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know why you say these things,” said Edgar. “You know we’re safer in here.”
    â€œBut I want to go out there and catch vampires!” said Mary. “I want to see what happens. I want to know how to do it.”
    â€œWhy?” asked Edgar. “It’s so scary!”
    â€œMr Blood is never scared,” said Mary. “And he always wins, no matter what the danger is.”
    She waved her dagger. “Don’t you see? That’s what I want to be like. I want to be fearless and get rid of vampires and monsters and anything else that is evil.”

    â€œI just want us to live,” said Edgar. “Every time we do one of these jobs, I get to the end of it and wonder how I’m still alive.”
    â€œWell, we are in no more danger than anyone in the village.” Mary gave a big yawn.

    â€œWe are guarding a dead body so she can be buried,” she went on. “If we don’t do it, who will? The people here won’t do it. They would not look any of us in the eye. Even the priest couldn’t look at us.”
    â€œThey were weird,” said Edgar.
    â€œThey were scared,” said Mary. She yawned again and then bit into an apple.

    Edgar walked over to one of the windows and looked out.
    Any of the shadows could have hidden a vampire. There was no sign of Mr Blood. The wind rattled the windows.

Chapter 4
Sleepy
    Mary lay down on the stone floor.
    â€œEdgar, do you mind if I rest for a few minutes?” she asked.
    â€œ
What?
” Edgar shouted. “You want to sleep? A minute ago you wanted to go out and fight vampires! What is wrong with you?”
    But Mary was already asleep. Edgar shook her and shouted at her but he could not wake her.

    â€œThis is just like her,” Edgar said to himself. “Now what?”
    He went over to the open coffin. It had been placed on the altar.
    For the first time he saw how lovely Ana was. She had jet black hair, very pale skin and dark red lips. Shadows danced across her face as the candle flames flickered.

    It almost looked as if Ana was moving, Edgar thought.
    A sudden shout outside made Edgar jump. He rushed to the window and looked out. He saw a dark figure racing away from the chapel. Mr Blood was chasing it.
    Edgar went over to the door to check the bolts.
    He heard the sound of a key turning in the lock.
    Somebody had just locked the door, from the outside.
    Now Edgar and Mary were trapped in the chapel with Ana’s body. And Mr Blood was locked out.
    Edgar put his ear to the door. He heard whispers.

    â€œThey should both be asleep. Did you make them eat the drugged food?” said a voice.
    â€œI couldn’t force it down their throats. I gave them a bag with it in,” came a second whisper. It was the priest.
    So that was why Mary fell asleep
, thought Edgar.
The food was drugged! But why? And where is Mr Blood now?

Chapter 5
Awake
    Edgar ran over to Mary and shook her. “Wake up! Please wake up!” he hissed. But still she slept.
    Edgar looked up at the window and saw a small flash of light.
    He stood up. There was the flash again. But it was too quick for Edgar to see anything.
    He put his nose against the glass.
    A torch flared into light outside. On the other side of the window was the face of the priest. He was looking right at Edgar.

    Edgar jumped back, and crashed into a jug of water. It smashed. Water poured out all over the floor, and all over Mary’s face.
    A piece of the broken jug fell onto Mary’s arm. The sharp edge cut her skin. Blood ran down her arm.

    She moved a little in her sleep.
    Outside the window, Edgar could see a crowd of villagers. They began to chant. The crowd were looking at something behind Edgar.

    Edgar felt shivers run down his back .
    He turned around and screamed.
    Ana was standing next to the altar. She smiled at Edgar. Her teeth were long, slim fangs. Slowly, she began to walk towards him.
    Where is Mr Blood?
thought Edgar.
He