-Chapter 14-

(Catarina)

"You should stay here," Vanez tells me.

I shake my head, refusing. "I will not."

"Stay!"

"No!"

"You're just as stubborn as ever Catarina."

I nod, smiling slyly.

Shan, Mr. C, and Seba go down to get the spiders since they can control them. I remain outside wearing the outfit I wore into the tunnels with Vanez previously, complete with the knife in my belt. I stay perched on a ledge, watching in the daylight. Shan appears soon and commands the spiders to enter the vampaneze tunnel. I can hear the screams and panic going on inside. Shan slowly starts to creep in and after a few minutes I follow him. I watch as the vampaneze go crazy, trying to get rid of the spiders as more pour in.

Then come the vampires. They wield their weapons and murder. Even Shan has killed one. Vanez says that it's not a pretty sight. He says Shan is smart to not be like the others and think of it as fun. It is cruel but necessary.

I watch Arra as I try to leave with Shan. But we stop when we see the vampaneze, the one called Gladla that we had seen before with Kurda, plunge his sword into Arra's stomach. And before I or Mr. C can stop Shan he runs in to help her. Without thinking I join him. He plunges his dagger into the vampaneze chest. He falls to his knees and mutters some curses. I plunge my knife into his throat, hard. He falls down and dies. We bend down next to Arra. She is in bad shape. "Will I die?" she asks.

"I don't know," Shan replies. "Maybe..."

"At least I will not die unavenged," she says. "You fight well Darren, Catarina. It was an honor to teach you Cat. You are both true vampires."

"Thank you," we say in unison.

We look up just in time to see a vampaneze throw a dagger through the air. It hits Vanez right in his one good eye. He screams and Seba pulls him away. He will be blind for the rest of his life. I feel bad. Vanez is a friend and he is not a bad person. He has helped me and Shan greatly.

I can see the wolf known as Streak running around. One of the younger wolves is dead in the corner.

When the last vampaneze dies he shouts "May the demons take you all!"

And immediately the cleaning up began. We had lost twelve vampires total. A stretcher is brought for Arra who is looking worse than before. "Larten," she says. "Don't let them kill Darren! I was one of those...who insisted on his...death when he failed...the Trials. But tell them I said he should...be spared. He's a...worthy vampire. He's earned a...reprieve. Tell them!"

"You can tell them yourself," he answers and to our surprise he is crying. "You will recover. I will take you to the hall of Princes. You can speak up for him."

"Maybe. But if I don't...you'll do it for me? You'll tell them...what I said? You'll protect him?"

He nods.

"Please...don't let them near Catarina...She is rather exceptional...Don't let anyone talk down to her...don't let anyone hurt her...watch over her...protect her...Please..." she begs.

"I will do as you say Arra."

"Promise me," she demands. "Give me your word."

"I promise you Arra sails that I will protect and watch over Catarina. I give you my word."

Tears are streaming down my own face now. A few hours later news reaches us that she is dead. Shan wraps his arms around me and I sob against him. When I finally am calmed down Seba limps over and tells us "Do not mourn too grievously for her. She died proudly as she would have wished."

I left then. I went and I wandered the halls aimlessly. I ended up at the infirmary/ hospital area. I found Vanez sitting in a bed with a bandage over his empty eyes. "Vanez?"

"Catarina?"

"Yes sir," I respond. "It is me."

"You did well tonight."

"Thanks, you did well also."

"You know, some people told me this would happen if I kept going like I was."

"I am sorry."

"Don't be. I'll be fine."

"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me and more importantly for Darren."

"It was no problem. You are both great young vampires and good people also."

"You are a good friend Vanez."

He smiles. "Go now and be with Darren."

"I will. Goodbye. See you later."

I went to Shan's room and I found him there, sitting in his hammock. He got up when he saw me and I hugged him tightly. He hugged me too and for a long time we just stood together embracing. It had been a long, horrible day.

"Shan," I finally say.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

He looks at me, our arms still around each other. Then he says "I love you too."

We kiss passionately and then we squish together in his hammock and rest, holding each other, until we fall asleep. In the morning I wake up before he does so I leave him to rest.