Chapter 20-

(Shan)

"You're not a child any longer Darren. You're a man now," Mr. Crepsley says while he is alone with Shan in his room. Harkat is with Catarina.

"I know," he nods, now at the age of 21.

"By human standards anyway," Mr. C adds.

He nods again.

"I knew that someday you would fall in love with someone. I knew that you were going to be changing and growing and...having certain needs and experiences that the rest of us all do."

Shan blushes.

"I wasn't prepared for it to happen so early. You may or may not stay in a relationship with Catarina but I am most sure that you will remain friends always."

"I love her."

"You thought she was strange when you first met her. You did not like her at all."

"I know but I always wanted to meet another young vampire and you encouraged me to get to know her. Once I did, it turned out she's amazing."

"She is a very incredible person. It is not just us who thinks so either. I did notice your closeness but I assumed it was just a bond over being young vampires. I assumed that your relationship with her and other girls would be of friendship. I forgot that you are not the kid I first met at the cirque that night. You have grown into a great young man. I could not be more proud."

Shan smiles.

"Others warned me this might happen...you and Catarina getting together. I ignored them. But now here you are telling me you love her."

"I do. I know I'm young but I do."

Mr. C nods. "I am sure you do. If you did not you would not have risked your life and fought so hard to save her."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was nervous that you would disapprove and I couldn't figure out how to tell you."

"You've never needed my approval in the past."

"I know. I don't need it now either, I just want it."

"Promise me you will not hide things from me anymore, especially things of great importance."

"I promise."

"If you want my approval then you have it. I do not think there is a better girl out there for you. She is incredible and so are you and you are perfect together."

"Thanks," Shan smiles happily.

It is almost two years later when I am ready to take the Trials that almost killed Shan. Everyone, especially him protests my decision. But I have trained hard. I want to prove myself. "If I fail, then I was not fit to be a General," I said.

It was Mr. Crepsley who supported me first.. He said I would have to take the trials anyway, if I chose to do it now they should let me, and he has good faith that I will not fail. "She is stronger than most assume," he told the Princes.

Eventually Shan agreed but he was very nervous. So was Harkat. I told Shan "Now you know how I felt when you took the trials."

I train harder and then I begin the Trials of Initiation. I hear a lot of the same things people have always told me. I'm foolish and too brave for my own good and stubborn. I ignore them, determined.

My first trial is a maze through some of the tunnels. It will be pitch black and along the way there are traps. I have to navigate carefully and avoid danger.

I go slowly and carefully, feeling things the best I can. Some arrows shoot from the wall and I just barely get out of the way. One of them clips me in my upper arm, tearing my shirt and causing me to bleed. I ignore the cut and continue on. I do quite well until I get towards the end and rocks of all sizes begin to fall. I am caught off guard and they pin me to the floor. I groan in pain and for a while I do not move. Eventually I gather my strength and I force myself. I push and shove on rocks with all my strength, crying out with the effort of it all. Then I take deep breaths and climb to my feet. None of my bones are broken, thank the Gods. I am just bruised and scraped up and very dirty.

I make my way out of the cave and everyone claps. Shan and Mr. C walk over to congratulate me. I lean on Shan and make my way to the infirmary hall. They clean my cut and wrap some gauze around it. I am in pain. Shan picks me up and carries me back to my room. He places in bed then kisses my lips quickly. "You did really good Catarina. Sleep."

I take a shower the next day in the waterfall, washing all the dirt away. My body is still cut and bruised and in pain but I deal with it.

My next trial is one of the same that Shan had. It is the path of needles. I do not have much trouble at all. My grace and balance helped greatly.

The next one is harder but again my agility and training with Arra comes in handy. I am on wooden planks much like the bars but a lot higher. Beneath them, if I fall, I will land on sharp pointy rocks and die.

The trials were designed for full blood vampires who trained six years. I am a half vampire who has trained minimally. But the Princes agreed because I am already a General and it was my choice. I am not afraid. If I die, then so be it.

While I make my way across the beams, I have to be careful of bats that live there. I have to get all the way across the overlapping beams, pick up an egg, and return with it to the other side. It's harder than it sounds.

I start slowly, taking my time to keep my balance. I am almost half way, when the bats swarm in. They attack me and I try to block them but I fall. It leaves me dangling high in the air with only one hand on the thin beam. I take a moment to gather my composure and strength, then I pull myself up. I get on my knees first then slowly stand up, arms outstretched. The bats continue to attack and I try my best to ignore them. A few of them hit me and almost knock me off balance again. I can barely even see through their swarm. Finally I make it to the other side. More bats attack brutally when I try to steal the egg. It is a little larger than a normal sized egg but not bigger than a baseball. I start my way across the beams again, continuing to be attacked. I hunch over and cradle the egg against me. If it breaks or drops I fail. The bats are relentless and I almost fall again.

I need my hands to catch me if I fall but I need to hold the egg. I don't have pockets or anything, just a red tunic and leggings. Finally, I place the egg in my shirt, against my chest, and walk. That could be slightly embarrassing but it's much worse if I fail and die. I have to do what I have to do. I work to stay focussed and keep my balance. The bats knock me down once more but this time I have a leg hooked around the beam and one hand gripping it. I wait a moment before pulling myself back up into a sitting position, straddling the board. Then I stand up and continue on through the bats. Finally I reach the end and hold up the egg. Everyone cheers.

"That was an interesting was to hold the egg," Mr. Crepsley tells me.

I blush slightly and shrug.

The fourth trial is under water. I have too swim deep down in dark cold water and find a treasure. Then I have to swim back up, all on my own air supply. There are creatures and vines and all kinds of dangerous things to avoid. I train by holding my breath under water a lot.

Finally I am ready. I work quickly, making my way to the bottom with ease. It takes me a while to locate the crystal ball object but I do not panic. I get it and that's when dangers begin. I can't see anything. Vines tangle around me and I am trapped. I try to stay calm and untangle myself. It is no use. I drop the ball and work hard to free myself. There are thorns on it and I end up very cut up. I swim over and locate the ball again. This time, a giant flesh eating fish hits me hard. I tighten my arms around the ball and go soaring through the water. My back hits a rock really hard. I wince then swim as fast as I can. The fish doesn't give up. It keeps hitting me, being able to smell the scent of my blood and it's hungry.

I don't give up fighting with every last bit of my strength. My lungs are desperate for air. Finally with every last bit of strength I have, I surface and swim to the edge. I climb weakly onto land, gasping and choking for air. I put the ball down after cradling it against me in one arm. Then I cough on my hands and knees, spitting out water and gasping for air. Finally I roll over on my back and close my eyes. People rush over but I slip unconscious.

When I wake I am on my cot with so many blankets over me that I can barely move. I open my eyes and look around. Shan smiles at me, Mr. C by his side. "You did well Catarina," Mr. C tells me.

"Thanks," I mumble.

Once I have had time to warm up, dry off, and eat, I sit with Shan on my bed. We cuddle and he holds me to him. "You only have one more trial. You can do it Cat. I know you can."

"Okay."

"I love you," he tells me.

"I love you too," and then I sleep.

My last trial is in the arena ring. A wild tiger will be released. I have to steal a treasure it has been protecting for a year. It will be the most difficult and dangerous trial yet. I am not scared though. I am sure I can do it but if I fail then I will die and shall have been not meant to be. Shan grabs me and kisses me lovingly. Everyone I pass gives me the death touch symbol meaning Even in Death May You Be Triumphant.

I am wearing leggings, the shoes I made, and a purple sleeveless tunic. I have no weapons except my own two hands. I stand in the arena, slightly crouched with a look of determination on my face. I am ready, showing no fear.

The tiger is released. It looks at me with a murderous gaze. It growls viciously and circles around the treasure. It is a large gold medallion, about the size of a softball, on a chain. The tiger circles around it, not taking it's eyes off of me. I inch forward, glaring at the tiger. I crouch as I move slowly towards it and it lunges at me. I am ready for that and I move out of the way quickly. I make my way towards the medallion quickly. I turn in time to see the tiger run at me and lunge again, swiping it's paw out to hit me. It just barely misses me when I lean back and fall to the ground. I quickly clamber to my feet and look at the tiger. It circles around the medallion and growls.

I don't move for a while. The tiger eventually gets bored and lunges again. I roll out the way and dive for the medallion. I grab it and throw the chain over me around my neck. It's heavier than I thought and will no doubt slow me down. I almost don't have time to get out the way before the tiger attacks again. I land on my stomach and crawl forward until I get to my feet again. The tiger is mad now because I have the treasure. It attacks and this time I attack it back. I grab onto it and gouge it's eyes with my hands. It tries to get me but I jump out of the way then. It still does not give up. It runs around, furious and disoriented. I try to get out of it's way but it can hear me and it can smell me. I get back to the other side. Now that I have the medallion I have to kill the tiger. I grab the spear waiting for me and walk back slowly, crouching slightly.

The tiger lies down and it throws me off guard. I didn't expect it to jump at me all of a sudden and I didn't have time to get out of the way fast enough. It swipes me with it's powerful paw, cutting me deep with it's claws. I scream in pain, falling to the ground. I crawl for my life. I am in the worst pain ever. My body protests movement but I want to stay alive. I can barely move. I can't get away. I have to kill it now or I will be too weak to fight. I turn and I grab the spear.

The vampire Gods look well upon vampires who face death courageously in battle with no fear. I am well aware that I can die right now but I am not scared. I grab the spear and with my determination and courage and every last bit of strength I stab it into the tiger when it lunges at me. It goes right through it's chest. I am still on the ground and I watch the tiger take a few lazy steps before collapsing for good. At first nothing happens but then everyone stands up and cheers so loudly it hurts my ears. Mr. C, Shan, Harkat, and the Princes rush to me. "Can you walk?" Mika questions me.

"I cannot move," I groan. "It hurts."

"We need to get her to the infirmary. She's loosing a lot of blood."

I howl with pain when they pick me up and carry me. My wounds are cleaned and appointment is put on them then I am bandaged up like a mummy. I hiss and howl the whole time through a closed mouth, biting into a pillow. Finally I am left alone. Seba and the Princes stop in to congratulate me. Shan shows up next and I whine. "It hurts."

"I know. It's okay to cry Catarina. It's just me and you now."

I do cry and he comforts me.

After that Mr. C and Harkat show up too. "I wanted to...save you...but I knew...it was not...what you wanted...or what was right..."

"Thank you Harkat. You're a good friend."

He nods. "You too Cat."

"You did very well Catarina. You did prove yourself to be incredibly strong and courageous. You showed no fear and you fought until the end, coming out triumphant every time. I am proud of you," Mr. C tells me.

"Thanks."

"Weren't you scared?" Shan asks me.

"No," I reply honestly.