We were escorted to the Hall of Osca Velm, or also known as the Hall of Welcome. Our names were added into the registry as we entered the grimy cavern. Many fires were lit and filled the air with smoke. I could already tell this place wasn't going to be doing any favors for my skin. The knobby, black walls were lined with benches fashioned out of dead animal bones. There were several baskets of shoes for guests to take, and I wasted no time trying to locate a pair. Nearly all of them were too big for my feet and so I had to settled for the smallest pair I could find, which was still at least two sizes too big.

I kept getting stared at by a lot of the other vampires. At first I thought I was still a mess from that bear fight, but I knew that my dress was as clean as it could be and repaired. Not that vampires care much for cleanliness anyway. That's when it hit me. I couldn't see a single other woman around me.

I decided it would be best to stick close to my mentor. At least until I felt more comfortable being on my own in a strange place. We sat down to eat. We were given hard bread, cooked but mostly raw meat, and a thick hearty broth. Jugs of water, wine, and human blood were handed out. It was difficult to drink and eat without the proper plates and utensils but I managed. I sat right next to Mr. Crepsley. I didn't want to embarrass him by showing weakness, as I was beginning to learn from Gavner that such fear was an insult to him. I wanted to become stronger, but all I could manage was staying next to him right now. I felt safe, like no one could get at me without having hell to pay.

I was so intent on my wine and bread that I almost didn't notice that we had a guest. An ancient-looking vampire dressed in red sat down opposite Mr. Crepsley and smiled. "I was expecting you weeks ago," he said. "What took you so long?"

"Seba!" Mr. Crepsley roared, and lunged across the table to clasp the older vampire's shoulders. I was surprised and nearly tumbled over with the sudden movement. He was beaming when he let the vampire go. "It has been a long time, old friend."

"Too long," the older vampire agreed. "I have often searched for you mentally, in the hope that you were near. When I sensed you coming, I hardly dared believe it." The vampire nodded politely to Harkat, but when his gaze rested on me he smiled. He was wrinkled and shrunken but the light of a younger man burned in his eyes. "I did not know you had a mate, Larten?"

"A what?" I yelled as Mr. Crepsley sputtered, "She is not my mate!"

Seba chuckled, and seemed quite pleased with himself, " Oh my, it seems I have made a mistake. I simply saw the way she stared at you and drew my own conclusions."

I didn't know I could feel so embarrassed at one time. Was it possible for a vampire to die from embarrassment? Because it certainly felt like I was….

Crepsley cleared his throat, "You know Gavner." The other vampire shook Sebas hand. "This is my assistant-Samantha Shan." I smiled shyly and waved to the older vampire. Seba gave Mr. Crepsley a strange look. "This is Harkat Mulds, he has brought a message to the princes on behalf of Mr. Tiny." He added somberly.

Seb gave my mentor an incredulous look. He tried to hide it but his lips twitched into a grin, "You, with an assistant?"

Mr. Crepsley looked uncomfortable, "I know, I said I would never take one."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, young woman," Seba extended his hand and I shook it. Hah! Take that Grumpy Bat, even Seba could see that I wasn't a little girl. I glowed with pride at being recognized by the older vampire.

Crepsley seemed to sit a little straighter in the presence of Seba, "Sam, Seba Nile is the quartermaster of vampire mountain. Do not let his age fool you he's as sly and cunning as any vampire and will get the best of anyone who tries to have a go at him."

"He would know from experience." Seba chuckled. "Remember the time you set out to steal half of my best vintage wine?"

"Oh, please," Crepsley groaned. "I was so young and foolish."

"What happened?" I asked impishly. I never pictured the vampire to be the rebellious type when he was younger. Crepsley was so straight-laced sometimes I wondered how he didn't suffocate himself. It was strange to say the least to think he was once the same age as me.

"Tell her Larten," Seba said. Mr. Crepsley frowned like a child who didn't get their way, but did as told.

With a heavy sigh, he admitted, "He got to it first and switched it with vinegar." Me and Gavner couldn't contain our laughter. "I got a bottle in before I realized what had happened and spent the entire night retching."

Tears were streaming out of my eyes and I clutched my sides. Mr. Crepsley got a devilish look in his eyes. "You think it is so humorous?" He gave a smug smirk. "How about the time I caught you and Evra posing in nothing but your-"

I sprang forward and covered his mouth with my hand, not amused. "You wouldn't dare tell them that!"

"Apologize for laughing." Crepsley demanded, I gave him a hard look but the effect was lost on him since I couldn't stop smiling.

I bit my lip and looked up at the vampire, perhaps I was being too cruel..."Ok, alright...I'm sorry." Crepsley nodded his acceptance, but couldn't get rid of the smug look in his eyes. Seba seemed greatly amused.

"Larten was young and foolish at the time, but he learned." Seba's eyes glimmered with pride.

Crepsley nodded, and seem equally as proud, "Seba was my tutor, I learned everything from him." I looked at the old vampire with reverence,

"Wow." The red-clad vampire took on a whole new light in my mind. He was someone who was as close to Crepsley as I aspired to be; he was someone I could learn a lot from. The three men began to talk about old times which completely went over my head. As much as I was interested in learning I was so out of the loop I might as well had been in another solar system. I didn't even realize I was nodding off until I felt Mr. Crepsley adjust himself so I could lean more comfortably against him.

"The girl is tired," Seba noted. "The first trip is always the hardest. Come, I'll show you to your rooms."

As the quartermaster of Vampire Mountain, Seba was in charge of the stores and living quarters. It was his job to make sure there was enough food and drink and blood for everyone, and that every vampire had a place to sleep. There were other vampires working for him, but he was the main man. Aside from the Princes, Seba was the most respected vampire in the mountain. Seba asked me to walk beside him as we made our way from the Hall of Osca Velm to our sleeping quarters. He pointed out various Halls as we passed, and told me their names — most of which I couldn't pronounce, never mind remember — and what they were used for.

"It will take a while to adjust," he said, seeing my dazed gaze. "For the first few nights you may feel lost. But in time you will grow accustomed to the place." The network of tunnels connecting the Halls to the sleeping quarters was cold and damp, even with the torches, but the tiny rooms — carved out of the rocks — were bright and warm, each lit by a powerful torch. Seba asked if we wanted one big room between us, or if we'd rather have separate quarters.

"Separate," Mr. Crepsley immediately replied. "I had enough of Gavner's snoring on the trail."

"Charming!" Gavner huffed.

I gave him a confused look, "We always sleep together?" Gavner choked and tried to cover it by clearing his throat. My mentor turned red.

"I see," Mr. Crepsley shifted uncertainly. "I think it would be best if we had separate rooms."

I frowned. Before Seba added, "I can give you the room next to Larten, if you would feel more comfortable close to him." I nodded. Mr. Crepsley took Seba to take a look at Madame Octa after dropping me in my room. The coffins didn't look so uncomfortable as I settled in.

I must have tried for hours to sleep but it was impossible. I was used to having Crepsley beside me. Perhaps he had misunderstood me earlier and thought I meant something inappropriate. I guess a man and woman sharing a room had certain implications. And I did like him…But the truth was I just wanted to have him close. I felt safe and comfortable with him next to me.

I had to tell him. I swore to myself that before we left this mountain I would confess my feelings to the vampire like I should have 3 years ago.

I woke up to the feeling of someone gently shaking my coffin. The cold air rushed in and I curled up tighter with my blanket. "Five more minutes," I mumbled.

"Rise and shine," Mr. Crepsley chuckled. Now that woke me up I bolted upright, and instantly regretted it. I stretched out the cramp in my back and eyed the room around me. "Did you sleep well?" I shrugged in response and he laughed. "Do not worry, you will grow accustomed to it."

He left so I could get dressed. I was glad I had packed a spare dress. It had the same sleeves and lacing in the front, but was a deep forest green. I grabbed it and slipped on some sandals and headed out to meet Gavner, who showed me to the restroom. The bathroom consisted of a small hole in the ground over a stream of rushing water. How medieval.

"Off to the showers!" Gavner cried triumphantly. Shower was an understatement. Freezing blast of cold water was more appropriate. The only thing colder than this was an icy bath, and not by much.

"Gavner you can not go in there!" My mentor barked.

"Why not?" he whined. "I promise, I just want to wash. It's not fair!"

"I do not care. I said no." I smirked to myself as Mr. Crepsley played guard outside the entrance.

"Oh I see," Gavner chuckled darkly. "You want to keep her all to yourself. Don't kid yourself, I see you peeking over your shoulder." I scowled, then heard the sound of someone yelping in pain.

"You both better keep your eyes to yourself!" I yelled, The sound echoed off the walls and came back double on the ears of the two vampires lingering outside the doorway.

After everyone had cleaned up we made our way down to the Hall to eat. Bat broth and bread again. It wasn't bad, but I missed the food Truska would prepare at the Cirque more and more each day. Harkat had already gone to the prince's hall earlier and when we arrived all the vampires were in an uproar. Mr. Crepsley said he would take me on a tour but we had to postpone until things calmed down a bit. I was disappointed but understood that things were a little crazy at the time.

Mr. Crepsley and I were taken down to the storeroom so he could get some new clothes. He dressed all in red per usual although it was much less fancy than the things he usually wore. It was while he was adjusting his cape that I realized how similar his dress sense and Seba Nile's were. I mentioned it to him and he smiled.

"I have copied many of Seba's ways," he said. "Not just his way of dressing, but also his way of speaking. I did not always use these precise, measured tones. When I was your age, I ran my words together the same as anybody. Years spent in the company of Seba taught me to slow down and consider my words before speaking."

"Huh, funny. I can still account on many occasions you still suffer from foot-in-mouth disease." I teased. "All I know is seeing the two of you together, side by side, explains quite a bit." I began laughing.

Crepsley buttoned up his shirt, "I may be like him, but I have neither the heart nor the will to punish you when you make mistakes, as Seba punished me."

"Why?" I asked as I folded some of his clothes into a basket. "What did he do?"

"He was a fair but hard teacher," Mr. Crepsley said. "When I told him of my desire to mimic him, he began paying close attention to my vocabulary. Whenever I said 'don't' or 'it's' or 'can't' — he would pluck a hair from inside my nose!"

"No way!" I exclaimed. Hearing the vampire use contractions was like hearing a cat bark, or a fish meow. Unnatural. I gasped in shock, "Did he use tweezers?"

"No — his fingernails."

"Ow!" Mr. Crepsley nodded in agreement; he practically shivered at the memory.

"I asked him to stop- I said I no longer cared to copy him- but he would not. He believes in finishing what one starts. After several months of having the hairs ripped from inside my nostrils, I had a brain wave, and signed them with a red-hot rod — not something I recommend you try! — so they would not grow back."

"What happened?" Mr. Crepsley blushed.

"He began plucking hairs from an even more tender spot."

"Where?" I quickly asked. The vampire's blush deepened.

"I will not say — it is far too embarrassing." I made a mental note to ask Seba about this later when someone slammed open the door behind us. They closed it just as quickly. My mentor's face frowned slightly at the intrusion,"Kurda?"

A blonde vampire, dressed head to toe in blue, tensed and tried opening the door, "No..Wait, is that you Larten?" The blonde vampire was fidgety and kept eyeing the door. "Have you heard the news?"

"Only rumors," Crepsley shrugged. I knew he would never break his promise to Harkat.

"Everyone is after me for information I don't have." Kurda sighed. "I guess that's what happens when you move up in the world."

"Ahh," Mr. Crepsley said. "I had heard from Gavner about your investiture. Congratulations."

"You don't approve." He noted. "That's fine. Most people don't. But when I become a prince I can further my work and that's all that matters."

Kurda was liaison to the vampaneze. He had been meeting with them for decades and there was talk of bringing the estranged cousins back into the fold. I didn't get it, but Mr. Crepsley said, while it wasn't a bad idea, he was wary that having a direct voice to the princes was a bit skeptical. We cut the conversation short and parted ways. I didn't exactly trust Kurda but I decided to reserve judgement until later. As we headed down to the main hall to get something to eat, I saw our friends gathered around the table without us. Even they were gone over the news that was circling the ranks of vampires. Seba, being one of the oldest vampires was greatly disturbed by Harkat's Message.

"A lot of today's vampires do not believe the old stories," he said. "They think Mr. Tiny's warning was something we made up to frighten young vampires. But I remember how he looked. I recall the way his words echoed around the Hall of Princes, and the fear they instilled in everyone. The Vampaneze Lord is no mere figure of legend. He is real. And now, it seems, he is coming." Seba lapsed into silence. He'd been drinking a mug of warm beer but had lost interest in it.

"He has not come yet," Mr. Crepsley said spiritedly. "Mr. Tiny is as old as time itself. When he says the night is at hand, he might mean hundreds or thousands of years from now." Seba shook his head.

"We have had our hundreds of years — seven centuries to make a stand and tackle the vampaneze. We should have finished them off, regardless of the consequences. Better to have been driven to the point of extinction by humans than wiped out entirely by the vampaneze."

"That is foolish talk," Mr. Crepsley snapped. "I would rather take my chances with a mythical Vampaneze Lord than a real, stake-wielding human. So would you." Seba nodded glumly and sipped at his beer.

"You are probably right. I am old. My brain does not work as sharply as it used to. Perhaps my worries are those of an old man who has lived too long. Still . . ." It seemed everyone was being debbie downer these days No one could go a single minute without coming across as completely 'doom and gloom'. It practically reeked of tension in this mountain and the only one who didn't seem troubled by the rumors was Kurda Smahlt. I don't know about everyone else, but to me, something was rotten in the state of Denmark. And I was keen to discover what exactly that was. Nancy Drew, Sherlock, you both better start taking some notes!

After some careful cajoling on my part, I finally agreed to get my mentor to take me on a tour. Crepsley took me to see the kitchens first; they were huge caves, built deep beneath most of the halls. Large fires burned brightly and the cooks worked in shifts around the clock during times of Council. They had to in order to feed all the visitors. From the kitchens we progressed to the breeding halls, where sheep, goats, and cows were kept and bred. I guess it wasn't practical to organize a shipment from the local butcher so we raised the animals ourselves.

"What about human blood?" I questioned. There seemed to be a never ending supply of it in this place. If I felt the tiniest bit thirsty I never had to wait long to quench that thirst.

He looked ahead, effectively sidestepping the question, "Generous donations."

The Hall of Cremation was our next stop. It was where vampires who died in the mountain were cremated. It was a very few rare vampires that asked to be buried. The Hall of Cremation was a large octagonal room with a high ceiling full of cracks. There was a pit in the middle — where the dead vampires were burned — and a couple of long, gnarly benches on the far side, made out of bones. Two women and a man were sitting on the benches, whispering to each other, and a young child was at their feet, playing with a scattering of animal bones. They didn't have the appearance of vampires — they were thin and ill-looking, with lank hair and rags for clothes; their skin was deathly pale and dry, and their eyes were an eerie white color. The adults stood when we entered, grabbed the child, and withdrew through a door at the back of the room.

"Who are they?" I whispered.

"Guardians," Mr. Crepsley said. "I will not speak of them here." Letting the matter of the Guardians drop, I examined the cremation pit, which was just a hollow dip in the ground. There were leaves and sticks in the bottom, waiting to be lit. Large pots were set around the hole, a club like stick in each. I asked what they were for.

"We grind the bones to make our bread, didn't you know?" He smirked, I swatted his arm and growled. Joking didn't seem appropriate in a place like this.

"My, my, my you seem to have finally found a sense of humor." I growled and practically dragged him out of the room. Leaving the Hall of Cremation, we set out for the three Halls of Sport (individually they were called the Hall of Basket Wrent, the Hall of Rush Flon'x, and the Hall of Oceen Pird, although most vampires referred to them simply as the Halls of Sport). I was eager to see the gaming Halls, but as we made our way there, Crepsley paused in front of a small door, bowed his head, closed his eyes, and touched his eyelids with his fingertips. It was a sign of respect. The Hall of Death was briefly described but I had no desire to venture behind that door; nope, nope, nopety nope I did not want to see where the traitors were killed.

Moving on to better thing, the Hall of Games was a gigantic cavern filled with rough housing, yelling vampires. There were a ton of activities such as: wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, and mma. There was even some speed chess matches.

"Whoa!" My inner athlete roared to life inside me with the thrill of competition. We took some seats and watched a strange display. It was like fencing except it was with spears, faster, and more bloody.

"They call this game the eyeballer," Crepsley leaned in to speak with me over the commotion.

I grimaced as the two fighting vampires took wild stabs at each other,"Do I want to know why?" Turns out, most people lose their eyes during this game, since the goal was the land a cut on your opponent at least 3 times.

"You should see it when they play for real," someone said behind us. "They're just warming up at the moment." Turning, I saw a ginger-haired vampire who had only one eye. He was clad in a dark blue leather tunic and pants.

Crepsley introduced us quickly, "Sam, this is Vanez Blane: the games master."

I couldn't take my eyes off the patch of scarred skin where there should have been another dark brown eye, "Is this game how you…" I gestured to my face. He let out a laugh.

"No, I lost mine in a fight with a lion."

My jaw dropped, "Amazing! So... you're in charge if the games?"

Vanez shrugged bashfully, "Vampires are built to fight. I am more of a supervisor. Not even the princes can control the vampires while in the game hall."

"Vanez is also an excellent trainer." Mr. Crepsley added. "Most generals have tried under him for the past 100 years."

We watched the game for a while but there was only minimal bloodshed. Vanez took us around the Hall and showed us the different games, explaining them to me along the way. There were so many weapons, yet none of them were firearms. It went against the rules to use firearms, hand to hand combat was the only way to go. My stomach rolled at the thought. "I don't think I'd be so good at hand to hand combat," I confided as I smoothed down the wrinkles on my dress. It was damn near impossible to keep clean in a place like this!

Mr. Crepsley considered it for a moment, he then ran his hand through my long hair, "This could be considered a hand hold for some. You might want to consider cutting it."

I reeled back in deep, undisguised horror. "No way!" He let out a bark of laughter.

"Just a suggestion." Mr. Crepsley smiled. he left to meet up with Gavner but promised to be back within the hour. I begrudgingly let him go, it wasn't fair to keep him from his friends.

Moving away from the weapons, we stopped beside a series of overlapping narrow planks. Vampires were balancing on the planks and crossing from one to another, trying to knock their opponents to the ground with long, round-ended staffs. There were six Vampires in action when we arrived. A few minutes later, only one remained aloft — a woman. More specifically, the only other woman I'd seen since I first began my journey as a vampire. I felt my eyes widen in disbelief.

The stocky vampire clapped his hands in pleasure,"Well done Arra! Your balance is impeccable as always."

"Thank you, Vanez." She addressed the vampire then fixed her cool grey eyes on me, "And you are?"

"Samantha Shan," I stuck out my hand to her and she ignored it. Ouch, I wasn't used to be snubbed. Just who was this woman?

"Seems like they're blooding anyone theses days," she scoffed. I stiffened in offense and fixed the woman with my fiercest glare.

Vanez noted the tension beginning to form and decided to intervene, "Arra refuses to shake the hand of anyone she doesn't respect," Vanez explained, as if that was supposed to to make it okay?

I spoke directly to the woman in front of me, "Tell me...Why are you the first female I've seen since my journey here?"

There was an awkward silence between the three of us, Arra did not shy away from my question. "Women do not make good vampires. the entire clan is barren, and it doesn't appeal to many of us."

"Barren?" The word felt weird in my mouth. Something that should make sense to me but didn't….Because deep down I knew it didn't really apply. Thinking on my own experience and about what Mr. Tall had said many years ago.

"Yes, we all must make our peace with it." Arra said flippantly. "I'm surprised your mentor did not tell you…Not that it really matters, someone weak like you won't live long enough to regret the loss as it is."

Fury burned through me. Just who did this bitch think she was? She didn't even know me!

"Say, Arra, why not spar with our new recruit?" Vanez seemed pleased at the idea. "I bet she's dying to test herself amongst our ranks. What vampire doesn't like a good, bloody fight?" Arra simply laughed at my blanched face.

"You mean, fight her?" I replied dumbly, I wasn't so sure that was a good idea.

Arra grinned,"Unless..." She hopped up onto the planks and twirled her staff over her head and under her arms. "You're too much of a chicken to face your betters?" It spun faster than my eyes could follow, and I began having second thoughts about getting up there with her; but I'd look like a coward if I backed out now. Even if I could live with the shame I didn't dare put Crepsley in a bad light

"Don't count me out so quickly, "I placed my hands on my hips in defiance, "The only one who looks like a chicken here is you, I mean seriously that hair cut screams free range." Vanez found a staff small enough for me and spent a few minutes showing me how to use it.

"Hold it in the middle," he instructed. "That way you can attack with either end. Don't swing too hard or you'll leave yourself open to a counterstrike. Jab at her legs and stomach. Forget about her head — you're too short to aim so high. Try tripping her. Go for her knees and toes — those are the soft points." Vanez showed me how to block low jabs and side-swipes and overhead cuts. "The trick is keeping your balance," he said. "Fighting on the bars isn't like fighting on the ground. You can't just block a blow — you have to stay steady on your feet, so you're ready for the next. Sometimes it's better to take a strike than duck out of the way."

As worried as I was about getting hurt, I relished in the idea of laying down some serious hits on her, maybe there was no chance I'd win. But I didn;t care. She'd compromised my honor. Vanez seemed slightly worried at how quiet I was being, maybe he even thought I was afraid.

"Arra won't knowing harm you, but she won't go easy on you either. You'd better hold your own up there. Larten won't be happy with me if you're brought back to him on a stretcher."

I took off my shoes and tried my balance on the bars. A crowd had gathered around the bars. No one wanted to miss two female vampires going at it. I jumped around a little and tried to gain my balance. I took a few practice swings and nearly fell over.

Focus Sam. You can do this!

"Short swings!" Vanez said and he steadied me. "Broad swings will be the end of you!" The staff felt right in my hand and remained me a lot of the lacrosse stick I once wielded when I was human. When I was ready me and Arra smacked our sticks together in the middle. She smiled, she was completely confident. We nudged away from each other and Vanez clapped his hands together to signal the start of our match. Arra wasted no time and made a quick jab to my stomach. I narrowly avoided it by turning to the side. She went for my face and I ducked.

"Careful! Balance!" Vanez barked.

She brought the staff down as if to crack my skull open but I was able to pull my staff up in time to block it. The jolt of the contact ran through my body as I pushed back. Neither of us was willing to give an inch.

"What are you trying to do? Kill her!" Vanez shouted from below.

"I can't let some weak little girl run around disgracing her master with weakness now can I?" Arra shouted. Now that really lit a fire inside me. Here she was trying to force me to my knees. She was trying to show everyone that I was weak, and ill suited to being a vampire. I wouldn't stand for it! I let my bottom hand release the staff and hers slide downward with the sudden change of pressure. I whirled my staff forward and it connected with her face. A roar of excitement came from below.

"You're gonna regret that." Arra snapped, and spit a bit of blood on the ground.

"Not more than you're going to regret calling me weak, "I growled.

"You better be careful, Arra this girl could beat you." Vanez mused.

"As if some little girl could beat me!" She yelled and attacked with new fervor. It took everything I had to keep up with her. She had me backed into a corner and then I had no choice but to strike. I went for her knees and miscalculated and she practically kicked the staff out of my hands. She stalked me like a cat chasing a bird as I tried to dodge. She went for the broad sweep and in an instant I grabbed the staff and ripped it from her hands.

"Look who's got the advantage now?" I smirked. Laughter came from down below.

Arra was stronger but I was quicker. I landed a few good hits on her. But not having a staff did not faze her, she simply returned to hand to hand combat. As I went for her abdomen I wasn't able to land a hard enough blow. I twisted the end of the staff into her shirt and pulled her forward, off balance. But getting closer was what she wanted as she gripped the staff and brought her right fist around and slammed it into my face.

Stars burst into my vision and I thought for sure I had been knocked out cold. But I was still going, however Arra showed no mercy. I was able to kick the staff to the ground and we were engaged in a battle of pure fisticuffs. I sustained blow after blow and could feel myself growing dizzy.

"Call it off Shan!" The familiar voice of Kurda rang through the air. "She'll kill you!"

"I will not yield!" I screamed as she landed a hard blow on my back. I doubled over and clutched the planks for dear life. There was the sound of rushing air before she landed a solid kick to my left side, sending me flying over the side onto the ground. I reached my hand out at the last second and gripped the bar for dear life.

I had to think quickly if I wanted to make my next move count. On a whim, I swung myself back and forth to build momentum, Arra had already began to claim her victory, believing me to have fallen over. When I finally gained enough speed, I arched myself upward and soared through the wide gaps of the planks, my feet connecting solidly with my opponent's back. Arra stumbled toward the edge. I thought for a second shed regain her balance, but was happy to report she fell face forward onto the ground below.

The crowd absolutely lost their minds. Me, a half vampire, beat one of the best staff masters on the planks. I could hardly believe it myself.

I jumped down, and tried to make it over to Arra, but my vision was growing spotted. I may have won, but it definitely cost me. Arra glared at me in contempt as I shakily approached her. I defiantly stuck out my hand, which she eyed with suspicion.

"One good fight doesn't make you a warrior." She said. "What will you do if I don't shake your hand, I wonder?"

"I will get back on those bars and fight until you do." I glared, radiating an iron will.

"Hah! Says the girl who is about the pass out…"She considered it for a moment as I started to tip over slightly before clasping her hand with mine.

"Well done, Miss Shan." She smiled, "Power to you."

"Power," I replied and promptly passed out