Number nine: Confused.

Pairing: None. Well, okay, Arra/Larten sort of, but not really. You'll see what I mean :D

A/N: Do I include A/L way too much? I mean, they're in like every chapter, heh. I hope it doesn't get repetitive!

Set at the endish of book six. Vanez POV.

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

...

I AWOKE SLOWLY, WITH a splitting headache. What happened? I must have drunk way too much at the Festival of the Undead.

Everything was black, pitch black. I tried to open my eye and found that I couldn't: or I could, there was just a piece of cloth attached over one side of my face. I reached a hand up to feel, but someone tutted and I froze, turning my head towards the noise. I sensed it was Seba a second before he spoke, "I was told by the medics that you are not supposed to touch it."

"Oh." My voice croaked, and I coughed, "What happened?"

"You do not remember?" Seba sounded surprised.

I shook my head against the stone slab I was laying on, "No...should I?"

I heard him sigh, "The medics mentioned that you might suffer from some memory loss. I did not take them seriously..." He trailed off and when he continued his voice was weary, "A dagger caught you in the eye."

I winced, "How did that happen?" I vaguely remembered blood, and lots of shouting, but it was all blurred together. I moved to sit up, and Seba put an arm around my shoulders to help me up. I smiled in his general direction as a thank you and ran a hand over the top of my head, "Was it a fight in the Festival?"

"Vanez, the Festival was over three weeks ago." I turned my head towards him, my mouth falling slack. Three weeks ago? Had I been unconscious for that long? I swallowed, feeling that that wasn't the case, "I...I remember blood and shouting."

"Yes," Seba replied sadly, "There was a lot of blood." He paused, "Vanez, do you remember Darren going missing?"

As soon as he said it, I remembered clearly, "Yes, he came back though, told us about the vampaneze and Kurda and Gavner..." I trailed off and shivered: to add to the blurs of blood and shouting, vampaneze now entered my mind.

"Do you remember going with him to find the vampaneze?"

I nodded silently: in the back of my mind I knew where this was headed, but I couldn't drag it forward enough for it to all fit together.

"You told the Princes and they made a plan of attack, with Darren's help."

"With the spiders..." I added quietly, a horrible feeling of foreboding overwhelming me.

"Yes, and then we attacked." Seba's voice cut off suddenly, sharply, as if he didn't want to talk about what happened next.

"We managed to kill them all though, right? They haven't taken over the mountain, have they?" I asked fearfully.

"No, no. We defeated them." Seba didn't sound anywhere near happy though, "There were many injuries and deaths."

"Oh?" I really didn't like where this was going.

"Yes. I injured my leg, many vampires left with deep wounds and broken bones. Darren got away with just a few bruises and cuts, but that is still too much, considering all he has been through-"

I cut him off, my thoughts suddenly going to my assistant, "What about Arra?" This was starting to sound like a situation where she would have no doubt gotten herself into trouble. That girl attracts danger.

Seba was silent a moment before saying very quietly, "Vanez, I am so sorry, but she has died."

I turned towards him again, sensed he was telling the truth and leant back against the wall, letting out a pained sigh. "She did not die alone: Larten was with her the entire time." I nodded, that small fact making me feel a tiny bit better. She had always been scared that she would die alone.

"I bet he's real cut up." I said a little bitterly.

"Well, yes of course he is." Seba answered. I sensed him going to continue, but I cut him off again, "When can this patch come off my face?" That wasn't the most important thing on my mind right now, but I didn't want to talk about Arra's death.

"Soon, Vanez, soon."

"Good. I want to see her before her funeral."

Seba coughed uncomfortably, "Vanez, you will not exactly be able to see her."

I turned to him again, "What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.

"You are completely blind."

Shit.

...

A/N: That wasn't really 'Confused' was it...