The Impossible

Disclaimer: I own, a um... Uh... Actually, I don't own any Darren Shan merchandise... Why? Why don't I? And why am I monologuing in the disclaimer section?

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Chapter 3: The Blissful Period

After a few minutes, Steve lifted himself off me and kissed my forehead lightly before pulling out of me. I felt strangely empty without his imposing presence within me. Some of our combined body fluids flowed out of me, a pink, milk-like substance. He got up and off the couch, and fetched a towel. He wiped up the liquids between my thighs.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said, sitting up slowly. My whole body ached. I scrunched up my face, wondering if I would be able to walk properly and realised I already had an injured leg. He looked at me curiously.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Oh," I blushed. "Um. How I'm going to walk after this."

He grinned at me mischievously. "If you think it's bad now, wait till we're done with round two."

"...Huh?" I looked at him stupidly. He threw the towel over his shoulder and climbed back on top of me, forcing me to lie down once again. "Wait!" I squealed. "Steve, stop! Stop! Wait!" Much to my surprise, he halted his advance.

"What?" he asked, a little irritably.

"Well... That is..." I mumbled. Then I remembered that Harkat was still at the hotel waiting - and probably worrying - for me. "I need to get back to the hotel..." I said.

"Why? Mr Crepsley's waiting for you?" he asked in what I thought seemed like a sour tone. I wondered if his anger towards the vampire had really waned or if he was simply sulky about the fact that I didn't want to do it again so soon.

"Actually, no," I responded. "But there is someone there who I'd like you to share your story with."

"Who?" he asked curiously.

"I'll tell you on the way there," I said. He lifted an eyebrow, but got off me. I sat up slowly, my muscles protesting. I tried standing up, but nearly fell flat on my face as my muscles decided to go on strike. Steve caught me just in time.

"Thanks," I said, blushing as I realised we were both naked and standing very close to each other.

"It's alright," he muttered. I limped around the room, picking up my clothes and putting them on as well as trying to pretend that I wasn't aware of Steve's intense gaze on me. Gravity didn't help, causing some of the liquids between my legs to flow down, making my thighs hot and sticky. And Steve eagerly wiping it off. Blood seemed to take up a permanent residency in my cheeks around the one person I didn't want it to.

Eventually, we left Steve's apartment. I filled Steve in on what I'd been up to for the last fifteen years on the way to our hotel. Well, as much as I could anyway in the short period of time it took to walk to our destination. I also asked him about my friends and family, but he hadn't been home since he was sixteen, and was unable to say much.

"But I'm sure they're alright," he reassured me.

"Of course," I agreed. I stumbled on another pebble, cursing the ground and regaining my balance at just the last moment. Steve took hold of my hand and held it tightly, guiding me.

"I'm okay," I told him.

"I know," he responded, but didn't release my hand.

Harkat didn't seem to suspect anything between us. He was wary of Steve at first, but when I informed him that Steve had saved my life, he relaxed slightly. I tried to walk as normally as I could, trying to pass off any strangeness in my walking style as injury-induced.

We talked about what had happened to me, and Steve told us more about the vampaneze that had attacked me. Then, for some reason, it was decided that Steve would help in our hunt for the vampaneze.

"No. No way," I said instantly. Harkat and Steve immediately turned to me, surprised at my firm rejection of such an idea.

"Why not?" Harkat asked. "Steve has had experience ... in vampaneze hunting."

"Just... no. No matter what, Steve's still a human," I protested. I looked over to the grey-haired man and I thought I saw something dark and unidentifiable in his eyes at the word 'human'.

"Just a reminder that I have been searching for the vampaneze for a while, and would still be right now if not for our coincidental reunion. And whether we team up or not, I'm continuing with this hunt," he told me calmly. I pouted at them both, acting like a spoiled kid. But I didn't care. All I had wanted was to keep the person I loved safe.

"Fine," I said grudgingly.

We spent the weekend searching for the vampaneze in the tunnels below the city - to no avail. There was no sign of the vampaneze.

We returned to the hotel, exhausted and hungry. After Harkat had taken his bath, I stepped into the bathroom, stripped off my filthy clothing and closed the shower cubicle door. I knew that if I were to take a bath, I'd fall asleep in the tub.

The droplets rained onto my body and I sighed in relief, feeling both the filth of the tunnels and the strain of my muscles wash away. Then I heard a sound I didn't expect to hear - the sound of the bathroom door opening. Steve walked in, and shut the door behind him. Then he started to strip down to nothing.

I was so shocked, I could only stare at him. Then I looked away, blushing furiously. He opened the cubicle door and stepped in as well. I turned down the water blast a little so he could hear me.

"Steve," I hissed. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he asked. He laughed at my attempt to put some space between us, which involved squishing myself against the side of the shower cubicle furthest from him. "Relax," he said. "I told Harkat about us."

"You did what!" I shouted. He turned up the water again and began lathering himself with soap. "Steve!" He didn't respond, probably unable to hear me over the sound of thousands of droplets splashing against bodies and tiles. I tried to turn down the water. He caught my wrist just before I could grab hold of the shower tap and started to soap me up as well, washing my breasts and bottom extra carefully.

The he kissed me deeply, his tongue reaching into my willing mouth. I twined my arms around his neck. I was so busy kissing him that I hardly noticed him lifting my legs. With a little assistance from Steve, I wound my legs around his waist. I rubbed my core against his manhood, grinding my hips into his. He gasped against my mouth and I grinned. Positioning himself against my vagina lips, he thrust in swiftly. I was surprised to find that I wasn't in intense pain. It still hurt a little, but it wasn't as bad as the first time.

He didn't start off slowly this time, but pounded into me mercilessly. It was an animalistic, brutal connection which I relished completely, much to my horror. I didn't think myself much of a masochist, but the more force he used on me and the rougher it was, the more turned on I got. He lifted my legs higher to gain more access to my passage. I complied obediently, making use of my enhanced balance to help him.

With every shove within me, he pushed me into the shower wall. The sound of wet flesh slapping against marble was the only sound that could be heard over the shower. I tried not to think about the bruises I was going to get tomorrow.

He continued to push deeper into me, the thrusts gaining in speed and force. Then he hit that place again and made me moan loudly. Steve had informed me later that it was called a 'sweet spot'. I had laughed from the absurdity of the name. But here I was, so overwhelmed by the pleasure that I nearly took off a few layers of skin on his back with my vampiric fingernails.

As if that wasn't enough, he reached down between us and took hold of the little bead above my sex and massaged it. That proved too much for me and I came violently, spasming against my ex-best friend. My walls tightened around him, triggering his own orgasm and he spilled his thick, white seed into me, barely managing to hold onto me as waves of pleasure flooded over us. I held onto my love tightly, pressing my chest against his.

"I love you," I whispered, the words drowned out by the shower as soon as it was spoken. Then he put me down and broke our connection, keeping one steady arm on me in case I stumbled and fell, and turned off the shower. The shower head halted it's heavy downpour. Steve stepped out and towelled himself as I leaned against the tiled wall weakly. Then he threw the towel to me. I caught it deftly and began drying myself off. Steve then took out a bottle of his lotion and lathered it on. He had explained that it prevented colds but had a strong medicinal stench. After that, he began dressing. Absent-mindedly, I noted that the first thing Steve put on was his gloves. He spied me watching him and grinned.

"Aren't you going to get dressed? Not that I'm complaining, it'd be great to see you naked twenty-four seven," he said mildly, pulling on his shirt. Somehow, he'd managed to keep his clothes clean through our arduous trek, while mine never seemed to stay spotless.

I blushed. "I, um, forgot to take a change of clothes with me," I wrapped the towel around me tightly.

"Oh, right," he said, and threw a bundle of clothes to me. I caught them quickly, fearful of any pieces landing on the floor and getting wet.

"How did you-" I asked, eyeing my clothes.

"Actually, despite what you think, I didn't come in here solely for the purpose of seeking carnal pleasure. I was just going to give you those clothes, but when I saw you all naked and wet, I couldn't resist," he shrugged nonchalantly. I gaped at him.

"Get out!" I shouted in outrage, shoving him towards the bathroom door. With a mischievous chuckle, he complied. But just before he opened the door and left, he turned back to face me.

"By the way," he started. "You have good taste in men."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused by the randomness of that statement. I held the towel more tightly around me, feeling too exposed for comfort. Which was ridiculous, considering how much bare skin Steve had already seen.

"I love you too," he told me, winked and left. I stared after him. He didn't, did he? He can't have heard me in the shower.

I wanted to die. I hoped that the floor would swallow me up so I'd be saved from this mortifying embarrassment. I was a Prince, someone respected by Vampires for God's sakes, and here I was acting like some lovesick teenager.

I took off the towel, folded it four times, held it to my mouth and let out a muffled scream.

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When I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Steve lying down in the bed - mine - and Harkat sitting in a chair, waiting for me. I looked over to see if Steve was asleep. His eyes were closed and his breathing even. Harkat followed my gaze and then gestured to the connecting room.

I closed the door silently behind me. Harkat sat on his bed. I stood, trying to work out the soreness in my muscles.

"Did you want to tell me something?" he started.

"Um," I looked away guiltily. "I... um, love him. Steve, that is," I stammered, blushing at my own words and feeling like an idiot. And this was just Harkat, my best friend. I dreaded having to tell Mr Crepsley what had happened, which I knew I had to eventually. Especially since he'd called Steve evil in the past.

"I see," Harkat said. "Do you think it wise? You are after all, a Princess," I winced at the word. "And the hunt for the Vampaneze Lord ... doesn't seem to be ending any ... time soon."

He wasn't berating me, but merely pointing out the facts. I had thought about it too. There wasn't much of a future for Steve and I. But I still hoped.

"Steve could help us," I said. "He has had experience in hunting vampaneze," I knew I was grasping at straws, desperately searching for a reason to keep him by my side. "You're the one who said he might be useful in the hunt."

"In this hunt, yes..." he said. Then sighed. "If you think it's alright, I won't stand in your way. But I don't want you to get hurt."

I felt touched. The Little Person was actually supporting me in my recently established love life. "Thank you," I told him. He smiled at me.

"I can't believe you actually found someone. Little Darren is growing up. And here we thought you had ... no hormones," he said teasingly. I threw a pillow from Mr Crepsley's bed at him. Then I spotted one of the spare blankets and remembered Steve's vulnerability to the cold.

"I should go give this to him," I told Harkat. He was already lying down, his green, lidless eyes dimming as he descended into unconsciousness. I crossed to the other room. It was dark, but my eyes adjusted quickly to the lack of light. I shook out the blanket before placing it over Steve, feeling pleasantly maternal. Then a hand reached out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me into the bed. I squeaked as the same hand wrapped around my waist and the other pulled the blankets over me.

I protested, as quietly as I could so as not to wake Harkat up, that there was a limit as to how many times you could do it in one day.

"I'm just cold," Steve muttered, reading my mind. He pulled me close. "And you're really warm," He sighed blissfully. It made my heart pound. I stopped protesting.

"Just for a while," I said in resignation. But I fell asleep in his arms, ridiculously comfortable at the invasion of my personal space. Which was weird. I wasn't exactly a touchy feely person...

Was I? I fell asleep before I could finish that thought.

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The first thing I became aware of the next day was Steve's arms wrapped around me possessively. I felt toasty warm and strangely content under the blankets. I sighed blissfully, snuggling closer towards the man I loved. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw two green orbs fixed on me accompanied by a cheeky, jagged grin.

I screamed. Not loudly enough to wake up the neighbours, but loud enough to shock Steve awake and reach for his arrow gun.

I swore to Harkat that he'd pay for what he'd done. Later, when he was least expecting it. He simply grinned at me.

I had to go to school that day, mostly to explain to Debbie what happened. There I received another shock, as if I hadn't been surprised enough already. Both Debbie's neighbours had been killed by the vampaneze.

She demanded an explanation as to why I had told her to get out of her apartment. I didn't know how to answer. In the end, she was forced to leave with the police officers to run her statement past them, and I didn't get to explain. Which was just as well, because I didn't know what to tell her. She swore that she'd find me and wrench an explanation our of me later. Once again, I didn't know how to answer.

"I'm going to tell Debbie everything," I informed my companions after school. Steve, who'd been fiddling with his arrow gun accidentally pulled the trigger. The arrow embedded itself in the ceiling. Harkat, who'd been putting away the plates we'd used for breakfast, dropped one. The ceramic splintered into a million pieces on the floor.

I was completely not expecting their dramatic reactions.

"What is she turns us into the police?" Steve asked.

"Humans are unpredictable at the best ... of times. You can't know how she ... will react," Harkat said.

"She's too deep in for me not to tell her. The vampaneze know we know. She needs to know how serious this all is," I said stubbornly.

"And if she betrays us?" Steve asked.

"I trust her," I said stubbornly. Steve rolled his eyes. I frowned. "Well, we'll just have to risk it,"

"You'll just have to risk it," Steve said pointedly.

"If you don't like it, you guys can leave. I won't stop you," I told them, regretting the words as they left my mouth. But I couldn't take it back.

Steve scratched the cross on his left hand thoughtfully, as he often did. "No need to snap. I vowed that I'd stick with you guys till the end, didn't I?" he said sullenly. Inwardly, I sighed in relief.

"I don't approve," Harkat said. "This is wrong," he insisted.

"How about we vote, seeing as how this affects all of us?" Steve suggested.

"No. No votes. You've made your opinions clear," I said. "But I'm still going to tell her everything. I can't leave her to die any more than you could leave me to in that alley, Steve."

"You feel about her that strongly?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied without hesitation. She was my very first best/girl friend. I was not about to leave her to die violently by Hooky's hands. If I could do something, I would.

"Why?" Steve asked. "What exactly is she to you that you'd be willing to put us in danger just so you could keep her alive?" His eyes bore into mine and I could tell this wasn't just about the dangers of us being exposed or the risk I would be taking anymore, but about our relationships.

"Steve," I said softly, placing my hand over his. "I love you," I told him. "And I love Harkat, and Mr Crepsley," I paused, sighing. "But I also love Debbie. Love doesn't only happen between lovers, you know. If I were to lose any one of you, I'd be left broken," I squeezed his hand, feeling the rough-ish texture of his gloves beneath my fingers. "If any of you were in her place, I would do the same thing. You know that."

He sighed, and I knew that I had successfully conveyed my feelings to him. "Fine. I won't argue anymore."

I looked to Harkat, awaiting his judgement.

"I don't approve," he repeated. "But I know I ... can't stop you, so I won't."

I nodded and smiled at them both, thankful that they seemed pretty understanding, considering what was on the line. I tried to repress the nervous shake in my knees at the idea of coming clean to my girlfriend.

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Debbie came over at seven. And everything came tumbling out of my mouth. It was a long, detailed story and she absorbed it all without interrupting. At the end, I provided a demonstration of my vampiric prowess. I moved so fast, it must have seemed like I merely disappeared and reappeared before her eyes.

She chose to believe us. I couldn't begin to tell her how grateful I was that she did. Of course, then she decided to join along in the hunt.

"Out of the question," I said. "You're human. The vampaneze could flick you into the middle of tomorrow with a snap of their fingers. No way."

"Darren. I could provide you with an extra pair of eyes, ears, hands."

"Sure, but if we run into a vampaneze, can you fight?" I insisted.

"Don't feel bad, she reacted the same way when we decided for me team up with them to hunt the vampaneze," Steve told Debbie. She lifted an eyebrow at that.

"For good reason!" I hissed.

"Well, I can kit her out with an extra arrow gun. In a scrape we might be glad of an extra body. At least she'd give the vampaneze another target to worry about."

"But... Harkat - tell them!" I said desperately. Having to worry about Steve was bad enough, at least he was experienced. But Debbie?

"You got her into this," Harket said. "I told you not to. She knows the danger and she ... accepts it. What excuse have you to reject their offers ... other than you're fond of them and ... don't want to see them harmed?" he said. I knew he was talking about how I'd reacted to Steve's offer as well.

I sighed. "Alright," I said grudgingly. "Doesn't seem like I have a choice."

"How gallant," Steve cooed mockingly, stroking my head. I smacked his hand away - lightly - and stepped away from him, sulking. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I elbowed him in the gut in what I thought was a gentle manner. His grunt told me otherwise.

"Not now," I hissed. He retaliated by tickling me in the ribs. I squirmed and laughed involuntarily.

"Is something going on between you two?" Debbie asked curiously.

"What?" I asked, holding onto Steve's wrists and keeping his fingers away from my sensitive ribs. "Oh, uh-" I broke off abruptly and cocked my head to the side, releasing Steve's wrists.

"What-" Steve frowned at my sudden change in behaviour.

"Hush!" I snapped. Then I advanced to the door and pressed my ear against it. There had been footsteps in the hallway, but no door had opened.

We retreated from the door, and hatched a quick plan. Harkat and I were to check the hallway while Steve - who had magically produced a rope from his jacket - and Debbie were to climb out the window to safety. Harkat and I advanced into the hallway, only to be ambushed from above by a green-haired creature of the undead.

Fortunately, it turned out to be an ally of ours - Vancha March, and with him was Mr Crepsley, much to my relief. We welcomed them warmly. At least, Harkat and I did. I can't say Steve was very happy to see Mr Crepsley. Or maybe it was the other way around.

"Blood does not change," he growled. "When I tested Steve Leonard's blood, it was the taste of pure evil. Time cannot have diluted that."

"I'm not evil," Steve growled back.

"He's not evil," I said, at the same time as Steve growled.

Steve paused and looked at me, a strange mix of emotions on his face. Before I could ask him if anything was wrong, he turned away. Then he cleared his throat. "You're the cruel one, making horrible, unfounded accusations. Do you realize how low an opinion I had of myself after you'd dismissed me as a monster? Your ugly rejection almost drove me to evil!"

"It would not, I think, have been a lengthy drive," Mr Crepsley said smoothly.

Thankfully, Vancha cut in, explaining that not all who have evil in their blood commit evil. But Mr Crepsley was adamant, insisting that we do not place any trust in Steve. But after Harkat and I said we would vouch for him, and Vancha agreed, Mr Crepsley gave up. Majority won. Then we proceeded to share our news.

I can't say I was really listening that intently. Somewhere in the middle of our conversation, I noticed Vancha flirting quite shamelessly with Debbie. I glared at him. I didn't have anything against him, but I think Debbie could do much better than the ill-mannered, mud-stained, smelly Prince. And then Steve started distracting me by playing with my hair. I wondered if Mr Crepsley or Vancha had caught on. From Vancha's wink, I figured that he did. And if Vancha had, I guessed that Mr Crepsley did too. And from the way Mr Crepsley kept antagonizing Steve - by eyeballing him really intently - it was obvious that my father figure would not approve of my one true love. I sighed inwardly.

The sun was on the brink of rising when we actually got to bed. Harkat and Vancha slept on the floor, Mr Crepsley in his bed, Steve on the couch, and Debbie and I squished together on the bed in the other room.

"It's been one tiring day, huh?" I asked Debbie, leaning over to switch the bedside lamp off.

"That's putting it mildly," she replied, making herself comfortable in the bed. It was small-ish, but big enough for the two of us. Which wasn't saying much, considering our equally small-ish statures. I settled down in the dark, lying down on the pillow, ready to slip off into Dreamland when Debbie spoke again. "So. What's with you and Mr Arrogant?"

I stiffened, and could feel a cramp acting up in my leg. "Um, well..." I started, unsure of how to go on. Vampire senses were more enhanced, much better than a human's, and I wondered if the men - Alive, dead and undead - next door could hear us. I lowered my voice and mumbled. "I told you, he used to be my best friend."

"Bull!" she burst out. "You like him. No, I'd even go so far as to say you love him."

"Debbie?"

"Yes?"

"Shhhhh," I hushed her, wondering if anyone within a mile radius didn't hear her.

"Sorry," she muttered quietly. I sighed.

"Okay, yes, I love him," I replied just as quietly. "I think I always have. Since we were kids. Though the type of love I had has changed a little."

"I noticed," she replied with a small laugh. Then she stopped laughing, and sighed. "Do you really think we can catch these vampaneze?" she asked in a small voice.

I stared up at the dark ceiling, hesitating. I didn't want to give her false hopes, nor did I want to crush her spirit. "We'll do our best," I replied finally. This time, she remained silent.

"Yeah," she said, after a few seconds, then rolled over and went to sleep. I suddenly found myself feeling more awake than I had just a few minutes ago.

We woke up at dusk, and Mr Crepsley and I checked out of the hotel. We then moved to Steve's apartment block, occupying the two apartments next to his. A quick spot of tidying-up and the rooms were ready to inhabit. They weren't comfortable - they were cold and damp - but they'd suffice.

Then we started our hunt for the vampaneze.

I wanted to go with Steve or Debbie, but it was decided that the full-vampires could protect them better. I agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and so it was decided that Debbie would go with Mr Crepsley, Steve with Vancha, and Harkat with me.

Despite having three extra people, the hunt went no better than it had just a few weeks ago. We continued to scour the tunnels, but found no signs of anything vampaneze-ish living there.

Debbie found the first few nights to be hell, she looked like a ghost, looking gaunt and weary. But she pushed on, fueled mainly by will and determination. I told her not to push herself too far. She heard me, but at the same time I doubt she listened to me.

Wednesday was another wash-out, as was Thursday. We knew the vampaneze were down here, but the system of tunnels was vast, and it seemed as if we were never going to find them. The six of us would return to the apartment, tired beyond belief and collapse till dusk brought another disappointing night.

More often than not, I would be dragged by Steve into his bed. Well, his couch. The same one we'd made love for the first time on. It was cramped, and I was threatened by the ever present risk of falling off the couch or impaling myself on one of the springs. But I relished the physical contact between us, the ability to bond without resorting to our primal instincts. I wished it would last forever.

And ever. And ever. But eventually, everything comes to an end.

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