I knew that Murlough was making his resides in there, but they didn't actually think their little friend was alive, did they? I stood at the grate above Murlough's lair and listened to the tortured screams of the boy who was kidnapped. I was shocked at the fact Murlough didn't eat him or something already. The strangest thing was when he was threatening to slice the scales off of him, but I assumed he was talking about skinning him for a Christmas roast. I almost scolded Larten when I heard his half vampire friend. How could he let his own assistant get away? I gazed uneasily when Murlough cruelly dragged the poor sleeping kid into the dank room and tied him upside down next to his doomed friend. I saw Larten emerge later and head for the apartments.
"Are you still okay, madam? That lunacy on the sidewalk must have frightened you profoundly," he asked genuinely. I spun around with un-humanlike speed. Oops.
"I'm okay. Thank you for helping me with that hum… barbarian over there, sir," I faltered. I almost said human: not a human behavior.
"I am just doing my citizenly duties and helping out my city, madam. I bid you luck on your way to your quarters. Be wary of untrustworthy-looking people, they are unfortunately everywhere," he replied, seemingly unaware of my ability to spin like lightning.
"I again thank you for helping me."
I headed to my new post and sat uncomfortably. Where would I sleep now? I waited for the clan of guys to be finished off by the malevolent vampaneze Murlough. I nodded off while hoping that Murlough would spare them.
I awoke with a jolt. I looked around to see Larten's trio exiting their hotel with their stuff. My hopes came true! I followed them onto a Greyhound bus and watched attentively. I knew after an hour that this would be a moderately long trip. So, to pass time, I stared out the window, looked at my nails, listened to my lovely new MP3 player, read a few novels cover to cover, played with children on the bus, and I even slept a bit. The only thing I didn't think about was feeding on my trip. How would I possibly do that? There are so many witnesses. I looked desperately through my bag and found a miracle. A nice blue bottle of ruby red blood awaited me from the bottom. I took a swig, and explained that it was fruit punch to a few curious, nosey humans.
They discussed where they were getting off at, which was the stop after this. I quickly rushed off and flitted all the way to the next stop before the bus. They got off and I stalked behind them mutely. Soon, we reached a bunch of vans and tents and immediately recognized it. It was the Cirque du Freak. I knew I had to get tickets, but how? I decided to go to the leader, Hibernius Tall, and persuade my way into getting tickets. As soon as I found him, he gave me a ticket and a flier with a grin that gave me the creeps.
"Welcome back, Kiona. Coming to watch the newer acts?" he asked.
"Um, yes. I heard that there are some pretty good ones," I improvised. His odd smile widened.
"You have been trailing Larten, have you not?" he asked innocently. Oh yeah, I had forgotten that he could read minds.
"Yes. I'm just making sure he doesn't do anything stupid and kill himself along with his assistant." He nodded and had a Little Person set up a small, temporary tent for me out of eyesight from Larten's tent. The poor little thing had a limp in its left leg, so I offered to help him. He shook his head and began building the collapsible skeleton of the tent. He worked remarkably fast for a pudgy little fellow with an injured leg, and was staking the last corner into the ground in a matter of minutes. He must've saw the disbelief riddling my face, because he made a chuckling sound as he galloped back to Mr. Tall. I wouldn't be staying for a whole show, because I sensed death.
