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“Click.

The salamander flared, etching the room with searing white light and dark shadows.

Otto screamed. He fell to the floor, clutching at his throat. He sprang to his feet, goggle-eyed and gasping, and staggered, knock-kneed and wobbly-legged, the length of the room and back again. He sank down behind a desk , scattering paperwork with a wildly flailing hand.

"Aarghaarghaaaargh..."

There was a shocked silence.

Otto stood up, adjusted his cravat, and dusted himself off. Only then did he look up at the row of shocked faces.

"Vel?" he said sternly. "Vat are you all looking at? It is just a normal reaction, zat is all. I am vorking on it. Light in all its forms is mine passion. Light is my canvas, shadows are my brush."

But strong light hurts you!" said Sacharissa. "It hurts vampires!"

"Yes. It iss a bit of a bugger, but zere you go.”