Reality Bites by Nicola Rhodes Page B

told him what little he knew.  Stiles was gone, and the young woman had gone after him, but he had no idea where.  He had been unconscious, he had explained with some embarrassment, when she had gone, and before he could even ask her who she was.  He rubbed his jaw reminiscently and Denny could not help but smile. That was Tamar all right.  He sympathised; he had a strong urge to punch this idiot out himself.  Thanks to him, Tamar and Stiles were God knew where.
    So, he decided to get some sleep, he had not slept, he realised, in more than forty-eight hours, unless you counted the sleepwalking.
    It was not the usual dream, this time.  Tamar was there, and some strange things happened, involving a large animal of some kind and a medal, then the darkness broke.  It was all highly allegorical, just an ordinary dream really.  And when Denny woke, he forgot all about it. All he remembered was that for the first night in a long time, he had not had the nightmare.
     

~ Chapter Fourteen ~
     
    ‘I guess you want some answers,’ said Tamar as they trudged along to where, she had assured him, would be a main road.  It was officially eight in the morning, but the sky was still pitch black.
    Stiles looked awkward.  ‘I may want answers,’ he said, ‘but it’s really up to you whether or not I get them.’  He held up his hands. ‘I’ve learned my lesson. I will tell you this though – I’ve heard your name before.’
    ‘I know, I’ve been watching you – remember?’
    ‘Yes, I had an arrest warrant for you.  I’m guessing the complainant was one of these guys.’
    ‘I’d say that’s a fair assumption.’
    ‘So, I guess that’s why you didn’t want to tell me your real name when we first met?’
    ‘That’s part of it.’
    ‘What’s the rest?  No never mind.  It seems you’re pretty well known in ghoul town.’
    ‘Oh yes, a legend in my own lunchtime,’ she said dully.
    ‘Why don’t you just kill me?’ he asked.
    ‘ What ?’
    ‘Or I could kill myself, I suppose; only I don’t really want to, but since it’s all so hopeless and we’re just giving up …’
    She gaped at him.
    ‘After all,’ he continued.  ‘I might as well just get it over with; it’s all over anyway, isn’t it.  You’ve given up, so I may as well.’
    ‘Nice pep talk,’ she said sourly.  ‘But I don’t need it.  I never give up; if I did I’d still be trapped in a bottle.’
    ‘Eh?’
    ‘Oh, nothing, another time – just get moving.’
    ‘There is one thing you could explain to me – if you can.’
    She sighed.  ‘Yes?’
    ‘What did he mean, a god?’
    ‘A deity – you know. Like Zeus or Thor.’
    ‘They’re real ?’
    ‘Not anymore, but they were once, until people stopped believing in them.’
    ‘I guess the vampires still believe in their god then.’
    ‘I didn’t even know they had one.  But it makes sense; everybody has to believe in something and supernatural beings tend to cling to the past.  Hecaté is still around too; the witches believe in her.’
    ‘There are witches too? Of course there are – why did I ask? I guess vampires can’t – you know, believe in the big guy.’  He pointed upwards. ‘You know God, God.’
    ‘Well no, they are from Hell. I suppose if I’d thought about it, I’d have thought they’d follow Satan.’
    ‘I don’t believe in Hell, unless you count the one we’re all living in.’
    ‘You don’t believe in Hell? But you do believe in God?’
    Stiles changed the subject. ‘So, all the old gods are gone?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘So, what killed them ?  You said …’
    ‘They lost all their believers, I just explained all that.’
    ‘And that’s the only way to kill a god?’
    ‘The only way that I know of; they’re not like Kings you know.  You can’t just chop off their heads.’
    Stiles was thoughtful.  ‘What about Ragnoroc?’
    ‘The Norse Twilight of the Gods, what about it?’
    ‘Well, what you said about Kings.  They’re