The Vampire Meet: Begin Again
OK, so this is my first story ever to be put on this site and I truly hope everyone enjoys it, whether it's an OC or not. I know there have been many stories that dealt with a females taking Darren's place, but mine doesn't follow the plot as much and mine isn't a lovey dovey Mary-Sue! So be happy about that :)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except Renee and her crappy family. The rest belong to the genius Darren Shan!
Chapter Eins
"You're nothing but a fat, hypocrite piece of shit! I hate you!" Those were the words that escaped my mouth in a flurry of rage, just before a whiskey bottle flew past my head and smashed against the kitchen wall. Shards of alcohol-soaked glass went flying through the air. I remained ducked down out of instinct even after it passed, but a large piece somehow managed to bounce off the nicotine stained wall and slice my forearm.
I growled and held my hand over it as I stomped out the front door for the hundredth time in my teenage life. "Renee! You ungrateful fucking bitch! Get your fucken ass outta my fuf-uckin' house!" I heard him bellow from across the street as I punched the "Hesler" mailbox in the front of our unkept lawn. The slurred, hateful words of my father followed me into the dark of the night. I stopped under a street lamp near the next block to catch my breath, then looked back to catch a glimpse of the lights in my house, his house, flicker off. I looked up briefly. A full moon. Maybe the myth is true, you know, about people acting violent whenever the moon was-naw. He was an asshole day and night.
So, there I was for maybe the eleventh time in half a year, outside in the dark after a fight with that sorry excuse for a father, no, a human being. He had always had it out for me, ever since I ratted him out for cheating on my mom. I had just entered the fifth grade when it happened, and ever since then our "relationship" had been a absolute hell. This time was much more violent then the rest though. Never had I shed so much blood before. Bruises and minor stitches at the most. I gritted my teeth and looked down at the jagged gash running down my left forearm.
My arm matched the color of my dyed hair, minus the black streaks. This situation would have been even worse if I was one of those people freaked out by blood, but for me it was the opposite. The sight of blood calmed me, mostly because of its beautiful color. Red. As I looked over the damage once more, I knew that was it. Fuck him. I was never going back. It would be the end of me, and him.
I sat in the gutter of the street and pressed my hand as hard as I could against the wound. Of course the pain set in right after I got comfortable on the ground, and being as stubborn as ever, I refused to try and get up again or rip the retro Metallica t-shirt I was wearing to stop the flow. This shirt was priceless to me. The numbness from shock began to wear off, so my arm began to feel as if someone dipped it into a barrel of lemon juice. "Base of the bottle must have cut me. That stupid dick," I sighed and returned a hand over the wound.
A coppery scent was soon thickening the air around me. Usually the smell of blood was nothing to me, but I had never been around this much, and I could taste the smell in my mouth. It made me gag. Hopefully there were no vicious stray dogs out tonight. My mind was swirling with thoughts of what happened, and because of my anger, shock and the pain all I could hear was a loud pounding in my ears. I leaned forward and rocked in place like a child, realizing for the first time that I was truly on my own, and alone...and scared.
Out of nowhere a large, pale hand was placed on my shoulder, and I jumped up frantically from fright. "Sorry dear, I truly did not mean to startle you!" The man apologized immediately. "I asked if you needed some help with your," he paused and gave a tight grin, "nasty wound." The man looked me in the eyes with an unreadable expression. He was a very abnormal looking, yet, strangely attractive man. I eyed him up and down, noting all of his unique features. He was tall, well over six feet, with cropped ginger hair, vivid green eyes, and a long scar that divided the flesh on the left side of his milk white face. It met with his thin, pink mouth and looked as if it were part of it. He sported only a few wrinkles, but other than that he looked no older than forty.
The man was thin for his height, one-eighty at the most, but seemed to have some muscle tone. He was also wearing a dark red suit with matching red shoes, and a crimson, velvet cloak wrapped around him. I backed away and smiled uneasily. "Do not be frightened my dear. I am not going to do any harm to you. I was handing out a few flyers and tickets to a show when your scent," he stopped and winced as his eyes dropped down to my blood drenched everything. "Please allow me to help you." With that he pulled out a red hanker-chief from inside his suit and took hold of my arm.
When he did, I couldn't help but notice his ten long, insanely sharp fingernails. They reminded me of the nails of Nosferatu, that scary vampire from the 1920's movie, only a little shorter. I swallowed my breath before I could gasp and averted my gaze to the small bundle of flyers next to him. They were all identical in style, a cream color with purple writing at the top and maroon writing at the bottom. "CIRQUE DU FREAK!" screamed for attention at the top of the paper in huge letters.
My curiosity kicked in as the paper went on to describe the many different acts and performers of the Cirque Du Freak. It talked of a bearded lady, a real live wolf man, the snake boy, a man and his performing spider, the largest man on earth, and the tallest. The show was for one night only, the paper read, and apparently "Not to be missed!" Another hand with sharp nails reached down and picked up one of the flyers. The man placed it on my lap. "I see this has interested you?" I looked up to see him with a small smile. "I would be lying if I told you it didn't." I gave a smile back, but it soon faded.
Something was very odd about this man. He seemed to be shifting his eyes from my face, to the blood he had on his hands, (my blood), in a nervous manner. What was even more creepy was that he ran his tongue over his bottom lip a few times as if he wanted to suck his long fingers dry. Fortunately for me he didn't and instead finished tying me up with the hanker-chief. "I really appreciate all your help. I probably would've ended up passing out or something." I held out a hand of gratitude, and to my surprise he kissed it.
I tensed up a bit and turned a shade of my favorite color. "Um, I-uh. Thanks a million for all your help man, I truly appreciate it. I'll be on my way now." I shook his hand quickly before turning away. Just as I was about to leave he started to talk. "I could not help but notice your interest in the freak show. Am I correct?" he asked with a sly and proper English tone. I slowly nodded and looked back down at the flyer in my hand.
"It sounds pretty cool. But I've been to a couple of the freak shows they have at the fairs. They were fake as hell and a waste of time and money, no offense. I'll just tape this on my wall or," I stopped myself, remembering there was no longer a wall for this to hang on. No way was I ever going back to that alcohol fueled abyss. No more hurt. None...
My thought was cut short by the man's chuckle. "Those old scam shows? Oh no my dear," he waved a dismissive hand, "the Cirque Du Freak is not some hoaks show where they spend the latter part talking about what they can do rather than proving it. The Cirque Du Freak has genuine acts performed by genuine freaks from around the world. You should stop by and see for yourself. In fact," he began searching through his other pocket. "Ah, here we go." he exclaimed, pulling out an old fashioned looking ticket. It was cream colored with maroon writing just like the flyers. "The last ticket, care to come? Only twenty dollars." he said while I let my eyes roam over the words on the paper.
Admission 1: Cirque Du Freak. Through my eyes though it read, Admission 1: Reserved for Renee.
I was super excited and stoked to go at this point, when I remembered something. My heart sank and my smile faded away. He cocked his head and asked me what was wrong. "Not too long ago my father and I got into a huge fight. That was the cause of this," I paused and lifted my wounded arm, "I didn't have time to grab all my cash and left with what I had. I only have ten bucks with me. Sorry, I can't buy the ticket. Excuse me, and thanks again for helping." I turned away swiftly, feeling all the tears I had been holding back about to embarrassingly shower over in front of this stranger.
"Well, I must say that is a big shame." said the man, sounding genuinely disappointed. "Yeah," I sniffed, "Goodnight Mr. what ever your name is. I need to find a place to sleep. Have fun with your freak show." I gloomily said while walking away. "Perhaps we could strike up a deal." he shouted out gently a moment later. I turned around to see him striding in my direction. Though he was a ways away, there was a glint in his eye that made me stay in my place. He stopped in front of me and bowed, "Larten Crepsley, Cirque Du Freak performer." he stated in a professional manner.
I laughed lightly and extended my hand again. "Gentleman too. That is impressive." I said, "So, what about this whole dealio?" He gave a toothy smile that showed of a set of straight, sharp teeth. "What if I were to say that you had paid for the ticket, fair and square? But you must not speak of your free admission to anyone. Deal?" He gave yet another sly smile and handed me the ticket. This was strange since I didn't think he would give it away for free. It must have been an attraction thing, at least in my head it was. I was hesitant at first, but took the ticket from his extended hand.
"I don't want you to get into trouble for this. Couldn't you get fired?" I looked at the ticket and then back at him with worry. "Do not be at all troubled with that. Now then, come with me, the show will begin soon!" he gave a wicked laugh and turned around. "We are quite far from the theater and it is a quarter until midnight. I hope we make it in time." I pointed north of where we were standing "The old theater? That's like forty minutes from here! Unless you have a car we're not going make it, unless we fly!" I said with my happiness once again about to deplete. "Why fly when we can flit?" he smiled, then motioned for me to get on his back.
Now I was starting to get second thoughts about this man's sanity. "What the hell are you talking about? Flit? This sounds crazy" I look a step back and stared at him. He huffed, "If you truly wish to see the show you will need to trust me and do not be so worried." he said while bending down so I'd be able to reach his neck. My wandering eyes could not help but to focus on his tight back end as he was bent over. "See something that interests you?" he raised an eye. I blushed for the second embarrassing time before shaking my head and swiftly walking toward him.
The fact that my weight didn't bring him to his knees amazed me. Yeah, I was only a hundred and forty pounds at 5'9, but he was a thin guy. So it surprised me when I nervously jumped onto his back, (only to miss the first time, then do it again while almost decapitating him), that he didn't go crashing down to the sidewalk. I choked him a bit as I wrapped my arms around his neck and almost smashed him in the privates when I swung my legs and feet around in front of him, but eventually I got situated. What an awkward sight it must have been. Man, if my drunk and angry father could have seen me now. That would have been my luck!
Some reviews and what not are greatly appreciated... :)
