Chapter 25

(Catarina)

"Vancha nominated Kurda Smahlt to become a Prince," Mr. Crepsley informs us one day while we are all sitting together.

"I admired Kurda. He was known for his brains but also his guts. He was a remarkable vampire," Vancha replies.

"Don't you feel bad after what he did?" Shan questions.

"No, I don't approve of his actions and I wouldn't have spoken up for him but he was following his heart. He acted for the good of the clan. Misguided as he was, I don't think Kurda was a real traitor. He acted poorly but his motives were pure."

"I agree," Harkat nods.

Shan doesn't respond, knowing how Kurda killed Gavner and brought death to many including Arra. I feel the pain in my chest again and like I could cry. I get up and walk away quickly. Shan tries to go after me but I literally push him away. Mr. Crepsley gets up next and comes after me as I wander into the woods. Shan goes back to the camp with Harkat and Vancha. "Catarina," Mr. C grabs me by the arm.

Tears are rolling down my face. I don't cry very often. It takes a lot to make the tears spill. Mr. Crepsley just hugs me tightly and I cry on him. He comforts me. "I'm sorry," I finally say, drying my face on my hands.

"No need to be."

"Thank you."

He smiles lightly. When we return Harkat tells me "I am sorry Catarina. I didn't mean to...upset you."

"I know Harkat," I sit down next to him, away from the others. "It's just...I really cared about Kurda. I trusted him. I didn't ever have many friends but he was my good friend and I...It really hurts Harkat."

For the first time ever he walks over with his own arms outstretched. I accept the hug gratefully.

After that I walk back to camp and greeted by a strong hug from Shan. I hug him back and then he kisses me. I kiss him back but then go sit down because Vancha is looking at us. I sit side by side with Shan and we hold hands.

We soon arrive at Lady Evanna's. Her cave is on a hill by a pond full of poisonous frogs that protect her. Vancha warns us not to call her a witch. She is only a little taller than Harkat, dressed in ropes, one green eye, one brown eye, and hairy. It is surprising and she hugs Vancha picking him up. "My little Vancha," she coos like with a baby. "You've put on some weight."

"And you're uglier than ever Lady."

"You're only saying that to please me," she giggles, dropping him and nodding at Mr. Crepsley. "Larten."

"Evanna," he bows. She flips him on the ground and they wrestle until he surrenders.

She looks at Shan now. He is clearly very nervous. "Lady Evanna."

"It is good to meet you Darren Shan. You are welcome."

Harkat bows next "Lady."

"Hello Harkat, you are also welcome as you were before."

"Before?" he asks.

"This is not your first visit. You have changed but I recognize you. I'm gifted that way. Appearance doesn't deceive me."

"You know who I was...before I became a little person? Who was I?"

"I can't say. That's for you to find out," she says then turns to me. "You're Catarina Lombardi, the vampire General."

I nod. "Nice to meet you Lady Evanna."

"You too. What an extraordinary girl you are," she is looking at me weird, amused and interested and curious. Then she looks at Shan again.

"So this is the boy Prince. I thought you would be younger."

"He was struck by the purge on our way here," Mr. Crepsley comments.

"That explains it," she gazes into his eyes.

"So you're a witch?"

Mr. C and Vancha groan.

"What did you call me?" she hisses.

"Nothing. Sorry. I didn't mean it."

"You two are to blame!" She yells at Vancha and Mr. C. "You told him I was a witch!"

"No Evanna!" Vancha protests.

"We told him not to call you that," Mr. Crepsley adds.

"I am a sorceress. I am not a witch. I can change shape."

"Then why..." Shan starts to ask but stops himself.

"Do I choose this ugly form? I feel comfortable this way. Looks are the least important thing in my world," she replies.

"I prefer you when you're beautiful," Vancha mutters.

"Be careful or I'll take my hand to you like I did to Larten all those years ago. Did he ever tell you how he got that scar?"

Mr. Crepsley has a long scar down the left side of his face. Most vampires brag about theirs but not Mr. C with this one. "Please Lady," he begs. "Do not speak of it. I was young and foolish."

"You most certainly were. I was wearing one of my beautiful faces. Larten got drunk and tried to kiss me. I gave him a little scratch to teach him manners."

"You are cruel Evanna," Mr. Crepsley whines miserably. It's kind of funny. Vancha laughs loudly.

I gaze at the frogs around us. Vancha says they all have faces, the only ones in the world thanks to Evanna's magic.

"I feel bad for hurting you like that," Evanna tells Mr. C. "Let me give you a gift. I know that Arra Sails was killed fighting the vampaneze six years ago."

"She died valiantly."

"Did you keep anything of hers?"

"Vampires do not indulge in such foolishness."

"I do," I say, stepping forward. I pull the garnet necklace from my knapsack and give it to her. She smiles and holds it in her hand, working her magic. She produces a perfect image of Arra on the frog's backs.

"Thank you," Mr. Crepsley whispers.

"No need," she says then turns to us. "Let's go inside and leave him alone."

She serves us a meal of fruits and vegetables because she is vegetarian. I do not feel hungry. I poke at the food and frown. "You do not want to eat my food? Are you ill?" Evanna questions.

I shake my head. "I apologize Lady Evanna."

"Arra was teaching Catarina before she died," Shan informs her.

"I didn't know that," Vancha comments.

Shan nods. "They were pretty close before she died."

"I'm sorry for your loss Catarina," Evanna tells me. I nod.

"Thank you."

When Mr. Crepsley comes inside he is in a serious mood the rest of the night, not saying much and staring off into space.

Evanna's cave is very nice. It has feather beds, paintings hanging on the walls, lamps, couches, fans, exotic fruits and wines. After being trapped in Vampire Mountain for so long it is luxury.

She tells us she doesn't want to discuss business until tomorrow, today is a time for rest and friendship. "Why do you call her Lady? Is she a princess?" Shan asks Voncha.

He laughs. "Do you hear that Lady? The boy thinks you're a princess."

"What's so strange about that? Don't all princesses look like this?" she asks, stroking her beard and mustache. I have to hold back giggles.

"Evanna's far more important than any princess. 17 hundred years ago there lived a vampire by the name of Corza Jarn. He mated with a female vampire Sarfa Grall. They were happy but desired to have children. It's impossible for vampires but they wouldn't give up. Corza sought after Mr. Tiny for hundreds of years. He wasn't sure of who Desmond really is or what he can do, anymore than the rest of us are. Sarfa died along the way but Corrza pressed on. At first Mr. Tiny refused but then for his own reasons, he relented. He warned that the woman and her children would either make the clan more powerful than ever or destroy us completely. Corza agreed to let Tiny take some of his blood. Tiny mixed it with a pregnant wolf and worked some magic. The she-wolf had four babies but two were stillborn. The other two, one boy and one girl, were human in appearance."

"I was that hairy little she wolf," Evanna grins.

"They grew quickly and in a year they were adults, ready to leave their mom and Corza. They boy went first and no one knows what happened to him. When Corza said goodbye to the girl he had a message for the clan saying no one was to seek her as a mate because she would not be ready to have a child for a very long time. That was the last time anyone saw her for around 400 years. During that time she did not choose a mate but she did choose a name, Evanna."

"Is that true?" Shan questions. Vancha just shrugs. Evanna is going out for the night but will be back the next day.

Vancha announces that he is going to sleep and stretches out on the couch. "Will you be okay here Harkat? I need to talk to Catarina alone."

He nods.

"Tell Mr. Crepsley if he asks where we are."

I follow Shan curiously. We walk past the frogs who look at us strange and farther onto a wooded area, that's secluded from the rest of the world. We sit on some moss. "What did you want to talk about?" I ask him.

He leans over and kisses me. "This," he replies. "We haven't had time alone together...there's so much going on...Catarina...I love you."

"I love you too," I respond and then our lips collide again. We lie on the soft moss and make out. I am wearing my red long sleeved tunic with black leggings. He is wearing pants and a shirt. When he pulls my tunic off I do not protest. He kisses my stomach then pulls my leggings off. I tug his clothes off too. I take off my own bra and he slides my panties off quickly. Then we are kissing passionately and making love.

Our clothes go back on but we are both tired and we sleep cuddled together on the moss. When we finally return the next day to Lady Evanna's house Vancha and Mr. Crepsley are already awake. "Where were you two? It is dangerous to go wondering off by yourselves without telling me. I asked Harkat but he wasn't sure where you went. I waited for hours but you did not return."

"Sorry," Shan mumbles.

"I apologize Mr. Crepsley," I say.

He frowns and looks at us. "You smell like...sex. Is that why you wondered off alone? You couldn't wait to-"

"Darren, you naughty boy," Vancha teases. "I didn't know you and Catarina were..." he laughs. "I guess you're not really a boy Prince anymore, are you?"

"No," he replies simply, obviously not amused by the whole situation.

We sit together in the corner and wait for Evanna to return. In the mean time we whisper to each other, hold hands, and kiss. "Get a room," Mr Crepsley scolds us.

"Aw Larten, don't you remember being their age? It was fun, wasn't it? If I remember right, you were quite the ladies man yourself in your younger days," Vancha says.

He frowns.

Evanna returns before much else can be said on the subject. Everything is explained to her by Mr. C. "The four hunters, I have been waiting for you for many centuries. I have some insight and I knew four hunters would emerge to face the vampaneze lord but I didn't know who they'd be. I shall accompany you on your journey but-"

"You're coming with us?" Vancha shouts, surprised.

"Yes but only as a traveling companion. I'll play no part in finding the vampaneze lord."

"You have never traveled with vampires before, Lady," Mr. Crepsley tells her.

"I know but there is someone I wish to meet and I'd rather not be alone."

"We would be honored to have you as an escort Lady Evanna. And please do not take offense if we appear suspicious or unwelcoming but these are troublesome times."

"Well then, I'll just pack my things and we'll take to the road."

"So soon?"

"Now is as good a time as ever. There's something I have to tell you first that Desmond didn't. I don't know if you will fail or succeed on your mission but if you fail all four times, only one of you will be alive to witness the fall of the vampire clan. The other three will be dead."

We are all in a somber mood as we travel. I can't see myself being the last one left. I wouldn't hesitate to give my life protecting Shan or even Mr. Crepsley.

"I'm certain we'll win but if we don't I'd rather die beforehand, for our future, than be there to watch the walls of our world come crashing down," Vancha says. I nod in agreement.