Chapter 8

The travelers were let into Vampire Mountain by the guards. The group went into the cave through the main tunnel. Jace could feel his chest tense with anticipation. Vampire Mountain was so huge and had an air of majesty. This was a center of the vampire world. Home to every vampire, including Jace.

Vampires crowded the first main hallway. They all looked to the group in wonder and awe. They must have heard of the return of Debbie Hemlock and the arrival of the only child of Darren Shan. Someone was yelling from the back of the crowd. The people were being parted to make an aisle. Out came a sunburned vampire in purple loins with green hair. The Prince, Vancha March.

" Debbie!" he exclaimed as he ran to the group.

" Vancha!" Debbie squealed back. They met in the middle before Vancha took her in his arms. He lifted her up in a hug. "Easy big guy. I'm pregnant."

Vancha let her down as he smiled. He held her hands as they quickly started to catch up. Out of the aisle came a small………being in a blue robe. Technically, he was a Little Person. He was Harkat Mulds, the quartermaster of Vampire Mountain.

" Debbie!" he wheezed from his deformed mouth. The Little Person hobbled over to Debbie. She hugged her waist as she returned his hug. "Nice to see you again."

" Oh! Harkat I missed you!"

The three friends continued their little reunion. They shuffled back into the crowd as reminisced.

"I've never seen my mom so……happy," Maddie observed.

"According to the story, those are your dad's closest friends," Jace commented, standing next to her.

"I got to hear this story," Maddie said.

"I'll tell it to you," Jace offered.

"But not from you," Maddie snapped.

The two grew quiet. It was Gabriel that broke the ice wall between them.

"We must go to the Hall of Princes now children," he said bluntly. He started down the hallway, followed by Michael, Jace, and Maddie. "Jace will have to be tried against the Princes," he said. "No doubt he faces the trials," he muttered.

The group walked through a couple of hall. They were large, tunnels that were lit by either torches or glowing moss that grew on the ceiling. The four soon arrived at the Hall of Princes. The large, tall doors were already open, with a guard standing on either side. Gabriel spoke to them briefly before they were allowed in.

The hall was very big, appropriate for a throne room. On a platform, sat four thrones. Around the platform were curved, wooden benches. It resembled a church with its pews and aisles. The group walked slowly down the aisle. Jace was so nervous, that he jumped when the doors slammed shut. His heart was racing as he approached the leaders of his people.

Maddie shuffled into the second bench as the three Raines stood in front of the platform. On the platform, were three vampires. Jace instantly recognized the General, Mylana Regale. She stood next to the thrones, looking ever so serious in her tight, leather, warrior's outfit. Her short brown hair intensified the look of her matching eyes.

Only two of the Princes were in attendance. They sat one throne apart, looking very menacing, staring down at Jace. One of them was dressed in all black. His clothes were matched by his shiny black hair, his dark eyes, and raven-like features. His mouth was a straight line as his serious face quickly ran over Jace. The other prince was a different story.

He had slicked back brown hair and a perfect face. He wore a devilishly handsome smirk as he intertwined his fingers. He was dressed in a dark blue, expensively tailored suit. He wore a ring on his finger, which he often touched.

"Gabriel and Michael, Raine," the dark one said in a soft, but powerful voice. "You have blooded a child. Have you not heard the story of Larten Crepsley?"

"Or have you and are trying to reincarnate his work?" challenged the other one in a mocking voice.

"It was a mistake," Gabriel protested. "The boy was dying from a scuffle between a vampaneze and me."

" Excuse me," Michael intervened like a child. " But does General Regale have to be here. She's giving me the creeps."

Gabriel hung his head at his brother. Mylana and the dark one both snarled. The extravagant one laughed.

" I'm afraid not," he said. " Vancha has run off somewhere and Arrow is the replacement Prince. Mylana must stand in, but to only watch. She is going to be one of us."

" What!" Gabriel and Michael exclaimed.

" Yes, Mylana is set to become the first Vampire Princess at the end of this Council," the dark haired one stated.

" Now back to business," the other said. " The child must go through the Trials of Death, as did Darren Shan. The same rules apply," he said before stroking his ring lovingly.

" What is the boy's name?" the dark one asked.

Everyone looked at Jace. He stepped forward and bowed his head (guessing that was the custom). He looked at the brown haired one first, but turned to the dark one. The vampire with the dark features was equally intimidating as the other prince, but he had an air of kindness about him. No matter how small his kindness was, it was still easier to address him than the other, seemingly evil Prince.

" My name is Joshua Christian Raine," he said nervously before swallowing his dry throat. " But I usually go by Jace."

" Well then, Jace. I am the Prince Mika Ver Leth," the dark one announced.

" And I am the Prince Vladek Zaja. I hope you live long enough to enjoy your stay."


" So I'll only stay alive if I win these life threatening trials?" Jace asked.

" Yes," Gabriel answered coldly.

The two walked down a smaller tunnel. The walls were lined with rooms for boarding. Gabriel was bringing Jace to his room as Michael brought Maddie to hers. They reached Jace's cell and stopped. Gabriel said his farewells, before leaving. Jace turned to the door and opened it.

The place was one large room. A desk was in three of the corners. A hammock was next to each wall. Two looked to be taken, only the right side was empty. It seemed that Jace had two roommates, one whom was sitting in the hammock opposite the door.

" Who are you?" the guy asked from his hammock.

" I'm Jace Raine, your new roommate," Jace said, extending his hand.

The guy smiled. " Awesome, I'm Cato Tamas."

Cato stood up and shook Jace's hand. He had a friendly aura about him. He was taller than the average height Jace. Cato was older than Jace, at least looked older. He looked like he was eighteen of nineteen. He had a darker shade of white skin and long black hair than curled to his shoulders. The word "gypsy" described him perfectly.

" I'm guessing this is my side of the room," Jace said, pointing to the right wall.

" Yup," Cato said, sitting on the hammock, but keeping his feet on the floor. " This is obviously mine and that's," he pointed to the left side, " is Darius's."

" You guys good roommates or should I ask for an exchange," Jace joked, drawing a chuckle from Cato.

" I'd like to think of myself as roommate of the year. Darius is a different story."

" He a slob or something?"

" No, not at all. In fact, he's not here most of the time." Jace sighed, but Cato wasn't finished. " But when he is here, he's kind of a jerk. All because he's the great Darius Shan."

" Our roommate is Darius Shan!" Jace exclaimed.

" I take it you've heard the story," Cato remarked.

" The son of the Lord of the Vampaneze and nephew of Darren Shan is living in the same room as us!"

" Is that good or bad?" Cato asked.

" Well, I've never boarded with anyone, nevertheless………is he considered royalty."

" He is revered by many, but not technically royalty. The only special treatment anyone gets are the Princes and Kross."

" Kross?"

" Kross March, son of the Prince Vancha."

" He's the twin born from Evanna the…….….sorceress?"

" Yeah, he's set to become a Prince when his father dies. They treat him like a prince, even thought he has none of the responsibility."

" He sounds stuck up."

" Nah, he's cool and nice."

A pause brew between the newly made friends.

" There a clock in here or what?" Jace asked.

" We have a bell," Cato said before Jace made a face. " It rings once every half hour and twice to mark the hour. Why?"

" I have to report for the my trials at the start of the next hour," Jace calmly.

" You're taking the trials? Now?" Jace nodded. " Wow, I've been a half vampire for 8 years and I'm still not ready."

" They can't be that bad, I mean would they really kill a kid?"

Cato hid his face from Jace. He bit his lip in thought before hopping off his hammock.

" I have to show you something."

Cato opened the door and went out. Jace shrugged and followed him.


" Stakes?" Jace gasped as Cato told him about the Hall of Death.

" Yup, and if you don't die the first time, they'll drop you again."

" Yikes," Jace gulped.

" Yikes is right. About 38% of vampires fail their Trials of Initiation. Most of them are the young. You're only the second child vampire to go through the trials, after Darren Shan."

" Any chance of getting out of this?" Jace asked hopelessly.

" I doubt you'll become a Prince like Darren did, but…….yeah you don't look fit enough to pass the trials."

" Thanks for the support."

" But with a lot of training you could maybe pass. Or perhaps run away."

" You think so?"

" It's not un-heard of. Three centuries ago there was a vampire, Murdue Keahon. He failed on his second trial with a stupid mistake. As he was about to be dropped, somehow he escaped. He picked the lock and stood on the harness. As it dropped, he jumped. He landed, but broke his foot. He ran for the door, but was killed on spot before he got away."

" How do you know so much about this?" Jace asked Cato.

" I'm more of a scholar than a brawler." A bell rung, making Jace jump. He looked to Cato, who looked worried. " For whom the bells tolls, the bell tolls for thee."

" Very reassuring," Jace commented.

He turned to the door and left the Hall of Death to face his trials.