Note: I find it funny how the actual series and this fan fic always refer to the slaughterhouse victim as the "fat man." xD Okay sorry, continue.

Chapter XI

"No!" Mr. Crepsley screamed. He had regained himself, and was now making his way up to the ceiling after the stranger. But it was too late- he had gotten away. I crawled over to Ariel's side and lifted her head. She had taken a powerful blow, with a dark, large bruise on her cheek to prove it. Thankfully, the mysterious creature didn't do as much to her as he intended to do to me. Her stomach slowly raised, then fell, and continued.

The vampire was back on the dusty, bloody floor now, going after the fat man who was crying like a baby and trying to crawl away. Mr. Crepsley pulled him up and glared into the man's face. I was sure he was going to kill him.

"Stop!" I screamed.

But Mr. Crepsley didn't have any desire to kill the human. Instead, he just breathed into the man's face. He let go and allowed the fat man to stumble to the floor, then turned to me with an immense rage, the likes of which I have never seen.

I held Ariel closely, afraid for my own life now.

He came over and picked me up, allowing me to drop Ariel, and started shaking me like I was a rag doll.

"You moron! You meddling imbecile!" He continued to call me every insult possible, making to no effort to disguise his disgust, while violently shaking me at the same time. "Do you have any idea what you have just done? Do you?!"

I was stunned, and had no idea what to do or say. "I was trying to.. I thought.." I don't even know if he could hear me, my voice was so weak.

"He escaped! I almost had him and you destroyed everything with your meddling! Because of you, I have allowed an insane murderer to slip through my fingers!" Mr. Crepsley screamed. There was clearly more he wanted to throw in my face, and seemingly rip my limbs apart, but the the rage seized him. He let go of me, letting me collapse to the floor, and then sank to his knees.

Instead of getting up, I just laid on the ground where he dropped me, listening to the vampire's curses and groans. Ariel and I had make a horrible mistake. After a moment of awkward silence, I pushed myself up, and made my way over to Mr. Crepsley. (Hopefully he wouldn't shake me again- My body still hurt!) He had stood back up by now, and was brushing dust of his cloak.

I cleared my throat. "Who was that...?"

Mr. Crepsley turned to glare at me. "You moron!" He shouted, obviously ignoring my question. "What were you doing here?"

I sighed. Well, explaining this should be fun. "Well, I saw on the news that several bodies had been found, drained of blood-"

"I am well aware." Mr. Crepsley growled.

"Okay, well, I was trying to stop you from killing that man over there," I explained, pointing to the unconscious fat man. "Because-"

"Please do not tell me: you believed I was the murderer?!" He gave a short laugh. "You are dumber than I thought!"

"What was I supposed to think?!" I cried. "Every night you mysteriously disappear into the city, and you keep everything to yourself! What was I supposed to think when bodies were found missing, drained of their goddamn blood? That it was a coincidence?!"

He looked surprised, at first, then considerate, and then nodded. "You are entirely correct. This is all my fault- I must trust if I want to be trusted. I only wished to spare you the gruesome details."

I sighed. "That's okay. I.. shouldn't have come after you like that." When his eyes shifted to the rusty knife on the floor, my face turned slightly red.

"You intended to kill me?"

I chuckled nervously.

He looked away- and to my surprise- began to laugh and shake his head. "Master Shan, you are a bold young man. But I do admire that in such a youth, which is why I wanted you as my assistant."

I smiled.

Mr. Crepsley made his way over to Ariel, and scooped her up in his arms. "Let me guess: She was in on this too, was she not?"

I nodded slowly.

He chuckled, but the smile faded away. "The purple skinned creature- his name is Murlough. He mistook you for me somehow, and tried to kill you, correct?"

"Ariel saved me."

Mr. Crepsley nodded. "The prophecy of the Vampire Clan says the leader of my people is an unusually strong vampire who will fight to protect the clan. Legend has it that the true princess possesses the ability to gain unspeakable strength when someone she feels spiritually attached to is in danger." He looked down at Ariel with affection, and brushed a stray piece of golden hair from her eye, so the bruise was completely revealed. "When ever she taps into that power, her soul fills with rage that possesses her body, which causes her eyes to temporarily turn a blood red."

Ariel and you are close, correct?"

I nodded.

"Remember this: You two are entwined by the threads of destiny. She will risk her life to save you, as you would for her, I am sure."

"Any time."

"If there is one thing that Ariel and I know for a fact about you, Darren Shan," He paused to smirk. "Is that you will charge into things without considering them. You need Ariel, so that she may keep an eye on you and keep you out of trouble. And Ariel just simply needs you."

I was chosen to seek the princess and return her safely home, so she will be able to rule our people. As long as I am breathing, Ariel will return home safely- I was chosen to be her guardian. And even though I do love her, it is most important that you keep watch on her. You will be Ariel's keeper, as she has placed her complete trust in you.." He paused. The fat man began to stir.

"Come. We must head back to the hotel, before the human discovers us."

"But- you only told me the man's name was Murlough- you never told me what he was or why he was here!"

"Very well, I will discuss this with you as soon as Ariel awakes. Now, let us take our leave, please."

And I followed the vampire, into the night, back to out hotel. I was still embarrassed, and knew that I had probably made a fatal mistake.. But Mr. Crepsley's words still rung in my thoughts:

"You will be Ariel's keeper, as she has placed her complete trust in you."