Chapter Four

Arra was the first to speak. They had all listened in silence to Tiny's prophecy, too fearful of this meddlesome conjurer to interrupt his ramblings, "How do we know who the King is?" she asked, leaning closer to Gavner as Mr Tiny stepped forward.

"Because, my dear lady, he will be the only vampire with the ability to wield the King's sword without suffering horrible, agonistic pain through holding the handle. Only with this sword will he be able to assemble an army of Partisans and bring an end to the Vampaneze rule of Vampire Mountain," Tiny said simply though his words would perhaps be the most important words the group would hear for a lifetime, "Which is where you four come in to play. If you believe me and want to save your people it will be your quest to locate the sword before the year is done. From there, destiny will fall into place and you will be able to not only locate your King but help assemble the army you so desperately need to end this degradation."

Another silence befell the group, each digesting the meaning behind his words. None believed Mr Tiny but if there was the slightest chance that he was right then it was worth taking the risk for their dying clan.

"Where, if we chose to accept the quest, should we begin our search for this heavenly sword?" Larten asked his green eyes deep in thought whilst he scratched his scar out of bad habit.

His words brought a smile to Mr Tiny's lips, "I would begin by walking to Lady Evanna's. From there," he shrugged, "just have a wonder. You never know what or who you will meet when you just let your feet decide where you want to go,"

"How would we get out of here?" Gavner pressed, "And what about the other vampires?"

"If Master Shan hadn't left when he did he would have heard me inform the Vampaneze that they had nothing to threat from their workers but that a party," he pointed at the four, "would attempt to escape and that it is them they need to worry about," he grinned cruelly, "May the luck of your vampire Gods be with you because you are most certainly going to need it," with that, Mr Tiny dipped his head, turned the dial on his watch to exactly twelve and left, disappearing into the hallway and leaving the group in yet another silence.

Darren shook his head, sitting upon his coffin lid and staring around at his companions; Mr Tiny's words had troubled them deeply but Darren could feel hope in his soul. This was their opportunity to defeat the vampaneze, quite possibly their only chance. They had to do this, they had to resist and revolt, create an uprising, cause anarchy-

"I am going to go to the washroom," Larten mumbled, remembering his bladder as he walked passed his companions, deep in thought.

Arra shook her head, "This is stupid. We can't trust Tiny. He's probably speaking rubbish and even if it was true we'd never make it out alive to find this stupid sword," he shouted in anger.

"Would you dismiss Mr Tiny so quickly? Can we honestly afford too? I mean look at us! We're skin and bones! We wont live another year if we keep going like this," Gavner groaned. He was usually so lively and hopeful that it shocked both Darren and Arra that he was being so defeatist about their current condition, "We need to go now or die trying. It's a catch twenty two. We can either die here or die trying to be free. I know what I'm going to do- my job as a Vampire General."

Arra sighed and nodded, a smirk appearing on her lips, "See, Gavner? I told you that you could be intelligent when you tried." Gavner smiled at her words, a slight blush in his cheeks at the compliment. "What about you, Shan? Do you want to find the King?"

Darren had made his mind up the moment he had heard Tiny speak for the first time in the Hall of Lords. "I'm in."

Larten appeared within the chamber, a slight smile upon his usually stony lips, "I have a plan," he nodded, "We very well may die but we have to try."

"What is it?" Arra asked, not liking the sudden cunning glint in his green eyes.

"We jump into the river running below the water closets and swim," Larten stated, "If we partner up and hold on to each other we can wade the tide. All the waste ends up at the foot of the mountain. Paris said himself once that in his day they used to ride the current. Humans also indulge is such obscenities too. I believe they call it tomb-stoning?"

Gavner grinned and laughed whilst Arra and Darren stared at the two as though they had lost their minds, "That's a wonderful idea!" Gavner clapped, "Stupid as hell, we'll probably all die before we get out, but I'm game!"

Arra shook her head but then sighed, "I refuse to be partnered with Gavner." She snorted, "If we die I do not want to be trapped in the lake of Souls to hear him snoring for eternity."

Darren could have sworn he saw his mentor blush somewhat as he nodded, "Darren can go with Gavner and I with you, if that would suit you better?"

"Aye," Arra smirked before she began tucking a few of their rations in a bag.

"If we sleep through the day we will be out by night tomorrow which means we will have a whole night before anyone gets suspicious. Those dumb bastards don't take a rota so we wont be missed instantly," Gavner shrugged, "I think a rest would do us good; give our bodies time to recover and give our minds time to make peace with the Gods in case this goes to buggery."

The others smiled briefly at that and made their way to their own respected coffins before each stopping and staring at Seba's empty cot. Slowly their eyes met each other before they raised their finger and thumb to their forehead and muttered the words that the great and noble Mika Ver Leth had roared in death; 'Even in Death may we vampires be triumphant.'

Thought I'd add this wee Chapter before I finish up Chapter 5 :D

Again, thanks everyone for your interest in this story; it's really making my day to have such lovely comments in my inbox :D I had over 19 notifications on Hotmail when I got in from work and I was just, like, ...WOW...

Thanks to everyone who's reviewing, favouriting, alerting and just plain reading. I really do appreciate it all so much, all of it. Especially to read reviews from the authors of fanfictions which I've read and loved. It means so much, thank you all! :D

Preston (: