For a moment i could do nothing but stand and stare, but after a few seconds i finally build up the courage to speak. "Mr...Crepsley? It's really you, isn't it?" I walked over and bent down to him, until i was staring into his large green eyes. He lowered the mask from his face, and took a small breath before "I'm sorry...Are you talking...to me?" I almost collapsed. The weight of his words seeming to crush me where i stood.
"You do know who you are, right? Mr Crepsley?" He shook his head "Do you...do you know who i am?" Again, he shook his head, and I couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Oh, Darren" Mr Tiny spat in disgust, obviously un-amused by how almost child-like I was being. "Don't cry now. It really is a shame but you can teach to go now boys, I really wish you could stay.." His tone was laced with an sadistic sarcasm, that made my skin tingle "But there's work to be done, off you go." I stood up, slowly, and before i even had time to gain my balance, he was shoving me forward. As he did so, he opened up yet another portal. This one was lighter than the one used to get here, and shimmered a light grey colour against the darkness of the cavern. Making sure Larten was following me, I stepped through reluctantly-not wanting to aggravate Mr Tiny any further. Expecting the other side to bring me back to the forest where I was hidden before, I didn't realise how wrong and unfortunate I could be.

I hit the ground, hard. It took me a few minutes to even manage to open my eyes and raise my head groggily off the floor, before slowly raising myself so i was sat-body aching and head spinning. I shook my head, and gave my vision a moment to clear before freezing still. My surroundings were immediately familiar to me "My room…" I smiled, lightly, as i realised we'd landed in mine and Harkats room at Vampire mountain. I took a sigh of relief, and leaned back against the wall. It took me far much longer than it should've to realise what was wrong. "Wait a minute...My room…." I repeated, beginning to panic. "CHARNA'S GUTS!" I shouted much louder than i had meant to, and quickly covered my mouth with my hand, waiting for the sound of footsteps down the hall. Luckily, none came. We were in my room, in vampire mountain. In other circumstances, this would have been perfect-but for the Lord of the vampaneze and his newly resurrected mentor, that everyone thought was dead? Maybe not so much. "Don't talk…" I whispered, turning to Larten "Even if you hear your name, no matter what anyone says, Don't talk." He nodded. After searching the room to find any form of weapon (I knew i had a knife in my bag or one of the chests somewhere), and placing it into my robe, I took a few silent steps towards the door. I hardly reached half way across the room before being Bowled back to the floor by a small, heavy figure-At first I thought it was Mr Crepsley, But when I looked a little closer I realised It was Harkat.
"Darren!" He grinned at me, hugging my chest "Where have...You been?" I groaned, promising to tell him if he got off my chest and let me breath. Coughing, i managed to sit up before he noticed Mr Crepsley, and gasped. What was I meant to say? "I'll explain everything later, i have to go." Was all i said before grabbing Lartens hand and running out of the room. I could feel Harkats eyes watching behind me as I ran, but didn't stop to think about it. I needed to get out of here, and soon. Attempting to navigate the best and least crowded way out would have been difficult if i was in a more stable frame of mind, and so it didn't take me long to bump into a vampire. "Darren? Where have you been?" Seba blinked in astonishment, staring at me like he could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"I…" I hesitated "Hi Seba!" Grinning sheepishly, i mumbled-attempting to hide Larten behind me. "Can you smell that?" He asked, wrinkling his nose, obviously now less concerned by my sudden reappearance. "Vampaneze…"
"I can't smell anything?" I lied, as he sniffed the air again.
"No, There are vampaneze here." He nodded "I must go alert the princes immediately." He took a step, but I stood in his way. "Darren, this is an emergency-if there are vampaneze in the mountain then-"
"Then what?" I cut him off "Then you figure out a plan to go and slaughter them all?"
"If it comes to that, then yes."
"No." My voice lowered to a growl "I won't let you hurt them" He stared at me, and attempted to push past me. I pushed into him and-unprepared for the attack-he fell to the ground. It took him only a few seconds to compose himself and get up, ready to fight me, but those few seconds were all i needed to lunge and stick my blade-once concealed in my robes-into his stomach. He yelped, and fell backwards, looking down at the wound that was obviously going to be fatal to him. "You...You are one of them" He stuttered, eyes wide.
"Darren?" Harkats voice came from behind me-he'd obviously decided to follow us. "Darren? What happened?" I could see his eyes flickering left to write, analysing the situation, before settling on the knife in my hand "You..You did this to Seba?" I didn't reply, and instead turned to run. I wish I could have stopped myself, could have helped him now-but there was nothing else I could do, it was too late.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, yet again, as i ran. My fingers formed the Death Touch sign as i said my silent prayers for the old man. I don't know if anyone was following me, and I didn't care. I just needed to be away from this place before I hurt anyone else-I was already losing my mind. My survival instinct was running on high, I was going crazy. I ran through the tunnels, dragging Larten behind me, until I could see the moonlight in the night. I thought about going back into the forest, but it just wouldn't do. I needed to find a shelter, with food and some blood. I needed to find a way station. I don't know how long we ran for, or how i even managed to go on, but eventually after what seemed like an eternity, I found one. We slowed, and entered. It appeared to be the same Station I had come to rest in with the vampaneze just a few days ago. A few days ago? Just a few days ago I had been preparing for my fourth trial-I was going to be a true vampire. I had friends, people that cared about me, and now...Well, now things couldn't be more different. I was dragged from my thoughts by the sound of movement behind me, and spun on my feet. "Hello?" I called, sure enough by the smell that there was a vampaneze here, rather than a vampire.
"My...my lord?" A familiar voice called back, and i almost cried in relief.
"Gannen? Is that you?" He moved from his hiding spot, into the light, so i could see him. I'd never in my life been so happy to see a vampaneze before. "How are you alive? How? Mr Crepsley...he said he killed you"
"No" Gannen corrected me "He killed many of our clan, but I survived. When Larten Crepsley came after me; he would have killed me if he did not get distracted. Whilst we were in combat the vampiress got stabbed, he heard her scream and turned to see her. I took the opportunity and broke his leg. I would have killed him if not for my chance of escape. The battle was dying down, the mountains entrance had been left unguarded. I pushed passed the remained of the fighting and entered the mountain. If not for the inevitability of getting myself slaughtered, I would have gone up towards the halls. Instead, i headed downwards looking for escape."
"But...isn't running away dishonourable?" Even vampaneze had rules and standards.
"Aye., for ordinary vampaneze" He told me "But i am your protector. If there was even the slightest bit of hope you were alive, I had to run and find you"
"But you didn't find me!" I pointed out "I nearly died"
"I know." He whispered "I failed. Which is why I have come to the decision I have." He raised an eyebrow, pausing, and noticing Larten stood behind me. I shook my head, as an indication to let Gannen know he was no threat. "You were once a vampire, aye? You learnt their ways, endured their training?" I nodded, wondering why he was stating the obvious, and what that had to do with anything. "i think you may be ready."
"Ready?" I stared "Ready for what?"
"If I ever get separated from you like this again, you must be able to defend yourself, or at least be able to run." He smiled, and i opened my mouth in horror as i realised what he meant "It is time you became a fully blooded creature of the night" I shook my head, protesting loudly, but he wouldn't listen.
"I'm your lord and you have to do what I say. I say I don't want to be fully blooded." I told him.

"No, you instruct us, but you do not say what is best for you. That decision lies with me, as your protector I must do all I can to protect you. And fully blooding you is the best protection I can offer."
Was there any point in protesting anymore? probably not. He'd force me to do it either way. I could almost say It felt like I was giving up, but there was a large part of my that disagreed. The small voice in the back of my head whispering "Think about it, it'll be great… Do it Darren, do it…" I looked at Gannen, then down at the scars on my fingertips. "Do what you must" I ordered, and his grin sharpened. Moments later, our fingers were joined and I felt the last of my humanity dissolve into his veins. I didn't speak, and it seemed to be over much quicker than i expected. I blinked a few times, confused. I felt much more alert than i had done after my first two bloodings. I smiled at Gannen, happily, before turning to Mr Crepsley-My smile dropping. What would he say if he knew what I was doing? He's hate me, resent me, and want me dead. I realised I could never see myself the same again; I was a monster, a killer and a terrible person. I had accepted everything far too early-if i'd had just sat and thought things through, rather than rushing into everything, maybe things would be different right now. I didn't know what else to do now, i needed to sit down and go through everything-help myself. There were, however, only three people in the world i could think of that could help me-and only one that i knew actually might. "I need to see Hibernius" Gannen tilted his head at me in confusion "Hibernius Tall. Mr Hibernius Tall. Gannen, I know where we need to go next."
"Where, my lord?"
"The one place I can still call home." I turned to Larten and winked, and could swear i saw a light of recognition flash in his eyes "We need to go back to the cirque Du Freak…."