Chapter 38

(Catarina's POV)

There is a huge pit on the floor filled with stakes. Steve is on stage behind protection thick giant logs. He says he does not want to fight tonight and will leave shortly. Shan asks why he doesn't just leave now. He informs us that he is going to make a sacrifice first for luck in the war. "You can't kill him Dad!" a small voice suddenly breaks through the theater. "He's just a kid like me!"

"Shut up! I'll explain later!" Steve shouts at him.

"If you kill Shancus I'll kill Darius," Shan threatens.

"Put down your weapons. Let's trade the boys. We won't attack if you don't."

We all reluctantly put down our weapons. I frown, growling and crouching into a fighting position. I will tear him apart with my bare hands if I have to.

Gannen, RV, and Steve emerge with a tied up Shancus. We stare at them across the pit. Steve smiles then suddenly he twists Shancus' head, snapping his neck. He laughs. "I dare you to kill Darius!"

My first instinct is to say yes. I am furious. I want to scream and go crazy and get revenge. But the bigger more rational part of me tells me no. It tells me that it's not right. Darius is just a boy. The one who deserves to die is the evil Steve. "You won't kill him!" Steve continues. "Do you know who he is? He's Annie's son! He's your nephew!"

We are all shocked. Steve and the others get away. Vancha tries to chase him but he's not fast enough and he loses them. Everyone starts to cry. Evra makes his way across the pit with us and a board is placed so the rest can cross easily. He clings to the lifeless body of his son and wails mournfully. I drop to my knees beside him and cry, holding onto the limp wrist of my dead godson. After a while I feel Evra's arm wrap around me and we hold onto each other and Shancus as we cry. Eventually I have no more tears. I give the death touch to Shancus saying quietly "Even in death may you be triumphant my Godson. I love you forever."

Then I go to Shan. He is still crying. "I wish I was dead," he mumbles. I embrace him tightly and we hold each other for a long time. My heart aches terribly but I know there is nothing I can do about it. I cannot change what has happened tonight.

Alice is thinking the same way. She tells us we should get moving and get revenge. Shan is too upset. "You're not a child Darren so stop acting like one," Alice scolds him. "I care but we can't bring him back and we'll achieve nothing by standing around moping."

It is decided what to do next. Harkat will carry Shancus' body back to the cirque. Debbie and Evra will go with him. Harkat tells us to promise not to fight Steve without him then he leaves.

Shan and Vancha talk to Darius. I sit down and say nothing, just gazing off into space numbly. Darius informs us that he didn't know Shan is his uncle. He thought his uncle was dead. He says the boy Shan saw before was his friend, not him. Shan and Vancha tell him everything. Darius realizes his dad lied to him, calling his own father 'evil.' He's been sneaking off without Annie knowing to see Steve. Shan tells him he has to go back to his mother. Vancha interrupts and informs us that he cannot. He'll need to feed and when he feeds he will kill because of the vampaneze in him. It can't be helped.

It is decided that we have to talk to Annie. On the way Evanna tells us there is still hope. "The Lord of the Shadows will bring mankind to it's knees but he will not crush it entirely. One day far in the future humans might rise again." I feel a little better in one way knowing that. It gives me something to focus on. There are still people out there who can be saved. Some kind of good can come of this. There is still hope...

Shan and Darius go inside while the rest of us wait outside. He will let us know when it's okay to come inside. "How are you holding up Catarina?" Vancha asks me.

"I'm fine."

"You sure?"

I nod. "There is nothing I can do about what has happened. I am sad but I cannot focus on that right now. There are more important things. I'm sorry."

"You have no need to be sorry."

"Are you okay?"

"Of course."

"Vancha...if you die...I mean...when you do...I will miss you."

"Aye, I know and I will miss you too."

I stand straight and give him the death touch. He smiles at me. I give him a tight hug and brush back any tears trying to escape.

"You're strong. You're a good girl. You'll be okay Catarina."

"Thank you."

He in turn gives me the death touch symbol. It makes me smile lightly.

"Oh Vancha...I really have grown so fond of you."

"And I of you my little lassie."

I smile a real smile this time and he smiles too. It only lasts for a while though. This is serious. The whole world is falling apart. I have lost my Godson tonight and so many people I cared about before. The future ahead of me is very dark and there's no escaping it.

Shan walks over a few minutes later. "Catarina, I want you to come inside but only you. The others will have to wait a little longer, okay?"

Vancha nods and nudges me forward. I take Shan's hand in mine as we walk into his family home. I look around curiously. "Catarina?" Annie asks.

"Yes," I nod. "You must be Annie. I've heard so many lovely things about you."

She smiles lightly. "Please sit down." I sit beside her brother. "You are engaged to Darren?"

"Yes," I answer.

"You love him very much, don't you?"

"I do."

"I can see how much he loves you."

"Catarina is my life," he responds. She smiles that faint smile again.

"I can tell you two have been through a lot together."

"We have."

"There's others you have to meet," Shan announces. He brings in Alice, Vancha, and Evanna. She is not quite sure what to make of the odd looking Evanna and Vancha but lets them in nonetheless. Shan explains to his sister what Darius is now. He tells her he will have to make Darius a vampire in order to save him from being a killer but it will be dangerous and both of them could die. They do it anyway. Both of them convulse and cry out in pain on the floor. Annie cries, Vancha stands guard, and I just watch. There is nothing I can do but watch. I know he could die but I do not think he will. He is strong. He will be okay. I have faith in him. I feel bad that he is in pain but I know I cannot help him right now. All I can do is watch...

He throws up on the floor and his whole body shakes. One of his hands grips the wall in attempt to steady himself as he dry heaves. Eventually both him and Darius calm down. Darius is placed on the couch with his mother, he is unconscious but alive and well. Vancha wipes Shan's face and tells him "You've come through it. You'll be okay- with the luck of the vampires."

"I feel awful," he moans.

"You won't improve anytime soon. It took me a month to settle down. And you've got the purge too so you're in for some rough nights Sire!"

Alice helps him into a chair and asks him what he wants to drink. Vancha says blood would be good for him. Alice doesn't hesitate a single bit to cut herself and let him drink from her. I turn away, wincing. "Catarina? You alright?" Vancha questions quietly.

"Yes," I nod, staring at the wall.

"You certainly have a healthy thirst for a little vampire, don't you?"

"I do. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he laughs then turns to Alice. "You're some woman," he tells her.

"The best," she answers.

"I could sleep for a week," Shan complains.

"You should. You're recovering from injury, you're in the middle of the purge, and you just pulled off the most dangerous transfusion known to vampires. You've earned a rest," Vancha says. Then he tells us we should go to the cirque and rest. When Annie hears that the cirque is camped in the stadium she becomes alarmed. She informs us that on the news it said cops are surrounding the stadium, sure that the killers of Tommy Jones are in there, and are ready to kill everyone. Annie regretfully packs her belongings and leaves to safety with Darius who is still sound asleep.

(Shan)

"Darren!" she calls her brother into her bedroom. He goes in slowly.

"What is it Annie?"

"This, take this," she hands him a ring. "It was Grandmother's. You were always supposed to give it to your wife someday."

"Thank you."

(Catarina's POV)

It is a sad goodbye but Shan gets Annie's cell number and tells her he'll contact her later or some vampire will. We all talk and Evanna tells us this is it, Steve is waiting for us in the stadium and it's time for the final show down. "Okay, let's go," Alice says.

"No, wait," Shan shakes his head. "I have to do something,"

"What do you mean?"

"Catarina, I love you more than anything. I love you more than life itself. You are my world. All we've been through...I don't know what I'd do without you. Please Cat...I want you to be my wife forever. You're my soul mate."

He has a ring in his hand. I smile, mostly in disbelief. I am surprised but I nod. "Yes, of course. I love you too Shan, so much," I hug him and kiss him. We make out until Vancha interrupts us. I slide the ring on my finger. He says it was his grandmothers. It's gold and there's rubies in it. This ring is perfect.

We all head for the stadium. This is the end. This is our final fight. Darkness is closing in and our fate will soon be set permanently. This is our destiny.

A/N: Don't forget to comment please. Two more chapters left 3