Darren Shan - Vampire Mountain

SUMMARY: In the fourth book of the bestselling Cirque Du Freak series, Darren Shan and Mr. Crepsley embark on a dangerous trek to the very heart of the vampire world. But they face more than the cold on Vampire Mountain-the vampaneze have been there before them. Will a meeting with the Vampire Princes restore Darrens human side, or turn him further toward the darkness? Only one thing is certain-Darrens initiation into the vampire clan is more deadly than he can ever have imagined.

THE SAGA OF DARREN SHAN

by Darren Shan

LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY

New York An AOL Time Warner Company

Copyright 2002 by Darren Shan

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

First U.S. Edition First published in Great Britain by Collins in 2001 The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Shan, Darren.

Vampire Mountain by Darren Shan, p. cm. (The saga of Darren Shan ; bk. 4) Sequel to: Tunnels of blood.p>

Summary: Mr. Crepsley leads Darren Shan on a dangerous trek to Vampire Mountain, the very heart of the vampire world, to be presented to the Council, but an encounter with the Vampanese along the way means trouble.

ISBN 0-316-60806-8 [1. Vampires Fiction. 2. Horror stories.] I. Title. PZ7.S52823 Vaj 2002 [Fie] dc21 2002019077 10 98765432

Q-FF Printed in the United States of America

Also in the Saga of Darren Shan:

CIRQUE DU FREAK (Book 1)

THE VAMPIRES ASSISTANT (Book 2)

TUNNELS OF BLOOD (Book 3)

For:

The Freaky Fitzes: Ronan, Lorcan, Kealan, Tiernan & Meara viva the Shack Pack!!! OBEs (Order of the Bloody Entrails) to:

Ann The Monstervator Murphy

Moira The Mediatrix Reilly

Tony Giggsy Purdue

Partners In Crime:

Liam & Biddy

Gillie & Zoe

Emma & Chris

Pack your bags, Mr. Crepsley said late one night, as he was heading for his coffin. We leave for Vampire Mountain tomorrow.

I was used to the vampire making declarations out of the blue he didnt believe in consulting me when he was making up his mind but this was shocking, even for him.

Vampire Mountain? I yelled, racing after him. Why are we going there?

To present you to the Council, he said. It is time.

The Council of Vampire Generals? I asked. Why do we have to go? Why now?

We go because it is proper, he said. And we go now because the Council only meets once every twelve years. If we miss this years gathering, we will have a long wait until the next. And that was all hed say about it. He ignored the rest of my questions and tucked himself into his coffin before the sun rose, leaving me to worry the day away.

My name is Darren Shan. Im a half-vampire. I used to be human until eight or so years ago, when my destiny clashed with Mr. Crepsleys and I reluctantly became his assistant. I had a hard time adapting to the vampire and his ways especially when it came to drinking human blood but finally I let go, accepted my situation, and got on with the business of living.

We were part of a traveling band of amazing circus performers, led by a man called Hibernius Tall. We toured the world, putting on incredible shows for customers who appreciated our strange and magical talents.

Six years had gone by since Mr. Crepsley and me had last been separated from the Cirque Du Freak. We left to put a stop to a mad vampaneze by the name of Murlough, who was terrorizing the vampires home city. The vampaneze are a breakaway group of vampires who kill humans when they feed on them. Vampires dont we just take a little bit of blood and move on, leaving those we suck from unharmed. Most of the vampire myths you read about in books or see in movies actually began with the vampaneze. They were a pretty good six years. I became a regular performer at the Cirque, going on with Madam Octa Mr. Crepsleys poisonous spider every night to amaze and frighten audiences. I also learned a few magic tricks, which I worked into the act. I got along well with the rest of the Cirque troupe. I got used to the wandering lifestyle and had been having a good time.

Now, after six years of stability, we were about to journey into the unknown again. I knew a little bit about the Council and Vampire Mountain. Vampires were ruled by soldiers called Vampire Generals, who made sure their laws were enforced. They killed insane or evil vampires and kept the rest of the walking undead in line. Mr. Crepsley used to be a Vampire General, but quit a long time ago, for reasons he never revealed.

Every once in a while I now knew it was twelve years the Generals gathered at a secret fortress to discuss whatever it was that bloodsucking creatures of the night discussed when they got together. Not only Generals attended I heard that ordinary vampires could go, too but they made up the majority. I didnt know where the fortress was, or how wed get there, or why I had to be presented to the Council but I was about to find out!

I was excited but anxious about the journey I was venturing into the unknown, and I had a feeling it wouldnt turn out to be a smooth trip so I spent the day busily packing knapsacks for myself and Mr. Crepsley, to make the time pass faster. (Full vampires will die if exposed to the sun for more than a few hours, but half-vampires arent affected by it.) Since I didnt know where we were going, I didnt know what to take or leave. If Vampire Mountain was icy and wintry, Id need thick clothes and boots; if it was somewhere hot and tropical, Tshirts and shorts would make more sense. I asked some of the Cirque people about it but they didnt know anything, except Mr. Tall, who said I should pack for snow. Mr. Tall was one of those people who seemed to know something about everything.

Evra agreed about the snow. I doubt if sun-shy vampires would make their base in the Caribbean! He laughed sarcastically.

Evra Von was a snake-boy, with scales instead of skin. Or wait, he used to be a snake-boy now he was a snake-man. Evra had grown these last six years, gotten taller and broader and older-looking. I hadnt. As a half-vampire, I aged at one-fifth the normal rate. So, although eight years had gone by since Mr. Crepsley blooded me, I only looked about a year older.

I hated not being able to grow normally. Evra and me used to be best buddies, but not anymore. We were still good friends and shared a tent, but he was a young man now, more interested in people

especially women! his own age. In reality I was only a couple of years younger than Evra, but I looked like a kid, and it was hard for him to treat me like an equal.

There were benefits to being a half-vampire I was stronger and faster than any human, and would live longer but I would have given them all up if it meant looking my real age and being able to lead an ordinary life.

Even though Evra and me werent as close as wed once been, he was still my friend, and was worried about me heading off for Vampire Mountain. From what I know, that journeys no joke, he warned in the deep voice that had hit him a few years ago. Maybe I should come with you. I would have loved to jump at his offer, but Evra had his own life to lead. It wouldnt be fair to drag him away from the Cirque Du Freak. No, I told him. Stay and keep my hammock warm. Ill be okay. Besides, snakes dont like the cold, do they?