What option did I have? I obeyed Vancha's orders that night and showed up with Harkat by my side. The same went for the next night, and the next. By night, I was socializing awkwardly and half-listening to people talk of something or another. By day, I was either in a fitful, tearful, pitiful excuse for a slumber or staring at the wall, afraid to sleep.

I didn't see much of Crepsley. If I did, it was at the hall where he ate and drank just enough to keep him alive. I wondered if Gavner or Seba pushed him to do that. I didn't want to talk to him – I tried, but I could never think of anything to say. It was…I don't know. Perhaps I just felt too guilty or awkward? Each time I recalled his own cries, my heart would clench and I would feel the urge to cry.

How would I ever get over this?

We rebuilt slowly. We adjusted. We were healing from what had happened, some quicker than others. Life moved on.

Nearly a month later, however, life threatened to crash down a second time.

Harkat entered my room without knocking. I jumped from the surprise – not like I was doing anything but staring at the fire – and looked to see my friend trembling. "What's wrong?" My heart stilled for a second.

"M-Mr. T-T-Tiny…"

That was all I needed to hear. I got out of my coffin and followed the shivering Harkat down to the Hall of Princes. Mr. Tiny? What was he doing here? It had been nearly two months since the…incident. Why did it take him so long?

When we entered, we saw all the vampires were already seated. Vancha stood at the stairs while Crepsley and the rest were front row. On the throne, the singular throne up front, sat Mr. Tiny. I shivered and made my way to Crepsley's side, as if it served as some sort of comfort, protection even.

Crepsley gave me a grim look. I tried not to flinch. Harkat sat next to me.

"Well, well," the man's voice sent chills down nearly everyone's spine, "now that we're all here…I can start." Pause. "In six years, the Lord of the Vampaneze will be blooded. It will be downhill after that with little to no hope for survival of your kind." Mr. Tiny's grin grew.

There was a brief uproar amongst the vampires. How could they not? If the brat was blooded, he also had the Stone of Blood. It was certain death for us in six years if it happened. Vancha gritted his teeth and I could feel Crepsley tense, even shiver, beside him. I wondered if it was from the thirst of revenge.

Mr. Tiny held a hand up and silenced all. He continued. "Seven hundred years ago, I told your forebears that the vampaneze Lord would wipe you out. But it is nothing gmore than the most likely truth ahead of you. The future is both opn and closed. Out of the hundreds of 'can be's' In your future, there are some in which the Vamaneze Lord and his followers can be defeated. The Vampaneze Lord is only human for now….his number of followers are small. If you kill him before he gains more…before he is blooded, victory will be yours."

Another roar erupted in cheer. I flinched at the noise. This reminded me an awfully lot of a used car salesman for some reason. Gee, I thought, wonder why.

"Long ago I looked into the future and saw there were five chances for victory. One has come and gone – Kurda Smahlt." I flinched at the name and sat rigid as Mr. Tiny spoke. "His actions have delayed the war he sought to stop. You should add his name to the Hall."

Many cursed, spat, and scowled at the name. My fists were clenched on my thighs as I took it all in. Delayed? Delayed the war? Delayed?! Mr. Tiny seemed to be about to talk further when a hot stab of loathing and grief prompted me to act. I stood, startling many of the vampires into silence or a quiet gasp.

"Delayed?!" I shouted, heart pounding. "Delayed?! Kurda performed his actions in the hope that it would stop the war completely! Are you saying all of this, his betrayal and his death, was pointless?!" I couldn't help it. I was shaking with the fury I felt. Kurda's actions were all for naught. If anything, he may have damned us further. But it didn't make sense. "The vampaneze have the Stone, it was said that no war would erupt if they did! What…"

Before I could get further into my snarl, Mr. Tiny's heart-shaped watch glowed red and his expression took on a menacing sneer. I flinched, my heart feeling as though he had seized it right through my ribcage. I remained standing though, refusing to back down. I could feel sweat start to form and travel down my back, but I wouldn't let go of this until I had answers.

And Mr. Tiny knew this.

He wore an unamused grin. "Samantha Ivy," he hissed, "such a little nuisance you are…how you've gotten this far baffles me at times. Irritating little spec, you shouldn't even be here."

It felt like my heart had stopped completely. It felt like everything around me and fallen apart. I…I shouldn't…be here? But…what? How did he…? Was he…? I felt my head spin.

A hand grabbed around my waist, pulling me down onto the bench. I inhaled deeply as if I had been choking, looking up to see it was Crepsley who watched me as if I were insane. Hadn't he heard Mr. Tiny? Hadn't any of them? I couldn't gather the energy to speak.

"Nevertheless," Mr. Tiny smiled wide, his watch no longer glowing, "the war will break out soon, closer to the time in which the lord of the vampaneze is blooded. It is set and simply cannot be stopped." I was barely hearing him, my head reeling from this.

"But back to what I was saying…you still have four chances between now and your demise. Assuming you follow my advice, the first three will happen within the next five years. Three times a certain group of vampires will come across the lord of the vampaneze. Three times he will be at your mercy. Seize your chance and the war will be yours. If you fail these three…then the last chance will be on the eve of the sixth year, the year he is blooded and your race…goes poof into the night."

Vancha was speaking. I couldn't hear much, my own thoughts louder. Probably being Princely and thanking the bastard. I looked up and heard Mr. Tiny speak again. "There will be three vampires that will act as hunters in this journey. Only these three vampires can search and kill the lord of the vampaneze. The hunters are you, Vancha…Larten Crepsley…and Samantha Ivy." He seemed displeased at my name.

I said nothing. I could feel my nails drawing blood from the palm of my hand as I clenched my fist, trembling. Only me, Crepsley, and Vancha? It seemed like a bad joke. We had to find the lord of the vampaneze…I knew this even before Kurda had been executed.

'You, Larten, and no doubt a few others will find this person and ensure my sacrifice was not in vain.'

Kurda knew it too. So it had to be this way…I had to go. I couldn't fail. I squared my shoulders and spoke coolly, silencing the uproar that had wrapped around me during my thoughts. "So be it."

Mr. Tiny stood to leave. I felt Harkat trembling so bad that he bumped into me in his seat. "Come, Harkat! You have delivred my message and served your purpose admirably. If you come with me, I'll reveal the truth of your former identity. Care to join?"

I looked at the Little Person and blinked. Former identity? I wondered what he might say.

"I have…a feeling," he spoke, "something whispers to me…here. I feel that I should go with Sam…and Larten."

"What? Harkat," I spoke soft, "aren't you curious? Go with Mr. Tiny, find out the truth!" Save yourself from the next six years of hell, in other words.

Harkat looked at me and for a second, I felt a familiar shiver. "I think that if I leave you…to learn the truth…the person I was before…wont' like what I've done." I fell silent.

Mr. Tiny shrugged and started to walk. "So be it. If you do go with them, your participation could be important in defeating the vampaneze lord. However, a warning…try not to let the nightmares eat you alive."

Short chapter. I want to say, however, that this should be wrapping up in, I dunno, ten chapters?

As you may have noticed, my speedy updates have slowed. It is not from a lack of inspiration, but from...well, motivation.

So far I've not cared if I had a review or two. Now, however, as my time has become a precious resource and I've other stories and projects to do...please review.

The speediness of my updates will depend on how many reviews I get.

Remember, I'm doing this for free so...gotta use my time wisely. If I see a genuine interest in wanting more, I'll dedicate more of my time to it. If not, then oh well.