Larten was about to settle down in his coffin for the night when he heard a knock at the door. Who the hell is that, do people not know that I am a vampire? He thought. Larten opened the door, not fearing the sun because it was still night time. He had wanted to get a good, long sleep but he doubted that would happen now. He looked down at the person at the door, it was a teenage girl she looked about 15. She had black hair with dark red highlights and had a scar down the left side of her face, just like his scar he thought. She was wearing black skinny jeans and a plain dark red hooded jumper and black converse high tops. He had to say, she looked a lot like him, but obviously more feminine.

"Hello, who are you?"

"My name is Rikki Crimson."

"Ok, and what do you want?"

"I would like to join the Cirque du freak."

"That is not up to me, that is up to Mr Tall. Actually there he is." Larten said as he pointed to the extremely tall man that stood, talking to Evra, the cirque's snake boy.

"Thank you, oh and I never got your name."

"My name is Larten Crepsley."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Crepsley." She said as she stuck out a hand, he shook it slowly.

"You can call Larten, Miss Crimson."

"Please, call me Rikki."

"Sure, you get Mr Tall."

"Ok, thank you for your help, good bye."

"Bye." Larten said as she walked away. He went straight back to coffin and fell into deep sleep.

Rikki walked straight to Mr Tall and he said good bye to Evra and turned to face her.

"Can I help you?"

"My name is Rikki Crimson, I presume you are Mr Tall."

"Yes I am. Can I help you?" Mr Tall asked.

"I will be blunt, I want to join the Cirque du freak."

"The cirque is open to everyone that has a unique talent. Do you have a unique talent?"

"Yes, I do."

"Could you show me?"

"Ok, we will go to the practise trailer." Mr Tall said as he lead the way to the trailer.

They soon got there and Mr Tall opened the door for Rikki.

"Thank you." She said politely as she entered the open door.

Once inside she realised that the trailer was much bigger inside than it had been outside, but she dismissed it quickly, if she was going to join she would have to get used to weird and strange things happening.

"Ok." Mr Tall said as he closed the door and flicked the light on. "We are alone now, show me what you can do."

Rikki looked around and spotted some things in the corner. They looked like footballs and Frisbees. Mr Tall took a one of the many seats around the side of the large trailer and stared at her. She pushed her right hand into a fist and placed her left hand open over the top of her right one, facing the balls in the corner. She aimed them at the items and moved her hands up, the balls were soon in the air. Mr Tall watched in wonder, he stood up and stood in between Rikki and the flying objects.

"Any wires?" Mr Tall asked. She shook her head.

"None."

"You can put them down now."

"Ok." She said as she slowly placed them down on the floor.

"That is an amazing talent, how much can you lift like that?"

"I do not think there is a limit. Watch. Oh and stand still."

She made the same hand movements but aimed her hands at the floor. She slowly pulled her hands up and the trailer lifted up. She kept it in the air and began to swing it slightly, then she put it down again.

"Wow. I am truly amazed, and I don't say that a lot."

"Thank you, but that is not all."

"What do you mean?"

"I am a vampire."

Mr Tall looked very shocked. "Half or full?"

"Full."

"So do you need a blacked out trailer?"

"No."

"But what about the sun?"

"I do not burn."

"How come."

"That is a painful story and I do not wish to share it so soon."

"Ok, tell me when you are ready. We don't have a spare trailer and at the minute all of the performers are male, so maybe someone around your age."

"Ok."

"So around 15-16?"

"No, sorry. I realise my appearance is misleading, but I am actually 205 years old."

"I know the perfect person."

"Who?"

"Mr Crepsley."

"Ah...Larten."

"Do you know him?"

"Well, no. But I knocked on his trailer when I first arrived and he gave me directions."

"Why did you knock on his trailer?"

"Because I felt a...link to him, he is a vampire is he not?"

"Yes, he is. Actually, you remind me of him ,especially with that scar. May I ask where you got it?"

At the mention of her scar, her hand instantly went up to it and traced it.

"I would rather wait until later, if you do not mind."

"Of course, there is no rush. Come, I will escort you to Larten's trailer."

Rikki nodded and followed Mr Tall to Larten's trailer. He knocked on the door and a very tired and annoyed Larten appeared. He raised his hands in a gesture of confusion.

"Hello, Larten. I am sorry to disturb you but Rikki needs a trailer to sleep in for the night and we were hoping your spare coffin. Her eyes lit up at the mention of a coffin.

"Sure." Larten said as he gestured for Rikki to come in.

"Goodbye Hibernous."

"Bye, Mr Tall."

"Bye."

Rikki walked inside and Larten looked confused.

"Why do you need a coffin?"

"Because I am a vampire." His eyes widened, then went back to normal, Rikki thought he had not clearly heard her.

"Fine, it is under mine, I trust you can pull it out."

She nodded, and then she pulled out the coffin with one hand.

I thought that was heavy. Larten thought to himself, but then he dismissed it and climbed into his coffin just as she climbed into hers she said "Good day, Larten."

"Good day, Rikki."

They both fell asleep just as the lid closed the coffin to all light sources.

BANG...SCREAM...BANG...SCREAM

Rikki woke up and jumped out of the coffin. She looked around frantically searching for the noise. It was Larten in his coffin. She ripped open the lid and was greeted by the sight of Larten, he had taken his shirt off some point during the night and was red and sweating all over. He had tears pouring down his face and he was still screaming. She tried to wake him up by tapping his shoulder but he did not wake, she shook him more and he continued to scream. She knelt down beside him and looked into his red face. He was actually really handsome. She looked to the left side of his face and saw that he had a scar almost identical to her own. She reached out a hand and stroked it gently. She reached the bottom of his face and ran her hand down his chest and to his toned abs, she stopped there and pulled her hand back up but paused at his chest. She could feel his fast heart beat and hers automatically sped up. Her hand reached his screaming face again and she cupped one hand around the side of it. He was still screaming but one of his eyes opened slightly and caught sight of Rikki. She was about to pull away when he pulled her into a tight hug. He cried into her shoulder. She hugged him back, this was so crazy they only know each other's name and that they are both vampires and he was hugging her? Rikki thought about that for a moment, but then forgot about it because she did not care that they did not know each other, she felt a connection to him, but she he feel one back?

He suddenly stopped screaming and pulled away, but they still had our arms around each other.

"Are you alright?"

He looked back at her and his breathing slowed, he took some deep breaths and nodded.

"Yes, I am now."

"Good. I was really worried then."

"Why, you do not know me."

"No but, ok this is going to sound crazy, but I feel a kind of...connection to you. I might just be mad but... do you feel it too?"

"Yes." He answered simply.

They both looked at how they were sat and smiled.

"I am sorry I woke you."

"Do not worry about that, I was to wake any way. It is nightfall."

"I have realised you have a very specific way of speaking, like I do. Is there a reason behind this?"

"Do you remember what I told you last night?"

"No, I do not."

"I told you that I am a vampire."

"But you are so young."

"Actually I am 205 years old."

"You cannot be a vampire."

"Why do you think that?"

"I guess if you want something enough you make yourself think it is true."

"What do you mean?"

"I disagree with blooding children."

"I did not get blooded."

"Then how are you a vampire...wait are you Lady Evanna's daughter?"

Rikki shook her head.

"Then how?"

She shook her head again.

"Too much of a painful story. Possibly another day."

"Ok, the past is hard for everyone." They both nodded.

"So will you be performing?" Larten asked Rikki.

"Yes, I will. I am not when though."

"Hibernous does not waste time, but it will not be until we move on. He is not a time waster but he likes to be prepared. What is it you do?"

Rikki tapped the side of her nose.

"Secret."

Larten rolled his eyes and stood up, Rikki stood up also.

"I am going to get changed, maybe you should go and familiarise yourself with the cirque grounds."

"Sure, see you in a minute."

"Bye."

Rikki left Larten alone and walked out of the trailer, closing the door behind her. She walked around the cirque for a moment then came to a stop when she saw Larten walking out of his trailer. He was wearing black trousers with converse high tops, just like hers, and a red shirt with a black tie and a deep red cloak around his shoulders. He had sorted out his hair and it was now neatly combed and gelled up. He looked amazing, she thought. Larten saw her walking towards him and met her halfway.

"Nice."

"What?"

"You look good." She said casually.

"Um...thank you." He got a bit shy and she giggled slightly.

"I take it you do not get many compliments on your appearance."

"No, people tend to ignore me."

"I know the feeling."

He nodded.

"Larten, could we go to the hotel that I was staying in, I need to pick up my things?"

"Sure. Where is it?"

"It is down Icshner Avenue."

"I know the place."

"Race?"

"You know for a 200 year old you act very childish."

"Ok, number one I am 205, and number two you really should not have said that. I mean I was going to go easy on you but now..."

"Fine, come on." He said whilst smiling and broke out into a sprint.

Rikki ran past him and said on the way "You are going to have to do better than that!"

"Now you are asking for it." He said as he started to flit.

Rikki flitted also and was soon in front of him. He pushed himself as hard as he could and she was still beating him.

They got to the hotel and Larten was panting.

"You okay?" Rikki said, she had not even broken a sweat.

"How are you...faster...than...me? Why...are you...not tired?" He said in between pants.

"I will tell you later, any way come on." She said as she walked in front of him. On her way she grabbed his hand and was pulling him along.

He followed reluctantly but gazed at her through his tired misty vision, he was starting to look at her differently. He started to like her, like really like her. More than he had liked Arra when he first met her. He gripped her hand more firmly and walked with her. This would be different.