Wow you guys, no questions? Haha, oh well! Looks like I'll just have to give you another chapter! Enjoy :P
Two months later…
When I woke up, I felt suffocated, like I was in a coffin. I started to hyperventilate as unwanted, scary memories flooded back to me. I started to scream and kicked the coffin open, falling face first onto the floor. I gasped and curled up in a ball, my eyes shut tight.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. I was in a tent. I rolled over onto my back and looked out in front of me. There were two open coffins…and a worried looking vampire. "Vanessa, are you okay?" Mr. Crepsley asked me softly. I sat up and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine…it's just what happened can't really be left behind so quickly." I replied. He nodded and extended a hand. "Come, you, Darren, and myself have to go."
I took his hand and he pulled me up. I saw he was barefooted and noticed that he wasn't bringing anything with him. Quickly, I put two and two together. My eyes widened. "We're…we're going home?" I whispered disbelief obvious in my voice. He nodded. I screamed in happiness and ran off to find Darren.
I found him in his tent talking to Evra. Evra laughed when he saw me jumping up and down. The moment Darren's eyes found me, I glomped him. "OMG! Darren, we're going to Vampire Mountain!" I squealed. He pushed me off him. "Yeah, I Know." He said. I detected a hint of sourness in his voice. I glared.
"Is there something wrong with Vampire Mountain?" I questioned. His eyes widened when he realized I wasn't kidding. "Uh, no. Not at all." I nodded. "I thought so." I muttered, leaving his tent. I walked over to Mr. Tall's tent, walked inside, and plopped down onto his mini couch. "So is there a reason we're going?" I asked him. He looked up from his book and smiled.
"Of course, isn't there always a reason?" he chuckled. I laughed. "Yeah, guess so." He sighed and closed his book. "But, there's something you might not like about this trip…" he said, trailing off. I frowned. "Like?" I questioned. "Well…my father is sending two Little People with you to the Mountain." He replied. I groaned and rolled off his couch, falling on the ground. I huffed.
"Why does he feel the need to intervene in our affairs?" I groaned dramatically, standing up. Mr. Tall laughed. "Pretty obvious, really." He responded. I shrugged and walked out, almost running into my mentor. "Ah, Vanessa. I have been looking for you, it is time for us to leave!" he said, excitement in his eyes. I squealed as Darren came walking up, barefooted. I quickly kicked my flip flops off and headed off in the direction of home.
A few weeks later…
Finally, we came to Vampire Mountain. I looked at the two men, one boy, and, strange enough, one talking Little Person. On the way, we picked up a close friend of my mentor, Gavner Purl, and we lost a Little Person…that's when the one Darren nicknamed Lefty told us that his name was not Lefty, it was Harkat Mulds. Weird, I know. I looked at my mentor as tears formed in my eyes. "It's been twelve years since I've come home." I said blissfully. Gavner smiled at me. "We have long waited your arrival." He said as we walked to the base of the mountain. I nodded and popped my fingers. "See you guys at the top." I said, backing up. Darren looked confused.
I grinned, ran, and jumped up on the side of the Mountain. I quickly balanced myself and began to scale the mountain as the others followed suit. When I got to the top, I was tackled by another young vampire.
"Vanessa, my love!" he joked, tickling me. I started squealing. "Oh my gosh, Kurda! Stop it before I die!" I said, laughing. The rest of the rag tag group had come to the top by then. Darren looked confused and Mr. Crepsley smiled. "Ah, Kurda, it is a pleasure to see you." He greeted. Kurda smiled back as he held me in a head lock. "The pleasures all mine, Larten. Whoa, who's the kid?" he asked, looking at Darren curiously. Darren frowned. "Who you calling kid?" he retorted.
I smiled and laughed, getting out of his grip easily. "Chill out, man. Kurda, this is Larten's new assistant, Darren Shan. Darren, this is my cousin Kurda Smhalt. He also happens to be one of the Vampire Generals." I said. Kurda grinned. "Not for long, I'm soon to be a Prince." He said. I squealed and hugged him. "Oh my gosh! Congratulations, Kurda!" I smiled. Darren snorted.
"So now you're the preppy girl." He said sarcastically. I glared. "Darren, watch it. I haven't been home in almost 13 years and this is the time I can catch up with old friends." I growled. "So when will I get to do that?" he challenged. I bit my lip. "Darren…this is different." I said quietly. he shrugged, dismissing the conversation. I rolled my eyes and began to walk away.
"Where…are…you…going?" Harkat asked. Kurda yelped in surprise. "What the hell? Did that guy just talk?" he shouted. I nodded. "Yeah, his name's Harkat Mulds. Desmond sent him. And to answer your question, I'm going to the Hall of Princes to report my presence…on second thought, you should follow me." I said.
He nodded and followed. Gavner walked off as Darren and Harkat followed me, Larten, and Kurda to the Hall of Princes. I didn't bother knocking. I pushed the giant, majestic doors open and walked in. I came before the thrones and curtsied low. Paris stood and smiled, extending his arms. I grinned and jumped up to give him a hug. He laughed. "Ah, young Vanessa! It's been a long time!" I laughed.
"That it has." I smiled. He smiled and waved his hand at an eternally frozen chair next to his. I smiled and walked over to it as Larten and Darren walked up to Paris. I looked among the vast room and sat down in my own throne. I sighed. This is where I belong. I thought as my mentor spoke to Paris.
"So, how have your relations gone with the Vampaneze, Kurda?" Paris asked. I froze and drew in a ragged breath. I began to hyperventilate as Murlough's insane laughter rang in my ears. "Hey, shut up!" a young voice shouted. I slowly looked over at Darren, whose worried face was focused on mine. Mr. Crepsley stood next to him, his face red with embarrassment.
"Can't you see this topic causes her pain?" he asked, exasperated. Kurda looked at me and his eyes widened. I shook my head. "I'm fine; I'm just…out of it. Thank you for your concern, Master Shan, but this is a common topic around here." I said in a regal manor. He could tell I was hiding behind this façade. He walked up to the throne and held out his hand. "Come one, Vann. Why don't we walk around some?" he suggested. I smiled and nodded, taking his hand.
We walked out of the room and I showed him around the Mountain. I closed my eyes and smiled. "Can you hear it, Darren?" I whispered, squeezing his hand. "Hear what?" he asked me, confused. I opened my eyes. "The sound of the river flowing…it's like music." I said softly.
"That it is, mate." A rough voice said behind me. I turned and grinned. "Vanez!" I cried. He grinned. I hugged him. "Vanez, Darren Shan, Larten's new assistant. Darren, this is Vanez Blane. He trains all our newbies." I explained. Darren laughed. I hesitated and looked ahead at the door looming before us. I could hear the clinking of metal and grunts of vampires inside.
"Is Arra here?" I asked. He nodded. I took a deep breath and walked in. I saw her immediately. She had just finished an opponent on the other side of the large room. I grinned. I went to the closest wall and took a grand sword off the wall. I messed around a little and then walked to the other side of the room as Arra helped the vampire up, smiling.
"Got enough time to squeeze in an old friend?" I asked her before she started another fight. She looked at me and smiled warmly. "Ah, Vanessa! You must have come to learn a lesson!" she asked. People came around cheering. I looked at Darren and tossed him my iPod. "Don't let Vanez take that." I teased. He laughed and nodded. I turned back to Arra, grinning.
"Ready?" I asked her. She nodded and we began to circle each other. I had channeled in to the sound of the river. Then I straightened up. "Oh, almost forgot." I said. She looked confused. I grinned. "I lost a bet with Larten so…" I trailed off pulling a bandana out of my pocket. I tied it around my eyes so I couldn't see. Arra sighed.
"Vanessa, you don't have to do that." She said. I laughed. "A bets a bet." I said. She laughed. I channeled in on the river. I heard a noise to my left and struck out with my sword, slamming it into Arra's. I quickly flipped to the side and swirled my sword in a large arc. I heard a small gasp. I didn't know what I did."Cut her cheek." Darren said quietly. I nodded.
I heard a blood drop right behind me and, using my superhuman speed, ducked a blow from her sword and knocked her legs out from under her. I heard gasps. I extended my hand blindly out towards her. She grabbed it and yanked me to the ground on top of her. She gave me a huge bear hug. I giggled and hugged her back.
I pulled off the blind fold and stood up. I looked to the door of the room and saw Larten looking at Arra wistfully. He looked at me and smiled weakly. I smiled and skipped over to his side. "Why don't you talk to her?" I whispered to him as Arra fought another challenger. He raised an eyebrow. "Why would I do that?" he asked. I smiled. "I know you still love her." I replied, looking at her. He tensed a little by my side. "What makes you think that, my dear?" he finally asked. I looked at him for a few moments then stood on my tippy toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Because you raised me."