Chapter 29-

(Catarina)

Shan introduces me to Debbie one night. "Debbie, I'd like you to meet my fiancé Catarina."

She is obviously surprised to learn he has a fiancé. "Does she have the disease too?"

"Yes," he nods.

"It's nice to meet you Catarina," she shakes my hand.

"You too," I reply but I don't smile. I am not very pleased to be meeting her honestly. I could care less about her.

"How long have you two been together?" Debbie questions him as we sit on the couch.

"About seven years."

She almost chokes on her tea and biscuits. "Wow..."

He nods, smiling lightly.

Shan finally makes a friend at school. His name is Richard Montrose and he is a small nerdy boy. He is kind of intimidated by 'his sister' saying I'm 'scary.' Shan tells him I'm nice if you get to know me. Eventually he does realize that I'm not so bad.

When he gets beat up he falls backwards and almost over a high stair railing. Shan catches him by his ankle and pulls him back up. Shan shrugs it off but Rich says Shan saved his life. They become really good friends after that.

Any free time Shan has, he spends it with Debbie. I had not had a problem with it until now because that is just too much. I deserve a little attention from my mate. Debbie is just a meddlesome human. So I stay in Harkat's room and refuse to talk to Shan.

(Shan)

Shan had an argument with Debbie so he went for a walk through the city. It was dark and he got attacked by a vampaneze with hooks for arms. It runs away when someone else jumps in. That someone happens to be his childhood friend Steve Leonard AKA Steve Leopard. Shan hugs him and cries happily when Steve says he is no longer mad at him. They go to Steve's apartment and Steve stitches Shan's gashed leg and bandages his head. Then Steve tells Shan about his life.

He learned all he could over the years and at age 16 he left, determined to be a vampire hunter. But soon he learned vampires weren't evil or killers. He realized all Shan sacrificed to save him. After that he began a quest to kill vampaneze, so far six of them. Shan invites Steve to the hotel saying "There's someone I want you to meet." On the way there he explains his own life to his old friend.

(Catarina's POV)

Shan tells me he brought someone with him and fills me in on everything quickly. Then he lets Steve in. I am very wary of him but thankful he helped my Shan. "Hello Catarina! Darren has a mate!" he exclaims. "And if I might say so myself she's gorgeous."

Shan grins.

"Hello," I shake Steve's hand. "Thank you for saving Darren."

"No problem," Steve smiles.

I tell Shan to sit down and take a look at his wounds myself. "You have to be more careful Shan," I tell him, looking into his eyes. Then I hug him, resting my head on his shoulder. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you," I whisper.

He hugs me tightly in return.

Steve asks what Harkat is so Harkat explains. Then Steve tells us he has been tracking the vampaneze that attacked Shan. That's how he was there to save him. I hold Shan's hand, not moving from my place on his bed beside him.

A plan is established and soon we are in the tunnels searching for signs of vampaneze the whole weekend. Harkat and Steve have arrow guns. Vampires aren't supposed to use guns. It's against the rules. "Are you sure Catarina shouldn't use one? I mean, she's a girl..." Steve said to Shan.

He shook his head. "Do NOT underestimate Cat. That's one of the worst mistakes you could make."

While on our trip through the tunnels Steve talks about Mr. Crepsley saying he had bad blood. It is the real reason I am wary and not sure I trust Steve. Even Harkat is wary of Steve. "Maybe he confused my ability to kill, with a desire to kill," Steve explains.

Shan goes back to school. He is going to tell them I have the flu. He's going to say he might be catching it himself so he can get out of school. I chose not to go. There were more pressing matters here in the tunnels. My job as a vampire General is coming first and my loyalty to Harkat.

When Shan returns he says vampaneze killed people next door to Debbie and she's demanding answers so he's going to tell her the truth. "What is she informs the police?" Steve responds.

"It's dangerous. Humans are unpredictable," Harkat adds. "You don't know...how she'll act or what she'll do."

"Her safety is at risk," Shan argues. "This is serious."

"I hate Debbie," I comment.

"Because you're jealous?"

I frown and punch him in the stomach making him double over in pain. "No, because she's making you act stupidly."

"I'm not going to stop you," Steve announces.

"This is wrong," Harkat states. "I can't stop you so I won't try but I don't...approve. The group should ALWAYS come before the individual."

I growl and glare at Shan. We all end up going to Debbie's anyway. When Shan tells her the truth she is shocked but eventually says "I believe you." She decides she wants to join us in the tunnels, much to my displeasure. I am still glaring, arms crossed over my chest.

Shan hears footsteps outside suddenly so Harkat and we go to the hallway to see who it is. It seems deserted. I look up at the ceiling and raise an eyebrow when I see who it is. He jumps down. "Vancha!" Shan exclaims.

"You should always check over head," Vancha tells him. "You're mate is seriously going to kick your butt in battles Darren."

I giggle and hug Vancha quickly and lightly. "Thank you."

"Where's Mr. Crepsley?"

"On the roof."

"Get him and I'll introduce you to my friends."

Mr. C is still suspicious of Steve. "Blood doesn't change," he says.

"You could have been wrong Larten," Vancha responds.

"I'm not wrong. I know the taste of evil."

"I wouldn't bet on that. I've found traces of 'evil' blood in several people but many of them went on to live normal lives."

"Not all people who are born evil commit evil but I do not believe in taking chances. I cannot trust him."

"That's Stupid," Shan comments.

"I was cautious at first," Harkat informs them. "But I'm confident now that he's on our side."

"If you say there are traces of evil in his blood, I'm sure there are," Vancha says. "But people can overcome their natural defects. I know nothing of this man but I know Darren and Harkat and I place more faith in their judgment than the quality of Steve's bad blood."

"Catarina, what do you think?" Mr. C turns to me.

I pause then tell him "I was wary also but he has given me no reason not to trust him."

"Very well, I will speak no more of it. But I will keep a very close watch on you."

"Go ahead," Steve retorts.

A plan is discussed. Mr. Crepsley says we have to get on with our mission so we should only stay one more week. Shan agrees saying "It's the best we can do."

"I can do more," Harkat says. "I am not tied to the mission. I will...stay behind if the matters are not resolved by our deadline."

"Me too," Steve adds. "I won't quit until the end."

I can't help looking sad. "Harkat..." I know everyone is expecting me to protest and as much as I want to I cannot. "I will miss you," I finally say.

Everyone goes to the hotel. Mr. Crepsley wants girls in one room and boys in the other. "No," I argue stubbornly. "I am not leaving Darren nor will I share a room with that human."

"Catarina hates Debbie with a passion," Steve explains.

"Fine," Mr. Crepsley sighs. "There is no use arguing. Debbie will be alone in her room then. Now, I will have one bed and Catarina the other, yes?"

"No," I shake my head. "I don't want it. Give it to Harkat."

Harkat looks at me with his big green eyes but I am unwavering in my decision. Once I have made up my mind about something it's almost impossible to change it. "Fine," Mr. Crepsley says, annoyed. He crawls into bed and so does Harkat.

"You are sure?" the little person asks me.

"Goodnight Harkat," I nod then make myself comfortable on the floor, my head on my mate's chest and his arm around me. Vancha is on the floor too. We all sleep.