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The Impossible	By : sandyl666 Category: S through Z > The Saga of Darren Shan Views: 3621 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Saga of Darren Shan belongs to Darren Shan. I am not making any money out of writing this piece of fiction.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Disclaimer: I don't own the Darren Shan Saga/Cirque Du Freak. And an unfortunate thing has happened. Someone else borrowed the library books. Darn it, and I so wanted to hog it too! Oh well. At least it means adding an extra person as a Darren Shan fan. Whee!

Chapter 10: Boring Announcements, Boring Decisions
"Are you alright?" Evanna would ask me, looking back anxiously every few minutes.
And having fallen into a pleasant routine by now, I would respond with, "I'm fine,"
Then she would turn back to our path, navigating our route, before repeating our five word conversation mere minutes after.
I'm not really complaining though. It was nice to have someone worried about me while I was carrying a baby and walking through snow. Not barefooted, as I had been a few years earlier. Not that shoes really helped. My toes still felt frozen.
I wanted to travel the traditional way, as I had years ago, seeing as how I was a Prince - not Princess, Prince - but Evanna gave me a long lecture as to why I shouldn't. I wasn't really listening, until she made the point that I could get a miscarriage if my body temperature dropped too low.
And the rules about travelling up Vampire Mountain had loosened over the years. I mean, full vampires could flit up it. So a pair of shoes wouldn't hurt much... right?
That is, if it was only a pair of shoes. I was also wearing a heavy trench coat, a woolen knit hat and the thickest pair of fleece pants I had ever had the luck of encountering.
I realised that Evanna and Harkat had something in common. They were both worriers.
Though in my case, I guess it's a good thing. If it was Vancha instead...
I'd be an ice cube in some river, probably.
"We're almost there," Evanna, clad scantily in her usual attire of ropes, showed no sign of being cold. And her hand which was holding mine and guiding me - which was a good thing, because I could start rolling down the mountain if I leaned back too much with my heavy outfit - was downright warm.
Her hand was thick, and her fingers were stubby. It was nothing like Steve's hand. But it was lovely and warm all the same.
We stopped at another resting place, and Evanna started a fire.
As we sat around the fire, I began to have second thoughts about what we were going to do.
"Evanna, maybe we should just turn back... Go into hiding or something..." I squirmed in my seat uncomfortably, feeling restless for more than one reason.
"What are you talking about?" she was focused on cooking the mushrooms and rabbits we'd found on the fire. After it had been confirmed that a life was growing in me, Evanna insisted that we include some sort of protein in my diet. Beliefs were important, she had told me, but children are everything.
"Well, I mean, telling the rest of the vampires that the future is fixed - that's fine. But I'll have to tell the rest eventually that I'm pregnant. With his child," A child I'd been carrying for two months now. And he still didn't know.
"Indeed," Evanna agreed. "And when the time comes, you will."
I stared at her dumbly for a second before saying. "Don't you think they'll try to make me abort the child? This is the kid of the Lord of the Vampaneze we're talking about," I argued.
"That is why I am here, is it not?" she retorted. "I shall protect you and the child. There is no vampire that exists that dares go against me."
I frowned. Evanna never wanted to take sides, and I especially didn't want her to do it for me. "But-"
"Hush," she said, reading my mind, as usual. "I am doing this of my own accord, as I always do. I want to protect your progeny, Darren."
A smile spread onto my face without me being totally aware of it.
"Love you, Evanna," I whispered, meaning it.
"As I you," she replied.

A month ago.
"I don't understand, Evanna, why are you doing all this for me?" I asked quietly, as she once again disposed of my vomit for me.
It had been something I'd been thinking about for a while. Why did Evanna keep helping me? An altruistic act? Or something a little darker, with the intentions of a true witch?
She didn't speak for a long time, staring at one of her paintings instead.
When she finally opened her mouth, she said. "It's always been expected of me to have a child, one of a vampire's or a vampaneze's. But I've always been... indecisive. Afraid,"
She paused, and I remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"Why did you decide to keep your child, Darren? You had the opportunity to abort it. Forget all about it. Move on. All odds are against you. Why did you keep it?"
"Because!" I exclaimed aggressively, shocked that she'd even suggested abortion, then paused in confusion. Why did I decide to keep it? The thought of abortion practically never crossed my mind. "Because... Because..." I muttered, wondering why.
"Because you love Steve," Evanna answered.
I was speechless. Of course Evanna knew. She knew everything. She knew things I didn't want to accept myself.
"No," I denied, blushing with embarrassment. "I did it because I couldn't let an innocent life die just because we can't settle our differences,"
"I admire that, you know." she said.
I lifted an eyebrow. "Me loving Steve?"
"Yes, that too. But I mean having his child despite everything he's done to you, and going against the fate that has been endowed upon you,"
"You mean being mortal enemies?"
"Yes," she said. "And I know that if I were in your place - and someday I might be - I would wish for someone to help me. To not be alone in this rather terrifying quest or bringing a new life into this world."

I silently vowed that the day Evanna has her kids, I'll be there for her no matter what. She deserves that much.
"We're almost there," she informed me. I nodded.
Vampire Mountain.
It was a place that filled me with both terror and joy. I'd been nearly exiled, as well as gained my position as a Prince here. I'd met so many people here - Arra Sails, Seba Nile, Vanez Blane, Paris Skyle.
We lost so many people too. I thought, thinking of Gavner, Arra and Paris.
If only us vampires could settle our difference with the vampaneze. I'm sure we could co-exist somehow. The world's big enough for both clans, right? Then we wouldn't have had to lose so many good people, fight so many useless wars, experience so much heartache.
I shook my head. I was a Prince. It wouldn't do any good thinking of such impossible things.
"Come," Evanna said, taking my hand and leading me into the dark tunnels that practically made up Vampire Mountain.

Harkat was overjoyed to see me. His sloppily stitched face seemed a little tired and strained. He'd been worrying about me.
"Don't ever do that to me again," he warned me. I nodded sheepishly, giving him a hug.
"So, Arrow left?" I asked Harkat as Evanna continued to walk quickly before us. I had to jog to keep up.
"Yes. If not, you wouldn't be here," The Little Person told me, stating the obvious. I rolled my eyes, but was glad for his company once again.
News of my return - and Evanna's appearance - spread quickly, causing an uproar.
She ignored them and their chatter, and continued to lead us to the Hall of Princes. She was going to make her announcement.
The question was, was I going to make my announcement?
Evanna barged into the Hall of Princes, not even needing to place her palm on the doors. She simply flicked her wrist and it opened.
"Evanna!" Vancha said, falling off his throne in surprise.
"Lady!" Mika exclaimed, staring at the witch, his jaw dropping.
"Gather your brethren. I bring news," she said simply.
"News?" Mika echoed.
"Yes," she answered patiently. Mika wasted no time, barking orders to the other vampires, telling them to summon every other vampire to the Hall of Princes. I felt a strange sense of Deja Vu, reflecting on how Mr Tiny had made his appearance nearly a year ago in pratically the same way. But no one feared Evanna the way they feared Mr Tiny.
Vancha came up to Harkat and I silently.
"What's going on?" he asked, confused.
"Vancha!" I shouted, and threw my arms around his neck, having to tiptoe so I could reach it.
He laughed. "Nice to see you too, Darren," he pushed me back gently and studied me closely. He looked disapprovingly at my attire. "Did something happen?" he asked. "You look... different,"
"How so?" I asked, frowning.
"She's put on some weight," Harkat answered.
I swivelled my neck to stare at him, my brain swirling around his blunt comment, my mouth hanging open stupidly. Then I turned to look at Vancha, then peered at myself.
"What? No!" I said defiantly.
"Yes," Harkat and Vancha said in unison. I glared at them both.
But before I could say anything, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around, and was tackled by a feisty, dark-skinned woman.
"Darren!" Debbie squealed excitedly.
"Debbie?" I exclaimed, hugging her back tightly. "What are you doing here?" Then I spotted a familiar white haired woman behind her. "Alice!"
The former Chief Inspector smiled at me. "Darren," she greeted me calmly. I beamed at her.
"What- How?" I sputtered. Debbie opened her mouth to talk, but was interrupted by Evanna clearing her throat. She was standing on the platform of thrones, and was getting ready to speak.
"My dearest vampires. As you've probably heard, I bring news. One that's neither good, nor bad, but vital all the same," Evanna spoke in her gravelly voice, her low tones reaching even the back of the hall.
She took a deep breath. "The future has been determined." A chorus of horrified gasps rang out. "What my father said - about there being four encounters with the Lord of the Vampaneze, four chances to save your clan? There is no way to determine if that is applicable or not any more. What you do now, have very little probability of changing the future. There is only one 'can be,' and 'will be' now,"
By this point, the chorus of gasps had increased into an outraged chatter, and people began calling out in protests,thinking that this was Evanna's doing somehow.
"But the hunters and the Lord of the Vampaneze are still alive!" one called out.
"Since the future is set, we might as well all go out and hunt the Vampaneze Lord right now!" another shouted.
"Yes, to Below Paradise with Tiny and his rules!"
Evanna just watched them with a neutral expression, but to me who had been living with her for a while, her expression seemed a little cold.
"Silence!" Mika shouted, and the drone of protests tapered off. Mika's voice and face was strained and worried, he too could feel the hopelessness of the situation, but he was a Prince first and foremost.
"If you would all like to recklessly go on a suicide mission and doom your entire clan, go ahead," Evanna said, her eyes hard and voice cold. "But I would implore to use some sense instead of relying solely on your 'luck of the vampires'. Do not underestimate the vampaneze. They are cunning, and more durable than you think."
The vampires were silent. The atmosphere was so tense, I felt like I couldn't breathe properly.
"What future takes place, Lady Evanna? Will you tell us that at least?" Mika asked finally.
"I do not know," Evanna confessed. "This is a rare case, a future that only has one possibility, and when it happens, no diviner is able to see what it is and how it happens. In fact, it is the only time when we are able to act as humans do - with no rules to restrain us,"
"Does that mean you're siding with us, Lady?" Vancha called out from beside me.
Evanna regarded him coolly and said "I have no interest in the squabble of children. I am here to inform you of the latest development and..." she trailed off, looking at me. I shook my head.
I didn't want to tell all these people about my sex life. No thanks.
Later, and only to the Princes and maybe Debbie, Alice and Harkat. But not in front of my blood brother and sisters. Not when so much was at stake.
The other vampires will find out eventually.
"Alright then. That is all the news I have to deliver." Evanna said, then shut her mouth with a snap and stepped back.
The rest of the vampires looked to Vancha, Mika and I. It was times like these that I really wished Paris was still around. He'd know the best course of action.
"If we were to ambush the vampaneze, we might be able to kill the Lord of the Vampaneze. He isn't expecting an attack from all of us," Mika said hesitantly.
Evanna let out a harsh bark of laughter. "As I was heading here, my father was heading for the vampaneze. They, too will be informed that the future is fixed. Their Lord will know that you will be making desperate attempts, and he will prepare for that," Then the witch fell silent again, as the chatters once again erupted, more frantic this time.
"Silence!" Mika called. Once again, the noise diminished at his command.
"I say we wait," Vancha said finally. All heads turned to the green-haired Prince. "We wait and watch for their next move. There is nothing more we can do right now. We don't know what this future might be. We don't even know if the Vampaneze will destroy our clan any more." he paused and looked to Evanna. "Am I right so far, my Lady?"
She nodded, an approving smile on her face.
"Are you suggesting we just lay back and relax while they plan and plot ways to destroy us?" a General called out.
"No," Vancha sniffed. "We stay on our guard, plan counter-measures. But we won't make any rash decisions until we find out more about our situation. Are we in agreement, Mika?" He asked the raven haired vampire.
Mika nodded gravely.
Vancha turned to me. "Darren?"
"Of course," I said, nodding.
"Until we make a decision, we shall resume our activities, and do as Vancha said," Mika said, and the vampires acquiesced somewhat reluctantly.
The vampires shuffled towards the door. I looked back towards Evanna and saw her talking to Mika. She knew what I was going to do.
Now or never. I told myself as I asked Vancha, Debbie, Alice and Harkat to stay behind as well.
"There's something I need to tell you." They regarded me warily. They'd seen the silent exchange between me and Evanna when she'd prompted me to make my announcement.
It was a while until the last vampire had left the Hall of Princes, muttering conspiratorially about the newest development.
Evanna came to stand by me supportively. I smiled at her gratefully.
"What is it, Darren?" Vancha asked.
"Well, it's about the week I went missing. I take it you've heard that, yes?"
They nodded quietly.
"You were kidnapped by Leonard," Vancha said. I nodded.
"Yeah, and well, the thing is... He kind of..." I muttered, flustered about what I was trying to say.
"Yes?" Mika asked encouragingly. "Did he torture you?"
"...Uh. Sort of..." I blushed, mortified at having to confess what he'd do done to me to my senior Princes and friends..
Debbie was the first to figure it out. "Oh God," she said. "He didn't."
The rest looked at her like she was crazy, but I knew she got it.
That's the thing with best friends. They always know everything.
Except with Steve and the whole I-never-wanted-to-be-a-vampire thing. He's a bit of an idiot, you see.
"Oh, you poor thing," Debbie said, wrapping her arms around me.
"I'm okay. It's over now," I patted her arm to show her it was fine.
"What are you talking about?" Vancha asked, bewildered.
"Obviously, that scum forced himself on her," Debbie hissed in a low voice.
I saw the look of realisation dawning on their faces.
"Is this true?" Mika asked, his voice low and strained.
I nodded. Harkat started grinding his jagged teeth together really loudly. An obvious sign that he was angry. Vancha's face went from shocked to outraged. Then he looked like he just wanted to bash somebody up. Alice started to play with her knife sheath, stern determination on her face.
"It's alright, guys. It's over. There's nothing more we can do about that,"
"Except kill Leonard," Vancha growled.
"Yeah, I guess so. But we have more... pressing matters," I looked to Evanna for guidance. She nodded her head to them, encouraging me to spill the beans. "Okay, you guys know how I'm the only female vampire to menstruate? It turns out there's a reason for that..."
Their facial expressions told me that all of them understood within that single uttered sentence. But I said the whole terrible truth out loud anyway, I wanted to make sure that I got my point across, that no misunderstandings had happened.
"I'm pregnant. And it's the Lord of the Vampaneze's,"

They did not react well. Having aggressive, warrior-type friends is not a good thing. Half of them wanted to go out and kill Steve on an impromptu mission of vengeance, the rest eyed my belly dangerously.
But I told them that it was still half my kid, and I was keeping it. And that they didn't have the first clue where to find Steve. They didn't say anything more after that. Though Mika seemed unhappy about my decision.
But the fact that I was fertile despite being a vampire sidetracked them for a while. Nobody had any answers, and Evanna remained tight-lipped about her Lord of the Shadows-being-able-to-have-children theory. She hadn't told anyone about the Lord of the Shadows - except me - and obviously didn't plan to.
Debbie debriefed me on why Alice and her were at Vampire Mountain. Apparently they had wanted to contribute to the War of the Scars, to form their own band of humans to battle the gun-wielding vampets. Right now they were in training, the same training given to Generals before they went out in the field.
I was amazed by that. The ever-wintry mountain was a difficult place to live in without the enhanced blood of the vampires. But so far they were managing.
It wasn't long before the vampires found out about my condition. I didn't tell my friends to keep it a secret, knowing that in my stay at Vampire Mountain, my belly would definitely increase in size as a normal pregnant woman's would. Soon they came to ask me about the already flowing rumours, and I set them straight.
I didn't tell anyone who the father was, asking those privy to my secret to keep that between us. I didn't want to cause a mob protest.
Evanna continued to keep an eye on me, informing me that my pregnancy was one similar to a human's, with three trimesters, and an estimated carrying period of nine months.
I continued to puke every morning. And I was practically draining Vampire Mountain's resources single-handedly. Rhamus Twobellies would be proud of me if he'd seen how much food I devoured in the space of a day.
I always thought that pregnancy would be one of those life-changing things, where every moment would be special and unique. It wasn't. In fact, aside from the slight discomfort, life was normal.
And within the blink of an eye, six months passed.
Debbie and Alice left Vampire Mountain as soon their training was over. They went out to recruit other humans, to form their resistance against the vampets. During their stay I got to spend a lot of time with Debbie, and we renewed our recently neglected friendship. It saddened me to watch her leave, as it did her. But she promised me that when this was all over, we would spend all the time we had together.
They deliver reports on their status every once in a while. Recently they'd started recruiting tramps, the homeless, having a brainwave that these people were the ultimate victims and therefore the most willing to fight for their cause.
They'd even thought up a name for their group. The vampirites.
Evanna had left Vampire Mountain once, but returned shortly after. Her clairvoyant skills had yet to return, but she confessed that she didn't miss it. She was enjoying her freedom and ability to help me through my pregnancy, as well as being able to do whatever the hell she wanted without having to worry about rules and consequences. Life was good for her at the moment.
Life in Vampire Mountain was boring and unchanging, but I loved it. After all the drama and complications I'd had in my life lately, Vampire Mountain was something akin to Paradise. I could even convince myself that what I'd felt for Steve was a mere infatuation. I didn't love him.
"How are you feeling?" Mika asked me in concern as I shifted on my throne uncomfortably.
"I'm fine," I said. For practically all of the vampires in Vampire Mountain, I was the first pregnant woman they'd ever encountered, and the delicacy with which they treated me was ridiculous. Mika, of course, was one of them. Though he wasn't as bad as some of the Generals. They wanted to put cushions on my throne in the Hall of Princes. Cushions. I thought they were joking. I was a vampire. Significantly stronger than any other human. And they wanted to put cushions on my chair.
And, okay, I was pregnant. But that didn't make it any less ludicrous.
In fact, you should have seen their faces the first time my baby kicked me. Everyone in the room had heard the dull thud, and they crowded around me like I was some kind of street attraction. Every one of them wanted to touch my belly.
I had a feeling that my kid was going to have an abundant amount of godfathers - and godmothers, but less - on Vampire Mountain.
I tried to study the map over my huge belly. It didn't work very well. Someone brought over a wooden chair they'd placed near the maps just for me.
"Thank you," I muttered abashedly, a bit chagrined at the fact that other, more experienced vampires were overindulging me this way. But according to Vancha, they were enjoying it, so I let them.
A cluster of red and yellow flags on the map caught my eye. (A/N: In case you don't remember, yellow flags represent vampaneze, and red represents the vampires losing) I didn't remember seeing it a mere few days ago. Had it cropped up recently?
We had fully expected the vampaneze's strategy of attack to significantly change after it had been revealed that nothing we could do could change the future now, but they didn't. Their attacks simply intensified gradually, as a war as long as ours would. That disappointed me. I had thought up some pretty good counter-measures and safeguards against their attacks, which had now gone to waste. Steve must have known that we would think up ways to fight back against any attacks from the vampaneze.
So we were engaged in a sort of cold war. Both sides continued with the normal war, but also waited for either side to make a move before planning anything that could turn the tables. And neither side made any move. It was a tense, breathless waiting period. I hated it.
I continued to stare at the mass of reds and yellows, curious as to the location of such an area. I leaned over it, and my stomach dropped as I registered the name.
Why? What was Steve planning? Was it a trap?
"I see. When is he coming back?" Vancha's voice rang out grimly.
"Soon. As soon as you can leave, perhaps," Mika replied. I was barely registering their conversation.
"So it should be either me or Darren," My ears perked up at the sound of my name and I lifted my head to stare in their direction.
"Or me," Mika said. "It might not be a good idea for Darren to be travelling in her state,"
"I agree," Vancha replied thoughtfully.
"What's going on?" I asked. "Arrow's coming back?" I wondered, that was the only explanation I could come up with, deducing it from their vague conversation.
"Yes, he's been injured," Mika answered. He went on, seeing my concerned face. "It isn't life-threatening, but enough to immobilise him. It would be best for him to return and recover,"
"Which means one of us have to go," I concluded. Both my fellow Princes nodded. I glanced back at the maps and gritted my teeth. I felt the subtle pull of fate, and the voice of my heart whispering in my ear. This was something I had to do. But I was eight months pregnant. I was ready to pop anytime now. Mika wasn't joking when he said I was unfit to travel.
But as always, going against my destiny was impossible.
"I'll go," I said quietly.
"What? No," Vancha answered immediately.
"Vancha. Look at this," I said. Vancha walked towards me, followed by Mika. I pointed to the red and yellow flags. "This... is my hometown. It's where Steve and I grew up. Look at all the vampaneze. He wants me to go back."
"It's a trap," Vancha said. I rolled my eyes.
"Of course it's a trap. But both you and I know that it's time we settled this. I can't just keep hiding away from him, allowing him to corner me and killing off any more innocent bystanders caught in his net of hatred,"
"So you'd risk your child for that?" Vancha asked. "Don't make hasty decisions, Darren. An act like this is too risky,"
"Those who take risks may not live, but those who don't take risks, never really live at all," I said, quoting a line I'd heard somewhere. It sounded a bit lame, but would work to my advantage in this context. "My heart says I need to do this, Vancha."
He pursed his lips.
"You're right. My hearts tells me the same. This is the stupidest decision ever made, but alright," he sighed "I'll go with you," Vancha said.
I smiled, stupidly proud of how I'd convinced Vancha to allow me to do what I selfishly wanted.
Innocence really is bliss.
I suppose if I'd simply stayed at Vampire Mountain, I could have avoided all that pain. But at the same time, I'd never realise that the impossible really is quite possible after all.

A/N: I know this sounds weird, but I really don't get what Darren's thinking. She's so confused and fickle. She can't seem to make up her mind about Steve. And it's all his fault, really.
Btw, just a small note that I'm not going to have Darren worry about the whole Lord of the Shadows aspect because she knows the future is set and she's already super-worried about her baby. And to be truthful, if I introduce that, I think I'm going to get even more confused.
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The Impossible