The Lake of Souls (4 page)

Debbie faced rougher questioning — when the vampaneze told the police we were holding Steve Leonard, they also mentioned Debbie’s name. She’d protested her innocence, said she only knew me as a student, and knew nothing at all about Steve. With Alice’s support, Debbie’s story was finally accepted and she was released. She’d been shadowed for a few weeks, but eventually the police left her to get on with her life.

The officials knew nothing of the battle that had taken place in the tunnels, or of the vampaneze, vampets, and vampires who’d been busy in their city. As far as they were concerned, a group of killers — Steve Leonard, Larten Crepsley, Darren Shan, Vancha March, and Harkat Mulds — were responsible for the murders. One escaped during their arrest. The others broke out of prison later and fled. Our descriptions had been circulated near and far, but we were no longer the problem of the city, and the people there didn’t much care whether we’d been humans or vampires — they were just glad to be rid of us.

When a suitable period had passed, and interest in them dropped, Alice met Debbie and the pair discussed their bizarre brush with the world of vampires. Debbie had quit her job at Mahler’s — she couldn’t face work — and Alice was thinking about handing in her resignation too.

“It seemed pointless,” she said quietly, running her fingers through her short white hair. “I joined the force to protect people. When I saw how mysterious and deadly the world really is, I no longer felt useful. I couldn’t return to ordinary life.”

Over a number of weeks, the women talked about what they’d experienced in the tunnels, and what to do with their lives. They both agreed that they couldn’t go back to the way they’d been, but they didn’t know how to reshape their futures. Then, one night, after a lot of drinking and talking, Debbie said something that would change their lives completely and give them a new, purposeful direction.

“I was worrying about the vampets,” Debbie told us. “They seem more vicious than the vampaneze. Their masters have morals of a kind, but the vampets are just thugs. If the vampaneze win the war, it doesn’t seem likely that the vampets will want to stop fighting.”

“I agreed,” Alice said. “I’ve seen their kind before. Once they develop a taste for battle, they never lose it. But without vampires to attack, they’ll have to look elsewhere for prey.”

“Humanity,” Debbie said quietly. “They’ll turn on humans if they get rid of all the vampires. They’ll keep recruiting, growing all the time, finding weak, greedy people and offering them power. With the vampaneze behind them, I think they might pose a real threat to the world in the years to come.”

“But we didn’t think the vampires would worry about that,” Alice said. “The vampaneze are the real threat to the vampire clan. The vampets are just a nuisance as far as vampires are concerned.”

“That’s when I said we needed to fight fire with fire.” Debbie’s face was stern, unusually so. “This is
our
problem. I said we needed to recruit humans to fight the vampets, now, before they grow too strong. I was speaking generally when I used ‘our’ and ‘we,’ but as soon as I said it, I realized it wasn’t general — it was personal.”

“Victims wait for others to fight on their behalf,” Alice said roughly. “Those who don’t want to be victims fight for themselves.”

By the time the sun rose, the pair had drawn up a plan to travel to Vampire Mountain, elicit the approval of the Princes, and build an army of humans to counter the threat of the vampets. Vampires and vampaneze don’t use guns or bows and arrows — they make a vow when blooded never to avail of such weapons — but vampets aren’t bound by such laws. Alice and Debbie’s army wouldn’t be bound by those laws either. With the help of the vampires they could track the vampets, then engage them on equal, vicious terms.

“We’d almost finished packing before the glaring flaw hit us,” Debbie laughed. “We didn’t know where Vampire Mountain was!”

That’s when Alice recalled the piece of paper Evanna had given her. Returning to her apartment, where she’d stored it, she unfolded it and discovered directions to where the Cirque Du Freak was currently playing — here by the waterfall.

“But Evanna gave you that paper months ago!” I exclaimed. “How did she know where the Cirque would be?”

Alice shrugged. “I’ve tried not to think about that one. I’m just about OK with the notion of vampires, but witches who can foresee the future … that’s a step too far. I prefer to believe she checked with the guy who runs this place before she met us.”

“Though that doesn’t explain how she knew when we’d read the message,” Debbie added with a wink.

“I suppose this means we’re meant to … guide you to Vampire Mountain,” Harkat mused.

“Looks like it,” Alice said. “Unless you have other plans?”

Harkat looked at me. I’d made it very clear when Mr. Crepsley died that I didn’t want anything to do with vampires for a while. This call was mine.

“I’m not eager to go back,” I sighed. “It’s still too soon. But for something this important, I guess I don’t have much of a choice. As well as showing you the way, maybe I can act as the middle man between you and the Generals.”

“We were thinking along those lines.” Debbie smiled, leaning over to squeeze my hands. “We’re not sure what the vampires will think of two human women turning up with an offer to build an army to help them. We know little of their ways or customs. We need someone to fill us in.”

“I’m not sure the Princes will … accept your proposal,” Harkat said. “Vampires have always fought their … own battles. I think they’ll want to do the same now, even … if the odds are stacked against them.”

“If they do, we’ll fight the vampets without them,” Alice snorted. “But they’d be fools to disregard us, and from what I’ve seen, vampires aren’t foolish.”

“It makes sense,” I said. “Send humans to fight the vampets and leave the clan free to focus on the vampaneze.”

“Since when did vampires do things … because they made sense?” Harkat chuckled. “But it’s worth a try. I’ll come with you.”

“Oh no you won’t,” someone chortled behind us. Turning, startled, we saw that we’d been joined in the van by a third, uninvited guest, a short man with a savage leer. He was instantly recognizable and immediately unwelcome —
Mr. Tiny
!

CHAPTER FOUR

T
HE CREATOR OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE
was dressed in his customary yellow suit and green rain boots. He eyed us through thick glasses and twirled a heart-shaped watch between the fingers of his left hand. He was small and pudgy, with pure white hair and a cruel, mocking smile.

“Hello, boys,” he greeted Harkat and me. “And
hello
! beautiful ladies.” He winked rakishly at Debbie and Alice. Debbie smiled, but the ex-Chief Inspector was wary. Mr. Tiny took a seat and removed a boot to empty dirt out of it. I saw the strange, six webbed toes I’d glimpsed once before. “I see you survived your run-in with Master Leonard,” he drawled, putting his boot back on.

“No thanks to you,” I sniffed angrily. “You knew Steve was the Lord of the Vampaneze. You could have told us.”

“And spoiled the surprise?” Mr. Tiny laughed. “I wouldn’t have missed that fatal confrontation in the Cavern of Retribution for anything. I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years. The tension was unbearable, even though I guessed the outcome.”

“You weren’t in the cavern,” I challenged him. “And you didn’t
guess
the outcome — you
knew
how it would end!”

Mr. Tiny yawned insolently. “I might not have been there physically,” he said, “but I was there in spirit. As for knowing the final outcome — I didn’t. I suspected Larten would fail, but I wasn’t sure. He
could
have won.

“Anyhow,” he said, clapping sharply. “That’s in the past. We have other fish to fry.” Looking at Harkat, he spun his watch so that it caught the light shining in the window of the van and reflected it into Harkat’s round green eyes. “Been sleeping well, Master Mulds?”

Harkat stared straight back at his master and said blankly, “You know only too damn … well that I haven’t.”

Mr. Tiny tucked his watch away without taking his eyes off Harkat. “Time to find out who you used to be,” he murmured. Harkat stiffened.

“Why now?” I asked.

“His nightmares have intensified. He must come with me and search for his true identity, or stay, go mad — and perish.”

“Why can’t you just tell him?” I prodded.

“Doesn’t work that way,” Mr. Tiny said.

“Will I be gone long?” Harkat asked quietly.

“Oh yes,” came the answer. “Forever, if things don’t go well. It’s not a case of simply finding out who you were and returning. The road is long and dangerous, and even if you struggle along to the end, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back. But it’s a road you must tread — unless you’d rather go loopy and die.” Mr. Tiny let out a fake sigh. “Poor Harkat — trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea.”

“You’re all heart,” Harkat grumbled, then faced me with a look of disgust. “Looks like this is where … we part company.”

“I could come with you —” I began, but he cut me short with a wave of a rough grey hand.

“Forget it,” he said. “You have to lead Debbie and … Alice to Vampire Mountain. Not just to guide them, but to … protect them — it’s a hard trek.”

“We could wait until you returned,” Debbie said.

“No,” Harkat sighed, “there’s no telling how long … I’ll be gone.”

I gazed helplessly at Harkat. He was my best friend, and I hated the thought of leaving him. But I loved Debbie and didn’t want to abandon her.

“Actually,” Mr. Tiny purred, stroking the top of his heart-shaped watch, “I think young Shan
should
accompany you — assuming you value your life.”

“What do you mean?” Harkat barked sharply.

Mr. Tiny studied his fingernails and spoke with a deceptively light tone. “If Darren accompanies you, your chances of survival are fair. Alone, it’s practically certain you’ll fail.”

My eyes narrowed hatefully. Mr. Tiny had set Mr. Crepsley and me on the trail of the Vampaneze Lord, knowing it was a journey bound to end in death. Now he wished to launch me on another.

“Darren’s not coming,” Harkat said as I opened my mouth to lay into Mr. Tiny. “He has problems of his own … with the vampaneze. This is my quest, not his.”

“Of course, dear boy,” Mr. Tiny simpered. “I fully understand, and if he chooses to go with the beautiful ladies, I won’t say anything to stop him. But it would be terribly wrong of me not to let him know in advance of the awful —”

“Stop!” Harkat snapped. “Darren goes with Debbie and … Alice. End of story.”

“Harkat,” I muttered uncertainly, “maybe we should —”

“No,” he stopped me. “Your loyalty lies with the vampires. It’s time you returned to the fold. I’ll be OK on my own.” And he turned away and wouldn’t say anything more about it.

We broke camp before midday. Debbie and Alice had come well equipped, with ropes, thick sweaters, climbing boots, strong flashlights, lighters and matches, guns, knives, you name it! As a half-vampire, I didn’t require any special tools. All I packed in my knapsack was a good strong knife and a change of clothes. I was wearing jeans, a shirt, and a light sweater. Although Truska had gone to a lot of trouble restoring my pirate costume, I didn’t feel comfortable in it — it was a child’s outfit. I’d picked up more normal gear over the last few months. Truska didn’t mind — she said she’d give the costume to Shancus or Urcha when they were older.

I didn’t wear my shoes. The trek to Vampire Mountain was a solemn tradition among vampires. No shoes or climbing gear were allowed. Normally you weren’t allowed to flit either. In recent years, because of the War of the Scars, that rule had been relaxed. But the others still stood. Debbie and Alice thought I was crazy! It’s hard for humans to understand the world of the creatures of the night.

One other thing I did take was my diary. I’d thought the diary lost forever — it had been left behind in the city, along with the rest of my personal belongings — and was astonished when Alice produced it with a flourish.

“Where’d you get it?” I gasped, fingering the soft, crinkled cover of one of the several notepads that made up the diary.

“It was part of the evidence my officers collected after you were arrested. I sneaked it out before I quit the force.”

“Did you read it?” I asked.

“No, but others did.” She smiled. “They dismissed it as the fictional work of a lunatic.”

I looked for Harkat before we left, but he was locked away in Mr. Tail’s van with Mr. Tiny. Mr. Tall came to the door when I knocked and said the Little Person was not receiving visitors. I called out “Goodbye” but there was no reply.

I felt lousy as we cleared the camp, having said farewell to Evra, Merla, and my other friends. But Harkat had been firm about his wishes, and I knew it made more sense to go to Vampire Mountain and take my rightful place in the Hall of Princes again.

Debbie was delighted to have me back, and held on tight to my hand, telling me how excited she was — and a little scared — to be heading for Vampire Mountain. She pumped me for information — what did vampires wear, did they sleep in coffins, could they turn into bats — but I was too distracted to answer in any great detail.

We’d walked one or two miles when I drew to a sudden halt. I was thinking about the times Harkat had saved my life — when he’d rescued me from the jaws of a savage bear, when he’d jumped into a pit during my Trials of Initiation and killed a wild boar as it was about to gouge me to death, the way he’d fought beside me, swinging his axe with speed and skill, when we’d taken on the vampaneze.

“Darren?” Debbie asked, gazing into my eyes, worried. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s got to go back,” Alice answered for me. I stared at her and she smiled. “You can’t ignore the obligations of friendship. Harkat needs you more than we do. Go help him, and catch up with us later if you can.”

“But he told me to leave,” I muttered.

“Doesn’t matter,” Alice insisted. “Your place is with him, not us.”

“No!” Debbie objected. “We can’t find out way to the Mountain alone!”