Chapter 28-

(Catarina)

We made our way to Mr. Crepsley's home town. It is being attacked by vampaneze but we haven't seen any yet. We hide in the tunnels under the town during the day. At night we go to the two hotel rooms we have. Shan has been to this city before one Christmas with Mr. C and Evra.

By the time we climb into our hotel room windows we are dirty and exhausted. We take baths then collapse in bed. Both rooms have two beds each. Harkat ended up sharing a room with Mr. C. I said he didn't have to if he didn't want to but he insisted that it didn't bother him.

Most of the time I don't sleep in my own bed anyway. I usually slide into bed with Shan, one of his arms over me and my head on his chest. And it would be really okay if Harkat wanted to stay here because it's not like I need privacy with Shan. Neither one of us has been in the mood. We are exhausted and we can barely move when we get to the hotel. During the day we are in nasty dirty smelly tunnels. It's not very pleasant.

When Shan and I first got together we were 17 and 20 going on 21. We were still really young. We did get together physically but it wasn't something that happened often. Our relationship was almost like really close best friends. There was years in between it. But as we grew we matured and so did our relationship. Now, there's just too much other stuff going on to even think about it.

Today is interesting because someone comes to visit looking for Vur Horston and his children. That is the name Mr. Crepsley signed in as and it was easier to say we were his children than to explain. The man is Mr. Blaws and he is a school inspector wondering why Shan is not in school. He has records in his briefcase saying Shan is fifteen and enrolled in a school called Mahler's. I greet the man but then disappear with Harkat in the other room. We listen as Mr. C is awoken and sent over to Shan's room to deal with this man. Shan uses the excuse of family problems for his reason of why he is not attending school. Mr. Blaws says if he doesn't go social workers then the police will come after him. When he leaves Mr. C informs us it is impossible that he filled out the forms because he cannot read or write. We are all surprised as we gather together in Shan's room. "I am able to sign my name, read numbers, recognize certain words, and read maps accurately but..."

"How can you not be able to read or write?" Shan is astounded.

"Things were different when I was young. The world was simpler. I was the fifth child in a poor family and went to work at the age of eight."

"So if you didn't fill out the papers, who did?"

"Is it a trap?" I ask.

"It could have been Mr. Tiny," Harkat suggests. "He loves to stir things up. Perhaps this is his idea...of a joke."

"What do we do? Should I go to school or ignore the warnings?"

"I do not want us separated," Mr. Crepsley comments.

"The only other option is to leave," Harkat replies. "Though, this might be the city we are destined to...meet the Vampaneze Lord again."

"This is a matter for Darren to decide. As a Prince, he must make the decision," Mr. Crepsley says.

"Thanks," Shan tells him sarcastically.

"This is about you. Life will be hard for you if we stay. You will have to mix with human children and teachers and you will be the most vulnerable to attack."

"Catarina, what should I do?" he turns to me.

"I cannot make the choice for you."

He frowns. "I'll be so vulnerable myself..."

"I could go with you."

"What?"

"I do not look older than any other teenager and with my old records...I would just change a few things but all the same it says I never finished high school. Mr. Blaws did not mention me because at my age it is my choice whether I attend school."

"Do you think that could work?"

"I suppose so, yes," Mr. Crepsley answers. "We would have to discuss it with that school inspector but...it would be better than nothing."

Mr. Blaws has no problem with it, in fact he is excited. Shan I and I shop for school supplies with each other then put on our uniforms. He is wearing a green sweater, a light green shirt, gray pants, black shoes, and a green tie. I have on a green sweater with a little v-neck, a green skirt, knee high socks, and black shoes. "You look way better than I do," Shan tells me.

"You look...okay."

He rolls his eyes at me.

"I cannot believe I am doing this," I announce.

"It will be a fascinating opportunity," Mr. Crepsley responds. "You will both be able to revisit your past and be human again."

"I did not want to be human," I mutter, frowning.

"What if they don't like me?" Shan worries.

"You are a Prince, far superior to any there," Mr. Crepsley reminds him.

When we arrive at the Mahler's school, Shan hunts for the principal. I am not pleased to be here. I lean against a wall and cross my arms over my chest, frowning. Shan asks a group of kids if they know where the principal is. The boy replies with "Get stuffed, asswipe!"

"What?" Shan is surprised.

"You heard me," they walk away. With our heightened senses we are both able to hear what they are saying as they leave.

"That guy's seriously weird," a girl comments.

"He looks like he came from a zoo," the boy responds.

Shan looks upset so I tell him "Don't listen to them. What do they know?"

Throughout our first day, people stare at Shan's scars and burns. It makes him feel very self conscious. The official report says he was in a fire. It's close enough to the truth.

People comment on me too. They say I talk weird, I'm strange and kind of creepy. I mostly stay away from everyone, watching it all from a distance. I could care less about them or what they think. I do not talk unless a teacher asks me a question. I don't make an effort to get friends because I don't need human kid friends.

I don't struggle as much as Shan with the school work because of all the books I read. It's still not exactly easy though.

I don't even see Shan except for lunch. Otherwise, we have all different classes. I'm in a higher grade than him because of our 'age difference.' All I can do is hope he's not getting himself into trouble.

When we go back to the hotel he informs us his English teacher is Miss Debbie Hemlock, his first girlfriend. He met her here when he was still a kid. Harkat and Mr. Crepsley find it a strange coincidence so we wait outside while Shan visits her apartment. I do not feel jealous. Why should I?

We came up with a story to explain. Shan tells her he has a rare aging disease. He says Evra and him weren't brothers but from the same hospital where Mr. Crepsley isn't their dad but a doctor. She offers to tutor him but she still sees him as a teen student so she has no romantic feelings for him.

Mr. Crepsley announces to us that Mika sent him a telepathic message informing us that Paris has died. We all frown. I wish I could go to his funeral but I don't ask to. I have to stay here with Shan and Harkat. Mr. Crepsley goes, leaving us here for what will be a few weeks.

"How are you feeling?" I ask Shan after Mr. C leaves. He is sitting on his bed, frowning.

"I don't know."

"What's bothering you? We all knew Paris was old."

"That's not it. I mean, I'm not happy about it but we knew. It's so strange here. I don't fit in at school. Everyone just stares at me and makes fun of me."

I crawl over to him and kiss his lips. "Do not worry about their foolish human child opinions. They know nothing. You are a vampire Prince. Nothing in their little world could compare."

"The scars and burns...I look like Frankenstein now. I can understand why they are staring."

"Vampires are proud of their scars."

"Not me."

"You are still just as handsome as the day I met you," I tell him.

"You think so?"

I smile.

"You're opinion doesn't count."

"What?" I punch him in the chest. He winces. Then I get up and walk away. He jumps off the bed and grabs my arm.

"Catarina wait, that's not what I meant."

I turn and face him. "We had this discussion once before...Do my scars bother you?" I had asked him that when we talked about this last time.

"No," he answers truthfully.

"Your scars do not bother me. It is the same."

"I'm sorry Cat. I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

I nod. "Yes but I forgive you."

He closes the distance between us, pressing his lips to mine. His hands go to my waist and my arms wrap around him. We are still kissing when Harkat walks in. I take a step back away from Shan but he doesn't let go of me. "I just wanted to say Goodnight," Harkat tells us.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay in our room?" I offer.

He nods. "Thank you anyway Cat."

"Goodnight Harkat," I say and so does Shan. The little person goes back to his room, shutting the door behind him.

Shan surprises me by picking me up and carrying me back to his bed. I giggle. We lie together. He smiles. I kiss him and he kisses back quickly. It's a kiss that's full of loving emotion. After a moment he rolls over on top of me, straddling me on his hands and knees. We make out.

His hand moves to my waist and hesitantly he starts to push my shirt up. I help pull it off of me and it's not long after that, that the rest of our clothes are scattered on the floor and we are making love.