"Done. And now that we've got that sorted, you'll wait like a good gaggle'a lackeys until I tell you it's time to put things in motion."

The six vampires scowled as the door to the hotel room swung open and the shape-shifting vampire, Malik, strode into the room. They jumped to their feet in anticipation as they saw what the vampire had with him. A small, dark skinned boy nervously looked around the room, eyes wide and white.

"I told you to bring us information about Scylla - not a bleedin' Happy Meal," Spike said, eyeing the frightened youth.

Malik reached down and grabbed the boy by the ear. "Looks can be deceiving," the vampire said as he gave the ear a nasty twist. "I have done what you asked."

The boy yelped and Spike watched as he began to tremble with fear.

"Come out of your shell, demon," Malik ordered. "Show yourself or we will rip open this costume of flesh and expose you ourselves."

The little boy began to cry, looking around the room and muttering in Arabic. Spike recognized a word here and there, most of them having to do with blood drinking demons and being sorry for his sins.

Enraged, Malik leaned over and bellowed in the child's ear, "Show yourself!"