The Maleficent Seven

“But that’s a little bit of a lie, isn’t it? See, Dusk, you do care about something. You care about one thing. You’ve always cared about this one thing, because you’re a vampire – and this one thing plagues all vampires who were not turned willingly.”

Dusk frowned.

“I know who turned you, Dusk.”

“You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not. I know your story. Out walking one night, you were attacked; a nearby farmer came to your aid − he frightened off the beast... You recovered at his cottage, under the watchful eye of the farmer and his wife. And on the third night, you tore off your skin and devoured them. By then, of course, the one who had turned you was long gone.”

“And how do you know who it was?”

“An Elemental was in the area around the time all of this was happening. He reported back to the Sanctuary like a good little operative, and in his report he mentioned the name of a vampire he had met. I know the name, Dusk. And I’ll tell you – providing you help us.”

“Tell me now.”

“I’m not going to do that.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“I try not to lie to vampires.”

“Tell me who it was.”

Tanith hopped down off the cage. “No. Here’s the deal. You help us. You get along with everyone else in the team, even Jack, and when it’s over, I give you the name, and you go off and do whatever you want to do. Vampires hold grudges, don’t they? I’d imagine you’ve been holding this grudge for a good long time.”

“This might be it,” said Sanguine. “This might be the one thing to make you break your precious little vampire code – never kill another one of your kind. What do you think, Dusk? Might this be what tips you over the edge?”

Dusk said nothing.

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ooftops and chimneys, that’s all there was to see from up here. The whole thing reminded Sanguine of that scene from Mary Poppins where Dick Van Dyke starts dancing about with all those chimney sweeps high over London town. He wondered if Springheeled Jack ever took the time to dance about with chimney sweeps, singing as they went. Probably not, if he were being honest. Still, it was something to wonder as he waited there, whistling ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ and keeping watch for Cleavers.

Not even twenty minutes later, a long-fingered hand scuttled over the ledge like an unsettlingly ugly spider, followed by an arm and then a battered top hat with a lined, drawn, misshapen face beneath. Jack stayed down there, chin level with the roof, eyes on Sanguine.

“No one else here,” Sanguine told him.

Jack’s voice was high and strained. “’Cept for Cleavers,” he said. “Cleavers’re everywhere.”

“Not here. Not right now. I’ve been here a whole half-hour and I haven’t seen a single one.”

“They’re about.”

“That I know. This whole area’s one big search zone for them. But if you’ve got the skills, sneaking in and out isn’t much of a problem. Come on up. We have time for a chat, don’t we?”

Jack stayed put for a moment, and then with a grace so effortless it would have widened Sanguine’s eyes had he not scooped them out long ago, he pulled himself up and stood there on the edge. His feet were bare, his clothes – top hat and tails – worn and musty.

“How’d you know where to find me?” Jack asked.

“I didn’t,” said Sanguine. “I reckoned you’d be keeping an eye out, though. Figured you’d find me if I waited long enough.”

“What do you want?”

“To talk.”

“That so? You’re lookin’ pretty calm for someone who should be worried.”

“And why should I be worried? We’re two old friends, standing on a rooftop, chatting.”

“Last time I chatted to you, you had all these plans to set off the Desolation Engine, remember that? And then that sneaky vampire git turned and ran, left me to get pummelled and thrown in a cell.”

Sanguine shrugged. “And how is that my fault? You know full well never to give a vampire good reason for revenge, and yet you still stopped him from killing Valkyrie Cain on that beach, four years ago.”

“There were, what do you call them? Extenuatin’ circumstances. You’d all lied to me.”

“You can’t take any of this personally, Jack.”

“I can, and I do. It was because of Dusk, and because of you and your dear old dad, that I’ve been in a gaol cell for the last two years. I’d still be there right now if I hadn’t escaped.”

“Nonsense. We’d have come to get you out.”

A sneer crossed Jack’s face. “Not bloody likely.”

“I’m serious. We were all set to mount a daring rescue attempt when we heard you’d managed it all on your own.”

“And why would you want to get me out? Need my help, do you? Another dangerous little mission?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

“Yeah, knew it. Get lost.”

“Jack...”

“Not interested.” Jack turned, knees bending, ready to leap away.

Sanguine stepped forward. “Where are you going? Where is there to go? They’ve got the area sealed off, Jack, and they’re closing in. They’re going to get you, drag you back and throw you in a cell so deep you’ll never even breathe fresh air ever again.”

“And let me guess,” said Jack, turning his head slightly, “the alternative to all that is hookin’ up with you and your dad and the vampire again, is it?”

“Not my dad. They have him locked away and no one knows where. As for Dusk, though, yeah, he’s onboard.”

“Forget it.”

“Ask me who’s leading this little mission.”

“No.”

“Tanith Low.”