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NO THAT’S not how it happened

I wish it was With all my heart and soul, I wish he’d been rescued and our foes defeated In that terrible, iined half a dozen fantastic scenarios, where Mika or Arrow or Mr Tall intervened to divert the course of fate, and we all walked away s But it wasn’t to be There was no last-e No miraculous rescue Vancha hadn’t flitted to Vampire Mountain We were alone, as we had to be, as destiny willed it

Mr Crepsley dropped He was impaled on the stakes He died

And it ful

I can’t even say that it was quick and merciful, as it was for the Lord of the Vahtaway The stakes didn’t kill hi, his cries while he writhed there, bleeding and dying, burning and screa, will stay with o

Debbie wept bitterly Vancha howled like a wolf Green tears trickled froreen eyes Even the Chief Inspector turned away from the scene and sniffed miserably

Notforward, I stopped at the edge of the pit and stared down at the stakes and the two bodies being quickly stripped bare of their flesh by the fla away, paying no attention as the vampaneze and vampets filed silently out of the cavern They could have executed us, but their leader was dead, their dreaer interested in battle - not even in revenge

I was barely aware of Vancha, Debbie, Harkat and Alice Burgess as they came to stand by my side

"We should go now," Vancha muttered after a while

"No," I replied dully "I’ him with us, to bury him properly"

"It’ll be hours before the fire dies out," Vancha said

"I’m in no rush The hunt’s over We’ve all the tihed deeply, then nodded "Very well We’ll wait

"Not me," Debbie sobbed "I can’t It’s too horrible I can’t stay and ?" She broke down in tears I wanted to co I could think to say to ess said, taking charge "We’ll walk up the tunnel and wait for you in the sess paused before leaving "I’uys," she said, "if you’re really va to tell my people about this But I know evil when I see it, and I like to think I know good too I won’t stand in your hen it’s time for you to leave And if you need any help, you only have to call"

"Thanks," Vancha said again, and this tirateful s her They pushed through the departing ranks of vaave wayabout the downfall of their Lord

Minutes passed The flames flickered on Mr Crepsley and the Lord of the Va pair hobbled up to confront us One had no hands, although he carried a pair of hook-hands slung around his neck The other had only half a face and was et you swine!" RV snarled, pointing threateningly with his left stuo, so we can’t harm you now, but we’ll hunt you down later and make you sorry you were born"

"You’d better come well prepared, Hooky," Vancha commented dryly "You’ll find us a realhandful !’

RV hissed at the joke andthrough teeth - half of which had been shattered by Burgess’ bullet - "Curhm awahy! Thuy ahn’t wurth iht!"

"Hah," Vancha chuckled spitefully "That’s easy for you to say!"

This tiet his hands on Vancha Cursing and fighting with each other, they backed off, joined the ranks of their nuues, and drifted away to patch theain ere alone at the pit The cavern was quieter now Almost all the valers re Steve Leopard, who couldn’t resist ah

"What’s that cooking on the fire, boys?" he asked, putting up his hands as if to warm them

"Go away," I said blankly, "or I’ll kill you"

Steve’s face dropped and he glared at me "It’s your own fault," he pouted "If you hadn’t betrayedto cut him in two