the vampire, and believe me, they’re not going to give him up. And they may well be looking to get rid of us without drawing attention to their work.”
“ You’re making assumptions,” I said. “Perhaps they aren’t part of the VVV, but really are relatives of Dial.” The fact that a legendary vampire-hating clan actually existed was still beyond my comprehension. To destroy vampires willingly. It was so wrong, so horrendous, a part of me refused to believe it.
“ Andy, facts are facts, and coincidences exist only in movies. We are among vampire haters. We are among evil.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. We were in their lair. I looked around me once more, at the too-white walls, the menacing painting of a menacing wave, the single confining window. It suddenly felt so wrong, so unnatural. I wanted to touch nothing, yet wanted to smash everything. I did not belong in this house of horror haters.
“ Must I?”
“ You must, Andy. We cannot let them continue their hideous, rather selfish actions. They are denying us our vampires. It is a crime against humanity. For I believe this clan is the cause of the decline of vampire sightings.
“ Vampires have kept our population in check for centuries, much like the barn snake keeps rats and mice in check. It was so natural, so perfect—the ultimate system for the ultimate hunters.”
I felt my blood boiling. The professor was a good motivator, for I now wanted to tear off the head of one of Dial’s supposed relatives. I might need a crane and a chainsaw, but I would do it.
“ But they can’t all be gone, Professor.”
“ We don’t know that. But we can try to find out if you get moving.”
“ Where do I begin?”
“ First, try to go unnoticed. This wicked house is big enough so that you can probably sneak around without being noticed. Now, I’d try the library, the study—”
“ That map of Grandmaster’s, with all the pins? You think they’ve been tracking vampires?”
“ Here, have this.” He then gave me his credit card.
I was touched. I slipped it in my wallet. “What’s the limit?” I asked.
“ No, you blood-sucking wannabe. That’s to open doors and windows.”
“ But that’s only done on TV,” I protested.
“ If it works for them, it’ll work for us. God and the angels of darkness are on our side.”
That was a little odd. The club had occasionally discussed the religious aspects of vampirism, but we always ended up with headaches, so we didn’t do it too often.
“ Right,” I said. “But I’m going to need a trusty sidekick.”
Not that I exactly trusted Janice, but she could kick my side any time.
Chapter Eleven
Professor L left for his room, and I headed down the hall to Janice’s room. I was to report to the professor in an hour.
She opened the door dressed in pajamas. Speed Racer isn’t exactly a turn-on, but somehow it worked for her. She, of course, was surprised to see me.
Bummer. I had hoped she’d been expecting me.
She started. “What are you—”
“ Can I come in?” One of the rules of vampires is that you always have to invite them in. They can’t come in on their own. And, yes, I was building up a diabolical fantasy, but at the moment, I had a job to do.
“ Business or personal?” she said.
“ Club business.” I used my club-president voice so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea. Or the right idea. It’s easy to get confused when you’re in Janice’s room and there’s the bed.
“ Okay, but it better be important. Dial’s dropping by later.”
I smiled and ignored the stake that she’d driven into my heart. Okay, business then. I quickly sorted through the theory for her: the VVV, the decline of vampire sightings, the silver bullets, and the proximity of Dial’s family to the grave of a known vampire.
“ Whoa,” Janice said. “You’re saying we’re being set up?”
“ They must have sent Dial to infiltrate our group,” I said. “We trusted him,