1This is my second fanfic, so be gentle. I do not own Darren Shan of any one in the Cirque Du Freak Series.

Darkness. Eternal, infinite darkness. Drifting... can't move...can't speak... can't see... screaming silently into nothingness...

Voices... speaking louder... coming closer... coming faster... familiar, yet not... movement... fingers clenching and unclenching... darkness turning into a dark blue... light blue... purple... red... breathing... heart beating... deep breath... inhale, exhale... pain... lungs aching... cold, solid surface beneath... bright red light... hurting eyes... eye lids fluttering...

And in the golden cavern Darren Shan opened his eyes.

000

I was confused. My head felt like someone had taken a sledge hammer to it and my body felt no better. My lungs felt ready to burst, as if I had been under water for a long time and my heart beat rapidly in my chest.

I looked around, my eyes aching from the intensity of the light, yet when I looked closely I couldn't see its source. There was no light bulbs, or lanterns or candles. It was as if the light was coming from the cavern its self.

I sat there wondering how I got there when it all came back; Cirque Du Freak, Mr. Crepsley, Mr. Tall, becoming a half-vampire, Steve's promise, meeting Evra, Desmond Tiny, R.V., Sam's death, Debbie, Murlough, the vampaneze, going to Vampire Mountain, Harkat, Gavner, Kurda, the trials, failing, running with Kurda and Gavner, Kurda's betrayal, Gavner's death, warning the princes, Seba, killing the vanpaneze, becoming a prince, the Vampaneze Lord, going to kill him with Mr. Crepsley, Vancha, Evanna, Gannen, Vancha's secret, Debbie, Alice, the cavern, Mr. Crepsley dying, Steve's secret, going into the future with Harkat, the truth about Harkat, going after Steve, Darius, Tommy's death, the trap, finding out the truth about Darius, Shancus getting kidnapped, Mr. Tall's death, going after Shancus, capturing Darius, going to the theater, Steve killing Shancus, Darius being Annie's son, going back to the Cirque, the trap, the battle, the final encounter, stabbing Steve, Tiny's secret, finding out me and Steve were his sons, tricking Steve, tricking Tiny, the river, death, the Lake of Souls, Evanna freeing me, the deal, Evanna's secret, Mr. Tiny, becoming a Little Person, going back in time, scaring my younger self away, my diaries, my last blow against Des Tiny, death.

It all came rushing back so fast that I gasped for air. My memories, My memories. I was alive. But how? I had died, not once, but twice. Why was I alive?

I lay there pondering that until the sound of clicking pulled me back to the present. It sounded like foot steps. Boot heels tapping against a tiled floor. Why was there footsteps? Who's footsteps? Why were they coming toward me? I lay there horrified as the footsteps stopped right next to me left arm. Then there was the sound of a throat clearing.

"Ah, good. Your up." A smooth, accented voice said.

I froze. That voice, that voice sounded so familiar. Yet, it didn't. It was deeper then the one I remembered. And softer too. No, it couldn't be him. Anyway, why would Desmond Tiny care if I was awake. Last time I checked he didn't even care if I existed. Struggling, I managed to turn my head. Then just stared.

The man next to me looked like Mr. Tall. He was kneeling, probing my arm expertly with pale, well defined fingers, checking my pulse, skin texture and everything in between. His body was lean, and heavily muscled clad by dark, velvet looking leggings and shirt, and two leather back combat boots. His skin was pale and smooth looking and his face looked like an artists sculpture; strong jaw, sharp nose, full lips, with high cheek bones and eyes framed by thick eyelashes that were the same raven black as his long, sky blue tinted hair. Yet it was his eyes that captured my attention; they were gorgeous cobalt, the same color that you found at the core of a flame.

I stared, open mouthed until the man looked up. When he saw my expression he smiled slightly.

"What, no questions?"

Not only did he sound like Mr. Tiny, he apparently acted like him too.

"Wh-who are you?" I stuttered.

The man's smile turned sympathetic at my expression.

"My name is Ravenlovft." He said standing and extending his hand to me. I took it and he helped me unsteadily to my feet.

"Ravenlovft." I repeated, trying it out as I gazed at him. Strange name but for some reason it fit him.

He nodded then turned.

"Come, we must prepare you."

"Prepare me?" I asked running to keep up with his swift strides. "Prepare me for what?"

"To go back of course." He said stopping and turning back toward me. "Is there any thing else to prepare for?"

"Well, I-I don't know." I said looking down. Then a thought came to me and I looked back up. "Why am I alive?"

Ravenlovft raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"But I died."

"Yes, you did."

"Then how am I alive?"

"Because I brought you back."

I froze at those words. "You can do that?"

"Of course." he said smiling broadly at my bewildered expression.

"How?" I asked confused.

"Your body is just a temple for your soul." Ravenlovft explained patiently. "When your bodily functions stop and decay your soul gets set free. Yet if someone were to restart those functions your soul would be called back."

"That's what you did with me. You got my body to work again." I exclaimed, then paused. "But how? Mr. Tiny destroyed my body when he made me into a little person."

"Darren, you weren't listening." Ravenlovft said grinning. "Your body is a temple. It can be destroyed and rebuilt as many times as you want as long as it's by the original materials."

"So you rebuilt my body?"

"Yes, I did." Ravenlovft said then produced a foot length mirror out of thin air. "What do you think?"

I took the mirror from him and studied my reflection. My jaw dropped.

I looked about 19, 20ish. My hair was raven black with a blue tint, much like Ravenlovft's, except it was short and formal instead of long. My body surprisingly was lean and muscular and I was dressed in black jeans, long-sleeved shirt, leather boots, and a black velvet cape. My face look defined and sculptured, like Ravenlovft's, though younger and a little less out of a fantasy and my eyes were an amazing ocean aqua. My skin was pale with a golden hue but smooth and perfect, not a scar or burn anywhere.

"You out did yourself." I said staring at the reflection in the mirror.

"I made you using my own image." Ravenlovft said tilting his head slightly.

"You can do that?" I asked looking up. He shrugged.

"Not usually. But since we have the same blood I could."

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't figured it out yet?" At my confused look he continued. "You're my nephew."

"What?" I said, startled. "But that would make you..."

"Desmond's brother, yes."

"But that can't be." I said stumbling back. "Evanna said that if any of Tiny's siblings get free then the world would be destroyed."

"Which is true." Ravenlovft said nodding. "If any of our kin do get out the world would go to hell."

"But then how..."

"Did Evanna ever mention that three of Desmond's kin were still at large in the world and that it took all four of us to imprison our more destructive siblings?"

"No, I think she missed that part." I murmured.

"I doubt she knew it." Ravenlovft said. "Myself, Rosnay, and Siven don't bother with earth and its affairs. Desmond's the only one that takes time and energy doing that."

I pondered that for a moment then another question came to mind.

"Why did you bring me back if what happens on earth is not your affair?"

"Well, first it wasn't your time to cross into Death's realm. You still have unfinished business." Ravenlovft said while pondering it. "Second, thanks to Desmond's meddling, you are now the Lord of Shadows, since Steve died in the river before you did."

"But I don't want to be the Lord of Shadows." I argued. "I don't want to be evil."

"Darren, you don't have to be." Ravenlovft continued as I opened my mouth. " The Lord of Shadows is just a being with great power. It's how he uses them that decides wether he's good or evil. Desmond wanted to use you so that your powers would corrupt you and turn you evil. But technically your not evil to begin with."

"So I'll still be me but with more power,"

"And faster reflexes, stronger strength, and supremacy in everything you do." Ravenlovft added.

"But how will I control my powers." I said. "You said your self that power corrupts."

"That's what I'm hear for." Ravenlovft said. He turned to a table that had appeared suddenly by him and picked up the stone on top of it. The stone was small, about the size of a fist, and a light blue color. I realized that it was the same stone that the glowing cavern was made of.

"This is a crasnize stone. It's made for holding, containing, reimbursing, controlling energy and power. It should help you."

"What do I do with it?" I asked examining it."

"Touch it."

I glanced at him before reaching out. As my fingers closed around that stone a bright blue light flashed and the stone disappeared. I stumbled back until Ravenlovft grabbed my arm to steady me. A cold shiver ran down my body, my eyes hazed over, and my ears were ringing. My head, heart, and lunges felt like someone took a blow torch to them. Just when I felt I could take no more the pain vanished and Ravenlovft came into focus.

"You okay?" He asked and I realized that he was supporting me.

"Yeah." I said forcing my legs to take my weight. "What was that? Where did the stone go?"

"That was your body going through the conversion." He said. "You are now officially the Lord of Shadows. And the stone went inside you."

"Inside me?"

"Yes, it went here." Ravenlovft said pointing to my chest. "Now you will be always be able to control your powers, no matter what. But, just in case, every evening around six focus and expand your powers for about an hour in a confined space. You can have people with you but who ever it is make sure they don't talk out loud or make fast movements. If your focus were to be too detracted you could blow up everything with in a thousand mile radius. Make sure that person can be trusted."

I nodded, taking it all in. "I understand."

"And now, Darren Shan, I give you one last parting gift." Ravenlovft said strolling up to thrown that had appeared and sitting down. He puased for a minute then continued. "There were 6 lives that were taken in this war that shouldn't have been taken. 6 people that were close to you. Darren, I am giving you a chance to bring back 6 people that died within and because of the war and the vampaneze.

"6 people." I murmured.

"Choose carefully."

I pondered over it for a minute but it didn't take me long to think of the first name.

"Larten Crepsley."

"Why?"

"Because if it wasn't for the war or Mr. Tiny's influence Mr. Crepsley wouldn't of gotten on the balcony and been killed."

"Very good."

Ravenlovft smiled then raised the index finger of his right hand.

"That's one."

"Hidernius Tall because if it weren't for us being with the Cirque he wouldn't have been shot."

Ravenlovft raised his middle finger. "That's two."

"Shancus Von because if he didn't know me Steve wouldn't have broken his neck."

Ravenlovft nodded and raised his ring finger. "That's three."

"Arra Sails." I said snapping my fingers. "If it wasn't for the vampaneze incident at the very beginning of the war she would still be alive."

"That's four." He said raising his pinky.

"Tommy Jones." I said sadly. "Because R.V. and Morgan killed him to get at me."

"That's five." Ravenlovft said raising his thumb. "Choose the next one carefully."

I thought it over. One of my first thoughts were to bring back Kurda Smalt. But then I realized that would affect Harkat's existence and I couldn't take that chance. I thought of Paris Skyle but he had died a natural death (well, natural for a vampire anyway). But when I decided who I was going to bring back my main thought was 'everyone deserves a second chance.'

"Steve Leonard." I said clearly. "Because if it wasn't for Tiny's meddling he would still be alive, healthy, and have nothing to do with the vampires."

Ravenlovft smiled brightly and held up his left index finger. "Very good. You made the right choices Darren. And now we say farewell. Good bye Darren Shan, son of Desmond Tiny and Lord of the Shadows, and good luck."

That was the last thing I heard before all went black.

0000

So, what do you think? I know, I sort of rushed it a bit. But hey, I'm one of those people that like to get right to the point. Anyway, Darren Shan likes to kill off all the good characters, so I brought them back! And I know, Ravenlovft's name is weird, but I got attached to that word so don't blame me.