This shows Darren Shan 6 years after his last encounter with the vampaneze. Now that he is an active member in the vampire community (being a Vampire Prince), Darren once again is visited by Mr. Desmond Tiny. Their brief encounter sends a more experienced Darren Shan on a quest to find and kill the Vampaneze Lord, who is said to destroy the Vampire clan in a great war. This prophecy can be averted if, and only if, one of the three chosen vampire hunters could kill the Vampaneze Lord, and Darren is one of them. He sets out from Vampire Mountain with Mr Crepsley and Harkat Mulds. On the way to Evanna’s (a witch who can guide them on their way), they meet the final member of their party, another prince, Vancha March (after encountering a small group of vampets, which are humans who fight with the vampaneze). Vancha March is a very traditional vampire, who dresses in animal skins and has green hair. He only sleeps on the ground, and fights only with shuriken. Upon meeting Evanna, Darren learns that after the war between the vampires and vampaneze is over, a great evil known as the Lord of Shadows will arise bringing horrible tragedy upon the world. Their actions cannot avert this from coming to pass, and all they can do is decide whom the Lord will be. If the hunters fail to kill the Vampaneze lord, he will rise to power(becoming the Lord of Shadows), but if they succeed, then Darren shall change into the most malevolent evil ever, if he wants to or not. After they leave Evanna’s, the witch accompanying, they go back to the Cirque Du Freak where their true quest and worries will begin.