The club was covered in darkness. Good. I went in through a back door. 'Down here, Mr Cutler.' Bobby shouted when he heard me come in. He had gagged the girl and tied her to a chair. She looked frightened, but above all very cross.

'What's her name?' I asked Bobby.

'Alexandra.' He said, and handed me her ID.

'Remove the tape.'

'Are you sure?' Bobby said.

'Promise you won't scream.' I said to the girl. She nodded.

Bobby removed the tape from her face, and she spat on the floor and said: 'Alex, Not Alexandra. Who are you and what the hell do you think you're doing?'

'I've just had dinner.' I said, and looked at her. Dark hair and dark angry eyes. Good cheekbones. A leather coat over a green dress. A strong Scottish accent. Thankfully there was nothing about her that reminded me in the least of Rachel. Hal's girl, I thought. His weakness. He's changed. Why had he let her walk away just like that?

'Let me go.' She said.

'I'm afraid that's not possible.' I replied. I nodded to Bobby, and he left.

'Why?' she asked and fumbled to free her arms. It didn't help.

'Because of Hal.' I said, and took off my tie.

She frowned. 'What about him? Do you know him?' She fumbled some more.

'It's no use. You'll only hurt yourself.' I opened the top button of my shirt. Better, much better.

'My dad and brothers will be looking for me. You won't get away with this.' She said.

'Yeah, right. I doubt that.' I was in a foul mood. The chances of Tom coming round were good, but there was so little time. And this Hal business kept nagging me. Maybe I should just let her go. She was a distraction.

'I bet this is the only way you can pull a girl.' She said. Her eyes spat fire. She was really angry now. Interesting. I'd have thought she'd be scared. 'Loser!' she said.

'Everything alright, Mr Cutler?' I heard Bobby say. He was standing in the doorway. Nosy bastard.

'Everything's fine, Bobby.' I said, trying to remain calm. From the corner of my eye I saw Alex wriggle again. Her hand behind her back was feeling for something. Her phone.

In two steps I was with her, and snatched her phone from her. She tried to kick me, but I was too fast for her. 'Looks like you forgot something, Bobby.' I said. Bobby sighed and left again.

Alex looked upset now. 'Bastard.' She hissed.

I smiled and looked at the screen. No new messages. I switched the phone off and put it in my jacket pocket.

'He's a bit incompetent, that man of yours. Looks like you lack people skills.' Alex tried something new. Contempt. Little did she know that no words would suffice to save her now. I'd just made up my mind. Something in her way of speaking reminded me of Hal. And that made me furious. Fifty five years, I thought. Without a single goodbye. And now this.

My eyes must have blackened, cause she started to scream. I bared my fangs and almost bit myself. And then my phone rang. 'Mr Cutler? Nick? It's Tom. I'm in.' Tom McNair said in my ear.

'Saved by the bell.' I said to Alex, and left the basement. Bobby came hurrying back. 'What was all that about, Mr Cutler?' 'She's screaming, can't you hear that? Make it stop.' I told him and decided she could wait.

I put on my coat and drove to Stoker's. I looked out over the quiet sea, watching for a sign. There was nothing on the horizon. No ships. But I knew they were coming. Not long now. I thought about what I had told Hal. To be honest I didn't really care about Brazil. Far too warm for my liking. No, it was the recognition I craved. To become a history maker, just like Hal had promised me, all those years ago.

I thought of all the museums I'd visited and the books I'd read in the course of my life. I could name them all. British kings, Roman emperors and American presidents. I thought of Caesar, Nero, Nelson, Wellington and Charles II. Richard Lionheart, John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama and Tony Blair. Well, maybe not Tony Blair. I allowed my mind to wander, and whispered the names of the famous. William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, Marco Polo, Bill Gates.

I'd promised Tom I'd call him back, and now I did, still looking at the black water. 'Are you sure? You seemed pretty adamant this morning.' I said.

'I am. You were right Mr Cutler. The Old Ones are dangerous.'

Did I imagine it, or did he sound a little sad? 'Did anything happen, Tom?' I inquired.

He was silent for a bit. 'Nothing new, really. I just wish Allison was right.' So something had happened? I should have had him followed too.

'Don't worry.' I said. 'One more day and it will all be over. The world will be saved. By you. That's something to be proud of, I should think. I know this decision hasn't been easy for you, Tom.'

'D'you think so?' he asked, still a little uncertain.

'Absolutely. Now you get a good night's sleep before your big day.'

He thanked me. I'd just signed his bloody death warrant and he was grateful. I ended the call. The minute I did it started ringing again. It was Bobby.

'Mr Cutler, we've got a bit of a problem. That Dewi kid's here and he followed me downstairs.'

'He what?'

'I've got it under control. I locked him in the freezer.' Bobby said. 'What do you want me to do about him?'

'Nothing. I'll be right there. And make sure the doors are locked properly this time.' I say, trying hard to sound calm.

Dewi's lips were blue when I released him. His teeth were chattering. 'What's happening Mr Cutler?' he asked. He seemed ridiculously pleased to see me.

'Sorry about this. There's been a bit of a misunderstanding. Bobby didn't know it was you.' I smiled and invited him to sit down. 'Do you want some coffee, to get warm again?'

He shrugged. 'I'm never warm these days, you know. I don't suppose you've got something stronger?'

'What do you think? This is a nightclub after all.'

Now he started smiling. Good. I poured him a glass of Havana Club rum. He had to cough after his first sip. 'Better?' I asked.

'Much better.' He beamed. 'Now can you please tell me why there's someone in my basement, I mean, down there? To be honest it gives me the creeps. Reminds me of my dad, see? That Bobby guy says there's nothing I should worry about, but it's not normal, is it?'

I gave him another glass of rum. 'That must have been quite a shock, I can understand that. But he's right - you shouldn't worry. That woman down there is very dangerous. We should count ourselves lucky that Bobby caught her.'

'Dangerous?' he asked. 'Like that Golda woman? She doesn't look dangerous. She does look angry, though.'

That was funny. 'Exactly. Now the rumours of the arrival of the Old Ones are attracting all kinds of unsavoury people.' I explained.

He bought my story. 'I see. So what are you going to do about it? What if another one comes and does some actual harm? What about my mum?'

I closed the bottle. 'We've got protection. But it would be smart if you were to go home to look after you mum. Do you think you can do that?'

He nodded, and took something from the bag he was carrying. Two wooden stakes. 'See?' he said proudly.

'You better put those away, Dewi.' I advised him. 'Bobby will go berserk if he spots them.'

'Oh, but I'd never hurt him, Mr Cutler. After all, a friend of yours is a friend of mine.' Dewi said.

Once he had left I went downstairs to see if everything was alright. It was. Alex was sitting very still now, looking at the floor. She was getting tired. But when she looked up I could see she hadn't given up completely. It was a close call, though. I removed the tape and she flinched. Upstairs Bobby had turned on some loud music. I could feel the bass vibrating. 'Feel free to shout.' I invited her. 'Not that it will do you any good.'

There were mascara smudges under her eyes and on her cheeks. Had she been crying?

'Who are you and what do you want from me?' She asked once more, a bit hoarse.

'You wouldn't understand.'

'Try me.' She said. Some of her fighting spirit was back. It didn't last long.

'I'm going to have to kill you. I've got a score to settle.'

She didn't look surprised. 'Why me?' she said. 'Why anyway?'

'Because of Hal. But not now. I'll see you in the morning. I'll ask Bobby to help you get more comfortable here. It's your last night after all. Sorry for that, but someone always suffers, no matter what. That's the way of the world.' I said, avoided to look her in the eyes, and left.

I felt something resembling regret when I walked home. Not because she was going to die. But she would have made an interesting recruit. Strangely enough I was sorry for Hal. His determination to stop killing and feeding was noble, if not a little too late. I realised he wanted to be like me, the way I had been before. But what he didn't understand was that I would never allow that to happen. Not while his actions could never save me. He'd made me a promise and I'd make sure he would keep it. No one else did. I was going to be a history maker, with or without his help. I'd show him.

I couldn't sleep that night. After an hour of tossing and turning I got up and heated a mug of cocoa in the microwave. I turned on the telly and watched part of a documentary on English Renaissance playwrights. But my mind wandered. I put on a bathrobe and went downstairs. I might just as well get some work done. But I was too excited to concentrate. When I put a file back into my file cabinet some papers fell from another file.

Tom's thank you note and the messages Regus had sent me. I was about to put them back in, when I saw the code on the postcard again. CM1592HF. Wait a second. CM – Christopher Marlowe? I googled him and found what I was looking for. In 1592 he had written The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. That must be it. I even owned a copy of the play. I walked to my bookcase and found it on the top shelf. I'd seen a performance once, with Rachel. The book was dusty and hadn't been read for a long time. I flicked through the book and found HF.

"Consummatum est; this bill is ended,
And Faustus hath bequeath'd his soul to Lucifer.
But what is this inscription on mine arm?
Homo, fuge: whither should I fly?
If unto God, he'll throw me down to hell.
My senses are deceiv'd; here's nothing writ:—
O, yes, I see it plain; even here is writ,
Homo, fuge: yet shall not Faustus fly."

Homo fuge. Man, flee. I remembered most of the story, and it made me shiver. What was Regus trying to tell me? Was he warning me?

Something was stuck between the next pages. A photograph. I took it out and looked at the fading black and white image of a smiling Rachel. She'd tried to look serious when her picture was taken, but had failed miserably. The blouse and skirt she was wearing looked very old-fashioned now, as did her movie star curls. She'd paid a fortune to that hairdresser. Told me it was important to make a good impression.

I put the picture on my desk, image downwards. I thought I'd forgotten the sound of her voice. But now I could hear her whisper in my ear. Warm, friendly and very, very stubborn. Challenging. 'So you cracked the puzzle? I knew you would.'

Go away, I thought. You can't do this to me. I put the photo in a desk drawer, but I could still hear her. Teasing me, asking me why I'd left her. But I hadn't. Hal had separated us. As I got up I accidentally spilled the remainder of my cocoa.

I sit behind my desk trying to make sense of the papers in front of me, but the letters keep swimming. I rub my eyes. Rachel's next to me. One hand massages my neck, the other ruffles my hair. I can feel the warmth of her body against mine. So warm. I can feel she's not wearing anything under her expensive new dressing gown. She hasn't asked why all of a sudden I can afford expensive clothes. But she must have noticed.

Her fingers glide from my hair to my ear. They fondle my earlobe. 'You look tired.' She whispers in my ear. Her breath is hot and moist. She's so close now I can hear her heart beat. God, she's so much alive.

Gently I push her away. It takes all my willpower not to hurt her. 'I'm sorry. I have to finish this. Big case tomorrow.' I lie.

She sighs, her disappointment obvious. 'Alright. You know, sometimes I wish you'd have a less demanding job.' A last ruffle of my hair and she's gone.

I know her routine. She'll brush her teeth and then she'll sit down in front of the bedroom mirror and brush her hair. Not so long ago I would have helped her. Not anymore. I clench my fists and push away the papers. I'm restless and angry and oh so tired. And I'm hungry, but it's not a normal hunger.

I walk into the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror. I'm no longer there, I think. At that very moment our new telephone starts ringing. I hesitate, walk downstairs and answer it.

'Cutler.' It's Yorke. I'll never forget that voice. Polite, polished and petrifying.

'Yes?' I say cautiously.

'I thought maybe you'd like to come over for a drink, meet the lads, that kind of thing.'

I swallow. 'It's half past twelve.'

'So it is. What's it to be, Cutler?' I can hear laughter in the background.

'Is everything alright?' I hear Rachel say. She's standing at the top of the stairs.

I cover the mouthpiece of the telephone with my hand. 'Fine. It's just work. Nothing to worry about. I might have to go out, though.' She nods and yawns. I wait until she's out of sight.

'Well, well, well. And how is Mrs Cutler today?' Yorke says. 'What about that drink?'

'I'm on my way.' I mutter.

When the sun came up I went back to the club. Alex was sleeping on the mattress Bobby had provided, clearly exhausted from all that had happened to her. A handcuff on one of her wrists was linked to a lead pipe. 'Go home and get some sleep.' I ordered Bobby.

I made some strong coffee, and brought a cup for the girl. She was awake now, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. The second she saw me she started trembling. 'No, it's not a bad dream.' I told her. 'Sorry.' I offered her the cup. 'Promise you won't do anything.'

She nodded, took the cup and drank from it.

'Careful, it's hot.' I warned her.

She looked at me, and started to laugh hysterically. Her entire body shook. 'Thank you for being so concerned. It's really touching, considering that you're going to kill me.' She said, anger and despair in her eyes.

'How did you and Hal meet?' I asked, curious.

'It's none of your business.' She said.

'Fine. I was just asking. You know, it might actually help if you give me some information.' I told her.

'Would it? You mean you won't kill me if I tell you?' she challenged me.

'No. I can't do that. But I could tell you why I have to do this. I owe you that much. You know what? I'll tell you anyway.' I decided, sat down on an empty crate and started telling her all there was to know about my master plan.

Everybody's got a hungry heart. Bruce Springsteen was right. Now that I was so close to fulfilling my dreams I became impatient. I had killed Hal's girl. The circle was almost round. How would he react? Would he come back to me, or would he try and revenge her death? I didn't think revenge was very likely. Besides, I wasn't scared. I had protection now.

I inspected the club. Everything was ready. Next I checked the cameras to made sure there'd be recordings of everything that would happen here. Not long now. I called Dewi and asked him to look out for the arrival of the Old Ones. He was very eager.

'Make sure they don't see you. It's crucial that I'm the one who welcomes them.' I told him.

'Okay, Mr Cutler.' He said.

'How's your mum?' I asked.

'She's fine, really. She was very impressed when I offered to do her shopping. And she says thanks for the sherry. She's dead keen on sherry, however did you know that? I've put another lock on the door. Dead easy if you read the manual. Have you ever changed a lock, Mr Cutler? I've told mum that on no account is she to invite in anyone she doesn't know, not even if they say they're friends of mine. She says I'm overprotective. I just can't get her to properly assess the situation.'

'Don't worry, she'll come round, Dewi.' I said, and ended the call. Our kind had treated him like shit, correction, I had treated him like shit, and now he couldn't be happier doing whatever I told him to do.

Humans were weak, I thought. Even a strong girl like Alex had been weak in the end. I could still taste her blood. The first fresh blood since I'd recruited my unit. Was this what Hal had been looking for - longing for? Would he pass the test? I'd confided in Mark, and we'd made a bet.

'If he is who he is he'll know.' Mark thought. I wasn't so sure. After all Rachel and I had been very close and I hadn't suspected anything at the time. I cringed when I thought of that night. I could still hear the laughter.

When Rachel died I thought the world had ended. But it hadn't. I contemplated suicide, but they wouldn't let me. I didn't get the chance. I'd sworn to myself I'd have nothing more to do with Yorke. But he didn't care. Wherever I went he was. Always watching me, in his eyes that weird mix of concern and contempt. I had been desperate. The need for blood was too strong. I was an addict now and every minute I had to spend in the company of humans and the deafening sound of their heartbeats was sheer torture. I had difficulty concentrating.

I made a fool of myself in court and I insulted my neighbour Jean, who'd tried to comfort me when the news of Rachel's death became public. My superior gave me a warning and suggested I take some unpaid leave. I threatened to leave and take the Yorke file with me. That evening I killed Rachel's cat. Its blood made me very ill and didn't satisfy the hunger. I buried the dead cat in the back garden. That same evening Hal Yorke visited me, and I gave in to my wife's murderer.

I paid a visit to Martin Finbar to collect my Tom Ford suit. 'Special occasion, Cutler?' he asked.

'I'm meeting an old friend.' I replied, and tried on the suit.

'Do you like it? Don't you think those sleeves are a little too short?' Finbar said.

'No, it's fine. I'm planning on wearing it tonight. Besides, I prefer to have my hands free.' I smiled.

'Good. Let me get you a matching shirt.' He said, and took a pristine white shirt from one of the wooden shelves.

'He's here.' Mark informed me.

A minute later Hal entered the empty club. He was still wearing that horrible coat. He looked defeated. You don't even make an effort, I thought and welcomed him. I'm no longer scared of him, I realised as I watched him struggle with his second glass of blood in fifty five years. His fingers were trembling with despair as he licked off the last drops. I smiled, and set out the details of my master plan.

I'd had a few glasses myself to give myself courage, and now I felt invincible, and very much in charge. Proudly I told him about my spectacular, high on anticipation. But Hal wasn't impressed. He called it insane.

I had half expected this, so I tried not to let the disappointment get to me, and touched his shoulder. He was shaking like a junkie going Cold Turkey. 'You were there to help me through it, and now I'm going to return the favour.' I promised him, and gently led him to the basement. The tables were turned now.

They were all staring at me as I came out and locked the door. 'What?' I demanded. I felt sick and it wasn't the decomposing of Alex's body that had caused it.

Mark was the only one brave enough to answer. 'Nothing, Mr Cutler. I owe you.' I didn't understand, and it must have showed, because he continued: 'The bet? He clearly didn't know it was her blood, so you won.' He took out his wallet.

'Not now, Mark.' I said. 'Come on guys, you've got work to do. I'll be with you in a sec.'

They walked up the stairs and left me alone. I was seriously shaken. 'I will not let you take their world.' Hal had said. With those words he'd broken his promise and abandoned me. Not fifty five years ago – that didn't count – but here and now. I held on to the wall and took a deep breath. So Hal didn't want to help me? Fine. I'd manage on my own. Just as I had in the past fifty five years. He disgusted me. He'd made me into the creature I was today, and now he wanted to take all that was left away from me? Wasn't it a bit late to feel sorry about the thousands of people he had killed?

The concrete wall felt cool against my back. Easy, I told myself. This is not a setback. You knew he was a changed man. All of this was to be expected. I looked at my watch, and tried to ignore Hal's shouting. It sounded muffled behind the door. Time to pick up Tom. I'd left my car at home because I didn't want people to see it here. I still had the keys to Fergus's police van. That would do nicely.

I parked the van next to the house and rang the doorbell. The place looked like a boarding house. A sign that said Honolulu Heights and could do with a lick of fresh paint was creaking in the wind. So the owner thought it was a good idea to create his or her private Hawaii in dreary Barry? It was sad, really.

Tom opened the door. He didn't ask me in, which was fine cause I didn't have much time. He stepped outside and looked at the police van. 'I borrowed it. My car's at the garage for the annual MOT.' I explained.

'Oh, right.' Tom said.

Mark frowned when he saw Tom. Of course. He'd never met a werewolf before, and he must have expected something different. 'It's too hot in here.' I told Simon. 'Surely this place must have air conditioning?' I was sweating. There was too much at stake.

It had all seemed easy enough. Think of a good plan and stick to it. But then Hal had risen from his grave. Correction, from Southend-on-Sea. I'd done a little digging. And what I'd found had surprised me. He'd been living in a barber shop owned by a man named Leo. Like in Leo the werewolf. The shop was deserted now. Leo had been old and ill, the neighbours had told my spies. One day he left, and they'd never heard from him again. And yes, there had been a young man living there. Quiet type, didn't go out much. They thought he suffered from agoraphobia. And no, he didn't work in the shop. He must have been a lodger. He had left as well.

Lodger, I thought. Something nagged me. Hold on. That's what Bobby had said about Hal. He was living in a boarding house. Now why did that ring a bell? I looked at Tom and I remembered. Tom was living in a boarding house too. So what if Tom's and Hal's boarding houses were one and the same? Barry was a small place after all.

But if Tom and Hal were housemates, did that mean Tom had told Hal about me? Probably not. Hal had looked surprised when I told him I'd already found a werewolf. But then he'd asked me the wolf's name and said 'Of course.' When I informed him. What if it was just an act and he had known all along? What if Tom and Hal were conspiring against me? Oh god. A sudden wave of dizziness made me stumble.

'Are you alright, Mr Cutler – Nick?' Tom asked and patted me on the back. It took all of my willpower not to show my fangs. I felt trapped in a slapstick movie. But Tom looked genuinely concerned. I stood up, straightened my suit and looked at him. He was no conspirator. He was a child. Loyal and honest. I didn't think he even knew how to lie.

I opened the door to the small storage room I'd selected because it could be locked from the outside. Suddenly Tom looked frightened. 'You're going to make your dad so proud.' I told him. 'And take it from me, there should be no better feeling than that.' I meant what I said, even though I wasn't talking about McNair or my own dad – a man I only remembered from photos and my mum's stories.

I stared at Tom. His honesty and righteousness was disarming. I was a bit jealous. Tom sat down and I squeezed his shoulder. I thought of the people who had lost this son and then I thought of my own son. He had never been born, but had died with Rachel. I thought of what could have been. I smiled at Tom and locked the door. Don't worry, I'll take care of you, I thought.

'Are you alright Mr Cutler? You look –' Simon ended his sentence before he'd finished it. He must have seen my reaction.

'Everything's under control.' I said. 'Now make sure all the doors I told you about are locked properly.' What the hell was happening to me?

Not long now. With a glass of whiskey in my hand I watched the dancing crowd from the upper level of the club. Everything was ready and I started to relax. Any minute now it would be full moon.

'He's trying to get out.' Simon had told me half an hour ago. 'Says he can smell they're not vampires and that it's all a mistake.'

'He'll come round.' I'd assured him. Poor Tom. 'Turn up the volume, if necessary.'

They were all very young. Handsome boys and pretty, skinny girls. Lots of girls. That was Mark's doing. He acted as bouncer tonight.

At first I didn't see him. There were so many people. But his ugly coat betrayed him. Hal. He must have escaped from the basement. How was that even possible?

The guests didn't take much notice of him and kept on dancing. He reached the DJ, shouted something and made wild gestures with his hands. His words drowned in the beat of the music. The DJ shook his head and Hal gestured some more.

He'll ruin everything, I realised and took out my phone. Ten past twelve. Tom's transformation would be complete. I called Simon. 'Do it. Now.' I ordered him.

There he was, my wolf, standing upright in the strobe light, like a proud King Kong. I almost expected him to beat his chest. I'd seen him transform, but that was while he was locked in a shed. This was different. On the middle of the dance floor he looked ten times more terrifying. Camera's flashed, and people came closer, eager to watch the freak. Far too curious to feel justified fear. Bloody fools.

Hal thought so too. Suddenly he started to shout. 'Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!' It broke their trance. They panicked and fled. But they wouldn't get far. Patiently I waited, way out of the wolf's reach. He growled, ready for the attack. So much for your conscience Tom, I thought.

Just as I wondered where half of the guests had disappeared to, the wolf noticed Hal. Their eyes locked, and Hal didn't move. I cursed him. The guests were getting away. For my plan to succeed I needed dozens of fatalities, not one dead vampire or werewolf.

I waited for the kill. I did not want this. Either way one of them would die. I closed my eyes, and opened them again. I had to see what would happen. And then the wolf looked up and noticed me. He bared his teeth in anger, while Hal made good use of the distraction to get way from him. I did the same. You were right, Regus, I thought, and ran to the upstairs office, which could be locked from the inside.

Not a bad dream, I thought as I woke up. I'd failed. I wanted to lie down again, pull the duvet over my head and fall asleep again. But I couldn't. There was loud banging on my door. The doorbell rang repeatedly. I opened a window and looked down. It was Dewi, and he looked nervous. 'I'll be right there.' I said.

'What is it, Dewi?' I asked.

'The O-Old Ones, Mr Cutler.' He said, out of breath. Had he been running? 'They're already here. I'm so very sorry, but I had to take my mum to hospital last night. Food poisoning. I'm afraid I forgot all about Stoker's. I'm really sorry, Mr Cutler, I am.'

Oh my god. My heart sank. 'When?' I asked. 'When exactly did they arrive?'

'Somewhere last night. They look pretty settled already, so I guess they must have been there for quite a while. I think it's best if you go and great them as soon as possible.'

Stay calm, I told myself. All's not lost. I've got something to show them. 'And I will, Dewi. Who else knows about this?'

'No one. I told absolutely no one. They are a strange lot, by the way. I don't want to sound disrespectful, but they're dressed very old-fashioned and all. And they've got this Rambo guy. Do you want me to show you?'

I sighed. 'Dewi, I know where Stoker's is, remember?' I looked at my watch. One fifteen PM. Had I slept all that time? They must be here for at least twelve hours. I doubted they would appreciate the lack of a proper welcome. But I would make it up to them. 'Thanks for telling me this, Dewi. I won't forget this.' I said.

'Can I have some blood?' he asked.

I'd left my suit in the bathroom, using the hot water steam to iron out the creases. I dressed carefully. The Old Ones were not to be thwarted. Next I called Matthew. 'Where the hell are you?' I asked him, angry I overslept because of his absence.

'Excuse me?' he said. 'You fired me yesterday, remember?' he said.

Had I? I didn't remember.

'Last night, at a quarter to one? My wife wasn't pleased you woke us up. But don't worry, I was going to leave anyway.' He sounded bitter. 'I'm sick of being bullied around, it's a dead end job, and frankly, this business of yours is at a dead end too. Goodbye, Mr Cutler.' He ended the call.

Everything was falling apart. 'I think you better go visit them.' Dewi said from the kitchen. He sat at the kitchen table, two bottles before him, one empty, one full, his mouth red with blood. 'Don't worry. They'll appreciate all your doing for them.' He said, held up the second bottle in a strange salute, and drank from it.

Tom didn't know it, but I'd seen him, hidden behind a partition. My eyesight was excellent and I'd recognise those eyes anywhere. That brute Milo must have seen him too, even though he didn't mention it. So the Old Ones had a pet wolf? They didn't exactly match my expectations. Their sense of dress was awful, they looked as if they were permanently stuck in a different era and they had no sense of humour. What they did have was the third part of the scroll, and Mr Snow, their leader.

Snow was the darkest soul I'd ever met. Even though his skin was cracking and his fangs were yellow, he still breathed power. He's not going to give me Brazil, was the first thing that occurred to me after he'd started questioning me. He tried to ridicule me, and when that didn't work he humiliated me.

There was no news of the events at the nightclub. I'd planned to present them the world, but now I was standing here empty-handed. I didn't understand. Surely, my spectacular hadn't been as spectacular as I'd hoped, because of Hal's intervention, but I had personally uploaded plenty of footage of the panic in the club when transformed Tom appeared. I tried every available television channel, but there was nothing.

Snow reeked, of decay and lack of personal hygiene. He grabbed my face with his pasty fingers and squeezed. I'd never felt more disgusted in my life. 'I've already forgotten your name.' he said, and I fled, cursing him and his friends. If these were the Old Ones, why had I even bothered? I ran outside and threw up. My vomit was dark red from all the blood I'd drunk since yesterday.

In the distance I could see Tom. There were two people with him. Was Hal one of them? I didn't know. Next Milo came out and ran past me without noticing me. He hadn't betrayed Tom, and neither had I. Milo must have acted out of loyalty to his own species. I'd wanted to tell, but had found I was unable to sell Tom to the Old Ones. He had done nothing wrong. Was I going soft in my eighties?

I took a small bottle of blood from my pocket and drank it. Alex's blood. Not as fresh as the day before, but tolerable. It made me feel better instantly. Good, because I needed the strength. All was not lost. Certainly, the Old Ones had proved to be a bitter disappointment. But I could still become a history maker. The war child must live for the vampires to survive, Snow had said. Not die. The Saviour, I thought. I have to kill that baby. They don't know where she is, but I do. If killing her is what it takes to destroy the Old Ones, so be it. I'd make them regret the way they treated me. I took out a handkerchief, cleaned my face with it and threw the stained rag away.

I went back to my office and logged into my YouTube account. The video's I'd uploaded late last night were gone. All of them. I didn't understand. I tried the other video sites I'd used, but found no trace whatsoever of my recent activities. And I couldn't access my Twitter account. What was happening and who was responsible? The Old Ones? No, that couldn't be. I doubted that old fashioned bunch even knew of the existence of social media. When I set about re-uploading the files I found that I must have wiped them from my hard disk. How did that happen?

First I had to make sure Tom and Hal weren't at home. There was a good chance I'd find Tom in the café where he worked. I didn't see any customers, when I arrived there, but the lights were on and the sign on the door said 'Open'. The place was empty, but I could hear music. Someone was there.

I had to be careful – I didn't want Tom to see me. By now he would be fully aware of my betrayal. I didn't look forward to being the subject of his wrath. I walked round the corner to the back door. I heard voices. Tom and Hal. I froze. What was Hal doing here?

'What did you think it was for? My swimming pool?' I heard Tom say. The back door opened and he stepped outside. I wanted to hide, but he'd already seen me. His eyes grew big. Surprise and anger showed on his face. I expected him to come after me, but he didn't. instead he threw the rubbish he was carrying in one of the bins and scratched his head, still looking at me.

I held out my hands, even though it wouldn't help me to defend myself. I'd seen what Tom was capable of. Yesterday Tom thought I was his friend. It felt like years ago.

'I'm coming.' He shouted to Hal, his eyes still on me. What's it going to be, I thought nervously. He wiped his hands on his apron. Slowly and carefully. Run, my instincts screamed. But I couldn't move. And then Tom walked towards me and stopped. He was standing very close. This is it, I thought. But he didn't become furious, as he had every right to be, but instead looked sad and puzzled. It's over, I thought. Everything I've worked so hard for.

'I'm sorry.' I said, and I meant it. He didn't flinch.

'Sorry your plan didn't work out, or sorry you tried to make me kill all those innocent people? They were not vampires.' He said.

I nodded.

'Well, which is it?' he asked.

'I'm really sorry, Tom. Sorry I betrayed your trust. Your – friendship.' I said and to my own surprise realised that I meant every word of it. No lie this time, I was genuinely sorry.

'Yeah, well, I'm sorry too.' He said. 'Sorry I didn't kill you when I had the chance.' His shoulders drooped. He was a child once more. Sad and disappointed.

'Tom –' I said, but he shook his head.

'You don't want me to change my mind, do you?'

'Tom, are you alright?' I heard Hal call. Oh god.

'Coming, Hal.' Tom said and walked to the door. 'Have we still got some of that arsenic? There's a rat here. We've had a bit of an infestation.' He said and walked inside, slamming the door behind him.

I was shaking. Quickly I walked away, scared that Hal might find out I was there. But he didn't come after me, so maybe Tom hadn't told him. A disappointment and a failure. Is that what I had become? But I'd show the Old Ones they'd underestimated me. I would not let them take Tom's world.

It was only a short walk to the house. I looked at the ridiculous sign and rang the doorbell. No one answered, but there was a light on inside and I could hear voices. Women. No crying baby this time. I knocked. Something moved behind the blinds of the bay window.

I kept banging on the door. It was no use. They weren't going to let me in, so I had to find another way in. I rammed my shoulder against the lock. It hurt. Luckily the door wasn't very strong. I had to try another three times before the lock broke and the door opened. I rubbed my hurt shoulder. Now what? 'Ask me in!' I called out, cursing myself for not asking Tom to invite me in the other night. 'Ask me in!' I shouted.

I was standing on the threshold when someone appeared in the doorway. Alex. Hal's girl. A ghost. 'Hey, didn't I kill you?' I said, hoping for a miracle. She only had to say the word. Come in. But she didn't. Instead she started talking very fast and agitated. I could see she was dead nervous. 'Ask me in.' I repeated softly, but she wouldn't.

Instead she disappeared into what must be the living room. So this was the place where Tom lived? Where Hal lived? It looked shabby. Not up to Hal's usual standards. Right. I had to get to that baby. Carefully I stepped forward. Maybe it was just a myth, I thought. And then I burned my fingers. I hurt like I had never hurt before. My hands were on fire. My skin blackened and the soft tissue melted.

I'd burnt my arm once. I still had the scar, even though it had faded a bit. I had been four years old at the time, begging for my mum's attention. Somehow she had dropped the chip pan and some of the hot oil had splashed on my arm. The doctor told me I had been lucky. I didn't understand. Why did he say that when he could see I was in agony? I thought I'd forgotten the pain. But here it was, licking my fingers. I pulled them back and they cooled a little. So the legend was true after all? Vampires can't come in unless they're invited.

I should have asked Tom yesterday. He would probably have killed me after I'd killed the baby. But maybe we could have worked out another way to end all this. I could see them both now. Two ghosts, Alex and a girl I had seen during the fight at Stoker's. George and Mitchell's ghost? So Tom had two a supernatural housemates, not counting Alex? A werewolf, a vampire and a ghost living together. A new supernatural trinity.

What was I going to do? The ghosts looked at me both expectantly and frightened. Don't worry, I wanted to say, I'm on your side. I've fled from the vampires. Regus was right. But my throat was dry and I had difficulty speaking. Never mind. They wouldn't believe me anyway. Especially now Alex had identified me as her killer.

I have to do this, I thought. Be a history maker. Not the kind that Hal promised me I'd be. I took a deep breath and crossed the invisible barrier. It hurt more that I'd ever thought possible. And then I heard her voice. 'You can do this, Nick.' Soft and patient. Rachel. 'But are you sure?' she asked. 'Are you absolutely sure this is the right thing to do – killing an innocent baby?'

It took me ages to get there. At one point I fell down and had to crawl on all fours. I could smell smoke and burning, boiling, melting flesh. My hands were an unrecognisable mass of raw meat. This is how it ends, I thought, and panicked for a second. But then I heard Rachel again. 'Don't give up, Nick. Not long now.' Tears streamed down my burnt and mutilated face. My eyesight was blurry. I saw an incredibly blue ocean and a white beach. Palm trees. I thought I was hallucinating.

They just stood there and watched as I approached the baby, slowly and painfully. She was so small. I took out the knife. I was not going to kill her with my fangs. She gurgled. Eve, her name's Eve, I remembered George's dying words. 'Eve means life.' Rachel was back. 'And Rachel stands for innocence.'

The knife almost slipped from my hand. I looked at the two ghosts. 'I tried to help, but you wouldn't even let me explain.' I said to them. What was left of my fingers was numb now. I had difficulty holding the knife. Baby Eve blew a bubble of spittle. She burped and moved her tiny hands and feet excitedly. So alive. I didn't want to kill her, really. But I had to. With my last strength I raised the knife.

'I didn't think vampires would get a door.' I said.

'Of course they do. Remember when Hal Yorke killed you and then snatched you away from death's door?' Rachel said.

I nodded.

'It's been waiting for you ever since.'

The End?

Wild Wolves, always stare me out
I'm not running
I'm not running away

And my soul is a dark place
But I know your love
I know your love

And my soul is a lonely one
And I'm not alone
I'm not alone

Wild Wolves, always stare me out
I'm not running
I'm not running away

(Wild Wolves, Athlete)