Chapter 9

With Darren on my back I flitted as fast as I could to the hospital. Darren seemed very impressed with the idea as I heard him gaping but my mind was on what I had done…what has changed not just my future but Steve's and Darren's futures forever…We reached the hospital quickly and quickly turned to him.

"Which room is your friend in?"

He told me the number, I counted the windows as I took off my shoes and told him to get back on my back. I also saw him gaze down at my feet and my red slippers...I only ever wear hard shoes when I preformed but I hated them like hell. As a child I had like to run around barefooted, but slippers are the next best thing.

Suddenly to Darren's surprise, I jumped forward into the wall and my toe and finger nails dug into it. "It is crumbly but it will hold us…" I announced, I could feel Darren's unsteady breathing on my neck. "Do not panic if we slip. I know how to land on my feet. It takes a very long fall to kill a vampire." I told him but I do not think he cared as long as I did as I promised him.

Climbing up with just my nails to support us I found Steve's room and climbed in. Darren got off my back and I knew then we were lucky to be in the room on our own.

I walked over to Steve and though I wanted to get as far away from the monster as I possibly could I studied him to see how the poison had worked…and it had--very much so.

"The poison has worked rapidly." I told Darren, "But we are in time." I added and he sighed with relief "It is a good job you did not wait any longer. A few more hours and he would have been a goner"

"Just get on with it!" said Darren sharply and I nodded, as I took out the glass vial…I examined it quickly as I told Darren how as much dangerous this was as the poison itself and then tilted Steve's head to one side. I made a small cut in the flesh of Steve's neck and then lifted the vial to drink the contents

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Said Darren in an uproar…he looked like he was about to explode.

"It must be passed on by mouth" I explained. "A doctor could inject it but I do not know about needles and the like."

"Is that safe?" I asked. "Won't you pass on germs?"

I sighed--I had been too right for my own good--I would have to get used to him asking me stupid questions. "If you want to call a doctor feel free! Otherwise have some faith in a man who has been doing this since before your grandfather was born!"

I poured the serum into my mouth--the taste of rotten eggs--I rolled it from side to side like a human would mouth wash and then placed my lips at the cut I had made on the boys neck and blew it into him. I sat back and spat out the rest of the serum.

"I am always afraid of swallowing that stuff by accident! One of these nights I am going to have a course about how to do it the easy way!"

It seemed Darren was about to answer my comment when Steve Leopard's eyes snapped open. "What's happening?" Darren asked me concerned when he fainted and returned to unconsciousness.

"It will be alright! He was on the brink of death. The journey back in never a pleasant one. He will be in pain for some time but he will live."

Darren asked about the side effects of the potion. I told him he would catch colds easily but nothing more. Steve woke again this time awake for longer, his eyes concentrating on both Darren and I before he snapped back to sleep. After reliving Darren again his friend would be fine and I went to walk out when a nurse entered.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" she shouted. "Who the hell are--"

I reacted quicker than even I suspected. Grabbing the brats bed covers I threw them over her and stunned she fell to the floor. I ran to the window and opened it.

"Come We must leave immediately!" I hissed at Darren but he was still frozen half way between the door and myself. I realized then what he was going to do.

"So you are reconsidering your deal?" I said--I think my words just made his thoughts clearer as he ran to the door and bounded out I shouted as he did making sure he overheard my promise. "Very Well Darren Shan! It will do you know no good! You are one of us! You will be back! You will come crawling on your knees begging for help! RUN FOOL RUN!"

It was then when I started laughing and I just couldn't stop…nor did I plan to. I watched from the window as the boy started running home, his hands over his eyes trying to get my words out of his head, but he will soon realize the truth.

It was would not be long before he realizes that the key to survival to a vampire--for him is blood…

Fire…Pain…Agony.

I couldn't get out of the maze of fire as it tried to consume me…fire and blood--fire and death…Turning on my hells I called out for help when I saw a figure--

Darren Shan held out his hand to help me and I took it pulling me away from the flame. We stood in the dark and stayed there in silence for a few moments when I noticed he was crying…as though he regretted something.

"Darren--?" I began but didn't get to finish. A sword went through my spine so that I could see it through my gut--Darren just stood there as my attack started laughing. Where was that voice--that evil laugh familiar!

When I remembered--the attacker pushed Darren out of the way onto the floor and Steve Leonard looked down at me where I was down on my knees.

"I TOLD YOU!" he said and his eyes widened with evil, "YOU SHOULD HAVE LET ME DIE WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE…!"

I looked up and he took the sword out of me and brought it down for the final strike--

I woke up so violently I hit my head against the table so hard it smashed where I was sleeping underneath it. Sweat ran down my face and fingers were tightening my heart with fear. I had never been so afraid in my life...

Darren had run from me at the hospital two days ago, It was late on a Friday afternoon and still he had not arrived. When I got back to the basement I spent a lot of time wondering about the recent events. I had blooded a child…saved a boy born to be a monster…and I at the moment had gained nothing from the pain and regret I had caused!

"Charna's guts…" I muttered to myself, I was shaking like a leaf sitting on my own in the dark. I was going to go hunting since I needed human blood badly, but dared not to. If I did I might miss Darren. "That is if he comes back…he could be dead already…!" I thought to myself.

It was a strange idea but it was worth thinking about. I could be waiting for someone who was dead. I was considering going and finding Darren to make sure when I heard footsteps--loud pounding foots steps…

I dared to chance it I steadily strolled to the doorway and as I arrived I saw the boy's figure getting closer. I had been right, Darren Shan had arrived at last.

When he got closer I sighed, "I heard you coming." I told him but he did not seem to care.

"I sucked blood from one of my best friends and almost bit my sister…" he told me. He took that in my stride as I sighed once more.

"You escaped lightly." I told him sadly, "Many vampires kill someone close before they realize they are doomed."

The comment reminded me of Gavner, that had happened to my good friend when he was blooded--killing his brother, that, he told me was where he got his dreadful snoring problem from but I was not sure whether to believe him about that. Darren looked down at the floor and sighed. "There is no going back is there? No magic potion to make me human or keep me from attacking people?"

I shook my head, "The only thing that can stop you now is a good old stake through the heart." I told him.

Darren sighed. He had finally given in. I had seen that look in pair of eyes before "Very well…I don't like it but I guess there is no other choice. I am yours. I won't run away again. Do with me what you wish…" he replied.

You probably wont believe this" I told him sadly. "But I know what you are going through and I feel sorry for you, but that is neither here or there. We have work to do and cannot afford to waste time. Come Darren Shan," I told him and I took his hand to make sure he followed. "We have much to do before you can assume your rightful place at my side."

"Like what?" He asked me confused. I knew what I was going to say would scare him but it was the only method I could think of.

"First of all." I said with a sly smile, "We have to kill you!"