Darren Shan - Vampire Rites Trilogy

“It will take a while to adjust,” he said, noting my dazed gaze. “For the first few nights you may feel lost. But in time you will grow accustomed to the place.”

The network of tunnels connecting the Halls to the sleeping quarters were cold and damp, despite the torches, but the tiny rooms – niches carved out of the rocks – were bright and warm, each lit by a powerful torch. Seba asked if we wanted one big room between us, or if we’d prefer separate quarters.

“Separate,” Mr Crepsley immediately replied. “I had enough of Gavner’s snoring on the trail.”

“Charming!” Gavner huffed.

“Harkat and me don’t mind doubling up, do we?” I said, not liking the idea of being left on my own in such a strange place.

“That’s fine … by me,” Harkat agreed.

All the rooms boasted coffins instead of beds, but when Seba saw my gloomy face, he laughed and said I could have a hammock if I preferred. “I will send one of my staff to you tomorrow,” he promised. “Tell him what you need and he will get it – I look after my guests!”

“Thank you,” I said, glad that I wouldn’t have to sleep in the coffin every day.

Seba started to leave. “Wait,” Mr Crepsley called him back. “I have something to show you.”

“Oh?” Seba smiled.

“Darren,” Mr Crepsley said, “fetch Madam Octa.”

When Seba Nile saw the spider, his breath caught in his throat and he gazed at it as though mesmerized. “Oh, Larten,” he sighed, “what a beauty!” He took the cage from me – holding it tenderly – and opened the door.

“Stop!” I hissed. “Don’t let her out – she’s poisonous!”

Seba only smiled and reached into the cage. “I have never met a spider I have not been able to charm,” he said.

“But –” I began.

“It is all right, Darren,” Mr Crepsley said. “Seba knows what he is doing.”

The old vampire coaxed the spider on to his fingers and lifted her out of the cage. She squatted comfortably in the palm of his hand. Seba bent his face over her and whistled softly. The spider’s legs twitched, and from her intent look, I knew he must be communicating mentally with her.

Seba stopped whistling and Madam Octa crawled up his arm. Upon reaching his shoulder, she nestled up to his chin and relaxed. I couldn’t believe it! I’d always had to whistle continuously – with a flute, not my lips – and concentrate fiercely to keep her from biting me, but with Seba she was completely docile.

“She is marvellous,” Seba said, stroking her. “You must tell me more about her when you have a chance. I thought I knew of all the spiders in existence, but this one is new to me.”

“I thought you would like her,” Mr Crepsley beamed. “That is why I brought her. I wish to make you a present of her.”

“You would part with such a wonderful spider?” Seba asked.

“For you, old friend – anything.”

Seba smiled at Mr Crepsley, then looked at Madam Octa. Sighing regretfully, he shook his head. “I must refuse,” he said. “I am old, and not as sprightly as I used to be. I am kept busy trying to keep up with jobs I once zipped through. I do not have the time to care for such an exotic pet.”

“Are you sure?” Mr Crepsley asked, disappointed.

“I would love to take her but I cannot.” He placed Madam Octa back in her cage and handed it to me. “Only the young have the energy to tend to the needs of spiders of such calibre. Look after her, Darren – she is beautiful and rare.”

“I’ll keep my eye on her,” I promised. I once thought the spider was beautiful too, until she bit my best friend and led to me becoming a half-vampire.

“Now,” Seba said, “I must go. You are not the only new arrivals. Until we meet again – fare well.”

There were no doors on the tiny rooms. Mr Crepsley and Gavner bid us goodnight, before heading for their coffins. Harkat and me stepped into our room and studied our two caskets.

“I don’t think you’ll fit in that,” I said.

“That is … OK. I can sleep … on floor.”

“In that case, see you in the morning.” I glanced around the cave. “Or will it be night? Impossible to tell in here.”

I didn’t like getting into the coffin but took comfort in the fact that it was for one time only. Lying back, I left the lid open and stared up at the rocky grey ceiling. I thought that with the excitement of having arrived at Vampire Mountain, it’d take ages to fall asleep, but within minutes I’d dropped off and slept as soundly as I would have in my hammock back at the Cirque Du Freak.

HARKAT WAS standing by his coffin when I awoke, his green eyes wide open. I stretched and said good morning. There was a brief pause, then he shook his head and looked at me. “Good morning,” he replied.

“Been awake long?” I asked.

“Just woke … now. When you … spoke to me. Fell asleep … standing up.”

I frowned. “But your eyes were open.”

He nodded. “Always open. No lids … or lashes. Can’t shut them.”

The more I learned about Harkat, the stranger he got! “Does that mean you can see things while you’re asleep?”

“Yes, but I … take no … notice of them.”

Gavner appeared at the entrance to our room. “Rise and shine, boys,” he boomed. “Night’s wearing on. There’s work to be done. Anybody for bat broth?”

I asked to use the toilet before we went to eat. Gavner led me to a small door with the letters WC carved into it. “What does that stand for?” I asked.

“Water Closet,” he informed me, then added, “Don’t fall in!”

I thought that was a joke, but when I stepped inside, I realized it was a genuine warning – there was no toilet in the water closet, just a round hole in the ground which led to a gurgling mountain stream. I stared down the hole – it wasn’t large enough for an adult to fall through, but somebody my size might just fit – and shivered when I saw dark, gushing water at the bottom. I didn’t like the idea of squatting over the hole, but there was no other option, so I got on with it.

“Are all the toilets like that?” I asked when I came out.

“Yes,” Gavner laughed. “It’s the easiest way to get rid of the waste. There are several big streams leading out of the mountain and the toilets are built over them. The streams wash everything away.”

Gavner led Harkat and me to the Hall of Khledon Lurt. Seba Nile had pointed out the Hall to me the day before and said it was where meals were served. He also told me a bit about Khledon Lurt; he had been a General of great standing, who’d died saving other vampires in the fight with the vampaneze, when they broke away.

Vampires loved telling tales of their ancestors. They kept few written records, opting instead to keep their history alive by word of mouth, passing on stories and legends around fires or over tables, one generation to another.

Red drapes hung from the ceiling, covering the walls, and there was a large statue of Khledon Lurt at the centre of the Hall. (Like most of the mountain’s sculptures, it had been carved from the bones of animals.) The Hall was lit by strong torches, and it was nearly full when we arrived. Gavner, Harkat and me sat at a table with Mr Crepsley, Seba Nile and a load of vampires I didn’t know. Talk was loud and raucous. Much of it had to do with fighting and feats of endurance.

This was my first good look at a crowd of vampires and I spent more time gazing around than I did eating. They didn’t look that different to humans, except many were scarred from battle and hard living, and not a single one – it goes without saying! – was sun-tanned.

They were a smelly lot. They didn’t use deodorants, though a few had strings of wild flowers or naturally scented herbs around their necks and wrists. Though vampires took care to wash in the world of humans – a foul stench could lead a vampire hunter to his prey – here in the mountain hardly any of them bothered with such luxuries. With all the soot and dirt of the Halls, they didn’t see the point – it was impossible to keep clean.