before Gannen woke up, he'd be sleeping until the sun went down which would be in a matter of hours so I had to hurry. When you want things to speed up something always tries to delay you, that's how it seems to me, and sure enough as the bell was going Mr. Ovo asked the class to stay for an extra few minutes so he could explain about some sort of science competition. I sat there feeling fed up, I was wondering whether I should put up my hand and ask if I could be excused. It turned out that I didn't need to because Mr. Ovo excused me without me having to ask.
"You can go if you like Ember," he said, all-knowingly.
"Why's that Mr. Ovo?" I couldn't help asking as I gathered my things.
"I could tell the class but you might get a bit cross, I know what's at stake," Mr. Ovo said, grinning as he emphasized the two words. My mouth fell open as I realized what he meant, I stood and stared at Mr. Ovo, speechless. He waved me through the door, smiling.
"Oh and Ember, I'm here all day tomorrow if you'd like to chat, I know you had some questions about blood types," he said. I hurried out of the classroom quickly and didn't feel at ease until I reached Steve's street.
R.V. was keeping watch outside, I stood and talked to him for a while to keep him company.
"I really appreciate it you know," R.V. said quietly.
"Appreciate what?" I asked, smiling gently.
"Not mentioning this," he replied with a half-smile. He raised his hooks, looking ashamed of them.
"R.V., I don't care, you're a really nice guy, I don't care if you have hooks for hands, I wouldn't care if you had a trunk for a nose, peanut acne or scales!" I chuckled. R.V. looked touched.
"I think I'm gonna cry man," he giggled. I put my arms round him and gave him a hug and he laughed properly.
"You'd better go in before Steve realizes you're out here, he'll hit the roof if he knows you've already been here half an hour, he doesn't like to be kept waiting," R.V. said eventually.
"He's not the boss of me," I said, shaking my head.
"No," R.V. sighed, but he didn't sound too sure.
"Believe me, he's not," I said firmly and then headed into Steve's apartment. I was peed off enough with Steve as it was for not telling me the truth but the suggestion from R.V. that he expected me to do whatever he said made me even madder.
"Steve!" I called as I kicked open the door of the apartment.
"Shut up, Harlan and Gannen are sleeping," Steve growled though I think it was more out of duty than concern.
"Shut up yourself, who do you think you are, my mother?" I snarled.
"Obviously not seeming as the old girl topped herself," Steve replied dryly.
"Don't you dare," I breathed, so outraged I could barely speak.
"What are you going to do about it?" Steve asked. I was lost for an answer and Steve knew it, he laughed and stood up. He came over to me and ruffled my hair.
"You can't beat me Ember, I'm too good at this, been doing it far too long," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped.
"Peas in a pod," Steve grinned, pointing from himself to me, "The only difference is I'm older than you, I've had more experience, I've matured more let's say."
Steve was smooth, he'd somehow managed to turn me from boiling over with rage to actually looking up to him and respecting him, making me feel as though we'd been joint at the hip since birth.
"Christo doesn't like you," I said casually.
"No?" Steve asked, just as casually. "Why's that?"
"He says you're unhinged," I grinned.
"Isn't he the clever one?" Steve replied.
"Jasper doesn't like you either," I said.
"I can't think why, I don't even think we've ever met. I know that your brother was spying on us a couple of nights ago but I don't think I know Jasper personally," Steve said curiously.
"He's a vampaneze that should be good enough for you," I said quietly.
"What do you mean by that?" Steve asked, he seemed to have hooked on to what I was getting at.
"You lied to me Lord Leonard," I hissed, glaring at him, our faces so close our noses almost touched.
"Oh well, I suppose I've been rumbled," Steve chuckled dryly, turning away from me.
"And you have nothing to say in your defense?" I asked.
"There's no defending destiny," Steve replied.
"Destiny, hmm, that word just keeps popping up and messing up my life," I said thoughtfully.
"It's not the word Ember, it's the creature behind it, it's the name, it's Desmond Tiny," Steve whispered eerily.
"You've had dealings with him?"
"He made me what I am."
"You trust him?"
"Of course not! But you know me, I'm ambitious, he's helped me on my way to achieving my goal, I wouldn't have been able to do this without him," Steve sighed, "I don't like destiny, but I'm forced to accept it."
"Well that's where you and I differ, I don't believe in destiny, Des Tiny told me that I'd kill Kurda and I didn't, it's all a load of…"
"Ah but Kurda Smahlt did die didn't he? Are you sure that had nothing to do with you?" Steve interrupted.
"Of course not, it was Darren Shan's fault, he betrayed him, not me," I said confidently.
"Don't just think about the middle of the web, did you help wind one of the threads that led to Kurda's fate?" Steve asked. I thought about it for a moment and then swore loudly. "Has realization struck?" Steve asked, grinning.
"I was the one who persuaded him to save Darren from his death sentence in the first place," I whispered, realizing that Kurda's death, no, all of my friends at Vampire Mountain, they all died because of me! If I hadn't convinced Kurda to save Darren and lead him down into the tunnels then he never would have been caught and this never would have happened.
"Sorry," Steve mumbled, obviously realizing that what he'd said had hurt me.
"It's not your fault, it's mine," I sighed and then wrapped my arms round Steve's waist and pulled him into a hug. He stiffened and then pushed me away and walked quickly into the kitchen area and came back with a beer. I smiled to myself, physical contact was obviously one of Steve's weak points.
The next day Finch came over to Kealan's house and I sat down with him and explained everything about vampires, vampaneze and what had happened to me in my life. He suggested that I should tell J.J. and Georgia and reluctantly I agreed so I called them over and explained everything again with Finch's help. They took a little convincing but after I demonstrated some of my vampire abilities they had to accept what I told them was true. For a few days after that they were acting funny around me but they soon realized that I was still the same person. I went round to Steve's apartment every night and soon it was like a second home to me. Christo and I made up after a few frosty months and became like we always were, practically inseparable. Jasper worked hard every night stacking shelves so we had some spare money. Finch got the lead part in our school play so he was happy for a long, long time afterwards. Life stayed pretty much the same for me for the next six years, I passed my GCSE's but had to leave school after that. Everyone thought I was sixteen but really I was eighteen, I had no choice but to leave school, I already looked far too young for my 'age' and there wasn't really any point in me going to university. It all started again one day when I was at Steve's place and R.V. came in.
"Hey man! Steve man! I've got news!" he said breathlessly.
"Well what is it?" Steve snapped.
"Darren Shan, he's left Vampire Mountain," R.V. said, grinning.
"Gannen!" Steve bellowed, "We're going on the road!"
R.V. turned to go back outside but the door to the apartment opened before he could reach it and someone who I'd never wanted the displeasure of meeting again strutted in. Steve leapt up from where he was sitting on the sofa as the unwelcome guest walked in.
"Desmond Tiny," Steve said, smiling uncertainly.
"Evening all," Mr. Tiny said. I backed away from him quickly and lurked in the kitchen doorway, I didn't want to be anywhere near him, I remembered too well the way he had made me feel last time I was around him.
"Why are you here?" Gannen asked, his face a picture of suspicion.
"Ah, Gannen Harst," Mr. Tiny said cheerfully, ignoring Gannen's cold look, "I've just come from a talk with your brother."
"I'm not interested in my brother, I asked why you were here," Gannen said and I had to admire his bravery then, as much as I disliked the guy he had a lot of guts to speak to Desmond Tiny like that.
"I didn't come here to be given attitude," Mr. Tiny said, his eyes blazing dangerously, "Actually I came here to warn you."
"Warn us?" Steve asked. "About what?"
"To warn you about the hunters," Mr. Tiny replied, smiling.
"Hunters?" Gannen asked.
"That's what I said, yes. I believe, Steve Leonard, that you were under the impression that you had won this war?" Mr. Tiny said, he sat down on one of the moth eaten sofa's.
"Well that's only what you'd told me Desmond," Steve replied, looking uncomfortable.
"These three hunters are coming to kill you, Steve Leonard," Mr. Tiny said, simply. "And if they do then the vampires will win this war."
"Then tell me who they are and I can send someone to get rid of them," Steve said.
"It's not that simple Steve my boy. You must kill them personally, if anyone else does it than the Vampaneze are doomed. Just like if anyone but the three hunters kills you then the vampires would be doomed, perfectly fair really," Mr. Tiny sighed, smiling.
"But it's not fair, it's three against one!" Gannen protested.
"Almost fair then," Mr. Tiny shrugged.
"And do I have no part in this?" Gannen asked.
"Of course you do, you must look after Steve, you must guard him against these hunters, that's your job, and R.V.'s too," he added, his smile widening as he looked at R.V. who didn't quite know what to make of him.
"What about Harlan?" Steve asked, obviously desperate for anyone to help him.
"The rest of the Vampaneze all have a job to fight to protect you, but Gannen and R.V. will be your guardians," Mr. Tiny replied, "Now if you don't mind I really must be off."
"Wait a minute!" I called, realizing that Gannen, R.V. and Steve had all forgotten to ask a very important question. Mr. Tiny stood up and looked at me.
"Ah! Ember Marvalo, what has it been? Eight years now wasn't it?" Mr. Tiny asked with a nasty grin.
"What are the names of the hunters?" I asked.
"Clever girl, you saved these gentlemen a lot of embarrassment and upset, shame, it would have been fun to watch them realize their mistakes," Desmond Tiny laughed. Steve gave me a grateful look.
"Who are the hunters?" I pressed.
"Their names are Larten Crepsley, Vancha March, and Darren Shan. You have an advantage over them as they don't know who you are." Mr. Tiny replied and then left before anyone could say another word.
"My brother," Gannen mumbled but Steve, R.V. and I were all looking at each other, smiles creeping onto our shocked faces.
"Unbelievable!" Steve breathed.
"Weird," I agreed.
"Yeah," R.V. nodded. Suddenly we were all disturbed out of our thoughts as the door opened. Harlan walked in followed by a ten-year-old boy.
"Darius!" I exclaimed. The boy came rushing up to me and put his arms around me.
"That's it, ignore me!" Steve grumbled.
"Oh, hi Dad," Darius said, pulling away from me and beaming up at Steve. Darius had been visiting for two years now, sneaking out of his bedroom window or pretending he was at football practice so he could come and see us. His Mum disapproved of Steve, she would have gone mental if she knew Darius was seeing him. She didn't know what Steve was but she knew what he was like and it was enough to make her not want Darius to have anything to do with him. Admittedly we'd had to feed Darius a lot of lies, he couldn't know the truth. He knew about vampires and vampaneze but we'd had to tell him that vampires killed when they fed and vampaneze didn't, otherwise he never would have trusted any of us. He thought that I, like Steve, was a half-vampaneze and I hated lying to him but it had to be done. I think Darius was probably my soft spot, having spent so much time with the vampires and vampaneze I'd turned into a fighter, a survivor and my childish, tender side had been lost. But Darius was who I cared for, Steve was set on turning him into a little warrior but I had to be there to shower him with love and affection. Steve had forgotten about that sort of thing and didn't understand that Darius was a little boy who needed to be loved, so I cared about Darius as a substitute for Steve.
"Are you going to tell him?" I asked Steve after a while of us talking about nothing.
"Tell who what?" Steve asked. I looked pointedly at Darius who was sat, half asleep next to me.
"About you going away," I said.
"Do I have to?" Steve said, "He doesn't really need to know does he?"
"Know what?" Darius yawned.
"You can't leave without telling him, you can't abandon him and leave him with no one," I said seriously.
"He'll be with you won't he?" Steve said, hopefully.
"I assumed I'd be coming with you," I replied.
"And I assumed you wouldn't," Steve growled dangerously, "I assumed that you would stay here, look after things for me, make sure my little boy is ok, and do as your bloody well told!"
"I assumed you weren't a bossy, ignorant, control freak pig!" I snarled. Steve stood up suddenly, glaring at me.
"You'd better watch what you're saying," he hissed.
"I'm not scared of you Steve, peas in a pod remember?" I grinned. Steve bunched his fists but Gannen stood up and held him back, surprising me.
"Leave her Steve," he said quietly. Steve sat down and sighed.
"I forget you're growing up," he muttered.
"How old are you?" Darius asked, resting his head on my shoulder.
"Twenty-two," I replied.
"Wow," Darius mumbled, he was drifting off to sleep fast.
"Darius, come on, your mum will be expecting you home soon," I said gently. I stared at Steve who ran his hand through his long, silvery hair, looking uncomfortable.
"Darius," he said, looking almost as uncomfortable as he was when Mr. Tiny showed up.
"Yes Dad?" Darius asked, standing up and starting to pull on his jacket.
"I'm going to be going away for a while," Steve said.
"Why?" Darius asked.
"Because I have to stop some bad vampires, it's very important son, I don't know how long I'll be gone, but Ember will be here in the evenings and she'll look after you, won't you Ember?" Steve said, looking at me hopefully. I sighed.
"Yeah of course, I'll look after you, poor old me eh?" I said, smiling and ruffling Darius' hair so he scowled at me.
I didn't realize that Steve, Gannen, Harlan and R.V. would leave so soon, but when I left Kealan's house the next evening and turned up at Steve's apartment it was empty. He had left me a note.
Dear Ember
Thanks for looking after Darius for me, sorry you couldn't come along but I think you would be more helpful staying behind here. I've left you some money in the kitchen incase you need anything. If you could just make sure you're here in the evenings incase Darius turns up. I'll keep in touch.
Sincerely Steve
I sighed and folded the note away. Darius did turn up later, he knocked on the door and I called him in. He stood in the doorway looking miserable.
"They've gone, haven't they?" he asked me. I nodded. He came and plonked himself down next to me on the sofa and rested his head on my shoulder.
"Why doesn't Dad like me?" he asked.
"Darius! What a silly thing to say!" I said. "Your Dad loves you very much, what made you say something like that?"
"He just doesn't seem to really care about me," Darius said quietly.
"He just doesn't know how to be any other way," I sighed, "But he does love you, very much, he's just very busy, he has a lot on his mind."
"I get scared," Darius mumbled.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Dad is the Vampaneze Lord and lots of vampires want to kill him don't they? I'm not stupid Ember I know Dad's in danger," Darius said. He sat up and looked at me with sad eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without him, he understands me better than Mum ever could."
"Your Dad can look after himself, he'll be fine. And when he's not here you've got me to look after you, I promise that no matter what happens I will always be here for you, ok?" I said to Darius. He smiled at me and nodded and then we had a big hug.
A few months went by, I looked after Darius when he came calling. Steve sent letters most weeks telling me that things were going well. Then suddenly one day I let myself into the apartment to find the gang back there, they made me jump out of my skin!
"Ember! You took your time!" Steve said, smiling as I entered the apartment.
"Don't scare me like that!" I gasped. "You're back!" I added.
"We're moving," Steve announced.
"Where?" I asked.
"There are tunnels below this city that we can stay in," Steve replied.
"Why?"
"How else are we going to hide a whole army of vampaneze in the city?" Harlan said with a grin.
"…Whole… army?" I stuttered. "What army?"
"My army!" Steve declared.
"We're all going for a little drink, Vampaneze style, and I don't know about anyone else but I can't be bothered to hide the bodies," Harlan said, I could see Steve waiting for my reaction.
"You're mad," I said simply. "Why would you do that?"
"To lure the hunters here of course," Steve said, "It's time for round two!"
"What about Darius?" I asked, "Surely you're not going to let him down in these tunnels with this army!"
"Of course not, Darius doesn't matter at the moment, we'll just tell him he can't visit anymore, not for a while anyway," Steve said, waving his hand as though dismissing it.
"You'll break his heart" I muttered.
"It's war," Gannen said as if that explained everything. I knew that my opinion didn't count for anything but I still tried.
"I don't want to be a part of this war Steve," I said, stepping towards him.
"I thought this was what you wanted Ember? This will be the war that destroys Darren Shan!" Steve said quietly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "He'll come running to find us when he hears about the bodies piling up in this city, we'll have him then, I can toy with him all I like and you can help." Steve leant forward to whisper in my ear. "Gannen and Harlan don't understand this, nobody does, nobody but R.V., you and me, we know what he's like, this is personal for all three of us. It wouldn't be right if you weren't there to help."
I sighed and then smiled up at Steve.
"You stopped me from doing something stupid Steve," I grinned, "Thanks."
"There's something else," Harlan said. I turned to him.
"What's that?" I asked but Steve replied.
"We think you've been putting it off for too long, we think it's time you turned vampaneze." He said. There was an awkward silence, I just looked around the room, buying time to think. Maybe they were right, maybe it was time that I turned vampaneze. Eventually I nodded silently. I held my palms out to Steve but he shook his head.
"I'm the Lord of the Vampaneze, I'm not having any stinking vampire blood in me!" he laughed. Harlan took me by the wrists gently and led me over to the corner of the room.
"This'll be worse second time round ok?" he said gently. I nodded. "And it's not without risk," he added. I nodded more firmly this time, desperate for him to get it over and done with. When Harlan cut my fingers and pressed his palms against mine it was pretty much how I remembered it had been with Cyrus, it wasn't until Harlan pulled away and I collapsed to the floor that I started screaming. I had never known anything like it in my life, the sheer pain! The agony! I curled up into a ball, then stretched out, then clawed at the floor in desperation, trying to make it stop. Everything was hot and cold, heavy and light, pink and green, light and dark and nothing I could do would stop it. The last thing I remember was pressing myself up against the wall and clinging to my knees, drawing them up to my chin, and then I guess I must have blacked out.