Where was I?

I couldn't open my eyes, or move any part of me body, I couldn't even feel my body.
Was I dead? I probably was, and after that battle with Steve, I wanted to be dead. This isn't how I pictured the Lake of Souls. Were you able to think while in there? Probably, alone with your thoughts of all the bed you have done.

The Lake of Souls, that's where I ended up, I suppose I should've seen this coming, I didn't deserve Paradise.

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Days, weeks, months, years, I don't know how long I've been like this; I guess I would be this way for all eternity.

I spend so much time with my thoughts. I was thinking about some time when Annie and I were little and we accidentally broke one of Dad's priceless artifacts a pen pal gave him.

I don't know if was that memory or something else, but I felt a weird sensation throughout my body. I began to regain feeling in my chest, which spread to the rest of my body. I could feel blades of grass under my fingers and arms.

After trying hard I could move my fingers and open my eyes.

Again, where was I? This was defiantly not the Lake of Souls. I was in some sort of cave hidden from the sunlight, which gleamed just past my feet. How did I get from fighting Steve for the fate of vampires and vampaneze, to here?

I was only half vampire so being out in the sun didn't worry me. I climbed out of the cave to figure out where I was.

Only I didn't recognize this place at all. It didn't look like any of the woods near where the Cirque used to make camp.

The Cirque, The war, what happened, who was dead, is anybody looking for me?

Walking around the woods, nothing seemed familiar.

I saw some money lying on the ground, this was no coincidence. Desmond Tiny was toying with me, but I still needed the money so I reached down to grab it. Looking at my hand it was as red as a tomato.

I was a full vampire! I needed to find shelter fast!

Running as fast as I could I made it back to my little cave and hid until night fell.
I was cramped but I felt the new hair on my body, tried to use my hand to measure my height, I think I was a little taller, but I couldn't tell.

Waiting until night fell, I ran, maybe even going at vampire speed, I couldn't tell.

I had eventually reached a town I did recognize, Mr. Crepsley's home town.

The first place I went to, careful to watch my pace, was to Debbie's apartment. The lights were off, I couldn't tell if she was home or not.

I was starting to get weird looks from strangers; I haven't given much thought to my own appearance, until I realized that I must look like a creeper, long bushy facial hair, and tattered blood-stained clothes. I needed to get some new clothes and shave.

Luckily the money I found was enough to by shaving supplies, clothes, and a hotel room for the night.

Very convenient, what was Mr. Tiny up to?

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Look at myself in the mirror, I looked like adult, I had only grown an inch or two but I clearly looked older than I did the last time I looked at myself.     

What had happened? I needed to know, going to Debbie's may not be the best idea, but I had to know, and of course I just wanted to see her again, know she was okay.

I stole away to Debbie's

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Debbie was just as beautiful as ever. She screamed when she first saw me, first out of fear, then out of happiness, and threw her arms around me.

"I thought you were dead" she cried.

"I thought I was too" I said honestly, wrapping my arms around her.

"Debbie, this is very important, I need to know what happened" I said, my hand ran along her arm, she had scars from battle just like any vampire.

" I don't know, everyone was fighting, there was so much killing and bloodshed and then we got news that Steve was dead, the vampaneze retreated, the vampires cheered until they came to find you and discovered you were missing, they searched for you, as did I, but nobody ever found you. We all thought you were dead. The vampire's declared you dead"
Debbie cried more as I held her close.

"It was so hard, to try and go back to a normal life, acting like nothing happened…loosing you" she looked up at me and kissed me.

"I'm so happy you're alive"

I didn't say anything and continued to hold her, if it was my destiny to become the Lord of Shadows than I would've preferred to have died. At least if I had spent the rest of eternity in the Lake of Souls, than the rest of the world hopefully be saved.

"Debbie, call it a feeling in my gut but I know that this isn't over" I said.

"Because it's destiny?" she asked dryly. "Look Darren, the future isn't set in stone, one decision can change the course of history, if you were suppose to become something evil, just tell yourself everyday that 'I am not going to become that'" Debbie said.

"It's not that easy" I said.

"Yes it is. You have control over your own life Darren. Nobody can influence you to do something you would never do or be someone so untrue to yourself" she said firmly.

I shook my head; I doubt she understood the power of Desmond Tiny.

More tears rolled down her cheeks "so what are you going to do?"

"I don't know" I said.

What could I do, the smart thing would be to return to Vampire Mountain and once again take my place among the vampires. I am a Prince after all it's my duty to put the needs of the clan over my own. However that could be what Mr. Tiny wants me to do, that would rekindle the war and hatred between vampires and vampaneze, but I couldn't spend the rest of my life not knowing.

"Then stay with me" Debbie said.

I looked at her, as much as I wanted to stay with her, I had a duty.

"At least for the day, the sun will be up soon"  

She was right; the sun would be up soon, I could stay with her for the day.

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Debbie's bed was warm and comfortable; spending most of my nights in a hammock or on the ground, I often took a warm bed for granted.

Debbie and I didn't do anything, other than sleep next to each other.

I don't know what my plan was, return to Vampire Mountain or stay here with Debbie, but I now age one tenth of a normal human. I have time to think about it…I hope.