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I was not coming down the steps. No way. I could taste my heart in my throat. I knew a man who
survived a werewolf attack, nearly died, and didn't become a werewolf. I know another man who was
barely scratched and became a weretiger. Odds were, if I was so much as scratched, in a month's time I
would be playing fur-face, complete with black button eyes and yellowish fangs. Dear God.
"Come down, human. Come down and play."
I swallowed hard. It felt like I was trying to swallow my heart. "I don't think so."
It gave a hissing laugh. "We could come up and fetch you." He strode through the lesser rats, and they
parted for him frantically, leaping on top of each other to avoid his touch. He stood at the edge of the
steps, looking up at me. His fur was almost a honey-brown color, streaked with blond. "If we force you
off the steps, you won't like it much."
I swallowed hard. I believed him. I went for my knife and found the sheath empty. Of course, the
vampires had taken it. Dammit.
"Come down, human, come down and play."
"If you want me, you're going to have to come get me."
He curled his tail through his hands, stroking it. One clawed hand ran through the fur of his belly, and
stroked lower. I stared very hard at his face, and he laughed at me.
"Fetch her."
Two of the dog-size rats moved towards the stairs. A small rat squealed and rolled under their feet. It
gave a high, piteous shriek, then nothing. It twitched until the other rats covered it. Tiny bones snapped.
Nothing would go to waste.
I pressed against the door, as if I could sink through it. The two rats crept up the steps, sleek well-fed
animals. But there was no animal in the eyes. Whatever was there was human, intelligent.
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"Wait, wait."
The rats hesitated.
The ratman said, "Yes?"
I swallowed audibly. "What do you want?"
"Nikolaos asked that we entertain you while you wait."
"That doesn't answer my question. What do you want me to do? What do you want?"
Lips curled back from yellowed teeth. It looked like a snarl, but I think it was a smile. "Come down to
us, human. Touch us, let us touch you. Let us teach you the joys of fur and teeth." He rubbed claws
through the fur of his thighs. It drew my attention to him, between his legs. I looked away, and heat
rushed up my skin. I was blushing. Dammit!
My voice came out almost steady. "Is that supposed to be impressive?" I asked.
He froze for an instant, then snarled, "Get her down here!"
Great, Anita, antagonize him. Imply that his equipment is a little undersized.
His hissing laugh ran up my skin in cold waves. "We are going to have fun tonight. I can tell."
The giant rats came up the steps, muscles working under fur, whiskers thick as wire, wriggling furiously.
I pressed my back against the door and began to slide down the wood. "Please, please don't." My voice
sounded high and frightened, and I hated it.
"We've broken you so soon; how very sad," the ratman said.
The two giant rats were almost on me. I braced my back against the door, knees tucked up, heels
planted, the rest of the foot slightly raised. A claw touched my leg, I flinched, but I waited. It had to be
right. Please, God, don't let them draw blood. Whiskers scraped along my face, the weight of fur on top
of me.
I kicked out, both feet hitting solidly in the rat. It raised onto its hind legs and toppled backwards. It
tittered, tail lashing. I threw myself forward and smashed it in the chest. The rat tumbled over the edge.
The second rat crouched, making a sound low in its throat. I watched its muscles bunch, and I went
down to one knee and braced. If it leaped on me standing, I'd go over the edge. I was only inches from
the drop.
It leaped. I dropped flat to the floor and rolled. I shoved feet and one hand into the warmth of its body
and helped it along. The rat plummeted over me and out of sight. I heard the frightened shrieks as it fell.
The sound was a thick "thumpth." Satisfying. I doubted either of them were dead. But it was the best I
could do.
I stood, putting my back to the door again. The ratman wasn't smiling anymore. I smiled at him sweetly,
my best angelic smile. He didn't seem impressed.
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He made a motion like parting air, smooth. The lesser rats flowed forward with his hand. A creeping
brown tide of furry little bodies began to boil up the steps.
I might be able to get a few of them, but not all of them. If he wanted them to, they'd eat me alive, one
tiny crimson bite at a time.
Rats flowed around my feet, scrambling and arguing. Tiny bodies bumped against my boots. One
stretched itself thin, reaching up to grab the edge of my boot. I kicked it off. It fell squealing over the
edge.
The giant rats had dragged one of their injured friends off to one side. The rat wasn't moving. The other I
had thrown off was limping.
A rat leaped upward, claws hooked in my blouse. It hung there, claws trapped in the cloth. I could feel
its weight over my breast. I grabbed it around its middle. Teeth sank into my hand until they met, grinding
skin, missing bone. I screamed, jerking the rat away from me. It dangled from my hand like an obscene
earring. Blood ran down its fur. Another rat leaped on my blouse.
The ratman was smiling.
A rat was climbing for my face. I grabbed it by the tail and pulled it away. I yelled, "Are you afraid to
come yourself? Are you afraid of me?" My voice was thin with panic, but I said it. "Your friends are
injured doing something you're afraid to do. Is that it? Is it?"
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