Chapter 1-Meeting

*2 years later*

As months dragged by we approached Vampire Mountain. Darius led me to a secret passageway. (I had taken to calling him Mr. Pierce at the start but he insisted I called him Darius) There, a guard was stationed outside the entryway. Darius walked on, confidently, with me by his side. At the gate, the guard stopped us. "Halt! State your name and business here."

Darius said," I, Darius Pierce, has come to seek council." then motioned for me to say it.

"I, KayLi Powell, have come to seek council."

"Darius Pierce is recognized by the gate but KayLi Powell is not", the guard said, and I started to panic. What if they left me out here alone?

Then, Darius spoke up. "KayLi is my protégé. I vouch for her."

The guard grunted and replied "Very well then. Darius Pierce and KayLi Powell are recognized by the gate. Fare well." And let us through.

We had come to Vampire Mountain as Darius wished to see his friends again. It had taken us months to reach, and the going was tough. But alas, we were here now. Darius left me at the Halls Of Khledon Lurt after fetching me some food. I refused the bat broth and settled for bread and water. As I sat there at a table alone, a boy about my age plopped himself on the seat across from me. "Hey, the name's Darren Shan. Haven't seen you around before, are you new?" he said, while grabbing a piece of bread from the basket. Shocked at his sudden outburst, I mumbled "Yeah, I'm KayLi. I just got here." Into my piece of bread.

Darren studied me curiously as I stared back at him. He had dark hair, and was dressed completely in blue. He had a triangular scar under one of his eyes, and I wondered how he could have looked so serious and solemn at such a young age. Suddenly, he laughed out loud. " I haven't seen many female vampires since Arra," he chortled " I bet lots of vampires will be after you."

"What does that mean?" I started asking him curiously, when I was interrupted by the doors opening again. This time, Darius and another vampire entered the room. The other vampire had cropped, orange hair, with a scar running down the left side of his face. He was dressed completely in red. ( What was it with vampires dressing completely in a certain colour?)

Darius led the other vampire to where me and Darren were sitting. "Ah! Sire, I see you have met KayLi already." Darius said to Darren. Sire? Meanwhile, the other vampire was studying me with cool, calm eyes. "So this is your assistant, Darius? She could not have been older than Darren was when I blooded him. Thankfully, young half-vampires are not such a serious matter nowadays." Darius laughed "Nay, I refuse to call her my assistant, like you do, Larten. This is my protégé. Speaking of introductions, KayLi, this is Larten Crepsley. You've met his assistant and a Prince, Darren."

I nodded wordlessly. The red-clad vampire, Larten Crepsley, was staring at me intensely. I was starting to grow uncomfortable. Suddenly, a guard opened the door, yelled;" Destiny is here!" to the vampires in the room and ran out again. Everyone in the room tensed and started to leave urgently. "What's wrong?" I asked Darius, "Why is everyone so tense?"

"Ah, young one," Darius began to stand up uneasily, followed by Darren and Mr. Crepsley. " It is not the time to explain now. Just know, who you are about to meet is a dangerous man. He-"

"Enough explaining, Darius. We should leave for the Hall of Princes immediately. Who knows what someone like Mr. Tiny has planned." Darius was cut short by Mr. Crepsley. Wordlessly, Darius nodded, running a hand through his hair. He locked eyes with me, beckoning me to follow him. I stood and walked a little behind Darius as Mr. Crepsley and Darren led the way.