The exit sign blurred into nothingness as my eyes filled with tears. My legs buckled, but I propped myself up against the wall behind me.

I wasn't dead yet. I seemed to have lost my slayer powers, I was about 68 percent sure I'd been shot in the back through the officer's vest, and Paul really, really wanted me dead. Levelling my three vamps with a glare, I fished out one of the pencils I'd stolen and snapped it in half.

"Seriously?" Jacek grinned, the effect splitting his ...