Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

1. Comfort
Vancha is now known as the strong, independent Prince he is, but once he was a very fragile child, in need of comfort; he could only be grateful that he had a source of that comfort for a majority of his childhood.

2. Kiss
When Vancha wanted to cry, there used to be a hand stroking his hair, arms pulling him close into a hug, and lips kissing the top of his head while whispering comforting truths.

3. Soft
A soft feeling spread over his chest whenever he saw his mother and father, like something plush and something worth defending to his death.

4. Pain
Only a day away, Vancha grinned and smiled, laughed at dumb things that don't make sense now, now when he tells the himself he might have been prepared for the pain if he wasn't so busy with nothing, might have been prepared to lose almost everything.

5. Rain
It was only the two brothers now, trusting each other as they trudged through the rain and the hardships, as everything from water to hard-earned effort plunged down on them.

6. Happiness
When Evanna had given them the home and love they needed, Vancha only slightly remembered and respected the other mother who'd given him happiness when he was only a child.

7. Listening
He's sleeping, soundly, but his ears catch something like talking, about leaving and going where destiny provided them to go, and his ears took in the new information.

8. Name
They were told to go somewhere, somewhere certain, and when the purple man at the gate asked them who they were, one of them stood tall and said, "Gannen Harst, sir, and this is my brother Vancha."

9. Touch
The man only wavered when they said who their adoptive mother was, that she and sent them here, and he reached out to touch them as though they were made of fire, only turning to guide them away when he was confidant they were not harmful.

10. Weak
The purple men were called Vampaneze - they were like vampires, but nobler, they claimed - and had huge standards to uphold, like pulling your weight, not becoming weak - and now Gannen and Vancha were a part of them.

11. Life
Vampaneze life was hard; they often had to be harsh, and sometimes circumstance called for an unnerving calmnesss, but both Vancha and Gannen knew that the life of the night was the only one for them now, even though sometimes Vancha guiltily let some of his victims go...

12. Devotion
Devotion was everything, to the Vampaneze and Vancha - he was one of them, after all - but over his sense of duty was the horrible guilt that he felt when each body dropped dead in front of him after feeding..

13. Forever
It was always the two of them together, Gannen and Vancha Harst, together forever, but now, because both their senses of duty differed, they would be separated...

14. Brothers
They were the Harst brothers, two of them but in a way they both one, but as Vancha walked away that day, he knew it wasn't them anymore, it was Gannen Harst and Vancha March now, and they had nothing to do with each other.

15. Confusion
Vancha was confused - when he told Tobias he couldn't live this lifestyle anymore, he was perfectly prepared to face the death of a traitor, someone who'd given up their way of life, and Tobias was ready to end him as well, but in the end it was Gannen who wasn't ready to see his brother go; and when he begged, Tobias relented, but Vancha was still in shock as he run away.

16. Fear
It hit him suddenly, hard, that the clan would be after him soon, and though he told himself he should be struck down as he learned was the way, his fear drove him forward, to safety.

17. Lightning and Thunder
The thunder was loud, hard, but it was the thought of the lightning that really struck fear in Vancha's heart, down to the pounding if his heart, but what really freaked him even more was when he saw the shadowy figure and thought the clan had finally cought up to him.

18. Submission
"Alright, I won't run anymore," Vancha said, because it was the noble thing to do when the enemy caught you, but the figure merely chuckled and said, "Who are you running from?"

19. Smile
His name was Paris Skyle, Vampire Prince, and one of the friendliest of the bunch - Vancha hadn't met many vampires, but he knew they were as hard as Vampaneze, they were all creature of the night - but Paris gave many smiles.

20. Completion
Paris gave him an option after Vancha expressed his interest in vampires over vampaneze: "Let me risk blooding you, or live out here, without relation to the vampires", and though Vancha knew what he would choose, what he should choose, he still had to think a tiny bit.

21. Freedom
Vancha remembered watching his mentor and brother argue in rising tones, until it became bickering, and Vancha wanted it to stop, but now, away from everything that caused him such a head ache he was thankful, because now he felt free, in the first time since years, since they'd left their mother Evanna all those years ago.

22. Wind
Flitting was something vampires and vampaneze did to speed up, and whenever Vancha did it he loved the feeling of the wind against his face and the sound of it howling around him; it reminded him of the days it was just the three of them: Gannen; Tobias; and him.

23. Speed
Sometimes, when Vancha flitted too fast, he never noticed it until he stopped, and when he did, something always felt off, like he was walking to fast, too far.

24. Tears
He missed the ones he loved, because sure, he wasn't cut out for vampaneze life, but he still loves his mentor, and even more, his brother, but he never stopped to shed enough tears as was due until he stopped and wondered why he felt so heavy.

25. Star
He stared up at the sky and watched the stars, and as he thought about the theories humans made up, about the big bang and the milky way, how they were so eager to discover more about themselves, he wondered if he could find a star that was his, for him.

26. Clouds
Doesn't someone have a star hidden amongst the clouds for their own story after all, so why would he be any different?

27. Surprise
That day, watching as Gannen slowly slid his sword inside the sheath, picked his lord up and flitted away, Vancha knew it would happen, but he refused to think of it - of him - till then, and then, only then, he walked away to cry the tears that were due, and the surprise only faded after the last of his tears had fallen to the ground.

28. Blood
When he felt the blood seeping into him from Tobias, it was like a pressure, hard and painful, like a gentle-ish nudge forward, but when it came from Paris, it was calm, gentle, but forceful, much like the two's personalities. 

29. Expectations
Human beings expected many things - it was normal, their nature - but vampires expected many more things, and especially the one he looked up to and trusted, Paris Skyle, who was his second ever mentor and blooder.

30. Result
The result overjoyed them both because Paris was kind and liked all nice and caring beings(like Vancha) to survive to their fullest, and Vancha... of course, Vancha wanted to survive, but to say the least, "at least they both survived".

31. Time
When you're doing nothing but the boring usual, time passes slowly, when you're doing something fun, time passes fast, and when you're doing nothing but thinking about those you can't see anymore time passes the slowest

32. Water
On a mission, in the middle of nowhere, when it starts raining and everything is pouring down on the two of them, as Vancha turns his head and sees his mentor acting strange, he's vaguely reminded of two other people who used to do that around him sometimes.

33. Storm
Soon the "rain" turns into something huge, something way bigger and stronger, a big storm where the two are forced to look for cover, and Vancha wonders why he must seek indoors in both the night and the day this month.

34. Loss
When the sky clears again, and they both tentatively poke their heads out, Vancha wonders how much he's lost now, now that he can't watch the beautiful sunrise anymore.

35. Conversation
Vancha notices Paris is acting a little strange and withdrawn recently, and starts the conversation - it's the first one he's started in a week - and Paris tells him he's just thinking about the council where he'll probably talk about Vancha.

36. Friends
At the council this year, there are many vampires, and all know each other(especially Paris, more vampires know him than he knows vampires), and Vancha sees that there are all kinds of people here, all friendly with each other, the best of friends.

37. Confidant
There are many different contests and ale-drinking moments, sparring on the bars and on the ground, and Vancha finds that the vampire inside him is brought out as he lets out a confidant roar and tries to howl for as long as he can.

38. Sky
Even after the festivities are long over and Vancha finishes meeting many new people, he watches the sky and finds peace in it all over again.

39. Gift
There's something new, something else, something different going on, and sure enough, even though vampires don't celebrate birthdays, since Vancha has been feeling a little sick, Paris has come along with a little something.

40. Death
Darren's come, and now he's gone, but he was everything and something and nothing all the same, but most of all, he was a friend, so his death, like all others, saddens Vancha deeply, but like any other true-hearted vampire, he doesn't let it get to him.

41. Plans
Now, after everything is said and done, that Darren and Steve have come and gone, and now he and Gannen can chat like brothers again, they make plans after plans, and sometimes fool around behind the others' eyes.

42. Memories
When something Vancha has said something that interested Gannen, his eyes always lit up with an excitement, and even though his dark brown eyes had become a darker red shade when he was blooded, and he hid behind a thicker facade of a serious businesslike tone, Vancha could still see the excitement behind those eyes.

43. Weakness
When they were finally pit against each other, Vancha had hesitated, and Gannen stepped in for the kill, mocking him with those hard, cruel eyes... like as if his love for his brother was a weakness.

44. Odd
The odd thing was that somewhere in Vancha's subconscious, he still considered Gannen his brother, even when he swore he would slaughter him if need be, even when he was searching for him to kill him, even while he was bringing the sword fatefully down upon him.

45. Peace
When Steve "Leopard" Leonard met Vancha's brother, Gannen thought he was an annoying boy, but it was possible to reform him, and maybe it was before, but now that he has power and position, even way more so than Gannen, that is impossible.

46. Loyalty
They both would do anything for each other, but they would do more for their respective clans; so in the end which of the brothers' loyalties would win in the end?

47. Jobs
Both Vancha and Gannen's job descriptions literally came with their blooding, when they became a vampaneze and vampire.

48. Taste
In the kitchen, cooking something, something that smells yummy, something that tastes yummy.

49. Potatoes
There's the potatoes in the oven, but this smells more sweet, like something he remembers from before.

50. Chocolate
Back in Evanna's kitchen, when they were a family, it was something sweet, yummy and delicious: chocolate, because everyone likes chocolate, and just like the sweetness of chocolate, it's super sweet that the two brothers could be like brothers for once, right?

Chapter Text

1. Beginning
When Vancha first saw the lean, careful blonde, he thought he was something interesting, something worth getting involved with, and now he can say that in two different ways, he was both wrong and right with that thought.

2. Surprise
Kurda Smahlt was a blonde haired, blue eyed lean boy, and though he wasn't bulging with muscles like plenty other vampires were, he could definitely kick them off the bars all the same, and sometimes even better.

3. Intellegence
Though Kurda was fine physically, he worked on his mind more than his body, because if someone could kick a bear's butt, but couldn't escape an escape room, they were certainly very pathetic. He was always the only vampire who used their brain as much as he did.

4. Advice
Vancha began to think of the boy more, and an idea formed inside of his head, so he decided to talk to the old and wise Paris Skyle, "He's a great fighter, but he's even better when thinking about making the right, the best decisions, but most of all, he would do almost anything to be able to do what he believes. Someone without as much conviction as him would not have lasted as long as he has."

5. Final
When Vancha thought about that, he decided Paris was right, so he turned to his fellow princes and said, "I think General Kurda Smahlt should become a Prince."

6. Thankful
"Thank you sincerely, sir, for recommending me for investiture. I am most honoured by what you have said about me." The blonde said and gave a small how, smiling wide, leaving it up to Vancha to try to respond.

7. Opinion
"When I say it honestly, I think you're smelly, unhealthy and strange, but for the most part, you're probably one of the smartest vampires here, Vancha." Kurda smiled happily.

8. Leaving
That day, as the new general left the mountain, Vancha bid him luck, and waved him away for the first time.

9. Change
When Kurda arrived at the new council again, he was all smiles and politeness, but now, here he is, smirking and scoffing in a mess on the table, but Vancha supposed that was preferable to the other vampires who got up and challenged others to the bars while still drunk.

10. Peace
Vancha didn't mean to see it, he was just walking through the forest, he wasn't even thinking about Kurda, but been he saw him and the purple skin, the red hair, he saw the smiles, Vancha realised peace with the Vampaneze is an option.

11. Argument
"No, you don't get it," the blonde snapped while some other idle guy tried to tell the boy that he was right and Vampaneze were evil, "you don't see it, you just don'tbother to think about it at all!"

12. Hair
Kurda's hair was something that looked soft and silky, and was really tangly because Kurda refused to comb it less than once a week, and only a week because if you let it stay in knots, it'll fall out and you'll get lice.

13. Sky
It was almost the last day of the council, and Vancha had only happened upon Kurda staring up at the night sky, so when he slipped over and asked what was up, Kurda murmured profoundly, "Isn't the sky so beautiful?"

14. Memories
Kurda was an unnamed vampire then, he was just someone Vancha saw occasionally but really didn't know, so when he slipped into the small dark room one night, and murmured, "Sire, congratulations on your investiture", what was he supposed to think?

15. Kindness
Most vampires would lose their temper and challenge their annoyer to the bars, then say they're better just cuz they beat up the vampire this time(if they did), but Kurda Smahlt wasn't most vampires, and he did try to tell them violence isn't key.

16. Investiture
On that day, Darren said that Kurda came into the room looking strong and regal, with both a mighty pose and a mighty glance, and though Vancha stayed away from the mountain most of the time he wished he had been there to see that.

17. Chaos
But then the pin was dropped on that regal festival, and Kurda was revealed as the boy whispered, "He's a traitor," and tears fell from his cheeks and eyes to the dusty cavern floor.

18. Unrefutable
When the enraged Prince cried out, "What do you have to say in answer to these claims?", and the blonde said, "At this moment, nothing," a horrified moan of grief swept through the hall.

19. Honourable
"We did it for you sakes, not our own." - Kurda Smahlt

20. Coffin
"Mr. Tiny gave them a Coffin. It's a normal Coffin until one lies down in it and the lid is put in place. Then the one inside succumbs to a terrible fire, unless they're the Lord of The Vampaneze, who is destined to lead their race.
"And now he has been found. A human went into the Coffin of Fire six months ago, and came out unscathed. He hasn't been blooded yet, but he's learning their ways, and soon he'll take his place amongst them." - Kurda Smahlt

21. Willing
"There are some Vampaneze who fear and dread war with us like we do. So a few dozen volunteers - brave men and women - whom you killed like vermin - agreed to come with me." - Kurda Smahlt

22. Death
"Win or lose, my reward would have been the same fate that awaits me now. The Vampaneze wouldn't suffer a traitor to live even more than we would. There's nothing 'in it's for me, Mika, and more fool you if you still think otherwise." - Kurda Smahlt

23. Commended
"You did what you thought was right without any consideration for your own wellbeing, and for that you should be commended." - Paris Skyle

24. Decision
"But you also did it without consideration for our rules, and for that, I vote for you to be carted off to The Hall of Death, and then cut at cremation so your soul may never know paradise." - Paris Skyle

25. Justify
"I don't know if it's just or not, but we have some rules and regulations that uphold who we are, and you have broke them, so I, too, vote for The Hall of Death and a shameful cremation." - Mika Ver Leth

26. Dead
"The Hall of Death." - Arrow

27. Tears
And as they carted him away, though no one but those closest to go could hear the miserable sniffling, Darren caught sight of the tears flowing down Kurda's cheeks as he was led away, only for a second.

28. Killer
It was in one, fluid arc, and then poor Gavner Purl was done for, and though Vancha knew Kurda was doing it for his quest, for what he thought was right, he knew he would still miss the boy.

29. Regret
And though he was the one who had nominated Kurda for a prince, and didn't regret it, he would have pointed as well.

30. Shame
And so the three long marks down his chest, shameful, the marks of someone who didn't deserve to live any longer; and he wasn't going to.

31. Consequences
"He did what he believed was right, and though I don't commend him for how he got it done, I commend him for trying anyways." - Vancha March

32. Betrayal
When Darren is asked what he thinks of Kurda, he stays he's a nice, kind vampire - more so than some others - but he's still a traitor.

33. Hurt
When Darren is asked what he thinks of Kurda's betrayal, he says that he's a dirty traitor, that he hurt them all, but then again, the wounds of the incident are still fresh, still hurt at all times...

34. Before
Back before, a while ago, Vancha asks Kurda what he thinks of Mika Ver Leth, and Kurda gives him a strange look and says, "He's... a good Prince..."

35. Wise
Paris is an old and wise vampire, and Kurda thinks he's the most deserving of the throne.

36. Opinion
Arrow is only a little rash and hot headed, and he's a good fighter...

37. Comfort
When Kurda just comes back from a scare, and he's shaking as he hugs his arms to his chest and sinks to the floor, Vancha wraps his arms around the other and whispers, "I'm sorry."

38. Comforting
But not all the time Vancha is there, and when he comes home to see some other vampire friend of Kurda's whispering and comforting instead, he wonders just how many people he makes himself seem vulnerable around.

39. Hugs
When Vancha sits down on his bed and tries to pretend he's not wondering when he'll get a break, Kurda merely smiles, places a hand on his arm and asks, "Do you want a hug?"

40. Peace
"You don't have to accept it, but think about it, because no one ever thinks about it from the lenses of the Vampaneze, do they? They operate on the basis of 'the Vampaneze are traitors and evil' even while trying to decide whether they deserve peace or annihilation."

41. Politics
And when Vancha says, "Certainly, but we can hardly reason with the Vampaneze who are trying to slit our throats," Kurda merely frowns and says, "I think you tried to slit his throat first."

42. Independent
When the vampires jeer and snort, because sometimes these hopeless vampires are caring, but they are also very independent and stubborn, Kurda doesn't give up, because if he did he wouldn't be here now, and because he doesn't need anyone speaking up on his behalf.

43. Strong-minded
Because he can do that himself.

44. Decline
That day in council, Kurda laughs gently and says, "No thanks, I don't think I need to become known for howling my lungs out... but I'll come watch you if you want."

45. Howling
Vancha didn't drop out in the beginning, not at all, since he's got a strong voice, and Kurda is glad he can have some source of pride, even if he looses, so despite wincing at all the loud voices in the room, he cheers for his friend.

46. Bliss
Together in that Hall, drunk and almost as if anything and everything was completely all right, singing together, things might be fine, just for now.

47. Renegade
"I remember everything whenever I'm drunk, so memories isn't a worry, I was drunk whenever we were partying, which is almost every time but when we're not sleeping!" Kurda laughs amicably at the end of council.

48. Wishes
Next council will be better, like a spring in a bright sunshine, and the next will only get better, they thought, but, oh, if only they knew what the next council held.

49. Execution
That it would be the end of Kurda, the council that brought on his execution, his end...

50. Fantasy
If only they could hug, and Kurda would tell Vancha, "Luck", and set off at the end of council again, but no, that was all fancy, because before the end of the council, Kurda Smahlt was no more.

Chapter Text

1. Meeting
When Larten and Vancha first met, it was nothing luxurious, nothing sparkling underneath the sun, but it was the start of a sparkling friendship.

2. Impression
In Vancha's opinion, Larten was a good man who was trying his best to do his best, but sometimes he would just endure the hardships and burden in silence, like a damn cat.

3. Opinion
When Larten saw Vancha, he his first thought was that the smelly vampire was strange, but then again, Vancha is a strange, smelly, bear-skinned vampire.

4. Arrive
As Vancha touched down on vampire mountain after a long night of flitting, he entered the halls and Larten, alongside everyone else, grinned and waved.

5. Grin
Larten and Vancha grin at each other, excited, happy grins; the festival was finally upon them!

6. Lost
Larten had lost his way and stormed off in a huff of fury, leaving his dear Seba and Wester behind, he wandered aimlessly, until he ran into Vancha; then, they wandered together.

7. Strict
"Mika Ver Leth, the new prince?" Larten murmured in answer to Vancha one night in the Hall of Khledon Lurt. "He's smart and keeps his wits about himself, not to mention his fighting prowess in battle. I'd say he's earned his place."

8. Worthy
Vancha nodded. He said, "He has proved himself worthy, I think."

9. Love
When Larten was completely lovestruck and all over the place, when he needed to gush about the love of his life to, he was gladly welcomed by Vancha and they talked about women together.

10. Mentor
Seba Nile is a well-respected, well-mannered vampire, and Vancha knew that Larten was very lucky to be able to learn from him.

11. Wise
When Seba walks by, with all his old and wise valour, Vancha and Larten can't help but think about all the things he's done for the clan those years when he was a young vampire.

12. Beauty
Larten sighs at the night sky and whispers, "The night sky is really beautiful", and Vancha chuckles and murmurs, "Only creatures of the night could truly appreciate it's beauty..."

13. Rain
When the two bump into each other in their way to council, they stay together in a lonely way station as the rain pounds down hard on the top.

14. Happiness
When it's time for dinner, Vancha and Larten laugh around the campfire, talking about people they know and people they don't know, things they both experience, and things they've only ever heard of.

15. Camp
The way stations are camps of some kind, but there is a difference, such as, when a human's heart pounds in fear in the presence of a wild animals, the two vampires only glance at each other in mild annoyance and amusement.

16. Direction
"Vampire mountain is just up there," Vancha finally says, and they both sigh in respite and happiness at last.

17. Past
Reminiscing was something they all did, but whether by choice or because thoughts simply get caught up differed completely.

18. Royal
The day Vancha donned the robe and looked out solemnly at the crowd, he saw people he knew before he became a royal, but Larten was out, so bad he could not see this moment.

19. Complete
The last day of the council before this time was Friday, and soon they would be parting each other again.

20. Falling
"Loving a woman is like falling far, far, far down a hole of grim pleasure and some bliss, and never wishing to leave it." Vancha murmurs this comment, grinning.

21. Women
"All women are beautiful," Vancha smirks over a glass of milk, "But most especially the ones that are hard and strong, like your Arra and my Alice."

22. Secret
Two hundred or so centuries have passed, and now Larten was back; he's changed, not the most visibly, but he has changed, and Vancha has a hunch it has something to do with whatever reason he rejected the princes and generals.

23. Tunnels
"He's a nice guy, but his mind, his whole system is filled with hate. He can't think past his hatred for the vampaneze." Vancha admits his dislike of Wester to Larten late one night, deep in the tunnels.

24. Innocence
Larten shakes his head. "You're right. He is full of hate, but as you said 'he is a nice guy'. If he put his biased prejudices down, he would most certainly be a very clever man."

25. Doubt
"But you could be better." Vancha says, but Larten shakes his head again and says, "I could not find my place here, so I left to truly be one with the night when I left."

26. Freedom
"Flitting is like freedom, where I am unbound no longer, and free completely," Larten says as he smiles fondly at the thought.

27. Honesty
"I just think everyone should be honest, that's one huge thing that causes unrest," the orange haired man changes the subject from his lost brother as he watched the night sky. "That, the vampaneze got right."

28. Reuniting
Vancha was off to the side as the two brothers were grinned and hugged each other, patting each other on the backs and laughing - but Vancha knew it will end badly...

29. Scar
"Yes, yes, Evanna was telling the truth," Larten grumbles over ale, "but I was young and foolish then."

30. Brave
"You were brave, Malora, too brave for me," Larten moans when he is too far down the road of ale to remember that Vancha and Darren are right there.

31. Apology
When Vancha tells Larten he should apologise anyways, Larten hunches his shoulders, sighs, and then says, "Okay, yes, you are right. Darren, I'm sorry, I should not have done what I had and deprived you of your family, friends, and life, and I was terribly wrong and mistaken."

32. Gratitude
"When you're there, agreeing with me, it seems as though almost everything will be okay." Vancha murmurs finally, putting an end to the conversation.

33. Death
Larten's sobbing was only slightly muffled by Vancha's bearskins, but the terrible calamity - the loss of Arra Sails - was never lost in the moment.

34. Crying
Larten moaned, "I love Arra, I love Arra, I love Arra so much, but now she is gone, and she is not going to ever come back to me... We will never get to spar on the bars!"

35. Calm
Larten stares coldly at the almost dead wolf underneath him, and quickly, swiftly, delivers the killing blow.

36. Hill
Larten and Vancha were on a hill, staring down at the empty grassland when Larten murmurs, "The loss of a loved one is more so great when the death weighs upon your own shoulders and there is no one you can talk to," but when Vancha asks, "What do you mean?", he merely shakes his head and says, "You would not understand my story from my viewpoint. I merely miss Wester, wherever he has gone."

37. Door
When Larten tried to step out the door that day Vancha was going to visit the vampire Arrow, and had invited Larten along, he expected it to open but it did not, instead hitting him in the face and inciting a few uninvited swears.

38. Children
Children are were both Larten and Vancha didn't care to have, so when they got to Arrow's house and he has a million kids running around, things go to chaos.

39. Heat
It's as if jumping and running around like children amongst children and getting a door slammed in his face was not enough to ruin Larten's reputation, but now he's sweating buckets through his shirt and he wasn't just about to take off his shirt in front of Arrow, of all people's wife...

40. Filthy
Vancha March is the filthiest, smelliest, loudest vampire Larten knows, but he is also one of Larten's most treasured friends.

41. Drink
Together in Evanna's house, the duo laugh and drink ale as they talk about what they did over the past years, but Vancha notices Larten isn't talking about his past much.

42. Loving
When Larten says that Daren can be boyish and immature sometimes, but also cunning 'certain to make your jaw drop in shock', Vancha sees that Larten thinks of Darren as a son.

43. Guttural
"His name was Sam Grest, and the two took a liking to him, but..." Larten looks away, and Vancha sees how gutted Darren must have been when the human most certainly met a bad ending, making Larten sad as well...

44. Partner
"Wester was, in a way, 'my other half'... He understood me the most, and we were so similar." Larten says, and glances at Vancha with a 'you wouldn't get it' expression, but Vancha smiles; he does understand it, because once upon a time, he used to have a brother, a partner as well...

45. Abhorrent
"He's abhorrent, he's... a leopard!" Vancha snarls, and Darren snickers sarcastically, knowing about the childhood nickname while Vancha continues. "He killed a kid! Snapped his neck, just like that, as if it was nothing!"

46. Refusal
"He wouldn't drink any blood, not even from Ovo," Larten groans, and Vancha grins and murmurs, "Stubborn?", and Larten nods as he agrees, "Yes, indeed."

47. Motivate
"That is a very pathetic way of dying, in a tiny peep, without a large roar, so it's a good thing you started drinking," Vancha slaps Darren's back and gets a grunt in response.

48. Refuse
"Larten said no." Gavner grumbles when he comes back from the Cirque, from the trip to tell Larten about the invitation to become a prince. "Well, to be more specific, he said he doesn't want to be a prince, that he's sick of this business, and he wants nothing more to do with the clan... he doesn't even want to be a general anymore!"

49. Hunger
Vancha grabs some food out of a fridge or some box - he doesn't remember which because he doesn't care - and it's because he's hungry, and because he misses Larten so damn much.

50. Walk
And so the two walk out as they resolve themselves to do what they need to in order to kill the Lord of the Vampaneze, once and for all, to where, unbeknownst to them all, is Larten's death place.

Chapter Text

1. Ruthless
Mika frowns as he hand the cup over to Vancha, because he knows this is just a pit stop, by Vancha is going to talk a lot, so he just says, "Well, he's a good boy, but is creatures of the night need to be ruthless, and I'm not sure he's got that..."

2. Strong
Vancha takes precisely three seconds to process that before asking, "Well then, is he strong?"

3. Expectations
Mika snorts, and says, "He's only a boy, and an apprentice, at that. I don't expect much, but I haven't seen him in action other than his final trial. Which he would've died in, by the way"

4. Cultured
"The boy is the most cultured boy his age that I know, but then again, don't know many his age."

5. Approval
Vancha waves his hand and murmurs, "He should turn out to be a fine man."

6. Encourage
When Darren thinks too much about what the only prince he had not met would think of him, Larten sighs and says, "You should not think about him so much that you get stressed. if you do meet him, you meet him, and if not, then you do not."

7. Description
From what Larten and the others had said, Darren had gathered that on top of being only covered with bear-skins and smelly, he was loud and upbeat most of the time, but serious when circumstance called for it.

8. Death
Larten had said that Vancha was swift and ruthless with his killing - the way a vampire needed to be - but Darren couldn't help but wonder if they had a tiny bit of compassion for their victims...

9. Victory
When Vancha had won his seat, it was not enough, when he won his friends, it was not enough, but he still did not know what he was looking for, what his victory looked like. Perhaps peace...?

10. Regard
When they first met, both princes regarded each other quite differently; Vancha's gaze was slightly amused but a little wary and guarded, while Darren's was interested while on guard.

11. Contemplation
When the two met, both the older prince and younger prince, they both immediately wondered, 'What will this prince bring into my life?'

12. Respect
It was the younger one who bowed respectively shortly, and said softly, "Vancha March, it's an honour to meet you, sir."

13. Agree
"Likewise," Vancha March repeated blithely as he nodded slightly.

14. Direction
"I'm heading for Lady Evanna's." Vancha said, and as he said this, he smiled at his old friend, and wasn't surprised when the assistant - prince now - expressed similar thoughts.

15. Questionnaire
That night under the moon, Vancha and Darren watched each other, and then Darren said, "How can you fight someone who has a sword? Do you run?", to which Vancha scoffed and snapped, "I run from nothing! Here, let me show you."

16. Fight
There was a struggle, a real struggle where Darren struggled to comprehend this strange prince, and struggled to defend himself, until Vancha finished successful, and Darren weaponless.

17. Unarmed
"Weapons are tools of fear, used by those who are afraid. One who learns how to fight with his hands always has the advantage over those who rely on swords and knives. Know why? ...Because they expect to win." - Vancha March

18. Comfort
As Darren gloomily pushed the sword back into the scabbard, Vancha clasped the back of his neck and squeezed amicably as he said, "Don't let it bother you."

19. Daytime
"I'm going walking," Vancha said, and Darren frowned against the sunlight. "Vancha, it's daytime."

20. Fighter
"We have to take on the enemy, look it full in the face and spit in its eye." Vancha said, and it was that day that Darren began to gain his respect for the smelly, strange prince.

21. Death
It was the day that Darren felt like his life was calling apart, that he couldn't go on anymore, when Larten Crepsley died, died in vain, and one of the things Vancha regrets about to that day is that he didn't comfort Darren more than the was comforting himself.

22. Aftershock
"I'm going to flit back to Vampire Mountain to tell the other princes about what happened here." Vancha said, and Darren merely nodded.

23. Overwhelmed
He knew he was only a shell of who he used to be, but he was certain he would calm down, realise that though his dear mentor's life was over, his was not.

24. Wander
Vancha was certain of that as he delivered the news and set out again, not to meet Darren, but to wander like he used to.

25. Burden
It was a burden they both had to hear in two different ways; for Darren, it was the loss of a mentor: and for Vancha, it was the loss of a friend, and maybe the two of them would have bonded more if they had stayed together, but Vancha needed to go out and mourn Karen for a bit, and he knew Darren would also mourn Larten alone, in his own way.

26. Mourn
Darren sighed and stared out the window, thinking about how after Larten died, so did he, deep inside, while Vancha thought about the moments he wouldn't get to have with Larten, the things they would never get to do, never get to say to each other.

27. Reunite
When Vancha arrived back at Darren's, there were two beautiful women in the house, Debbie Hemlock and Alice Burgess, and they led him to Darren, where they grinned, grabbed each other, and laughed.

28. Father
Darren frowned and murmured, "He was what brought me to this life, the life of the night, and to me, I have two fathers: my birth father, and Mr. Crepsley."

29. Friend
"Yes," Vancha sighed, "he's one of the most courageous, friendly, and loved friend."

30. Future
So the two set out to look to the future, instead of thinking about the past, they both thought about the future, and what was to come for the vampires, and for those two. 

31. Diabolic
"Damn that Desmond Tiny!" Vancha growled angrily, "I always knew he was powerful, but to be able to meddle with time itself... what matter of a diabolical beast is he?"

32. Tale
Darren shook his head and sighed, then launched in and continued to tell him his story of Harkat, Kurda, and the journey through the future.

33. Humanity
"I never thought we'd bring humanity down with us," Vancha murmured, thoughtfully, "I have to think about this," and Darren simply nodded understandingly.

34. Evil
"Steve Leonard is the sort who'd level the world and bring it to ruin." Vancha said confidently, but Darren shook his head and disagreed in silence.

35. Murder
"We just have to make sure we kill Steve Leonard, aye?" Vancha grinned, and Darren murmured sickly, "Aye..."

36. Children
"Can you kill a child?" Vancha asked Darren, because he needed to know if Darren had what it takes, but Darren merely sighed and said, "I don't know. I don't think so. Hopefully it won't come to that."

37. Sense
That day Vancha sensed something was wrong, like death was near, just like that day when Larten died, and looked around frantically, but saw absolutely nothing.

38. Wary
"The Cirque's being watched?" Vancha snapped, his eyes narrowing, because he and Darren knew that a phrase Darren had used before could be used: Death is on the cards.

39. Grief
"What have you suffered from?" Darren asked Mr. Tall, and Hibernius said, "Grief."

40. Omen
Death was on the cards, again.

41. Hospital
The hospital was the kind of thing they could all go to and pretend they were humans, but it wasn't like Vancha could pitch out of the battle because he had an injury.

42. Small
Darren Shan was a small boy, but he definitely had what it took, just if only he had a few more decades, Vancha thought.

43. Flowers
The riverbank where Gannen and Steve stopped running was littered with beautiful violet flowers, and Darren and Vancha paused for a second to see them dance in the wind.

44. Worthless
Sometimes, when the feeling of worthlessness creeps up behind you and grabs your shoulders, when it startles you and leaves you hopeless, don't lose hope like Darren did. 

45. Cabbage
Darren grabbed the cabbage and hauled it into the cart, but Vancha grabbed it and put it back, "Not like anyone's going to eat that anyways."

46. Beast
Steve Leonard was a beast of a man, a leopard of a child, and Vancha March/Darren Shan were ready to finally conquer him.

47. Connect
Vancha's hand connected to Darren's weapon, sending it flying through the dirt, and he smirked, because up until now, this boy had the mentality of being safe around his weapon.

48. Possible
Of course, it was certainly possible to go after the boy, but Darius didn't deserve that, Vancha and Darren agreed.

49. Increase
Vancha's hard judgement of Darren had only increased as they got to know each other, and Darren's respect for Vancha also increased.

50. Adjustment
Darren grunted as he tried to deflect Vancha's blows, and failed miserably; he still had a lot of adjustments to make before facing The Lord of the Vampaneze.

Chapter Text

1 - Illuminate

     It was always you who illuminated the caves and tunnels under the mountain, wherever you were. Because everyone has some kind of light of their own, but your light was radiant, bright, and it always blinded me, no matter how far I was from you.

2 - Hurt

     And it was when you stood there, behind or beside me, it didn't matter, when you were sad and hurt and needed comfort. It was when you shook your head, smiled, and said everything was absolutely fine, because that was how vampires coped with things, that I longed to rush out there and have a conversation with you. Because you were always something fascinating.

3 - Ideals

     Then, when I learned what you thought about our cousins, what you believed in, I started respecting and agreeing with you, and not only because I had a brother who was a vampaneze, and not because I was always fascinated with you. But because I thought everything you said was right, everything you thought was complete, in the lens of both ours and our cousins'. Because you understood how we all thought as a group, and you understood how we all thought, and sure, no one is exactly the same, but when it came to our cousins, everyone but you always stuck to the stereotype.

4 - Tactics

     In the end it was your tactics and your ideals that ruined us - no, not us, it never would have ruined us or our cousins, or anyone. That is, it wouldn't have ruined anyone but yourself. And it did, because when the boy came back, and he told everyone about what you'd done, you merely smiled ruefully at him and did not decline the accusations. Because you weren't going to lie about the truth, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't.

5 - Evanescent(soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing)

     And now, everything is fine and we're in peace, but I still can't help but think we're stealing all of your ideas from you. Because in a way we are, because no one says a thing about you. You're the traitor, the one no one dares to talk about, but I know, and everyone knows, that we all owe the ideas you already thought of to you. But still no one dares to give you the credit you deserve, because you shamed yourself. And though I do think you were stupid with what you did, you had the best of the clan - and us - at heart, and I respect that.

     So while Gannen thinks about days with Steve and the fake Lord, I think about you.

     And so behind closed doors, we always give you the credit you deserve, because we know and acknowledge that you deserve it, but we're too much of cowards of men to admit it outloud. Our pride won't let us.

     But our opinion remains the same anyways.

Chapter Text

1 - Friends

     There were four people, who were bonded together from a mission by one they all despised. They were the princes, Larten Crepsley, the rejected-spot-so-technically-isn't-a-prince; Darren Shan, the cub prince; Harkat Mulds, the ex-soon-to-be-prince; and Vancha March, the smelly prince. They were sent on a mission by the meddlesome and hated Desmond Tiny.

     Along with his prediction of the future, he sent the three of them(and Harkat tagged along) together to hunt down the dreaded vampaneze lord: only they(of their kind) could go on this mission, and only they could slay the Vampaneze Lord. And only he could slay them. But together they travelled, and though they were friends before the trip(for the most part), they bonded more and more over the course of their travels, over deaths and over unfortunate circumstances.

     Things seemed to be grimmest, but they always had each other by their side. So even if they did fail everything, they could turn to each other and smile. Even if it was a fake smile.

2 - Steel

     Steel. Vampires - their kind - had to have a heart of steel, and Harkat was the only one who didn't. Or so they thought. But they had underestimated him. He said it many times; he advocated for peace, and didn't fight, but that was his choice. It didn't mean he was weak or couldn't fight. And so they overlooked everything, and missed it all. When the time came, when he betrayed them for them, they didn't see it.

     And they were only lucky that Darren had seen it and survived to carry news of it back. Because if not for him, that traitor would not be executed right now. He messed up, messed up really bad, but now he was back, and he was a different person, in a way. In a way, he had done a different set of growing when he came back as a little person, as Harkat Mulds, and now that he knew that he was him, and now that he realised it, he was him again. Not him when he was alive, exactly, but not something entirely different, either. He was more of his old self, and a little more of Harkat in him.

     He was a third person, and he was accompanying the three hunters to destiny. Where they would end up, his destiny would as well.

3 - Beautiful

     The night Kurda had died had been a beautiful night, filled with a starry night, and a large moon. The night Harkat had been revived had been a beautiful morning, with clouds and the sky, bright and blue and very pretty. The night Harkat and Kurda met each other and discovered who the other really was, who they themselves were, had been midday, and it was a very beautiful midday.

     The sky trembled in trepidation, in Desmond Tiny's wake, and everyone growled distrustingly at him. But a revelation was to be made and they all let him lead them away...

      Now, as Harkat stares at the sky on his back, it's certainly a beautiful one. Darren is suddenly lying down next to him, he realises. Since when was he there? When Darren sees Harkat watching him, he says, "Isn't every sky every day and night a beautiful one?"

      Harkat certainly agrees with that and so does Larten and Vancha. Wholeheartedly, but then again, Vancha does everything wholeheartedly.

4 -  Imaginary

     Larten stares at the roof, and he goes numb suddenly. Is all of this real, is it just a dream, if he'll wake up and none of this never happened, never existed, not Seba, not Darren, not Vancha, not Steve, not Harkat... But it was not a dream, vampires existed, and all the vampires he knew existed. He couldn't have been dreaming for a few hundred years, after all. He couldn't get so close to everyone, fall in love, in just a dream, right?

     He was on a spike, and though he'd thrashed and writhed at first, he was just lying there, moaning now. In a way, the pain was intense, and he could see death coming and closer and closer as the seconds went by, darkness coming closer, but in another way, his whole body was just numb.

     Vancha was watching, saying something in a loud voice... Or it would have been loud, but Larten was regressing, in a way. He could barely hear anything now. Darren was staring coldly, but he looked more in shock. Soon the tears would come, though, and he'd feel more alive. Harkat was also watching, and Larten thought he might be crying if he could. He hadn't gotten especially close to the little person, but they both thought of each other as decent people, and Larten was Harkat's best friend's mentor. And who wouldn't cry, after seeing everything that had happened?

     The only comfort Larten could get was that he had told Darren not to let anger consume him. He could only hope that Darren heeded that advice and went down the right road.

5 - Elite

     So as the three set out, it was kind of only two of them. If we're completely honest, the three of them were more of a duo, because Harkat was just cheering on the sidelines. But the fact that he was there meant that he was, in a way, a part of them. And though Darren could barely hear Larten from beyond, he and the others - Kurda, Arra, Paris... - were all cheering him him on.

     Kill that Leopard!

Chapter Text

1 - Secret

      Since we moved, Gannen's mental health has been bad. He won't say anything, but I know. When we go on our walks, he just goes to the bench and sits down there, like the old men and women and just watches me. He says he doesn't feel like walking and that's probably true, but I can see the grief in his gaze as well. He just sits there and watches the trees, says nothing, his mouth just twitches a little. I know he's thinking about mother and father. I know he misses them. And I know they're all he thinks about.

      I'm pretty sure he cries when he's alone, too. The red eyes and sniffling is a dead giveaway, I'm sure he knows we know. But no one ever says anything, because we're all pretending that we're a normal family. Well, you aren't pretending; you don't pretend, and you would have no need to, anyways. I'm not sure if Gannen really is, either, but I am.

     Then that day, when you leaned down and whispered something in his ear, something unknown to others and confidential and curious, and whatever it was, his face lit up and a grin covered his face. And after that, as long as we lived with you, that depressed expression of utter hopelessness and carelessness disappeared.

2 - Abandon

     You told us to leave you, that day, to abandon you forever. Our faces fell, and we gaped at you, but you merely told us we should close our mouths. Manners.

     Ever since that day our birth parents died, our lives changed forever. When you found us, our lives changed again. And when you told us to set out, our lives changed forever, again. In an unspeakable way, we were left alone, two children, still in their teens, out and lost, but not really lost. That day you told us to abandon you, and we did. We left you, but it was not you who felt hopeless after that. You missed us for sure, but we were really the ones who were lost. When we were scrambling before, when our parents died, you picked us up and saved us. But when you sent us off, we started scrambling all over again.

3 - Agonise

     When we left you, I always wondered if I would see you again. You comforted us and told us you would drop by every now and then, and Gannen told me you loved us no matter what, but we always wondered anyways. Would you one day show up and not love us anymore? Someday, would your coming mark the beginning of something very large and sinister?

     And I suppose I was right, but not in the way I thought.

4 - Adamant

     I didn't want to. None of us wanted to, really. You didn't want us to leave you, I didn't want to leave you, and Gannen didn't want to leave you. But you were adamant that we leave to find the vampaneze, so we had to. So we had to leave you.

5 - Hang

     Ever since we left, we've been hanging by the simple rope of pretending. We always wondered if one day you would come back and take us, but when we found the vampaneze, we brushed the blood off of our face(because most certainly something bloody happened along the way) and walked to the gates. And there they were, the vampaneze.

     Gannen and I found a home there with Tobias. But I was different from the two of them. The guilt I felt upon killing someone was so much, too much to silently endure without so much as a peep. I didn't say much at first. It happened slowly, gradually. I let one person go, and then another, and another, and another. Every five times turned to every four times which turned to every other time, which became every time. And soon I was barely a vampaneze anymore.

     I wasn't a coward, and I was ready to face the judgement of Tobias and the punishment I deserved. And because the weight of hiding something from my family weighed on me, I told them the truth. I hated having to be killed by my new father, and I hated having to be separated from my brother, but then Gannen pleaded. He gasped and pleaded, and soon Tobias's gaze also softened, he lowered his gaze to the floor, and then murmured, "Then leave now, Vancha."

     And so I did.

     But even then, I was holding tight to a loosening rope.

Chapter Text

1 - Seashore

     The first time you appeared in front of me, it was at a seashore. I was on a mission there, to track some Vampaneze tracks on our turf, and it led us to the seashore. We'd found the Vampaneze and it was an insane Vampaneze. We quickly negotiated with the Vampaneze, and then let them deal with it.

     When we were done with the Vampaneze, I watched the sea and the rampant waves for a while before going back. While I was watching the waves, I heard someone call me in the wind. I turned to the side, but all there was was an old, fat man in a yellow with and green wellington boots. I stood, wondering if the person calling my name could have been him, but I quickly shook the thought away as he was watching the sea as well, staring straight out into the distance.

     I was going to turn back around, but before I could, before I could realise he might have been there while we were talking to the Vampaneze, before I began to realise there was something suspicious about him, the man turned, and I found myself unable to turn away from him.

     He wore two things I noticed right away: the dark, thick glasses which hid his sinister eyes, and the evil smile. If I had to be honest, my first thought was that he wore the smile better than the glasses. And then he began to walk towards me.

     I waited till he was standing right in front of me to ask, "Who are you?"

     "Desmond Tiny." The fat man said.

     My eyes widened, and I gasped. I had heard of him before. There was no one who didn't know him but those younger than two hundred years. I was around that young then, and I had heard many tales and recounting vampires before, but had never met him before. "What do you want with me?"

     Mr. Tiny merely sighed and then smiled in a different way. Before it was twisted and evil, but then it just became so knowing. "Vancha March... Never forget the role you have as the time goes by... Never forget it."

2 - Laughable

     I find it laughable how much you've manipulated my life and everyone I know's lives. It's to the point where you're feared and hated by everyone globally. I wonder how the humans would react to you? Probably spout out another "righteousness" speech against you.

     And trust me, when I say laughable, I mean that in a manic laughing kind of way.

3 - Comparison

     In comparison to you, I'm just a vampire.

     In comparison to you, I'm just a general.

     In comparison to you, I'm just a prince.

     In comparison to you, I'm just a vampire.

     But in comparison to me, you're just a meddlesome nuisance(more than just that, but that's besides the point).

4 - Good

     When everyone looks at you I wonder where you had been since now, what you've been doing, when you decided you'd involve me in the grand scheme of things, and how long you ever thought of me as interesting at all.

5 - Daffy

    You were always mild and eccentric, and you always said things that made you shake and laugh out of your damn boots. But everyone else was disgusted by whatever you ever had to say. But then again, no one would ever agree with you. Because you are a true one of a kind.

Chapter Text

1 - Stuck

     That day when the ones you loved, your dear daughter and husband were killed, that day you were stuck, stuck, stuck. Down deep, it wasn't stuck in a literal way, but a figurative way. When you got stuck that day, it was as if you had nowhere to go, no one to go to, until you found the Cirque Du Freak.

2 - Afraid

     It was when you came scrambling back, in fear and shambles, as if you had almost died, because to be fair, you had almost died. And I saw the colossal fear on your face that day, as if it would become huge and looming, and swallow you whole. And I understood, remembered that kind of fear.

     The kind of fear that threatened to rewrite who you were, who you are.

3 - Mature

     I watched you and the boy grow from kids who didn't know much about the world into teens who were going through hardships, and then into adults who'd gone through much and still had more to happen in their life. And then, when he was gone, there was still much for you in the world.

4 - Longing

     When you looked at me longingly, and asked me "why?" I knew you were not looking at me, but beyond me, around me, to somewhere else, somewhere where you still had your family, your husband and your daughter.

5 - Painstaking

     It took painstaking effort to get you up and walking, to get you to stop questioning yourself and your own existence. Which made sense, considering your husband and daughter had just died. But I let you hold onto me and whispered that everything was okay, and you would be fine, and soon enough, you were ready to set out for your new life.

Chapter Text

1. Decoy
"I'll act as a decoy and go back the way we came. The rest of you try to find an alternate route out. I'll work my way back to you later, if the luck of the vampires is with me." Vancha said, and Larten nodded and said, "Luck, sire."

2. Saviour
"I found them!" The camper cried out, "They're here, they-" and then the tunnel fell into silence as everything turned their heads slightly to look at their saviour.

3. Clever
And when the saviour dropped into his place, and they congratulated him on the coincidental timing, he just said, "I've been trailing you guys for a while." Smart, isn't he?

4. Rushed
"Are the vampaneze close?" Larten asked, and Vancha nodded with a single, "aye", before they all began to run through the tunnels once more.

5. Uncertainty
They all pushed on, getting further and further from the bottom, closer to the top, but all the while the vampaneze and vampets chasing them were getting closer and closer, and they didn't know when they could just sneak up behind them and deliver the finishing blow...

6. Yell
As they all arrived at the end of the tunnels, a voice cried out, invoking panic in them all, and he cried, "There they go!"

7. Fear
Everyone began to get a feeling of mild panic as they wondered if they would be able to get out, and everyone wondered what would happen once they were up top, because though the vampaneze wouldn't chase them once they were up top, the sun and the humans would.

8. Delay
"Go!" Vancha barked, unleashing a hail of shurikens at the vampaneze and vampets, and the rest of the hunters took this as their opportunity to get away at last.

9. Escape
First Darren went up, then Leonard, and when they were sure both their feet and bodies were out of the way, Larten and Vancha shot out of the tunnel one right after the other, safe at last.

10. Wait
There was a momentous pause where Vancha, Larten, Darren, Harkat and Steve watched and waited with heavy breathing and loudly beating hearts.

11. Torture
When they finally got to the base, safe and sound, Vancha dreaded the prospect, the thought of what he was about to do to the vampet(Mark Ryter), but it was war, and during war, sometimes you didn't have a choice.

12. Query
As Vancha walked away, pulling the man by his ears and resigning himself to what he was going to do, he heard Darren ask Larten, "Will he torture him?"

13. Disconcerted
No doubt the boy was unnerved by the thought as much as the rest of them, but he knew that sometimes, in war, there was no room for compassion.

14. Trepidation
The man stayed quiet during the walk there, except for a small whimper or two which he tried to hide, but Vancha's vampire ears could hear his whimpers, and with every step, an anxious feeling in his stomach grew.

15. Destination
When they arrived in a room Vancha thought was far away enough from the room the others were in, he released the man and pushed him down against the wall, where he slumped down, his eyes beginning to close.

16. Begin
Vancha wouldn't let him fall asleep or die, not yet, so he grabbed him by his hair and pulled out a knife; the classic torture method, Vancha knew, but he also promised he would get harder...

17. Prevention
"Mark Ryter, huh?" Vancha murmured in a sly, low voice, and the man only looked away with an irritated with terrified look on his face, so Vancha continued, "Why not tell me everything I'm going to ask of you before the dirty work begins?"

18. Decline
The man merely frowned and looked away; neither liked what was going to happen, but he wasn't going to spill right away, and Vancha knew that.

19. Truths
"Only... only our lord can kill you dreaded hunters," The man rasped, and tears slid down his face as he moaned and convulsed from the pain.

20. Enough
When Vancha was done, he stared down at the pitiful figure underneath him, and decided someone in this shape had no reason to live any longer, not even being loyal to their clan, not with this pain and torture.

21. Amused
"The police think you're the ones who killed all of those humans," Steve grinned, the smile on his face as if he had seen something absolutely interesting, so interesting he couldn't turn away.

22. Accusation
A voice blasted through the walls, loud and clear, yelling, "You in there! Killers!"

23. Hope
"The humans won't expect us to go straight down through the apartments," Vancha said, and hope filled a few hearts, until Steve quashed it again: "Yes, they wiil."

24. Irate
And there was that successful smirk again.

25. Pity
Vancha stared at Steve, willing him for signs of a lie, truth revoked, but there was nothing, and a feeling of hopelessness and resignation filled his heart before he shook his head and put his self pity behind him; there was no time for that now.

26. Confrontation
After discussing, Vancha smashed a pane of the window, and yelled down to the human police officers, "Who's down there and what the hell do you want?"

27. Taunt
"Mark Ryter must have been the vampet," Darren murmured as a sense of fear filled them all, and Steve laughed in his haughty tone, "You're soooo observant."

28. Cooperation
"Any sign of weapons, or any unexpected moves, and you're history," the officer yelled, and when the hunters attempted to talk it out, they were forced to cooperate when she merely said, "No talking."

29. Leap
"The window, we jump," Larten said when he'd realised there was a way out, and everyone turned to the window, hope flaming in their hearts once again.

30. Approval
"It's crazy," Vancha growled, but then he winked at the rest of the hunters(plus Harkat), and said, "I like it!"

31. Abandon
"We'll have to leave you behind, what with that injury." Vancha said, and Larten nodded and smiled thinly as he said, "Aye."

32. Hero
"I'm staying here with him," Darren said, and Vancha growled, "There's no time for false heroics, you're coming with me, end of story!"

33. Reasoning
"The hell with false heroics, there's no way you can flit with both Harkat and I on your back, it would take too long to work up the speed, and we'd be shot dead long before," Darren snapped, and Vancha realised he was right.

34. Shock
Vancha opened his mouth at the objection, to say something else and refute it, but then he realised: Darren was right, and he closed his mouth and nodded.

35. Cover
"Alone you can carry Burgess and use her as a shield," Harkat said, pointing at her, and Vancha sighed downheartedly.

36. Smarts
"You're all too clever for me," Vancha sighed as he said, "I'm not going to stay here and try to talk you round."

37. Alone
"I can't come back for you," Vancha said regretfully, his smile from the conversation with Burgess fading, and he continued, "If you stay, you're on your own."

38. Confirmation
Larten merely said, "We know."

39. Pray
"You'd better surrender right away and pray to the gods that they bundle you in a cell without windows," Vancha said, and Larten replied solemnly, "Aye."

40. Gone
"Luck," they all said, and with that, Vancha walked out into the sun, taunting them only a little, and then, while they waited for him to make a mistake, he ran, and then hit flitting speed and left them watching the spot where he had disappeared dumbfoundedly.

41. Fools
"What matter of fools are we?" Larten cried out, and Vancha murmured, "The greatest who ever stalked the shadows of the night."

42. Anticipation
The hunters all stared hopelessly at the dark cavern shadows, their fingers twitching hopelessly at their sides as they wondered who would surprise them, but then a head appeared, and their hearts sunk back into their chests as they cheered.

43. Cheer
They cheered, "Vancha!"

44. Hug
"The one and only," Vancha grinned, and swung down from the ceiling where he was hanging, and as soon as he turned around, Darren and Harkat embraced the prince.

45. Happy
Vancha's eyes widened for a small second, and then his mouth split into a small smile, and he chuckled and hugged them back as he whispered, "Sappy idiots."

46. Recount
It had truly been a while since he had seen them, and they had no doubt gone through much, with getting captured, escaping, and making their way here; but for now he was just glad that they were all together again.

47. Embrace
"Haven't you got a hug for me, Larten old buddy?" Vancha chuckled, and Larten's smile widened as he said, "You know where you can insert your hug."

48. Arms
"Anyways, one order of business at a time, and right now you guys have got to get some weapons," Vancha said, and began to walk into the darkness, "Luckily, uncle Vancha has been busy."

49. Thoughts
As they walked away, they thought about what was going to come, and the miserable fight that was about to follow.

50. Ready
Now they were ready, armed, and coming straight for the Vampaneze Lord's throat... but little did they know was that they were going after the wrong man.

Chapter Text

1. Aside
Vancha had thought it was strange that Darren told Alice and Debbie to leave, but when he said what he wanted to say, it made sense...

2. Independent
First he told them that they might want to leave, and Alice, being the strong woman that she is, snarled, "Is this men's talk?"

3. Secret
But Darren only shook his head and said, "No, it's prince's talk."

4. Acceptance
Alice understood that and nodded once before leaving the room with Debbie, and then it was just Vancha, Darren, and Harkat, and the moment had come.

5. Proclamation
"Harkat Mulds is Kurda Smahlt."

6. Disbelief
Vancha's jaw dropped at the revelation and he protested, "But it can't be! Harkat was alive before Kurda died!"

7. Time-travel
"Mr. Tiny can move through time, and he created Harkat from Kurda's remains then took him to the past so he could serve as my protector," Darren said.

8. Reaction
Vancha blinked once, shocked, and then his features clouded over and his face twisted in anger, but also fear.

9. Diabolic
"What matter of a diabolical beast is he?" - Vancha March

10. Change
"Does this change your opinion of me... now that you know I was once a vampire traitor?" Harkat inquired.

11. Amuse
"No, I never liked you much anyways." Vancha spat into his palm and ran it through his hair, then winked to show that he was joking.

12. Quote
"I always believed that although Kurda acted stupidly, he acted with the best interests of the clan at heart." - Vancha March

13. Confirmation
"As for who Harkat is now... I know and trust you, and I believe you've learned from Kurda's faults. You won't betray us again, will you, Harkat?" Vancha asked, studying the Little Person.

14. Thoughts
"No. But I'm still in favour of a treaty... between the two clans. If I can bring that about through peaceful... means, by talking, I will. This War of the Scars threatens to destroy... even more." Harkat said, and Vancha realised he now sounded a little like Kurda, not just by what he was saying, but the very way he said things.

15. Recognise
Harkat said, "I recognise the need to kill Steve... Leonard. After that I'll push for peace... if I can. But openly - no plotting or intrigue... this time."

16. Accept
Vancha considered that in silence for a while - Harkat was entitled to his own beliefs, as Kurda was too, as long as he didn't do what Kurda did and recognised why they were fighting, that they needed to - and decided that he could trust Harkat to be his companion.

17. Agreement
Vancha shrugged and said, "So be it, I have nothing personal against the vampaneze."

18. Truce
"If we kill Leonard and they agree to a truce, I'm all for it." - Vancha March

19. Relationship
Harkat would be left alone - Vancha didn't care much for it - but Harkat still wondered if Vancha would think of him differently because of their relationship during his life.

20. Converse
"So, where do you think Leonard is holed up?" Vancha asked, the conversation topic changing.

21. Remark
"Both fighting for the same reason, both terrified of the same thing..." Harkat remarked, chuckling humourlessly.

Chapter Text

1. Meeting
There was something strange about the new prince who had just joined the princes, Harkat thought, and he knew there was no doubt there was something off when he sat down and bean chewing his toes!.

2. Converse
"So this is the Little Person who talks," Vancha mumbled, eyeing Harkat over his left big toe, "Harkat Mulds, isn't it?"

3. Down
"It is, sire." Harkat said, and lowered his mask.

4. Trust
"I might as well tell you straight up, Mulds - I don't trust Desmond Tiny or any of his stumpy disciples." - Vancha March

5. Retort
"And I don't trust vampires who... chew their toenails." - Harkat Mulds

6. Sly
Then, Harkat turned back and got a sly look on his face, and added, "Sire."

7. Laugh
Vancha laughed heartily at that and spat out a chunk of nail.

8. Friends
"I think we're going to get along well, Mulds!" - Vancha March

9. Narration
And that was the first meeting between the Vampire Prince and the Little Person, the Vampire Prince and the smaller Vampire Prince.

10. Surprised
They were both shocked by the strange prince, that this vampire would be a prince, but Larten merely said, "Do not be fooled by appearances."

11. Shock
The alternate world with dragons and horrors turned out to really be the future, something terrible and inhumane.

12. Murder
"We just have to make sure to kill Steve Leonard, aye?" Vancha laughed, but Darren only grinned sickly as he murmured "aye."

13. Changeify
"What about me? Does it alter your opinion of me... now that you know I was once a vampire traitor?" - Harkat Mulds.

14. Joking
"No, I never liked you much anyways," Vancha snapped, spitting in his palm and running it through his hair, then he winked.

15. Opinion
"Seriously, you were right not to broadcast the news. We'll keep it to ourselves," Vancha said approvingly.

16. Splitting
"Internal argument is the last thing we need." - Vancha March

17. Deciding
"As for who Harkat is now..."

18. Decision
Vancha studied the Little Person a bit before saying, "I know and trust you, and I believe you've learned from Kurda's faults."

19. Betray
"You won't betray us again, will you, Harkat?" - Vancha March

20. Firm
"No, but I'm still in favour of the two clans, and if I can bring that about through peaceful means, by talking, by talking, I will. This War of the Scars is destroying both families of the night, and it threatens to destroy even more."

21. Attack
"But you recognise the need to fight?" Vancha pressed sharply.

22. Secretive
Harkat didn't need to think about that, and answered that immediately, "I recognise the need to kill Steve Leonard, and after that I'll push for peace if I can. But openly - no plotting or intrigue this time."

23. Thoughts
That didn't sound troublesome, and it wasn't an opinion that would cause him to betray them again - he said it, no plotting or intrigue this time.

24. Nice
Vancha decided that there was something wrong with that opinion.

25. Approve
"So be it, I have nothing personal against the vampaneze. If we kill Leonard and they agree to a truce, I'm all for it."

26. Hide
"Now, where do you think Leonard's holed up?"

27. Dramatic
"You think he's preparing a grand-scale trap like before?" Vancha asked, but Harkat disagreed.

28. Reasoning
"No," he said, "the vampaneze have been active here, but if there were dozens of them here, the death count would be higher, and I don't think Steve has as much vampaneze with him as when we faced him in the Caverns of Retribution."

29. Pause
It didn't take Vancha a second to answer that.

30. Hesitation
"I hope you're right."

31. Sycophant
"I'll never understand why Gannen and the others follow a maniac like Steve Leonard," Vancha grunted.

32. Prophecy
"It's part of Mr. Tiny's prophecy," Harkat said, "As Kurda, I spent much time with the vampaneze, researching their ways."

33. Flames
"You know about the Coffin of Fire. When it finally chooses their Lord, they'll have to obey him."

34. Choiceless
"Or they'll be wiped from the face of the Earth."

35. Misguided
"Most vampaneze fight to preserve themselves, not to defeat the vampires."

36. Evil
And there it was, the grim truth that the vampaneze were not really evil, not even when they fought the vampires, just Steve Leonard - the Leopard - he was evil.

37. Grim
That was the grim truth they were all avoiding.

38. Fear
That they were all afraid of.

39. Motivation
Vancha nodded slowly as he murmured, "Then they're motivated by fear for their lives, not hatred for us, I understand now."

40. Identical
"After all, isn't that why we're fighting too - to save ourselves?"

41. Laugh
Harkat chuckled humourlessly.

42. Equivilant
"Both fighting for the same reason, both terrified for the same thing." Harkat murmured eerily.

43. Self-same
"Of course, if neither side fought, both would be safe."

44. Foolish
"Mr. Tiny is playing the creature of the night for fools, and we're helping him." - Harkat Mulds

45. Truth
"Aye," Vancha grunted disgustedly, and Darren nodded, because this was the truth and all three knew it, everyone knew it.

46. Knowledge
Both sides fighting knew, and all the sides not fighting knew it very well.

47. Useless
"But there's no use moaning about how we got ourselves into this sorry state." Vancha said, and it was the truth.

48. Quote
"The fact is, we fight because we must." - Vancha March

49. Uncool
And that was the moment before they left for their final confrontation, the "epic" final battle.

50. Death
That day, it was only Vancha who sensed death.

Chapter Text

1. Back
It was that day the two met that everything came rushing back, everything they'd pushed back, stopped thinking about, because now a ghost from their past had appeared.

2. Decision
That was the day they both officially decided, deep in their hearts, that there was nothing that would keep them from their clans, not even their long lost brother.

3. Unknown
Neither knew the other was involved at all, they just knew there were a few of their cousins.

4. Guess
But never did they guess it would be the one they both dreaded to run into the most.

5. Harst
It was the two Harst brothers, Gannen and Vancha, who met on that clear day.

6. Serve
You could say in a way they were both just serving their clans, but for Gannen it was more like he was serving his Lord, but not his clan at all.

7. Escape
And that day, while the individual fighting ensued, the Lord and the protector began running towards the trees opposite to the fighting, because they had to get away, at any cost.

8. Piggy-back
Gannen heard a voice yell out for help as they skidded to a stop and turned to his Lord, and he nodded and began climbing onto Gannen's back.

9. Close
Footsteps sounded from behind the two, and they hurried their progress, but not to much avail, the two were right at their heels.

10. Stop
"No you don't," one growled - with a gruff voice - and then a small, sharp object went flying, hitting his Lord.

11. Cry
His Lord cried out as he fell, digging something deep into his heart, something deeper than loyalties.

12. Turn
Gannen spun and stooped to pick his Lord up, but from the corner of his eye the two vampires were closing in, and he spun and pulled out his sword to combat them.

13. Appearances
He couldn't see them clearly, but he saw that one - green, wild hair, fit body - was moving forward, while the other - brown hair, slimmer body - stayed behind to give the other space.

14. Face
The two couldn't see each other until up close, and when they saw each other's faces-

15. Faint
For Gannen, he was seeing a glimpse of the brother he used to know, because having changed so much, the only thing he remembered clearly was his face, his expression.

16. Unreputable
And there was no doubt that he was Vancha, Gannen's estranged brother.

17. Change
For Vancha, he was seeing a copy of his brother, but there were differences, like the worn out, wise look his eyes gave out, or the dark rims under his eyes.

18. Hurt
They both stopped when within striking distance, a wide, wounded look on their face, because of all people, why did they have to run into each other?

19. Leave
Then, Gannen pulled back and pushed his sword into the scabbard before retreating with his Lord.

20. See
And all along, his brother watched him go.

21. Trap
Then there was the day, trapped in the tunnels with the vampaneze, when the vampires were making a slow retreat towards the exit, dragging Steve along with them.

22. Discomfort
Gannen watched his Lord, disliking the way they were treating him - he hadn't liked the undercover idea - but he forced his gaze away in order not to give them away.

23. Attack
That was when a vampet snapped, and swung a chain at Vancha, which he grabbed and pulled towards him, where he was about to snap the man's head, when-

24. Stop
"Enough!" Gannen bellowed, and all the vampaneze and vampets stopped and dropped back, allowing Gannen to push past them.

25. Greet
"Vancha," Gannen greeted his brother, and Vancha returned the greeting, watching his brother's accomplices like a hawk, "Gannen."

26. Tired
"We could kill you here, but you would take many of us with you, and I tire of needless struggle. Shall we strike a deal?" Gannen suggested.

27. Strange
"What sort of a deal?" Vancha grunted, and Gannen could see the bewilderment in his brother's eyes.

28. Deal
"Fifteen minutes, Vancha. Leave your hostages - you can move quicker without them - and flee. Fifteen minutes, and nobody will follow, you have my word."

29. Disbelief
"This is a trick, you wouldn't let us go, not like this," Vancha said, and Gannen understood the thought, but right now his Lord was in their arms, and he needed him back.

30. Hope
"I don't lie, the odds are still in our favour, but this way you have more hope - and I won't have to bury any of my friends again." Gannen said stiffly, because he could tell one side of the truth - and he did.