Page 19 (1/1)

AT THE last possiblefrorabbed Mr Crepsley around the waist, and rose with him to the safety of the platform, where they landed on their feet As I stared, a open, Mr Crepsley’s rescuer turned - it was Mika Ver Leth, one of my fellow Vampire Princes!

"Now!" Mika roared, and at his cry an ar and dropped to the floor, landing aasted vampaneze and vampets Before our foes had a chance to defend the, knives darting, axes chopping

On the platform, Gannen Harst howled miserably - "No!" - then threw hied, Mika cal it broadly at the advancing va it sailing through the air like aball

As Gannen Harst’s lifeless, headless body toppled over the side of the platform, Steve Leopard yelped, turned, and dashed for the safety of the tunnel He’d made it almost to the end of the plank when Mr Crepsley borrowed one of Mika’s knives, took careful aih the air at the half-vampaneze

The knife buried itself between Steve’s shoulder blades He gasped, stopped, spun around slowly, face white, eyes bulging, hands grasping for the hilt of the knife, unable to draw it out Coughing up blood, he collapsed on to the plank, spasmed briefly and fell still

Around us, the va off their opponents Harkat and Vancha had joined the fighting and were cheerfully dispatching vaess was gazing upon the bloodshed, unsure of who these nearriors were She sensed they were on our side, but she held on to her rifle, just in case

Debbie was still sobbing into my chest - she hadn’t looked up and realized as happening! "It’s OK," I told her, tilting her head up "Mr Crepsley’s safe He’s alive The cavalry arrived"

"Cavalry?" she echoed, gazing around, wiping tears from her eyes "I don’t understand What ?? How ??"

"I don’t know!" I chortled, then grabbed Vancha’s ar on?" I roared in his ear "Where did this lot come from?"

"I fetched theleefully "When I left yesterday, I flitted to Va on They flitted back with me They had to tread cautiously - I told them not to interfere until we’d killed the Va"

"But - I don’t - its?"

I stopped before ot the better of me I couldn’t understand how they’d crept up so quietly, or how Vancha had reached Va, it should have taken hihts - but what did thatass, Mr Crepsley was alive and Steve Leopard and the Lord of the Vampaneze were dead Why question it?

As I spun around like a child on Christ presents, I saw a fabulously fae hair flecked with blood, a fe scars to add to the long one which carved up the left side of his face, li on his sore ankle, but otherwise unbowed

"Mr Crepsley!" I roared, throwinght to his chest "Did you think I was finished?"

"Yes!" I sobbed

"Hah!" he chuckled "You do not get rid of me that easily! You still have much to learn about our ways and customs Who but I would have the patience to teach you?"

"Vain old git!" I snuffled

"Rude young brat!" he retorted, then pusheda hand, he thumbed tears and dirt away from my cheeks and then - then - then ?