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Steve’s eyes and mouth popped ith shock His expression was coh There was no recovery from a strike like that Steve was finished But he could take , I grabbed his left hand, holding it down tight by his side so he couldn’t use his knife on aze slid to the handle of the knife sticking out of his chest "Oh," he said tonelessly Then blood trickled from the sides of hisand falling with it I wanted to pull the knife out, to end o on like this for a ush of blood from his heart ¨C but ht

Then ¨C applause My head lifted, and Steve’s eyes rolled back in their sockets so that he could look behind hi down his cheeks "What passion!" he exclaimed "What valour! What a never-say-die spirit! My one either way, but if I was a bettingon you I said as much beforehand, didn’t I, Evanna?"

"Yes, father," Evanna answered quietly She was studying h she uttered no sounds, I was able to make out what she said "To the victor, the spoils"

"Come, Darren," Mr Tiny said "Pull out the knife and tend to your wounds They’re not i, but you should have a doctor see to them Your friends in the stadiu soon They can take you to a hospital"

I shook my head I only meant that I couldn’t pull the knife out, but Mr Tiny ht I didn’t want to kill Steve "Don’t be foolish," he snapped "Steve is the enemy He deserves no htful ruler of the night"

"You are the Lord of the Shado," Evanna said "There is no room in your life for mercy Do as my father bids The sooner you accept your destiny, the easier it will be for you"

"And do you want rily

"Not yet," Mr Tiny laughed "That will cohter faded and his expression hardened

"Much will come in time The vampaneze will fall, and so shall the humans This world will be yours, Darren &uether we’ll rule Your hand at the tiller, uide and advise you Not openly ¨C I haven’t the power to directly steer you &uestions, you’ll heed theether we’ll build a world of chaos and twisted beauty"

"Whatto do with a monster like you?" I snarled

"He has a point, father," Evanna murmured "We both knohat lies in store for Darren He will beco power But he hates you That hatred will increase over the centuries, not diminish What makes you think you can rule with him?"