HERE IT IS... FINALLY, Chapter 9! Sorry for leaving you guys a cliffy and then making you wait so long! Please don't hate me?

Anyway, thanks for the bunch of reviews I got since Chapter 8! New record for this fic! Help me break this one! ^_^

ENJOY!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Cirque du Freak / Darren Shan Saga. Only Charlotte Harley belongs to me.


The next few moments passed by so unbelievably fast that Charlotte would never be completely certain as to what happened.

She felt everything before she saw it-the pressure over her heart suddenly no more, the back of her head smashing painfully against the gravestone. Black spots quickly appeared in her line vision following the collision. Steve had been ripped from behind her abruptly enough that she had teetered backward and hit the marble behind her.

Momentarily forgetting her fear and situation entirely, Charlotte pressed her forehead to her knees and rocked herself gently in pain. She lifted a trembling hand to the point of impact on her head. It felt wet, and still somewhat senseless she withdrew her hand to gaze blankly at the fresh crimson blood that covered it. The buzzing in her eyes overpowered the sounds of a brief struggle not far behind her, and she heard only a few muffled grunts as she staggered to her feet and turned around.

She stood patiently for a few short moments, waiting for her vision clear. Gradually, the shapes eased back into focus. Mr. Crepsley had Steve pinned to a tree, tightly gripping the horrified boy by the collar of his sweatshirt and suspending him a few feet above the ground. His lips were pulled back in a menacing snarl that made even Charlotte cringe back in fear. Steve's eyes were practically bulging out of his head in sheer terror, his hands clutching hopelessly at the vampire's red sleeves for support. Droplets of sweat had appeared on the boy's forehead and his chest remained still—he was holding his breath as he awaited the death he seemed convinced was sure to follow.

It didn't.

Charlotte watched, entranced, as her mentor's back relaxed and he set Steve carefully back down on the ground. Steve's collar remained locked in Mr. Crepsley's grip before, slowly, the vampire loosened his hold and both sets of arms dropped to their sides. The pair stood there for what seemed to Charlotte an eternity, Mr. Crepsley's gaze softening as he regarded the youth.

"You have no business here, boy," Mr. Crepsley spoke, his voice deep and his tone commanding. "I do not wish to cause you harm, but if you continue to stand in our way then I will do what I must. Leave… now."

Steve spent a few seconds registering what the vampire had said. When he understood, his eyes narrowed sharply in an indignant glare. He hadn't even been granted the time to speak. He opened his mouth to say something, swallowing first with some difficulty to moisten his dry throat. "I'll keep my promise," he growled, his eyes flicking briefly to Charlotte before returning to the vampire. "I'll hunt you down, and when I find you…" At this, he shook his head furiously. "I. Will. Kill. You. I'LL KILL YOU!"

Mr. Crepsley and Charlotte watched in calm silence as Steve Leonard turned his back on the two of them and ran, his shoes thudding hard on the moist cemetery ground with each stride.

Charlotte felt somewhat awkward standing there speechless and bleeding gently from the shallow gash to her head. As she watched the figure that was Steve become smaller and smaller as his distance from her grew, reality settled in. She was vulnerable. Steve could have easily killed her had Mr. Crepsley not come to her aid. It was not a particularly pleasant feeling and she bit her lip as she mulled it over. She was visibly shaken, and no longer staring after Steve she instead fixed her gaze on her shoes.

"Are you alright?"

Charlotte jumped just slightly, startled by the sudden break in silence, and raised her eyes from her shoes to meet Mr. Crepsley's. His gaze was warm and gentle, genuine concern subtly etched on his pale face.

"Just bumped my head a bit," she replied sullenly, "I'm fine though. I should have stayed a little closer." She managed a meek and unconvincing smile.

"Yes," Mr. Crepsley agreed, "but what has happened… has happened. Learn from the experience, but do not concern yourself any further than that. There is no sense in regretting what cannot be changed."

There was a pause, silence eagerly filling the void once again. It unnerved Charlotte. She desperately wanted to say something but the words were shy to leave her mouth. After some time, she at last managed to coax them out.

"Thank you," she said, so softly that she could barely hear herself speaking. Her somewhat pathetic expression of gratitude was heard nonetheless.

The vampire bowed deeply, looking up at her as he did so. "Your welcome," he answered politely, straightening and brushing off his suit.

A chilling breeze licked at her skin as Charlotte debated asking the obvious question that hung in the air between them. "What will we do now?" she inquired simply.

Mr. Crepsley considered this for a brief moment. "The night will soon pass into day," he observed, "which will not be a problem for you. I, however, will not fare so well in the sunlight."

Charlotte caught on quickly. "We should find a place to stay," she suggested, but seemed to change her mind as she remembered something. "What about the theatre where the Cirque was set up? That's working just fine for you up until now, hasn't it?"

"The Cirque took all of my belongings with it when it left," her mentor sighed, "including my coffin. It is regardless, as I do not suppose our situation would be any better had it been left behind. There would still be only one coffin and two of us, and I doubt you would be keen on sharing."

The girl nearly laughed out loud. She definitely did not want to be confined to another wooden casket for a long time, let alone crammed into one with Mr. Crepsley. It was quite a disturbing image.

The corners of Mr. Crepsley's mouth twitched as he suppressed a smile, undoubtedly picturing the same thing. He collected himself, then assured her, "Finding a place to rest for the day will not be difficult, but I think it best we first leave town." He glanced at the sky, which was still quite dark but would not likely be remaining so for much longer. "I highly doubt the boy will return, but nonetheless we should not linger and leave opportunity for any more inconveniences."

Charlotte quickly opened her mouth to argue, but just as quickly closed it again. What good reason did they have to stay? Her personal attachment to the small town was the only thing holding her back. It was, after all, her home—the sentimental place where she had lived out each one of her years to date.

Noticing her obvious reluctance, the vampire sighed. "I understand it must be difficult for you to leave the place that has been your home for so long, but you know very well that it must be done. There is no other way."

Her response was a stubborn shake of the head, much to his annoyance.

Mr. Crepsley's expression hardened as he stared directly into her eyes. "This is no longer your home. Your home is with me, and from this moment on, wherever I go, you will follow. Whatever I say, you will obey. Do you understand?"

"But can't we wait just a few—"

"We will not waste any more time here," he growled, frustrated. Turning his back to her, he bent at the knees. "We are leaving," he commanded, "now."

Grudgingly, Charlotte clambered onto his back, which she couldn't help but realize was becoming an easier task.

"Take one last look at your birthplace, Charlotte," Mr. Crepsley allowed, straightening and holding her legs to his sides.

She did. The pressure of uncertainty squeezed around her heart and she found herself wondering whether or not she was doing the right thing.

Of course I'm not… But none of that matters anymore.

With that, Charlotte left the last bit of her old life behind her as the vampire and his assistant flitted off into the night.