I do not own Darren Shan. If I did-Muwhahahahahaha!

Ahem.

Chapter 4

Steve bounded into the hall, with Kurda straggling in behind him, weary from the trip. He slumped down next to Mika and proceeded to grab a jug of blood and slurp loudly. Steve called back the Vampaneze.

"OI! I found him!"

The two hundred, which had swelled in number, came back as swiftly as they had departed.

Mika, Darren, Steve, and Crepsley sat with Kurda at the circular table. Arra hovered behind Larten, while Gavner sat across. The table was not in an ideal position, as it was set near the path to allow traffic through the joinin halls, and therefore, was about two-thirds across from the cavern. But as that table was the one where Kurda sat down , that was where everyone gravitated to.

Soon the entire hall was packed, and Steve set the Stone down on the table.

The stone was smaller than the Vampires', but had a deeper sheen of red, and oval shape. There was a distinct lack of swirls that nagged at Darren, until he realized that the Stone must be empty, and was a solid color of only Dragon's blood.

"Care to tell us where you have been, Kurda?" Steve fixed the self-appointed ambassador a patient look, as though he was not ready to jump up and down in excitement. Kurda gave one more pull to the jug and set it down.

"I suppose you all have noticed some time disruptions." Nods came from around the hall.

"Well, Desmond Tiny is not the final say on what happens- we are. That is the basis of all that has happened. And now that you know the morale, would you like to hear the story?"

"Get on with it!"

"Yeah!"

The cries resounded in the hall. Everyone was familiar with Vancha's saying, that Desmond and the sun were their real enemies, and that they should only trust Destiny to tell them one side of the coin, if they trust anything he says at all.

"Alright then. First, let's go back to when Darren became Larten's assistant. You all are familiar with that potion, right? Well, how did he fake Darren's death?"

Seba brought his head up. He had been slipping past the Vampeneze to slap Kurda into a coffin if that was what it took to make Kurda get some rest. After all, bed sheets were always wrapping around sleepers, making any esc- making it impossible to leave anytime soon. "He ran the risk of an autopsy and snapped his neck. Why? How is this important, if I may ask?"

Kurda set the jug of water aside, wiping his mouth.

"Phew. Well, how did Steve kill Shancus?"

"I snapped his neck."

"After…?"

"Huh?" Steve had a blank look on his face.

"What did you do before you walked onto the stage, Steve?"

"Taunt Darren? Threaten them all? I don't get it..."

Steve jerked suddenly, falling off the seat, clutching his heart. His body spasmed, as he gasped out that the feeling in his arm was gone. He twisted.

The physical sensation was an ache behind his eyeballs. Every nerve ending told Steve that his mind was being torn apart. Then why was his heart jack hammering, his throat dry, painful lumps of ice forming and breaking in his chest. Steve tried to comprehend, he really did, and then he gave into the feelings. He slipped peacefully into sleep, laying there on the floor.

The Vampeneze had surged forward a Steve's jerked reaction, then he bowed, arching up and clutching his head before he went a deathly still, then slow, even breathing became audible as everyone held their breath, waiting.

Kurda watched dispassionately as Steve's heart tried to sort out the damage Destiny's control had wrecked. Mental manipulation…the idea had made sense when Kurda realized that if Desmond could gift the Vampires with telepathy, and later raise them again as mindless drones, he might have seen a potential threat in Steve deviating from the plan and planted in a form of…insurance.

"I knew you were fighting something all along…"

Darren's hand seized Kurda's shoulder. "I know we are friends, but you don't start talking this can get ugly really fast."

"Well, now that Steve is asleep, where do I begin..?"

"How about with where you went, and we work from there." Gavner glared at Kurda across the table. He then knelt to check on Steve, accepting a Vampeneze's rolled shirt to put under his head.

"Right. Sorry. You see, I went to a place called Draqueen…

I was standing in a wish-granting shop. The Witch who Evanna had recommended was smiling at me. She was smiling, like she knew something I didn't and she was very pleased by it. The wine and maps I had brought were in the hands of her maids.

She waved her hand and told me I had five days-"

"Five days! You were gone for far longer than that! How is that-" Arra bit off her outburst.

Having the entire cavern glare at you had that effect. Kurda wasn't glaring as he was seated sideways to Arra, and Mr. Crepsley wore a slightly miffed expression. Arra really couldn't have yelled that from the other side right into Kurda's ear, now, couldn't she?

"All in good time, Arra." Kurda smiled to show he held no hard feelings, and the resumed.

I had five days to create a Stone of Blood. Then I felt myself lifted away, everything became bright, and I awoke to strange people standing over me. They told me to take it easy, I was found in the gardens, and I was now in their hospital. I thanked them, introduced myself and asked where I was to go to create a stone made from dragon's blood. I told them I was in a terrible hurry.

Kurda gave a wry smile. They invited me to lunch. The dragons, they said, were sleeping now, and that Rath would see to a plausible substitute with his own blood from a Dragon Dog, named Crewger. I guessed that if my days were used up, I could use that. The place was strange. I, of course, told them all about us over lunch, and that lasted well into the next morning. I was shown a room, and then the Lord and Officers adjourned to rest and think until lunch.

Let me tell you, those grounds are huge. I covered most of them trying to find a quiet place to meditate. I came across Lord Rune, and he suggested the library. I could not believe the size of their maps that covered the walls at all! There were at least three or two other continents, except they both belonged to demons.

Now, demons are not at all like Vampires, so I was allowed to stay. I travelled some in the town and surrounding areas, but at the end of three days, I was convinced that only dragon's blood could be used.

I had to leave to find the Dragon called Clover. Miss Cesia whirle me through another portal, into an adjourning dimension. She had a much more careful, though not as trained hand, as Desmond. Once I found him, Clover agreed, and asked that I complete three trials for him, involving some lost treasure, a sword, and some water. The trials were a bit different from our own initiations. I did so, and was returned to the Witch. I paid her again, and she sent me back here."

Kurda pulled from the water jug again.

"That's it? You disappear for nearly twenty-five years and that is all you did? Talked and traveled and worked?"

Kurda gave a wry smile. "Not very glamorous, I suppose. But I also know why Steve was here a hundred years before Darren. Time flows differently in each dimension. Only in a self-contained sphere does time move the same."

Eyes swept from Steve's prone figure to Darren, who was desperately trying not to strangle his long time friend.

"And it is not my place to blab his secrets, so get used to being disappointed until the effects wear off."

Darren scrutinized Kurda. Then sighing, he sat down.

"So, what now? Wait for Steve to come around and then begin filing the Vampeneze into their Stone?"

The 'well, duh' went unsaid, but was clearly indicated.

"Then let's get the word out, get Steve comfortable, and start prepping a Communal Hall or add a formal location for the Vampeneze to the Halls to make room for an official location. Of course, not all Vampeneze will be receptive…."

Kurda had a feral look on his face as Darren trailed off. "Oh, they will be."

Kurda fingered a flask at his hip. "They will be."

Mika scooted away from Kurda as the Vampeneze edged in closer.

"You see, Destiny can control Steve by planting doubts and suggestions in him, because when we get down to it, he is Destiny's son."

Everyone nodded. "Well, I picked up some Water of Change from the Dragons. That is essentially what their blood is. So," Kurda leaned back, actually bracing himself, "let's put this to a vote- How many Vampeneze want to be Elves instead? Not to bias you, but given what's coming, we will need all the help we can get."

To be continued….

Ahahahahahahaha, not what everyone was expecting, is it? But then again, they are all dead! I can do what I want with my author's license of this story (within reason).

If this is simply to freakishly weird for you, drop a line, and I'll fix what I can. Which means R.E.V.I.E.W.