A.N. Yay new chapter and I am skipping like in the book to six years in the future. I am saying this now so that people do t get confused. Yeah? But yeah I swear it is now going to get interesting and I think Mia may begin to show more of her true age in some of the following chapters.

Disclaimer: ... Don't... Claim... Rights... AT All...

Chapter 43

*Mia's POV*

I sit silently behind Darren's throne as another vampire states news from the battle. To me all the news sounds the same but that might be because I didn't really care for battle, but a part of me seemed content listening to the many accounts of the blood shed. If anything it is probably the side that my father created, the side that hurt so many, and is sure to hurt more if I can't keep it under control.

From beside Darren and behind me I can hear Mr. Crepsley as he begins discussing something with Darren. I turn and notice the two looking at the map closely. I stand up to see what it is that Mr. Crepsley is getting at and see that his finger is pointed at an area that has been shaded, showing many battles taking place in that area.

"Did you not notice the name Darren?"

I wonder what is so important about the towns name and take a look again at the map, quickly locating the name. Then I freeze my blood running cold throughout my body. Why did it have to be that town? I look at the map again to make sure that I didn't read the name wrong, but sure enough there it is.

The name of Mr. Crepsley's home town. At this point I wanted to run with my tail between my legs and hide, but I refused to show such weakness in front of the proud race of vampires. So instead I just return to my spot behind Darren's throne, unfurling my tail, which I have let loose more often lately.

I watch as it loosely curls on the floor, moving almost as though it has a mind of its own, I stare at my tail watching as it curls and uncurls , trying to keep my mind away from the memories. A slight pain goes through my shoulders as the memories of the knife cutting through them surfaces, I lightly rub my right shoulder and turn back to see Darren staring at me. I didn't realize how much time had past, then I looked past Darren's shoulder and saw that the hall was empty except for a few stragglers who had yet to give information.

"I'm heading back to our room for a while. "He simply stated, I nodded in reply, stood up and followed him out of the large glowing hall. As we walk my tail brushes the ground and some how the vampires are courteous enough to avoid that area of the floor and not step on it. I had asked Darren that a few years ago and he said something about the gratitude that they had due to me helping them locate the vampaneze that were hidden away all those years ago. I just toned that out and convinced myself that they just avoided me cause I was different, not that, that was a large surprise.

After the two of us reached the shared room we went to sleep and far later in the night Harkat's screams of terror woke us up as he found himself in another nightmare. Darren instantly jumped from his hammock and ran to the Little Person's side and grabbed a hold of one of Harkat's flailing arms yelling over his screams.

"Harkat your fine, it's just a dream." As Darren yelled this Harkat's screams got louder as he yelled something about dragons. Then as quickly as it started Harkat slowly stopped screaming and his clouded eyes began to clear up as he noticed Darren's concerned eyes looking down at him.

As Harkat stood Darren took a back and grabbed his shirt from his Hammock and pulled it over his head.

"Did the shadow men show up?" Darren asked calmly through the fabric of his shirt. Harkat simply shook his head, "Not this... time... but they probably... would've shown up... have you not... woken me up."

With that said the two sat across from each other on their hammocks and began catching up while Darren had time. At one point Darren removed his hat and began running his hand over his bald and scarred head as Harkat did the same.

They both started laughing and I gave a slight laugh, it was funny seeing how similar the two were with Darren's bald head. Harkat stated the same thing and Darren grunted a reply.

"Well it turns out that after the Hall of Flames, my hair just refused to grow back, so I just shaved it all of in the end."

The two continued talking and then the conversation ended up with Harkat mentioning spiders that Seba wanted to show Darren. I rolled my eyes knowing how Darren acted around spiders and that he would probably run off in hurry to see what Seba had to show him.

"Sorry Harkat," I looked up. ""But I have to head back to help Paris." Harkat nodded in understanding, the two continued talking and as they did I picked up on the sound of footsteps quickly approaching our room.I turned towards the curtained opening just as Mr. Crepsley came in.

"Darren quickly to the Hall of Princes, Prince Mika Ver Leth has returned!"

Darren stared at his mentor. "Mika's back!?" With that it didn't take the four of us long to run towards the glowing hall, along the way we ran into Dorene who joined us in the our mad dash towards the hall. We then joined in the the dash with others who were trying to get into the hall as well.

As we finally got into the hall we saw the war lorn Mika Ver Leth at the front of the hall. Dorene, Harkat and I found seats at the front while D are lawn and Mr. Crepsley walked up to the thrones. From where I was sitting it was hard to tell but I thought I could almost see a smile form on Mia's lips.

"Darren, how's our cub prince faring?"

*Third Person*

The hall grew silent as Mika began talking of his news of the Vampaneze lord. He revealed that he himself has not seen the Mystery person but has run into with a few of his new recruits.

"New recuits?" Darren asked as he stared at his fellow prince in confusion. Mika pulled up the sleeve of his shirt revealing wounds that weren't new to most but to the proud race of the Vampires it was completely unheard of.

"But those are bullet wounds?!" Darren exclaimed as he took in the few wounds that covered the black clothed prince.

"Aye Darren they are. That is where these new recruits pose a threat." A sudden chill came over the hall awaiting for Mika to continue with his news.

"For while we and the Vampaneze are bound by our laws and are thus unable to wield guns and such these new recruits are not bound by such laws for they are simple humans interested by the power promised to them by the Vampaneze Lord."

The gathered in the hall sat in a deafening silence as each individual vampire took in this new I formation. How would this new threat affect their odds in this war. The silence was later broken by the clear voice of Mr. Crepsley.

"So what news of the Vampaneze Lord." Mika gazed up to the orange haired vampire and nodded.

"Yes, we'll I can say that he doesn't have a set base, and rather travels with a set number of guards." The prince then turned towards the hall. "He travels to the different battles to keep up morals, but from what I heard morals are still low and most Vampaneze don't believe that they can win the war." The prince then continued with the mention of a possible treaty or even straight out surrender.

As soon as that last bit of news came out the hall erupted in cheers and suddenly found himself being carried out of the hall with claims of a celebration due to the Prince's finds. Somehow both Mia and Dorene had found themselves swept up by the large crowd and ushered out of the hall, leaving both Mr. Crepsley and Darren standing next to the thrones along with the old Paris Skyle.

Mr

Crepsley complained under his breath at how much of a waste of time this was and that they should be pushing the Vampaneze towards surrender. A clearing g of the throat from Paris was all it took to get the vampires attention.

"Go with them Larten, and get you self steaming drunk." Mr. Crepsley turned in shook towards the older vampire. Before he could get any complaints out Paris continued.

"And don't come back without a hangover. That is an order." Larten stared at the prince not sure how he should take the order seriously or as a jole, not wanting to take his chances though he stalked off out of the hall, following behind the others. Paris then turned to Darren.

"Go with him, enjoy yourself." Darren wanted to stay with the elderly prince but his superior wouldn't have it and so the young vampire turned and was about to make his way out of the hall, but turned one last time towards Paris.

"Hey, what is Mr. Crepsley like when he's drunk?" Darren asked as he thought about the boys question trying to recall a time when the orange haired vampire was drunk, Paris smiled having recalled such a moment.

"If I would have to describe it, I'd have to say a Gloria with a headache." Darren tried to picture that in his head. With a loose wave of Paris' hand Darren once again turned and raced out of the hall, still trying to picture a drunk Mr. Crepsley in his head.

Finally it was only Paris in the hall he coughed, his old age catching up to him, and fazed out tiredly at the empty room. Pondering the things that had been discussed only a few minutes before.

The Vampaneze growing in number and the new recruited, gun wielding Vampets.

He couldn't help but wonder... Just how much of the war would he be able to witness?

A.N. okay so I wanted to get the drunk scene done in this chapter but this just seemed like a good spot to stop so next chapter will Def finely contain hangovers among other things but right now I need to get going g on a new chapter for one of other stories so please review, I haven't really heard from anyone in a while, so please drop in a thought if you have the time.

Until Next time Peace, Love, and Virtual Hugs.