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The shout came from a tunnel to our left We didn’t stop to check howour heads doe pushed Steve and the vaing after us Vancha dropped back and kept the stars which were lethal when thrown by one as experienced as Vancha March By the hysterical voices, I knew most - if not all - of the vaed behind us, but the tunnel ere in ran straight ahead, with hardly any side-tunnels opening out of it Our enemies weren’t able to sneak around and attack us from the sides or in front - they were forced to follow behind

As we got closer to street level, the tunnels grew brighter, and ht I was now able to see the va behind - and they were able to see us! The vampaneze, like va weapons such as guns or bows, but the va as soon as they had a clear line of sight, and we had to run doubled-over Ifwe’d had to cover a long distance in that uncomfortable crouch, they’d have surely picked us off one by one, but within afire, we arrived at a steel ladder leading up to aa hail of shurikens at the varabbedfirst It made the most sense - if the vampaneze pressed forward, Mr Crepsley was better equipped to fight them off

At the top of the ladder I braced ainst thethe way up I hauled s I was in theand nobody was about Leaning back over the manhole, I yelled, "It’s clear!"

Seconds later, Steve Leopard crawled out of theafter being down the tunnels so long) Then Harkat came, followed by the vampet There was a short delay after that The tunnel underneath echoed with angry gun retorts Fearing the worst, I was about to climb back down the ladder to check on Mr Crepsley and Vancha, when the orange-haired va wildly Almost immediately, Vancha shot out after him The pair must have jumped, one directly after the other

As soon as Vancha was clear of the manhole, I stumbled across the street, picked up the cover, shuffled back with it and set it in place Then all four of us gathered around it, Vancha grasping several shurikens, Mr Crepsley his knives, Harkat his axe, and me my sword We waited ten seconds Twenty Half astingingly beneath the wan glare of thesun

Nobody came

Vancha cocked an eyebrow at Mr Crepsley "Think they’ve given up?"

"For thehis attention to Steve and the va sure they didn’t et out of - this city," Harkat said, wiping a layer of dried blood frorey face Like Mr Crepsley and Vancha, he was nicked in many places after his battle with the vampaneze, but the cuts weren’t serious "It would be suicide to remain"

"Run, rabbits, run," Stevehi Debbie," I said "RV’s a crazed killer I’ to abandon her to him"

"What did you do to thatdown one of the small holes in the manhole cover, still not entirely convinced that ere in the clear The purple ani froreen hair was flecked with blood

"Nothing," I sighed "There was an accident at the Cirque Du Freak He?"

"We have no ti off the left sleeve of his red shirt, which had been slashed in as many places as Vancha’s hides He squinted up at the sun "In our state, we cannot bear to stay in the sun very long Whatever our choice, we ht," Vancha said "We can’t leave Not because of Debbie - much as I like her, I wouldn’t sacrifice myself for her - but the Lord of the Vao after him"

"But he’s too well protected," Harkat protested "Those tunnels are full of vampaneze - and vaain I say we flee and cootten Mr Tiny’s warning," Vancha said "We can’t ask other vampires for help I don’t care how poor the odds are - we must try to breach their defences and kill their Lord"

"I agree," Mr Crepsley said "But now is not the time We are wounded and exhausted We should rest and form a plan of action The question is, where do we retire to - the apart, or elsewhere?"

"Elsewhere," Harkat said instantly "The va If we stay, we’d be crazy to go where - they can attack any time they like"

"I don’t know," I muttered "It eird, the way they let us leave I know Gannen said it was to spare the lives of his couaranteed victory in the War of the Scars I think there’sspared us when they had us trapped on their own turf, I doubt they’ll coht on our territory"

My companions mused on that in silence

"I think we should return to our base and try to et soht, we’ll attack"

"Sounds good to hed

"Harkat?" I asked the Little Person

His round green eyes were full of doubt, but he grimaced and nodded "I think we’re fools to stay, but if - we’re going to, I guess at least we have weapons and - provisions there"

"Besides," Vancha added grimly, "most of the aparter along the neck of his captured vampet, a shaven-headed man with the dark ’V’ of the vampets tattooed above either ear "There are so won’t be pleasant It’ll be for the best if there’s nobody around to hear"

The vah unimpressed, but I could see fear in his blood-rith to withstand horrible torture, but vas to a human

Mr Crepsley and Vancha wrapped their robes and hides around their heads and shoulders, to protect the Steve and the vas, and wearily headed for base