I ONLY own Eric. Every other character and place is property of Darren Shan.

R&R come on, don't be stingy, you know you want to. winkwink

I was there. I sat watching and listening the chaos that ensued. Bound and gagged by the dreaded Vampaneze, unable to do anything, not even groan or whimper. Bodies fell everywhere. Around me, on me, around the cavern. Fresh, hot salty tears ran rivers down my face and the whites of my eyes were completely bloodshot from trying scream into the heavily tied gag, not that my screams would have gone noticed. As the cases of Vampaneze souls fell around me, their weapons skittered across the floor or lay just beyond arms reach. And then…. Then their lord fought with one of the others. No-one moved, no-one spoke, not even I.

The vampires lost one of their beloved friends that day. And even I cried when the one known as Larten Crepsley perished. I felt the love the other two vampires had for him, and the tears I cried in that moment were not from the pain in the bandages, but the pain in my heart.

The Vampaneze, saddened and mourning their dead lord slowly emptied out of the cavern. Their hopes are low as their eyes. No-one bothered about me. I was unimportant now. My purpose was only valid if the Vampaneze had won, which they hadn't. I tried to loosen the bonds that Morgan James had tied so thoroughly, but my attempt was futile and I sat back in silence, dreading the moment I would be left alone in the cavern to rot.

I stayed in my tiring position while Gannen Harst and Steve Leopard came down and while Darren lay unconscious on the ground. Why did the other vampire not help him? Or the little person they had with them? I wanted to ask, but what if they were just as bad as the Vampaneze? Then I'd be screwed either way.

Three hours passed and still I didn't make a noise. The little person - who came to be called Harkut- and the older vampire - Vancha- sat talking about what they were to do now. Vancha wanted to hunt down Mr Tiny - I knew that name all too well, along with its owner- and murder him slowly. Harkut said if Darren wanted to join him, that he too would hunt the Earth for the Yellow coated meddler. They still hadn't been alerted by my scent. As Darren groggily woke up, and told them the news of what Steve had said to him, I started crying again, silently at first. Vancha's wounded look straightened up and shot over to my dark corner, picking me out amongst the walls instantly. His looked turned to surprise, then confusion, then hatred and he grabbed Darren's knife before jumping up and walking purposefully over to me, murder in his eyes. Darren and Harkut just looked at him.

I let my head drop as Vancha's footsteps resounded off the walls. If he killed me now, all the better. Steve had obviously forgotten about me, and the pain I had to endure, and the long lectures about how much he hated Darren almost drove me to the point of trying to force myself into a coma.

Vancha stopped close to me and stooped low, his face inches from mine. Even in my crying I still knew he stank and tried to bury my head deeper into my knees. The vampire studied me for a few moments before he cut through the bonds around my mouth and put his hand to my mouth.

"If I were you, I wouldn't scream, yell or even whimper. Clear?" His voice was deathly low and serious. I stopped the noise of my crying and nodded, but the tears kept flowing on their own accord.

"Who are you?" Vancha started his questioning with the very first question anyone asked when meeting someone.

"E-E-Eric Fe-Fe-Felashly." I stuttered, still without looking up.

I felt the cold tip of the knife touch my chin and push it up so I was eye to eye with the green haired vampire. My sad blue eyes connected with his hate filled brown ones.

"What are you doing here?" He growled.

I thought it was one of the stupidest questions ever, but at a time like this, figured it better not to be a smartarse. "Puh-puh-Part of something Mr Tuh-tuh-Tiny said to St-st-st-st-Steve." I managed to stutter out softly. Vancha's eyes narrowed at the mention of Mr Tiny and Steve.

"What did the devil say to the eel?"

"I don't knu-knu-know. I've been t-t-tied up here for w-w-weeks."

Darren stood up with Harkut and they both walked up behind Vancha.

"Why have they tied you up?" Darren asked softly.

"Something about the war. That's all I know." I was thankful my stuttering had decided to leave, but when Vancha growled I had a feeling it might return.

"Are you human?" Vancha growled throatily.

"I… I think so." I said.

Vancha looked to Darren who stared at me. "Show us your…. Vancha cut his hand bonds."

"You think we should trust him? He smells distinctly like one of them." Vancha turned to the side at spat when said that last word. It didn't take a genius to figure out how much he despised them.

"No. Just keep the knife ready."

Vancha turned back to me and pointed the knife at my face. "One wrong move… that's all I need." And he reached behind me and cut the bonds to my hands. I felt so relieve I brought my arms into my chest and rubbed my blood caked wrists tenderly. Darren reached down and grabbed both my hands by the wrists, upsetting old wounds and causing me to bite my lip in pain to stop myself from yelping.

Darren looked over my fingertips and shook his head. He was about to let go when he spotted a scar on the ball of my right hand. He pointed to it and looked at me. Vancha looked over his shoulder and growled. "What is this?" Darren asked.

"One of the Vampaneze cut it open." I replied.

"That's it?" He prodded.

"He cut his own and pressed them together for a few seconds."

Vancha almost roared and I found the knife cutting into my throat as he growled violently, I could tell he would have cut my throat right open had Darren not grabbed his hand.

"Vancha! He's not one of them yet."

"He's been blooded. Of not then at least marked. We have to kill him now."

"No!" Darren grabbed Vancha and pulled him roughly away from me, leading him a few meters away and talking hurriedly, every now and then Vancha would look over and me and point the knife at me and shake his head while Darren was trying to explain something on his palm. Harkut stood watching me, freakily unblinking. I took the few precious moments I had to noticed his dark blue robes and large, bright green eyes., just like Mr Tiny's other ones.

"Are … are they going to kill me?" I asked him.

"Maybe." Was the reply.

I sighed with resignation. Back to square one. At least the Little Person told me the truth. Vancha started yelling and quickly quietened as I looked up and caught his eye. My tears had stopped but I could still feel they'd start up if the right button was pressed.

Now, if you review I'll put up some more, and who doesn't want to know what Vancha is threatening to do with that knife?