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‘Why only maybe?’ The Doctor glanced back at Ephan. They were making their way through the dark corridors of the castle. The corridors were adorned with rich tapestries telling stories about Styria. Flaming torches cast eerie shadows throughout the passages. After leaving the cell, the Doctor had decided it was time to look for the Count. He had a very nasty suspicion about the Kuang-Shi, and there was only one way to confirm it. Since leaving the cell they had almost bumped into guards several times, but quickly found recesses to hide in. ‘Because there has to be an easier way to defeat the vampires, Ephan. Going off half-cocked on some kind of revenge campaign is liable to get you killed. And besides, do your people know how to fight the vampires?’ Ephan thumbed himself. ’I know how, Doctor.’ The Doctor cleared his throat and turned back to where he was going. Ephan looked down at the silver Zippo that he was still holding. ‘I have the weapon that will kill them.’ They came to a corner. The Doctor flattened himself against the wall, not an easy task considering his size, and poked his head around the corner. As he did so, he continued in a whisper. ‘That is only a lighter, it is not designed to be a weapon.’ ‘But I have seen what it can do. That Kuang-Shi did not stand a chance.’ The Doctor shook his head and took the Zippo off Ephan. Ethan tried to snatch it back but the Doctor slapped his hands away. ’What you need is something a little bigger than this.’ He glanced around the corner again. ’Right, all clear. Let’s go.’ They carried on their way, the Doctor putting the lighter back in his own pocket. ‘The fire in the lighter will, in time, run out and then where will your weapon be?’ Ephan’s eyes were aglow with new ideas. He reached up and pulled one of the torches off the wall. ‘Here, this will be our weapon. The people of Larkhowl know of fire.’ Once again the Doctor shook his head. Ephan had found some hope and was not going to let go of it. The Doctor did not blame him, but he couldn’t help but feel that the vampires would win. ‘What your people need is a strong leader. Someone who knows about vampires, who knows how to defeat them.’ ‘Someone like you?’ The Doctor stopped in his tracks and turned to face Ephan. ‘Thank you, Ephan, for your faith in me. I will do what I can.’ Ephan looked at the flaming torch in his hand. ‘Why do they have fire in the castle?’ The Doctor put a finger to his lips. ‘Hmm, well, I suspect the torches were left over from when this place was owned by your prince.’ ‘Yes, but why keep them? Since fire kills them.’ The Doctor had a thought. ‘Do the Kuang-Shi use your people are servants?’ Ephan nodded. ‘Well then, I suspect they have left the torches so that the servants can see where they are going. Either that or the Count is aware that your people know nothing of Kuang-Shi frailties. Arrogance that will cost him.’ Ephan thought back to the Kuang-Shi. If he closed his eyes he could still see her erupt into flame. It was a haunting image, but one from which he drew hope. ‘I will make sure it does, Doctor.’ The Doctor looked at Ephan and shook his head. He turned away. ‘Now then, let’s get on shall...’ His voice tailed off and he glanced around the dark corridor. Ephan looked at him, puzzled. He was about to speak but the Doctor held up a finger to silence him. ‘Shh,’ the Doctor said softly. ‘I think we are being followed.’ He drew in a deep breath. ‘Come on.’ It was only when Ephan began following the Doctor that he realised they were heading back the way they had come. If someone was following them, then that is where they would be. *** Her head snapped back once again under the impact of yet another strike. She bit her tongue, drawing blood. ‘Do not pretend you do not know me! I am Nicholas the Impaler!’ Alf opened her eyes, but she soon wished she hadn’t. The rage in Nicholas’ eyes was beyond any anger that she had seen expressed by Nick. Alf spat out the blood. ‘I don’t care who you are!’ she shouted back. For a moment Nicholas stood there, looking stunned. He pulled back his hand, all set to strike a third time, but then smiled and lowered his arm. He shook his head. ‘Oh no, you are not going to get me like that, Lady Dorothy. I remember what you did to me.’ He reached down and wiped the blood off Alf’s leg. Sucking the blood off his finger, Nicholas turned away. Alf let a low sigh. How had she got into this? The first time he had struck her without warning, right after she told him that she had no idea whom he was. One thing she was sure of was that he was not Nick. Nicholas clicked his fingers. ‘Aha!’ he exclaimed. He reached down for something obscured by an overturned table. ‘What will it be, Lady Dorothy?’ The items were revealed. In one hand he held a bent screwdriver, in the other a hollowed out metal pole. Part of a scaffolding, Alf noted. ‘This,’ he flipped the screwdriver and caught it, ‘or this?’ He made a mock stab in the air with the pole. ‘Well, Lady Dorothy?’ Alf could almost feel the force of anger when Nicholas said that name. She shook her head. Certain things were beginning to add up. ‘I’m not Lady Dorothy,’ she said through gritted teeth. Nicholas laughed. ‘Oh, that is very good.’ He walked towards her and carefully placed the pole on the floor beside him. ‘At first I was almost convinced myself, but then I realised what happened. On this New World there are two of you, and on Styria there is one. But you are all the same person. You share the same thoughts, the same desires, everything.’ He reached down and slowly unbuttoned his trousers. ‘And you all did this to me.’ Alf wanted to be sick. She shook her head, unable to take her eyes off the scarred tissue below Nicholas’ trousers. ‘Oh god, what did she do to you?’ ‘Ripped it right off. And for no other reason but to amuse herself.’ He rubbed a hand over the skin, his eyes closed. ‘I was well known for my sexual desire, and the Lady Dorothy wanted me. Two of kind, so Bradley says. We got together. Just as I was getting what I wanted she pushed me off her, and tore at me with her claws.’ He removed his hand and opened his eyes. They glowed orange. ‘She wanted me, I know she did!’ He blinked away the glow, and laughed softly. ‘Oh very good, you are trying to confuse me.’ He did his trousers up with a snarl. ‘Nice try,’ he said and lunged with the screwdriver. ***
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