Chapter 4

I stood there looking at my parents' through the large window--and then I broke away and sobbed. I couldn't take it anymore, I sank to the muddy grass, and my knees covered in mud and began to cry, I then heard a sound like the coo of a white dove.

"Are you alright mister?" it said and I then saw a face of a boy looking straight at me his nose against my nose, He had light brown hair and deep blue eyes, he only looked about 6 years old, and he had one of his front teeth missing. He looked at me and I looked at him and then he shouted something I will never forget…

"Mum! Look…theres a scary looking man on nanny and granddads garden…" he said and I sat upright in horror. Mum! Nan! Granddad! I stood up so fast that I smashed my head into the windowsill and then it seemed as though the streetlights went out.

***

Wherever I lay I knew it was a bed--a warm and cosy blanket. Maybe I was back home in my bed still thirteen; maybe everything I had gone through was just a dream, when I heard a familiar voice. It was sweeter than angels' voice--

"Mum…" I said, but I don't think she heard me because she put a cold flannel on my head and I could feel the bruise I felt pounding on my temple slightly lessen.

"Relax…you were knocked out young man…" she said, and I smiled warmly, still half asleep.

"It was horrible nightmare…" I said weakly "I dreamed that I was a vampire prince…"

The warm voice laughed and it was sweet music to my ears, how I had missed that laugh in my dream. "You have a better imagination than my grandson--"

The word hit me like a punch in the face. GRANDSON! I sat up sharply and found I didn't have the strength to sit up and slid down again, but my eyes were wide, I was looking at my mum, and she was looking down at me.

"You hit your head really badly…Mr grandson Darren must have shocked you," she said and I know then that the blood most have drained from my face at the mention of a grandson.

"Sorry--" I said choked, "Did you say grandson?"

"Yes I did..." she said frowning, "Are you sure you alright? That is one of the nastiest bruises I have ever seen on your head--you must have a concussion from it…"

"No, I'm Mu-Miss.I will be on my way now" I said almost saying mum, feeling even more choked. I was a vampire and it hadn't given me a concussion because my head was quite strong. I noticed it was still dark outside the window. Either it had been a day since I got knocked out--or I had only been out for an hour or two…

"Seriously young man--you should stay for a while--you know--rest--I can see you look very ill…" she said referring to my pale complexion. "Then atleast you can meet my husband and my daughter, Annie was so worried when she saw you…"

I was breathing heavily now; I was so shaken about what had happened I could barely speak. She noticed I needed time alone and gave me a grin, "I was wondering--Have I ever met you before…? You look awfully familiar, have you got family around this town?"

I shivered--"No…I am new here--my family are gone" I lied.

"Well I am sorry to here that," she said sadly, "I'll leave you here for a while and I will call you down for dinner…it's only five in the evening--you were out all day and I am sure your hungry." She said and then she walked away and closed the door behind her.

The moment she was gone I put my head in my hands, what had I done? I was now stuck in my old house--I was sitting in my old bedroom--they hadn't moved anything for thirty years--my comics still lay exactly how I left it…My bed was still the same and still smelt of the lavender my mum had used to wash it in. I noticed that my shirt and things i had been wearing lay on the floor, and I went to put them on.

When I thought about Annie, she had a son! I had a nephew! And she had named him after me. I knew needed to send word to someone…needed to get out of here and go back to Cirque du Freak before everyone started worrying. However, part of me wanted to stay--I wanted to talk to my nephew Darren, I wanted see my sister and my father again…

I must have been sitting there a long time when a familiar rapping on the door told me that my mum was about to open it, I was dressed now some normal clothing I had worn, my leather coat over me.

"Dinners ready…" she told me, and taking a deep breath I went to the door and opened it.

***

I walked down the stairs, a smile on my face as I looked around my old house, my parents still don't like change--I thought to myself as I saw the old picture frames still hung up, and the same wall paper. When I saw my mum at the bottom of the stair.

"I hope you like what I am making, We've got chicken, roast patatoes, corn on the cob and for dessert strawberry cheesecake!" she said and my mouth went dry with sadness. They were going to be eating my favourite meal--the last meal I ate with them the last time I was known as there son…

"My favourite…" I told her smiling.

She sighed. "My daughter and husband are at the table." She said and led me through to the dining room. There they were both of them; Annie was sitting at the table as she laughed at a joke my father had just told. Beside him was my supposed nephew who as I walked in pointed at me and smiled.

"Look it's the Mister--he's awake!" he said laughing, "You slept a long time mister!" he said to me pointing, and I felt tears building up in my eyes, but I bit them back.

"Hello there…" I said but all I heard was a choked sound. My sister walked over and put a hand on her son's shoulder.

"Don't point at people…" she muttered to her son and then turned to me. "Sorry if he gave you a fright the other day," She said smiling. "He likes talking to new people…" she said, and then she looked up at me, height wise nothing had changed-- I was still exactly half a head taller than my sister just as it should have been.

"Well, You've met my mother, Angela, but everyone calls here Angie…and this is my father Dermot--" said Annie and my dad walked over and shook me by the hand. "And this is my little boy Darren…"

"I'm six but I'll be seven in June!" Darren said and I smiled warmly.

"Pleased to meet you" I said to both the boy and my father, "I'm Dar-" I said and was about to say Darren and stopped myself. "Daniel…Daniel Horston. But my friends call me Dan…"I told them and Annie smiled.

"Nice to meet you Dan!" she said and at that moment, I had never been gladder that I had had the purge because then all of this had been possible.

***

Author Notes -

Hope you are enjoying this so far…to answer some people's questions--yes this is the real name of the eleventh book--which comes out in May/June in England if I am not mistaken! Sorry if my spoilers were not so clear for everyone-

I only just found out that in fact US haven't read number 7 number 8 number 9 or number 10 yet…soz…but this is in fact what I think will happen--I know it's kinda hard to do--but hey--I'm trying here…

Reviews are welcome and thanks to all that have reviewed…I know my chapters are short--but I will keep writing…

Thanks Jedi Solo…

Creature of the Surreal