Chapter 39

(Catarina's POV)

Vampets are inside the stadium with Steve. We get in no problem. The cirque people are huddled together in a group surrounded by Vampets. Alexander Ribs is dead and poor little Shancus' body is hanging by a noose. Shan and I both growl when we see it. Merla whispers to him and then he tells us she told him the cirque members will fight with us. Neither Merla nor Evra blame us for what happened to their son. When they look at us I see only pity in their eyes for us. "You heard what Tiny said, this is it. It's me or you," Steve says to Shan.

"Maybe," he shrugs.

"What?" Steve is confused by Shan's response.

"We make our own futures," Vancha answers. "Whatever happens here tonight I believe my people will defeat your people."

"Fine, then how about this?" Steve challenges and Debbie is brought out.

"My clan comes before them. She knows that," Shan tells him.

"Okay then Shan, if that's how you want to play it, RV kill her!"

"I don't want to...Why did you kill that kid? It was wrong!"

"You idiot!" Steve shouts.

"Now!" Vancha yells. Homeless people armed with weapons rush in. Alice and Debbie recruited them. The cirque also joins in on the fight. The Vampets are outnumbered by us. Chaos erupts in the stadium. Mr. Tiny and Evanna watch from the sidelines.

I use my daggers and slash at the Vampets with both hands. The whole time I keep my eyes on Shan and Vancha. I watch for Steve, hoping to get close enough to kill the evil bastard.

I catch it as Gannen and Steve run away down the hill to the river. So do my friends and we chase after them quickly. Our own fight begins on the river banks. Evanna and Mr. Tiny followed to watch. I gasp when Gannen stabs his own brother through the middle with his sword. Vancha falls to the ground. Suddenly out of nowhere, before I can retaliate, RV jumps out and stabs Gannen which shocks everyone. Gannen falls now too, blood seeping from his wound. Steve kills RV for what he did.

(Shan's POV)

I look over to see how Catarina is doing. She is strong and I know she can fight very well. I do not doubt her but I still like to keep an eye on her because I love her. I would die for her.

I almost gasp when I see her. She looks so vicious. She is growling and furious, ready to fight with both hands clenched tightly around bloody daggers. She is hurting inside. She wants revenge. She is strong and brave and she will fight to the death for this. This really is it. It's now or never. Cat understands this. Cat is beautiful even now. She is splashed with blood, bruised and cut, clothes dirty and torn, short light brown hair tied back by ribbon, growling and ready to kill, furious, but still beautiful. She never ceases to amaze me. Even if I die now I know she will go on to be an incredible vampire. I lover her always and forever.

That prophecy can't come true. I'd never hurt Catarina. I'd die before I hurt her. I'd die before that horrible vision could ever come true. There has to be some way around it and I intend to find that out.

(Catarina's POV)

Steve and Shan wrestle under a dark bridge with knives. Shan's arm is cut and Steve stabs him deep in the belly. I lunge at him while Shan recovers. We wrestle and growl at each other. I want to kill him! I slash him up in many places with my dagger. I cut one of his arms so deep you can see bone. But then he throws me and I hit a rock with my back and head. Steve grins, announcing this as his victory.

"You know the key to winning a fight like this?" Shan asks him. "Less talking, more stabbing." He stabs Steve right in the chest and Steve drops.

"Congratulations young Shan," Tiny claps.

"You are now the Lord of the Shadows," Evanna informs him.

"Now you can join me," Tiny grins.

"What makes you think I'd join you?" Shan asks him. I climb to my feet and pant, one hand on my head where it aches.

"You owe me, all three of you do. I've been there for you even when you didn't know it. I helped you know when to grab your ticket Darren, I've helped you stay alive and on this path, not the luck of the vampires. I helped Steve get started on his path and I even helped you Catarina. I influenced Jonathan to change you."

"Why us?" Shan questions. "We were just normal kids."

"You were never normal. I wanted new heirs, different heirs. I made up two sons so they would fight and the stronger won would win in the end. You are my son Darren and so is Steve."

"Catarina?" Shan looks at me in shock but I'm in shock too.

"I watched her for a very long time. I knew the strength and intellect and courage and loyalty and the potential in her. I knew what she could be, what she was capable of doing. I knew she could help my young Darren and she could prove to be an interesting pawn."

"I'm not your pawn!" I spit angrily.

"And I'm not your son," Shan says.

"Father..." Evanna is in shock too.

"Yes you are," Mr. Tiny grins. "You'll be a monster just like me now because this is your destiny."

"No it's not," he kneels down by Steve. "Steve, you're right. I always hated you. You're just a pathetic loser," he lies. I am confused. My head is practically spinning. This is so overwhelming. What's going on? What is he doing? What now?

Steve stabs Shan. "No you fool!" Tiny yells.

"Too late," Shan grins. "Destiny rejected."

Both boys fall into the river and die. "NOOOOO!" I scream in anguish. "NO! Shan! Darren! No!"

I reach in and grab his body. It is completely lifeless. I cling to it and sob for a long time. No one says anything. No one moves. Everyone is in shock. Finally Evanna walks over and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Catarina," she says but I shove her with all my strength. She goes flying backwards and crashes into her father. I stand up and growl, letting go of my Shan.

"You monsters! I hate you!" I scream furiously. I would kill them right now but I can't. Vancha grabs my ankle and suddenly my attention switches to him.

"Vancha..." I mumble.

"I'm okay Cat...I will live...You will live...please do not...let the hate...consume you...do not be a monster...Darren and Larten would not want it...please..." he coughs.

I remember when Mr. Crepsley died. He told me I would get through anything because I am strong. He told us to not let hatred rule our lives. He told us to live as free vampires and to not become twisted revenge-driven creatures of despair. He told us to not become like Steve or his spirit would not rest in paradise.

"Vancha," I fall down and sob against the bloody Prince. Mr. Tiny disappears by the time Evanna drags us off to be taken care of. I stopped crying and sat there like a zombie as I was examined and had my cuts cleaned up by Evanna.

"I am sorry Catarina. I assure you I grieve with you. I am surprised by this too. I know you do not like me but I do apologize. Stay strong," she leaves me with the death touch symbol and goes to help Vancha.

I wander back up the hill where the fighting has ended. Death consumes the ground. Bodies are everywhere drenched in blood. Merla is crying with her son in her arms. "Catarina!" Evra exclaims. He rushes over to me with Debbie and Alice.

"What happened? Is it over? Where's Darren?" Debbie questions.

"It is over. Steve is dead and so is Darren. He sacrificed himself for us."

"No," Evra shakes his head. "No," he cries.

"What? He can't be dead! He-" Debbie protests. I knock her to the ground and punch her repeatedly until Alice and some of the cirque pull me off of her. She is unconscious and bleeding but will be fine.

I go outside and throw things, kick things, lash out angrily in any way I can. I scream and cry and growl loudly. This isn't the way it was supposed to be! My mate is gone! Everyone is gone!

Truska emerges from the tent and hugs me. Even when I fight to push her away she hugs me. She comforts me and tells me about when she lost her husband and daughter. That was hard for her and she was very sad but she could not let the sorrow consume her. She kept living because it is worse if you don't. You can't let the loss beat you. She says that is the worst thing.

Merla is grieving but she still offers me her condolence. She tells me she's sorry because Darren was a wonderful man and she says I still have a home with them if I ever need it. She says I can contact them at any time for any reason. If I need anything I should let them know. I thank her, drying my face on my dirty ripped tunic.

Finally I find Harkat. He has been crying. "Catarina...I'm so sorry. I will miss Darren too...He was a good friend."

I kneel down and hug Harkat. Tears flow again.

Eventually the night comes to an end. I go with Harkat and Vancha. The Prince is awake and bandaged. He is healing. I hear so is his brother. I could care less about that vampaneze. How dare he stab his own brother? How dare he try to take away my Vancha?

"Oh Vancha," I hug him miserably. He hugs me too, petting my hair and rubbing my back to comfort me. I spend the whole next day asleep in his bed with him at the homeless shelter where survivors of all kinds are gathered. The homeless people, Alice, and the cirque are there. Debbie has gone home.

When I wake up it is because Vancha is waking me. He tells me to eat but I do not feel like eating. I don't even feel like I have the strength to move. I just want to die.

I go back to sleep for the next week. I wake up every so often but only for short times. During those times I am aware of people offering their condolence, people crying, people recovering, people talking to me, people trying to get me to eat...stupid stuff like that. A lot of the time I wake up beside Harkat. He is grieving but he is also not leaving my side unless I am under the watch of Vancha. He is worried about me. He cares very much about me. He tells me he cannot lose me too. He says I am his only real friend and he'd be so horribly lost without me. He says he will protect me and he says I will heal even if I do not think so right now. He says he will never leave my side and he will not let anyone hurt me. I just nodded tiredly.

Other times I climb into Vancha's bed and he doesn't protest ever. He just hugs me and holds me while I sleep. He tells me I am strong and one of the most amazing people he's ever met in all his life. He tells me I will get through this, he has no doubt about that. He says he cares about me and he'll help me get better. He says he won't ever leave me. He says he's going to take good care of me for Darren and for Larten. I trust Vancha. I am thankful to the vampire gods if there are any that he is still alive. I still have Vancha and Harkat. If I did not have them I could not live. It would simply be impossible. I'm not even sure if it's possible now...

A/N: Oh man, I am so sad that this story is coming to an end. The next chapter is the last chapter. It is split up into two parts and will most likely be posted one part at a time. Thank you for reading. Please don't forget to leave a comment as the story comes to an end. I love you all.