The Saga of Darren Shan Fanfiction
Written by: Soca
Disclaimer: The Saga of Darren Shan © Darren O'Shaughnessy.
Full Summary: When Darren has an opportunity to retrieve a valuable elixir, he jumps at the chance of adventure, taking a reluctant Mr. Crepsley along with him. But what the young vampire does not realise is that the trip will prove more dangerous than he thought. He will need cunningness and luck on his side. New fears arise as Darren starts to question his relationships with others and his ability to be a Prince, while searching for the faith lost within. In a world where not all is as it appears, can the luck of the vampire gods' hold true?
(Written to take place after book 6, 'The Vampire Prince', of the Darren Shan saga).
Author's Note: This fanfiction does not, in any way, interfere with the continuing novels of the Darren Shan saga. If any spoilers are written these would have occurred in novels 1 to 6.
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The Death Walked Trail
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Chapter 01: The 'Unwilling' Volunteer
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Mr. Crepsley ran two slender fingers down the scar on his left cheek before resting them under his chin. He 'hmm'-ed and 'ahh'-ed for what seemed like a lifetime - although in reality it was barely a minute - before tapping the paper on the table with his pale knuckles.
"I see," he said eventually, never once looking up. "You have only been a Prince for a few weeks, but already you wish to shirk your responsibility and go on a wild goose chase?"
"It's not a wild goose chase," Darren protested. He jabbed a finger at the paper, almost piercing Mr. Crepsley's hand with his nail. "It sounds interesting, doesn't it?"
Mr. Crepsley raised an eyebrow at his assistant. He clearly thought it didn't.
"It does not appeal to me, no," the vampire voiced aloud. "You would rather leave Vampire Mountain in search for this mythical thing -"
"Elixir," Darren corrected. "It says so right here." Another jab at the paper.
"- while there are more important matters to attend to here," Mr. Crepsley finished, ignoring Darren's interruption.
"But it's been so dead here lately," Darren moaned. "Don't!" he added, seeing Mr. Crepsley about to smile at the faint pun in his words. Darren sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "The vampaneze activity has dropped, so that's in our favor, but apart from sending Generals to hunt them down and squeeze information out of them I've been totally useless."
"That is not true," Mr. Crepsley said. "You are of great help to the other Princes."
"Yes, but …" Darren mulled his thought over for a second. "I feel I should be outside, doing something different. This -," He tapped the paper under Mr. Crepsley's hand, "- might help us in our future, like the Stone of Blood … or it could just be useful to keep safe here. Either way it can't hurt to have it."
"But this is just a myth," Mr. Crepsley pointed out, nodding to the paper. Even though the old vampire could not read he could decipher the message printed by just looking at the pictures.
"So are vampires," Darren smiled.
"You will waste your precious time chasing after this," Mr. Crepsley warned.
"I think I have plenty of time, don't you?"
Mr. Crepsley started to look irritated. "I am not going with you."
Darren feigned a gasp. "But I'm your assistant. You should have my best interests at heart."
"As my assistant you will do as I say and –"
"I'm not asking as your assistant," Darren said quickly before Mr. Crepsley could finish. "This is the order of a Prince. You've got to come with me."
Mr. Crepsley stared at Darren, his eyes sharp. Warning bells went off in Darren's head. "Pardon?" the vampire asked, his tone daring Darren to argue with him.
"I mean … please?"
Mr. Crepsley shook his head and said, "The other Princes will not approve of this."
Darren nodded and pushed his chair away from the table, standing up. "That's true," he said. "But I think I can win them over."
Mr. Crepsley again raised an eyebrow at the boy. He remained seated, determined not to be under minded, and asked, "How do you plan on, as you say, 'winning them over'?"
Darren stretched his arms high and smiled. "I'm a young boy cooped up in a stuffy mountain with the need for adventure and fresh air. How can they turn me away? I'm a Prince too, so they'll have to listen to what I say one way or the other."
"They were Princes long before you," Mr. Crepsley pointed out. "You will not be granted freedom from your duties just because you want some fresh air."
Darren sighed and lowered his arms. "You're right," he admitted, dragging out his sigh longer. "If only someone would speak on my behalf, explain my need to get rid of this pent up energy. If only I had a guardian who would offer assistance so that I can go away for a little while, before this place completely devours me of freedom and happiness that my childhood years have already been deprived of …"
"This guilt trip of yours is not going to work on me," Mr. Crepsley answered, however Darren could hear the relenting tone in his voice.
"Fine," Darren grunted, admitting defeat. "Doesn't hurt to try though."
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The Princes were not so easily won over as Darren had previously hoped.
He had snuck into the Hall of Princes early, practically dragging an annoyed Mr. Crepsley with him, in anticipation of catching one of the Princes off guard and persuading him to let Harkat Mulds (a Little Person with grey stitched-together skin and large green eyes who stayed close by Darren's side whenever possible), Mr. Crepsley and himself go in search of an elixir that may or may not exist.
Unfortunately, all three Princes were there when Darren entered the hall – Paris Skyle, Mika Ver Leth and Arrow – and he instantly lost some of his nerve when their conversation came to a sudden halt and they looked at him.
"Well, well, if it isn't our young Prince and his mentor," Paris smiled. "I assumed you had retired for the day after our last meeting took place, Darren."
"Not quite, Sire," Darren answered politely.
The three Princes observed Darren quietly. Paris gestured to Darren to come to the platform (although Darren did not need permission, being a Prince himself, however he obeyed nonetheless) and said, "You have obviously come here with the means to ask us something. Please, say what is on your mind."
Darren knew that a majority of vampires could not read or write, so he had not brought the piece of paper with him that he had shown Mr. Crepsley earlier. He regretted leaving it in his room but quickly explained to the Princes how he had stumbled across it in one of the many tunnels scattered throughout Vampire Mountain. He spoke hurriedly about what was on the paper and how much he wanted to go after it. He mentioned Mr. Crepsley and Harkat coming with him so that safety would not be an issue for concern, but all present – Mr. Crepsley included – knew that safety was not the reason Darren wanted them to join him.
When Darren had finished he remained stood by Paris's throne while the three Princes thought his proposal over.
"Darren," Paris said at last. "This elixir you would like to search for – do you know what it does?"
"No," Darren replied. "On the paper it's unclear. I think it may prolong life or heal life-threatening wounds, but I can't be sure."
"Interesting," Arrow said, a smile playing on his lips.
"Prolonging the life of a vampire," Mika snorted, "as if we don't live long enough."
"Mika, please," Paris warned. He gave a quiet sigh and turned to Mr. Crepsley. "Larten, you have yet to tell us what you think of all this."
Mr. Crepsley took a step closer toward the platform. He bowed politely before the Princes and said, "I am more than happy to go with the boy. I feel it will do him well to explore new areas outside Vampire Mountain."
Darren gawped at Mr. Crepsley. The vampire had not said a word since they'd set foot in the hall. He was certain his mentor was adamant not to help him persuade the Princes to let them leave Vampire Mountain.
"Is that so?" Paris mused, while Darren tried to conceal his surprise.
Mr. Crepsley nodded. "It will be good experience for him."
"Have you run out of experience to teach him, Larten?" Mika asked disapprovingly.
"Passing on experience is not the same as gaining it," Mr. Crepsley replied, unfazed. "Darren will not learn anything that way."
"A valid point," Paris said.
"The boy has made you soft, Larten," Mika huffed.
"Perhaps it will do you both good," Paris suggested, ignoring Mika's comment. "An unknown journey can open up many new paths in our lives. Wouldn't you agree, Darren?"
"I – I guess so," Darren stammered, not quite sure what Paris had just said as he snapped himself out of his stunned silence.
"Then that's settled," Paris declared, clapping his old hands together. "I am in favor of you leaving Vampire Mountain with Larten. Although you will have to check with Seba that it is okay to allow Harkat go with you. I am sure it will not be a problem but I believe Seba has grown accustomed to having the Little Person work for him."
"Thank you, Sire," Darren said, excitement already bubbling in the pit of his stomach.
Paris nodded. He turned to the other Princes. "Do any of you two object to this?"
Arrow immediately shook his head. "A sense of adventure could be just what the boy needs." He smiled warmly at Darren. "I am in favor of them leaving."
"Mika," Paris urged since the last Prince did not answer. "What are your thoughts?"
Mika looked from his fellow Princes, to Mr. Crepsley, before resting his gaze on Darren. When they had first met he was definitely not impressed with the young assistance, but now he smiled faintly and said, "It looks like I've been outnumbered. I agree for the boy to go." Turning to Mr. Crepsley, he said, "Do not return unless you have both learned something new."
When Darren and Mr. Crepsley left and the door to the Hall of Princes had been closed safely behind them, Darren turned to his mentor and said accusingly, "What was that? I thought you weren't going to help me with persuading them?"
"I never said that I would not help you," Mr. Crepsley answered.
"But my guilt trip won you over, is that it?"
"No." Mr. Crepsley tugged his cloak tighter around him and started to walk down the long tunnel that led to their rooms. Darren followed automatically.
"So what changed your mind?" Darren prompted.
Mr. Crepsley did not look back at his assistant while he walked. "I feel that the fresh air will do me good. I grow tired of spending many nights here and miss seeing the sky outside."
"In other words," Darren huffed, "you don't care about finding this elixir. You just want to go on a vacation."
Mr. Crepsley gave a ghostly smile. "That is not how I would put it, but yes, I suppose there is truth in your words. Despite the fact that you are a Prince you are still foremost my assistance, so I have been obliged to stay here with you, and the duties required of both of us have taken up more time than I could have imagined."
"You make it sound like such a burden," Darren said irritably. "Well, I'm sorry that you blooded me and have to spend every waking moment of your life taking care of me."
Mr. Crepsley laughed.
This only made Darren more irritable. "What's so funny?"
"I thought you would have outgrown the childish stubbornness by now," Mr. Crepsley said. "Perhaps I have misjudged you all this time."
"Shut up," Darren snapped, walking grumpily ahead. He could hear Mr. Crepsley laughing at him as he stomped the entire way back to his room.
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Harkat was as enthusiastic about leaving Vampire Mountain as Darren knew the Little Person would be. His large green eyes brightened and a grin appeared on his stitched-together face.
"I'd be happy to go," the Little Person said as Darren collapsed lazily into his hammock and informed Harkat of the trip. "Since you became a Prince I've hardly … seen you because of the duties you've had … to do, and I've been working for Seba … a lot recently, so I think the trip will … be good for both of us." Harkat's speech had improved considerably since living at Vampire Mountain, so he only paused to take a raspy breath between long stretches of words now, whereas before he'd had to stop after every two or three words.
"I knew you'd think that," Darren smiled contently.
"Does Mr. Crepsley mind going … along on this trip?" Harkat asked.
Darren snorted. "He didn't want to go at first. But now that he's looking at it like the vacation he'll never get he insists we leave first thing tonight."
Harkat chuckled. "The way his mind works … puzzles me sometimes."
Darren placed his hands behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling. His brow furrowed slightly as he quietly replied, "Yeah, me too."
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"You seem happy," Darren observed when he met Mr. Crepsley at one of the many entrances of Vampire Mountain with Harkat later that evening. The old vampire was watching the remainder of the sun setting in the distance, a gratifying look on his face.
"Yes," Mr. Crepsley replied absentmindedly as the ball of orange light sunk lower, leaving a scattering of vast pink and purple lines in the sky.
Darren threw his backpack on the ground and sat on it, sighing in annoyance. "You're not listening to me, are you?"
"Hmm." Mr. Crepsley nodded slowly.
"I want you to call me 'Sire' from now on," Darren said, hopefully looking up at his mentor.
Mr. Crepsley tore his eyes away from the sky and smiled. "Nice try, Sire."
Harkat laughed.
Darren glared at the Little Person.
"Do you have everything you need?" Mr. Crepsley asked, nodding to the backpack that Darren was sitting on.
"I think so," Darren said. "Let's see …" He lifted up his right hand and started counting the items off on his fingers. He had his diary, as always, but he doubted Mr. Crepsley needed to know that. "Pots and pans, cutlery, the paper with information about the elixir – not that there's much on it – in case we need it, some medical supplies Seba gave me –"
"Seba?" Mr. Crepsley interrupted.
Darren smiled and lowered his hand. "Yeah. You know, like powders and stuff. He practically forced the stuff into my hands. It means more to carry but I didn't have the heart to refuse him. He wants us to stay safe."
Mr. Crepsley rubbed the scar on his cheek and nodded. "I should have thought of that. You do have a tendency to be careless. I am sure that the items Seba gave you will be useful to have on hand."
Harkat started laughing again.
Darren flushed. "I am not careless!" He stood up angrily, but only managed to prove Mr. Crepsley's point by getting his foot tangled in the strap on his backpack. He took a tumble backwards and landed with a thud on the hard ground.
This only made Harkat laugh even more.
Mr. Crepsley didn't laugh but Darren could see the beginning of a smirk creeping across his face. "Shall we go?" the vampire asked. He turned away. His shoulders shook beneath his cloak.
"It wasn't funny," Darren muttered darkly as Harkat and Mr. Crepsley made their way down the mountain, chuckling quietly to themselves. So much for Princely gracefulness. He untangled himself and followed, his mood instantly turning sour.
Their journey had begun.
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Chapter 01 End
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