Arra's Assistant
A/N
This is a quick tale about Arra taking on an assistant and how their lives would be.
This is only meant to be a short story so enjoy!
I have put songs in it as they fit with the story.
Chapter One the New Arrival
This was my last night at the Cirque Du Freak. I had travelled with the Cirque and for the past five years I had been a stage hand and general assistant, I myself am not a freak. I am human but I was rescued by Mr Tall because an evil vampaneze by the name of Murlough attacked me. Mr Tall had helped to patch up my wounds and then he said that I could travel with the Cirque Du Freak to keep me safe from harm.
My parents had picked drugs and alcohol over me so apart from college I really had nothing to stay in Dorset for so I agreed to join the Cirque Du Freak. I travelled the world helping out by rigging up lights and selling souvenirs to the audience during the interval, I also pitched tents and handed out leaflets to certain people.
However everything was changing for me, I had caught the eye of Mr Tall and he had spotted my talents long ago.
"Sophie can we discuss something?" Mr Tall had asked me one evening.
"But of course Mr Tall" I said as I pointed to a Little Person and signalled for him or her to take over with hanging up the lights whilst I went to Mr Tall's van.
"You've been here for five years now, you've done really well and you are an asset to us here but a new opportunity has arisen and I think that you would fit the bill. A vampiress is looking for an assistant; it means leaving here and travelling to the Vampire Mountain alone and unaided but if you were to make it then a whole new world of opportunities would be open to you" Mr Tall explained to me.
"It sounds interesting but I do not know the way, I am hopeless with directions" I said as I thought about the sort of life I could have as an assistant to a vampiress.
"I can help you with directions and I can give you a map. You are human so vampire laws do not apply to you. You may take with you all of the necessary equipment that is required to make it to the mountain" Mr Tall explained as he started to look around in his cabinet until he pulled out a rough looking piece of paper that he handed to me.
"This is what exactly?" I asked curiously.
"The map to Vampire Mountain with all of the way stations and paths marked on it. You start at the bottom of the Carpathians and cut across through the woods until you come to a hidden path that will take you to the main entrance. Look out for glowing green Luminous Lichen which will lead you along the right path if you follow it, the closer you get to the entrance the more there is" Mr Tall told me.
"Oh right I'll keep a look out for it. I will need all kinds of equipment and thermal clothing, it doesn't come cheap" I said.
"I know but money is no object here at the Cirque Du Freak so take as much as you need" Mr Tall replied as he handed over his wallet to me, I removed a few hundred pounds and handed the wallet back to Mr Tall.
"How do I get to the Carpathian Mountains? They are in Romania and we're in England. I have no passport or travel documents" I explained.
"Do not worry about that I have arranged a boat to take you to the docks in Romania from Dover, I have a few friends who will help you along the way if necessary" Mr Tall explained to me.
"Oh thanks, I'm not sure if I want to go yet though" I replied.
"It is not an easy life, you will be expected to work and work hard and as for becoming a vampiress that is not pleasant either but you get many advantages to make up for that and in the end it's not that bad, you can always return to the Cirque Du Freak if you cannot cope or if you get dismissed" Mr Tall answered.
"Oh right well I guess I could try it and see if I like it" I said.
"Vampirism is for life but I will always have a place for you here if you find yourself at a loose end and you don't know what to do or where to go" Mr Tall replied.
"I'll keep it in mind, right now I had better start getting things prepared and say goodbye to everyone" I said.
"That's a good idea we'll miss you but your place is with the clan, I can feel it. You are destined for great things and I see you succeeding in the clan" Mr Tall replied.
I walked out of Mr Tall's van and headed straight into town. I went to the camping shop and picked up everything that I needed for my long journey to the mountain. I had to buy a full camping kit and a survival bag in case of an emergency. I was hoping that I wouldn't need it but I didn't know how far I was going or how long I was going to be up in the mountains for.
I knew that there were wolves and other wild creatures in the mountains I would have to be very careful and keep a knife with me at all times. I wasn't just scared of wild animals I was scared of other vampires who needed fresh blood to survive. To them I was a walking, talking blood vat.
I walked around the circus camp and said goodbye to every single performer and most of the staff.
"Hi Evra, how's things?" I asked Evra the snake boy.
"I'm good thanks Sophie, how's things with you?" Evra asked as he slowly and carefully gave his beloved snake a bath.
"Oh things are OK actually but I won't be around for much longer. This is my last night with the Cirque Du freak, I'm off to the Vampire Council tomorrow" I said.
"I didn't know that you were a vampiress, Darren didn't mention it" Evra said assumingly.
"Oh I'm not a vampiress, I'm going there to become an assistant to a vampiress but I'm still human" I replied quickly.
"Well in that case I wish you the best of luck and please visit me here sometime, I'll miss you Sophie" Evra said as he hugged me tightly.
"I know Evra, I'll miss you too but it's time for me to move on and fulfil my destiny whatever that is, I can't rig up lights and sell souvenirs forever you know" I said as I kissed Evra on the cheek.
"I understand but still now that Darren has gone I'll be alone again" Evra said, he sounded upset.
"Here, take this in memory of me" I said as I loosened up one of the bands on my wrist and tied it around Evra's wrist.
"Thanks Sophie, you're a true friend" Evra said as he kissed me, I was a bit surprised but I knew that I wouldn't see him again for a long time so I allowed him this one kiss, he wrapped his long serpentine tongue around mine and held he me around my waist.
I pulled away gently and hugged Evra again before I turned away from him and began walking into the night….
A/N
This song has been written to the tune of Circle of Life.
"On the night I arrive at the mountain and nervous I'll step into the Halls. There is more to duel than can ever be duelled, more to learn than can ever be learnt. There is far too much to take in here, more to fight than can ever be fought, but with the moon shining high in the midnight sky it brings Generals to the mountain council, it's the Vampire Council and they rule us all through despair and hope; through war and peace until we find our place in the Clan unrelenting in the mountain it's the Vampire, the Vampire Council"
This is the song that I sung to myself when I made my way up to the mountain for the council.
The boat journey hadn't taken as long as I'd thought and I got to the docks in Romania within a couple of days. I had a huge army style rucksack that contained everything that I needed to survive the long trek. It was very heavy but I somehow managed to carry it on my back.
I had the advantage because I could travel by day and vampires couldn't and there aren't many predators around in daylight, by night time I was asleep in a hammock that was hung high in the trees, it was fully camouflaged except when it snowed but I had a thermal sheet that I wrapped myself in so the snow didn't bother me too much, it was only a flurry or two anyway it wasn't a full on blizzard which was lucky but that didn't stop it from being cold, the higher I got the colder it was.
I continued on my journey and it was absolutely freezing. I could have died of hypothermia on the way but I had a thermal jacket and special boots that were frost-bite resistant. I also had gloves and a really warm, thermal hat. I looked like I was going skiing or some kind of expedition to the North Pole.
I followed Mr Tall's map and I found myself on a path that led me through some really thick woodland and scrubland but I knew that wasn't far away from the Mountain entrance. I could hear voices in the distance and I thought that they must have been other vampires who were also making the journey to the council.
There was one point when I did get a bit lost but I found my way eventually by looking at the stars and following the North Star until I found a familiar place on the map. I also used landmarks; I marked certain rocks and bushes with bright paint and ribbon so that if I got lost I could find my way by using those markers to tell me if I'd already been somewhere.
Eventually in the distance after a week of hiking I saw the entrance to a cave like Mr Tall had said and I wondered down the dark, dank, smelly tunnel until I saw some green shiny stuff on the walls. Luminous Lichen I thought to myself when I saw it, I was definitely going the right way which was a relief.
"Who are you?" One guy with a sharp looking spear asked me.
"I'm Sophie I have come here looking for a Miss Arra Sails. Mr Tall sent me" I explained.
"Then you are recognised by the gate, you may enter our mountain, we were expecting you after all" The guard said.
I entered the Hall and I looked around in the darkness that surrounded me. I saw some torches that had been lit so I followed them into a larger, well lit Hall where there were obviously a lot of Clan members but they were all men, there was not a sign of a woman anywhere except for me.
I walked around and I tried to adjust myself to the new atmosphere as I was a human and for me it was very smoky in there from the fireplace where the fire was blazing.
I wondered around aimlessly, most of the Clan took no notice of me until I stumbled into a Hall where there were a lot of strange looking contraptions.
"Welcome to the Halls of Sport" One guy said to me.
"Thanks, do you know where Arra is?" I asked.
"She is on the Bars of course. Are you new here?" The guy asked me.
"I am new, I have been sent here by Mr Tall to become Arra's assistant" I said.
"I am Vanez Blaine the Games Master, follow me and I will introduce you two" Vanez replied, he seemed friendly enough.
"Arra this is Sophie, she is the human that Mr Tall has sent for you" Vanez said to Arra.
"Hi, I am Sophie" I said.
"So you are going to be my new assistant" Arra said.
"Yes if it pleases you Miss Sails" I said politely with a curtsey.
"Well I have lots of chores for you to do. Come with me" Arra replied.
"Yes Miss Sails, bye Mr Blaine" I said.
"Bye and please call me Vanez" Vanez called back to me.
"Right, I have washing for you to do; then you will be hunting with me and after that I will show you to where you will be sleeping. I expect you to work hard, be polite and remember who you are representing, what you do reflects upon me so live cleanly and do not dishonour me" Arra said.
"Am I OK to be a human still?" I asked.
"Scars are earnt so you will remain human for now" Arra said.
Then Arra left me to get on with washing all of her clothes, she had lots of clothes. I had to wash them, dry them, fold them and pack them away into her chest of drawers.
The hunting trip intrigued me but that would come later.
After I had sorted out Arra's clothes I went to find her but I got lost as the mountain was a lot bigger than what I had thought that it would be.
"Where are you off to?" A stern voice said behind me.
"I am lost; I am trying to find the Halls of Sport. I have to report to Miss Sails" I explained.
"Follow me and by the way I am called Seba, who are you?" Seba asked me.
"I am Sophie and I am Arra's assistant" I said.
"Oh right I had heard about you, Mr Tall sent you here did he not?" Seba said.
"Yes he did, he thought that Arra would have use for me" I replied as we turned a familiar corner and walked towards the Halls of Sport.
"Here are the Halls of Sport" Seba said.
"Thanks Sir" I said and I walked into the Halls of Sport where Arra was waiting for me.
"What took you so long?" Arra asked me.
"I got lost, Seba found me and showed me the way Miss Sails" I said.
"That is good. Is all of the laundry done?" Arra asked.
"Yes and I am ready to go hunting now" I replied.
"You can't go dressed like that Sophie, come with me" Arra said and we headed to a storeroom.
"Here put these on and this too oh and you will need this as well" Arra said as she handed me clean socks, shoes, a jacket and a short sword.
"Thank you" I said.
"You're welcome, now come with me" Arra said and we left the mountain to go hunting.
I was a bit scared about going hunting as I was used to going with Little People but tonight we were alone.
"Sophie stay here" Arra said.
"Yes Miss Sails" I replied.
"Keep quiet" Arra said and she disappeared in a white blur. When Arra returned she was carrying a big stag and a smaller deer.
"Carry this back to the mountain" Arra said as she passed me the smaller deer.
"It is a bit heavy, I can't lift it up" I said and that was the truth.
"Dammit I forgot about how weak you humans are. Alright I'll come back for it. You wait here" Arra said.
"Yes Miss" I said and Arra disappeared again. I was covered in blood from where the deer had been gutted and killed.
Soon Arra returned, she took hold of the deer and I marched behind her as she carried it back to the mountain so that it could be cooked and eaten by us or so I thought.
I got back inside the mountain and I was glad to be back in the warm as there was snow on the ground outside and it was very cold, I shivered a lot.
"What's wrong with you?" Arra asked when she saw me shivering.
"I am freezing Miss Sails. I feel sick" I said.
"It is not that cold" Arra said.
"It is for a human Arra" Somebody said. I turned around to see a tall, orange haired vampire standing behind Arra.
"Hi Larten, have you met my new assistant Sophie?" Arra asked.
"No I have not but Seba has and he told me of her beauty but I did not expect this" Larten complimented me.
I blushed and looked at the floor as no-one had ever called me beautiful before.
"Thank you for your compliment" I said I was still looking at the floor.
"Watch what you say Larten" Arra said sternly.
"Jealous are you Arra?" Larten asked.
"No but I do not want my assistant getting any stupid ideas into her head. Am I not beautiful?" Arra asked.
"Of course you are but in a different way" Larten said.
"Sophie, are you cold?" Arra asked.
"I am absolutely freezing" I replied.
"Well I will have to blood you then won't I?" Arra said.
"If that is the only way to keep me warm whilst I am here then just blood me" I replied.
"Well it is not the only way" Larten said and smiled.
"Larten I'm warning you" Arra said.
"What have I said? I am discussing all of the options" Larten replied.
"You will not be keeping my assistant warm in that way" Arra said angrily.
"Just watch me Arra" Larten said as he removed his cloak and threw it around my shoulders, it was warm and I instantly felt warmer.
"Thank you" I muttered, my eyes were still on the floor.
"Why do you not look at me?" Larten asked.
"I am not permitted because you are of a higher rank than me" I said.
"That is ridiculous you can look at whoever you like Sophie" Larten said.
"But Miss Sails said not to, I must not disobey her" I replied.
"You are obviously well trained" Larten said.
"I hope so, I do work very hard" I replied.
"Larten do you want something?" Arra asked.
"I was making sure that Sophie is OK as the Clan's ambassador I have to make all of our new arrivals feel welcome and I have to check that they are being taken care of" Larten replied.
"Oh well I didn't know that you got a new job" Arra replied.
"Are you going to blood Sophie or not Arra?" Larten asked.
"I will do unless you want to do it as you know more about it than me" Arra said.
"I could do it but that would make Sophie my responsibility and I already have Darren to contend with. No you must do it Arra" Larten replied.
"Fine, hold up your hands" Arra said.
I held up my hands and I watched Arra dig her nails into her fleshy finger tips before she did the same to my fingers.
Arra joined her hands to mine and I could feel the blood being transferred into my body and out again into hers. We stayed joined for a few minutes and then Arra broke away; she sucked her fingers and then she did the same to mine to heal the wounds.
"There you are Sophie; you are now a half vampiress" Arra said.
"Thank you Miss Sails" I replied. I instantly felt weak and sick.
"You did not even flinch Sophie Darren hated it when I blooded him. You must be made of strong stuff" Larten said.
"I feel sick" I said and I fell to the ground.
"That can sometimes happen, you'll be OK after a good day's sleep" Arra said.
"Alright where do I sleep?" I asked because I felt dreadful.
"In my quarters with me until Seba finds you a room of your own" Arra said.
"OK. I feel really ill. Something isn't right" I said weakly.
"You'll be fine Sophie" Arra said.
I tried to stand up but I puked when I did and then I could not stand at all.
"This has not happened before" Arra said.
"Maybe you held on for too long or maybe your blood is not compatible" Larten said.
"I feel OK" Arra said.
"Well maybe it is just a rough change, not everybody adjusts straight away" Larten replied.
"That is true, I knew of another vampire who had a rough time" Arra said.
"What do I do?" I asked.
"I will help you get to bed and then all you have to do is sleep as then the blood will have time to settle in your veins" Arra said.
"Thanks" I replied weakly before I threw up again. Larten disappeared and I was carried to my coffin by Arra. I really wasn't well.