The following chapter takes place around the same time that Harry meets Darren; basically just a few days before what happened in the previous chapter. I have recently updated this chapter and added new information that you need to know for the end of the story.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vampaneze walked the night trying to find some humans to feed on. They had been fighting recently with some random vampires and even though they killed them all, it tired them out.
"Right there!" whispered a Vampaneze pointing at a group of cloaked humans.
"Are you sure they are human?" asked another Vampaneze using a low voice. "They could be vampires in disguise."
"Can't you smell them from here?" asked the first Vampaneze. "They are definitely human!"
"Let's go notify our Lord," said the second Vampaneze. "He'll tell us what to do from here."
The two Vampaneze went to their Lord's secret base, a cave not far off from there which was guarded fiercely at the front by about 5 Vampets and 5 Vampaneze. The 2 Vampaneze saluted the guards then entered the cave. They went deep into the cave until they met with another group of about 8 Vampaneze and 5 vampets, including Gannen Harst and the cloaked person on his left, The Vampaneze Lord!
"Lord," said one of the Vampaneze that entered. "We have some information for you."
Everyone's face turned to the two Vampaneze standing up.
"Yes?" asked the Lord "What information do you have for me?"
"We found a group of humans, gathered in a circle a few miles off. We know you haven't fed in a while. Do you want to go feed?"
"Yes," said the Vampaneze Lord. "But I must go myself. I can't feed off of someone that another Vampaneze kills. I must kill the person I feed off of myself."
"Lord," advised Gannen. "I don't think you should go. You're taking a huge risk. I think it's better if you just wait here and…"
"Gannen!" yelled the Lord. The Lord picked up a lit candle and put it close to his face so we see every freckle on it. As the light shined on his face, everyone was able to see it. It was the face of Steve Leonard; although every Vampaneze and Vampet, with the exception of Gannen, didn't know his name.
"Gannen," laughed Steve. "Gannen, Gannen, Gannen… tut…tut…tut. With you on my side, no one will be able to get close to me. I don't care about the risks. I am a half-Vampaneze and I am pretty sure I can take on a human single handed."
Gannen didn't look very happy, but that was all he said on the subject. Gannen, Steve, and the rest of the Vampaneze and Vampets left the cave to feed off of the group of humans nearby. They walked very quietly, without making any sound, to the place where the humans were supposed to be. Some of the Vampaneze were worried that they left by now, but they were still there.
As they got closer to the humans, they were able to hear some of their conversation.
"No! No! No!" said one of the cloaked humans. "You think we can fool Dumbledore, when the Dark Lord himself fears him?"
"Nott!" said one of the humans. "We have to stop wasting ourselves on Dumbledore. We have to find Potter so the Dark lord can kill him!"
"You think Dumbledore isn't doing anything to protect Potter?" asked a human. "Of course he is! All we need to do is…"
The rest of what he said was cut out because that was the time when the Vampaneze chose to attack. Gannen and Steve stayed behind as the other Vampaneze jumped onto the humans to finish them, but something very weird happened. All the humans took out a stick and flashed it and the Vampaneze flew back.
"Who are these people?" asked one of the humans. "How do they know we're here? We have a shield charm in effect!"
Another Vampaneze attacked. One of the humans pointed his stick at the Vampaneze and yelled out some strange words.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A jet of green light hit the Vampaneze and he fell over right next to where Steve and Gannen were stationed. Gannen checked the pulse on the Vampaneze.
"He's dead!" whispered a worried Gannen.
That had been the draw for Steve. Steve tried running back with Gannen but was stopped when a jet of light hit him and he flew back. Gannen drew out a sword but the sword was shot out of his hand.
The humans pointed their sticks at the Vampaneze.
"Don't move!" said a human. "Don't move or we will kill you."
One of the humans drew back the hem of his left sleeve and placed his stick on a tattoo of a snake that was branded on his arm. When that happened, the most extraordinary thing took place: the snake tattoo moved, as if my magic!
Out of nowhere, dark shapes appeared as if by teleport. Steve and Gannen were motionless.
All the other humans moved to where Steve and Gannen were and started talking.
"Ok now," he said. "Who are you and who sent you?"
Steve and Gannen remained speechless.
"Okay" the human said. "You want to do it the hard way."
The human pointed his stick and Steve.
"Crucio!"
Steve started slithering in pain. Gannen tried jumping on the human but he was blasted back.
The curse was pulled off of Steve.
"Now," repeated the human. "I will ask again and if you don't answer…"
"If you ask again, Lucius," said a dark voice from behind. "I will have you tortured and killed like the rest of my victims. Is that what you want?"
Lucius Malfoy shut his mouth. The person whose voice that came from stepped up. He was also wearing a cloak. His skin was white as a sheet and his eyes and tongue looked serpent-like.
"So," said the dark creature. "You guys were trying to feed off of my Death Eaters."
Gannen and Steve's mouths opened in confusion and in awe. They didn't know what "Death Eaters" were, but they also didn't know how this human knew that they were planning to feed.
"Well," said the creature. "I wouldn't accept more from the Vampaneze. I really would admire you had you not tried killing my servants."
Gannen and Steve's mouths dropped even lower. The creature seemed like he was reading their minds.
"You two seem shocked," said the creature. "Will it shock you more when I tell you that I know that you, Steve, are the Lord of the Vampaneze, and that you, Gannen, are the prime protector of Steve? Will it shock you more if I decide to kill you both and let the vampires win the war that you and them are in?"
Malfoy and the other Death Eaters didn't know what the creature was talking about, but Gannen and Steve looked more scared then they've ever been in their lives.
"Don't worry," said the creature. "I will not harm you. I actually want to help you. There is a way that we both can help each other, but I will explain it all in due course. First of all, I want to tell you that my Death Eaters and I are not normal humans, we are wizards. And I am the most powerful dark wizard in the world. I know more magic then anyone. My name is Lord Voldemort!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve and Voldemort walked the forest with Gannen at their heels, Death Eaters guarding them, and Vampaneze circling around the area for protection.
Voldemort told Steve everything about his Death Eaters and the war that's going on between him and the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort told him that he's trying to control the government to make a pure blood nation. Steve smiled as Voldemort said this; he seemed like he was in heaven.
"Wow," said Steve smiling. "I am also attempting to control some of the government. I have some vampets working for the government to tell me what the human's are up to."
Voldemort smiled softly but remained speechless.
"Oh," said Steve suddenly. "Sorry, I forgot that you don't know what 'vampets' are. They are…"
"I know what they are," interrupted Voldemort. "I know everything about you Vampaneze and the Vampires that you are in war with. I know that three hunters were chosen to hunt you down; Larten Crepsley, Vancha March, and your former best friend, the boy who betrayed you, Darren Shan."
Steve again had the feeling that Voldemort was reading his mind, but Steve didn't care at all. It saved him the long explanation.
"Now look," said Voldemort. "You tried killing my servants. Lord Voldemort doesn't forgive easily. If I wanted to, I could torture and kill you right now…"
Steve flinched at this and stepped back from Voldemort, but Voldemort only smiled.
"Haven't I told you," laughed Voldemort. "that I do not want to kill you? I want to help you. I want to team up with you and your Vampaneze. You guys can help me destroy some of my enemies, and in return, I'll do the same for you. I can help kill vampires."
Steve looked tempted at this offer; he was about a second away from answering when Voldemort started.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Voldemort said. "about Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. I have failed to kill them on countless occasions. They are the key wizards that you need to help me kill, assuming you accept my offer, if I am to take over. There was a prophecy about Potter and me that said Potter has the power to kill me. I tried killing him when he was an infant to get rid of the threat, but something happened and my curse rebounded upon myself and I was destroyed. I returned 13 years later only to be thwarted by them on countless occasions. I have to kill them and you have the power to help me. So what is your answer?"
Steve thought for a moment. This Voldemort guy seemed pretty dark, definitely Steve's type of person, but he didn't want to get distracted from the war he's in; however, Voldemort could help him capture Darren and Crepsley. That brought a smile to Steve's face.
"Yes," he said. "I'll help you. It will be my pleasure. I can have a dozen Vampaneze at your service. All I have to do is give the order, Lord Vold… I'm sorry but what is your name again?"
Voldemort hesitated. No one that he's ever teamed up with has EVER dared called him by his proper name. It was part of the reason that he adapted the name "Voldemort". It was supposed to be a name that people were feared to speak; and yet, here's The Vampaneze Lord getting ready to say it without a fear in his voice. This made him mad, but then he realized that Steve is also a Lord, which made Voldemort respect him more.
"Voldemort!" he said. "My name is Lord Voldemort! That is what you call me; but you are the only one that can call me that. Tell your Vampaneze servants that they are to call me "Lord" or "Dark Lord" when addressing me or talking about me. I shall know if someone doesn't."
"You have my word, Lord," said Steve. "and as a Vampaneze, I always keep my word."
"Don't lie to me," said Voldemort. "I know when people lie to me. You have never followed a Vampaneze law before and you have no intent to do it in the future, but I couldn't care less. As long as you keep your word this time, I shall be fine with it."
Steve smiled and they kept walking. After a few minutes, a masked Death Eaters stepped in front of Voldemort.
"Lord," the Death Eater said. "Harry Potter was sighted again."
Voldemort raised his head, but the Death Eater continued.
"He was sighted in the Forest of Dean. He rescued his two friends that we captured and then he got away."
"And why are you telling this?" asked Voldemort. "Do you think I want to know of another occasion when Potter thwarts me?"
"No, my Lord!" replied the frightened Death Eater. "I am only telling you this because he had two accomplices with him. They were not wizards. One was with Potter and the other was creating havoc a few miles off to withdraw some of us. The one that was creating havoc got away just as we surrounded him, but he had Dolohov with him. I dunno what happened after that."
As he said that, another Death Eater approached him and whispered in his ear.
"They found Dolohov!" yelled the Death Eater.
Voldemort, Steve, the Death Eaters, and all the Vampaneze flitted and apparated to a field where Dolohov was laying.
"He can't remember anything," said a Death Eater. "Someone put a strong memory charm on him."
"Move!" yelled Voldemort.
Voldemort walked up to Dolohov and started performing Legilimency on him to break through the memory charm. After about a half hour, Dolohov stirred, and then awoke from a dreamlike gaze.
"Lord!" Dolohov yelled. "I'm sorry but…"
Dolohov had the Cruciatous curse used upon him by Voldemort.
"That's what happens for letting Potter escape," said Voldemort. "Now tell me what happened."
Dolohov explained how he was on top of a man, who wasn't a wizard, and then the man started running and it looked as if the Earth was moving along aside him. The man stopped at a cave and Harry Potter was there. Harry attacked him and that was all he remembered.
"Who was this man?" asked Voldemort. "An accomplice?"
"Yes," Dolohov said. "He wasn't a wizard. He looked like an animal. He had an orange crop of hair and a scar running down the side of his face…"
"Crepsley!" interrupted Steve. It finally added up to him; the description was definitely Mr. Crepsley's. And when Dolohov was on top of him and the Earth was spinning by them, that wasn't what was happening! Mr. Crepsley was flitting!
"What?" said Voldemort. "Crepsley? The vampire that is hunting you?"
"Yes! Larten Crepsley!" yelled Steve. "It was him, I am sure of it! What I am not sure is why Crepsley was fighting you. Did he bump into you by chance?"
"No," said Dolohov. "He was waiting for us. He made a distraction so Potter and his kid accomplice can rescue his two friends we had tied up."
Steve's mouth opened wide.
"Kid accomplice?" he said. "Who was it?"
"All I remember," Dolohov said. "is that Potter called him Darren or something…"
"Darren!" Steve yelled. "Darren Shan! The other hunter! The boy that betrayed me!"
"What!" yelled Voldemort. "Why the bloody hell are vampires fighting my Death Eaters? Don't tell me they have teamed up with Dumbledore!"
"I dunno if they have done that," said Steve. "but they have teamed up with that Potter kid. We have to go get them!"
"Wait," said Voldemort. "We cannot. They are definitely expecting attack by Death Eaters. Send three of your Vampaneze over to that cave. Then it will look like they found them by chance. Tell them to capture Potter, Darren, and Crepsley, and to kill anyone else that gets in their way."
After an hour of waiting for the Vampaneze to return, Voldemort and Steve were growing restless.
"Where are they?" Voldemort said. "It has been too long."
Gannen closed his eyes and opened them a minute later.
"They are dead." Gannen said. "I have lost their mental signal. The only explanation is that they are dead."
"Let's go to the cave," said an annoyed Voldemort.
A little while later, Voldemort, Steve, Gannen, and a few guards were at the cave, staring at the dead bodies of the three Vampaneze.
"There was a fight," said Gannen. "They lost."
Gannen walked up to a puddle of blood and tasted it.
"Lord!" said Gannen addressing Steve. "This is the blood of a dead human. Our Vampaneze killed one of them. By the taste of the blood, this dead human had red hair."
"Weasley!" yelled Voldemort.
"Who?" asked Steve.
"Ronald Weasley," said Voldemort. "He is a friend of Potter's and obviously your Vampaneze killed him."
"Is that good?" asked Steve.
"Yes," replied Voldemort smiling. "It is. You see, Potter has a history of heroics. Knowing him, he will want to bring this Weasley boy back to his home at The Burrow. This means we know exactly where he will be…"
And with that known, Voldemort left with Steve, Gannen, and the rest of their servants to go to the Burrow…
To Be Continued…
