Oh wow. first real update to this story in...well over a year! I've been working on and off this chapter for months and im actually pleased with it. Really, I think thats all I have to say at the moment.

Enjoy, finally!

Several hours after breaking down, sleep still eluded Arrow. He didn't even know if he wanted to sleep. He knew perfectly well that sleep would bring to life dreams and flashbacks of the previous night's slaughter, even when he was awake, they clawed persistently at his already battered conscience. If he slept, he'd be tortured. If he stayed awake, he'd be tortured.

For a moment, he tuned out his brain's actions and listened to his surroundings. He could hear his newest aquaintance, Mika Ver Leth, breathing softly, clearly in a deep sleep. Arrow smiled despite his pain. The young Vampire was sharp, intelligent, and compassionate for his age. He allowed himself to drift off shortly after he thought Arrow had, while the older boy had simply fallen silent rather than asleep. Mika was currently stretched out on the hard stone floor beside Arrow's coffin. The stoney room had an uncomfortable chill; Arrow laid his own blanket over Mika's small back. He wouldn't need it anyway. The cold was just a minor physical distraction, and he welcomed its numbing effect on his weary body.

He debated waking Mika and apoligizing for his furious outburst earlier. He had been overwhelmed with fatigue and grief, but he could have tried harder to keep his temper in check. Mika was simply being hospitable and inquisitive, he hadn't deserved such thoughtless verbal abuse. But an apology could wait till morning, Arrow decided, lying back down. Unwillingly, his thoughts plunged from memory to memory, some made him want to cry, others to laugh, as he his mentor's face burned into the back of his eyelids again and again and again.

Suddenly the confines of the coffin were suffocating him. No matter how he moved, some part of him was constantly touching the sides. He couldn't even imagine putting the lid on. He couldn't stretch, turn, roll over. Hell, he could barely breathe! Whoever said Vampires are meant to sleep in coffins clearly had never experienced the peace and freedom of lying on the cool, untouched outdoor ground, blanketed only by fresh air. Sighing in exhaustion and frustration, he climbed out of the wooden prison and stretched out on the hard stone ground on the opposite side as Mika, taking only a pillow from the coffin. With the cool floor soothing his body, he imagined he was back outside in the wilderness with his mentor, until...until...

Day 1

"Arrow...Arrow...HEY!"

"Whuhappened?" grunted the older boy, rolling over to look up at the culprit who dared poke him awake from such a good sleep. It felt like an ungodly hour to be up, maybe Faren was making him go on one of those dreadful late-night hunting trips...

But the face staring down at him was not his mentor's. Arrow recoiled in suprise at the small darkhaired intruder, and his elbow collided painfully against something hard... and he realised he sleeping beside... a coffin? What could he possibly-

And then every memory from the previous day hit him like an avalance. It must have showed on his face, because Mika cringed sympathetically.

"So that wasn't a dream." Arrow croaked, lying back down and staring at the ceiling without really seeing it. "My mentor has really been chopped up by Vampaneze, I'm really living inside a rock now, and you're really there staring at me."

"I'm sorry I'm real." Mika offered cautiously.

"Not your fault." Arrow grunted, closing his eyes against the tears that threatened again.

"You'll feel better if you come eat something." Mika informed him earnestly. "There's lots of food in the Hall of Khledon Lurt. But I just call it the Hall of Breakfast 'cause couldn't pronounce Khledon when I was little..."

Arrow mumbled something inaudible. Getting up was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Come on, get up. Your mentor wouldn't want this for you." Mika added more agressively.

Arrow drew breath to snarl at the child who dared speak about what Faren would have wanted, but he realised the boy's words were completely true. Faren would be ashamed to see his student lying in a coffin wishing to fade away. Faren would drag him to his feet, and kick his ass down to the Hall of Breakfast.

Despite Arrow's shattered state of mind, he couldn't help be interested in the goings-on of Vampire mountain. Around every turn, there were new faces doing and saying all manners of fascinating things. They seemed to be muttering darkly about war, battle, Vampaneze, and official business in general. None seemed to be cheerful, although all of them gazed curiously at Arrow as he passed.

"Do you know all of these Vampires?" Arrow asked as he sat with Mika at a long, rough-hewn table in the Hall of Breakfast, observing groups of strangers coming and going.

"They're mostly Generals. I've met some of them, but the only Vampires I really know well are Paris, Seba, Vanez, Ronan, and Arian."

"Who are they?"

"Well you met Paris, Ronan and Arian. They're Princes."

"Right." He recalled three older and very authorative Vampires interrogating him about the Vampaneze attack, but he hadn't absorbed their names at the time.

"Paris is my mentor. He's the nicest and smartest Vampire I know." Mika added matter-of-factly. "He'll be your mentor too, and you'll learn all the stuff he's taught me. Which is a lot." the child grinned proudly and continued. "Ronan is nice too, he's not around very often because he leads an army that goes around dealing with Vampaneze problems, and fighting battles, and tracking down mad Vampires and Vampaneze, and stuff like that."

Vamaneze. Just the word made Arrow's blood boil. But he kept his temper in check and Mika kept talking.

"And then there's Arian. Don't ever make him mad. He's cranky and he never smiles, I don't know why. I think he hates everyone. And he definitley doesn't like me. But that's OK, because I don't like him either." Mika whispered controversially.

"Yeah, I remember him." Arrow grunted. The bastard had continued to push for information long after Paris and Ronan had given him a break. And he didn't hesitate to use shock treatment to extract every bloody detail from Arrow's memory. "Who were the other two?"

"Seba and Vanez. Seba's our Quartermaster. He organizes stuff, and manages supplies. He's almost as old as Paris, and he knows a lot of stuff that's kinda interesting, as you don't get him rambling on something dumb, like history. And Vanez is the Games Master, so he manages the Hall of Games and teaches fighting stuff like swordplay, unarmed combat, kickboxing, and how to use weapons. Swordfighting's my favourite." Mika finished with a hint of battle-lust in his young eyes.

"I'd like to meet him." Arrow noted distractedly. His thoughts kept turning back to the Vampaneze... How he'd love to meet Faren's killers in a few years, when he was a fully-grown battle expert.

"You'll meet everyone." Mika promised, sipping bat broth. "The Mountain's not usually this crowded, but Paris said there's rumours that the Vampaneze are planning an attack, so everyone's here talking about it and getting ready."

"Because of the message I brought for the Princes?"

"Well, we knew they've been planning an attack for a long time, but we didn't know they had a way of getting in to the Mountain. We thought they were planning an ambush out there somewhere, but they'll come in here if they can."

That had been Faren's message: Vampire Mountain is not the stronghold you believe it is. They've found a weak spot. They're coming, and they'll take us down this time.

The message had been top secret, any leakage would mean an outrage among the Vampires, maybe even a pre-emptive strike which would bring nothing but complications and future war.

Arrow shivered in suspense.

"How could they get in?"

"I have no idea." said Mika darkly. "I guess your mentor didn't know either. They might have found a natural entrance and they're waiting for the right time to strike, they might have contacts within the mountain, or they've found a traitor Vampire who'll lead 'em right in."

"Why do they want to attack?" Arrow asked in disgust.

"I don't really know for sure." Mika admitted unhappily. "Paris doesn't tell me all the details. But from what I pick up, I think they're after the Stone of Blood."

"But nobody but a Prince can get to it, right? The Hall's protected, Faren told me."

"I guess they think if they get in the Mountain, they can get to the stone. But even if they never see the inside of the Hall of Princes, they could still destroy us if they got in here. Paris says the Stone of Blood is useless to us unless we're here to give it life. But I don't really know what that means..."

"Right." said Arrow miserably. Life was just getting better and better.

"But Paris always tells me not to worry about that stuff." Mika added, seeing the dark look on the other's face. "Come on, let's go see him."

"How the hell are we supposed to get in?" Arrow inquired as he and Mika reached the firmly closed door to the Hall of Princes.

"Some days I have to yell, but the Princes will be coming and going all day today. One of them will come in or out sooner or later."

Then two figures appeared out of a nearby passageway, as if on cue. Both were tall and muscular men who carried themselves with regal authority. The one on the left was tall and athletic-looking, middle-aged, with auburn hair and intelligent eyes. The other was the wider of the two, he had spiky black hair, and eyes darker than death that radiated anger and bloodlust.

"Those are Ronan and Arian." Mika informed Arrow in an undertone. "Arian's the one that looks like he wants to kill you."

"I remember him from last night." Arrow muttered. "Does he ever stop being evil?"

Mika chuckled.

"Nah."

"Good day, Mika, Arrow." said Ronan politely as he neared the two boys. "Again, I am deeply sorry for your loss, but I hope you are finding Vampire Mountain comfortable and interesting."

Arrow shrugged.

"I prefer being outside. Sire." he added quickly.

"Ah, you're just like me, I can tell. You live to hunt and fight, I can see it in your eyes and in the way you move. You could make a legendary killer, with the right training. " Ronan commented with a smile. Then his face darkened. "We could always use one more strong arm when we go into battle with the Vampaneze, as you know."

"Thank you, sire." Arrow replied cautiously, deciding to take this as a compliment.

"Honestly Ronan. He hasn't even been here two full days and you're already filling his head with revenge fantasies? We lose good and decent men to those purple bastards all the time, it's a fact of life."Arian snapped suddenly.

I hate you.

Arrow didn't even intend to think the words, they instinctually branded themselves into his emotions, uninvited but as true as they could be.

"And Mika, if you want to talk to Paris, be damn fast about it. We have very important business to attend to, and we do not need children underfoot." Arian added coldly.

Mika nodded politely, but Arrow could clearly see the beginnings of a sarcastic smirk on the boy's face.

Ronan arched a thick eyebrow and laid his right hand on the panel that granted acess into the Hall.

"Arian, surely you do not stil see Mika as a bothersome child. He is as good a Vampire as any I know." he then turned to Arrow. "Don't mind Arian, he is a brave and honourable Vampire, just a little blunt at times."

Blunt? More like, complete asshole.

Arrow nodded as he followed the Princes in to the Hall.

"And if he said anything last night that hurt or insulted you, do not take it personally. This is a stressful time for all of us. However, Paris and I personally apologize for his attitude." Ronan added in an undertone.

"No hard feelings, Sire." Arrow grunted, shoving back the memories from the previous night.

The Hall of Princes was longer than Arrow expected, and much colder. The room itself gave off an unwelcoming aura, and the feeling of being uncomfortably far from the earth. The chamber was far from empty, there were many long benches set before the thrones of the Princes, apparently to serve as a resting place for those who came on official business, mainly Generals, some accompanied by guards and warriors. All of them looked up as Arrow, Mika, Ronan, and Arian stepped in the room. After bowing respectfully to the princes, all eyes fell on Arrow. Some looked sympathetic, others looked curious, but most were a mixture of disinterest and unwelcome.

They're testing me. Arrow realised with a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. The weak, grieving part of him wanted to look down at his feet and shamefully absorb the unfriendly stares, but Faren had taught him so much better than that. So his mentor's courage prevailed, and he returned every last glare with a steeley gaze of his own, tempered by years of discipline, until he stood face-to-face with Paris Skyle.

"Ah, good evening young Arrow. How was your sleep?" the old Prince greeted in a casual manner, as his sharp eyes searched Arrow for signs of continued trauma.

"Fine, thank you Sire." Arrow lied politely.

"Have you remembered anything else at all from, ah, your experience with the Vampaneze.

"No!" the word must have shot out with more vengance than he intended, because Arian gave him a death glare, and muttered something about insolence. Paris raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.

"I'm done reliving that night." he added flatly.

"Understandable." Paris murmured.

"But if anything at all comes back to you, you know where to find us." Arian declared. "Even the smallest detail could help us take those bastards down."

"Arian, there's more to life than 'taking those bastards down.'" Ronan chided. "Violence can destroy your mind before your body is ever touched."

Arian rolled his eyes and gave his fellow a look of pure disgust.

"Says the master of the Vampire Armies?"

"Aye." Ronan stated confidently. "You can slaughter as many Vampaneze as you like within the confines of your brain, but it won't do a bit of good when you have to face them in the real world."

"You're speaking as if I've never fought one in my life!" Arian snarled, a childlike tone creeping into his voice. "How many battles have we won off the blade of MY sword?"

"Gentlemen, please." Paris interrupted. "Arrow, I would to take the time to get to know you better, and there is much for me to teach you, but now is not the time as you can see." his eyes browsed over the wide room, appearing to be at ease, but clearly taking in every detail. They eventually landed back on Arrow. "How much do you know about the goings-on of Vampire Mountain?"

Arrow called back a recent conversation with Faren. The memory hurt, but comforted him at the same time.

"Faren told me about it... it's basically the Headquarters for the whole clan...at least one Prince always has to be in, and one always has to be out, just in case...Generals come and go, and discuss war stuff, laws, regulations...Council is held every 12 years...the Trials of Death are held here too...the Stone of Blood is right behind the thrones, it holds blood of almost every Vampire on the earth, so you can track them...and if the Vampaneze get it-"

"Alright." Paris interjected suddenly. "You have been well-informed."

"Faren taught me everything."

"I know he did, he was an excellent and honourable Vampire. I knew him reasonably well, and I have no doubt he would want you to continue your traning here, rather than run off back into the wilderness on a revenge mission and meet the same fate as him. Although the choice is yours as I cannot force you to remain here against your will, I ask you take into careful consideration what your mentor would want for you."

Arrow looked at his feet. He'd just been preparing to thank Paris for the hospitality and inform him he would not be staying, but something in the Prince's eyes gave him the impression that to leave now would be disonourable. To himself and to his mentor.

He heard small feet shuffle beside him, and he could feel Mika's dark soulful eyes blazing into him. Arrow breathed an inaudible sigh. Not even 2 days inside this rock and he already had a little brother. But that didn't change the fact that he was in here...

RUN! the volatile, raw and grieving part of his heart screamed.

Stay. pleaded the broken and lonely side that yearned for a family, a home.

Faren would want you to track down the bastards that did this to him! To you!

Revenge can wait. You need to be here.

Arrow gritted his teeth as the battle raged inside him. Paris studied him calmly. Mika looked half-worried and half-hopeful.

Run.

Stay.

RUN!

STAY!

"Arrow?"

"I'll stay. For a while. 'Till I'm ready." he blurted out. He coulsn't believe the distant and alien voice was his own.

Paris nodded approvingly. "Faren would be so proud." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Arrow nodded stiffly, head aching. He heard Mika expel a sigh of relief, as well as Arian let out a bored yawn. Ronan grinned and gave him the thumbs-up.

"Mika, please show Arrow around the Hall of Games, and introduce him to Vanez." Paris continued with a detached smile. "I will see both of you tonight. Have a pleasant day."

"Alright Paris!" said Mika with above-average enthusiasm. "Bye!"

As the two young Vampires walked quickly out of the hall, Mika bumped his arm against Arrow's in a playfully affectionate manner, and the older boy couldn't help but feel he'd made a good decision.

Revenge would come.

Oh, it would come.

Hope that wasnt toooo crappy. It's hard to write them as kids! And Im hoping I have the timing right with all their ages and occupations etc. I wanted to leave Vanez, Seba, and Paris in their DSS roles A) because i always got a Happy Family-ish feeling from the Vampire Mountain books, and B) because I really can't stand OC's, mine or anyone else's and I dont create them unless absolutely necessary.

Annyway, REVIEW. PLEASE. Im continuing writing this thing purely out of love for Arrow and I'd love some more love :)

And how awesome is the mobile version of ? i was reading TVF on my phone in class today...got some giggles outta that, yes i did.

PS, other stuff will soon be updated! I hate working on 4 things at once but it's all coming. Vampires Gone Wild will likely be completed before that Contest-Turned-Summer-Story thing is continued. Annnyway.

First horse show went great incase anyone cares...they eat up tons of my writing time but are soo worth it when I win all kinds of shit :) Got another one next weekend...usually I can channel my energy into TVF which is a good thing.

K imma shut up now, Revieeww babes!

*Roxxy,