Oh my goodness! I am back! I promise you guys I will explain everything in the tumblr I created for this story and for Stranger Than You've Dreamt It. You can get to the blog by following the link here - blog/maninamask01 Thank you so much to everyone who followed this story and the first one.
Special shout out to Kirki101 and GradGirl2010 for reviewing and let's get back to it!

It was a few nights after Harkat revealed his message from Mr. Tiny to the Vampire Princes. It was snowing heavily outside so we took shelter in a small cave and started a fire to warm our tired feet and chilled bodies. Larten was asleep, propped up against the rock wall. Harkat was off hunting for food, apparently (like a famous queen once said) the cold never bothered him anyway. Gavner and I were around the fire, talking about what Harkat said that night the crazed bear attacked.

"It all started 700 years ago," Gavner explained, "the vampaneze decided to break away from the vampires. Mr. Tiny delivers a message to the vampires. He said the vampaneze have no hierarchy; no generals or princes, nobody gives orders and nobody takes them." He paused for a while, gazing in to the flames. "You see…," he started, then he took a deep breath and sighed heavily, "one of the reasons the vampaneze broke away was the Vampire generals and princes. They didn't like that a few vampires could order the majority around like they do." He leaned in close and lowered his voice so our sleeping companion wouldn't hear. "And, to be honest, I agree with some of that. Now, I'm sure Larten would have some words to say about this, but it's not like I want to be a vampaneze in the slightest. I just happen to think some of their ideas are worth taking on board." The vampire sat up straight again and continued speaking at normal volume.

"But listen to me ramble…Anyway, what Mr. Tiny told the princes was 'one day a champion will step up before the leaderless vampaneze. He will be known as the Vampaneze Lord and the other vampaneze will follow him blindly and do everything he says. When he comes to power, he will lead the vampaneze in another war against the vampires." Gavner stretched his arms over his head and the joints in his shoulders gave off a loud "pop". "And, according to Mr. Tiny, it's a war that we vampires can't win."

"Is that true? Does he even know that?" I asked. Gavner gave out a hearty laugh and I felt the embarrassment rush to my cheeks.

"Layla, have you met Mr. Tiny?"

"Yeah, just twice."

"Did he scare you?" He did, but there was no way I was going to admit that.

"Less scared, more just freaked out. I felt as if he wouldn't just kill me, but eat my liver with some fava beans and chianti." I did my best Hannibal Lector impression. Gavner laughed, but I don't think he understood the reference. Then the vampire turned somber and he watched the fire dance before us.

"Too true, but that's not the scariest thing about him. It's his ability to read the future, his foresight. Everything that happened 700 years ago, from the vampaneze independence to the truce that followed, happened exactly as Mr. Tiny had prophesized before they occurred." Gavner looked at me, expression still grave, "But it's dangerous to take his every word as truth, he's been known to lie from time to time." His mouth twitched a slight smile, "because, as you know, he's an evil little worm."

"So, if the Vampaneze Lord does show up, the vampires will have to fight?" I asked. Harkat came back with Balto and Pluto, the cub ran over and jumped on my lap to lick my face.

"Exactly, and it would mean that Mr. Tiny was telling the truth after all." I tried to put Pluto down because he was making it hard to focus on what Gavner was telling me, but every time I did he'd jump back up and start licking again. Harkat went to the far back wall and just stood there, possibly dozing off. "There is one hope though," Gavner continued, "the Stone of Blood".

"What's that? Sounds ominous." Gavner laughed.

"Not at all, you'll see when we get to Vampire Mountain. Mr. Tiny said that if we prevent it from falling into the hands of the vampaneze, long after the battle has been fought and lost, there is a chance that the vampires might rise from the ashes and prosper once again."

"How does he figure that?" The vampire smiled and winked.

"Let me know if you figure it out," Gavner rolled onto his side and put an arm around Balto who was lying next to him, "Now, let's get some sleep, we're nearly at Vampire Mountain." Not seconds later, Gavner was snoring loudly. I wondered if it was okay to leave the fire going while we slept, but I figured it was fine. Gavner probably would've put it out before he fell asleep. As I watched the burning embers I felt my chest constricting. This was so much information to take in: the Vampaneze Lord, the war, the possible end to the vampire race. Tears started to well up as the overwhelming thoughts swam through my head. I tried to convince myself I was over-reacting, but it didn't help.

"You are over-thinking it," a soft voice pulled me back to reality. I inhaled deeply and my lungs started filling with air again, though I'm not sure when I started holding my breath. Larten was looking down at me, smiling softly.

"Did I wake you?" I wiped my eyes with the back of my sleeve.

"No, I just woke up," I couldn't tell if he was telling the truth or just saying that so I didn't feel bad, either way I still felt bad.

"How do you know what I'm thinking? Another weird vampire power?" My mate laughed, not like he did at the thorn bushes, but it still warmed my heart. He sat down next to me and pulled me close, running his long, boney fingers through my hair.

"I just know you. You are worried about fighting a war the might possibly kill off all of the vampires when you just became one yourself, you never signed up for this, you just want to go back to the Cirque and live as normal of a life as you can, and you want to be a platypus," Wow…he really does know me, "Layla, even if there is a war, no one is going to make you fight. You are not obligated to do anything."

"Will you fight?"

"Of course, I am a vampire after all."

"So am I!"

"Half-vampire, technically." I rolled my eyes.

"I feel like I'd be letting everyone down if I just hid."

"Of course not, no one expects anything of you. You are young." I hated when he said that. Sure, he was 200 years old, but still, "Do not worry too much about it. Come, there are only a few hours left until sundown." He stood up and extended his hand to me. He pulled me up and I followed him to the spot he was sleeping in while I was talking to Gavner. I laid down next to him and he put his arm around me like Gavner did Balto. I tried that breathing trick that's supposed to help people sleep, but it didn't work. When I finally did start to fall off I noticed the last sliver of sun peeking out from over the horizon.

Shit…