Disclaimer: I do not own any of Darren Shan's characters or work so infragmentation to copyright is accidental.
"Wester, you know I will not become a general, how many times must I say it?!" Larten chuckled as he strode down the tunnels of Vampire Mountain with his friend.
"Larten, please. I know full well that you are capable of carrying out this job, just let me prove it to you and make it worth your while! You have been dreaming of this for years." Wester stopped and stood in front of Larten, looking slightly concerned as the orange-haired vampire grinned to himself.
"I will not be swayed by your opinions or recommendations, Seba knows just as well. Anyway, Wester, you should know enough by now to know that this is not what I want, why do you think I left Vampire Mountain and travelled the world with Vancha for a few years?" Larten stated as he forced his way past his over eager blood-brother, "that is all behind me now so come on, the festival awaits us!"
It was the Festival of the Undead and Larten had planned to get Wester unbelievably drunk on ale so he could forget the ridiculous idea that he had in his mind. Larten had dismissed the honour of becoming a General years ago; he never wanted to have responsibility or power like that. Wester had become a guard and Larten had chosen to leave the mountain and travel with the Prince, Vancha March before coming back to be with Wester and let him know he still cared - he could never of totally forgotten the vampire he had known since he was a new blood himself.
The two of them crouched in the archway of one of the halls and all the vampires were drinking, laughing or fighting.
"Ah, it seems Council has grown in popularity over the years." Larten blinked mesmerised by the amount of vampires that had shown for the festival, "Come then, we will get drunk and fight like men!" Slapping Wester on the back, Larten almost winded him and ran for the hall where he pushed past any vampires that got in his way and the ones that did he'd stop and have a punch with. Wester wheezed from Larten's blow but laughed at the same time, pacing forward and ignoring the fighting around him. Larten ran through a sea of vampires until he found the old quartermaster stood against a wall, cheerfully speaking with Paris Skyle and surprisingly, Mika Ver Leth who was wearing his customary black attire.
"Larten!" Seba Nile called cheerfully from the corner as their gazes met, "I shall get you some drink!" He beckoned his assistant to come forth but Larten refused and shared an awkward glance with his master before walking away. Seba enjoyed times like the festivals now, he had always believed the gods were punishing him in keeping him alive but then he thought of Paris and dismissed the curse of life and thought more on how to spend it with joy. He had been willing to die ever since Larten and Wester were the mere age of 60 in vampire years but thought lightly of life ever since Larten had acquired an assistant of his own.
"Where is Darren?" Larten mumbled agitatedly under his breath as his own assistant was nowhere in sight. Larten studied each hall for a while as he ran around looking for Darren until he came to the beams where Arra Sails was perched ready with her staff, waiting to defeat any opponent who came to challenge her - she was a master at this game and had only ever lost to Kurda Smahlt.
"Will Crepsley have the nerve to challenge me?" Arra shouted from above and it caught Larten by surprise that she had spotted him and he turned swiftly to meet her strangely intimidating smile. "You surely cannot back away now? I would lose all respect I have for you." She blinked innocently, fluttering her eyelashes at her past mate and twiddling her fingers around the staff she was holding. Larten moaned quietly before clambering onto the beam opposite Arra.
"I never thought I would see you attempt this game." She smiled evilly but he knew she was only playing with him, the soft spark in her dark, grey eyes was flaring and it gave her true intentions away immensely. Arra whistled behind her and gestured to a spectator to pass up another staff. Holding the two weapons, she spun them both around her skilfully but gracefully and eventually threw it to Larten who reached out a hand and caught it before preparing to be beaten - by a woman.
"This is surely the most shameful night I will ever endure, is it not?" He sighed and held a ready position, looking strong and composed as he prepared to be flung from the beams to the jeers and cries from the anticipated audience who loved to see Arra beating everyone at her favourite game.
Larten cast his cape to the ground below to allow more movement and steadied his body, waiting for the right moment to strike. Without warning, he suddenly threw himself at Arra with a cry and swing of the staff but she reacted fast and darted sharply out of its path. As Larten passed her, she threw down the staff and it hit him over the back, causing him to yelp in pain and fall to his knees.
"Come now, Larten, need a hand?" Arra smiled as he looked up at her and saw how sympathetic she was being.
"I do not think that will be necessary." He smirked and clambered to his feet, trying to swing at her again, hoping that he might catch her off guard. She was still faster and more skilled than him and struck him plenty more times before a large thrash to his side caused him to wobble uneasily. With one final blow, Larten was down again and this time it was for good. He toppled off of the beams and crashed to the floor in a cloud of dust, the crowd going wild with excitement as Arra had achieved yet another victory.
The defeated vampire rose to his feet with a vicious pain in his side but held his yelp to not look weak, grabbing his cape and dusting himself down.
"Another round?" She laughed as she shook his hand to show her respect for him, "you did not back down though, that I am proud of you for. As much as you knew you would lose, you did not disappoint me."
"It is the Festival of the Undead which gives me two reasons for which I had to accept." Larten panted heavily.
"And what is the other reason?" Arra asked suspiciously.
"You are unfavourable to vampires who do not accept your challenges; respect is highly valued in your mind." Larten turned and started to walk away from the beams but called back to Arra, "I would have easily beaten you in a game of cards! I used to be called Quicksilver for a reason."
"You have a fast hand but not a fast swing." Arra shouted to him before turning back to the crowd and bowing for her cheers, basking in her glory but thinking of Larten with the upmost respect. "You were also one with the ladies, so I have heard, Larten Crepsley." Arra whispered to herself, smiling lightly as she watched the small, red figure disappear out of sight.
As he turned the corner and became unseeable from the crowd, Larten pushed himself against the wall and examined his injuries. There was nothing major, no blood or broken bones, just a few bruises and scratches but it felt like someone had stabbed him in the side.
"Stop it, Crepsley, stop being weak." He hissed at himself and leant against the wall for a while longer to regain his breath, "Arra Sails, you can be a nasty piece of work." He smiled before stumbling down the tunnel to continue what he had started. "Now, where is Darren?" Larten muttered as he continued to walk down the tunnels, not wanting to be distracted again by anyone else. He had enjoyed the game even though he was defeated but was seeking one thing more than a challenge - his assistant.