Cirque Du Freak/Saga of Darren Shan
Chapter One
I stared around at the open space in front of me and ground my teeth together.
I had just missed them. Again.
I looked for some clue as to where they were going next.
Nothing.
No flyers. No tracks in the dirt. No notes.
It was as if they hadn't even been here in the first place.
I wanted to find my brother. I hadn't seen him in years, and I knew he travelled with the Cirque Du Freak. I could smell him here.
I followed his scent and flitted to another town. I wanted to make a grand entrance, and surprise him.
I came to a stop in a clearing in a forest. I knew they were here. I could hear them.
Now, how could I make a memorable entrance?
I looked down at my clothes. Tight black jeans, knee high leather high-heeled boots, a flowing top underneath a tight black corset. My bright red hair tumbled down my back and shoulders.
I definitely looked the part of a vampire.
But how to surprise him?
He had super hearing, super eyesight, and super strength.
I couldn't sneak up on that grumpy old vampire. It was next to impossible.
Well, it was night time thankfully. He might be out of his coffin.
I snuck onto the camp grounds, keeping my head down.
If anyone saw me they'd either kick me out or tell him I was here.
Unfortunately, I walked into someone tall.
Really tall.
I had to look really far up to see his face.
"Who are you?" he growled.
I straightened my shoulders. "My name is Samantha Crepsley," I saw recognition flash through his eyes. "And I want to see my brother."
"Right this way." He said.
"Wait, no, I want to surprise him." I said.
He sighed. "I will distract him for you. You could hide in his tent."
"Thank you." I said.
He pointed me in the direction of Larten's tent, and I quickly went to it.
I looked around. It was small, and there was a dark coffin in the corner.
That reminded me I didn't have a coffin.
Great.
I hoped they had some extra ones.
I hid behind Larten's coffin and waited.
A few minutes later he came in. He looked exactly the same; short crop of orange hair, long scar down his face, tall and skinny.
I shifted my weight, making sure to do it in a way that he'd hear.
He froze. An evil smile crept onto my face.
I flitted to the other side of the tent, his back was to me.
Very quietly, I went up behind him, and grabbed his shoulders.
He whipped around and had his hand planted firmly on my neck.
I grinned at him.
"Samantha?" he gasped.
I grinned again. "Hey."
"What are you doing here?" he asked in shock, taking his hand away from my neck.
"What? I'm not allowed to visit my brother?" I asked.
"Did Mika send you?" he growled.
Mika…my mate and vampire prince.
"No." I said, rolling my eyes. "Why?"
At that moment, a boy came into the tent. He looked about thirteen or fourteen.
"Mr Crepsley I heard you were…" he trailed off as he saw me.
"Darren…please leave." Larten said.
I looked down at Darren's fingers, and I saw the marks that showed me he had been blooded. On each fingertip was the shape of a finger nail biting into his skin.
"Larten!" I gasped. "You blooded a child!"
"He is only a half." He said.
I stared at my brother in horror.
"You blooded a child!" I said, louder this time. "He's just a teenager! What is wrong with you? Do you have any idea of the consequences?"
He gave me a long look. "I am fully aware. I was hoping to keep him under the radar."
"You idiot!" I roared. "How could you think you could keep him a secret?"
"I chose this." Darren said quietly. My head snapped in his direction. "I was in a lose-lose situation. I either become like this, or have my best friend die."
I looked at Larten again. "You made him choose between that?"
"He deserved it!" Larten hissed. "He stole Madame Octa and was stupid enough to try and show her off to his friend. She bit his friend and I had to supply the antidote. That would not have come without a price!"
"You and that stupid spider, Larten!" I seethed. "I'll kill her myself one day." I sighed. "I'm not going back to Vampire Mountain any time soon. I won't tell anyone about this. I was actually hoping to stay here for a while."
He took a deep breath. "Fine."
I grinned. "Do you guys have a coffin for me?"
"Mr. Tall might. Darren, could you go ask him?" Larten asked.
Darren nodded and quickly left the tent.
I gave Larten a long look. "He's your assistant?"
He nodded and sighed.
"You're an idiot." I growled.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"I've told you already." I said. "I wanted to visit my brother. Isn't that allowed?"
"But why now?" he pressed.
"I've been one step behind the Cirque for a while." I said. "Every time I showed up to a camp site you were already gone. This time, I made it, obviously."
"What does Mika think about you being so far away from him?"
I shrugged. "He knows that I should see my brother. He's not going to stop me from trying to see you."
Larten sighed. "I do not want them to know about Darren."
"I can't keep anything a secret, not from Mika." I said.
"Well then, I guess it is a good thing you are not going back any time soon." He said.
I rolled my eyes. "He'll be discovered sooner or later."
"I know." He sighed.
"And he'll have to go through the trials." I said.
"I know." He said again. "I was hoping to keep him a secret for as long as possible."
Darren came back into the tent moments later with a coffin.
"I could've carried that for you." I said.
He shrugged. "It's no problem, really."
"Thank you." I said.
I took a long look at Darren as he left the tent, looking sleepy.
"He's not drinking from humans, is he?" I asked.
Larten sighed. "No. He is not."
"He's sleeping at night, too, isn't he?" I asked again. "And not in a coffin, either."
Larten sighed again. "No."
I rolled my eyes. "You obviously didn't train him right."
He glared at me. "He will not drink from humans. And he will not sleep in a coffin. He refuses."
I snorted. "Some assistant he is. I'm confused, are you his bitch?"
He gave me a long look.
"You are such a nice sister."
I smiled. "I bring out the best in people."
"There is not a show tonight." He said, going over to the cage that held Madame Octa.
She automatically responded to her master.
I rolled my eyes.
Stupid spider.
I sat down on a chair in his tent.
"So, what's it like traveling with a freak show?" I asked.
"It provides cover, and a place to live." He said.
"Why not Vampire Mountain?" I asked.
"As you know, I have Darren. Someone who should remain under the radar."
I sighed. "What if Tiny comes?"
"We will deal with that if it happens." Larten said. "Darren is just a child."
"That you blooded." I reminded him.
"Shut up." He said.
I smiled. Larten was never rude with anyone, except me. I brought it out of him.
The tent door opened and Darren emerged.
"You're Mr. Crepsley's sister?" he clarified.
I nodded.
"Who is this…Tiny?" he asked.
"You didn't tell him about Des?" I demanded, looking at Larten.
He sighed. "No."
"Des Tiny is a man…who is very…interesting." I said, choosing my words carefully.
"Destiny?" Darren asked.
I sighed. "He's somewhat of a psychic…or witch."
Darren looked at Larten. "Why is he coming here? What does it matter to me? Why should he care?"
"It's a long story."
Darren looked at me. "You're somewhat special. You are very young. You're fifteen?" Darren nodded. "You are probably the youngest half vampire in history. We aren't allowed to blood children, seeing as they can't really make that decision so young. And as you know, you can never have kids."
"WHAT?" Darren exploded, getting up.
"You didn't tell him?" I demanded.
Larten sighed, holding his head in his hands.
