Rose woke to the sound of birds singing sweetly just outside her tent. They were so loud that she could hear them quite clearly through the closed lid of her coffin. Groaning, she turned over and covered her ears but nothing helped, the bird's song penetrated her attempts and reached her ears. The stupid birds! She had been enjoying a lovely dream before they interrupted it. Rose pushed the coffin's lid upwards and tried to recall what it had been about. She remembered dark halls and fire, damp and... The Vampaneze. At last the final image of her dream swam back in to her mind, begging her to return to sleep so she could dream once more about Steve. Rose was just about to obey her nagging feelings and give in to sleep when the birds struck up their dawn chorus again right outside. The black colouring of her tent convinced her it was very early in the morning.
"Argh!" Rose leapt out of her coffin, still in her pyjamas and stormed over to the entrance to the tent. She flung the canvas doorway aside and promptly yelled at the birds to go back to bed. Her eyes still shut against the sun light, Rose wasn't able to see the rest of the Cirque watching her in amusement however she was able to hear a few titters and sniggers belonging to the freaks nearest her. She visored her eyes against the light with her hand and blinked several times before finally opening her eyes wide. Across the field in front of her, about a dozen residents stared at her in pleasant surprise. The nearest, Mr Crepsley, opened his mouth in surprise before closing it again to prevent himself from laughing.
"I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public," he said straight-faced. Rose threw him a withering look before flouncing back inside her tent. Not one to be embarrassed easily, she dressed quickly and headed out into the morning fresh air to hunt down some breakfast. She really fancied a bagel.
As she drew nearer the centre of the Cirque, three shapes sitting outside Erva and Darren's tent became visible. Two were the tent's owners and the third was Rebecca. She waved to Rose when she saw her and Rose noticed Erva dig her sharply in the ribs. Smiling at the chance to irritate the snake boy, Rose sauntered over and wedged herself between Darren and Erva with considerable force.
"Morning," she yawned as she stretched her arms out behind her, finally resting them on the boy's shoulders. Darren laughed and wriggled out of her grasp whereas Erva sat frozen at the thought of the Vampaneze being so close to his neck.
"Man, I'm starving," yawned Rose again looking poignantly at Erva who swiftly offered her his breakfast.
"No thanks," grinned Rose, "actually I really fancy some cheese and a big, fat loaf of bread." She looked over the courtyard wistfully to where Rhamus Twobellies was standing with the desired meal on one of his plates. Suddenly Rose felt a sharp kick on one of her shins. She looked down to see a small man with an unbelievably large forehead which more than made up for his lack of height, staring at her and waving his fist.
"Oi! What did you call me?" The man was swaying on his feet in anticipation of the fight he so clearly wanted. Rose chuckled at the sight.
"And which dwarf are you?" She giggled. Darren and the other two cast her a disapproving glance.
"I'm gonna ram my head up your-" The man was cut off by Gertha leading him away quickly before he could do any damage.
"Grumpy then," Rose called after him. She turned to hi-five Darren but was met with a reproachful stare.
"That wasn't very nice," said Darren quietly. He hated arguing with anyone especially with someone whom Mr Crepsley had labelled as Bloodthirsty.
"Oh calm down, Shan. He started it," Rose stood up, clearly affronted and wandered over to the food tent to calm her nerves. She didn't really want to pick a fight; she just wasn't a morning person. It wasn't her fault they didn't appreciate sarcasm. Picking up a bread roll, she turned to the man behind her.
"I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me," she winked. The man said nothing but rolled his eyes and walked past her. Behind her, Mr Tall chuckled. Rose turned on the spot and smiled at him, pleased to have found someone at last who appreciated her sense of humour. Mr Tall dipped his hat respectively and helped himself to some cereal. Rose watched the man in fascination, forgetting someone had once told her it was rude to stare. The Cirque's ringmaster was a giant, at least 7ft and very slim. He had kindly eyes and wry smile which was fixed permanently into his expression. Before he left, he turned to Rose.
"I'd like a word with you in my tent after your breakfast if you don't mind?" His request was poised as a question but Rose knew she couldn't refuse. She nodded and watched him tower over the others as he walked through the early morning throng back to his tent. The man was clearly respected and well liked but on his return to his tent, he was approached by no one and nobody made an effort to wish him good morning. Rose wished people would treat her like that. She wanted respect but didn't want to have the hassle of engaging others with mundane conversations or pleasantries. Back at the Vampaneze hide-out, she had watched Steve receive that kind of respect day after day although it was earned by fear and awe rather than admiration and high opinions. Rose reflected on her approach to earning respect from the freaks. It was clear they did not respond well to the knowledge she was Vampaneze and it was tiring having to keep looking as though she about to pounce on her prey constantly. She finished her breakfast in silence, mulling over the term 'respect' and taking care not to catch the eyes of anyone around her. The meal was enough, but not satisfying. Rose longed for the taste of fresh blood on her lips, the sweet scent of the elixir so carefully contained within each of the freaks around her. One freak made the mistake of looking at Rose directly. Licking her lips in anticipation, Rose wondered what it would be like to open the bag of blood, spilling the contents across the dew encrusted grass and drinking the warm substance amongst the Cirque's inhabitants. She guessed most would run but perhaps a few, Darren and Crepsley, would try and stop her. Rose dragged her gaze away from the bag of blood to see where Darren was. He was still sitting outside his tent and would undoubtedly be first to tackle her if she tried to launch her attack. Sighing unhappily, she thought better of it and decided to distract herself by finding Mr Tall's tent.
The freaks parted quickly but calmly as Rose approached, taking care to move out her way but not attract her attention. Each had been warned either by Mr Crepsley or through whispers and rumours of the half-Vampaneze's potential and bloodlust. A little afraid and disgusted, they watched her move through the parting bustle towards the ringmaster's tent. Her skin was paling rapidly as her hunger rose and so her cheeks only had a faint purple tinge to them. Her eyes were crimson and they gleamed in the rising sun's light. Ignoring their stares, Rose held her chin high, not bothering to glance in the freak's direction. Her attention was occupied with trying to find the way to Mr Tall's tent. It would be highly embarrassing to get lost with so many people watching. Finally the brightly coloured top came into view and Rose moved toward it gratefully. Hiberneous Tall was sitting on the steps leading up to his small but spacious home. He looked up and allowed a smile to bless his face as Rose drew nearer. She smiled back and Mr Tall thought she looked a lot less intimidating when she smiled. He beckoned her over and indicated that she should sit by patting the space on the step beside him with his hand. Rose sat and stared at him expectantly but the man did not speak or look at her for several minutes. Finally he said,
"And how are you this morning Miss Leighton?"
"Very well thank you Mr Tall," replied Rose copying his polite way of speaking but not in a mocking manner. Again, it was a while before he spoke. Rose sighed, a little frustrated by his silence, and let her mind wander, exploring the possibilities as to why she was here. The most likely seemed obvious; they wanted her to leave. However the man beside her did not seem in a great hurry to dismiss her. He looked perfectly at ease, relaxing on his tiny porch, watching the Cirque's morning activities unravel before him. A small smile was playing on his think lips. After what seemed like hours to Rose, he turned very slowly to watch her.
"I like you," he said, "you remind me of when I was young and stupid." Rose decided to ignore the insult in his words as he had admitted to being fond of her first.
"Um, thanks," she replied, unsure of how to react. The man simply smiled and nodded before looking into the distance again. This time however, Rose decided to intervene before Mr Tall had a chance to get lost in his thoughts once more.
"Why have you asked me here, Mr Tall?" She quizzed. Now Mr Tall gave her his full attention.
"To give you a choice," he said firmly. All humour had disappeared from his eyes and the friendly stare had been replaced with a seriousness. He leant forward, resting his elbows on his knees and steepling his hands. Bowing his head, he continued.
"Mr Crepsely insists that your presence here puts the Cirque in danger. I myself bear no grudge against you personally but I must put the Cirque before anything else, therefore it would be wise of me to ask you to leave." He paused for a while, letting his words sink in. Rose looked up at him in anticipation but the man said nothing, only looking at her.
"But...?" she ventured, sensing the man's speech was not over.
"But?" he replied, "Why should there be a but? Do you feel you have earned an alternative? To give you an alternative would be giving you a chance, Rose. Do you think you have earned a chance?"
"I've done nothing wrong!" Protested Rose, shocked and annoyed by the man's accusations. Mr Tall laughed humourlessly.
"Rose, since you have arrived you have done nothing but validate inherent mistrust of strangers. We have given you food, shelter, blood... yet you have continued to be a begrudging presence here."
Rose looked at him, completely baffled. She could not recall doing anything wrong.
"I've only been here a little over a day! How could I have done anything wrong?" She stood up in frustration, "Of course I'm grateful for the things you've given me – the tent, the coffin – they were all lovely gestures and ok, maybe I could have said thank you, but apart from that? What did I do?" At this, Mr Tall also rose.
"Perhaps we could continue this conversation in private," he said, opening the canvas entrance and ducking inside. Rose followed resentfully.
"Well?" she demanded once inside. Mr Tall sat behind a large, important looking desk and watched her.
"Mr Tiny payed me a visit last night," he said. Rose waited for him to persist but he did not.
"Who?" She sighed impatiently. Was this a sort of mind game?
"I believe you stayed with him when you were with the Vampaneze?" Furthered Mr Tall, giving nothing away. Rose frowned. Her short time spent amongst the Vampaneze was hazy and confused. She had spent a large amount of time in the dark or else in back alleys drinking blood or fighting. She did not recognize the name.
"No I stayed with Ste- I don't know him." She finished, looking away. Mr Tall made an impatient noise and Rose realised he thought she was lying.
"I don't," she continued in an effort to prove her case, "Mr who? Tiny?"
"Short. Fat. Bald?" Described Mr Tall. Suddenly an image popped into Rose's head.
"Oh yes," she said, "I've seen him before. We never spoke though. I didn't even know his name. He only spoke to the others or to Ste- my friend." Mr Tall narrowed his eyes at the final part of her sentence.
"Your friend?" He questioned but Rose only nodded, saying nothing. Finally Mr Tall seemed to give up. He rubbed his eyes and stood up, more cheerful this time.
"Mr Tiny cleared up the matter that Larten – that is, Mr Crepsley – and I have been discussing these past few days. He assures us you are harmless and he wishes you well on your future endeavours although he did warn us you do get quite thirsty." He chuckled but Rose was suddenly distracted by the rising burning feeling in her throat that had occurred at the word 'thirsty'.
"And so Rose, I am willing to offer you a choice but only if your mood improves."
"My mood?" said Rose sulkily. Mr Tall raised his eyebrows at her tone and she realised what he meant, "Oh! My mood..."
"Yes, try to be a bit more... cheerful?" His hands flailed around him at the last word as though he were trying to grab a better adjective out of thin air. Rose rolled her eyes and gave a lop-sided grin.
"Well, okay, I'll try. But don't blame me if it freaks people out,"
"Oh I don't think that's uncommon here. Freaking people out, I mean," said Mr Tall with a chortle.
"I am not a freak, Mr Tall," said Rose proudly, lifting her chin.
"No, you are Vampaneze," said Mr Tall a little sadly, "But," he continued, emphasising the word and making Rose smile, "I will offer you a choice regardless. You can leave and pursue whatever kind of life you want outside the Cirque and away from us or I would be honoured to propose you stay with us and live at the Cirque."
Rose's mouth dropped at the suggestion.
"But Mr Tall!" She struggled, "Why would you want me here? Why would anybody? I'm a threat – as Crepsley so often takes pleasure in pointing out. Aren't you afraid I might hunt here?"
"You will not hunt here or anywhere if you choose to stay with us. Mr Crepsley is prepared to let you have access to his blood vials. Or at least, he will be, once I suggest it." Rose's eyes widened at the thought of surviving on such a limited blood supply. Was it even possible?
"I don't know Mr Tall. I, um, I can't-" But Rose was interrupted by the tall man.
"You do not have to give me an answer right now, child. Go and think on it. I will be here when you have decided." Unsure how to react, Rose stood unmoving in the centre of his tent for several minutes. Should she hug him and thank him properly for his offer or would it be more appropriate to leave as he'd requested? Mr Tall waited patiently for the girl to make up her mind. At last she looked up.
"Th- thank you Mr Tall," she smiled, "I'll just, um, I'll go and think on it shall I?" Mr Tall nodded, understanding that this was probably the first time in the girl's life that someone had willingly offered to welcome her into their family. He watched Rose duck out of his tent, into the mid-morning air and he smiled to himself. In front of him on his desk was his diary where he promptly erased the day's memos clean. He supposed the following conversation with Mr Crepsley was going to take the rest of the day.
