It was a loud night in vampire mountain, the newest vampire prince was about to take the trials of initiation! Everyone was eager to see the young half-vampire re-take the trials, after being sentenced to death the first time. Many more were betting on the young boy this time. The first three trials went by smoothly, but on the fourth, the aquatic maze, all went wrong. He had gotten lost one to many times and was about to drown. He just barely made it out, but because of the current. Larten feared for his assistant, they had grown quite fond of each other. He rushed to the boy's aid, wanting to be the first to help. His first thought was mouth-to-mouth. As he put his mouth on Darren's, he felt a strange connection. When the first time failed though, he tried again. This time, the young boy stirred. But rather than move away, he began to kiss Larten. When Larten noticed this, he was shocked at first, but he gradually started to kiss back. As Darren pulled away, needing breath, Larten stared, confused, shocked….happy.
Later, in his room, Darren thought. He thought about life, family, friends…and Larten Crepsley. "Why," he wondered aloud to himself. Later, when Larten walked in, neither knew what to say. Darren was the first to break the silence.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Crepsley. I don't know why I did that earlier."
"There is no need to be sorry, Darren, I actually liked it. I am sorry if that bothers you, but I did. So, I should be the one saying sor-"
Larten was cut off when Darren kissed him, and before he knew what he was doing, Larten was kissing back. And the days that followed, their friendship grew even stronger.