up a handful. He concentrated hard - he did not want Sebastian to escape and have a chance to strengthen himself again. He moved back, to get to the urn. Pushing it upright with his foot, his eyes still on Sebastian, he let the handful of ashes go. They fell into the urn and Daniel picked it up, holding it tight with the one hand.
He brought the symbol that Heather had taught him to his mind - visualizing it at the forefront of his thoughts. He let it go - sending it with force at Sebastian, wrapping it around him. He saw the anger coalesce in Sebastian and he transformed back into a swirling darkness, trying to escape by whatever means he could. Daniel brought the same symbol to the forefront of his mind again. This time, as he let it go he visualized the mark on the urn.
Immediately there was a friction of energy between the two marks, illuminating the garden for one moment, before the swirling darkness was propelled into the urn.
Daniel got down on his knees and rammed the cork in hard.
He would not let Sebastian go.
Daniel took a deep breath. He still had to do the binding spell. He couldn’t lose focus now. Tears welled in his eyes as he visualized the next mark in his mind. He reinforced it with all the power he had and projected it at the urn. He infused the urn with great power and the magical mark.
It was done.
He left the urn there and crawled to Sarah’s body, weak from expelling all his energy. He found her lying against the hedge. She was broken, lifeless.
Daniel held her body in his arms and screamed into the night.
He heard answering screams from inside the house, Sarah’s children crying - Megan had seen the whole thing from her window.
He cradled Sarah’s head against his chest and wept hard, wept for her, for her children. He wept for himself. He had gone through all of this to be with her and now she was dead. She would be like him. A vampire.
Daniel made himself stand. There were things he had to do.
He pulled himself together and entered Sarah’s house. He could not go upstairs to see her children. He was too weak, too hungry.
He could do something; he could phone for help.
He dialed Sarah’s parents’ house, and spoke urgently to her father when he answered.
‘You must come to Sarah’s now, she has gone berserk. I think it’s not knowing what has happened to Jo. She’s run off into the woods and I have to go after her. You must come and look after Megan and Bea.’
He couldn’t help what Megan would tell them. They may not believe her anyway. And at least they will have her parents.
Daniel staggered to the door and back to Sarah, barely managing control at all. He needed blood. Badly.
First he went to the body around the back. He didn’t want Sarah’s parents to discover that. He forced himself to pick it up and throw it over the fence. Then he repeated the same procedure on the body of the girl he had just killed, who had also suffered the terrible consequences of Sebastian’s possession. He would have to come back later and deal with their bodies.
He picked up the urn and then used all his strength to lift up Sarah.
He had never felt so weak. He moved off into the woods before Sarah’s parents arrived. He wouldn’t manage to control himself if they did. Thirst was burning in his veins. His throat was parched.
As soon as they were in the woods he put down Sarah, and the urn, at the foot of a tree. His hunting instincts kicked in and he heard the heartbeat of a bear. It was probably drawn in by the smell of blood and sounds of the fight.
He would have to approach it quietly, he was too weak to use speed to his advantage.
It was close; he could hear its breathing. Daniel crept up behind it and pounced, his teeth extending through fur, into flesh. Warm blood spurted down his throat, soothing his need. He drank greedily, not worried about ending its life. As he drained the bear’s blood its heart stopped. Daniel took the final drops, not wanting to waste any.
His could feel he was returning to himself again, his senses enhanced.
He felt strong.
He was back at Sarah’s side in an instant, throwing her over his shoulder and grabbing the urn.
He needed to get