Chapter 36

(Catarina's POV)

In the morning Shan and I go explore the town together. We stop for lunch at his dad's favorite place. He orders a chicken and bacon sandwich because it's what his dad liked so I get the same.

We go to the library because he is wondering if anyone heard about us being branded serial killers in Mr. C's home town. There is only one article about the event that's very short and doesn't mention any names or details. He shows me his house next. He says it hasn't changed.

"Can I help you?" an elderly lady walks over. We must look suspicious, two rough teenagers looking at a house like we are about to rob it.

"I'm Derek Shan and this is my sister Cate. I'm in town visiting friends and I just wanted to see if my cousins still live here."

"You're related to Annie?"

"And Dermot and Angela," his parents.

"They moved away few years ago. Ever since the boy died, fell out a window, it's been miserable for them. I'm surprised they didn't leave sooner."

"Oh..."

"Angela always wanted to live by the sea. Dermot retired when he had a mild heart attack. He's just fine but that's when they left."

"Annie too?"

"No, she still lives here with her boy."

"Boy?"

"Her son, are you sure you're related?"

"I lived abroad most of my life."

"How old are you and your sister?"

"I'm sixteen and shes nineteen."

"Then I can tell you, by the way I'm Bridget. Annie had her baby at sixteen. She never married and they never told us the father's name. Dermot and Angela helped raise him and it brought some happiness back to them."

We hide until Shan sees Annie at night getting laundry from the clothesline in the backyard. The boy helps her. Annie has long brown hair. The boy is chubby and fair haired.

Shan cries the whole way back to the cirque. I hug him tightly and try to comfort him but he doesn't stop crying until he falls asleep. I lie with him, my arms around him all night.

"How was your nephew?" Harkat asks in the morning.

"Oh my gosh, I'm an uncle!" he realizes. I laugh.

"Congratulations. Did he look like you?"

"Not really. He was handsome of course, like all the Shans."

"Of course," Harkat laughs.

Later we see a boy about 10 or 11 with blonde hair, watching us from a distance. Shan decides to show him around the cirque with us. He asks a lot of questions but none about the three of us. He only stares at us in weird way. I don't like him. He's odd. I'm suspicious. Shan gets him a ticket for the show but Mr. Tall warns it's a dangerous place here for children. He obviously doesn't approve. "I don't like him," Harkat announces.

"You're growing suspicious in your old age," Shan responds.

"No," I shake my head. "He's right. There's something wrong with that kid. The way he looked at us..."

"He said 'creatures like you.' I am obviously not...human but how did he know about you?"

Shan shivers and frowns.

"I knew it! He was counting our scars! He knows about vampires!" I exclaim.

We agree to keep our eye out for him tonight at the cirque. I keep my daggers close to me. Shan says it's unnecessary but I want to be prepared if he brings trouble. Lucky for us he doesn't show up. After the show Jekkus walks over to introduce Shan to Tommy Jones, a pro soccer player goal keeper. Jekkus (our knife thrower) is a huge fan of him. The problem is, Tommy Jones was one of Shan's friends at school. He uses the lie about the anti aging disease again. I excuse myself and leave him alone to talk to his friend. When he is gone Shan tells me he got a ticket to the soccer game tomorrow. He also mentions that Tommy knows bad stuff about Steve and wants to talk to him about it.

(Shan)

Shan is having a lot of fun at Tommy's game until it ends. Tommy is walking down a tunnel under the stadium when Shan sees RV pop up and stab him with a hook. RV disappears and Tommy falls to the ground dead. Shan could not get there fast enough due to the crowd of people. He chased after RV to an ally where his friends emerged. Morgan James the ex-cop turned vampet is there along with Gannen, Steve, and Darius. When Darius calls Steve dad and Steve calls Darius son he realizes Steve is a father. Darius shoots Shan in the right shoulder with his arrow gun. Shan runs and they chase him. Suddenly Steve decides it is not the right time to kill Shan and they all leave him alone. He passes out on the street and two people called Declan and Little Kelly rescue him. They bring him to a homeless shelter where he is put in a bed and stitched up. He will have a scar from the wound but it will only be another one for his collection. He sleeps for days, not waking.

(Catarina's POV)

I became very worried when Shan did not return. I was ready to go try to find him when Debbie showed up. She is one of the last people I wanted to see. I pulled a dagger out and held it in front of me. She put her hands up in defense. "I have Darren," she tells me. I lower the dagger but keep it in my hand, scowling at her. I do not like her. She explains quickly so Harkat and I follow her to the shelter. I sit by Shan and do not move. I yell at anyone and shove them away if they try to move me. I am very protective, monitoring my sleeping fiancé. My dagger never leaves my hand.

Finally he does wake up and I give him a careful hug. He explains everything slowly to me and Harkat. He wants us to go to vampire mountain and tell the others about Steve's son. We both refuse. Harkat wants to stay here to protect him. I am aware that it is my duty as a General so I promise to leave soon. I am too stubborn to go now. I will not leave him, especially while he is hurt.

Debbie and the police chief Alice tell us all about their trip to vampire mountain. They are recruiting homeless people know to help the vampires fight. They call themselves vampirites. Alice gives Shan his diary to pass the time. She also gives me the tiara that Arra gave me. It is my one prized possession. I thank her then sit down and cradle it in my arms. It has a very deep sentimental value to me and as I gaze at it I remember all my friends and how I miss them so much it makes my heart ache.

"Are you alright Catarina?" Shan asks me.

I nod, standing up. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I'm going to the mountain to tell the others. It's my job as a General. Besides, there's nothing I can do for you here. You're in good hands and you need time to recover. You're safe. That's all that matters."

"Okay," he nods approvingly.

I travel fast as I can, not flitting but quicker than any human. When I arrive I am greeted by Seba. He takes me to tell the Princes and Generals what I know. It's a long process and they are troubled by it. I discuss plans with them for hours. Finally they let me go to get some rest. Before I do, I need to see Vancha. He wasn't in the room as I was talking to the others. I ask Seba where he is. He takes me to him. "Vancha, there's someone here to see you."

"Tell them I'm busy," is his response. He looks at me then grins.

"Oh, I have a feeling this is someone you want to see."

Vancha walks to us and he is surprised to see me. I hug the dirty smelly Prince tightly and sob helplessly. He hugs me too, caught off guard by my affection. He isn't used to it. People say he doesn't have a heart but it's obvious he does. He cares about me. I can tell. "Alright Cat, don't cry. Tell me what's going on. You're here!"

"I missed you so much Vancha," I confess, still not letting go of him or looking up at him.

He sits me down and smiles. "I missed you too Lass but if you tell anyone that I'll have to punish you."

I giggle and dry my tears. Slowly, I tell him my story. He listens intently, asking a few questions here and there. Finally he sighs, frowning with concern.

"Rest up. In the morning we'll go to Darren and Harkat."

"I'm thirsty," I tell him.

"How long has it been since you've had any blood?"

"Too long," is my answer. He takes me to the dining area and we sit at a table, eating and drinking blood. A lot of others greet me happily during this time. When we are done Vancha walks me to my room.

"I'll see you later Catarina. Rest up."

"Vancha?"

"Yeah?"

"I really did miss you. I'm glad you're ok. I don't have a lot of people left that I really care about. Many of my companions have died. You're important to me."

He grins. "Thanks. See you later Lass."

I smile then go to sleep.

A/N: Merry Christmas Eve 2010! I hope you all have a great Christmas. This is my gift to you. Please give me the gift of comments. Thank you 3