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a wicked, bloodthirsty smile.
    Larten darted for the door, certain he was too late, that the creature would drop in front of him and block his way before falling upon him and finishing him off. But to his surprise the beast never moved,and a second later Larten was in the doorway, freedom a couple of paces ahead of him.
    “I would ask you to stay awhile,” the creature murmured, and something in its tone made Larten pause. He cast a quick glance upwards and saw that the thing had lowered its head. Only a handful of inches now separated their faces.
    Larten squealed and slammed against the jamb of the doorway. But still he didn’t spill out of the crypt and run away. Because the creature hadn’t sounded threatening when it spoke. It had sounded strangely
lonely
.
    “What are you?” Larten gasped.
    “Should not the question be
who
am I?” the creature asked, then released its grip, dropped to the floor, and stood. Larten saw that it was actually a man—or at least it had the body and face of one. The red he’d glimpsed was the material of the man’s clothes, not his skin, which–from what Larten could see–was no different from any other person’s.
    “Aren’t you a monster?” Larten frowned, eyeing the man suspiciously.
    “I would not describe myself as one,” the man chuckled. “Although there are many who would.”
    To Larten’s surprise, the man extended a hand. Larten’s heart was pounding, but it would be rude torefuse this gesture of friendship. Sticking out a trembling hand of his own, he accepted the man’s offer of a handshake. The man’s grip was loose, but Larten sensed immense strength in the fingers.
    “My name is Seba Nile,” the man said, “and this is my home for the night. You are more than welcome to share it with me if you wish.”
    “Thank you,” Larten said weakly, feeling like he was in a dream. “My name’s Larten Crepsley.”
    “I bid you welcome, Larten,” Seba said warmly, and without releasing the boy’s hand, he led him back into the shadows of the crypt.

Chapter Seven
    Seba Nile sat on the floor, brushed away dust, then produced an apple from within the long red cloak he was wearing. He split the apple in two with his sharp but clean fingernails and offered half to the boy. Larten wolfed down the fruit. When Seba saw how ravenous the child was, he gave him the second half of the apple too. Taking it with a brief nod of thanks, Larten sat cross-legged, like Seba, and munched down to the core, chewing the seeds and all.
    “I am guessing that you have not eaten in a while,” Seba noted drily. “I would give you more if I had any, but I do not. You can hunt with me later, or I canbring back food for you if you prefer to remain where it is warm and dry.”
    Larten grunted and picked the remains of the core from between two of his teeth. Squinting at Seba, he said suspiciously, “What do you want?”
    “I do not want anything,” Seba replied.
    “Then why are you helping me? Why let me stay here and give me food?”
    Seba smiled. “I am simply being hospitable.”
    “I don’t believe you,” Larten sniffed.
    “You should never call a man a liar unless you are sure,” Seba said coldly.
    “You’re living in a crypt,” Larten said. “You can’t be up to any good if you’re staying in a place like this.”
    Seba raised an eyebrow. “I could say the same about you, young pup!”
    Larten chuckled weakly. “I suppose you could.”
    “Why
are
you here?” Seba asked. When Larten’s lips drew thin, he added, “You do not have to tell me, but you look troubled. I think you will rest easier if you are open with me.”
    Larten shook his head. “You first. What are you doing here?”
    “I often stay in places like this,” Seba said.
    “You sleep in crypts?” Larten asked.
    “Usually.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I am a vampire.”
    Larten frowned. “What’s a vampire?”
    Seba was surprised. “You have not heard the tales? I thought in this part of the