A.N. - Yaaay! 10 reviews in one chapter! I know I said I won't write any more, but I had a little more time so I will post JUST ONE MORE chapter before I go. I've written most of the story out already, and it's probably going to be 14 chapters long. Forgive me if any details are wrong!! I'm a poor little Japanese girl who read the series in Japanese and doesn't even know how to spell most of the names in English...(cries)


Taste of Love

III : Questions

Early morning. Gavner came to wake me up, then led me to the Hall of the Princes to start my set of trials. Vanez was already there, leaning on the front door, smoking, talking up one of the young male guards. He grinned and waved when he saw me - but I just glared back, blushing slightly.

I mean, I can still recall exactly how that kiss felt yesterday - and I was so embarrassed afterwards that I ran off and hid in my room for hours, swearing never to talk to Vanez again - but he just acted as if nothing happened! I quickly hid behind Gavner - Vanez walked up to us, and looked over Gavner's shoulder at me.

'How's my sexy student doing today?'

'Oh stop it Vanez. Look how scared he is, poor thing.'

Gavner turned around and pat my head. Somehow I felt like a dog. I glared at both of them, and strode over to the door to open it. There was no handle. Puzzled, I searched the whole door, but there was only a small hole in the middle. Vanez's arms snaked around my waist, pulling me swiftly into his chest. I struggled but his grip was too tight. He chuckled:

'Don't know how to open it, huh?'

'...............'

I nodded bitterly. Vanez grinned roguishly.

'Well, you see that hole there? You've got to stick your...'

Vanez stopped there - Gavner had punched him in the head (Go Gavner!!) Vanez grunted angrily, rubbing his head.

'Ouch, Gavner! What'd you do that for!?'

'You know exactly why, Vanez Blane. Keep your sick jokes to yourself. Now Kurda, all you have to do is say your name and purpose into the hole, and the guards on the other side will open the door for you.'

Gavner smiled, and then said loudly into the hole:

'Kurda Smahlt, his tutor Vanez Blane, and General Gavner Purl reporting. We have come to start Kurda's trials.'

A few seconds later, the huge door creaked open, and I saw for the first time the Hall of the Princes. A gigantic, dome-like hall. One elderly vampire sat in the middle, scribbling on some parchment with an old quill. He raised his head as we walked near, and stood up gracefully.

'Kurda Smahlt, am I correct?'

'Yes.'

'I have been expecting you. I am Paris Skyle, and it is a pleasure to meet you. Your sire is always talking about you in his letters to me.'

Paris said with a kind smile - I blushed, threw myself before his feet and bowed my head.

'It is an honour, Sire.'

'The honour is mine, Kurda. Now, please do raise your head. You have come to start your trials, if I am not mistaken.'

'Yes, your honour.'

'Well - usually we do this during meetings so that we have many to witness your start to the trials - but as there isn't a Council for another five years, not many meetings are held, nor are there many Generals present. But as special consideration, I allow you to start your trials as long as there is one witness General, one tutor, and one Prince. And here we are. So we may as well start now.'

He smiled at each of us, then picked up a small leather bag from the table.

'Now, Gavner, will you check the contents for us?'

'Of course.'

Gavner checked and counted the stones, then handed the bag back to Paris. He held the bag up and beckoned me to come closer.

'Kurda Smahlt, you may draw your first trial.'

I put my hand in the bag, pulled out the first stone that touched my fingers, and handed it to the Prince.

'Trial number four, the Blooded Boars.'

Paris said, and looked at me.

'As the trials take place at night, you are to be at the stadium by midnight tonight. Till then, prepare well, rest well, and I wish you best of luck.'

'Thankyou.'

'I will see you all tonight, then. Take good care of him, Vanez.'

'Trust me, Sire, I shall.'

Vanez grinned and bowed graciously, then led me out of the hall. Gavner stayed to talk to the Prince. As soon as we were out of the Hall, I looked at Vanez and asked nervously:

'Is it hard?'

'What?'

'My first trial. The Blooded how there are much harder ones, I'd think it's a pretty good choice you made.'

Phew. That's a relief.

'So......What do I have to do, exactly?'

'Simple. You just have to kill two crazy murderous boars in a colosseum-like stadium.'

'.........Oh. And that's simple?'

'Yeah. All you have to be careful about is their fangs. If you get stabbed, consider yourself dead. But if you don't, you'll be fine.'

Vanez said, then whistled cheerfully. Somehow I felt like crying. Yeah, sure, that sounds easy enough! Vanez took me to the Great Hall, and decided to leave me there.

'Take some breakfast first. You haven't eaten yet, right? You can't fight with an empty stomach. I'll clean up the games hall for you to practice, so come when you're finished, okay?'

'Alright.'

I smiled and waved. Vanez winked and walked off. Thank God, I have some time to myself, away from the deranged perverted psychopath! I grinned to myself and hummed as I walked into the hall to take a late breakfast.

I finished eating in less than ten minutes, and cleaned my plates up. I can't waste any time - I have to prepare for my trial. Now that my stomach was full, I felt somewhat happier than before, and I strode to the games hall with a smile on my face. A smile which froze on my face the second I walked into the hall.

The hall was empty at first sight, but in a dark corner I saw Vanez. And a girl. Kissing. She was pushed up against the wall just like I was yesterday. Her arms were tight around Vanez's neck, whereas his hands were sliding all over her. I gulped and hid behind the entrance - the girl and Vanez's lips parted for a second, allowing both of them to breath.

'I...love you...'

She said breathlessly, before being silenced again by Vanez's lips. I felt sick, sat down against the entrance, and glared at the ground, angry at Vanez but not knowing why.

Five minutes passed. Then ten minutes. Fifteen. I dared not look in the hall again, fearful of what they may be doing. Finally I heard footsteps, and looked up. Vanez was standing next to me, waving at the girl as she walked away dreamily into the corridors. She turned around once, her long black hair swaying with the motion, smiled, and blew a kiss. Vanez pretended to catch the kiss, eat it, then blew back a kiss. She chuckled and waved again, turned around, and walked away a little dizzily. Vanez put his hands on his hips, and sighed contentedly. He then looked down at me surprisedly.

'Wow! Since when were you there!?'

'Quite some while ago.'

'Had some breakfast?'

'Ages ago.'

'That was quick! Come on then, let's get started!'

He grinned and walked into the hall. I followed, noticing with slight sickness how Vanez looked much happier than before he was with the girl. He led me into the spear ring, then took off his shirt for the first time. He had a tanned, well-muscled chest, not hairy or shiny but flat and smooth looking - but what drew my attention the most was a tattoo. A huge tattoo of the head of a lion, engraved right in the middle of his chest. He realised me staring at it, and chuckled.

'You gaping at my abs, or the tattoo?'

'.........The tattoo.'

'Oh. Well, I got this to commemorate the loss of my left eye.'

'Commemorate?'

'Yeah. I lost it during a fight with a lion. Didn't I tell you?'

'No. I thought you lost it in a spear fight or something!'

'Of course not! I've never lost a spear fight in my life, kid. Even with blindfolds.'

He said, and winked playfully. I winced, remembering yesterday's fight - and quickly changed the subject.

'Who was she?'

'She?'

'That girl you were ki......talking to, just before.'

'Oh. Just someone.'

'Who?'

'...A past student.'

'Do you love her?'

I asked, trying my best to sound casual - Vanez just shrugged, and tied up his hair (the long bits) with a band. I didn't give up there.

'Do you think you'll.........will you ever......get a mate again?'

'God you're a curious brat today! No, I won't get another mate. And just in case you're gonna ask why, I don't want to because if I do, I can't sleep around without getting in trouble by an overly possessive and jealous mate. Anything else?'

'.........No.'

'Good. Now take your shirt off, get a spear and get in the ring. I'll teach you how to fight the boars.'

All morning we fought with the spears, had a brief break at noon to eat, and then I learnt how to avoid the boars' fangs and how to fight with a knife. By early afternoon I was so exhausted that I collapsed into Vanez's arms and begged him for some rest. He had to carry me to my room, where I instantly fell asleep on the floor (I was so tired that I didn't even realise how dangerous this was), and dreamt of wild boars and lions chasing me around the ring, Vanez watching and laughing in the middle...

A.N. (contd) - Well.... That, I guess, is all you will get for another few weeks unless I decide that I want to write more between packing luggages and writing Christmas cards. I know it was a little short - please forgive me! - I'll write more next time (I think), so please don't get too angry!

Countess Verona Dracula

Yeah. I never told anyone in my OC fics, but most of the stories I wrote in Japanese were slash fics. KurdaVanez is one thing I really didn't want to write here, but oh well. I'm having so much fun it doesn't really matter any more... I'm glad you forgive me for writing KurdaVanez!! How to get in a room....Hmmm... Well I won't let them do things until later chapters, but I will at some point, so don't worry! I'm actually so busy at the moment, that I barely JUST have time to write fics, and I can not read a lot. It sucks... But I'll have to read lots when I come back from Japan. I hope you have a great holiday, too!

Inyx

So soon? I left it for a few days. I used to update my other fics every single day! So for me, this one's going pretty slow... Yes, you may love me. And I love you. So we love each other! Yay! Just like Harkat and Vancha! Yay! Okay. I'll calm down now. Oh, soapy Kurda? Well, I just can't imagine him smelling bad, you know. I'd imagine him to smell of male perfume or soap all the time! Vanez would smell of either alcohol or tobacco, so there's a nice contrast there. Oh... I'm so sorry about Vanez's mate being a girl, but I have to show that he's a bisexual some way or another. I want to make Kurda jealous of girls! So I'm really sorry about this chapter overall (for Vanez kissing a girl). Asparagus are those green sprouty things, not purple. They look like small green sticks, bumpy at the tip. Rather suggestive shape, really. Gavner to the rescue!! I'm going to try and get as much Gavner as possible for you in this fic. Trying trying trying... Well, I'm really sorry about the tattoo not being a carrot, the name of his mum, or an arrow pointing down to his crotch (I was so going to use that, but then felt sorry for Kurda who sees it, so I didn't.), or a heart on his ass with sexy written into it (I couldn't use this because I'd have to use it in really later chapters where Kurda and Vanez are actually naked together). Oh please, Harkat, do put your wax lips on, and chase after Vancha. NOT ME!!!

Clam theif

A GAVNER FIC!? Noooooo noooooo noooo, I can't do that! Please don't ask me to do a Gavner fic... I'm so bad at making his character! I can't stand the thought of him being the centre of my fic (not that I don't like him - I love him - but it's just so hard portraying him!)! But I'll make sure to put heaps of him in this fic, so don't be angry!!

S-A

Yay! Another dirty-minded person! We can be dirty friends!! Or dirts! Weﾁfre dirts!! (Does that make any sense??) Anyway, my dirt, Iﾁfm glad pervy vanez has made you happy. Youﾁfre cool, too, so you should write pervy stuff too!! Yes, I agree. Ants need a lot of loving. I saved one from the bath last night. Are you proud of me??

The Freaky Butt Mate

You changed your penname!! Well I'm sorry this chapter wasn't really lemonny, but I guess it's a little suggestive... Little....(cries) I'm sorry, okay!? Wow you have a lot of muses! And you die a lot... Argh! Don't kill me! I'm not doing anything in particular in Japan, believe me. I'm just cleaning up the house and helping moving stuff because my grand parents are re-building the house! That's all! (runs off in fear of being murdered) Kurda: Um...as delico just ran off, I was left to say - thanks for reviewin...(gets kidnapped by Freaky Butt Mate and gets locked in a cellar)

SilentlyCrying

Wowa you changed your penname! It's so beautiful...and sad!! Some ideas? Well...Some that I don't want you to write would be LartenDarren, EvraDarren, KurdaDarren because they seem to be too common around here. Do something really unusual, like VanchaDarren or LartenHarkat or GavnerKurda! Just something unusual would be great! Thanks for reviewing!

Showjumper916

I'm so surprised so many people like gay lemons... I'll try my hardest to be graphic and slashy, my friend. Thanks for reviewing!!

Fear The Walls Of Jericho

Thank god, my saviour!! You are my sire in ffnet! Your reviews are so helpful... Yes, Kurda is seriously scared - but it will be long before they finally get together, I think, lol. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!

Sadistic-Nightmares

What a funky penname!! Yeah, not a lot of people ever think of VanezKurda, but that's okay. You can get used to it. I'm not sure about recommending, though. They may think you're weird, lol. Anyway, thanks for reading this and reviewing!!