Absolution - The First Book Of The Vampire Immortalis Trilogy by Elizabeth Mitchell Page A

the lad by dropping her name into the conversation. Liam was a fan of punk, but was more into bands like New Model Army, Joy Division, and his all-time favourites, Christian Death, than the ones the policeman had reeled off. “So, you were a punk. What's your point?”
    “My point is that I'm not completely clueless. We have all lived for music, all dressed in weird and wonderful outfits, all drunk Buckfast and smoked cigarettes behind the bike sheds. It's all part and parcel of growing up. Just because I wear a shirt and tie today doesn't mean I haven't been there, done that, and bought the Anarchy In The UK t-shirt.
    “That's how I know goths are no different from punks, mods, teds, casuals, skinheads. The only thing that ever changes is the uniform and the music. The kids underneath are exactly the same. You get good ones and you get bad ones, same as with any other group of people.”
    “What, like, good cop bad cop?”
    “Good and bad, Liam. So which one are you?”
    “We're the goodies.”
    “Tell me about the graffiti on the wall at the old train station, Liam. I take it that wasn't you on a good day.”
    “Nothing much to tell. I got caught and got a £50 fine.”
    “According to the officer who issued the Fixed Penalty Notice, you were caught spray-painting the numbers 666 on a wall facing the by-pass. Why 666?”
    “It might have been 999 upside down,” said Liam, trying to be funny.
    Buchan ignored Liam's attempt at humour. “666, the number of the beast. Do you believe in the devil, Liam?”
    “No. I don't believe in God or the devil.”
    “Strange, then, that you would choose to spray 666 on a wall. What about vampires? Do you believe in vampires?”
    Liam looked across the table at the two police officers interviewing him.
Do you believe in vampires? What sort of question was that?
“No. I don't believe in vampires. I don't believe in vampires, I don't sleep in a coffin, and I don't drink the blood of virgins. I sprayed 666 on a wall because I'm an idiot not because I worship the devil.”
     
    * * *
     
    Walter Miller was beside himself with worry. He had run away and left his friend, Nick, on the ground, and at the mercy of Adam McLeod, the most feared vampire in the entire world. If it definitely was Adam McLeod that is. Walter was beginning to have doubts. Maybe it was just a local thug who didn't take too kindly to Nick fronting him like that.
    What Walter did know was that he wasn't going to be staying around long enough to find out. He had spent the last half an hour hiding down by the river and nobody had come after him. If it had been Adam McLeod, surely he would have come after him by now. Hoping that the coast was clear, he planned to return to the hotel, grab his stuff, and head back down the safety of his London bedsit. He wanted nothing more to do with vampire hunting, the Battalion Sabbatarian, or Nick Webster and his stupid manouvres.
    Walter started to make his way back over the grey suspension footbridge that gives pedestrians access to Melrose from Gattonside. Coming towards him in the opposite direction was a young couple walking their dog. He could see the young lady clearly, but her companion had his head down and his hoodie up.
    “Evening,” Walter offered as they were just about to pass by him.
    The young man raised his head and smiled. That's when Walter realised who it was. “You, my friend, are coming with me,” Adam said, grabbing a startled Walter by the throat.
    Anna and Oscar watched as Adam disappeared over the bridge with Walter.
     
     
     
    Liam left the police station in a foul mood. A barrage of ridiculous questions and then they released him without charge. Complete waste of time. He went straight to the Spar shop on the High Street and bought a bottle of Buckfast. He knew that he had been drinking too much lately, but after the grilling by Officer Dibble and his sidekick, he deserved a drink. And what was it with all the questions about vampires?
    From the