"He's dead?" Gavner repeated Crystal's word, shocked.

Crystal nodded, looking down at her lap. An audible gasp came from Darren.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Mr. Crepsley asked.

Crystal paused for a bit before taking a deep breath and began to tell what happened. "It's started just... 3 days ago."

3 days ago

"Wake up, Crystal. We have urgent business to attend to." the vampire teacher woke up his student.

Crystal, whined as she woke up. Looking up at her teacher. He had dirty blonde hair with green eyes. He was tall. When the two stood beside each other, Crystal's head barely made it to his neck His attire never changed, no matter what city or place they went to. He always wore dark green. He had on a dark green suit with a match dark green tie. Instead of wear the jacket of a suit, he had on a long, green robe.

"I'm up, Master." Crystal pulled herself up from the floor. Rubbing her eyes as she stood up. "Do I have 5 minutes?" Looking over at her teacher.

He nodded.

Before, when Crystal was fully human, it would take her about 10 to 15 minutes to get ready in the morning. Xenius dislike how long it took her to get ready when they were first together. He made a point of not letting her put make up on and told her that her basic need was to brush her teeth and wash her face. Crystal pushed the fact of wanting to have time to brush her hair, she hated when it got knotted but didn't let Xenius cut it short.

Today, Xenius decided to sleep in a cave, rather than rent a hotel room. They were near a city. Crystal grabbed a cup and dipped her tooth brush in and began to brush her teeth.. Xenius surprised Crystal when he came up behind her and began to detangle her hair and started a french braid, tying it at the bottom. Crystal rinsed her mouth and thanked Xenius for doing her hair.

"I never understand why you do not cut your hair short." Xenius walked out of the cave. "There is no one for you to show it off to."

"Because I don't want to look like a boy, master. I'm a girl." Crystal packed up the cookware into her backpack and any other belonging as well before heading out of the cave to catch up with Xenius. "What is the urgent business, master?"

"There is a pack of Vampaneze in this city and it seems that they are doing more than just feeding off of humans." Xenius answered simply.

"Why can't we just find and destroy the vampaneze?" Crystal questioned, walking beside Xenius.

"If we attack them without reason, a war would break out." Xenius answered. "The only reason we would have to attack them would be if they had killed one of our own. If we were to kill them over a human, it is plain mad."

"But if they kill us?"

"Then one of our own would avenge us if they killed us for a personal reason." Xenius eyes focus straight ahead.

"What are we going to do then?" Crystal asked.

"We are going to monitor them. I have a feeling they are trying to increase their numbers." It wasn't long before they made it into the city.

"How do we find them?" Crystal asked.

"I know where they are now." Xenius led the way through the back alleys of the city. "They have been attacking the homeless here. Attacking the ones who are weak. But there some that they have not attacked." A few more turns before Xenius led Crystal to the entrance of the underground sewers and pipelines. "Do not complain about the smell."

"Yes, master." Crystal took a whiff and pinched her nostrils, heading in after Xenius.

The two quietly walked through the maze of the pipes. The smell eventually became accustomed to Crystal's nose, although she wasn't very fond of it.

"They are just a few more pipes away. Be very quiet now. If they catch me, run. Do not try and save me, you will be killed. You are not strong enough for them yet." Xenius gave his instructions, waiting for Crystal's nod then headed down the pipes.

The two walked slowly down the pipes. Echos of the Vampaneze chatter became louder as Crystal and Xenius moved closer. After a few minutes, Xenius held his hand out, signaling Crystal to stop. She stayed behind him as he took a peek around the corner. Crystal kept her eyes on him and her ears on the voices.

"How many did you catch tonight?" The vampaneze spoke.

"Just 4." Another replied.

"Four?!" A thump followed by a groan was heard. "You're pathetic. We have to teach the pets how to feed as well."

"How many more do we need?" A new voice spoke.

"At least 30!" It sounded like the leader speaking.. "They will learn how to do it too."

"Won't the humans notice of 30 people go missing?" Another ask.

"So? What are they going to do about it. They can't! They're just plain humans. Like they are able to take us down!"

Crystal gasps as a hand goes over her mouth. Her hands quickly go up to pry off the hand. Xenius turn around, seeing his student getting apprehended by a purple hand. He charged at the Vampaneze there, squarely punching him in the nose. The Vampaneze let go of Crystal as he falls back. Crystal hurried out of his grasps, going over to his side.

The fall of the vampaneze that attack Crystal attracted the attention of the others. The vampanezes crowded around the Crystal and Xenius.

"Well well well. It looks like we have some rats here." The leader vampaneze spoke. He had purple skin and red hair like the others. But he was more muscular and taller than the rest. He smirked at Xenius. "Well Xenius Bonaparte, we meet again."

"Why are you gathering 30 humans, " Xenius got straight to the point.

"You know that we love blood, Xenius. What a dumb question." The leader laughed again. "Let's go, a one on one match. Your little assistant can fight one of the assistant heres to."

"She'll stay out of it." Xenius answered quickly.

"No." The leader pointed to a boy, inches taller than Crystal, more muscular as well. "Challenge her." The leader smirked at Xenius. "You know well that it would be a discrace and shame to your clan if she denied. Then let us just watch them fight."

Xenius growled.

Crystal looked at her teacher. Suddenly she was knocked to the floor, the sewage water getting on her clothes. She looked up and saw that her teacher and the leader of the vampaneze already began to attack one another. Crystal pulled her upself up and braced herself for another punch, this time, guarding her face and tackled her opponent. The tackle didn't move him as much as she had want. He picked her up as if she was a feather and threw her to the floor again.

She moaned, pulling herself up again as he quickly punched her in the face. The force of his punch knocking her to the ground again. She stood up again, covering her face when another punch came and punched him back in the face, using as much force as possible. She heard a crack as the other fell backward, landing on his back.

Her opponent got up again as Crystal readied her hands to punch him again. She timed it, as soon as he moved his hand from his face, she would punch him again. He fell to the ground again. "You're not playing fair." He complained.

"I am playing fair." She replied, stepping closer and stepping onto his stomach, keeping him from standing up again.

He quickly scooped some of the sewage water in his hand and splashed it at her face. Crystal closed her eyes and turned her face to avoid the water. He took the chance and punched her in her jaw. A loud crack was heard as she fell over.

He got up and stepped onto her back, twisting her arm back, holding it against there. "If you move anymore, I'm going to snap your arm out of your shoulder."

Xenius spotted Crystal down. This half second notice gave the leader a chance to hit Xenius in the face with his fist, and kicked him in the chest, knocking him over to the wall.

"Master!" Crystal lifted her head up as she squirmed beneath her opponent.

A snap was heard as Crystal screamed. Her opponent had snapped her arm, breaking it.

Xenius stood up from his hit and charged at the leader. This time, the leader, hit Xenius in the face and grabbed him by his throat, pulling him over to Crystal. "Pull her up."

The boy pulled up Crystal up. "I wonder how much your teacher taught you." The leader laughed. "Say goodbye." The leader held Xenius close to Crystal. Xenius moved as hard as he could, trying to get away from the leader. The leader punctured his nails into Xeniu's throat, aiming for the jugular vein. Xenius died instantly as blood splurred ont Crystal's face and body.

The Vampanezes behind the leader roared with laughter and howl as their leader conquered the vampire.

"No..." Crystal, screamed, anger flowing through her body and she shook hard, throwing the boy that was holding her onto the ground. She reached forward, showing her nails as she aimed for leader's face, effectively making three deep scratches. The leader let go of Xenius and pulled away. Crystal charged at the leader, attempting to attack him as he laughed and moved to the side to avoid her attacks.

"Take on someone your own size." The leader caught Crystal's good arm, shoving her towards the boy.

Crystal charged at the boy. Punching him in the face again. She pointed her nails out and scratched his face. Using the same hand, she slashed through his shirt as he cried out in pain. Her nails dugs into his chest and left 5 distinct, deep scratch marks. The boy fell to ground as Crystal was splattered in a bit of his blood..

Crystal went over to her dead master, holding him up as best as she could with one arm and began to pull him out of the sewters. "Follow me and I'll make sure to kill you." She warned.

After long hours, she made it outside of the sewers. It was daylight outside and she quietly carried Xenius to an empty field of flowers. She began to dig a hole with one arm. After taking 4 hours, she had a deep enough, and big enough hole to bury Xenius. She placed his body in her and covered him up. Once he was buried, she sat beside his grave, wondering what she was to do now.

An old memory popped in her head.

'If we ever happen to split. I am going to teach you how to find a certain person." Xenius's words filled her mind. "It is his life signal. Even if he may not share it with you yet, there is a distinct pattern that you are able to trace to find him."

Crystal took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she tried to focus on what her teacher taught her. She sat still for 2 hours before opening her eyes. "Found him ."

"Once I found the pattern. I made my way to find you.. It took me 3 days..." Crystal looked down. "It was all my fault that he died.. If I could have fought better... and not screamed... He would still be alive.."

Mr. Crepsley nodded slowly, taking in what he heard. "Since he was killed not because of a personal reason. We must alert the Vampire princes."

Darren looked up. "The Vampire Princes?"

Mr. Crepsley looked over at Darren, forgetting that he was there. "Yes. The princes are those who rule over all vampires. They are the judges, they also determine the rules and laws for us for to follow."

"What timing as well. It is time for the Vampire Council coming up in a few months as well." Gavner stated. "Will you come to this one, Larten?"

"Yes." Mr. Crepsley answered. "After many years, yes. I am coming to this one."

Gavner smiled. "After missing 6 councils, they will be delighted to see you." Gavner adjust Crystal to a bit against him so that she was more comfortable.

"The council?" Darren asked.

"It is the a meeting of vampires. We all travel to vampire mountain once every 12 years." Gavner answered. "When will you begin your trek, Larten?"

"As soon as Crystal recovers." Mr. Crepsley answered. "The sooner we make it there, the better."

"You know that it might take her well over a week to heal?" Gavner asked.

"Yes. I will have time to get to know her and her capabilities. It has been a long time since I've seen Xenius, or one of his apprentices." Mr. Crepsley answered.

Gavner moved Crystal again, this time, resting her against the wall as he stood up. "Well, I wish I was able to stay longer. But I must go. The work of a General is never complete." Gavner sighed. "I will see you on Vampire Mountain, Larten. And you, master Shan. As well as you, Little Crystal. Recover soon and rest well." Gavner left the tent.

"Darren." Mr. Crepsley spoke after a few minutes of silence. "Go tell Hibernius that in one week, we will be leaving the cirque."