Chapter 9

"Do you think she's going to make it?" Darren asked. I sensed them all standing around me, but I couldn't do anything to let them know that I was alright.

"She's pretty badly beaten, and she's weak, but she'll definitely survive. Larten, make sure you get her to drink. Right now, her only hope is a slow recovery," a female voice came.

"Thank you, Jasmine. How long do you suppose…?" Larten asked.

"It depends on how fast her body heals, but I'd say she should be up and moving in a few weeks time. After that, who knows what'll come of her. She is so much stronger than most. She endures pain without complaint. She's headstrong, Larten, but wise well past her years. I heard rumor that Mika may have a plan for her," Jasmine said softly.

"Aye, Darren was filling me in on that earlier," Larten said.

Soon, their voices faded away, and I was sucked into a deep, heavenly sleep.


"How long was I out for?" I asked what seemed like a lifetime later. I was almost completely healed, only sore in certain spots.

"Seven nights. You recovered remarkably fast," Larten said with a smile.

"Yes, you certainly did," Seba mused. He watched me as I trained the three young wolves to sit and heal. I had been training them with hand commands, since Lara could hear nothing. I made note of how she watched my every move, and soon learned that she was very smart, despite her weakness.

"I'm newly blooded, it's only to be expected. I will admit though, I'm surprised I survived," I said with a laugh.

"You showed no fear," Larten stated.

"Aye, but I was. I know my limits quite well, and I have to be honest, I pushed well past them. Then again, I had good motivation to," I replied.

"Which was?" Larten asked.

"My mother and brother died 10 years ago last week. The night of my first trial was the 10 year anniversary of their deaths," I whispered. "I vowed, when I walked into that hall, that I would not give up, until Hell took me for itself."

"That is…amazing," Larten said. His face was filled with total shock.

"What could be so amazing?" I asked, shaking my head.

I glanced at Lara who was watching me intently, while Nikki and Shadow wrestled, with Shansy being their ref.

I looked at the young she wolf, and smiled. She wagged her tail, but didn't move otherwise. She stared intently at me.

"Come here," I told her, as well as did my basic sign for come. She came to my side and sat down at my feet, her eyes locked on my face. I realized then, that she could understand me when I spoke, how, I did not know.

"Lara, back flip," I said, without motioning at all. She stood and moved into a back flip in one fluid movement, much more gracefully than any of my older wolves.

"That wolf, she is definitely smart," Larten said with a soft chuckle.

"Aye, but what I don't understand, is how she can be so intent, so vivid when I haven't been able to train her since she was young. She nearly got herself killed twice now, but it seems as if those experiences have made her more eager to learn. See how Nikki and Shadow are off playing? They'll be typical five month old pups. They're acting like I expect. Lara, instead, would rather learn than play with her brother and sister. I think Lara will end up leading this pack one day," I said with a smile. I knelt and rubbed Lara's long scar, smiling at the memory of that night.

A sharp bark broke my memory. I looked up and saw Shansy nipping at Nikki, who had blood on her snout.

"Shadow, come here," I called the big pup. He whined and limped towards me, blood flowing from his right front paw. I saw a small bite, and shook my head.

"Go teach your sister a lesson," I told him with a laugh. The pups ran off, chasing one another. I wasn't afraid of anyone hurting them anymore. Since I passed the trials, the Vampire's of the mountain had grown accustom to my wolves roaming around, and only ever strike back when they bite hard enough for it to hurt.

Lara nudged me, and let out a happy, quiet bark.

"Up," I told her. She stood on her hind legs, her head cocked, waiting for my next command. I looked directly at her, and told her to spin. She did, moving into a graceful spinning flip. I smiled and gave her a quick pat, before telling her to go find Saraphene. It was dinner time for the pups, and I knew Marigold would have her work cut out for her when it came to Nikki and Shadow.

"You sure do love those dogs," a voice came from behind me. I looked up to see Mika standing across the hall. I smile and nodded.

"They're my family. Well, my first family," I said. He walked over and took my hand, looking at me intently.

"You've come a long way in the short time I've known you. I have never seen a female so eager to please, so eager to impress. I'd like you to report to the Hall of Princes at dawn. We have something to discuss with you," he said then nodded for Darren to follow him.

I glanced at Larten, who shrugged and told me to follow him.

"I had Seba find someone to fix your favorite outfit. They mended it and removed the worst of the stains," he said as he handed me a bunch of white cotton.

I squealed with delight, and held the white cotton sweater close. I hadn't planned to wear it when we were traveling to the mountain, but when my other shirts got ruined, I had been forced to. He had also had my favorite black jeans sewn, and my the heal of my favorite boots was replaced. I was shocked. I didn't know that vampires took notice to clothing.

"Thank you," I said with a smile. He turned to me then and motioned for me to spin around. When I did, he slipped my locket and pendent on. He handed me my ring then, and I couldn't help but smile.


"Get up," Larten said as he nudged me what seemed like hours later. I didn't even remember falling asleep, but then again, I hadn't been remembering much lately.

"Why?" I growled. I was still tired.

"Because Mika has sent for you, you are late," he huffed as he tipped me out of my coffin. I growled angrily as I rolled to my feet. I snagged the dull red cloak I had asked Seba for earlier. Despite my attitude, I longed to be like my mentor. Larten had grown on me in the short time I had known him, and I was learning to love the stuffy old vampire.

"Kanzii, we did not call you here tonight for commentaries nor friend chatter, we called you here with an option like no other," Paris purred.

I looked at him in shock, but nodded.

"As you can see, I am growing old, and my nights are numbered. With this war, with our generals being sent out each night, with more dying than coming back alive, we need a new reinforcement. A younger, wiser leader," Paris continued.

"And what does that have to do with me?" I asked.

"We have put a lot of thought into it, and the way you conducted yourself last week, with the trials, you have given us a lot to consider. Despite our pessimistic opinions, you survived, and did so without complaint. We want you to become the first Vampire Princess in the history of the clan," Arrow said with a smile.

"It's a unanimous decision, and I am almost positive that no vampire in this mountain would argue the matter. What do you say?" Mika said, his eyes twinkling.

"I say..." I murmured. My head was spinning, it was all too much to grasp.

"I will still be your mentor, you will still be expected to learn from me, and I will still be the one who guides you in this life," Larten whispered when I looked at him for advice.

"In that case, I say," I started, then looked at Darren, who was nodding encouragement. "I say yes."

There was a rumble of cheers following my response.

"Now, Larten, do you want her to remain a half vampire, or full blood?" Mika asked. Larten looked at me and smiled. I shook my head, this choice was his to make.

"Make her a full blood, we can get the purge out the way then, and she won will not have to go through it when we are looking for the bloody Lord of Vampaneze," he said.

"Then so be it," Mika said. He and Paris each took one of my hands, and cut into the soft flesh of my finger tips. Doing to the same to their own hand, they pressed one hand to each of mine, the other to the Stone of Blood. I smiled, then fell back as the exchange took place.

I felt strong arms support me, until the process was complete. I dimly heard cheers, but I was too out of it to know from where. I heard Mika tell Larten to let me sleep for a few days, and then bring me back to them when I was fully recovered.

I smiled in my sleep, pleased and content, for the first time in ages.