A/N: Sorry for the delay! My account messed up and I couldn't log in for ages! Sorry it's short but I'm working on getting them longer again.

Somewhere half way through this the writing style changes to past tense as my style as changed slightly since I began writing this.

Disclaimer: I don't own Darren Shan or his saga. Or Percy Jackson. Or Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Chapter Nine

"Have you died yet?"

"What?" I frown as I pack a bag with Darren and Evra that night. Apparently Mr. Crepsley has some buisness in the city and wants Darren to come with him. He said that Evra and I could join him which is kind of confusing. I thought he didn't like me, how could he stick being stuck with me in the city for a certain length of time? Now that will be fun to see pan out.

"I said, have you died yet?" Darren repeats.

"No, because I'm still alive," I reply, poking him in the arm. "See? Still solid."

"When Mr. Crepsley turned me into a half vampire I had to fake my death so that there would be no-one looking for me when I left with him," Darren explains. "Did whoever turned you do that for you?"

"No," I answer, shoving my umbrella into the bag. "Should he of?"

"Well, it means there will be people maybe searching for a Scarlet Halliday looking just like you when we get into the city," Darren replies. "I'm sure it's no big deal."

"There's no-one to have started searching for me anyway," I say. "I mean, my mom's dead and there's no-one else who cares."

"The police are," Evra suddenly says. "Looking for you, I mean."

"Oh? What makes you say that?" I ask.

"I heard Mr. Tall and Crepsley talking . . ." Evra trails off, biting his lip. "The police are looking for you because your mother was found dead. They think you're responsible."

"What do you mean?" I frown, dropping everything with the sudden interest of what the snakeboy is trying to say.

"Like in Percy Jackson when he went missing with Annabeth and Grover and his stepfather reported him to the police and it went public in newspapers and everyone was on the look out for the insolent boy everyone was talking about," Evra explains. "Someone, a neighbour probably, reprted to have seen you fleeing your home the night before your mother was discovered dead and told the police. You're the main suspect apparently."

"I'am?!" I exclaim. I know I was the one who killed her but for them to just assume that . . . well, I'm hurt.

"I mean, it's ridiculous to assume it was you right?" Evra says. "You didn't kill your own mother, right?" My silence makes him nervous and he chuckles nervously, "Right?"

"It doesn't matter Evra," Darren cuts in, saving my skin. I give him a look that expresses my thanks and he nods.

I don't want to remember what I did to my mother. And I don't want people to hate me for what I did. Especially someone who has become such a good friend as Evra has.

~xXx~

The city is strange. The smells and sounds hit me like a brick wall as soon as we arrived, probably because of my heighted Vampaneze senses. I know Darren feels it too: he had to stop and blink a couple of times to quell the feeling once we arrived.

We stay in a hotel.

Crepsley sleeps half the night. It's amusing to stand over him as he sleeps soundly on the bed-not his coffin. I have to fight to temptation to scout out some whipped cream, put it on his hand and tickle his nose. I think the thought of the look on his face when he wakes up is what keeps me from doing it.

To keep ourselves occupied during the day while our mentor slumbered, Darren, Evra and myself go out to explore the city. Obviously, I'd carry my umbrella around with me like an extra limb. We were back by nightfall of course. In case Mr. Crepsley lost his nut or something if he needed us. Then we'd sit inside and watch t.v and play some video games. It was almost like my life was back to normal.

It was fun trying to disguise Evra's scales. We experimented for ages with hats and paints before settling with a beard to cover the lower half of his face that couldn't be covered by a hat. The three of us looked a right sight: Evra with his fake beard; Darren in his pirate costume Truska made him; and me carrying around my umbrella 24/7.

I was surprised to discover that it was near Christmas. I don't know how long I've been a Vampaneze for now but it's certainly felt like years but in reality I think it was only a couple of months. Then again, I've never been that good at telling time.

Evra was sitting watching t.v on the floor while I lay smushed against the sofa cushions, a line of drool slipping out of my mouth as I napped. Darren came in wrapped up in warm clothes that he didn't really need-his vampire blood should be warm enough but it wasn't worth it to make a sence.

"You guys want to go shopping?" he asked. I groaned my disapproval, my eyes fluttering open to stare at the movie Evra was currently watching.

"No," I muttered. "Too tired."

"Can't be bothered," Evra agreed. "I don't want to put on all those heavy clothes."

Darren shrugged. "Suit yourselves," he replied. I glanced outside and wondered why he wanted to go out: it looked boltic outside! Snow lined the streets and the wind whipped people's clothes about their bodies. When Darren disappeared out the door, I rested my cheek against the pillow and sighed.

"What'cha watchin'?" I asked Evra as an ad for toothpaste burst onto the screen.

"Some movie. Bit strange. About some people who go on a journey to the center of the earth or something," he replied. I scoffed.

"Impossible. You'd be burnt to a crisp by the lava before you even reached the center," I said. Evra nodded his agreement in a zombie-like daze as he stared mindlessly at the screen. As ridiculous as the plot of the movie was, I found myself absorbed wholly into it only five minutes after it started up again.

Snowing outside. Warm and toasty inside. Watching t.v when I really should be getting exercise . . . yes, things almost felt normal again.

Except, of course, my reptile buddy, half-vampire best friend and full vampire mentor being the closest things to me.

Then again, nothing can be perfect, right?

A/N: Once again, sorry it's so short!

Please R&R! :D