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Debbie stoppedup behind me There was such terror in her voice, that even in the midst ofhard, eyes ith horror "No!" she wheezed, shaking her head desperately

"Why not?" I snarled

"He’s a child!" she cried

"No - he’s Steve Leopard’s son," I contradicted her "A killer, like his father"

"He hasn’t killed anyone," Debbie objected "Morgan James killed Mr Tall Now he’s dead, you’re even You don’t have to kill the boy too"

"I’ll kill them all!" I screamed madly It was like I’d become a different person, a bloodthirsty reaper "Every vampaneze must die! Every vampet! Everyone who aids them!"

"Even the children?" Debbie asked sickly

"Yes!" I roared My headache was the worst it had ever been It was like red-hot pins were being pushed through , but a larger part had seized on the hatred and urge to kill That e

"Harkat," Debbie appealed to the Little Person "Make him see sense!"

Harkat shook his neckless head "I don’t think I can stop hi at me as if he didn’t know me

"You have to try!" Debbie shrieked

"I don’t know if I? have the right," Harkat"You mustn’t do this," she wept

"It’s my duty," I said stiffly

She spat at my feet "That’s what I think of yourduty ! You’ll become a monster if you kill that boy You’ll be no better than Steve"

I stopped Her words had sparked aabout Mr Crepsley and his last words to me before he died He warned me not to devote my life to hatred Kill Steve Leopard if the chance presented itself - but don’t give e quest

What would he have done in my place? Kill the boy? Yes, if necessary Butwas it? Did I want to kill Darius because I feared hiood of us all - or because I wanted to hurt Steve?

I gazed into the boy’s eyes They were fearful, but behind the fear there was? sorrow In Steve’s eyes, evil lurked deep down Not in Darius He was more human than his father

My knife was still pressed to his throat It had sliced thinly into his flesh Little rivulets of blood trickled down his neck

"You’ll destroy yourself," Debbie whispered hoarsely "You’ll be worse than SteveHe can’t tell the difference between right and wrongYou can He can live with his wickedness because he doesn’t know any better, but it will eat you away Don’t do it, Darren We don’t ar on children"

I stared at her, tears in ht I wanted to take the knife away I couldn’t believe I’d even tried to kill the boy But still there was part ofhad awoken within me, a Darren Shan I’d never known existed, and he wasn’t going to lie doithout a fight My fingers shook as they held the knife, but the furious angel of revenge inside me wouldn’t let me lower them