The Gang and Ursus are not in the film or books... I made em up. Hope you like them anyway. I don't.
DC
Darren screwed up his eyes in concentration and tried to focus on the flitting figure in front of him. Mr Crespley had roughly excused him from his game of chess with Evra and had shoved him out into the night and had propelled him toward his darkened caravan where he stood now. Bruises were just beginning to swell under his skin around his wrist and forearm where the man had dug his sharp nails into him to pull him along. Darren rubbed them reproachfully and scowled.
"Why couldn't you tell me back at my tent?" he moaned. Mr Crespley had hardly said a word after ordering him to stick to the shadows on the way back to his tent. The man snapped his bony fingers impatiently.
"Because it was too risky," he said hoarsely, "your tent is canvas - anyone could have listened in. I'll know if anyone comes anywhere near here." Even as he said this the old Vampire spared quick sharp glances at the windows suspiciously. Darren cast him a skeptical look. Mr Crespley could be over-protective at times.
"Well what is this risky information then?" he asked, a tad sarcastic for Mr Crespley's taste and the man told him so. Darren didn't apologize. His arm still hurt and he wanted to know what was so important that he had to be dragged from the warmth of his tent to his mentor's cold, dark caravan.
"Don't get sharp with me lad," warned Mr Crespley, "have I ever done anything that isn't for your own good?" Darren considered this.
"You turned me into a vampire," he said at last.
"You asked to be one," retorted Mr Crespley.
"And then you threw me under a truck and broke my neck to fake my death," said Darren, listing on his fingers.
"Quick and painless,"
"And now I'm living here at the Cirque..."
"Where you've made lots of new friends!"
"True, true...but now there's something else?" He paused and waited politely for Mr Crespley to contradict him.
"Yes," replied his teacher, sending shivers of disappointment down Darren's spine. Mr Crespley rubbed his temples and sighed loudly.
"Darren," he said, "it is vitally important that you are kept safe."
"But why - ?"
"Because there are rumors boy! Rumors and prophecies that could spell danger for you!" His voice dropped several octaves to a dramatic whisper and Darren had to lean forward to catch his words. "There is a Vampaneze belief, a belief which I fear has spread and infiltrated our own kind, that a vampire lord must be chosen to fight a Vampaneze lord. The Vampaneze lord has already been picked by Mr Tiny himself."
"Well who's the lord for our kind?" said Darren quickly. His heart skipped a beat as Mr Crespley widened his eyes pointedly.
"Me?" cried the boy, "I can't be the vampire lord! I'm not even a whole vampire! I'm only half, a half-vampire!"
"I know that, I know that," groaned Mr Crespley. He sucked his teeth and looked frustrated with himself. "I don't think it matters anymore. People are too...eager. They anticipate a fight and in their haste, little details are forgone. I don't think it matters if you are not a full vampire yet, they just want to win this war."
Darren blinked. The enormity of the situation struck him and left raw marks across his mind. What was he going to do? He couldn't fight the Vampaneze lord! He couldn't fight at all. He told Mr Crespley this.
"Nonsense boy," he barked, "you're not going to fight!"
"But...I don't understand!"
"Perhaps it would be simpler if you just did what you're told and didn't try to understand things," said Mr Crespley slowly, "we need to keep you hidden. Very few will think to look here at the Cirque but the few who do are dangerous. We'll need to move you."
"No! Mr Crespley you can't! I've only just arrived! I can't just leave everyone - I won't!"
"Oh you won't?" said Mr Crespley calmly, "oh, well, then I'll just protect myself and leave you here then. No sense worrying myself. I expect you'll teach yourself to fight then? Not that it'll matter. You won't stand a chance against Steve Leonard..." he watched Darren's expression flicker from sulky to shocked to scared and then freeze at horrified.
" Steve? I can't fight Steve! I can hardly fight anyone!" Mr Crespley shrugged.
"Well, what are you going to do then?" he asked, evidently uncaring. Darren relented.
"I need to go into hiding," he grumbled. Mr Crespley folded his arms and turned his back.
"Off you go then," he said. Darren rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said, "I just don't want to have to leave all my friends again. I've only just got used to it here!" Mr Crespley's unbeating heart softened slightly at the sight of the boy's deflated expression.
"It won't be for long," he promised, "and it'll only be until the vampires replace you. Once you've disappeared, a hole will open in the prophecy that I imagine they'll fill pretty quickly."
"But whoever they chose will be defeated by Steve anyway!" cried Darren. Mr Crespley grunted.
"That's none of our concern. The battle will take place as expected and with Steve on their side, the Vampaneze will win. We have already prepared ourselves for that. What we must focus on is what we will do after."
"Wait - so, I wasn't really going to fight - " began Darren.
"I've explained boy, it was my intention to take you into hiding and - "
"No. That's not what I mean. I mean, whether it was me or someone else - you don't expect us to win. Steve's opposition would be some sort of sacrifice? A martyr for the vampire's cause?"
"It is not ideal," admitted Mr Crespley, "But there is no one strong enough willing to take him on!" Darren frowned. Steve was clearly feared in the vampiric community. His reputation as a meticulous fighter had evidently spread.
"We will take you away from here tomorrow night," said Mr Crespley, calling Darren out of his thoughts, "under the cover of darkness. Tonight you can return to your tent." Darren nodded sleepily, realizing suddenly that his head felt heavy and his eyelids were drooping.
"I'll come and fetch you tomorrow," said Mr Crespley, "be ready."
Loaf head walked crab-legged into the tent shrouded by darkness, his grumbling filling the space formally occupied by silence. Outside the afternoon's bustle continued as normal. He took his position in the circle beside a solitary candle that was placed on a three legged stool. He wasn't surprised by the lack of light. The Gang's preferred the darkness, it hid their deformities. He coughed.
"Well?" said a voice in the darkness.
"He'll be moved tonight. I don't know where to, I don't think Mr Crespley knows either. For now he is back in his tent."
"Then we don't have long. But we will need time."
"Well, I have been informed that Mr Crespley is currently in liaison with Mr Tall," said Loaf head gruffly into the candlelight, "that should lend you a few hours."
A voice hummed. It was a long, drawn out, thoughtful hum that informed everyone the voice thought it was possible that it might be long enough. Whilst the unseen group seemed to be silently discussing the thought, Loaf head took time to admire the set up. The arrangement meant that the one standing inside the circle, by the flickering candle, could not see anyone outside the ring of light as the Gang stood just outside the glow. It occurred to him now that the arrangement also meant that none of the figures outside the ring could see each other either. Were they that disgusted by each other?
The Gang were a sub-culture within the Cirque du Freak. Loaf head didn't often associate with them but they had one thing in common. They had all belonged to another Freak Show before joining the Cirque, run by a money-mad man named Ursus. The Freak Show had exploited them and had treated the horribly resulting in a scarred, self-conscious group of men and women who banded together and hid themselves from any limelight. They called themselves disgusting but they were more formally known as the Gang.
"It can be done," said a voice at last. There was a general murmur of agreement.
"When?" said another. There was a gap and suddenly Loaf head felt as though he was expected to add something. Unseen eyes regarded him critically. The dwarf scratched his elongated forehead and grunted.
"In the next hour or so...I dunno." This seemed to please the group. They all spoke at once.
"We'll have to do it quickly."
"There's a car waiting."
"Someone inform the demon we'll be with him soon!"
"And tell him to have Ursus ready!" A roar of agreement and triumph shook the tent but went unnoticed by the other inhabitants of the Cirque. Loaf head looked about him and shuddered but he was thankful and relieved he couldn't see their malformed faces.
