-Chapter 15-

(Catarina)

I take a shower in the water fall then I get dressed. I miss Arra even more as I remember her dressing me up and doing my hair for me. I wipe away a few tears then pull on a black long sleeved blouse and a black tight skirt. I pull on black ballet flats like the ones I had ruined the day Shan was in the water maze. Then I pull my hair up into a bun.

I run into Mr. Crepsley in the hall. "Hello Catarina," he greets me sorrowfully.

"Hello Mr. C, I'm sorry for you loss."

"Thank you, your loss too."

I nod. "Mr.C..."

"Yes?"

"When you promised Arra that you'd watch over me and protect me, did you mean it?" I start to cry again. "I...I feel horrible. I didn't have anyone before I came here. I've never had any friends. But here I made a few new friends and look what happened to them! Kurda betrayed me, Arra is dead, Vanez is blind, Gavner is murdered...I have no one except you and Darren. Please Mr. C...don't leave me..."

He surprises me with a hug but it is a welcomed gesture. I hug him back. "I meant it Catarina. I will protect you and Darren with my life. I will not abandon you."

"Thank you," I say and then I wipe away my tears. I hurry away and talk to other vampires. Everyone commends me for my acts of bravery and strength and loyalty and they also all tell me how sorry they are for me losing Arra. They know she had been tutoring me.

When I get to Shan he is sitting alone in his room. "Mr. Crepsley was here," he tells me. "He was by Arra's side all day."

"I saw him once but I don't think he left her after that for anything."

He nods. "She died in his arms."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too...He said he's proud of us, you know."

I smile lightly. "I am proud of you too Shan."

"You look nice today even though you look so sad."

"Thank you."

We lie snuggled together in his hammock the rest of the time before we have to go to the trial.

Vampires cheer when we walk in and I blush. They usher us and Mr. C to the front seats. Kurda appears in chains before the Princes. He admits that he was in league with vampaneze and it was all his idea. He said the vampaneze lord is real and he is going to kill us for sure. We started the war now.

Finally, Paris says that he has to be punished even though he was doing what he thought was right. He is a traitor. They will kill him on the spikes in the hall of death and then they will cut up his body so his soul cannot go to Paradise. When they ask if anyone wants to suggest a lesser punishment no one raises their hand. Tears fall and I keep my head down, placing my hand on Shan's. He holds it tightly in his.

I leave Shan alone to write in his diary about his adventures. Harkat shows up at my room while I am sitting on my cot, crying. "Cat...may I enter?"

"Yeah," I nod, sniffling.

He walks in and climbs up onto my cot. I hug him then sit up and dry my face with my hands. "You are truly...an amazing person...and an incredible friend...Catarina. I will never forget...your kindness...Despite my appearance...and reputation...you treat me...normal. You hug me...and call me friend...and talk to me...and show me kindness...I am sorry...for you losses...and the hardship...but you are great...and you will go far in life...I am honored...to call you friend."

"Thank you Harkat. You deserve a lot of kindness from everyone. You are a good friend. Thank you for all you've done and thank you most of all for saving Darren."

"He is my...friend too...You care very much...for him. Anyone...can see that."

I nod.

We spend some time together before he leaves and I get ready for the funeral. I wear a long black dress and the dress shoes I wore for the festival. I put my hair in a bun but don't bother with any make up. I will just cry the whole time anyway. Mr. Crepsley arrives to get me and I go with him and Shan. We hold hands the whole way there and don't let go when we arrive.

Gavner's body is dressed in a white robe and is cremated first. Since Paris is the oldest he speaks. "His name was Gavner Purl. He died with honor. May his spirit find Paradise."

I cry helplessly. Shan lets go of my hand only to wrap one arm around me. We go into the hall to wait for Arra's turn. Vanez and Seba walk over. Vanez tells us "I'd rather have kept my eyes but it's not the end of the world. I can still hear, smell, and feel my way around. It will take a while to get used to but I learned to adapt when I lost my first eye. I'm sure I'll be able to cope without the second."

Then he asks "Have the Princes declared Darren's fate yet?"

"No, not yet," Mr. C says.

"A death penalty has never been revoked. The Princes will have to alter the laws in order to spare Darren's life."

"Then alter them they shall!" Mr. Crepsley growls.

"Easy Larten," Seba says. "He just means one way or the other it is an unusual case."

"There is no one way one or the other. I promised Arra I would not let Darren be killed. She said he head earned the right to life and anyone who would argue with her dying wish will have me to deal with. We have endured enough death. I will not stand for anymore."

It is time for Arra's cremation. "Be brave," Seba says. "She would not have wanted emotional outbursts."

"I will be," Mr. C responds. "But I miss her with all my heart and soul."

Seba places an arm around him and he stays composed. I on the other hand try my best. I do not have any outburst but tears do flow. Shan has one arm around me and one around Larten. Vanez places one hand on my shoulder.

When it is over Mr. Crepsley goes to his room and he weeps so loudly that it echoes through the halls and tunnels.

I go to my room and I sob, falling to my knees and hitting the floor. I sob hard and loud, not caring if anyone hears me. I have been through so much recently and it is overwhelming.

At some point Shan walks in and he tries to comfort me but it is no use. I cry until I cannot breathe. Then I take quick aching gasps of air and let my heart rate slow down o normal again. When I finally have a hold of myself I apologize to Shan. "Don't be sorry," he tells me and he kisses the top of my head. He holds me and soon we are both fast asleep on my cot.