Okay, now I've read The Vampire Prince! Yes! And right here I'd like to save a space just for Arra…
God, I miss her. I can't believe she died! And poor Mr Crepsley! What will he do? That was like – his wife!
Anyhow, I will include that she's dead in here. Darren isn't a prince, and as I said before – everything's the same. I only own the Grays, Martha, any extras and myself. R &R! Oh, and if I seem bigheaded using myself in this story – I'm sorry okay? I'm trying to be as honest as possible. This Hannah doesn't look like me but she has my personality. Besides, I'm not sixteen yet. So when I say myself – I don't really mean it (if that makes sense). She's not me really, just a girl called Hannah. Oh and I changed my mind (LOL), Darren is a prince in this. Oh and did it say what colour eyes Arra had? Cause I've just made a BIG mess if she hasn't got blue eyes – or does Mr Crepsley have blue eyes. AGH!
The Vampire Child, Chapter Two
"What do you mean your 'blood-daughter'?" Darren asked, shaking in confusion. "You mean she's an old assistant? Or you blooded her, what?" he asked. Mr Crepsley shook his head and looked out of the window, resting against the kitchen cabinets.
"No, Darren. I mean that she's a relative of mine." He told his assistant, cringing inside. Darren's eyebrows shot up and he stepped forward, as close as he could without having to be warded off by the vampire. "B-But… you – you're a vampire. You can't have children… I don't understand."
Mr Crepsley snorted. "Neither do I. Neither do I…" he trailed off and stared at the kitchen door. Darren could imagine the cogs turning in his mind. "Remember when I told you about Arra being…" Mr Crepsley gulped at the mention of her name and looked heavenward, trying to keep the tears out of his eyes. Darren nodded, remembering how he teased his mentor about having Arra for a wife once.
"Well… she… we…" the vampire took a deep breath and held his head in his hands. "She became pregnant, Darren. It was one of the reasons why I left Council before I was voted Prince. We… we left Vampire Mountain and knew that no one could know about the baby because somehow the vampaneze would find out…"
"I can't believe this," Darren breathed, sitting down on a kitchen stool. Mr Crepsley laughed and bowed his head. "It's true. We gave the child, a boy, to a human family and left. Over the years I kept track of my family tree…"
"So what is she to you? How can you say she's your daughter?" Darren screeched. "Blood-daughter Darren. It doesn't make sense but Mr Tiny came to Council one year, after the message of the Vampaneze Lord, and told us of The Vampire Child that was to be born. If she were alive before the war started then the vampires would be saved.
"He told us that she would be born to vampire parents, yet come along the family tree after five generations, so she would be the vampire's great-great-granddaughter. The other four generations were to be male.
"I watched my family grow over the years. My child, my grandchild, my great grandchild. I never for the life of me thought anything of it – they were all boys. Then," he nodded towards the front room. "Hannah was born,"
"How can you be sure?"
"I tracked her father down, saying I was an old relative – distant – and we kept in touch. He told me of her, her brother, and her half brothers. (Her parents are separated). Mr Tiny said that the blood of the vampires were passed on to each child, getting stronger in each generation until the fifth was a complete vampire… with all the benefits of a human. She could walk in the light, drink blood and go without it. She would have tough skin and age either at the human or vampire rate. She'd be unstoppable – like a Vampire Lord."
"Lady, you mean." Darren was smiling slightly now, thinking about the girl with the blue eyes and brown hair. He remembered, briefly, the way he'd craved for Debbie. But now… this was completely different.
"Yes, that's what I mean." Mr Crepsley smiled. "If she were to be found out by the Princes," Darren coughed and looked around the room. "Excusing you Darren. If Paris found out about her then he'd keep her locked up in Vampire Mountain and I've a feeling that the vampaneze would find out."
"That's stupid! Paris wouldn't tell them!"
"Of course Paris wouldn't but it would be a great achievement for us vampires. After Council… who knows? Someone could get cornered by a vampaneze and then they could let it slip,"
"You really believe this don't you?" Darren lowered his eyes, shuffling his feet. Mr Crepsley looked up, nodded and sighed. "Darren, I'm sure of it. She looks so much like Arra I…"
"Only her eyes…" Darren began but he cut off. Her face was like Arra's but he chose not to see it. Hannah was so fragile – she wasn't like Arra and he didn't want her to be. She wasn't the sort of person to knock him clean off the bars, she was the kind of person you took bowling and thrashed them at it – and bought them a present after to say sorry. Darren realised that he'd just described Hannah in the only way possible. She masked herself behind her popular girl, beauty-queen face, and made a show of herself. In actual fact, she wasn't popular at school and believed she was ugly.
Hannah was the modest type who could see no wrong in anyone – who trusted everyone but went with her better judgement. She was the smartest person Darren had ever met, even though sometimes she seemed to have no common sense. Like the smartest, dumbest person. She got hyper really easily and was ordinary – even though she loved vampires. Hannah would act all dark and go deep in some conversations, but she wasn't likely to start voodoo – even though she was a white witch. No… Darren couldn't call her normal… she was the strangest person he'd ever met, but also the nicest. He was surprised that he knew so much about her after only a day, but he clicked with her just as if they were pieces of a puzzle that fit together.
"If I'm not mistaken – you are quite smitten with her." Mr Crepsley grinned, staring at Darren. He snapped out of his trance immediately and started spluttering a negative, going towards the door. Mr Crepsley laughed, opened a cupboard and took out a vial of blood. Darren opened the door and stepped into the front room – but Hannah wasn't there.
He froze and looked about in a daze. She wasn't on the sofa, or in any of the other rooms. Not the bathroom, any of the bedrooms or the dining room. She'd disappeared.
"Darren? Darren what is it?" Mr Crepsley called from the kitchen, seeing his assistant running about, panicking. "Hannah's gone!" he cried. "I'd have thought she'd have said goodbye… I'm looking for her downstairs." Darren disappeared down the stairs, shaking for reasons he couldn't explain. He had a bad feeling… a very bad feeling…
Hannah crossed her legs and looked towards the kitchen, curious. She could hear raised voices but she couldn't make out what was being said. She was eager to go and eavesdrop but she respected privacy – especially where vampires were concerned. She sighed and turned the TV on. The Simpsons were on, and she knew it was Darren's favourite (as said in book three). She smiled to herself. He hadn't really had to tell her much of how he'd been blooded – she already knew. Why couldn't she meet a guy like that all the time? Why couldn't everyone just read a book and have the boys just jump out and automatically take you around town on a date? Why couldn't you read The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith and immediately afterwards go to town and have Stefan Salvatore take you out to dinner? Because life's not like that…
Hannah's head shot up as the doorbell went. Someone was calling from downstairs. She expected Evra to go down and open the door as he had for her but she heard nothing from downstairs. He'd probably just been in this flat at the time… Hannah got up and opened the door, staring out down the corridor. No movements downstairs. Gavner and Evra were probably watching TV.
She sighed and started walking down. Maybe it was the Grays that lived on the first floor – Darren had told her about them. Maybe they'd forgotten their keys. Or maybe it's Mr Tall… or Harkat or Seba Nile… or… Hannah's mind worked furiously and she ran the last leg of the stairs, wondering whether it was one of Darren's fantastical characters… only to open the door and have her jaw drop.
"You must be Hannah," the figure grinned. Hannah's eyes ran their course up and down his body. He was wearing a black, short-sleeved shirt, trousers and shoes. His hair was blonde and for an instant she had the strangest feeling he was Kurda. But Kurda wouldn't have been this colour… and Darren had said he'd made Kurda up. Another name popped to mind and that name was Murlough. The stranger had purple skin and his eyes, lips and fingernails were the colour of blood.
Hannah screamed.
"I heard a scream downstairs and went to check, but there was no one there. Are you sure she's gone, Darren?" Evra said, staring at his friend, hard. Darren's throat had closed up at the mention of a scream. "Darren?"
"Did you see anyone in the street?"
"No, I told you – no one was there. Why?" Darren didn't want to say it. His conversation with Mr Crepsley had been quite loud - she could have heard and bolted. But the window in the kitchen had been open, and maybe someone outside had heard. Maybe she…
The doorbell rang, simultaneously, for both floors and Evra looked inside his door at the alarm system. He scowled and shut it. "Let's go get it," he told Darren, not checking to see if the younger boy was following him downstairs.
"Finally! You answered…" Tom was on the doorstep, Natasha behind with Millie in her arms. The two were red and panting, frantic – eyes wild. They looked like they'd just run the marathon. Evra hid his chest behind the door (he hadn't told them about his scales) and Darren stared at them soundlessly.
"What is it?" Evra asked, fidgeting uncomfortably. What could possibly be this important that they'd be this tired out, just to get here? "We saw a girl answer the door for you… we were at the end of the square… we saw a guy drag her off."
Darren's face went pale and his eyes widened. "W-What did he look like?" he demanded. Millie started crying and Natasha held onto her tighter. "We saw her scream… this guy had blonde hair… he had the strangest face. I think it was face paint…"
Darren's insides ran cold. "P-Purple?" he managed to spit out, tears threatening to pour down his face. Tom nodded, violently, and slumped against the wall, taking deep breaths. "Who was she anyway?" he asked.
Evra looked at Darren, speechless. He put his hand on his friend's shoulder. Darren's bottom lip quivered. "My girlfriend…" he whispered. Evra opened his mouth to say something, but instead he tightened his grip on Darren.
"No vampaneze… no people with marks… no Hannah. Darren, are you sure about this?" Gavner asked, driving down a side alley. Mr Crepsley's head was bowed. He was trying to locate any vampaneze. It was impossible – he wasn't that powerful. He kept thinking that if he was a fertile vampire then maybe he was a telepath as well. Darren didn't have the heart to tell him to stop – maybe he was grieving as well.
"The Vampire Child is in the hands of the vampaneze. If they present her to their Lord, they may insist on a marriage… there will be a war." Mr Crepsley frowned, speaking tightly through his teeth. Gavner stared at him as if he had three heads. "What are you talking about Larten? Hannah isn't the Vampire Child!" he chuckled, turning a corner at the end of the alley.
Mr Crepsley shook his head. "No, Gavner. She is." And his friend's face went pale, his eyes clouding over in thought.
"If she is the Vampire Child then she can take care of herself until we get there." Gavner suddenly came up with. Evra nodded, fervently, and Darren sighed, looking out of the window.
"I know you…" Hannah said, spitting out the words and glaring at her captor. The vampaneze laughed and cocked his head on one side, staring at her – interested. She'd know this person better if the blood he'd so often drunk hadn't transformed him to the bloated purple figure before her. She hadn't got so far on the Darren Shan books but she was pretty sure of whom the Vampaneze Lord was, and something told her that this person was him.
"Go on, tell me then." He laughed. He was in his twenties, with blonde-hair and green eyes. Hannah scowled – she so wanted to ring his neck for all the things he'd done wrong in his stupid, stupid life! "Steve," she hissed the name as if it were a swear word. The vampaneze seemed genuinely surprised, but then he recovered.
"I suppose that vampire told you." He frowned, referring to Darren. Hannah tried to stand, but she was chained up and she couldn't. "NO! I've read his books! I'd know you anywhere!" she screamed, furious.
Steve frowned and stared at the girl hard. "Darren is an author?"
"Yes and he wrote all about you. About how you chose your jealousy over him. He didn't want to be a vampire, Steve. If you didn't have bad blood then how come you're a vampaneze?"
"Shut up!" Steve cried, careering forward, scratching her cheek with his sharp nails. She screamed and twisted in her binds, crying. They left an open wound trailing down the left side of her face.
"No, Steve." Hannah wasn't planning on stopping. She didn't care how much Steve would hurt her. She'd read those books with the up most emotion, and she'd been determined at the end (as you do) that somehow, if Darren caught up with Steve and just explained…
"No Steve," she said again. "Darren was your friend. But look what you did to him! I know you hate him but just listen…"
"Why should I listen to some dumb old human?" he asked. God he's starting to sound like a sane Murlough… he's crazy! Hannah thought.
"I'm no human, Steve, and you know it," Hannah said softly. She didn't know where it had come from, but she felt she had to say it. She didn't know why she thought she wasn't a human; it was as if someone was putting words in her head. Steve laughed under his breath and sat down, smiling.
"You're right. Okay I'll listen." He grinned. Hannah could feel the blood from her cheek run into her mouth and she shrugged the thought in her head away. Just taste it… it teased, just a little drop…
"Steve… The thing about being bitten by Madam Octa. You know Darren stole her. He didn't know Mr Crepsley before that night – he didn't make a deal with him! He thought Mr Crepsley left when you got bitten! You went into hospital and then Mr Crepsley stole Madam Octa back!"
"I know that already," Steve frowned, even though some of it he'd never heard of before. He leant forward in interest.
"Darren went to Mr Crepsley to get the antidote to save you. Mr Crepsley said he'd only give it to him if he became his assistant. Whatever it was – he was impressed by Darren's courage. Darren agreed, only to save you, and together they helped you wake up. Remember you thought you saw Darren when you woke up?"
Steve nodded, but he was busy thinking, his eyes intently staring at the floor. "Darren ran away after you woke up – he hadn't wanted to be Mr Crepsley's assistant, but he nearly bit Annie and decided it was best if he did leave. Then you got all suspicious… you thought he actually wanted to be a vampire? Not many people are like you Steve…"
"Or you," Steve smiled, his gaze turning to hers. Hannah found herself cornered in his stare. It was icy cold – full of purpose and meaning – and she found herself gulping. "You wanted to be a vampire, didn't you? Why? Why would you want to be one if you are one already?" he sat back.
"I'm not a vampire…" Hannah stammered, confused. Steve laughed and leant in close to her. "I think I understand. It's not a vampire you want to be is it?" he grinned. Hannah recoiled. "Not a vampaneze," she spluttered, furiously shaking her head in detest.
Steve sat back. "So, let's say I believe your story. What am I supposed to do? Go back to Darren and give him a high-five. Pretend nothing happened?" he laughed. He expected Hannah to be caught up in a trap, to stammer, to be put off. She nodded. "That's exactly what you should do." Steve frowned. "I couldn't. He stole my dream..."
"He didn't want it!" Hannah screamed, so angry she thought she'd burst. "If you have to blame someone – blame Mr Crepsley – but not Darren! He was only trying to save you! And this is how you repay him?" They were both shaking. Hannah in anger, Steve in disbelief – in withheld grief.
"No…"
"Don't Steve, you can't hide it anymore. You were wrong. Darren only ever wanted you to be safe. Don't hurt him or yourself more than necessary." Steve had stood up and he turned around, flinging a door open behind him.
"There will be no more talking," he frowned before disappearing.
"Yes, Sire," Hannah spoke tightly, bitterly, and Steve flinched. "Or would you prefer: your majesty?"
"I said-!"
"I know, I know," Hannah bowed her head and shut her eyes. Steve was trembling dangerously and he scrambled outside, his life flashing before his eyes. Of course he didn't really believe it… oh, who was he kidding? Of course he believed it! He'd be an idiot if he didn't. The facts were all there – he'd been acting on impulse. Hell the last years of his life were all on impulse! He let jealousy come in the way of trust, of friends! Right then, he hurt. He hurt badly.
"We don't even know where to look," Darren wailed, hitting his head against the frame of his bed, frustrated. He felt so useless… so tired. Evra put his hand on his shoulder again. He wasn't good at comforting him anymore, contact was the only form of emotion he could string together – words just weren't powerful enough anymore to say he was there for him. Age had changed his view on life… on Darren.
"She'll turn up," he finally mumbled – which was as good as staying silent. He cursed himself in his mind, but just rubbed Darren's back before going back to his apartment. Darren stared a while at Evra's retreating back before jumping into bed, fully clothed. His insides were tying up in knots – he didn't think he could fall asleep even if he were given a dozen sleeping pills. Surprisingly though, as soon as his head touched the pillow – he fell asleep.
"The Vampire Child you say? It would be a decent match, my lord, if you married her." The vampaneze told his master. Steve shook his head, brushing his hair back in wonder. "I don't think I could… she's only sixteen!"
"And you only twenty. Come on, sire, it would ensure the downfall of the vampires. War would be inevitable."
"No! They don't know she exists. I don't even think they'd risk it."
"She is said to be the one to save them. If we have the Vampire Child and the Stone of Blood…"
"Yes but we don't have the Stone of Blood, it's cooped up in their little mountain," Steve frowned, waving a hand. He sat down and picked up another of Darren's books. Ever since Hannah had told him yesterday, he'd read them from cover to cover and was reading about Kurda, the traitor, right that instant. He'd lost sleep and time over the books, but he wanted to uncover the truth.
"If only we had someone from the inside that we could betray last minute. Pretend to set up an alliance? Sire? Sire?" Tamza, the vampaneze, was staring at Steve. His eyes switched to the book in his hand and he frowned. "I've heard of Darren Shan… he's a Vampire Prince…"
"He's a fictional character in this book, Tamza. There will be no alliance, no war and no marriage. Just… leave me in peace," Steve snapped. Tamza opened his mouth to speak but Steve held up a hand in dismissal. Sighing, the bald-headed vampaneze turned and fled the building Steve was occupying.
"They want us to marry," Steve laughed, handing Hannah a slice of toast. The girl stared at it suspiciously, but then leant forward and bit into it. Steve sighed and started eating his breakfast. "You know, I wouldn't mind… you are quite beautiful, you know?" Hannah stopped eating and glared at him.
"No," she snapped, after gulping down a mouthful of toast. "No way. If you say I'm a vampire – then I'm a vampire." I'll play along with it for now… she decided. She didn't know why Steve thought she was a vampire, maybe he'd been led on when she said she wasn't human – but she'd only been stalling him. He should've known she'd been lying!
"You could just as easily be a vampaneze," he told her, eating hungrily. Hannah shook her head and finished off the toast, holding it slightly with the tips of her fingers. She couldn't move her hands otherwise; she had to bend her head to be able to reach the food she wanted to hold.
Steve sighed and pushed his plate across the table. Hannah looked up at him, licking her lips. Steve stared at her, as he often did when he was trying to figure her out. He was desperate to just talk to her, as if he wasn't holding her captive. Most of the time – he just wanted to let her go.
"Let me go," she begged, tears in her eyes. She desperately tried to clasp her hands together. "Please Steve, I can't bear my family to worry about me… please, they'll blame the wrong person… please…"
"You want me to get caught?" he asked, laughing. Hannah didn't know whether she did or not, but she didn't care so long as she was let go. "They might blame Darren, or Mr Crepsley, or Evra, or Gavner or…" she stopped and her eyes widened. "NO! No, they can't blame him!" she screamed. Steve jumped on her, grabbing her wrists as she started wailing, kicking out. "No! No they can't blame him! Please! Please no!"
"Do you think I'd care if they threw Darren in jail?" Steve grinned, even though inside he did care. Now he cared about Darren again – and he didn't want him to get in trouble for something he didn't do.
"Not Darren!" Hannah cried, tears spilling down her face. "Not Darren, he won't be blamed! I can't… no! They can't blame him!" She bowed her head, screaming, letting out fits of sobs. Steve found himself calming her down, rubbing her arm and telling her it was all right.
"Who then?" he was asking softly, brushing her hair out of her face. God, she's gorgeous when she's crying, he thought, sourly. Hannah was shaking and she tried to get him off but he wouldn't go. Eventually she sniffled a reply and turned away, starting to cry again. Steve wasn't sure if he could make out the name, but it sounded something like: Shiver.
"Shiver?" he asked, completely confused. Hannah turned on him, eyes flaring. She was furious and she let rip, screaming the name at the top of her lungs, so angry she wanted to kill someone. "RIVER!"
