| Anita's fight with the wererats is interrupted by their king breaking through the wall into the room. The wererat king is angry that his minions have heeded the request of Nikolaos against his orders. He advises Anita to do what Nikolaos requests, or she could be hurt. Sensing the approach of a vampire, the wererat king leaves moments before Theresa enters the room to fetch Anita to Nikolaos's chamber. True to form, within minutes of meeting Nikolaos, Anita angers the Master of the City, causing Nikolaos to unleash her powers in a staggering attack that almost leaves Anita at the vampire's mercy. Nikolaos tells Anita that if she doesn't help the vampires find the murderer her mind will be destroyed. Nikolaos then calls in Zachary, an animator who has raised a zombie who witnessed one of the vampire murders. The zombie can't answer Zachary's questions to Nikolaos's satisfaction, and Zachary's attempts to force the zombie to answer breaks his memory, meaning he'll never answer questions as long as he's animated. Nikolaos snaps, forcing Jean-Claude to fend off his mistress while Anita and Zachary run for their lives. Before emerging into the Circus of the Damned, under which Nikolaos's lair resides, Anita is pursued and overcome by glowing blue eyes. Other than making her own eyes turn blue, they seem to have no other effect. The ordeal appears to be over, until a vampire in a golden mask arrives to confront Anita. |
