OK, Let me set the scene. This is a AU so I think its best for me to explain things a little. I have slightly changed the vampire aspect that Darren Shan originally used in his stories. I like my beasties to be all fangs and neck biting- so in this story, that's exactly what they are. Instead of vampire mountain, there a covens, and in this context I refer to a "Coven" (Safe House) as a gathering of one kind-in this case vampires and not witches, if anyone has watched Underworld its basically the same concept. Also, I have rearranged the Princes- Paris Skyle, Mika Ver Leth, Kurda Smahlt, Vancha March And Larten Crepsley. Sorry No Arrow.
Most Importantly- Darren is HUMAN….for now. And Larten is "Scarless"… for now oh, and he's literate XD
Enjoy.
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To the few and scarce passers by, the barely visible building had no significance. It was not looked upon as a thing of beauty or an architectural wonder. It was simply an isolated construction. The large manor was set back from a old, unused road. It appeared accessible by the grassy dirt track that veered off towards its direction, but no one knew for certain.
Well that's what Larten could gather, the barman of the pub a few miles away had been surprisingly tolerant in answering his questions, instructing the locals to offer any information they had about the mysterious building to the traveller.
Therefore, Larten complacently sat and listened whilst taking sips from his pint of the local beverage.
Most folk inside the tavern had heard of the place he was looking for, dare say they were familiar with it. The villagers knew the manor was lived in, they presumed a wealthy stranger who wanted to keep his business to himself and they respected that, keeping their distance from the country estate.
Naturally, others believed the building to be haunted or cursed.
That evening, tales of extravagant murders and witchcraft circulated around the roadhouse, each villager whose mouth had been lubricated by a intake alcohol, prided themselves on retelling a gruesome story to the red haired man.
By last orders, Larten had heard every mythical creature and legend being somehow linked to the house.
But he had heard them all before, he was surprised that none of the older humans had not recognised him.
He could not resist the opportunity to listen in on the exaggerated tales once authored my his close friend, Paris Skyle. Paris created these stories centuries ago, as what Larten saw as a feeble attempt of keeping unwanted guests at bay from the coven. No matter how absurd or ridiculous, a common trait of all Paris's tales, they seemed to work. However, even after all these years, this visit to the pub had revealed no new works of fiction, Larten made note to inform his fellow Prince.
Larten left the inn just before midnight, pulling his travelling cloak tight around himself to ward off the bitter breeze. After checking on its cargo, he hauled his tattered rucksack further onto his shoulder and set off to complete the remainder of his journey and reach its much-missed destination.
The full moon was now at its highest and brightest, illuminating the long road ahead of him. He chose not to flit, but walk the remainder of his journey, relishing in the beautiful scenery. It was his last night as a free man. The next time he would walk out into the darkness, he would be the charge of that dependent snivelling child. He sighed at the thought, but a promise was a promise.
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"Ain't you supposed to be in bed? Resting?" Gavner chuckled.
The boy stepped through the shadowed doorway, revealing himself to the further inhabitants of the room.
Kurda smiled as the teen entered the Prince's private sitting room. Darren's raven black hair sprouted out from the top of the cocoon he had made using a large duvet, his slipper covered feet slid slowly across the room to where the two men were sitting, with a heavy sigh, he tiredly plonked himself between the two.
"Can't Sleep?" Kurda asked, embracing the bundle.
Darren nodded into Kurda's shoulder, pulling his legs up onto the large lounger and placing them on Gavner's lap.
"Don't mind me" Gavner smiled, prodding the patterns on the boy's pyjamas.
"Sorry" Darren laughed, or attempted to, his voice was heavy with the blocked nasal effects of the flu and despite his sincerest apology, he made no effort to remove his feet from his guardian's lap.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the shadows illuminated by the burning fire dance across the oak lined walls of the grand hall.
Theoretically speaking, Kurda was the only one of the three who was actually allowed to be situated in "The Prince's Lounge". Gavner was indeed a vampire general of the highest rank and respect, but he still did not have the title which gave him the privilege of being able to use the room freely, not that he wanted it. However being the blond haired prince's lover did entail some advantages.
Darren on the other hand was not even supposed to be awake, let alone inside conversing with other members of the coven. The human youth was riddled with the flu and Paris had condemned him to bed rest, except when he was expected to attend his lessons with the elder vampire.
Kurda could understand completely why the boy refused to sleep. In less than a week, Darren would turn seventeen, marking his official acceptance into the realm of the vampires.
Darren regularly stated that he had been waiting most of his live for this moment. And as the countdown of days gradually became smaller, the teen began to ooze excitement.
As Paris promised, once the boy reached his seventeenth birthday if he so wished for it he would be blooded, but not by just anyone. Darren was going to be blooded by the five princes.
However only four of these prestigious princes were to be found inside the coven, whereas the fifth had yet to arrive.
Suddenly the silence that had previously occupied the three was broken. Kurda and Gavner listened sympathetically as a violent coughing fit racked the slender form led between them.
"God, you sound like hell" Gavner grimaced, feeling the boy's pain he asked "Kurda? Do we have any honey and lemon tea left?"
"Of course" Kurda replied, rubbing small circles between Darren's shoulders, equally concerned about the sickly child "I'll go make him some"
"It's alright, I'll go" Gavner smiled, allowing Kurda to stay and comfort the boy.
Gavner rose from his seat and maneuvered Darren around so that he was now led fully along the worn leather chair. Wrapped up in his quilt, resting his raven-haired head on a cushion in Kurda's lap, Darren nodded his thanks. Content that the boy was comfortable and warm, Gavner made his way over to the fireplace. Thick glowing logs burned slowly in the hearth, after introducing three more logs onto the charred pile, the general left the room and set off to the kitchen, in order to make the future boy prince some much needed tea.
"He'll come, won't he?" Darren asked, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Yes, he'll come." Kurda replied, more than happy to supply the reassurance the teen desperately needed, "Mika received his reply, and I do believe that he has sworn to make an appearance."
"But, I wrote the letter, I should be entitled to see his reply!"
"Don't you trust Mika?"
"Of course I do! Its just…I want to see it myself"
"We'll I'm sure there's a reason why Mr. Ver Leth is keeping it from you, Master Shan" smirked Kurda.
"What do mean?" Darren asked sharply, his head emerged fully from his makeshift bed, curiosity rising.
"Hmmmm" Kurda sighed, feigning disinterest "I'm not telling you, it would ruin the surprise."
Kurda didn't like lying to the boy, but it was for his own good. It wasn't his job to inform the young male about the contents of the said letter. A slight scowl appeared on the blonds features, he'd let the façade slipped, but only for a second; in a instant his unfavourable expression disappeared along with his current thoughts.
He glanced towards Darren, hoping he hadn't noticed.
A pair of deep chocolate eyes stared at him, inquisitively, he had noticed.
"He's not coming, is he?" the boy sobbed, once again seeking refuge inside his comforter.
"Its not as if he has a choice" Gavner broke in, entering the room with a steaming mug of sweet smelling tea "I'll drag the ginger bastard kicking and screaming if I have to"
"See, Gavy wouldn't lie to you" Kurda smiled, moving the quilt so its inhabitant could breath "Here, drink your tea"
Darren slurped nosily at the hot beverage. Gavner slotted himself back onto the sofa, trying not to jostle its flu ridden occupant.
Within a few minutes a more natural fleshy colour began to replace the clammy white of Darren's cheeks.
"Feeling better?" Kurda asked,
"Ahum" he yawned, obviously more tired than he had led the others to believe.
"You look shattered, go back to bed and sleep" Kurda ordered affectionately.
"Yes Mummy" replied Darren, his snuffled voice dripping with attempted sarcasm . Never the less, he gathered up his quilt, and after giving his guardians a hug goodnight, left for his bed.
As soon as the boy had left the room, the air instantly changed. The "Happy Families" aura was replaced with a far more sombre and ominous atmosphere.
"I don't like this Gavner" Kurda sighed, placing his head in his hands.
"There is nothing we can do about it Kurda" Gavner replied calmly, scooting up the sofa so he could calm his distressed lover "We don't have a say in the matter, he has to tell him. And do you really think Larten wants to? You know he cares for Darren."
"Why does he have to know? Nothing good will come of it!" Kurda stated angrily, his face overcome with fierce determination "We'll call the whole thing off. He doesn't have to be blooded now, we could do it later, we could take him away from this damned place."
Kurda sighed again, realising how pathetic he sounded. Darren wouldn't wait, for as long as the blond could remember the young boy had strived to "fit in", doing whatever he could to feel more like his family. But Darren was no longer a child, he was quickly growing into a man. So finally, after seventeen years, Darren would have his wished granted. He would be made into a vampire.
Kurda shifted so he could rest his weary head on his partners shoulder. He felt tired and old, unnaturally so, all this worry wasn't doing him any good.
"I don't want to see him hurt"
"I know Kurda."
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Well that's chapter 1 R&R.