Birth of a Killer

Plot Overview
''This is Prequel to The Saga of Darren Shan and discusses Mr.Crepsley's life before he became a vampire. ''

The Story begins with, a brief introduction to lartens family, who live in the 19th century in an unknown location. Larten's family is described as very crowded and poor. He has several brothers and sisters who all sleep in one room and share one bathroom. Larten also lives with his Cousin Vur Horston whos parents have passed away. Our of all his many siblings Larten Shares a strong bond with his cousin Vur.

Both Larten and Vur work at a silk worm factory. The factories foreman, Traz is a ruthless tyrant that abuses his young employed children. He dyes there heads, in different colors corresponding to whatever position they work in. Therefore it would be easier to know which child belonged where. Larten's hair is dyed orange since he is a cocooner. Hence, this is why in The Sage of Darren Shan his hair is orange since the dye seeped into his system. His cousin Vur works by his side as well, and is particularly resented by Traz the foreman for being to quick witted.

As Vur, and Larten continue to do there job Traz is scanning the isles looking for the tiniest flaws. He approaches Vur, and sees the water he is dunking the cocoons in is not hot enough. Traz verbally lashes out on Vur and calls him "A disgrace to the Memory of his Mother." Vur questions if he new his mother and Traz reveals that she use to work and the inn. Vur denies any of this claiming his mother was a seamstress. Traz then reveals that he had "met with her" several times, implying something else that drives Vur crazy. A graphic fight breaks out between them, in where Vur is drowned and severly hurt. All in all, he is dead

Larten is traumatized by the death of his cousin, it drives Larten into a Mad frenzy and he ends up stabbing the foreman and thus killing him. Shocked by the murder that has happened at his hands Larten runs away never to be seen by his family ever again.

He lands up in a graveyard, in where he meets Seba nile who takes him in as his assistant. The book follows Larten's adventures and Seba Niles assistant and his struggles into becoming a vampire.

Characters
Spoilers**

Princes

 * Lare Shmet - Oldest Prince, Looked like he could be 1000 years old
 * Azis Bendetta
 * Osca Velm - Recently deceased, alive during Council before Larten's first
 * Paris Skyle - Old friend of Seba's
 * Chok Yamada - Youngest of all five princes

Others

 * Seba Nile - An old and Wise Vampire, turned down Paris' offer to become a Prince
 * Larten Crepsly - Seba Nile's Assistant
 * Wester Flack - Seba Nile's Assistant
 * Mika Ver-Leth - Lare Shmet's Assistant
 * Vancha March - Traditionalist Vampire, around 100-200 years old
 * Staffen Irve - Younger Vampire, defeated Larten in battle during the Festival of the Dead
 * Tanish Eul - A more reserved Vampire, took to gambling and partying rather than fighting and working. Cubs Leader
 * Yebba - Huge Vampire follower of Tanish and the Cubs, enjoys wrestling.

Vampire's Long Dead (Mentioned as Hall's or old sayings)

 * Kheldon Lurt
 * Perta Vin-Grahl - Traditionalist Vampire, fought hard when the Vampaneze split from The Clan, could not accept the unstable peace after the fighting between the two. Lead his followers to a sound death in ice rather than hurting the Clan.
 * Stahrvos Glen
 * Charna

Vampaneze

 * Murlough - Killed all of Wester's family after Wester's father had killed one of his Vampaneze friends. Let Larten survive with Wester.

Other Characters

 * Desmond Tiny - Destiny in a nutshell
 * Vur Horston - Larten's human cousin, killed by Trazz
 * Trazz - A cruel foreman where Larten and Vur worked, killed by Larten after Trazz had killed Vur.