Chapter 26
(Catarina)
We sleep and the next night we are in a better mood. Vancha asks where to go now. "Mr. Tiny said to follow our hearts. He said fate would lead us if we placed ourselves in it's hands," Mr. Crepsley responds.
"You don't think we should try tracking down the Vampaneze Lord? What if fate doesn't lead us to him? What are we supposed to do then? What are we going to tell the others?" Vancha challenges.
"Mr. Tiny said to follow our hearts," Mr. C repeats.
"Fine but you pick the course. I don't have a heart."
"Darren, where do you want to go?"
"I'd like to see how Evra is doing," he suggests.
"Good, just last night I was wondering what my old friend Hibernius Tall was up to. Harkat?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Sire, we head for the cirque du freak," Mr. Crepsley announces.
(Shan)
Harkat was having a nightmare so Evanna healed him temporarily but in the process Shan gets a glimpse of the future, seeing the Master of Shadows. Evanna says that she has to tell him something but it must stay between the two of them. "The future is dark. There are two paths, both troubled and paved with loss. In one possible future the vampaneze lord has become the master of shadows and ruler of the dark. In the other, the lord of the shadows is you."
(Catarina)
I was pretending to be asleep but it didn't work. "Catarina," Evanna suddenly says. "Pretending to sleep is not going to work in front of me. I already said, appearances do not deceive me."
I sit up and brush my hair out of my face with my hand. Shan looks surprised. I stand up and walk over to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet. I yank him with me away from Lady Evanna then I wrap my arms around him and look at him seriously. "Don't let that witch disturb you," I whisper. He nods slowly but he looks upset. "Shan...you know that you could never ever do that. You're not that type of person."
"Okay."
I pull him against me and kiss him. He kisses back then I rest my head on him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He takes me back to the others and we lie snuggle together, his arms around me. We kiss again and again before finally falling asleep.
"You're assistants are a very cute couple," Evanna tells Mr C when everyone gets up. He rolls his eyes at her and shakes his head. I ignore her.
We arrive at the Cirque du Freak soon after. It's amazing. I stare in awe as we hurry in and watch the end of the show. Twisting Twins are just finishing up and that's when a snake guy comes out with a little snake boy. That has to be Shan's beloved friend Evra. When they finish and people leave Shan runs over yelling "Evra Von!" excitedly.
"Darren!" They hug, both of them with tears in their eyes. "Where have you been?"
"Vampire Mountain."
"You've grown."
"Not as much as you."
"Good evening Evra Von," Mr. Crepsley reaches forward and shakes his hand.
"It's been a long time. I'm glad to see you."
"I would like you to meet Vancha March, Lady Evanna, Catarina Lombardi, and Harkat Mulds whom I believe you already know."
"Hello," Vancha mumbles.
"Greetings," Evanna smile.
I just nod.
"Hi Evra," Harkat says.
"It spoke!" Evra gasps.
"Harkat speaks a lot these nights," Shan grins.
"It has a name?"
"It does," Harkat replies. "And it would very much like to be called he."
"Welcome back to the cirque," a man walks over.
"Mr. Tall," Shan nods. I have heard about him too. I am not very surprised when he greets us all by name nor is he surprised when Harkat says hello to him.
"Would you care to eat?" he offers.
"That would be delightful," Lady Evanna answers. "And I would have a word with you after, Hibernius. There are things we must discuss."
"Yes there are," he agrees.
I follow Shan as he walks and talks with Evra. "Darren, I'd like you to meet Shancus," he points at the boy.
"Hello Shancus."
"Are you the Darren Shan I was named after?" the boy asks.
"Am I?" Shan is caught off guard by this.
"Yes," Evra laughs. "Shancus is my first born. I thought it would be-"
"He's yours? You're his father?"
"Yes, he'll be five soon but he's big for his age."
"You've got others?"
"Urcha is three and Lilia will be two next month."
"Are they all snake children?"
"Urcha isn't. He's upset because he wants scales. But we try to make him feel as loved and extraordinary as the others."
"So you're married?"
"Her name's Merla. She joined the cirque after you left. She has detachable ears. You'll like her."
"I'm sure I will," he laughs.
"What about you? Are you..."
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry. This is Catarina, my mate," he gestures to me.
"Mate as in..."
"She's kind of my fiancé."
"Congrats! It's nice to meet you Catarina!" he shakes my hand.
I smile. "You too Evra. I've heard a lot about you."
"Are you a...vampire?"
"Half vampire."
He nods. "Cool."
Shan introduces me to all his friends as his fiancé. I guess there isn't really a word for a vampire mate. "You be married?" Truska asks him.
"Kind of," he nods and she hugs him tightly.
"Good for you! She very pretty, yes?"
"Yes," he grins.
Truska hugs me too. Vancha runs over and hugs her next, giving her a kiss. "Naughty!" she giggles.
"You two know each other I take it," Shan mumbles dryly.
"Oh yes," he nods and then they chatter on in their native language.
Evra introduces us to Merla who is pleasant and pretty. Harkat chooses to stay away from the other little people.
(Shan's POV)
Cat loves Shancus. She is smiling at him brightly, her hazel eyes sparkling. She looks full of happiness and curiosity and amusement that I've never seen before. It's good but it makes me wonder...I know she said she doesn't want kids but I fell kind of bad. She seems so joyful. She'd probably be a real good mom...Maybe I could be a good dad. I always remember my father saying that someday I would settle down with a family of my own. What would it be like to have a son? Or a daughter?
(Catarina)
"You like kids?" Shan asks me.
"They're nice," I respond.
"When they said we can't have kids, you said you didn't want any."
"I never desired to."
"Do you now?"
I shake my head. "No...not at all. I enjoy kids but the life I chose isn't fit for a child. I would not wish to bring a baby into this world even if it was possible."
"Oh...I guess that's true."
"Do you want kids?"
"No, you're right. I mean, when I grew up I always thought I would have a normal life with my own family but...that all changed. I like kids but I wouldn't want one involved with this stuff."
I nod.
A lot of people here know of Evanna. Vancha stays with Truska. Harkat and Shan set up hammocks in a tent beside Evra and Merla's tent. They even place a hammock for me but I end up squishing in with Shan, lying on top of him, my head on his chest. We wake around sunset and go for a walk with Evra. Shan is in a bad mood. While Evra is talking to Harkat I sit with Shan on a rock. "People are treating me different...like an adult now. Things have changed...I changed. Remember what Vancha said to me? How I'm no longer Darren Shan the boy Prince. I'm growing up now. I always used to complain about my slow aging and Mr. Crepsley would tell me that some day I would wish I could go back to my youth. I think this is the day he was talking about."
"Shan, you're hardly old. Don't be so depressed. I mean, I always liked the idea of aging slowly. But I was changed at 17 so I was almost an adult anyway. But we have centuries ahead of us. Besides, I like that you grew some. I look like I'm 18 and now that you look 16 it kind of seems like we could be a couple."
"I never did get to take you on that date."
"I know but it's not your fault. Besides, who needs a date? I'm happy just being with you. We're mates now and it's amazing, you're amazing."
"No you are."
We kiss and I smile.
Mr. Crepsley is excited because he can perform again. He is going to use Shan as an assistant and they will do magic tricks. The vampire speed and strength will be a great help with the tricks.
(Shan's POV)
Truska cuts my hair and measures me for my old pirate costume. I can't believe she has that still. I remember thinking how cool it was the first time she dressed me in it. "You very lucky man," she tells me while cutting my hair. "Catarina very beautiful. Nice girl."
"Yes she is. I am lucky to have her. She's amazing."
"Take care good of her."
"I will."
"You are being Prince now?"
We chat a little bit about being a Prince and Mr. Tiny's messages. Then I go meet up with Catarina.
(Catarina)
Before we can say much to each other we see Evanna in a black cloak talking to Mr. Tall. "I wish you would not do this," he says to her. "The vampires have been good friends to us. We should help them."
"We cannot take sides," she replies.
"Still, to meet with these others and talk with them...I don't like it."
"We must remain neutral. As far as we're concerned both sides are equal, neither good or bad."
"You are correct," he sighs. "I'm letting my friendship with Larten cloud my judgement."
Evanna leaves and heads toward the woods. "I have to follow her," Shan announces. "You stay here."
"No I will not stay," I protest sternly. "I am a vampire General. Let me do my job Shan."
(Shan)
I know she's right. It is her job and she's strong. I am too protective. And there is no time to argue.
(Catarina)
We follow Evanna into the woods. She is talking to a group of vampaneze. Once we see this we run full speed back to the cirque. Mr. Crepsley is getting ready to go on and preform. "Where's Vancha?" Shan demands.
"Off sulking somewhere," he chuckles. "You should get ready and-"
"Larten!" Shan interrupts. Mr. Crepsley stops, alerted to the danger by Shan's rare use of his fist name. "Forget the show. We have to find Vancha. Now!"
Mr. C asks no questions, he just goes with us. Vancha is in the tent with Harkat. Vancha starts to joke but sees the serious expression. Quickly and calmly Shan explains. Vancha curses. "We shouldn't have trusted a witch."
"I do not know what they are discussing but I do not believe he is betraying us," Mr. Crepsley responds.
"Maybe we should ask Mr. Tall," Harkat suggests.
"He's your friend. Should we try?" Vancha asks Mr. C.
"If Hibernius knew we were in danger and was capable of warning or aiding us, he would have."
"Very well, we'll have to take them on ourselves."
"You think she's telling them about us?" Shan questions.
"We'd be fools to chance it. Would you rather let them go on to murder some of our own?" Vancha challenges.
Mr. C sighs. "And Evanna? What if she takes the side of the vampaneze?"
"Then we fight her too."
"You fancy your chances against her?"
"No but I know my duty. I'm going to kill vampaneze. If you want to come you can. If not..."
"Vancha's right," Shan comments. "If we let them go and they kill vampires later we're to blame. Besides, there's something else too. We're destined to cross paths with the lord of the vampaneze. Maybe these ones will know where he is. I doubt it's coincidence we're here at the same time as them. This might be fate's way of leading us to him."
"True," the older prince nods.
"Perhaps," Mr. C says.
"Remember Mr. Tiny said to follow our hearts? My heart says we should face these vampaneze," Shan tells them.
"Mine too," Harkat agrees.
"And mine," Vancha says.
"I thought you had no heart," Mr. Crepsley replies. "But mine says I shall fight too."
Vancha grins.
"Catarina?" Mr. C turns to me.
I look at Shan then back to Mr. C. "Yes, I will go. It is my job as a vampire General. I want to fight too. I'm strong enough."
"You are," Mr. C nods in agreement.
A/N: I hope you are all enjoying the story. Please don't forget to comment. 3
