How Not To Be A Werewolf (Editing)

A Stake In The Heart

Elliot led us back towards the tunnel that led to the bedrooms. Jay followed close behind, unsheathing a short sword, the pommel of which was fashioned into a snarling leopard, the same as his helmet.

As we reached the entrance I glanced back to see that all of the tables were empty. Not one of the blue-robed vampires was left. In their place were several fully armoured vampires. Their swords were drawn and they were all looking intently at the other exit from the hall.

"They'll buy us some time," Jay said, following my gaze.

"And we're heading straight into a dead end," I said remembering the layout of the tunnel that had ended up in a wall of solid rock. As far as I could tell we were just putting off the inevitable moment that the SPECTRE agents caught up with us.

Elliot, however, seemed to miss the point as he led our way through the thick blue curtain that sectioned off the tunnel entrance. As he pulled back the curtain I was surprised to see a tunnel lit with red flames rather than the blue that I had become accustomed to.

I must be going bloody mad...

"The tunnels are designed to provide an escape route for the High Lord in the event of an attack," Kian explained, probably having read my mind. "They'll lead him to a place of safety that is almost impossible for any would-be assassins to follow."

"Indeed." Elliot agreed, "And, now it provides us with the means to get you both out of here right from under the SPECTRE agents' noses. I can't wait to see their faces! It truly is a shame that you can't stay to witness how we're going to bend them over and fill them up with both barrels."

If I was honest with myself, I didn't ever want to see the faces of the agents who were after me. Just hearing the voices of Southwood and Gibbs was enough.

We came to a stop at a large metal door, like the barrier we had passed through on our entrance to the Church, and Elliot reached out a pale and clawed hand to touch the metal surface. When he pulled his hand away it left a glowing red imprint, almost as if the High Lord had burned his handprint into the door.

"Through this door is..."

Elliot stopped speaking abruptly as Jay fished a long wooden stake from inside his armour and shoved it into his superior's heart before any of us could react to his swift movements.

What the fuck?

As the High Lord slumped to the floor with one hand investigating the piece of wood penetrating his chest and a bemused look on his face Jay pulled out his sword. The leopard pommel caught the red flames like it was on fire and his green eyes were darkened with malice.

"One wrong move, Kian, and I'll turn your plucky friend here into a werewolf kebab," he growled, "We wouldn't want anyone to die unnecessarily, now would we?"

Oh, Crap.

I felt the edge of the sword as it dug into my side to emphasize the point, not that I doubted Jay's threats.

"You killed me..."

On the floor, Elliot struggled. I had expected to see a lot of blood due to the injury, but there was nothing. Elliot, however, was not looking good. His skin had turned an ashen grey, and as I watched tiny pieces of him were crumbling into dust and disappearing.

"Yes, I did," Jay said matter of factly. "You poisonous old leech. Me and my brother fought for this bloody Church, and for what? If I left you alive you would find any excuse to take the fight to the Council and restart the war! I'm not going to let that happen. Too many good vampires died because you wanted power to match the Council. Shall I tell your guests here what you did to your predecessor, huh? Shall I tell them how you came to occupy the throne?"