"They don't occur in nature, if that's what you mean," said Makepeace. "They

have to be created. They're among the foulest examples of the necromancer's

art.

He seizes upon some weakness in the soul and plants his will there like a

cancer, working his perverted spell, bringing the beast forth out of the

subconscious in a transformation such as you've just seen. Their victims

become

the necromancer's victims too. The flesh feeds the werewolf; the necromancer

takes the soul."

"My brother..." Blood said.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," said Makepeace.

"Will bullets kill it?"

"Oh, yes," said Makepeace. "And they don't need to be silver. She may not

look

it, but she's still human. You would have done that poor creature a favor if

you'd killed her."

"Then let's go finish the damn job," he said, starting down the stairs.

"That isn't why we came," said Jacqueline. "We must find Modred first."

"Go and look for him, then. I'm not going to let that creature get away."

"Michael, wait!"

"We'd better go after him," said Makepeace. "That stubborn cop's going to get

himself killed.

"I'm worried about Billy," Kira said, holding her hand up and lighting the

way

as they went through the narrow passageway.

"He can take care of himself," said Wyrdrune, following her.

"Hell, he's' just a kid."

"Kira, he's two thousand years old."

"You're talking about Merlin. I'm talking about Billy."

"What's the difference?"

"You're talking as if they're the same person," Kira said.

"They are the same person!"

"Look, warlock, I'm not stupid, all right? I know they're both sharing the

same

body, but the fact is that it's Billy's body and Merlin just sort of moved in

and took control."

"Looks to me more like Billy takes control most of the time," said Wyrdrune.

"You don't think he's entitled to?" she said. "Look, I know how you feel