Leaps through roof

As Larten sat up, confused, a couple of planks were torn loose from the
ceiling and sunlight pierced the cabin. He flinched and drew back from the
beams. There was laughter outside.

“There! He’s frightened o’ the light. Hurry, lads. Once we pull the rest o’
that ceiling away, he’s finished. He’ll be ash by breakfast.”
Larten stared with astonishment as a crowd of sailors hacked through
the thin roof of his cabin. They were working like a team of ants. They’d
tear all of the planks away in a matter of minutes and Larten would have
nowhere to shelter.

***

As the last of the ceiling was pried away with crowbars, Larten
crouched, then sprang through the gap that had been created, landing on the
deck like a cat. The sailors cried out with alarm and reeled away from the
freed vampire. As they scrambled over one another, shrieking with terror,
Larten stood to his full height and glared at his tormentors, looking majestic
despite his dirty clothes, red eyes and scraggly beard.

***

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood, Chapter 23