“And were you planning on discussing it with us? We have no idea what will happen to our power levels if we let children live.”

“And yet, for this key, you’re going to let your daughter walk away alive, aren’t you?”

“It’s a one-time thing,” Betty said. “And it’s worth the risk.”

“But if it in any way diminishes us in the future, we’re going to hunt her down,” said Bill, and glanced at Amber. “This could just be a stay of execution. She knows that.”

“So you get to have a child grow up and we don’t?” Grant said. “You think we’re just going to accept that?”

“This isn’t about what’s fair,” Bill responded. “This is about what’s in front of us. You think Amber is the kid we would have chosen to keep? It’s just the way it’s happened, that’s all.”

“This is bullshit, Bill.”

“Which is why we’re going to vote on it. You know which way Betty and I are voting. What about you? We were scared of Astaroth. When he offered us this chance, we gratefully accepted. Out of fear. I don’t know about you, but that rankled us. He held all the power and we were just so eager to please him. Is that us? Is that you, Grant? Is that you, Kirsty? Have we got this far by being grateful to people more powerful than us? Or have we defied the odds, time and again, to forge our own path through the last hundred years? If any part of you, any part, thinks that this is worth the risk, that the gains may vastly outweigh the losses, then vote with us.”

The Van der Valks glanced at each other.

“How do you know Naberius will even agree to our terms?” Kirsty asked.

“Of course he will,” said Bill. “But if he doesn’t, we’ll leave him there, and hand over Amber as planned.”

“No,” said Amber. “You let us go when I give you the key, that was the deal.”

“Circumstances have changed,” said Bill. “Roll with it or get rolled over. Grant? Kirsty? Are you onboard?”

The Van der Valks looked at each other. Something passed between them, some flicker of expression.

“We are,” said Grant eventually, but the reluctance was unmistakable in his tone.

“Excellent. Apparently, the key we want is in Mr Sebastian’s delightful car, and the car is in this impound lot.”

“I’ll take care of it,” said Kirsty, and crossed the road. She disappeared into the small outbuilding beside the fence. Amber glimpsed someone in there, a civilian. She heard a raised voice and breaking glass.

A minute later, the gate started to trundle open, and Kirsty emerged, the Charger’s key in her blood-splattered hand.

“We should kill her now,” said Grant, his eyes on Amber.