He did the little nimble-toed dance they'd taught him during the firearms course - a swift three-sixty turn that covered all four corners of the room - then off round the furniture while someone else watched the door. 'Clear.' Voices sounded in his earpiece:'Upstairs is clear.''Kitchen: clear.''Bathroom: clear.' That only left the cellar. Rennie joined the rest of the team at the door leading down from the kitchen. It was much brighter in here, thanks to the spotlights on Alec's TV camera, showing up the mouldy wallpaper, rotting table, brown-stained sink, curling linoleum floor. 'OK,' said the sergeant in charge,'we go on three. Rennie, Caldwell: you're on point. No mistakes and no getting shot, understand?' 'Yes ma'am.' 'On three: One ... two ...'
The Flesher looked down at Heather's hand - wrapped around the handle of the knife - then up into her eyes. Deep within those lifeless rubber sockets, Heather could see something glint as He cocked His head to the side and stared at her. He stepped back from the bars, placed the plate with the liver and onions within easy reach, turned and left. He didn't bother closing the door. Heather's legs gave way and she collapsed onto the mattress, still clutching the knife in her blood-soaked hand. 'Honey, are you OK?' The Dark had been testing her. It told her to stab Him and she had. It promised she'd be the favourite ... it promised. 'Only you look like you've seen a ghost.' Maybe there was something wrong with the knife? She ran her thumb along the edge, pressing just hard enough to break the skin, and felt no pain. Pressed harder, till the blade sliced through the pad and scraped along the bone. Her blood mingling with His. 'Seriously, you should lie down.' 'He can't die ... He's part of the Dark, he's eternal.' 'Ah ...' Duncan smiled.'Only just figured that out, have you? ' Heather held her thumb up, watching the cut surface ooze. 'Blood to blood.' 'I know what you're thinking, but--' 'Now I'm part of the Dark. I passed the test.' 'Heather--' She laid the point of the blade against her stomach, just above her bellybutton.
