There was someone down this tunnel - a tunnel which wasn't very frequently used, at that. It was right in the open, and joined some of the General's and their assistants' chambers to a cavern which branched off to other such areas, but this tunnel just for some reason wasn't very frequently used. Aadela could sense it from the movement of the shadows and the large padding sound created by the feet, tramping on the rock heavily. Aadela guessed they might be new to the Mountain: vampires who'd had experience of the life and comings and goings in the Mountain walked with much more ease and discretion.

But something caused Aadela to stop in her tracks. Her jaw dropped and she gawked at the figure before her, still oblivious to her presence. Without any further ado, she charged.

Darren Shan had been walking too long to give up: he was going to see where this blasted tunnel ended. Well, he hoped he would be able to see where this tunnel ended, and that it would be a fair place full of vampires. Soon, dull, small patches of light appeared on the walls, formed by the reflection of the light from one slimy, wet wall to another. Darren knew there was nobody besides him in this tunnel, but even if there was, he couldn't be cared less. Suddenly, before he could even blink, someone charged towards him and held him in an iron grip. He was too stunned to feel the pain or anger; he simply leaned on, as the grip became more gentle but passionate.

He numbly took in the bundle which had both enclosed him and was enclosed by him: it had hair - long, slightly wavy and rich... a definite shape - slim, fit and graceful figure... a smooth touch to itself. Darren realised with a shock that it was a person!

"Oh, Darren! It really is you!" the person - now that his shock was dissipating, his senses were returning which told him that it was a girl - whimpered. The person broke away and Darren very vaguely took in the girl's face. She was young - his age - and something about her was too familiar. But much had changed about her too, he could make that out. Her eyes which were dark blue, had definitely paled to a slightly brighter blue. They were still dark - close to black - but one could make out more clearly now that she had blue eyes. Her hair - a beautiful brown - had blossomed into a striking and very pretty dark brown. Her complexion, which made her look like a naturally coloured person, had now paled slightly, to make her other colour-changes to look more striking.

Her lips, which were in a nice, straight line had become fuller. And her nose had become sleeker from the bridge, and gentler as it curved out. The shape of her face - an oval - was more detectable, but that was probably due to the fact she had drawn back the hair from the forehead and pinned them behind to create a puff of hair. And she was taller: as tall as him.

Darren felt surprised at how well he could detect the changes in this mysterious girl. But then he looked into her very expressive eyes and he remembered in a flash who she was: Aadela Felix!

He hadn't thought he would meet her again like this. Well... he'd hoped against hope to hold her in his hands again. He'd even vowed that he would kiss her full on the lips, without any fear or hesitation, as had happened with Debbie! And now here she was... shedding tears of joy (he hoped!) in his arms... looking more a lady than he remembered her to be - and a very pretty lady, at that!

Darren placed his hands on her shoulders and withdrew her slowly from him. His eyes darted about her face very quickly, taking in greater detail all the changes in her and came to rest at her lips. She was doing the same, and a soft, happy and slightly coy smile played on her lips. They looked into each other's eyes for another few moments, before their heads suddenly darted forward and their lips crashed onto the other's.

Aadela kissed him with longing and sweetly, and he kissed her back with equal passion and joy. Her hands made his way to his shoulders and settled at the back, drawing him closer and his hands did the same, enclosing her body in his. Their kiss lasted for a little less than a minute, and when they broke free, they rested their heads on the other's shoulders in quiet contentment. Aadela's first thought was - Darren kissed me! which was followed by - This was my first kiss... this was my first kiss! Both the thoughts were magical and set her heart beating with a newer and quicker frequency.

When they broke free from the hug, they studied each other and Aadela's eyes darted down one second then darted upto his face.

"Well, well, well..." Darren whistled softly and smiled, "Who would have thought of such a beautiful welcome, that also by none other than Aadela Felix!"

"Why, were you expecting some more vampiresses to come and kiss you?" Aadela too spoke softly, and both of them laughed lightly. Then, giving him a playful punch, she added, "What took you so long, you moron?" As she said this, her finger ran along his face, tracing its outline, cheekbones and jaws.

"I was waiting till you became more beautiful." Darren looked in her eyes. "And the result is as sweet as sugar: you are more beautiful than ever..."

Aadela shared another look with him, blushing. She leaned into him again, and they shared another little kiss.

I'm so jealous of Aadela right now... want to smash her head into the wall and take my place as Darren's rightful girlfriend. Anyway, I was smiling like an idiot the entire time I was writing this and I hope it's not too corny. If it is... (switches on loud music and listens intently) :P. I'll be breezing through books 4 and 5, as Aadela hasn't got much to do there, but book 6 will be a major one.

And one more thing... Darren's and Aadela's age in the beginning (before they became halfs) was 14. So right now too, their age is the same as the other (22). Darren Shan mentioned only in book 7 (I think) that Darren was 12 when he was blooded, but as I'd already started this story with 14 year olds, I'm gonna stick to it.