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Debbie faced rougher questioning—when the vampaneze told the police we were holding Steve Leonard, they also mentioned Debbie’s name. She’d protested her innocence, said she only knew me as a student, and knew nothing at all about Steve. With Alice’s support, Debbie’s story was finally accepted and she was released. She’d been shadowed for a few weeks, but eventually the police left her to get on with her life.
The officials knew nothing of the battle that had taken place in the tunnels, or of the vampaneze, vampets and vampires who’d been busy in their city. As far as they were concerned, a group of killers – Steve Leonard, Larten Crepsley, Darren Shan, Vancha March and Harkat Mulds – were responsible for the murders. One escaped during their arrest. The others broke out of prison later and fled. Our descriptions had been circulated near and far, but we were no longer the problem of the city, and the people there didn’t much care whether we’d been humans or vampires—they were just glad to be rid of us.
When a suitable period had passed, and interest in them dropped, Alice met Debbie and the pair discussed their bizarre brush with the world of vampires. Debbie had quit her job at Mahler’s – she couldn’t face work – and Alice was thinking about handing in her resignation too.
“It seemed pointless,” she said quietly, running her fingers through her short white hair. “I joined the force to protect people. When I saw how mysterious and deadly the world really is, I no longer felt useful. I couldn’t return to ordinary life.”
Over a number of weeks, the women talked about what they’d experienced in the tunnels, and what to do with their lives. They both agreed that they couldn’t go back to the way they’d been, but they didn’t know how to reshape their futures. Then, one night, after a lot of drinking and talking, Debbie said something that would change their lives completely and give them a new, purposeful direction.
“I was worrying about the vampets,” Debbie told us. “They seem more vicious than the vampaneze. Their masters have morals of a kind, but the vampets are just thugs. If the vampaneze win the war, it doesn’t seem likely that the vampets will want to stop fighting.”
“I agreed,” Alice said. “I’ve seen their kind before. Once they develop a taste for battle, they never lose it. But without vampires to attack, they’ll have to look elsewhere for prey.”
“Humanity,” Debbie said quietly. “They’ll turn on humans if they get rid of all the vampires. They’ll keep recruiting, growing all the time, finding weak, greedy people and offering them power. With the vampaneze behind them, I think they might pose a real threat to the world in the years to come.”
“But we didn’t think the vampires would worry about that,” Alice said. “The vampaneze are the real threat to the vampire clan. The vampets are just a nuisance as far as vampires are concerned.”
“That’s when I said we needed to fight fire with fire.” Debbie’s face was stern, unusually so. “This is our problem. I said we needed to recruit humans to fight the vampets, now, before they grow too strong. I was speaking generally when I used ‘our’ and ‘we’, but as soon as I said it, I realized it wasn’t general—it was personal.”
“Victims wait for others to fight on their behalf,” Alice said roughly. “Those who don’t want to be victims fight for themselves.”
By the time the sun rose, the pair had drawn up a plan to travel to Vampire Mountain, elicit the approval of the Princes, and build an army of humans to counter the threat of the vampets. Vampires and vampaneze don’t use guns or bows and arrows – they make a vow when blooded never to avail of such weapons – but vampets aren’t bound by such laws. Alice and Debbie’s army wouldn’t be bound by those laws either. With the help of the vampires they could track the vampets, then engage them on equal, vicious terms.
“We’d almost finished packing before the glaring flaw hit us,” Debbie laughed. “We didn’t know where Vampire Mountain was!”
That’s when Alice recalled the piece of paper Evanna had given her. Returning to her apartment, where she’d stored it, she unfolded it and discovered directions to where the Cirque Du Freak was currently playing—here by the waterfall.
“But Evanna gave you that paper months ago!” I exclaimed. “How did she know where the Cirque would be?”
Alice shrugged. “I’ve tried not to think about that one. I’m just about OK with the notion of vampires, but witches who can foresee the future … that’s a step too far. I prefer to believe she checked with the guy who runs this place before she met us.”
“Though that doesn’t explain how she knew when we’d read the message,” Debbie added with a wink.
“I suppose this means we’re meant to … guide you to Vampire Mountain,” Harkat mused.
“Looks like it,” Alice said. “Unless you’ve other plans?”
Harkat looked at me. I’d made it very clear when Mr Crepsley died that I didn’t want anything to do with vampires for a while. This call was mine.
“I’m not keen on going back,” I sighed. “It’s still too soon. But for something this important, I guess I don’t have much of a choice. As well as showing you the way, maybe I can act as the middle man between you and the Generals.”
“We were thinking along those lines,” Debbie smiled, leaning over to squeeze my hands. “We’re not sure what the vampires will think of two human women turning up with an offer to build an army to help them. We know little of their ways or customs. We need someone to fill us in.”
“I’m not sure the Princes will … accept your proposal,” Harkat said. “Vampires have always fought their … own battles. I think they’ll want to do the same now, even … if the odds are stacked against them.”
“If they do, we’ll fight the vampets without them,” Alice snorted. “But they’d be fools to disregard us, and from what I’ve seen, vampires aren’t foolish.”
“It makes sense,” I said. “Send humans to fight the vampets and leave the clan free to focus on the vampaneze.”
“Since when did vampires do things … because they made sense?” Harkat chuckled. “But it’s worth a try. I’ll come with you.”
“Oh no you won’t,” someone chortled behind us. Turning, startled, we saw that we’d been joined in the van by a’ third, uninvited guest, a short man with a savage leer. He was instantly recognizable and immediately unwelcome—Mr Tiny!
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_29821713-57ec-58b7-b5e6-9f7e42d178e5)
THE CREATOR of the Little People was dressed in his customary yellow suit and green Wellington boots. He eyed us though thick glasses and twirled a heart-shaped watch between the fingers of his left hand. He was small and pudgy, with pure white hair and a cruel, mocking smile.
“Hello boys,” he greeted Harkat and me. “And hello! beautiful ladies.” He winked rakishly at Debbie and Alice. Debbie smiled, but the ex-Chief Inspector was wary. Mr Tiny took a seat and removed a boot to empty dirt out of it. I saw the strange, six webbed toes I’d glimpsed once before. “I see you survived your run-in with Master Leonard,” he drawled, putting the boot back on.
“No thanks to you,” I sniffed angrily. “You knew Steve was the Lord of the Vampaneze. You could have told us.”
“And spoilt the surprise?” Mr Tiny laughed. “I wouldn’t have missed that fatal confrontation in the Cavern of Retribution for anything. I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years. The tension was unbearable, even though I guessed the outcome.”
“You weren’t in the cavern,” I challenged him. “And you didn’t guess the outcome—you knew how it would end!”
Mr Tiny yawned insolently. “I might not have been there physically,” he said, “but I was there in spirit. As for knowing the final outcome—I didn’t. I suspected Larten would fail, but I wasn’t sure. He could have won.
“Anyhow,” he said, clapping sharply. “That’s in the past. We’ve other fish to fry.” Looking at Harkat, he spun his watch so that it caught the light shining in the window of the van and reflected it into Harkat’s round green eyes. “Been sleeping well, Master Mulds?”
Harkat stared straight back at his master and said blankly, “You know only too damn … well that I haven’t.”
Mr Tiny tucked his watch away without taking his eyes off Harkat. “Time to find out who you used to be,” he murmured. Harkat stiffened.
“Why now?” I asked.
“His nightmares have intensified. He must come with me and search for his true identity, or say, go mad—and perish.”
“Why can’t you just tell him?” I prodded.
“Doesn’t work that way,” Mr Tiny said.
“Will I be gone long?” Harkat asked quietly.
“Oh yes,” came the answer. “For ever, if things don’t go well. It’s not a case of simply finding out who you were and returning. The road is long and dangerous, and even if you struggle along to the end, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back. But it’s a road you must tread—unless you’d rather go loopy and die.” Mr Tiny let out a fake sigh. “Poor Harkat—trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea.”
“You’re all heart,” Harkat grumbled, then faced me with a look of disgust. “Looks like this is where … we part company.”
“I could come with you –” I began, but he cut me short with a wave of a rough grey hand.
“Forget it,” he said. “You have to lead Debbie and … Alice to Vampire Mountain. Not just to guide them, but to … protect them—it’s a hard trek.”
“We could wait until you returned,” Debbie said.
“No,” Harkat sighed. “There’s no telling how long … I’ll be gone.”
I gazed helplessly at Harkat. He was my best friend, and I hated the thought of leaving him. But I loved Debbie and didn’t want to abandon her.
“Actually,” Mr Tiny purred, stroking the top of his heart-shaped watch, “I think young Shan should accompany you—assuming you value your life.”
“What do you mean?” Harkat barked sharply.
Mr Tiny studied his fingernails and spoke with a deceptively light tone. “If Darren accompanies you, your chances of survival are fair. Alone, it’s practically certain you’ll fail.”
My eyes narrowed hatefully. Mr Tiny had set Mr Crepsley and me on the trail of the Vampaneze Lord, knowing it was a journey bound to end in death. Now he wished to launch me on another.
“Darren’s not coming,” Harkat said as I opened my mouth to lay into Mr Tiny. “He has problems of his own … with the vampaneze. This is my quest, not his.”
“Of course, dear boy,” Mr Tiny simpered. “I fully understand, and if he chooses to go with the beautiful ladies, I won’t say anything to stop him. But it would be terribly wrong of me not to let him know in advance the awful –”
“Stop!” Harkat snapped. “Darren goes with Debbie and … Alice. End of story.”
“Harkat,” I muttered uncertainly, “maybe we should –”
“No,” he stopped me. “Your loyalty lies with the vampires. It’s time you returned to the fold. I’ll be OK on my own.” And he turned away and wouldn’t say anything more about it.
We broke camp before midday. Debbie and Alice had come well equipped, with ropes, thick jumpers, climbing boots, strong torches, lighters and matches, guns, knives, you name it! As a half-vampire, I didn’t require any special tools. All I packed in my rucksack was a good strong knife and a change of clothes. I was wearing jeans, a shirt and a light jumper. Although Truska had gone to a lot of trouble restoring my pirate costume, I didn’t feel comfortable in it—it was a child’s outfit. I’d picked up more normal gear over the last few months. Truska didn’t mind—she said she’d give the costume to Shancus or Urcha when they were older.
I didn’t wear my shoes. The trek to Vampire Mountain was a solemn tradition among vampires. No shoes or climbing gear were allowed. Normally you weren’t allowed to flit either. In recent years, because of the War of the Scars, that rule had been relaxed. But the others still stood. Debbie and Alice thought I was crazy! It’s hard for humans to understand the world of the creatures of the night.
One other thing I did take was my diary. I’d thought the diary lost for ever – it had been left behind in the city, along with the rest of my personal belongings – and was astonished when Alice produced it with a flourish.
“Where’d you get it?” I gasped, fingering the soft, crinkled cover of one of the several notepads that made up the diary.
“It was part of the evidence my officers collected after you were arrested. I sneaked it out before I quit the force.”
“Did you read it?” I asked.
“No, but others did.” She smiled. “They dismissed it as the fictional work of a lunatic.”
I looked for Harkat before we left, but he was locked away in Mr Tall’s van with Mr Tiny: Mr Tall came to the door when I knocked and said the Little Person was not receiving visitors. I called out “Goodbye” but there was no reply.
I felt lousy as we cleared the camp, having said farewell to Evra, Merla and my other friends. But Harkat had been firm about his wishes, and I knew it made more sense to go to Vampire Mountain and take my rightful place in the Hall of Princes again.
Debbie was delighted to have me back, and held on tight to my hand, telling me how excited she was – and a bit scared – to be heading for Vampire Mountain. She pumped me for information – what did vampires wear, did they sleep in coffins, could they turn into bats – but I was too distracted to answer in any great detail.
We’d walked two or three kilometres when I drew to a sudden halt. I was thinking about the times Harkat had saved my life—when he’d rescued me from the jaws of a savage bear, when he’d jumped into a pit during my Trials of Initiation and killed a wild boar as it was about to gouge me to death, the way he’d fought beside me, swinging his axe with speed and skill, when we’d taken on the vampaneze.
“Darren?” Debbie asked, gazing into my eyes, worried. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s got to go back,” Alice answered for me. I stared at her and she smiled. “You can’t ignore the obligations of friendship. Harkat needs you more than we do. Go help him, and catch us up later if you can.”
“But he told me to leave,” I muttered.
“Doesn’t matter,” Alice insisted. “Your place is with him, not us.”
“No!” Debbie objected. “We can’t find our way to the Mountain alone!”
Alice pulled a map out of her rucksack. “I’m sure Darren can point us in the right direction.”
“No!” Debbie cried again, clutching me tight. “I’m afraid I’ll never see you again if you leave!”
“I must,” I sighed. “Alice is right—I have to help Harkat. I’d rather stay with you, but I’d feel like a traitor if I did.”
There were hard tears in Debbie’s eyes, but she blinked them back and nodded tensely. “OK. If that’s the way you want it.”
“It’s the way it has to be,” I said. “You’d do the same thing in my place.”
“Possibly.” She smiled weakly, then, hiding her feelings behind a businesslike façade, she grabbed the map off Alice, laid it on the ground and told me to ink in the route to Vampire Mountain.
I quickly outlined the easiest route, pointed out a couple of alternate paths in case the first was blocked, and told them how to find their way through the maze of tunnels which led up the inside of the Mountain to the Halls where the vampires lived. Then, without any long goodbyes, I kissed Debbie quickly and thrust the rucksack with my newly recovered diary into Alice’s hands. I asked her to look after it for me.
I wished both women well, then turned and raced back for camp. I tried not to dwell on all that could happen to them on their way to the Mountain, and offered up a quick prayer to the gods of the vampires as I ran, asking them to watch over the ex-Chief Inspector and the teacher I loved.
I was on the edge of the camp when I spotted Mr Tiny and Harkat in an open field. In front of the pair stood a shimmering arched doorway, unconnected to anything else. The edges of the doorway glowed red. Mr Tiny also glowed, his suit, hair and skin pulsing a dark, vibrant, crimson shade. The space within the edges of the doorway was a dull grey colour.
Mr Tiny heard me coming, looked over his shoulder and smiled like a shark. “Ah—Master Shan! I thought you might turn up.”
“Darren!” Harkat snapped furiously. “I told you not to come! I won’t take you with … me. You’ll have to –”
Mr Tiny laid a hand on the Little Person’s back and shoved him through the doorway. There was a grey flash, then Harkat disappeared. I could see the field through the grey veil of the doorway—but no sign of Harkat.
“Where’s he gone?” I shouted.
“To search for the truth.” Mr Tiny smiled, edged aside and gestured towards the glowing doorway. “Care to search with him?”
I stepped up to the doorway, gazing uneasily at the glowing red edges and the grey sheen between. “Where does this lead?” I asked.
“Another place,” Mr Tiny answered obscurely, then laid a hand on my right shoulder and looked at me intently. “If you follow Harkat, you might never return. Think seriously about this. If you go with Harkat and die, you won’t be here to face Steve Leonard when the time comes, and your absence might have terrible repercussions for vampires everywhere. Is your short, grey-skinned friend worth such an enormous risk?”
I didn’t have to think twice about that. “Yes,” I answered simply, and stepped through into unnatural, otherworldly greyness.
CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_6bc2d130-fae9-5dea-a85a-c7c73ca93b5c)
A SUN burnt brightly in the clear sky above the wasteland, highlighting the arid earth and bare rocky hills. A coarse red dust covered much of the land, choking the dry soil. When strong winds blew, the dust rose in sheets, making breathing almost impossible. At such times I pulled on one of Harkat’s spare masks – it blocked out the worst of the grainy particles – and the two of us sought shelter and waited for calm to descend.
It had been two weeks – roughly – since Mr Tiny brought us to this desolate land and abandoned us. Two weeks crossing barren valleys and dead hills, where nothing lived except a few hardy lizards and insects, which we caught and ate whenever we could. They tasted disgusting but you can’t be choosy if you’re stranded in a desert without food or water.
Water was our main concern. Walking in the heat and dust was thirsty work, but water was in scarce supply and we didn’t have any canteens to store it in when we found the occasional pool. We’d fashioned primitive containers from the skins of lizards, but they didn’t hold much. We had to drink sparingly.
Harkat was angry with me for disobeying his wishes – he ranted at me nonstop for a few days – but his temper gradually abated. Although he hadn’t thanked me for choosing to accompany him on his quest, I knew he was secretly grateful.
A fortnight earlier, Mr Tiny followed us through the doorway, which collapsed into dust after him. There’d been a brief moment of disorientation when I stepped through, a grey cloud obscuring my vision. As the cloud cleared, I saw that I was standing in a round, shallow, lifeless valley—and although it had been day when I stepped through the doorway, here it was night, albeit an uncommonly clear night, bright with a full moon and a sky filled with twinkling star clusters.
“Where are we?” Harkat asked, his large green eyes filled with wonder.
Mr Tiny tapped his nose. “That would be telling. Now, boys,” he said, squatting and signalling us to squat beside him. He drew a simple compass in the dust at his feet, and pointed to one of the arrows. “That’s west, as you’ll see by the position of the sun tomorrow. Go in that direction until you come to the hunting grounds of a black panther. You have to kill the panther to find out where to go next.”
Smiling, he stood and turned to leave.
