Chapter 39

Mika had managed easily when it came to picking the Vampires to accompany him into the caves. Though nobody had asked why he had been chosen of the Princes to make this journey, they all knew that Arrow had a long-range weapon of choice, Paris Skyle could not make the trip crawling through the tunnels, and Darren was not trained enough to assist. Mika was the best option, that's why it hadn't even been up for debate.

The six he had picked were following behind him as he followed the markings on Juliet's hand-scrawled map that he had memorized. He couldn't believe she had broken down at the thought of Vampaneze in the tunnels, though he remembered their encounter all those years ago. The fear in her eyes, the way she shook at the end of it, after she had killed the brute that had threatened to take his life, it was not surprise she had become a hunter after that experience, especially coupled with his abandonment of her. Mika shook his head, concentrating on the task at hand. He had picked six Vampires to fight with him, and of the six Vampires, Mika trusted none more than Larten Crepsley to fight by his side.

Though they had once been rivals, Mika knew the scarred Vampire would give it his all to defend the mountain. They continued quietly through the cramped tunnels, anxious.

It took nearly an hour for them to make their way to the place Juliet had described, the small cave directly beneath the store rooms. It was easy to miss, and understandable why no Vampires had found this cavern. There was a wall that jutted out, obscuring the passage and making it seem like it wasn't there, blending with the wall behind it just enough, as Darren had said, quoting Juliet, 'Like in Last Crusade, only instead of a bridge it's a wall and instead of falling to your death you'll bypass the turn…' The majority of the Vampires had stared at the Prince, befuddled before he finally explained.

"There's an opening, but this wall blocks it just enough for you to think there's nothing there. It blends in. Your eyes won't be able to tell it's there." Darren said, fighting for the right words.

Once they had passed that… mirage wall… the going was relatively easy. Though they could only fit single file in the halls, they weren't on their hands and knees, instead they were crouched, backs aching, desperate for a fight.

Mika viewed the flickering torchlight in the distance and called for the small band to halt. He crept forward and glanced in the room, careful not to be seen. Juliet hadn't been exaggerating. There were nearly three dozen Vampaneze, standing, pacing, packed in with barely any elbow room. Mika motioned for his men to move forward. And with a single hand signal they burst into the room, ready for action.

The Vampaneze were surprised, and many scrambled to pick up their weapons and rush forward, causing a wave of bodies to be pushed into the wall. Mika slashed with his long sword, forcing a large group of the Vampaneze backwards, and a few fell to the floor. His men fanned out around him, three with daggers and short swords. One brandishing brass knuckles. Larten had pulled out his knives and begun fighting with a rather large Vampaneze using a club. Mika looked for his sixth, only to find him stuck within the tunnel as three Vampaneze tried to push their way too him. The Prince turned to assist, but was pushed into the wall by another wave of Vampaneze. This was going nothing like he'd planned.

He noticed his other five allies were spread out, able to fight a few of the Vampaneze each, but more and more of their purple-skinned foes tried to force their way through the exit. The walls began to shake, and Mika feared the worst. He pushed with all his might against the bodies just in time for rocks to shake themselves from the ceiling at the commotion within, and lodge themselves before the tunnel. The area was still shaking, and Mika knew the tunnel was collapsing. His sixth was lost, the handful of Vampaneze that were pushing their way into the tunnel were crushed as it collapsed within itself. Fighting stopped momentarily as a cloud of dust filled the room.

Mika found himself knocked to the ground the moment the dust settled. There was blood pouring from the clogged exit, and he could hear the sounds of shrieking from the Vampaneze that were trapped. There was nothing that could be done. He looked to Larten who had not stopped his assault on the large Vampaneze, even though his face was contorted into a frown. His other men continued to fight. Mika knew they had all accepted that they were trapped. He inwardly shook himself and stood to face his opponent.

There were worse ways to die.

Darren, Paris and Arrow were seated in the Hall of Princes, anxiously awaiting news of the small band that had been sent to eliminate the Vampaneze within their halls. If only things had been the same as before, the plan had had a much higher success rate when there was more maneuverability, but the halls they were sent to this time were too small for a large group. Darren was worried.

It had been over two hours since Mika and his group had left. They'd had no word since.

There was a banging on the doors to the hall, and Darren used the device on his throne to open it. A Vampire rushed in, covered in dust.

"Sires!" he shouted.

They immediately recocnized him as one of the six that went with Mika into the tunnels.

"Finn, what has happened?" Arrow demanded, staring down the coughing Vampire.

Finn shook his head. "The tunnels were unstable. The pathway collapsed in on itself as Vampaneze rushed to escape the battle. I couldn't even make it into the room."

"Mika and the others?" Paris asked. Darren's heart was thundering. Mr. Crepsley was down there too. He couldn't lose his mentor.

"They are trapped within. I don't think the room collapsed. But I don't know how we can reach them."

Darren stood abruptly. "Juliet will know." He said, then he ran from the room, leaving his fellow Princes and his Generals to think of a plan if the girl could not supply one.

Juliet sat on her stone bed, staring down the creepy little person, as he'd called himself. There'd been no news. Nobody had come to tell her what they had decided on. She had drawn a map and a trail and described everything but nobody bothered to tell her what the hell was going on.

Harkat seemed to sense her distress. "I'm sure…. They're fine." He smiled eerily and Juliet ground her teeth. "It's nice. That you care… so much… for strangers."

Juliet stiffened at his words. She was caring for these Vampires an awful lot. Especially after years of hunting them down. Though she'd never killed a Vampire. Only Vampaneze. That seemed to be the trend: follow a lead about a blood sucking monster, come across a purple skinned blood sucking monster. Not a handsome, pale one with broad shoulders. Not a teenage boy with a heart-breaking smile. These people in this mountain were not human, but they weren't monsters. She'd accepted that, mostly. She was still uncomfortable to be surrounded by blood drinking creatures of the night, but more and more she was beginning to realize that she had more in common with them than she had faked with people at the grocery store as she lived her solitary life, never knowing who or what she really was.

Was it all worth it?

Darren rushed in then, breathing heavily as if he'd ran the entire way.

"Juliet!" he shouted.

She jumped off the bed, ignoring the pain in her gut. Somehow the wound had been bothering her less lately, even with her excursion to the caves. "What happened?" she said.

"You have to tell me, is there another way into that cave?" Darren looked at her imploringly.

"What. Happened." She growled.

Darren put his hand on his chest, trying to calm himself. "The tunnel they used to get down there collapsed. It trapped Mika and Mr. Crepsley and four others in there with the Vampaneze." Juliet's heart froze and she paled. Trapped? Mika, trapped? She warred with herself internally for a split second before allowing the emotion out.

Dammit she needed to get him out of there.

"Where are my daggers?" She demanded, ruffling through her box of clothing and pulling out a black tank top. She hadn't changed from her Daisy Dukes and worn boots, but she knew the thick sweater would not help her in a fight.

"What? Why?" Darren demanded. "Just tell me how to get in there and we'll send a group-"

"That's not going to happen, Darren. I can't give you directions." She stripped the sweater off and Harkat and Darren averted their eyes as her bandages came into view. "I'll have to guide you."

"You can't, you're too badly injured." He objected.

"Darren shut up!" she snapped, sliding the tank top over her head. "Get me my daggers." She looked pointedly at Harkat, and the little person was on his feet and moving before Darren could tell him otherwise.

"Juliet I won't let this happen," the young Vampire said. "You can't go in there. You're not healed. Mika would never forgive me!"

"I don't give two whole shits about what tall dark and broody will or won't forgive you for, Darren!" she growled. "I'm going in there. This is my fault. I should have taken them out before any of this became a problem."

Darren could see that pained look in her eyes and fought the urge to just agree with her. "You could die down there…" he sighed.

Juliet shook her head, closing her eyes to let the anger dissipate before it overtook her. "It wouldn't be the first time." She said. "But at least it would be for a good reason. I'm not letting anyone else get hurt or nearly get hurt because I've been out of my damn mind for the past ten years. I'm going down there, and you can come or you can get the hell out of my way."

"Juliet you really don't have to do this. We can send more people-"

"Darren," she said, her voice pleading. "Ever since I woke up in this place you've been the once trying to hear me, even as everyone else treated me like the head case I really am. Please, trust me. If you want this… budding friendship," she said sarcastically, "to go anywhere, you have to trust me. I want to understand you and your people, but you have to want to understand me too. It all starts with this."

Harkat returned holding the daggers, still sheathed and attached to her thigh holster. Juliet eyed them as the little person handed them to the Prince. Her blue eyes met Darren's brown ones and he sighed, extending them to her.

"You have to promise me you won't die." He said quietly, watching as she strapped the daggers to her legs.

"You drive a hard bargain," she smiled genuinely, an excited gleam in her eye. This is what she had trained for. "But first-" she pulled at her waist long hair, tugging it into a knot at the back of her head, then quick as lightning she had sliced her dagger through it.

The black strands fell in a heap on the floor, and Juliet shook her head allowing the newly cut hair to fall naturally, framing her face perfectly. Darren couldn't help but stare as the woman before him seemed to transform. No longer the anxious, wary one of the past few weeks, her eyes hardened with determination, her posture full of confidence.

Juliet stuck the dagger back in its sheath, starting to feel like her old self. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to give me my guns?" Darren stared at her and slowly shook his head. "Fine. Ready? Okay. Let's wreck some shit."