The book begins with Darren and his friends fleeing the tunnels. Vancha captures and tortures a vampet, Mark Ryter, at their base. They find out that only the Vampaneze Lord could kill them. Steve had set a trap for them at the base, by informing the police that they were the killers. They were then captured by the police and taken to prison (Vancha escapes with Alice Burgess). Darren leaves with Vancha, Harkat, Debbie and Alice Burgess. They leave Mr. Crepsley's remains in the pit of stakes.