Victoria walked down to where Darren's trial would take place. Her hands were shaking and she was fiddling with her long black hair. Gavner would was walking next her put a hand on her shoulder making her jump.

"Hey calm down. He'll be fine" He assured her.

"This is wrong. He is only a child." Victoria said.

"Yes but he is a vampire."

"I know, but this is still not right."

They walked into the hall and sat next to Larten and Seba who had been saving seats for them. Victoria sat in-between the two and Gavner next to Larten. Victoria out her feet up with her knees close to her and brought her hair to the front mindlessly braiding and rebraiding it. Seba patted her knee gently.

"Calm down. Put your feet back on the ground where they belong." He told her. She muttered a small 'sorry' but still continued with braiding her hair, keeping her hands busy.

Larten looked over at the worried look on her face and sighed. She really cared about Darren. Sighing again he grabbed her shoulder. A slight shock went up his arm, like static electricity but different. She looked up at him with her big doe eyes, her hands paused over her hair. Larten looked down at her.

"He will be fine." He told her. Victoria just nodded and he took his hand off of her wondering what that shock was.

"He's a lot like you ya know." He heard her say. "Personality wise. You were just older and a bit cockier."

Larten smirked. She gazed at him softly.

"You've changed so much but yet, not at all." She mumbled. He didn't get a chance to say anything before the doors to the hall opened and Darren along with two generals walked in. Darren walked up front and words were spoken. Victoria payed no attention. Her worry was coming back. Seeing the helpless young child in her eyes that she came to think of as her own take on a deathly trial scared her. Without thinking she grabbed Larten's arm tightly. Larten looked down to see her hand in a death like grip on his right upper arm. He sighed. Ignoring her and watched as his assistant began his trial.

CDFLC

It only took Victoria about seven minutes to start freaking out. She was gripping Larten's arm tightly and saying things like:

"Oh gods what if he doesn't make it out." "Larten this is all your fault." "He is only a child!" and Larten's personal favorite. "If he does I am going to kill you Larten Crepsley." Gavner laughed at Larten's situation. Bad choice, Victoria turned on him.

"You think this is funny?" She blew up. "Darren could possibly die and you're laughing!" She ranted. Larten turned and smirked at Gavner who looked like a little kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Once she had calmed down enough she asked Seba how long it takes for the water to fill up.

"Seventeen minutes." He told her. She nodded.

"How long has it been?"

"Seventeen minutes and twelve seconds." Of course this only made her freak out once again. She began to use Larten as a personal punching bag and cursing him. She was in the process of making his arm go numb from the continuous hitting when they heard a hiss and the sound of water flooding into the hall. They all ran to where Darren was lying on the ground. Victoria and Larten grabbed to boy and hugged him close.

"Mr. Crepsley? Why are you on the beach? Won't you get sunburned?" Darren mumbled. Larten grinned wildly.

"He is delusional!" He hollered laughing. Victoria smiled at Larten

'He really cares about the boy.' She thought as she tried to wake Darren.

CDFLC

After being sure Darren was fine Victoria and Larten carried him to his room. Harkat trailed behind a few yards away. Darren was passed out on Larten's back.

"You were worried too." Victoria said breaking the silence between them.

"About what?" Larten asked not even looking at her.

"Darren."

Larten sighed. "Yes I was."

Victoria smiled.

"He looks up to you ya know."

"How do you know this?"

"He told me. He also told me you are the closest thing to a dad he has now."

Larten said nothing; he only continued walking and had a red tint on his face. Victoria grinned.

Once they had Darren and Harkat's 'room' Larten put Darren down in his hammock. Victoria grabbed a blanket and laid it over the sleeping boy. They both walked out of the room leaving Harkat to watch over Darren.

"Larten?" Victoria called as he walked in the opposite direction. He stopped and turned to her raising an eyebrow.

"Watch over him. Don't let them kill him."

"Victoria, I have no author-." He began.

"Don't let them kill him." She repeated in a hard voice, turning away and walking in the other direction.

CDFLC

YAY! Another chapter. Larten and Victoria have been warming up to each other again a bit. More to come soon! Review my pretties!