Darren sat in the Hall of Khledon Lurt, eating bat broth and stale bread. He looked down at the small scars on his fingertips and studied them. He had been a full vampire for just under ten years and was very proud of the scars that proved he was officially part of the clan. While he was much older, he looked to be a man in his early 20s. He remembered when Larten first blooded him into a half vampire nearly 25 years before and smiled. For months before actually blooding him, Larten kept asking him if it was what he really wanted.
"You could live a very rewarding life as a human," he had said, "I would not think any less of you if you wanted to leave this life behind. As you know, we live roughly and vampire life is very challenging."
Darren would tell him repeatedly that he was sure, but Larten would still tell him to think about it more and get back to him.
Darren chuckled at the memory. It was clear to him that Larten's main concern was Darren's happiness. He never gave Darren any inclination of what he wanted for him, and always let Darren choose his own path.
There was only one issue they disagreed on constantly and Darren noticed that whenever he brought it up, Larten would dismiss it immediately, refusing to ever even discuss it. He had been wanting to leave the mountain and travel the world for the past few years. He wanted to explore the human world, but Larten quickly shut down any plans he had before he could even finish asking the question. When Darren asked why Larten didn't want him leaving, his only response was a curt, "You are not ready yet."
Darren sighed thinking about how upset Larten seemed to get about it. He was planning on bringing it up to Larten again later that night and finally making him have a real talk about it, but he was nervous about making him mad.
Darren quickly finished his meal and headed down to the storerooms. When he got there, Larten was stacking the newest shipment of boxes. When he saw Darren walk in, he smiled at him and Darren began helping him stack boxes, like he had done several times before.
"You finished early in the kitchens tonight," Larten commented, and Darren nodded. When Darren became old enough, he started helping out in the kitchens and it soon became a regular job for him. He would cook and prepare meals and blood for everyone in the mountain with four other vampires. They were all older than him, but still considered young by vampire standards. He got along very well with them and became particularly close with one vampire named Kaleb. He came to the mountain with his mentor when Darren had just been turned into a half vampire and was assigned to work in the kitchens with him right away. They quickly became friends and continued to grow closer in the years they knew each other.
After a few minutes of stacking in silence, Larten said, "So, what is troubling you?"
Darren stiffened. "What do you mean?" he tried to ask innocently.
"Darren, I raised you. I can tell when something is on your mind."
Darren looked down, letting his nerves get the better of him. "It's nothing big," he said, "It can wait until we're done."
They continued stacking boxes and putting everything in order. Once they finished, Darren took a deep breath and turned towards Larten.
"Dad," he started, trying to make his voice firm, "I want to talk to you about something."
"I am listening," Larten said, trying to sound assuring. He could tell how nervous Darren was.
"I want to leave the mountain and travel the world." Darren said bluntly. He couldn't think of a way to build up to what he wanted to say, so he decided to just say it and wait for his father's response.
Darren had been looking down at his hands, but slowly raised his eyes when Larten didn't respond. His face held an unreadable expression. After another moment of silence, Darren shifted uncomfortably. "Dad?" he asked uncertainly.
Larten sighed, "Darren, we have discussed this already."
"But we haven't," Darren said, "You just keep saying that I'm not ready, and I don't agree. I've been learning about human life for years. Besides, you gave me the option to join them before I even became a vampire. Why can't I go now?"
"That option went away when your humanity did," he retorted. "You chose to leave it behind when you became a vampire. The fact that you believe you can return to that life now just proves that you are not ready and makes me wonder if I blooded you too early."
"What?!" Darren exclaimed, "I don't want to be human!"
Larten ignored what Darren said and continued, "You are the one who kept insisting that human life was not what you wanted, so I blooded you when you were only nineteen under the impression that you would not live to regret it, but clearly I was wrong."
"I don't want to be human," Darren repeated. "I love being a vampire. I don't want to join the human world, just explore it."
Larten stared at him with a hard expression.
"Other vampires live among humans," Darren continued, taking advantage of his father's silence. "In fact, most do! This mountain is next to empty between Councils. Not many spend their lives here."
"Those who live beyond vampire mountain are experienced vampires who have acclimated themselves to that life. You have no experience and I cannot accompany you to guide you."
Darren argued, "How am I supposed to get experience when I'm stuck under this rock? I've spend my whole life living through postcards and Gavner's stories. I want to have stories of my own."
Larten hesitated, seeming unsure what to say.
"What happened to what you would tell me when I was little? That I could have adventures of my own and explore the world?" Darren pressed, "Where did all that go?"
"I told you that you could leave when you were ready, but you are not."
"But why not?" Darren snapped, "Why don't you trust me to make it on my own?"
"Because you have never been on your own!" Larten yelled. "You do not know the first thing about living out in the real world or how it works!"
"So you won't even give me the chance?"
Larten huffed, "I do not need to. I have lived the life you yearn for. I know what it takes to survive in it and you would not last 6 months."
Darren glared. "Just because you ran away from human life, that doesn't mean I'll do the same! Just give me a chance to-"
Suddenly, Larten snapped. "Stop asking to leave vampire mountain!" he roared and Darren flinched at the unusual roughness in his voice. "It is not going to happen!" Larten finished sharply. He swiftly turned on his heel and left, leaving Darren to stare after him shocked and hurt. He felt tears threaten to fall, but forced them back.
After taking several minutes to calm down, he slowly walked out of the storerooms. He didn't want to go back to their room, for fear of running into a still-fuming Larten and sparking another argument, so he went to the next best thing: Kaleb's room.
Darren entered Kaleb's room without knocking, as it had become a habit among them. The only reason Kaleb still knocked before entering Darren's room was because he still shared with Larten.
Kaleb took one look at the expression on his friend's face and smiled sympathetically. "I take it the big talk with 'dad' didn't go too well."
"It couldn't have gone worse," Darren said glumly. He recounted Kaleb on their argument and on Larten's outburst.
When he finished, Kaleb let out a slow breath. "That's pretty intense."
Darren sighed, "You should have seen him, Kaleb. He has never been that angry with me before. Not even when I was twelve and made a giant tear in his finest cloak because I was trying it on-"
"And it got caught on some luminous lichen in the hall," Kaleb finished, chuckling at the thought. "Anyway, he'll calm down," Kaleb assured him, "You two are so close. When he calms down, you two will go back to normal. Mr. Crepsley always starts off really serious about things at first, and then lightens with time."
"But he hasn't lightened," Darren replied, "I've been asking to leave for years and his responses have only gotten worse." He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. "I think I'm finished asking."
Kaleb eyed him oddly. "What does that mean?"
Darren explained, "I'm done trying to leave vampire mountain. I won't let this to ruin our relationship. I want to travel, but it isn't worth losing my father over. I'm done."
"Are you sure?" Kaleb asked.
Darren nodded sadly.
"Hey," Kaleb said, making Darren look up at him. "I was talking to Vanez earlier tonight. I decided to start training to be a guard."
"That's great," Darren congratulated, "You would be a fantastic guard."
Kaleb smiled, then nudged Darren's shoulder. "Why don't you train with me?"
"What?" Darren asked stupidly.
"Come on!" he urged, "You can't work in that kitchen forever. And if you're going to be sticking around anyway, why not give yourself something to strive for?"
Darren thought about it and smiled. It would be nice to have a challenge, and spending more time with Kaleb was inviting. Finally, he said, "That sounds great. I would love to train with you."
They spent the next few hours talking until Darren decided to retire back to his room. Kaleb had offered to let Darren sleep in his room with him, but Darren refused. He knew he should tell Larten of his plans to become a guard, and he hoped that it would be enough to make amends.
When he entered, Larten was sitting on top of his coffin waiting for him. Darren slowly walked over and sat down beside him.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Darren said, lowering his gaze. "I shouldn't have pushed on an issue I knew you don't approve of. I thought I could make you change your mind, but if you don't think I'm ready, then I have to trust your judgement. If you feel that strongly about me staying, then I will respect that and I won't ask to leave again."
Darren looked down sadly and Larten felt guilty. He sighed, thinking back to a time when he too felt trapped by the stone walls of vampire mountain. In a rarer display of affection, Larten draped his arm around Darren's shoulder and pulled him close and Darren rested his head on Larten's shoulder.
"I know this mountain can feel… entrapping at times," Larten said, "I do understand and I am sorry you do not want to be here, but-"
"It's not that I don't like it here," Darren cut him off and lifted his head. "I just feel like I've spent my whole life dreaming of a time when I could explore the world and see what's out there, so it was hard to accept that it might not happen."
"'Was?'" Larten asked.
"I went to Kaleb's room after we fought," Darren explained, "He said Vanez was going to start training him to be a guard."
Larten said, "That is nice for him."
"I decided to train with him," Darren said, eyeing his father closely.
Larten looked at him, surprised. "You wish to become a guard?"
"I don't want to work in the kitchens forever," Darren said then stood up. "If I'm going to stay here for a while, I might as well strive for something," he mimicked Kaleb's words. He went on, "I feel like I need a challenge. I'm getting bored."
Larten nodded. After a moment of silence, he said quietly, "We never had a fight before."
Darren nodded. "No we haven't," he agreed.
"This was our first one," Larten stated.
"Yes it was," Darren agreed again.
"I must say," Larten said, standing. "I did not care for it."
Darren smiled. "Me either."
They both began getting ready to sleep. Before they each laid down, Larten turned to Darren.
"We are fine now, right?" he said, clearly upset about their argument.
Darren looked over and saw his father's guilt-ridden and uneasy expression. "Yes, we're fine," he assured. He walked across the room and pulled Larten into a hug. Larten stiffened slightly in the hug, but returned it regardless. He knew that Larten wasn't the most affectionate person-most vampires weren't-but Darren was always a special exception to the older vampire's aversion to physical contact.
They pulled apart and went to bed. It wasn't until Darren closed his coffin lid and saw the postcards he had nailed to back of it that he sighed sadly and felt the tears-not-shed from before resurfacing. He ripped down the cards and crumpled them at his side. He wanted to take advantage of his isolation to let out his frustrations, but he knew that Larten would hear if he started to cry, so he rolled onto his side and tried to sleep.
All went back to normal after that night. Within a week, Darren and Kaleb had started training with Vanez to become guards. It was very similar to the training it took to become a general, with a few modifications. After a one-on-one training session with Vanez, he asked to speak with Darren privately before they finished.
Darren did as the half-blind gamemaster asked, curious what Vanez wished to discuss with him.
"Darren," Vanez started, "I'm curious why you suddenly decided to become a guard. If I understood correctly, you were planning on exploring the world for a few years before fully dedicating to the clan like most other vampires do. You already waited longer than "
"Oh, well…" Darren paused, not wanting to seem like a pushover for still doing everything Larten told him. "There was a change in plans. It turns out that I'm going to be staying in the mountain for a while longer and when Kaleb told me he was going to start training, I decided to as well."
Vanez squinted suspiciously at Darren, and Darren felt compelled to look away. "Why have you waited this long?"
Darren shrugged. He didn't want to lie to Vanez, but he also didn't want to admit the truth about Larten's disapproval.
Vanez continued. "I will not stop you from continuing your training if this is what you want, but I would strongly advise you to think about this decision further. Becoming a guard means living in Vampire Mountain for most of your life. If there is any part you that is unsure of whether this is right for you, you should wait, but like I said, if this is what you truly want, then continue training."
Darren said nothing. He could tell that Vanez was pushing him to not just reconsider, but back out of training. Darren spent the rest of the night thinking about his words. Darren didn't want to be a guard. At least, not right away. He had thought about becoming a general or guard since Larten taught him about them, but he wanted to travel first. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much he didn't want to continue training. He knew he wasn't going to be satisfied with any decision that meant never leaving the tunnels of vampire mountain. He also knew that Larten would never approve of him leaving.
So, what was Darren supposed to do?
It was a difficult decision, and Darren was ready to suck it up and continue training anyway, until the mountain got a visit from one of Darren's favorite Generals.
Darren and Larten's room was one of the first places Gavner visited upon arriving. When he reached it, Darren was there alone, looking through his box of numerous post cards.
He knocked on the wall to gain Darren's attention.
"Gavner!" Darren called out. It had been at least 13 years since he last saw Gavner since he missed the last Council. He was quick to give his old friend a hug.
When they pulled apart, they were both smiling. "How is my favorite nephew?" Gavner joked. He often called Darren his nephew in order to tease the younger vampire. When Darren was 7, he called the general, "Uncle Gavner" and he never let Darren hear the end of it.
"Haha," Darren said, rolling his eyes. "How have you been?"
"Just fine," Gavner answered. "And I brought you something."
He pulled a new post card out of his pocket. "I know you already have a post card from Stockholm, but this one has the Drottningholm Palace. I thought you would enjoy it."
Darren looked down at the card in his hands and sighed. "Thanks Gavner, but you don't have to bring me these anymore."
"Why not?" Gavner looked at him confused and concerned.
Darren hesitated. He didn't want to complain about Gavner's best friend to him, but if he didn't tell Gavner, he would just ask Larten later.
"I'm not going to be leaving vampire mountain," Darren answered sadly.
"Why not?" Gavner repeated.
Darren looked down and shrugged.
"Darren," Gavner said sternly.
"Dad doesn't want me leaving the mountain," Darren said, "We got into a huge fight over it and I decided to stay here and train to be guard."
"A guard?" Gavner said in a disapproving tone. "Don't get me wrong, the guards are essential to vampire mountain and are deserving of respect, but you can do so much more. Let me talk to Larten."
"Please don't," Darren begged. "I'm okay with it really."
"I'm not," Gavner said. "Why doesn't Larten want you leaving?"
Darren answered, "He didn't really say. He said it's because I don't have experience out there, but if I never go, I'll never get any experience at all."
Gavner nodded. "I am going to speak with him. At the very least, I can probably get a straight answer out of him."
Gavner found Larten in the store rooms, getting ready to finish up for the evening. The pair spent a few minutes catching up before Gavner said, "So Darren told me of his plans to be a guard."
"Oh?" Larten replied.
"He said you didn't want him traveling like he always planned." Gavner watched his former mentor carefully.
Larten sighed. "It is unfair of me to do, I know, but I felt like I had to"
"Why?" Gavner asked, "Darren always wanted to travel. You knew that. Why deny him of it?"
Larten responded. "You do not understand."
"No I don't. Explain it to me," Gavner said.
Larten leaned in, as if he were telling a secret. "It goes back to Mr. Tiny's visit all those years ago. Do you remember when I asked you to watch Darren while I prepared Mr. Tiny's room?"
Gavner nodded.
Larten continued, "He came by and talked with me about Darren. It was not a coincidence that I found Darren left in the snow. He knows where he came from and I suspect that he may even had something to do with it."
Gavner looked concerned. "What does this have to do with traveling?"
"He said he has 'plans' for Darren. He told me as soon as he leaves vampire mountain that…. something will happen. I do not know what, but if it involves Desmond Tiny, then it will not be good."
Gavner sighed and took a moment a think. "Mr. Tiny showing an interest in anyone is unsettling," he finally said. "But he needs to make his own path. You can't keep him here forever. The truth is that you won't always be around to protect him. He will eventually get out on his own. It may even be soon."
"What do you mean?" Larten asked. "Has he mentioned running away?"
"No," Gavner assured. "He didn't say anything about that, but he may get the idea eventually."
Larten thought about that. He knew it was selfish to keep Darren with him, and wrong of him to deny him of his greatest want, but he found that it was hard to let that go.
"You can't stop him Larten," Gavner continued, "You can only prepare him and trust that you taught him enough to make the right choices."
Larten met eyes with Gavner. "You are right. Thank you Gavner."
That night, Larten found that Darren was waiting for him in their room.
"I'm sorry," he said immediately.
"For what?" Larten asked.
"Did Gavner talk to you?" Darren asked.
"Yes, he did," Larten answered.
"I didn't ask him to," Darren answered. "He just asked and I-"
"It is alright," Larten interrupted. "I need to speak with you."
"Okay…" Darren seemed uncertain.
"You get your wish," Larten said. "It was wrong of me to keep you here. You are a fine vampire and deserve to explore the world."
Darren's eyes widened hopefully. "Really?"
Larten nodded with a smile.
Darren grinned and flung his arms around Larten. "Thank you! Thank you!"
They pulled apart, but Larten kept hold on Darren's arms and spoke seriously, "Gavner offered to take you with him on his next few assignments. He will teach you things I could not, like drinking blood from the source and modern human habits."
Darren nodded excitedly.
Larten continued, "I just ask that you are careful."
"I will," Darren said immediately.
"Very careful," Larten said more sternly, locking eyes with Darren.
Darren nodded and spoke calmer, "I promise."
Larten nodded and let Darren go. "Gavner will speak with you more tomorrow and you will depart within a week."
That night, for the first in months, Darren went to sleep with a smile on his face.