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Chapter XVII

"Why didn't you attack Mr. Crepsley? He was alone and without a flashlight." I said. "Are you too scared to pick on someone your own size? Pfft, coward. You're no better than a-"

His fist connected with the side of my face.

Stars.

"Speak to me like that one more time and I'll rip your mouth off." He said. I glared at him with hatred, but held my tongue.

"Murlough's afraid of nothing!" He told me. "Especially not an ancient, old vampire like Crepsley. What kind of vampire consorts with children, hmm? He isn't worth bothering with- I'll kill him later. You have more guts. You're hot blooded." He pinched my cheek. "I like hot blood."

"I'm a half vampire, my blood's off limits."

"Maybe I'm done with limits!" He retorted.

"You'll get sick!" I cried.

His eyes flickered towards Ariel, then back to me. "Perhaps, but it can still be shed. I'll drink from Ariel, then kill you."

I gulped. Murlough began to push me, so that I swung around, and it made me feel sick. He took a small knife. I closed my eyes. He tossed it, then left the room. I opened my eyes to see he was smirking as he exited.

I looked over toward Ariel.

"Distract him," She mouthed.

"Distract him?" I mouthed back, puzzled. "Why?"

"Just do it." She winked at me.

He returned with two, large knifes. Ariel began to whimper once she heard the noise of him slicing them together. Her hands where still behind her back, concealed.

"Ah! Ari knows what these are for, doesn't she?"

She whimpered in reply.

"Yes, we had some fun with these," He sliced them together, slow, so that they produced a sharp grating sound that made me shiver.

Murlough made a face, as if remembering something unpleasant. "She wouldn't speak, no matter how badly I cut her."

Ariel didn't say anything. Maybe there was still some fight left in her.

I didn't know what kind of plan she had, but maybe there was still hope.

"We left the hotel, anyway." I said, assuming that that was what Murlough had asked her.

"You must've left your brains, too," He said. "Did you really think you could waltz down here into my lair, rescue your girl friend and run off like a happy little lamb?"

I sighed. "Well-"

"Did it ever occur to you that I am the master of this domain and would do everything in my power to stop you?"

"Yes."

"But you came anyway?"

I nodded. "Did you think I was just gonna leave her down here, so you could kill her?"

He started at me in disgust. "That's the human in you, if you were a full vampire you would have let her go."

"You are an idiot, Darren Shan." I heard someone say.

But it wasn't Murlough.

Ariel flashed me a quick smirk, then grabbed Murlough by his collar, turning him around. After backhanding him across the jaw- And in that instant I could swore I saw some of Murlough's teeth fall out- He then snapped out of the shock and slammed her against the wall. Her body slid down to the floor, crumpled like a paper flower.

"Nice try." He was laughing, trying to keep his cool, but I could tell there was some anger in Murlough's voice now. With a swift hand, he quickly wiped the blood from his mouth.

"Now, which one will I kill first?" He mused, playing with the knifes, twirling them around.

"Darren," Ariel wheezed. "Why did you come for me?"

I stared at her for a moment. Sadness filled me up to the brim, knowing that there was nothing I could do. I wished I could be strong enough to rip through these ropes and save her, like she just tried to save me.

"I love you.." I replied, my voice barely a whisper. It was the only thing I could say, but my voice was so restrained that not even a vampire could hear.

She gave me a puzzled look, as if to say, what?

"I think.. I'll choose.." He went on, ignoring us.

"You!" Murlough roared and jumped onto me.

And that was his fatal mistake.

He was on top of me in an instant, pulling my neck back. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the cold metal blade against my soft flesh. This was the end..

What a lousy way to die!

Ariel's limp body quickly sprang into action. Murlough turned around to met her challenge once more. Her eyes, which were not only cold and determined, were crimson and frightening. Bloody.

Her hand, which had coiled into a fist, drew back then sprung forth. Dark blood erupted from Murlough's nose as her fist threw him backwards. He fell to the ground.

I watched with wide eyes, expecting some epic battle, but an angry Ariel versus a vampaneze..

Murlough struggled back onto his feet, the smirk completely wiped from his face. He spat blood and threw him self at Ariel, but she had already jumped into the air, her leg already swinging out in a huge roundhouse kick.

Wham!

Murlough didn't have a chance.

He sunk to his knees, unable to breath, a stunned look on his face. For good measure, Ariel brought both of her hands down onto Murlough's chest, with a force hard enough to brake his ribs. I even heard the breath leave him with a whoosh.