Note: Sorry. Short Chapter. Part one is finished though. Woo

Chapter Song: Night Prowler – Living Legends

Chapter IX

Ariel sat against an old, withering tombstone, listening to Mr. Crepsley's explanations.

"So, Darren faked death.."

"Yes."

"And became a 'vampire' so Steve would be saved…?"

Mr. Crepsley nodded.

You don't know me but you'd like to
Why'd you think I stood beside you?
Not concerned with how this might fall
Nature become prowl at nightfall

"So what does this have to do with her?" I asked. Ariel shifted around in her spot, waiting for further details.

"Well, as you can obviously see, Ariel is dead." He began. I nodded, noting her transparent figure.

"But, how?" I asked her. She hesitated, then opened her mouth to explain, but was cut of by Mr. Crepsley.

"So, Ariel, if you wish to be alive once more, you need to replace the lost blood." He explained. "It is simply fate that you come with us, furthermore, the vampire clan needs you."

"Needs me..?" She blinked.

When the sun begins to dim
And eventually the day dies
And the mood prepares to sway
That's where another way lies
Glow of the liquor store lights
Set the scene for no rights
Let's convene, discuss the scheme
And hope it flows how we dream
Tonight can make or break you if you let it
Someone set it out for you to let it out

"You, know, actually- You already have vampire blood in you. Even if you had not died, you eventually would have perished, because the human blood and vampire blood in you is not balanced."

The two of us stared at him. I then looked at Ariel. She had been one of them this who time, and she didn't tell me anything about it? Then again, if I were her, I wouldn't of told anyone either. But, wait, no. It seems to me there is more.. Maybe.. Maybe, she didn't know she was a vampire.. Vampiress? Yeah, I think that's it.

"I'm a.. vampire..?" She asked quietly, raising her hand and feeling her neck.

"Indeed, you are." Mr. Crepsley. "Back where vampires live, in a place called Vampire Mountain, there is a peculiar flower. It looks almost like an Amaryllis, but it is completely different- It is the only one that exists, actually. Ariel, when you were little, this flower was petite and had no color, except a crimson red in the core. As you grew, the blood red color spread, until the flower was simply red."

Ariel and I sat down quietly, listening to Mr. Crepsley's story as dusk rolled upon us.

Dusk, thus the beginning is on until dawn
Trust regardless of the daily
Really nothings wrong
I'm still breathin' and here's another evening
From the fortress
I leave for my course of tonight's achievements

"According to an old prophesy, once the petals of the flower bleed, the princess will be fully blossomed and ready for blooding." He went on.

"We did not imagine you would be ready so soon."

"Princess!" Ariel barked, shooting up from her seat. "So, like, you must have gotten the wrong person," She laughed. "I am certainly no princess."

"Yes, Ariel, you are." Mr. Crepsley replied. "It's a fact, not a soul can deny it."

I stared blankly at the two. The only thing I could do was pay attention.

She studied his stern, impassive face. "How do you know..?"

"Ariel, who are your parents?" He asked. "Have you ever wondered?"

Ariel looked away. "I don't know.."

"I shall not argue with you. You either will be blooded or you will not. If you want to spend the rest of your life as a ghost, then do as you please."

She eyed him. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Ariel sighed. "Fine. Will it make me normal again?"

Mr. Crepsley laughed. "Ariel my dear, you will never be 'normal' again."

Hesitant, Ariel soon gave him her hand. I watched her bite her lip, and wince as Mr. Crepsley scratched her fingers with his nails. In spite of this, she stayed mostly quiet the whole time. As the seconds passed, her figure slowly returned to its normal state. Before long, the color of her skin had returned (Well, only a bit paler.) Once the two stumbled away from each other, Mr. Crepsley muttered a curse and Ariel held her blood drenched hand tight.

"Let me." Mr. Crepsley turned back to her. "I have to heal your wounds now."

Biting her lip, Ariel let go of her wrist and let Mr. Crepsley take her hand.

I felt bad for Ariel, remembering back to when Mr. Crepsley had blooded me. I hated the vampire, the creature. Let me tell you, I cannot express my hate for what he was doing to us; for what he had taken away.

I'm out when the freaks come out
Way after dusk
after the time when the opening acts get they time to bust
the nightshift I prowl and observe like the owl
Surroundings minus the scowl
Wise and well endowed

Then, as I was feeling bad for Ariel, I heard soft laughter.

"That tickled." She commented as Mr. Crepsley licked the blood from his lips. He raised a brow at her.

I smirked at her remark, but then I returned to being cheerless. "So, are we.." I sighed. "Are we leaving now?"

Ariel grimaced up at Mr. Crepsley. "I'm afraid so." He replied. "Are you ready?"

"One sec." I jumped up onto a large stone, and Ariel joined me. I grasped every little detail of the place where I was born, trying to store every feature somewhere in my mind, where I would remember it forever.

"I haven't lived here very long.." Ariel whispered. "But it does feel so much like home to me, I mean all the best things in my life have happened here.. And the worst.."

I nodded. Her words were trying to make me feel better, but still, I would give anything to just go back home..

You don't know me but you'd like to
Why'd you think I stood beside you?
Not concerned with how this might fall
Nature become prowl at nightfall

"Do vampires ever get to have families?" Ariel asked Mr. Crepsley.

Mr. Crepsley sighed. "Unfortunately to say, no- They don't. But in you're case, yes, because you will always have just enough human blood in you, even when you're a full vampire.

"How come?" She asked.

"Well, you have a famous ancestor who had a child with a human woman. He was not able to raise a family, of course, but the woman herself raised the child. I do not know what her name was, but do you think you know the vampire's name?"

Ariel thought for a moment, then shook her head no.

"Why, his name was Dracula." Mr. Crepsley said, and smirked. "You've heard of him, have you not?"

When I heard the name, I immediately spun around to stare at Mr. Crepsley in disbelieve. I'm pretty sure Ariel did the same thing.

He nodded. "Yes, I know, rather astonishing, isn't it?"

"Wow.." I murmured.

"Well, I'm famished.." Mr. Crepsley smirked at the two of us. "Why don't we go find something to dine on, hm?"