The Lake of Souls Read Online Free PDF

stern, unusually so. “This is
our
problem. I said we needed to recruit humans to fight the vampets, now, before they grow too strong. I was speaking generally when I used ‘our’ and ‘we,’ but as soon as I said it, I realized it wasn’t general — it was personal.”
    “Victims wait for others to fight on their behalf,” Alice said roughly. “Those who don’t want to be victims fight for themselves.”
    By the time the sun rose, the pair had drawn up a plan to travel to Vampire Mountain, elicit the approval of the Princes, and build an army of humans to counter the threat of the vampets. Vampires and vampaneze don’t use guns or bows and arrows — they make a vow when blooded never to avail of such weapons — but vampets aren’t bound by such laws. Alice and Debbie’s army wouldn’t be bound by those laws either. With the help of the vampires they could track the vampets, then engage them on equal, vicious terms.
    “We’d almost finished packing before the glaring flaw hit us,” Debbie laughed. “We didn’t know where Vampire Mountain was!”
    That’s when Alice recalled the piece of paper Evanna had given her. Returning to her apartment, where she’d stored it, she unfolded it and discovered directions to where the Cirque Du Freak was currently playing — here by the waterfall.
    “But Evanna gave you that paper months ago!” I exclaimed. “How did she know where the Cirque would be?”
    Alice shrugged. “I’ve tried not to think about that one. I’m just about OK with the notion of vampires, but witches who can foresee the future … that’s a step too far. I prefer to believe she checked with the guy who runs this place before she met us.”
    “Though that doesn’t explain how she knew when we’d read the message,” Debbie added with a wink.
    “I suppose this means we’re meant to … guide you to Vampire Mountain,” Harkat mused.
    “Looks like it,” Alice said. “Unless you have other plans?”
    Harkat looked at me. I’d made it very clear when Mr. Crepsley died that I didn’t want anything to do with vampires for a while. This call was mine.
    “I’m not eager to go back,” I sighed. “It’s still too soon. But for something this important, I guess I don’t have much of a choice. As well as showing you the way, maybe I can act as the middle man between you and the Generals.”
    “We were thinking along those lines.” Debbie smiled, leaning over to squeeze my hands. “We’re not sure what the vampires will think of two human women turning up with an offer to build an army to help them. We know little of their ways or customs. We need someone to fill us in.”
    “I’m not sure the Princes will … accept your proposal,” Harkat said. “Vampires have always fought their … own battles. I think they’ll want to do the same now, even … if the odds are stacked against them.”
    “If they do, we’ll fight the vampets without them,” Alice snorted. “But they’d be fools to disregard us, and from what I’ve seen, vampires aren’t foolish.”
    “It makes sense,” I said. “Send humans to fight the vampets and leave the clan free to focus on the vampaneze.”
    “Since when did vampires do things … because they made sense?” Harkat chuckled. “But it’s worth a try. I’ll come with you.”
    “Oh no you won’t,” someone chortled behind us. Turning, startled, we saw that we’d been joined in the van by a third, uninvited guest, a short man with a savage leer. He was instantly recognizable and immediately unwelcome —
Mr. Tiny
!

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE CREATOR OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE was dressed in his customary yellow suit and green rain boots. He eyed us through thick glasses and twirled a heart-shaped watch between the fingers of his left hand. He was small and pudgy, with pure white hair and a cruel, mocking smile.
    “Hello, boys,” he greeted Harkat and me. “And
hello
! beautiful ladies.” He winked rakishly at Debbie and Alice. Debbie smiled, but