Chapter one: Vampire Mountain

It's a damp place, Vampire Mountain. It's not a place that you're likely to find tourists clicking pictures and swooning over amazing monuments, though Vampire Mountain is decked with many old artifacts. No, I've been here and stayed here for 11 years...and I never enjoyed myself much.

My name is Mercy, I have no surname. I'm an offspring of the witch Evanna. Not that I enjoy it. I don't hold ANY of her traits besides that me and my friend Kyea are the only female Vampires that can conceive children. I never told anyone, the not even the Princes. Never the Princes...I can't tell them something THAT big. Kyea was the wife of the prince Arrow. She was the one that had supposedly died from that Vampaneze attack. But I had found her still breathing, and healed her. Arrow was long gone after that. Kyea had steered clear of him, she didn't want to torment him with the past...but what she didn't know was that he still thought of her. Every day his mind directed to her...their lovely years together and how he wished that all Vampaneze could burn in the firry abyss's of hell for what they had done to her. Or supposedly done.

I myself held a soft spot for a certain prince. Why oh, why did it have to be HIM, the most sternest of all, the most strictest and objective. That, Mika Ver Leth! Damn it all! I'm losing my senses!! I have to be! How can I love him?? He never loved any soul in his life yet I'm drawn to him in a way that I cannot deny!! Even if I wanted to! And I do want to! Oh god! Here he comes! What? Is he smiling at me?? True, he had a tight, Mika-ish, smile on his face.

Keep walking Mercy...ignore him! BUT ITS SO HARD!! He's...He's...so...damn...sexy!!

"Where are you going Mercy?" He asked from behind me.

I whirled around so quickly that I tripped over my own feet. He caught me before I hit the hard stone floor I blushed at the mere touch of him.

"I'm not going anywhere in particular sire." I muttered embarrassed.

"Really? Then that would explain why you were walking at top speed towards the Hall Of Final Voyage right?" He sounded suspicious.

How could I tell him that was meeting Evanna there? I've never lied to the princes before. And I'm a Vampiress of pretty good standing. I could lose that if I lie.

"I'm waiting." He said sternly.

"No, sire." I mumbled rather pathetically at the floor. I couldn't look into his eyes.

"You were just on a stroll then?"

"Yes sire."

"Hmmmmm." He tapped his foot and sighed, "Mercy, you better not be doing anything to harm either yourself or the clan. Not after..." He trailed of.

I knew what he meant, Kurda Smalt. The defeated prince who betrayed the clan. Was I doing that? Betraying the clan, the princes, and generals by meeting Evanna?

"I'm not sire." Lie or not...I couldn't help it.

He still did not look convinced. I felt al the blood in my body rush to my face as he took my chin and lifted it to face him. I blushed but pulled the most convincing face I cold, which was not much...but it convinced him. Than the gods!

He heaved a heavy sigh, I took the time to study his amazingly structured chest, and I turned so red that I could have made anything red already weep.

"Very well, carry on. But be careful Mercy, your still a women and vulnerable. Scream if your attacked. Understand? Don't handle it on your own. If no one comes; I will." He promised.

I smiled weakly, "My thanks sire. Luck"

"Luck." He replied and stood there and watched me walk away with steady steps. I felt his eyes bear into the back of my head until I turned the corner and heard him walk away.

I entered the hall and saw Evanna standing near the pace where the stream was.

"Your late my daughter." She said coolly, "You could be punished for making me wait."

"My apologies mother. But can u not say 'daughter' there could be people listening." I said quietly.

"Understood...Mercy." She emphasized my name.

"What is it then lady?" I asked, eager to get this over with.

She did not hesitate with an answer, "Its time to address to the princes of yours and Kyea's abilities."

I turned pale. NO!

"I cant!" I said leaping up.

"And just why not? Your of age. Do you know how precious you will be to the male vampires...especially the princes ...if you tell them that you can give them babies? And also relieve me of their pestering??"

"As much as I would like to help you out, that's not them point lady. It's that I would like very much to make love with ONE man and not many!" I found the amazing logic in my words.

"That makes sense. A lot of sense. And who, my I ask, would this man be. The man you encountered in the hall as you made your way here perhaps??"

I blushed, great o9f all people to know SHE had to!

"I haven't yet chosen. It's not my will to choose, the man must. As a woman, its not my place neither my will." The mere truth in these words didn't ease my heart. I knew who I wanted...but it was just as I said, it was not my place.

"Hmmm...He will come to you soon. You suffered much in the past 11 tears in Vampire Mountain. And I know your wanting for Mik-."

"Don't say his name!" I hissed

"a Ver Leth, is great and he will come to you soon, I will tell you that." she finished without taking heed of what I said, thus making me furious, yet happy, so did he really feel for me.

"I did not tell you why though, that's for you to find out."

My heartbeat slowed at the disappointment. "I see. So it could be problematic?"

"Yes, and it could also free your soul. But, now I must leave. But I will return ion three days to tell the mountain of your abilities so be ready." Then she was gone

"Hold on!" But she was gone.

Great! Just great! Will I ever be looked upon the same again? With shame maybe? Or with delight as every male rushes to me to mate? I don't understand.

Why me? Why now? Just when I enjoyed my life, yearning for Mika inside and yet living my life well?

I couldn't grudge for long. Night had waned and this hall would be filled with

Vampires as soon as I could imagine.

I stood up and trudged outside slowly.

But I will return ion three days to tell the mountain of your abilities so be ready.

That sentence will soon haunt me for the next three days.

Day one

Two more days...two more bloody days. I thought about this as I made my way to the storerooms to meet up with Seba. He always talked me through hard times. I could trust him.

He smiled to me as I stepped into the room, "Hello Mercy. How are you my dear?" He set down what he was doing as turned to face me.

I gulped loudly and sat down, "Seba...what would you say if there was another woman Vampire that could give babies?" I asked slowly.

He laughed loudly, "That would really surprise me! As well as the Princes."

"Well, what if she had been living among you for many years and never spoke of her ability?" I asked a little to quickly.

His light face shrunk darkly a bit, "Why?"

"B-because...I-I c-c-an..." I muttered.

I waited.

"Oh these ears need help! Did I just hear what I thought I did!?" He seemed happy.

I gulped and nodded.

"We must tell the princes. This is news to make Vampire history!" He leaped up.

"T-the P-Princes??" I squeaked.

"Yes! Of course!" He made for the door when it flew open, reveling a rather curious (oh gods murder me) Mika Ver Leth. He took one look from a nervous looking me and a rather giddy looking Seba.

"I heard rather loud voices." He said lowly.

"Sire, Mercy has something MAGNIFICENT to tell you!" Seba said without wasting a second. I held back the urge to kick him in the nuts.

He turned his stare to me and I wish that I could suddenly disappear to paradise.

"Really? What is it Mercy?" He seemed REALLY curious.

Seba looked at me with a happy expression and I wanted to scowl at him at give hi a 'your toast' look but not with a VERY curious Mika standing there.

CHARNA'S GUTS!!

"Well, Mercy? Tell him." Seba said.

I gulped and said, "I'd rather it not come from my own lips."

They both stared at me. Mika's eyes bore into me.

"If it's important Mercy, you must tell me." He said.

I couldn't say no to a prince...the man I secretly loved. I would be shammed. THE AQUATIC MAZE WAS BETTER THEN THIS!!

Tell him. Or I will come and tell the entire mountain. If you tell him now, then I wont come.

I thought about this...not a half bad deal.

But how to tell him...how?

"Mercy? You must speak when the prince is here." Seba said.

I nodded and faced Mika with some hardship and reluctance. He stared back at me.

"In Two days, you and this mountain will know something that will change our ways. Possibly forever. And sire, I beg you to, not for my sake, stay patient until then." With that, I stood up and bowed. Then strode away.

That was well done my dear.

I did what I had to.

Tomorrow I must steer clear of him. I mustn't let hi know of my presence.

I will arrive at exactly 12:00 midnight. Are you sure about this. Kyea is not here at the moment and wont be arriving for some while. The pressure will be on you.

I am ready. I have been more ready in my life.

Day 2

Defying the odds. Trying to make sure that tomorrow wont bring on my downfall. I wondered how it felt to make love. What it was like. My future definitely held it.

My heart raced every time I heard footsteps walk past my door. I shivered at the thought of Mika opening the door. But that was not likely. He had other matters to attend to.

I rocked back and forth on my coffin lid...this wont be my coffin after a few days. No, it will belong to someone else as I sleep in a coffin with a man. I wondered who that man would be. With all my heart I wished it would be Mika.

I hoped...I prayed.

11:59...one more minute...and...the clock struck twelve and soon I heard foot steps walking toward the Hall of Princes.

I sighed. Time to let all hell loose. I trudged out

Day of the dammed

The hall was full of nervous vampires. The prices also shifted uneasily in their thrones. Mika cast a glance toward my direction. I could not tell his expression. It was hard to read.

The doors opened and Evanna walked in as though leading an army. She did not look at me though I could tell that she meant not to. She did not want to give away just yet.

Paris shakily rose from his throne and said in a kind voice (or as much as he could attempt at one) "Lady Evanna. What brings you here?"

No hesitation, "News. Great news."

All the Vampires started at this. It's not every time Evanna came in with good news or what she implied it to be.

"Speak lady." Paris said.

"I will make this quick," Typical, "As all of you know; I'm the only one to give you babies. The men. But now, I'm here to tell you that I am, in fact not the only one." A gasp ran through the crowd.

She continued, "She is in fact in this audience now." She turned me and roared, "STAND!" And order I could not disobey.

I gulped, this was it. With shaky legs...I stood up and all eyes turned from Evanna to me.

"This girl is the one that can give you babies. But under one circumstance."

I turned my gaze at Mika; his face was so white I could have sworn he had seen a ghost.

"The circumstance is that she must conceive with a prince only." Say what?? I never heard of that!

I gulped, as this was taken to the princes.

Paris cleared his throat, "Arrow, I know you cant. That leaves Vancha, Darren, and-"

"I'll take her" Mika said standing up.