Chapter 27-

(Catarina)

Vancha decides that we should attack separately from all different angles. 2 vampaneze for him, 2 for Mr. Crepsley, 2 for Harkat, 1 vampaneze and a vampet for Shan, and one vampaneze for me. He says I can help Shan after I finish if he needs it. Mr. C says he will handle Evanna.

When we get the signal we fight, me using my dagger swiftly. I duck and dodge blows from the large vampaneze man and stab him in the chest. I yank my dagger back and he falls to the ground. He groans for a few moments then dies. I turn to see how the others are doing. All of the vampaneze are dead except one and his servant. They run for the woods. Evanna had been watching it all and now she stands. "Will you raise your blades to me too Larten?"

He bows to her. "No lady I will not." I frown.

"Then I will not raise a hand to you."

"Two are getting away!" Vancha shouts.

"Harkat stay with me," Mr. C instructs. "Darren, Catarina, go with Vancha."

"Right," Shan nods and we rush off through the woods. We stand ready to fight as Vancha jumps in. My bloody dagger is still in my hand. What surprises us is that Vancha just stands there and the vampaneze escapes as Mr. C and Harkat show up. "You didn't even try to stop him!" Mr. C yells.

"I couldn't fight him," Vancha responds.

"Who was he? Why did you let him escape?"

"His name was Gannen Harst. He's my brother." We are all silent after he reveals this to us so he continues. "My real name is Vancha Harst but I changed it when I became a vampire. Gannen is a year younger than me. We were very close and did everything together including joining the vampaneze. The one who blooded us was an honest man and a good teacher. He explained everything to us. Gannen and I worked together as half vampaneze for a few years. I couldn't get used to the killing. I wanted to quit but by vampaneze rules they had to kill me if I did. Gannen pleaded for my life. I was told to go and never see the vampaneze again. I had a hard time my first few years, trying not to kill those I fed on. I failed. But then I met Paris."

"Paris blooded you?" Mr. Crepsley inquires.

"Yes."

"Even though he knew what you were?"

He nods.

"How can you make someone a vampire if they are vampaneze?" Shan questions.

"It's possible if you are not fully blooded," Mr. C answers. "A half vampaneze can become a vampire and vice versa, but it's dangerous. I only know of it being attempted three times but twice it ended in death for both the blooded and blooder."

"Paris knew the risks," Vancha announces. "He didn't tell me them until after. I wouldn't have done it if I knew his life was in danger. His body's natural defenses destroyed the poisonous vampaneze blood exchanged but it could have easily killed him like his could have killed me. We were lucky. Now that I had vampire blood I could control my feeding urges. I trained to be a General. Only the Princes knew my history but I proved myself many time and they agreed not to tell others"

"Why wasn't I told?" Shan asks.

"If I went to vampire mountain while you were there you would have been told. It's not polite to speak of one while he is absent."

Evanna walks over now and hands Shan his thumb. "I found this and thought you might like it back."

"Damn it Shan," I curse. Vancha sows it on with Mr. Crepsley's help.

Evanna tells us "I take no one's side. I was just listening to what they have to say as I listened to you. If you are trying to hide something where is the best place to hide it?"

"Enough of your rubbish," Vancha tells her.

"It's not rubbish. Even humans know the answer to this."

"Out in the open," Shan responds.

"Exactly!" she claps.

"What are you-" Mr. Crepsley starts.

"The man in the robes...was no servant," Harkat interrupts grimly. "That's what we overlooked...isn't it?"

"Precisely," Evanna holds up four fingers then bends one down. "Your brother didn't run because he was afraid Vancha. He fled because he was protecting someone, not a servant but the vampaneze lord."

We go back to the cirque. Vancha is upset, grabbing a bottle of brandy, and locking himself in a trailer. Evanna says it was not any of our destined time to face Gannen, it was Vancha's. Mr. Tall says Gannen is the key guardian for the vampaneze lord. "Let's be positive," Shan comments. "We gained a lot of information tonight that we can tell our people."

"That's true," Mr. C agrees. "Plus we suffered no losses, we are still as strong as when we started, and we are wiser, and we still have three chances."

We are all getting ready for bed wen we hear shouts. We run over, Mr. Crepsley with a cloak to protect him from the sun. Vancha is yelling at the sun. "Roast me!"

"Vancha!" Mr. C snaps. "What are you doing?"

"Stay away! I'll kill you if you try to stop me!"

"Sire, this is madness."

"It is a mad world. I spared my brother's life who once saved my own and now we all face defeat."

"Dying will not help," Harkat informs him.

"I deserve to be punished. How can I face the Princes and Generals now? My chance to kill the vampaneze lord has passed."

"So you are going to let the sun kill you?" Mr. C demands.

"Yes."

"You're a coward!" Shan exclaims.

"I'm not in the mood for you Darren."

"And a fool!" he points accusingly, stepping forward. "Who gave you the right to quit? What make you think you can abandon the quest and damn us all?"

"I'm no longer part of this quest. It's up to you three now."

"Is it?" he looks at Evanna and Mr. Tall.

"He has the power to influence the quest," Evanna reveals grudgingly.

"But I failed," Vancha is bewildered.

"Once but who's to say you won't have another chance? Nobody said we'd have once chance each," Shan argues.

"I've been an idiot," the older Prince admits.

"Yes," Shan smiles and pulls him to the shade to sleep. I take to my own hammock, exhausted.

The next day it is decided that we are leaving the cirque. Evanna will be going home by herself. Vancha is going back to the mountain to tell the others our news. Mr. Tall tells us "Dark times lie ahead, regardless of the outcome of your quest. I want you to know that there will always be a home for you- all of you- here at the cirque." We all thank him then say goodbye to Vancha who says he will be back to us soon before he flits away.

"Where are we going?" Shan asks as we set out again.

"We can decide later," Mr. Crepsley shrugs. "For now let us simply walk."