Kuroi's POV

I asked Vanez if Arwyn and I could have a round on the bars and he had no problem. He, Kirin, and Arra backed away as Arwyn and I mounted. Several vampires had been standing by awaiting the fight.

I was pretty good at the bars. I'd never fought Arwyn before, and the only people who had ever beaten me were Mika and Kirin. After this fight, if I won, I would fight Arra.

Finally Vanez blew the whistle telling us to start. Arwyn attacked quickly, trying to have her staff collide with my head. I blocked it and jumped to another bar. As Arwyn followed I swiped at her ankle. She lost her balance, but caught herself. Some vampires were cheering for Arwyn, some for me.

I decided to let her attack me all she wanted and just keep up my defense. She would eventually get tired and then I would have my chance.

Arwyn was fighting her best, which was really good. Arra was shouting directions to one of us, but I couldn't hear her over the shouting vampires. Drops of sweat were falling from Arwyn's face and hair that had once been tied back had fallen out. Now was my time to strike. With all my saved energy I advanced towards her swinging my staff above my head and jabbing at her.

Arwyn leaped back and didn't realize I had her cornered. More shouting and cheering. "Now is your chance!" "Arwyn fight back!" Finish her off!" "Push back!"

My last move: I faked a shot at her stomach, which she fell for, and with all my strength, whacked my staff at her head. Arwyn fell off the bars and the crowd roared with delight. I jumped down next to Arwyn who was dazed.

"Arwyn? Sorry about that! Are you ok? Good fight!"

I helped her to her feet and we walked over to Vanez, Kirin, and Arra near a bench.

"Awesome fighting skills!" Arra praised me. "I await the chance I get to fight you."

What surprised me though was her outstretched hand. Arra only shook the hand of the people she respected...very few. I sat on the bench next to Arwyn.

"You ok?" I laughed.

"Sure." she mumbled.

Today was already going great. Vanez had gone to start another game and I really wanted to go see if Mika's meeting was finished. Arra, Kirin, and Arwyn came also.

We walked out of the Hall of Sport and continued through passages leading to the Hall of Princes. But as we passed the main entrance into the mountain, all hell broke loose.

I gasped at the site that lay ahead of us. Hundreds of vampaneze and vampets poured into the mountain, killing any vampire in their way. No one had thought the war had come to this.

A few years ago there were vampaneze hidden in the mountain by a going-to-be prince Kurda Smahlt. Kurda murdered Gavner Purl, a vampire general, when he had found out. Darren had actually seen the whole thing and got away. That battle we had won. Now there was this.