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y oblivious of her presence； an executioner in black who had a job to do。 A teenage killer who had a choice； two ways in which to die。 She had seen the look in Sabat's eyes a few seconds earlier and knew that he would carry out this threat … that he wanted to kill！
'You have thirty seconds left。'
No answer。
'Fifteen。'
Still no answer。
After what seemed an eternity Sabat swivelled on his heel to face the one who hung on the wall like a butterfly in a collection and there was a terrible expression on the dark man's features。 Ilona looked away； wanted to flee； she tried to remind herself of what this youth had done to four girls the night before； what he would have done to her tonight。 Now he was about to experience Sabat's justice； Sabat's wrath！
'If you wish to change your mind；' Sabat picked up the syringe…like instrument； tested its trigger action； heard a sucking sound like a drowning man gulping down a mixture of air and water； 'you have a few bonus seconds in which to do so。'
'Sabat。。。' Ilona swayed on her feet。
'Ilona 。 。 。 I'm sorry；' Sabat turned； so obsessed with what he was about to do that he appeared to have forgotten her presence。 'Please go 。。。 this is no place for you。'
He watched as she ran for the steps； stumbling up them； heard the door closing behind her。 Then he turned back to his captive； saw that same expressionless stare。 The youth had abandoned hope； knew he was going to die； that pleading would not help him。 He had just one crumb of revenge left； silence！ Sabat knew also that a promise of freedom might give him the answers to the questions he had asked but when the killing urge was prevalent nothing would deter him。 Roughly he slammed the cropped head back against the wall； held it firmly there； brought the 'gun' up until the pointed tube was barely an inch away from the other's throat。
'You're going to die； boy！' he muttered。 'And nobody will miss you。'
A thought crossed his mind； possibly some systematic torture might have extracted the required information but it was exceedingly doubtful。 This guy had not only been on drugs； he'd been indoctrinated by whoever was using him for this mysterious purpose。 Probably he didn't know enough； anyway … he'd been instructed to go out and kill by another minion of whoever was running this set…up。 But the night had not been wasted； he'd found the weapon that was being used； knew what they were up against； human vampires on the rampage； merchants of blood preying on innocent victims。
Sabat stared hard into those eyes； saw again the hate and defiance reflected there。 The lips pursed； a snake spitting its venom； a blob of phlegm splatting on his cheek。
'Die； bastard！' Sabat plunged the needle into1 the neck； felt it cutting its way through the soft flesh； pressed the trigger。 Crimson fluid spurted thickly into the container。
The victim was squirming now as much as Sabat and his manacles would allow； gurgling inprehensibly； possibly he'd changed his mind； would have told the little he knew。 But it was too late！ Nothing could save him now。
Sabat smiled grimly； watching the level in the plastic canister rising。 He raised his head； looked into those eyes again。 This time the terror was there； the bravado and defiance were gone。 The killer was suffering the agonies of the hell he served； knew he was destined for the black beyond； shuddering violently as his blood was sucked from his body。
Sabat released his hold on the cropped head； worked swiftly with his free hand； unshackling the clamped limbs； took the weight of the dying youth as it sagged forward。 Then Sabat moved with incredible speed； the blood sucking tube still deep in the other's throat； the level of the liquid in the container almost at the top； three bounds took him to a wash basin in the corner。 Holding his prisoner around the waist he thrust the face and neck into the bowl； withdrew the weapon with a glugging sound like a blocked plug…hole。 Thick crimson blood spurted with force； half filled the bowl； sluggishly began seeping away down the outlet pipe。
Sabat sniffed the iron smelling odour； laughed softly to himself； still supporting his burden with ease； holding it in place until the spurts died to a trickle； then to a steady drip。 The trembling body became still and flaccid； and finally the open jugular vein was empty。
He turned on the tap； flushed away the last of the sticky crimson stain； wiped the surface clean with his fingers。 Only then did he lower the corpse to the floor and plug the wound with a paper tissue。 He glanced around； made sure that no tell…tale droplets of blood were on the floor。 Then he went back upstairs。
Ilona was in the lounge； a tumbler of whisky in her hand； the fingers encircling it trembling。 'Oh God；' she muttered； 'it was awful。 I'm sorry； Sabat； but I couldn't remain down there。 I。。 。 '
'Console yourself with the thought that what happened to him could have happened to you。' Sabat slipped an arm around her； kissed her lightly。 'As it happens； all's well that ends well； as they say。'
'Did you 。 。。 find out anything？'
'No；' his lips were pressed into a tight bloodless line。
'I don't think he knew very much anyway。 He was just a hired killer； a drug addict acting like a zombie。 But at least we know what we're up against now。'
'What's your next move？' Secretly Ilona hoped that she wasn't going to have to act as a decoy again。
'Quite honestly 1 don't know；' Sabat shook his head slowly。 'If I went out every night of the week and knocked off one of the killers I'd not be achieving anything worthwhile。 It's a fascist movement； certainly； a Liberation Front organisation calling themselves the Disciples of Lilith。 They're obviously recruiting from the worst possible hooligan element of our society； dropouts； drug addicts； kids with a grudge against society。 1 need to get to the guys behind it if I'm going to do anything positive。' 'You killed him。' A statement not a question。 'And no regrets；' he smiled。 'Nobody will miss the likes of him。 Don't worry； I shall remove the bloodless body from your premises。 Perhaps the Disciples of Lilith will be surprised to find that they are not invincible after all。'
Ilona tried to smile but her lips quivered。 Whatever Sabat had achieved tonight the threat； the fear that lurked in the ill…lit streets all around； was still there。 Nobody was safe and surely these devils with their filthy blood sucking devices would not let this night go unavenged。
Thirty minutes later Sabat was back at the scene of Ilona1 s attack； carefully propping up the naked corpse in the same ruined bus shelter。 Even in death the eyes appeared to stare balefully up at him； mouth clamped tightly shut in defiance from beyond the grave。
And as he walked swiftly and silently back to where his Daimler was parked； Sabat heard that owl hooting again； this time the sound had a note of urgency in it； eerily echoing and re…echoing through the empty houses。
CHAPTER FOUR