Chapter Twenty-One
Arra had never been more thankful to be in a train than she was at that particular moment, sat in a cabin opposite Gavner who was still breathing like a laboured horse from carrying both Larten and the sword at a fast pace. Darren and Larten sat opposite each other but were yet to acknowledge one another; emotions still high after Darren yelled at his mentor in the rafting.
A hostess opened their cabin and smiled, offering them drinks and snacks which Gavner happily accepted, gulping down his bottle of water before doing the same to Larten's.
"Would you like a milky way….MR Shan?" Larten asked, offering his assistant one of the chocolate bars he had purchased a packet of.
"You don't get it, do you?" Darren snarled before storming out of the cabin.
"Oh well done," Arra sneered, "Go piss him off further. Good old Larten."
"He is just being unruly," Larten growled, "He is behaving like a child!"
Gavner laughed, "Larten, he's not a child. Have you looked at Darren at all lately? His voice is deepening, he's got a little bit of patchy stubble on his chin now and you saw him with his tongue down that girl's throat at the concert. He's a teenager now," Gavner grinned, "He's becoming a man and he's looking for someone to tell him the facts of life."
"The facts of life?" Larten frowned, "What do you mean?"
"The good old birds and the bees," Gavner winked, "You're going to have to tell the poor kid all about it because he sure as hell wont hear it from any of the stuffy buggers in the Mountain."
Larten groaned as he recalled his own embarrassing and very awkward experience with the 'birds and the bees', remembering how visual Seba had gotten by showing him a dead wasp –it wasn't bee season apparently- and a dead blue tit. Needless to say that was one of the many memories Larten had supressed over the years.
"Can Arra not do it?" Larten asked, looking at the only female there who merely laughed.
"Larten this is a guy thing," she smiled, "You and Gavner would know better than anyone the changes boys go through to become men. Just go tell him. It's natural. Throw him my way if you are too afraid to discuss what human female go through but the rest you should tell him. It's important."
Sighing, Larten nodded, standing and sorting the tracksuit bottoms Gavner had stopped to buy his friend whilst they were fleeing –his jeans had ripped whilst he sat on Gavner's back. He zipped up his hooded top and made the deaths touch sign before walking out of the cabin.
Darren had no idea why he'd snapped at his mentor on the railing as he stared out of the open carriage window, watching the stars as the train zoomed past. He felt terrible for it, Mr Crepsley hadn't dissevered it at all. It was stress and the constant mood swings he'd developed which were causing him to shout abuse at the people he loved more than anything in the world. Making up his mind to apologize, Darren gasped when he realized that Larten was stood beside him, staring out of the window at the starlit sky also.
"Mood swings are a nightmare, are they not?" Larten asked with a slight smile which made Darren blush; he often wondered if full vampires could read minds but no one had told him so they could all eavesdrop into his personal thoughts.
"Yeah," Darren mumbled with a shy smile, "Sorry about earlier, Mr Crepsley. I never meant to be as nasty as I was to you."
"It is quite alright, Darren. I understand. You are at an age where your body is producing more testosterone than you can physically deal with, thus, you lash out and are a little more prone to anger. It is not your fault either; I was your way once and so was Gavner." Larten nodded, surprised by how calmly he was as he spoke of such personal things without even the slightest hue on his cheeks. Darren looked a little puzzled by the term 'testosterone' which Larten went on to further explain, "Testosterone is the male sex hormone," that caused a slight blush on both parties behalves, "It is what causes your body to change. Usually it can be seen in human boys at around thirteen? I am not so sure but regardless, as a vampire your body will be much slower to make such changes."
"So, this hormone's what makes my voice deeper like yours?" Darren frowned.
"Afraid so," Larten laughed, "Did you honestly think I was born in this world with a voice such as this? Believe me I would have had far more success with women if I was born with high levels of testosterone."
"Why?" Darren frowned once more.
"Women find sexually mature men far more attractive. It is something to do with innate natural selection, I do not know. Ask Arra, she will know," Larten smiled cruelly, imagining Arra trying to do so. Knowing her she would pawn Darren on to Gavner for a very Disney perfect version of female attraction.
"I saw you kissing that girl in the concert," Larten grinned, "She was a pretty little thing."
Darren nodded, "Yeah. I caught her before she fell and we danced for a bit and then, yeah," he smiled softly, "Debbie was my first kiss but I think that was my first adult kiss, you know?"
"That is a rite of Passage to Manhood. Like I said, she was pretty too," Larten said, watching as the train neared the first stop in the many before they reached the resistance.
"When do you know that you're in a relationship with someone you love?" Darren asked, "Like, proper want to spend the rest of your life with them?"
Larten shrugged and shook his head, "Love is a dangerous game to play Darren," he sighed, "If I were you I would focus on having fun for a few years when you leave my side. That is what I did and I highly recommend it. You establish independence and you get to carve a name for yourself. You could become Darren Shan the Butcher, Barrister Darren Shan, Darren the horse whisperer!" he pointed out of the window, "There is a sea of opportunity for vampires in both our world and the world of humans. If you want to become a vampire Prince I will help you train and will be the first in the audience to applaud your coronation. If your heart tells you to leave the mountain, find a girl and settle down with a few adopted children I will expect an invite to all the human cultures you choose to partake in annually,"
Darren laughed at that, "So you wont be disappointed in me if I don't become a General?"
"Of course I will not. I want you to be happy." Larten smiled, "When I was a young vampire I felt pressured into making Seba proud. I do not want that for you,"
"Thanks Mr Crepsley," Darren smiled, "Sorry for being a little dick to you guys."
"It is water under a bridge now," Larten laughed then yawned loudly, "Come on. The sun is almost up and I want to sleep."
"Sure," Darren smiled, as the two headed back to the cabin before dawn set in.
A few days later in the mountain...
Kurda charged through the halls of Vampire Mountain, a sea of guards following his every step; Lord Kurda was an important member of the Vampaneze clan and thus was monitored twenty-four/seven.
The large heavy doors of the Hall of Lords slammed open, Kurda storming to the platform and marching to his throne furiously, nodding at the True Lord of the Vampaneze and Lord Glalda. "Where is Judith?" he roared, Glalda pointing at a purple female stood at the front of the platform.
Kurda eyed her up suspiciously. She was a member of the Thought Police, heavily armoured with a rapier strapped at her side as she bowed for Kurda. "Sire, apologises for interrupting you but it is important."
"Is it true?" Glalda growled, hackles risen. He, too, had been interrupted by the guards to discuss with Judith Iscar, one of Lord Gannen's elite officers, who had delivered news of the highest treachery.
"Aye, my Lords," Judith nodded solemnly, "As we speak right now, Lord Gannen and his Thought Police are wining and dining with Vancha March and the Resistance in the Black Forests."
"Gannen is loyal," Kurda interjected, "Why should I believe you?"
"My Lord Kurda, Gannen and Vancha are brothers," Judith stated, "He and a few of the others have been gathering Vampaneze who do not conform to your rule and they have joined the vampire Resistance."
Glalda growled furiously, "That worm!"
The True Lord spoke up, "Have you any news on the King?"
Judith bowed instantly before the grey-haired man, thankful with an audience with the Lord of the Vampaneze. Despite him only being half vampaneze there was a cunning air around him which demanded the respect of the entire clan. They had all seen him fighting and training vigorously and already he had carved a name as a fierce warrior.
"Aye, Lord Leopard," Judith sighed, bracing herself for their fury, "Vancha announce three days ago that the escapees, Gavner Purl, Arra Sails, Larten Crepsley and Darren Shan, have the sword and are days away from the Resistance camp. I left as soon as I could and flitted here to warn you."
Kurda's face went white, hand slowly stroking his neck. Glalda gave an animalistic snarl.
It was Leopard that spoke. "We can track Gannen's mental brainwaves; the fool doesn't know we are suspicious of his movements now. Assemble an Army and we shall meet them half way on the trek to the mountain. We need to act now before they gain too much ground." He stood and made his way down the platform, "Glalda, I think we can trust you to round up an army and lead them to battle?"
"Aye," Glalda growled, making haste as he, too, left the Hall of Lords to ready an army. Gannen would hang for his treachery tonight.
So I thought I'd give Darren and Larten had a bit of a father and son moment there since I've not really written one for them yet and I'm too hung over to write something fast paced and dangerous.
Vampire Mountain's going to buggery at the moment now too :D
Next chapter will be the revealing the King and the start of a battle I think :)