Harry stood at the top of the stairs, Garrett's corpse sprawled behind him to the left, Stan bound and squirming to the right. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air behind him, thick and metallic. It pulled at something deep in his chest, sharpening his hunger, putting him on edge. His fangs ached to slide out.

  The noise echoing up from below grew sharper. Boots striking stone, fast and uneven. Multiple pairs.

  The portal's gray glow cast everything in flat, lifeless light. The torches on the walls flickered, throwing shadows that danced and jumped.

  In front of him the stairs descended about twenty feet to a landing before turning left and continuing down. Whatever was coming would appear at that corner in seconds.

  "System, do you know what's coming?"

  :: System: Negative. The environment suggests undead.

  "Like zombies and skeletons?"

  :: System: Affirmative.

  "Great."

  He adjusted his grip on the spear, lowered the point toward the landing, and widened his stance. The shield felt too heavy on his left arm. Everything felt wrong. The chainmail dragged at his shoulders. The helmet blocked his peripheral vision. His fingers felt clumsy on the shaft.

  Behind him, Stan made a muffled sound through the gag.

  The footsteps were almost at the corner now. Fast, getting faster. Not the shuffling drag he thought zombies would make.

  Concentrate, Harry.

  A figure burst around the corner.

  Cedric. Sword drawn, shield strapped to his arm. Moving too fast to make the turn, he caromed off the landing wall, recovered, and came flying up the stairs toward Harry, eyes wide and wild.

  Toby and Jo appeared on the landing, moving fast but not reckless. Toby held his spear pointed down, knuckles white around the shaft. Jo had her bow in hand, an arrow held against the string, watching behind them as they came up.

  Harry stepped to the side to give them room to pass and angled for a better look behind them, expecting something to be chasing at their heels.

  Cedric didn't even slow. He sprinted past Harry, straight across the room and hurled himself at the dull gray portal. He slammed into it with a heavy thud and the rattle of chainmail, bounced off and flew back. He crumpled backward onto his pack, his sword flying from his grip and clattering across the stone.

  Jo and Toby reached the top and stopped next to Harry. The three of them turned in unison, silent, watching for what came next.

  It stayed quiet. Harry crept down to the first landing and peeked around the turn. Nothing.

  He came back up and the three of them turned to study the room. Cedric, laid out in front of the portal, the body of Garrett facedown in a growing pool of blood, and Stan bound and gagged.

  Jo raised an eyebrow at Harry. "You've been busy."

  Toby walked past the others, stepping around the pool of blood, and knelt by Cedric. "Is he dead?"

  Harry approached and knelt beside him, pressing a hand to Cedric's neck. "No. Just knocked himself silly."

  Next to him, Jo exhaled sharply. Apparently she moved quietly. "That fool. Stepped out ahead, hurled his spear at the first shadow, and bolted like he'd seen a dragon."

  Harry looked between them. "What was he running from?"

  Jo shook her head. "I've no idea. I was in back. Toby?" She turned. "Did you…"

  She broke off. Toby wasn't looking at them. He stood over Lord Garrett's body, frozen.

  "He's…" Toby began, voice thin. His eyes flicked to Harry. "Did you…?"

  Harry blinked. "What? No! They threw him in here like that." Harry pointed at Stan. "Then this guy came flying through."

  Jo approached Stan. She'd put the arrow away and drawn her dagger. "Who is he?"

  Stan was no longer struggling against his bonds, just watching her with wide eyes.

  "His name's Stan. I've run into him a few times around the Dusty Lantern. I think Zinkle uses it as a base."

  Jo turned back toward Harry, dagger still drawn, not exactly pointed at Harry, but not exactly not pointed at him either.

  Toby approached Stan and knelt next to him. "Should we untie him?"

  Jo moved to put herself between Toby and Stan. "Not yet." She turned back to Harry. "What's going on?"

  Harry shrugged. "It's complicated."

  Cedric chose that moment to groan and start to sit up, only to slump back down.

  "Toby, Stan can wait. Help me with Cedric." Together they grabbed him under each arm and moved him so he was sitting against the wall farthest from Garrett. Which put him near Stan.

  "Alright, explain." Jo still held her dagger but casually at her side, watching everyone.

  Harry leaned his spear against a wall and stepped back. He kept both hands open in front of him.

  "As near as I can figure," he said, pointing at Garrett's body, "he refused to come in and Zinkle wasn't taking no for an answer."

  He pointed at Stan. "Remember how Zinkle said he had a special surprise for me?"

  Toby nodded. Jo answered, "Yeah?"

  "I think he was the special surprise."

  Jo scowled. "That doesn't explain anything."

  Harry's shoulders slumped and he glanced between them. "Zinkle didn't tell you what I am?"

  Toby answered in a shaky voice. "He… he said you were a noble, didn't he?"

  "Alright, look, the first thing you need to know," Harry said, holding up both hands, palm out, like he was trying to stop them from getting any crazy ideas, "is that I'm not going to bite anyone."

  Toby stood and backed away, both hands on his spear. "Bite? Why would you bite anyone?" His eyes darted between Harry and Jo, clearly lost.

  Jo watched him carefully now. "The 'special surprise' was someone for you to bite." She paused. "Why would Zinkle think you'd want to bite someone?"

  Stan started to struggle again. Harry noticed Cedric was fully awake and staring at him.

  I'm sorry, System. If they attack, I won't hurt them.

  :: System: Understood, Harry.

  "There's not really an easy way to put this." He slid one step toward the stairs. He wouldn't hurt them, but he could run till they cooled off enough to talk.

  "I'm a vampire."

  Toby gasped. "A vampire?"

  Jo took a quick step back until her back hit the wall, dagger snapping up between them.

  Cedric's eyes went wide. "Vampire!" He lurched to his feet, glancing around for his sword. It lay on the far side of the room, past Harry. He spun instead and grabbed for Toby's spear, yanking hard.

  "Give me that, you fool."

  Toby held on, the spear jerking back and forth between them.

  Jo stood frozen, eyes darting between Harry and the struggle in front of her.

  Harry didn't move. His head hung low, shoulders set, silent.

  Toby hit the ground, still clutching the spear. Cedric loomed over him, one boot planted on Toby's chest as he tried to wrench the weapon free.

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  "CEDRIC, STOP IT!" Jo's shout filled the room.

  Cedric stopped fighting over the spear and stepped back, pulling his dagger free. He dropped into a crouched stance, blade forward, breathing fast.

  Harry raised his hands partway. "I'm not going to hurt anyone."

  Toby pushed himself up, still gripping his spear, eyes flicking between them.

  Cedric's voice cracked under the strain. "We can't trust it." His gaze jumped from Jo to Harry and back again.

  Jo lowered her dagger. "Do we have a choice?"

  Toby swallowed. "Do we?"

  Jo shook her head slightly, eyes still on Harry. "Do we have a chance of getting out of here without him?"

  Cedric's face twisted. "We're just here for him. For when he needs to… to kill."

  Toby blinked. "Kill?"

  Jo turned her dagger toward Stan. "I think that's what he's for."

  Stan started struggling again, ropes creaking, but it only lasted a moment before he went limp, chest heaving.

  Harry stayed where he was, hands still up. His voice came quiet and steady. "I'm not going to kill anyone. Not Stan. Not anyone. I'm not that kind of vampire."

  Jo frowned. "What do you mean, not that kind?"

  "Don't listen to it," Cedric snapped.

  Before Harry could answer, Jo turned on him. "And why should I listen to you? You ran and left us down there!"

  "It was… I didn't…" Cedric's voice faltered.

  Harry lifted his hands slightly. "Hold on. Look at me." He spread his arms and gave an awkward little wiggle, flapping his arms. "Do I look like some crazed monster? I'm not chasing anyone." He dropped his arms and stood still. "I just want us all to get through this place."

  Jo hesitated, then slid her dagger back into its sheath. She nodded toward Stan. "Should we untie him?"

  "Yeah, go ahead," Harry said.

  "Wait, no," Cedric barked. "You're just going to trust it?"

  "Trust him or don't," Jo said. "Toby, untie him."

  Toby started to lean his spear against the wall, then caught Cedric's stare and changed his mind, handing it to Jo instead. He knelt and began working at the knots around Stan's wrists.

  For the first time, Cedric seemed to really see Garrett's body. He pointed with his dagger, voice rising. "It already killed Lord Ashford."

  Jo's tone cut through the tension. "Zinkle did that. Use your head." She gestured toward Stan. "If Harry did it, where did he get this guy from?"

  Cedric didn't respond. He just took a step back and slumped against the wall, sliding down until he sat on the floor.

  Harry glanced at the body. "Does anyone mind if I take care of Lord Garrett?"

  Cedric's head snapped up.

  Jo frowned. "Take care of how?"

  Harry looked around and shrugged. "I don't know. Wrap him in a blanket and put him in a corner, maybe."

  Toby hesitated. "Maybe you can…"

  Jo looked over. "It's all right, Toby. Maybe we can what?"

  Toby kept working at the ropes around Stan's feet. Stan stayed flat, awkwardly rubbing at his freed wrist. His broken arm was still splinted and bound to his chest, and his other hand, swollen and dark from punching Harry at the tavern, made him wince when he tried to move it.

  Toby nodded toward the dull gray portal. "Maybe it only blocks living people?"

  System, will that work? Could we put the body through?

  :: System: Unknown. Data on portals locking on the inside is scarce.

  Harry looked at the portal. "Worth a try. But is it all right if I bundle him up first?"

  "Go ahead," Jo said.

  Cedric had drawn his knees up, arms resting across them, his dagger hanging loosely in one hand. His eyes were distant, fixed somewhere far beyond the room.

  Harry went down the stairs and found Garrett’s backpack lying where it had fallen. He picked it up and carried it back to the room.

  Kneeling beside it, he started sorting through the contents. He pulled out a long wool cloak, still in surprisingly good condition, and a blanket that smelled faintly of mold. He looked between them, then chose the cloak.

  When he turned toward the body, he saw that Stan was now sitting against the wall beside Cedric. Jo and Toby stood nearby, both watching him.

  Harry laid the cloak next to Garrett’s body. With a grimace, he pulled the dagger free and tossed it into the corner, the sound echoing off the stone. He started to roll the body onto the cloak when someone crouched beside him. Toby.

  “Thanks, Toby.”

  Toby gave a short nod.

  Together they rolled the body into the cloak, smearing the blood across the floor.

  Harry looked at the portal. “Should we try it?”

  Toby gave a small shrug.

  “Take his feet,” Harry said. When Toby moved into place, he added, “Lift him on three.”

  “On three what, sir?”

  “Call me Harry. I’ll count to three. When I say three, lift.”

  “Yes, sir. Harry.”

  Harry counted down, and together they lifted the body and shuffled toward the portal.

  “You first,” Harry said. “See if his legs will go through.”

  Toby took a step toward the portal. The moment the feet reached the dull gray surface, they slid straight through as if nothing was there. Toby looked back at Harry with a quick grin.

  But as the legs moved deeper, Toby's arms hit the portal like a solid wall. He froze, arms stuck holding the body like a shelf.

  Harry kept moving forward, pushing the torso through. As more weight shifted to the other side, the body began to tilt upward.

  "Hold on," Harry muttered.

  He gave another shove. The body pivoted hard, wrenching up and out of his grip. The head smacked into the stone above the portal with a dull thump, then slid down and vanished through the opening.

  For a heartbeat it seemed done.

  The legs popped back out halfway, jutting from the portal at an angle before dropping to the floor, feet pointed down.

  Harry and Toby both bent to grab them at the same time and cracked their heads together.

  "Sorry," Harry said.

  Toby rubbed his forehead. "Sorry, sir. Harry."

  Harry crouched low, gripping the ankles. He shifted the legs back and forth, trying different angles. It was awkward with all the weight on the other side pulling against him. He lifted, twisted, nudged. The legs barely budged.

  Harry straightened with a frustrated sigh.

  The legs slipped through the portal and disappeared without a sound.

  Harry blinked. "I think someone outside got him."

  He nodded. "Thank you, Toby."

  "It's all right, sir. What do we do now?" Toby asked.

  "Hold on."

  Harry took the blanket he'd pulled from Garrett's pack and spread it over the blood. The smell still tugged at him, but it was fading. Growing stagnant and old.

  "I guess we need to think about what's waiting downstairs." He moved to the stairs and sat on the top step, facing the group by the far wall.

  Jo sat cross-legged on the floor. "I didn't see anything. Cedric, what happened?"

  Cedric stared back at her with an empty look and said nothing.

  Toby moved to sit beside Jo.

  Stan finally spoke. "'old on now, someone tell me what's goin' on. Where are we?"

  Jo gave him a sympathetic look. "Stan, right?" He nodded. "You're in the dungeon."

  "Dungeon?" Stan's eyes flicked to Harry, then away, like he was trying not to stare too long. "And you're a vampire, are you?"

  "I believe that's been established," Harry said.

  Stan shifted against the wall, putting a bit more distance between himself and Harry. "Right. Well." He cleared his throat. "What'd you do with Olly, then?"

  Harry sighed. "Look, he stabbed me."

  "You ate 'im, didn't you? Don't bother lyin'."

  "I didn't eat him… but yes, I did kill him." Harry lifted his hands. "But he stabbed me! For no good reason. And he smiled at me when he did it."

  Sure, I bit him. And maybe I drank his blood. But I did not eat him.

  :: System: Duly noted.

  Stan grumbled. "It was that woman… Olly thought he was in love with 'er."

  "Sally?" Harry asked.

  "Aye, Pink Sally, that's the harlot, right enough."

  "That's just rumors," Harry said. "Zinkle likes people to think that."

  "Lot of blokes traipsin' upstairs on nothin' more than rumors," Stan muttered.

  Jo cut in. "I'm sure we'd all enjoy talking about Olly and Pink Sally all day. But it doesn't help us here and now."

  She shot Cedric a scowl, then turned to Toby. "What did you see?"

  "What did I see?" Toby rubbed the back of his neck. "It was these stone boxes, for the dead. I don't remember what they call them. There was a row on both sides and suddenly he stops," he pointed a thumb at Cedric, "throws his spear, and takes off."

  "Anything else? Did you see movement?" Jo asked.

  "Was there movement? Maybe." Toby frowned. "The way the torches made the shadows flicker…"

  Jo looked to Harry. "That's right. There were torches just like here and on the stairs. They lit up as soon as we set foot in the room."

  Harry squinted at the wall torches. "How does that work exactly? They just burn forever, or someone comes down and swaps them out?"

  "It's a dungeon," Jo said. "What's to understand?"

  "Magic torches are in lots of dungeons," Toby added quickly. "According to the tales. Especially the scary ones… oh no." His face went a little pale.

  Harry leaned forward. "Toby, do you know a lot about dungeons?"

  Toby nodded slowly, then gave his head a small shake to focus. "Do I? Yes, sir. I listen to all the songs and stories. But I never thought I would…"

  "The boy's right," Stan cut in. "All the dungeon tales with undead got torches." He squinted at Harry, thinking hard. On Stan, it was easy to spot. Likely it didn't happen often. "You can use 'em to burn the zombies… and whatnot."

  Harry shot him a look. "Stan, how did you even get up here in the mountains?"

  "One o’ Zinkle's men," Stan said. "Bloke tells me he heard I whooped you, an' as a reward, wants me to come see the boss. Says he'll see I get heal'd up."

  "Seems like a long way to come just to get healed," Harry said.

  Stan's jaw tightened. He held out his swollen hand and braced it against his bound arm. "What can I do like this? Can't work. I'll starve, won't I?"

  Harry looked down. "Right… I'm sorry about that."

  Stan scowled and looked away.

  Jo exhaled through her nose. "Alright, someone is going to have to look." She scowled at the floor. "I guess I'm the closest thing we have to a scout."

  Toby shot her a surprised look but stayed quiet.

  "No," Harry said. "I'll do it. It's probably safer for me."

  Cedric surprised everyone by speaking. "Because you are one of them."

  Silence settled over the room.

  Harry clapped his hands lightly. "On that happy note, how about I go take a peek?" He looked to Jo. She gave a single nod.

  Harry stood, shook out his arms, rolled his shoulders, and glanced at the faces watching him. "Alright then, don't leave without me." He started down the stairs.

  

  ***

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