Note: I've decided to do only one book for each fanfic from now on, so instead of each FF being Books 3-4, ect, they'll just be one book at a time- so they'll be longer that way.

Chapter XII

Ariel awoke once we got back to our hotel, so I informed her that Mr. Crepsley wasn't the murderer while we rode the elevator, and he would explain the rest once we got to our room.

"This is going to be a lengthy story, so listen well." Mr. Crepsley informed us once we walked into our hotel room.

"Murlough."

"That is is the name of the creature who we encountered at the slaughterhouse." He paused. "Murlough is the murderer, and is known as a vampaneze."

"It'd be great to see him again- I'd definitely like to knock some of his teeth out.." Ariel growled. She rubbed the bruise on her face and winced.

"In olden days," Mr. Crepsley continued. "Humans feared vampires and looked upon them as demons or cold blooded monsters, because it was common for us to drink dry from them. The Vampire Generals, however, eventually decided that this was unnecessary, and passed laws against the excess killing. Most vampires obeyed, as they felt it was easier to be unnoticed by humans. But some vampires felt the need to rebel, as they believed that the humans only purpose on earth were for us to feed upon them- As if they were slaves, and condemned to a fate of being sucked dry."

"That's dumb!" I shouted. "Vampires started out as humans! They can't just go around-"

"No.. It's not really dumb," Ariel said. "Even though I don't entirely agree with it, I can still see their point."

"The disobedient vampires believed it was shameful to only take small amounts of blood when feeding, like a leech." Mr. Crepsley explained. "But they though it was noble to drain a person and keep their spirit and blood alive forever,"

"Like when we drank from Valinty.." Ariel added.

"Correct." He replied. "So the rebellious vampires broke away from our clan- seventy to be exact- and established their own, and called themselves the Vampaneze. The vampire clan, who disagreed with the vampaneze's ways, declared war on them. A countless amount of vampaneze died, and quite a few vampires did as well, but our side was winning. Once we were close to victory, the humans that we were trying to protect got in the way." He smiled bitterly.

"Huh?" I asked.

"The humans fought back once the vampaneze began to slaughter them. They were frightened. Unfortunately, they could not tell the difference between vampires and vampaneze, so both were tracked down and killed. We could have dealt with the vampaneze alone, but both were too much. Before we were wiped out, the princes met with the vampaneze leaders. They finally agreed that the vampires would stop attacking the vampaneze if the vampaneze would stop murdering freely, only kill when they needed to, and do their best to hide their victims from society. The truce was successful. Once the humans realized that they were safe, they ceased to attack us. Then, the vampaneze traveled as far away from us a possible."

"Time has changed the vampaneze." He went on. Ariel and I listened closely. "You saw the purple skin and red features that Murlough possesses, did you not?"

We nodded.

"Most vampaneze are not as colorful as Murlough, for he has been consuming dangerously large amounts of blood, but none the less, they still have similar markings. Decades after the human is converted into a vampaneze, the purple and red color starts to set in, because of the large amounts of blood that they have drank in that amount of time."

"So that's how vampires got their bad reputations for killing?" I asked. "Because of the vampaneze?"

"No." Mr. Crepsley replied. "You are saying they are evil, but they are not."

"But they kill when they drink!" I cried.

"Those are their beliefs. I do not agree with them, but I can understand them."

"I still think they're evil.." I protested.

"To humans, they are, but to vampires they are simply misdirected cousins. You are a part of the vampire clan now, so you must accept the fact that they are kin. Instead of hating the vampaneze, try to pity them."

"They do have their noble points." He added. "Vampaneze can never speak a lie, as they will always stick by their word. They will never kill a victim in his or her house, either, which is where the myth that vampires are unable to enter a house unless they are invited inside, originated from."

"So what's with Murlough?" Ariel inquired. "Why is he drinking more blood than he's supposed to? Is that why you were trying to kill him?"

Mr. Crepsley nodded. "Murlough is different. Insanity has taken over his mind, so he is no longer able to hold back the urge to kill. He must feed his lunatic lust. Had he been a vampire, he would have been judged by the Generals and executed. The vampaneze, however, look upon their less fortunate members more kindly. If a vampaneze looses his mind, then he will be ejected from their ranks and set loose to society, rather than killed. They would be murdered by humans sooner or later, anyway."

"But Murlough is craftier than most. He still has enough sense to keep a low profile, kill quietly, and hide the bodies. That is why he has lasted so long." He replied.

"Oh!" Ariel shouted. "So that's why you never entered the man's apartment room! Because you knew that Murlough couldn't enter."

Mr. Crepsley nodded.

"But how did you know that he was going to attack the fat man?" I asked.

"Vampaneze are traditionalists: They will always select their victims in advance by sneaking into the human's room and marking them. Three small scratches on the left cheek." Mr. Crepsley explained. "However, it was an incredible stoke of good fortune that I found his victim. It will not happen again, but I am sure Murlough will leave this town and not return. That, I can settle for."

"What?" I cried. "So you're just going to let him go on a killing spree?!"

"It is not my business to deal with creatures such as Murlough." He simply answered.

"Then why did you get involved in the first place?" Ariel asked. Good question.

"This town is where I was born and raised as a human." Mr. Crepsley replied. "Even though everyone I knew is long gone by know, it is the closest thing to home that I will ever have. Gavner Purl knew this, and knew that I would not be able to sit back and watch Murlough wreak havoc here."

"If Gavner Purl is such a good friend of yours, then why didn't he just take care of the vampaneze for you?" I asked.

"Vampaneze are loyal." Mr. Crepsley replied. "A Vampire General against a mere vampaneze would not be a fair fight- It could spark an all out war. However, a normal vampire versus a vampaneze is appropriate. I would be the only one they would seek to kill, because I do not have any connection to the other vampires."

"I see.." Ariel nodded slowly. "So.. what now?"

"I suppose we return to the Cirque Du Freak. Murlough will not pose as a threat to this city any longer."

"Will we ever come back?" I asked.

"Murlough shall never return, so neither will we."

I sighed. It sucked that we were going to have to leave- I'll miss this place.