Chapter Eight: Evanna
The following evening after a meal or raw meat for Vancha, Kiara and Harkat and a poorly cooked meal for Darren and Larten (Kiara swore she saw Larten almost throw up at her poor excuse for cooking), the group set off on the trail to Evanna's.
Larten did most of the talking as he filled in the details from Vampire Mountain beginning with the arrival of Demond Tiny. Four hunters were to search and kill the Lord of the Vampaneze, the hunters having four opportunities to kill their lord.
"Well it doesn't take a genius to work out we're the last two hunters," Kiara pointed out, though why she'd spoken up, she couldn't quite decide. "Vancha doesn't trust Desmond though, right Vanny?"
"Vanny?" Vancha had never heard that one before out of the many nicknames she'd called him over the years. "I had a run in with him whilst Kiara went shopping, it's the first time I've heard him speak highly of someone like he did with her. She was rather annoyed that she'd missed the man she'd heard so much about."
"Sire giving the times that are ahead I think," Larten was cut off almost instantly by Vancha.
"Larten! It's 'Vancha' 'March' or 'Hey Ugly' whilst we're on the trail together," Vancha explained, his assistant unable to hold off the smirk that formed when Larten responded by calling him ugly.
Larten and Vancha got deep into conversation about Evanna, Desmond and the future. Though she listened intently at first she soon found their conversation boring her when it turned to what both parties had being up to in recent years. The two vampires had a lot to share, they'd not seen one other in around a century.
As the group were breaking camp on the third night into the trail, Darren learned of Vancha's fighting ways. He'd being watching Kiara's movements when Vancha had joined her. Naturally the young Prince spoke up about Vancha's lack of a weapon. He couldn't understand how one could hope to win a fight against someone with a weapon.
Vancha agreed to fight the other Prince to which the rest watched on, Kiara with a lot less amusement than the others. The outcome was inevitable. The fight didn't last long at all, Vancha had too much experience and easily beat the younger.
"I expected more," Kiara chastised the Prince, stretching her limbs out.
"And you can do better?" Darren didn't quite like the attitude from Vancha's assistant.
Since their first meeting she'd being arrogant, critical and downright rude to the young Prince. He didn't know what he'd exactly done to insult the girl, or whether she was just a perfectionist and didn't like how he'd made mistakes in fighting. Whatever it was, winning her over would be harder than it was to crack Mika Ver Leth.
"Naturally," she nodded, stepping up and drawing her sword. "Try to disarm me then Vancha!"
"Again?" Vancha sighed, watching her sharpened blade he'd seen her drawing a stone across earlier.
"Afraid?" she taunted, knowing fear wasn't something that gripped Vancha.
He didn't respond with a spoken answer either. Arms outstretched he flew at his assistant, intend on harming. A grin fell on her face at his over enthusiastic ways and she sank into a common routine. The second he got close enough she took to the air, jumping clear over Vancha and over the top of him and landing cleanly. Before the Prince could turn to meet his assistant, her leg swung out, sweeping across his shins, forcing his balance off and made a kick to his back to send Vancha to the ground. She was quick to follow up, her speed impressing the onlookers.
Vancha was a lot better though, as she went to point her sword as his neck to claim victory, he'd already rolled over and locked his legs around his assistants, using a similar technique to send her to the floor.
That move would have worked against any other. With his assistant, who'd spent years watching and learning off the older vampire, she was ready for how he moved. Instead of slamming straight into the floor she used her sword to stop her fall, letting it sink into the ground slightly at an angle to stop her fall and propel herself backwards.
She was fast at pulling her sword free of the ground and was on guard instantly, both Prince and assistant circling one another, awaiting an opening which either could exploit. It was Kiara that attacked first, making a testing swing which Vancha instantly blocked, that lone opening enough to give her a slight edge to get in close to Vancha, drawing a dagger in the process and slashing downward. A small nick in Vancha's left shoulder appeared, only a small gash which was quickly healed by Vancha.
He'd dodged it almost, and his guard was back though and another opening like that wouldn't present itself so soon into the fight. The speed which Vancha moved next was enough to catch the assistant off guard. Vancha never usually attacked so suddenly and she hadn't being prepared for it.
Only one second has elapsed in the space of Vancha charging, disarming her and knocking his assistant off balance. Her sword now lay meters to her left.
It was over yet though. Vancha too knew that there was still fight left in his assistant. He'd taught her how to fight when her all weapons failed. Made easier by the fact Vancha too was only fighting with his hands. Both faced one another ready to continue their fight which would have gone on until one or the other (usually Kiara) could stand no longer.
"That is enough," Larten cut in, stopping the fight. "We must get moving."
"Not fair!" Kiara whined, though did as she was told and sank away from the fight.
"I think that means I take the win?" Vancha grinned.
"No!" his assistant turned back to Vancha fiercely. "I take the win!"
Her point had being proven to Darren though. She could last a lot longer against Vancha than he could. Her pride was safe, but right then Darren and Harket both had that look they had the very first time at seeing Vancha. They looked like the world had ended at how the Prince and his assistant argued heatedly over the win, neither backing down.
Though Larten tried to speak to the two many times, his efforts to make them forget about something so trivial were in vain. Neither Vancha nor Kiara would swallow their pride and give the victory to the other.
Darren and Harkat couldn't speak without hearing the two shouting well into the night. Even at sunrise, with Larten's last efforts to get the two back to civil conversations, the argument continued. Larten retreated to sleep as the sun rose, leaving Harkat and Darren to watch both Vancha and Kiara continue their quarrel.
"Can you both knock it off?" Darren finally asked, giving a last effort which Larten had failed so hard at.
"No!" Both turned on Darren briefly, before yet again returning to their argument.
At least they agree on something, Darren thought briefly, wondering just how many times this had happened between the two and for how long the arguments went on for. It was obvious to anyone how close the two were, closer in fact than he and Larten. The argument must have some other cause to it; it was hard to believe that both could go at it for so long.
Trying their best to ignore the arguing two, Darren and Harkat both retreated to sleep also, giving the arguing duo their space.
It was around 10am when the argument was stopped, though the issue hadn't being resolved. Vancha only just seemed to click that the sun had risen.
"Oh a new fight!" the Prince turned his attention to the lightened sky and pulled off his shuriken belt and undressing fully.
Kiara turned her gaze off Vancha quickly, allowing him his privacy, knowing the routine well. He'd undress fully then tie a hide around his middle, giving himself full exposure to the sun's rays whilst still protecting his dignity.
Kiara stretched out, laying back against a tree ready to welcome sleep. Arguing with Vancha was a tiring one. She would have slept instantly except she heard movement and her gaze fell in the direction, ready to attack if needed. She relaxed at seeing Darren, though instantly her hostility began to rise at Darren's reddening face, his gaze drifting between Vancha and Kiara.
"Don't even think that," Kiara spat instantly, glaring at the young Prince harshly. "Number one, nothing like that would ever happen. Number two if Vancha even thinks you suspect anything you will be troubled by Vancha to no end. Besides, do you not think I would choose Mika over Vancha?" If Vancha was listening, she made sure to dig at her mentor.
Darren nodded, turning to Vancha who was starting to rub spit into his skin. Kiara followed his eyes quickly. No doubt Vancha would have to explain things to Darren. A conversation she really wasn't prepared to listen to.
Kiara knew from experience most questions asked to Vancha were answered with a lengthy reply. She closed her eyes, drowning out the conversation Darren and Vancha were having. She soon fell into thought of the past few days.
She was respected by all vampires when she was at Council. She didn't fail one of her Trials. She passed them all perfectly, coming out with only scarred hands. She didn't run from death. She accepted any fate that came her way.
Yet it was he that gave the final farewells to friends she hadn't being able to see. It was he that could attend their funerals. It was he that gained a rank.
Where had she gone so wrong? She had lived with Vancha for so long, he promised her he'd sort her so she was ready to begin General training for when she became a full vampire. Darren Shan was not a full vampire. He was younger than her, he'd failed his Trials, ran from the fate the Princes decided, and yet she was to bow down and respect him.
Never.
She could never respect someone with less skill than herself. Egotistical she was and her ego would not allow her to. She knew how she felt. She was jealous.
Something else too, though she tried to forget about everything about the stupid young Prince that bothered her.
Thankfully sleep did take her and it hadn't taken as long as she initially expected it to.
"Do you not like the young Prince?" Vancha questioned the following sunset, his skin deep red from his encounter with the sun during the day. He'd being the second to rise, leaving Darren, Harkat and Larten to continue sleeping. He lay beside his assistant, watching the forever darkening sky.
"What do you mean?" she responded, watching one of the bright stars. Deneb she'd learned was its name.
"I've not seen you act this aggressive since…" Vancha thought on that. "Well I don't think I've ever seen you like this. Want to tell me what the problem is?"
"Numerous reasons, I suppose jealousy of what he's achieved when clearly I'm better could be one thing," Kiara responded. She couldn't lie to Vancha, he could usually see through everything with her. "Why?"
"Darren was asking about it yesterday when I came back from battle. It's not like you at all, even when Grunda tried to get you drunk you weren't like this. There is more to it than just your pride here," Vancha watched behind at the three who remained sleeping, checking their privacy.
"A few years back you asked me who I'd choose didn't you." Kiara changed the topic a little.
"That's got nothing to-" Vancha's gaze fell straight back to his assistant as he stopped. "Neither me or Mika?" he changed his words, carefully observing his assistant. He'd never thought her hostility could fall down to their lengthy discussions of what vampires she'd strike up a mating period with.
"Told ya didn't I? You and Mika are both too fucking old right now. I'm not a full vampire. Since you stole me away so dramatically from my human life I've not had anything to do with the opposite sex in the way you think I have," she sighed in frustration. "I guess it's only natural that a vampire of my age range comes along."
"So it's not that you dislike him, it's that you like him?" Vancha grinned.
"No dickhead, I just think he's alright. Besides I still prefer Mika over anyone else," she teased, sticking a tongue out at Vancha. Her mentor simply feigned hurt and laughed it off. He knew her now to know when she was joking around with him.
"Always let me know," Vancha's seriousness wasn't masked at all. Though he cared deeply for his assistant, the two would always be close and he knew she'd consult him over anything first.
"Always," she promised.
Two hours passed since the talk Vancha and Kiara had about the young Prince. A familiar place came into view straight after those two hours and a grin formed on Kiara's face.
Both Harkat and Darren didn't understand where the other three vampires were looking at first. That was until Larten explained the masking spell that Evanna had to protect herself.
"And a new challenge presents itself," Kiara lowered herself ready to run into a sprint. Vancha chuckled at his assistant as she ran straight ahead, her awareness no longer on her companions behind her but at the giant frogs which tried to stop her.
Only once had she tested herself against the frogs Evanna bred, which was her last visit to the Lady of the Wilds. The frogs guarded Evanna with such perfection, one wrong move and she knew the poison on the frogs tongues would penetrate her skin. Being a speedy vampire though, along with the acute awareness she'd gained from Vancha, she was able to dodge every last frog.
The frogs calmed shortly before she reached the entrance, a grin on her face as she turned to where the other vampires and Little Person made their way through the frogs carefully.
"Come on slow pokes!" she yelled to the other side of one of the ponds where the four continued their slow pace.
Nobody could enter Evanna's without being invited and nobody would ever want to chance it. Such a powerful woman couldn't be rushed, witch, sorcerous, magical, call it what you wanted but she was a creature of magic. It was wise to respect her and wait to be invited.
"Aren't we going in?" Darren quizzed, watching Vancha and Larten get seated near to where Vancha's assistant now sat, her sword in hand cleaning the blade and testing the sharpness.
"Not without been invited," Larten explained simply.
"Isn't there a bell we can ring?" he questioned.
"The frogs told her we're here," Kiara responded with a shrug, her eyes never leaving her blade.
"Evanna has no need for bells. She knows we are here and will come to greet us in her own time," Larten explained, his eyes on the full moon.
"Evanna is not a lady to be rushed," Vancha agreed. "A friend of mine thought he'd enter the cave on the quiet once to surprise her. She gave him huge warts all over. He looked like…like…" Vancha frowned and sat in thought for a few seconds. "It's hard to say, because I've never seen anything quite like it! And I've seen almost everything in my time!"
"Should we be here if she's dangerous?" Darren's tone had worry in it.
"She's not really dangerous," Kiara only now took her eyes off her sword and fixed them on Darren. "True she could kill us if she wanted. The same way Desmond could. Evanna means us no harm though so long as we mean her no harm. She's a lot of things, both unpleasant and pleasant, both pretty and ugly. Hey Vancha, I win on looks though right?" she smirked and turned her eyes to Vancha.
"You ask this all the bloody time!" Vancha sighed to his smirking assistant. "You still win on looks even to this day love."
"Would you agree Larten?" her curiosity lead her to Larten's gaze, amusing Vancha instantly. His face flushed up slightly, though he tried to hide it but both Vancha and Kiara caught the flushed faced and shared a knowing glance.
"Yes," Larten nodded.
"What about you Darren?" Her face twisted slightly at the question. "Never mind you've never seen Evanna. "Though you have to admit I'm pretty perfect aren't I?"
"I er-" Darren fumbled with his fingers, face red. This sent Vancha and Kiara into instant laughter. "Yes…" he mumbled amongst the laughing.
"Just make sure you don't call her a witch," Vancha warned, breaking his laughing. A familiar warning, one that needed giving to Harkat and Darren.
It couldn't have being more than an hour when Evanna emerged from her cave. She wore her most common form, moustache, beard, hairy, chubby, ugly and wearing ropes. Her eyes watched each vampire, one eye moving between Harkat, Darren and Larten, the second eye looking over Vancha and Kiara.
"Evanna!" the girl grinned excitedly.
Evanna snorted after her gaze on the vampires and Little Person broke. "Vampires! Always ugly bloody vampires!"
"Hey!" Kiara instantly growled at her statement. Ugly vampires. Her eyes glanced the half vampire and Kiara caught her smile.
"Why don't handsome humans ever come a-calling?"
"It's good to see you!" Kiara smiled overenthusiastically, jumping into an embrace with the ugly woman. Evanna didn't use any strength in lifting the girl off her feet and squeezing the girl hard.
"Humans are probably afraid you'll eat them!" Vancha laughed but also gave Evanna a welcoming hug.
"My little Vancha," she cooed into his ear. His assistant instantly emitted a low growl at Evanna's words, catching the attention of the others briefly. "You've put on some weight Sire."
"Oi, leave him alone!" she grunted, watching Evanna who carefully released Vancha and stared straight at the half vampire.
"Jealous as always I see Kiara. When will you ever let go of your precious Vancha?" Evanna questioned the young girl, she knew from previous meetings of the young girls defensiveness. Though still the half vampire was a mystery to Evanna. "Was it not Mika you got defensive over on your last visit?"
Only because you and Vancha were laughing about his behaviour at Council, Kiara thought but didn't speak her thoughts. The last thing she wanted was to anger Evanna.
"I don't like either," she grunted, turning away slightly and folding her arms in a familiar defensive routine Evanna had come to know.
"Anger and jealousy never go well together Kiara," Evanna tutted, shaking her finger at the girl.
"And how you appear currently doesn't sit well with 'handsome humans' that you crave so much," her response was fast and she grinned to show the powerful woman she meant no harm.
"As I've said before, beauty is found on the inside," her smile was kind, her patience with the vampire quite admirable. "You Kiara are lucky to have beauty on the outside along with fire and passion burning on the inside. Your inner beauty is far greater than anything I see," she turned her attention off the young vampire who had a blush tinting her pale cheeks at the compliment.
"Larten," Evanna nodded to the red clad vampire.
"Evanna," his reply was kind, returning her nod. A few moments later he swung out and went to kick the powerful lady.
Evanna was far more skilled than the vampire though and quickly grabbed his leg and twisted. Though Darren watched on with shock, nobody else considered the actions out of the ordinary. Evanna's reactions matched any vampire easily and in her swiftness she pulled his head up sharply from his position on the ground.
"Surrender?" she yelled, her tone harsh.
"Yes!" Larten wheezed out. Both Vancha and Kiara had to bite their lip from letting out laugher.
"Wise boy," she laughed, giving his forehead a kiss, her gaze finally turning towards Darren and Harkat.
"Lady Evanna," Darren greeted and this time Kiara's laughing came forth. Darren's fear in his voice betrayed him. Her laughing soon stopped when Vancha shoved a dirty hand in his assistant's mouth.
"It's good to meet you Darren Shan, you are welcome."
"Lady," Harkat nodded next, bowing down low.
"Hello Harkat, you are welcome also," she paused in thought and added, "as you were before."
"Before?" he echoed, mouth slightly agape.
"You have changed within and without, but I recognize you. I am gifted that way…" Evanna continued speaking.
Vancha and Kiara were having their own private battle though. Whilst Evanna continued speaking with Harkat, Kiara bit down on Vancha's hand, drawing blood and Vancha was trying to prise her gums open. Neither made any sound, though their angry stares between one another spoke enough words for the two to understand.
"I never knew that, what's the drill?" she quizzed Vancha, finally releasing his fingers, speaking of the ways Evanna was gifted.
"Evanna can see directly into the soul if that's how you class it," Vancha explained. "She is a very gifted soul herself."
"So this is the boy Prince," Evanna's attention was back on Darren, ignoring both the immature vampires for the time being. "I thought you would be younger."
"He was stuck by the purge as we travelled here," Larten explained.
"So," Darren gulped, his fear not leaving him. "You're a witch, are you?"
Vancha, Kiara and Larten all shared a groan between them.
"What did you call me!" she hissed angrily, her gaze no longer warm and inquisitive but glaring at Darren.
Um. Nothing. Sorry. I didn't mean it I-"
"You three are to blame!" she roared, turning on the three vampires who had their own reason to fear her now. "You told him I was a witch!" she accused, her anger not leaving her.
"No Evanna!" Vancha disagreed, on instinct he pushed his assistant behind him, shielding her from Evanna's rage.
"We told him not to call you a witch," Larten offered an explanation.
"I should gut you three," Evanna growled. "I would too, if Darren wasn't here. I'd hate to make a bad first impression."
Kiara gulped and looked around from Vancha's right arm, holding onto his arm with both her hands. Evanna and angry did not go well when you were in her firing line! Darren saw the fearful expressions and found them hilarious and began laughing.
His laughter soon stopped though as she turned her gaze back on Darren. Again his face showed fright and he stepped back, almost onto one of Evanna's frogs. If not for Harkat he would have fallen.
"Appearances Darren, never let them fool you," she explained and with that changed her own appearance to her prettier form.
Show off.
The transformation only lasted a few seconds though and she was again back to her ugly form.
"I'm a sorceress, a wyrn sister, an enchantress, a priestess of arcane. I am not," she glared at the three vampires as she added her last words. "A witch. I'm a creature of many magical talents. These allow me to take any shape I choose, at least in the minds of those who see me.
"Then why…"
"Do I choose this ugly form?" Evanna finished for the young Prince. "I feel comfortable this way. As I've said to Kiara many times, beauty means nothing to me. Looks are least important in my world. This is the shape I assumed when I first took human form, so it is the shape I return to most often."
"I prefer you when you're beautiful," Vancha muttered, receiving a sharp punch from his assistant.
Evanna chuckled at the familiar behaviour from the two.
"Be careful, Vancha, or I'll take my hand to you as I did to Larten all those years ago," she grinned and all but Larten shared a confused glance. "Did he ever tell you how he got that scar?"
"Please Lady," Larten blushed, pleading with Evanna. "I was young and foolish."
"You most certainly were," she agreed. "I was wearing one of my beautiful faces. Larten got tipsy on wine and tried to kiss me. I gave him a little scratch to teach him some manors."
"You are cruel, Evanna," Larten sighed miserably.
Vancha and Kiara couldn't contain themselves and within seconds of hearing Evanna speak, bother were hollering with laughter. Vancha doubled over and his assistant holding onto him. Most vampires had awesome battle and blood-lusting stories behind their scars but Larten's was hilarious. His face too became a priceless expression, one which Kiara wished she could photograph if vampires could be caught on camera.
"Larten! Wait till I tell the others! I always wondered why you were co coy about that scar! Normally vampires boast about their wounds but you-"
"Shut up!" Larten snapped bluntly. He was upset, but it didn't stop the laughing vampires.
Both laughing vampires missed the rest of the conversation, too caught up in the moment. Both ignored to glares sent their way from Larten as they attempted to recompose themselves. This was finished when Evanna started croaking to her frogs.
Harkat and Darren began gawping at the frogs after an explanation from Larten as to what Evanna was doing.
"I told you Evanna breeds frogs," Larten was speaking to Darren and Harkat. Kiara glanced up at Vancha, trying to work out what she'd missed as she watched the frogs form shape. "It's a mix of nature and magic. She finds frogs with strong natural markings, magically enhances them and breeds them, producing faces. She is the one in the world who can do it."
Evanna went on to explain her guilt for the scar she'd gave Larten, and Larten made sure to be friendly, whilst maintaining a glare to both Vancha and Kiara. When Evanna spoke of gifts though she'd given Larten, Kiara instantly poked Vancha to get his attention.
"Why hasn't she given you gifts?"
"Don't want anything," Vancha shrugged. It made sense with Vancha's character. He wouldn't carry things around with him.
"I know Arra Sails was killed in the fighting with the vampaneze six years ago," she revealed. At that moment Kiara felt the sadness for the death of the vampire and found her gaze turning to Darren.
He's said goodbye and she hadn't being able to. Darren didn't notice the gaze though, instead his eyes were on the frogs. Vancha noticed the gaze, he also had a feeling he knew just what that stare meant.
A perfect face of Arra Sails was soon in front of the vampires on many of her frogs. It looked exactly like Arra too. She didn't see Larten's expression, but she managed a smile at the familiar face.
"Goodbye my friend," she whispered into the wind. Evanna's gift to Arra's lover was a great one.
The vampires and Harkat were soon invited inside, leaving Larten outside with the frogs. Once inside the guests were invited to a feast as Evanna called it. Vancha teased their host about the vegetables and fruits which were laid out.
"Oh Kiara, I have your clothing," Evanna spoke suddenly after the feast, looking over the girl carefully. "You have not grown but they will fit."
"Why I ought-" the anger flashed through the girls eyes and Vancha had to act fast to calm his assistant. Evanna watched on curiously.
"A sensitive subject," Evanna drew a line in the air with his hand. Evanna understood the gesture and nodded.
"I do admire what you've done with the wild though," she observed. "Perhaps I should change the ropes to vines."
Not wanting to be rude, Kiara accepted the clothes that Evanna conjured in front of her, opening the package of clothes. She rested back against the comfy chairs. After living rough for so long Evanna's cave was a perfect paradise.
Evanna and Vancha fell into stories of the past, the story about Evanna. Kiara didn't listen and went to change. She'd heard the tale of how Desmond Tiny made two children using a wolf to sire his children.
As always, clothing that Evanna made was perfect, her movements a lot smoother than in the clothes she'd fashioned herself when with Vancha.
The half vampire couldn't help but wish she'd being at Council the last time to be involved in everything that was happening. She felt too much in the dark and she'd lost friends to the fate of death. There were also her friends at Council she missed, it was strange how closely a half vampire like herself had got to the Princes due to Vancha.
She of course wouldn't tell Vancha she missed her friends, he would holler the roof down and go on to tease her. She vowed to herself next time she saw Mika and Paris she'd let them know she missed them. It didn't look promising that she'd be back at Vampire Mountain any time soon though and Paris was already old. She had every faith he'd make it to live past this war though.
"I chose a name," Evanna's louder words awoke Kiara from her thought process. She soon turned away though, drawing her sword and moving further back into the cave to do some tester moves.
The clothing was a lot better for her movements, she felt a lot lighter in these than what she'd made for herself.
"Perfect," she muttered, testing herself with more athletic moves, flipping backwards off the cave walls, drawing a dagger mid flip to make sure her weapons were easily in reach for drawing and throwing. Though basic in her movements, she soon attracted attention.
"You move splendidly," Larten spoke as the girl was in a midway side flip.
"I know," she responded, looking down her blade towards Larten. Her eyes soon averted to Evanna. "They're perfect."
"You'll find they're lighter than your previous ones, now I must leave," she uttered and retreated out of her home, leaving the rest to their conversations.
Vancha mentioned something about a legend when she left, the second he'd finished speaking he rolled over and fell instantly to sleep. As always, and after so many years of knowing Vancha, it still puzzled his assistant at how fast he could get to sleep. His snoring she could live with, the mystery at how easily he turned to sleep she could not and would find out just how he managed it one day.
Larten soon joined him, Harkat following soon after, laying out some cushions to sleep on. Her eyes lingered on Harkat, not sure if he was asleep or awake as his eyes remained open. A few seconds after watching he she realised he had no eyelids.
"Night then," she spoke to the group, not quite done with testing her movements yet and began swinging her sword round carefully.
Nobody responded to her goodnight gesture, however during a spin she noticed the youngest Prince hadn't retreated to sleep yet and he was watching her closely.
"You really do move well," he commented.
"I know," she responded, thinking nothing of the compliment. She knew she moved perfectly, she didn't need anyone stating the obvious with her. "I'm a show off Darren, simple as. I know I'm good, I know I'm amazing so I don't need to be told."
Darren grinned which was soon mirrored by Kiara who quickly began laughing, though what sprung her into laughter she didn't know.
"So what's the deal with you and Mika? We heard rumours whilst in Vampire Mountain and some jokes cracked. He rarely smiles though and is always so stern so how can you-"
"Darren," she cut him off, putting a finger to her lips, her sword now hanging limply by her side. "There is nothing between Mika and I. We are but friends. However Vancha made the whole of Vampire Mountain two Councils ago make jokes none stop to him. Vancha claimed that Mika wanted to strike a mating period with me when I made him smile and how he began treating me warmer than others. That's just Vancha being Vancha though. He was actually rather jealous."
"Then what about you and Vancha? You seem very protective over him."
"Well of course. Vancha is my mentor and good friend. Of course I get jealous over him easier, call it one of my bad traits. Don't ask me why, it's just who I am. Besides I'm special," she explained giving a familiar wink. "Twenty-three years Vancha searched for a worthy assistant and I got that role."
"He's trained you well it seems too. Can you fight without a weapon like he?"
Realising the interrogation Darren had begun with Kiara, she sheathed her sword and took a seat beside where Darren sat. The comfy seat was like heaven and she sank into the chair in content.
"I can, but not to his standards. I still have a lot of training to do. I can combat someone with no weapon and bring defeat upon them, but when my opponent has a weapon," she shook her head, looking down at her scarred hands. "I don't yet have that skill. Vancha's lessons in unarmed combat fall greatly around death. When he fights he expects to die, even when the two of us fight, he always expects to die. I cannot fight like that yet."
"Does he welcome death then?" Darren's questions were all laced with curiosity.
"No, he does not welcome it, but come his time he will embrace death. One who has no fear of death, they will always have the upper edge in a fight. Those who expect to win though are at a disadvantage. I believe Vanez would have taught you this though?"
"Yes, but what about you? You're confidence draws the line close to over-confidence. That is very obvious."
"I'm confident in a lot of things, however when it is a fight where it's either defeat or victory, up until the moment I have defeated my opponent I will have no confidence of winning. I'll have confidence in myself though, just not winning. There are key differences,2 she explained, her eyes flicking to Vancha briefly who let out a rather loud snore.
"You and Vancha are fearless then?" Darren's question was a stupid one in Kiara's opinion. Fears should all be overcome.
"Almost," she nodded in agreement. "Life can throw much at you and fears can and will grow. However Darren if you embrace the fear and stand up to it, you have nothing in life to fear. Having said that, there is still one fear which neither of us will overcome soon."
"Which is?" Darren pushed. She could tell by his eyes he wouldn't drop this matter.
"Imagine a scenario where two of your greatest friends are captured and held against you. In my case imagine Vancha and Mika both held against each other. On a much larger scale than that though, imagine Vancha and ten other vampires. If you have the choice of one group dying or the single person...which would you choose?"
"That's too easy, it would always be the group over the individual," Darren responded as any vampire should respond.
"What if it was Larten up against ten other vampires?" she pushed to Darren, "could you kill him?"
Darren fell into silent thought, an inner battle progressing steadily in his head. Kiara's eyes returned to Harkat whilst Darren remained in thought. His bright green eyes had dimmed since she last looked at him, possibly the hint that he was sleeping.
"No," Darren finally shook his head defeated.
"Then that also is a weakness and a fear. Anyway that's enough on that subject, any ideas on where to start looking for the Vampaneze Lord?"
"Mr Tiny said-"
"To hell with what Desmond said, I'm asking you!" she snapped quickly.
"Keep it down you two I'm trying to sleep!" Vancha roared, spitting in the direction of the two. His assistant instinctively moved out of the way.
"Night Darren," she shrugged, walking beside Vancha, resting her head on his stomach and closing her eyes. She'd ask the question again tomorrow.
