-In the forest…

I've never come back to this city, let alone this forest, since I had left. It just never occurred to me to come back, as if I've forgotten about everything that happened here. Of course, I've tried to forget what had happened there before, but I couldn't. I've tried everything: drowning, burning, cutting, screaming, banging my head against a wall…but none of them helped at all. Now that I'm back to the exact spot where I had wanted to forget, all my memories evaporated.

"Here…no one will ever think of coming here, they think it's haunted," I told them.

"Why should we believe that there isn't any vampire hidden here?" Blondie asked roughly, glaring at me. I glared back.

"Because, Blondie, I am not a vampire," I told him.

"Humans cannot run as fast as you do, and you do not smell like one of us," He pointed out.

"Of course I'm not a human…I am a half vampire who has vampire blood but is not a vampire or a human," I told him. They still look confused. "It's hard to explain."

"What ever you are, what were you doing in our territory?" Steve asked suddenly, "did the vampires send you out to…"

"I am not in league with the vampires. Indeed, I recon that every single vampire on vampire mountain hates me," I explained in exasperation. I turned to Blondie. "And why do you call him sire?"

"…" Blondie started, but Steve interrupted him.

"You know who I am?" He asked cautiously. Ok…so he doesn't recognize me yet. Am I supposed to be happy, or?

"Uh, yeah? And you know me too...at least you used to," I stated.

"I don't know any vampires," was all he said flatly. I decided to let the whole 'vampire' thing drop for now.

"Do you still remember the person who sat three seats to the right of you in your seventh grade history class? The person who's locker was next to that dirty, back-stabbing Shan's?" I asked. Steve's eyes popped out comically as he gaped at me.

"Evangeline Cho?" he said with disgust, after a few moments of pondering. "Weren't you a vampire as well? Like him?"

"Yes…I was... I was blooded by that freak Larten Crepsley. But Evangeline is who I used to be, I am a different person now. You might know me as Selene Panzer, who almost wrecked the hall of princes," I muttered, before stretching out and start to pick out the bullets one by one, wincing everytime one comes loose. True, I have ultra-fast healing powers, but they do nothing to stop the pain.

"It is strange that you went against the vampires, creatures of your kind rarely ever backstabs. Perhaps she is a spy, sire, sent to kill us?" Blondie said, drawing his weapon. Why is everyone trying to kill me today? But Blondie sheathed his weapon again. "No, she couldn't be. The vampires won't sink as low as to hire creatures like her, ones who use guns."

Wow, thanks. I really appreciate how you placed that. But at least now they don't doubt me of not being with the vampires.

"You haven't answered my question yet, why do you call him sire? I've rescued you two, the least you can do is to answer my questions," I snapped.

"Because he is the vampaneze lord, that's why," Blondie said, glaring while he polished his sword. Sheesh, no need to be so mad at one question! So Steve is the vampaneze lord…what more surprises am I in for?

"Well, that was sort of a surprise, but I guess I'm not that surprised…if Darren can be a vampire prince, I guess you can be the vampaneze lord," I said, pulling a hand through my hair that I had let loose. It now floated gently behind my back like a curtain of black. What ever a Vampaneze Lord is, it must be something similar to a Vampire Prince. Steve perked up.

"Darren is a vampire prince?" He asked. I nodded.

"Tell me, how long you have been banished?" Blondie asked.

"I am NOT banished," I growled, but replied to his question. "At least two years. But I am not sure, as I was...lost...for a while." Blondie looked confused.

"How are you supposed to be lost?" He asked.

I told them about falling into the river, getting rescued by Birch and Ebony, and how those leeches turned out to be traitors. When I'm done, I am filled with hatred again. Picking up a fistful of grass, I torn them into tiny pieces, but it didn't sweep away the flames.

"That is very weird," Blondie said, after I'm done. "Vampires don't do that."

"Well, they did, and I had to rely on some humans to rescue me but later on they were killed by Darren's precious wolves. If there's anything I hate more than a vampire, it would be a wolf."

"Tell me, so basically Larten Crepsley blooded you because you found out about him, and took you around but when you fell into the river, he assumed that you were dead and when you turned up alive, he went along and voted you to death?" Blondie asked. I nodded through gritted teeth; the flames burning every inch of me.

"Even after you helped rescue Darren, his girlfriend, a whole city of people, the snake boy and others?"

"God, that's what I've been trying to tell you. Can't you just listen? Or are you stupid Vampaneze just too dumb to understand anything?" I yelled, and Blondie pointed his sword tip at my throat.

"Watch your mouth, girl," He hissed. I laughed, my voice sounding ironic even to my own ears.

"I don't care, kill me, Blondie. My life is in ruins, I don't give a damn whether I live or die as long as I take plenty of vampires and humans down to hell with me," I said simply, chewing on my words and spitting them out on his purple face. Then I grew serious, this may be my one chance to get revenge on that filthy hypocrite Darren Shan…"But if his royal majesty Steve would let me, I will willingly assist you guys in taking down the vampires. There is nothing more than I can ask for, other than to watch Crepsley's face as he dies." Steve raised an eyebrow, cocking his head towards me. "...and Darren. And have a part in the downfall of those arrogant bastards who call themself Princes."

"My, you really are blood thirsty...You weren't like that before," He said thoughtfully.

"But you can't unless you prove yourself," Blondie said, picking at his teeth with his dagger. Men…they are all the same. "Right, Sire?"

"I killed three vampires, wounded two Princes, and managed to damage one wall of the Hall of Princes while I was on the mountain" I said as an example, and Blondie almost sliced off his tongue with the dagger. Ha, serves him right.

"The walls of the Hall of Princes are supposed to be unbreakable," was all he managed to say. I shrugged.

"They can be unbreakable for all I care. I just know that I managed to break one part of it while escaping."

"I suppose that means you're in," Steve said with a smirk, and exchanged a glance with Blondie. He had been so quiet, I almost forgot about his existence.

"One thing…Selene," Blondie said in a strained voice. I can tell that he doesn't like me. "Don't call me Blondie, I'm Gannen." I tried very hard not to laugh, what sort of person would name their kid Gannen?

"Sure…Blondie," I said carelessly, stiffling my laughter when I saw him stiffen. "Oops, I mean Gannen."


Ok, so she is now officially 'with' the Vampaneze now, even though she's actually still part vampire.

She got in by total misunderstanding though. None of them knew about the 'weak spot' in the wall, so Gannen is just assuming that she managed to break the walls in pure strength or what ever. Which is not really true...but...oh well. ^ ^

R&R!!