Chapter Song: Running Up That Hill - Placebo
Chapter XIV
"Shut up!" The vampaneze snapped. "I won't take anymore lip from a runtish little half vampire like yourself. One more threat and I'm off- and that'll be the end of your precious princess."
My fingers, which still had a tight enough grip on the bars to turn my knuckles white, were starting to tremble. I could still feel tears rolling down my cheeks. But as much as I wanted to scream at the monster and strangle him, I had to bit my lip and hold everything back.
It doesn't hurt me.
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
You (be running up that hill)
You and me (be running up that hill)
"Good boy!" Murlough exclaimed once I calmed down.
"So, you knew that Ariel is the princess," I began, my voice struggling to sound calm. "Then you should know that if you kill her, that would start an all out war between my clan and yours."
He smirked. "Darren Shan has a bit of brains in that head of his, hmm? You're not as stupid as most vampires. Still, no one has more brains than Murlough. Young Murlough has brains oozing out of his ears, some would say."
"Please stop."
"Anyway," He went on. "You're right- It will start a war. Maybe that's why I captured Ari. But they won't find me, no. Murlough's too slick, especially for dull vampires."
"What?! Why would you want to start a war?"
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...
"How does, for kicks and giggles grab you?" Murlough snickered.
"You're insane!" I growled.
"Insane?" I expected him to be furious because of the insult, but he only giggled. "Do I look insane to you? Young Murlough isn't insane! I'm as sane as a vampaneze ever lived. Would I be hear if I was crazy? Do you see me foaming at the mouth? Do you hear me babbling on like an idiot? Hmm?!"
"Maybe not," I replied sarcastically. "You're pretty smart now that I think about it."
"Exactly!" He exclaimed. I guess he doesn't get sarcasm.
You, (be running up that hill)
You and me, (be running up that hill)
You and me won't be unhappy.
"And the vampire-" Murlough growled. "Why did he interfere? I never did anything to him and I never got in his way! Why did he have to go and mess things up?"
"This used to be his city," I explained. "He lived here when he was a human, and felt like it was his duty to protect the people."
"What?!" Murlough exclaimed. He began to laugh- an evil, sinister, crazy laugh. "He did it.. for them?! The blood carriers?!"
I could feel anger ignite inside of me. What Mr. Crepsley did was noble, and Murlough didn't have the right to laugh. I wanted to kill him so badly as I waited for him to stop with the hysterical laughing.
"Give Ariel back.." I growled, once he stopped laughing.
"Or else what? You're going to hurt me?" He chuckled. "Please! Say you'll leave me be!"
"Listen to me," I began. "I'll give you a life for a life..My life for her life."
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
If I only could, oh...
He started at me for a moment, startled, but then began to chuckle. "Why on earth would I want to make that trade? She's much more valuable then you are! Much more valuable. Besides, your blood is poisonous to me. I can't eat you up."
"Hers is poisonous, too."
"Nope, no it's not- Her blood isn't poisonous- just the way I like my food. Not poisonous." He smirked. "And delicious."
"It isn't?"
He giggled. "Nope!"
Tears continued to roll down my face. I wanted to steal her pain.
C'mon, baby, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh...
"Give me your word that you will spare her." I said. "Mr. Crepsley told me that vampaneze have to keep their word."
He shifted a bit to avoid the sun, and then gave a smile full of sharp, red teeth. "But Ari's going to be my Christmas dinner!"
"You swear you won't kill her until Christmas night, then?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes."
I sighed. "Until then, whatever pain you cause her- I will return to you tenfold." I growled.
He giggled. "I'm sure!" Then, the next second, he was slipping his way down the tunnels, back to Ariel.
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems..
"On Christmas night, when you're sinking your teeth into your ham and turkey- I hope you think of me, and what my teeth will be sinking into!" His voice echoed from below. After that, I could hear his mad laughter grow fainter and fainter as he waltzed deeper into the tunnels.
My anger slowly grew into grief. The tears stopped falling down my face- I was numb now- as I laid by the vent, my hand through the bar. I was reaching, and trying to imagine Ariel reaching back, even though the darkness separated us.
If I only could, be running up that hill.