Hi friends! Before I start I would like to make a statement to everyone, especially to the author of my only flame: This is an AU fic. This is from a fan characters perspective. What her life was like after Darren's "death". This plot is a bit confusing, it's supposed to be, ocassionally I won't remember what I'm writing about. This is the life of a half vampiress after the "death" of her old friend. There is supposed to be some bad grammar, I'm in character, that's why there's improper grammar. The spelling, usually common mistakes, you know, typos. Some spelling errors are intentional. I just want future readers to be aware of this. The grammar and spelling errors are 90 of the time intentional. I admit, I'm not perfect, I make errors, but who doesn't?

Anyways, get yourself some zebra cakes and some Oolong iced tea and here's a new addition to Truth or Dare!

Also, my biggest apologies for no updates. I have a new story started also, and I have the final chapter and final trilogy for my Lian/Kurda series ready to be posted too. I've moved and I've got through a huge lawsuit with my old school, gotten a boyfriend. Etc...Etc...IM me at Petrified Bread (AIM) or (MSN) to talk to this awesome, awesome author!

Chapter 5:

It was like a caravan. But at the same time...it was nothing like one. It was also something I should have expected, but I didn't. Steve had planned the detour...damnit. But it wasn't just him who was thrilled to be among the bizarre "carnies".

Annie loved it too.

"What the hell is this place?" Alan asked. I turned my head at him. Alan has finally developed the usage of swearing. He used to neeeeeever say hell.

Steve turned to him, gave a thumbs up and grinned. "You remember the flyer you found in your brothers pants, right?"

"We're at the Cirque!" Tommy gasped in disbelief. "How'd you know where it was?" Steve started walking backwards while he was being questioned. He looked like a tour guide.

"I didn't. I just lead you here." he shrugged. "Destiny I guess." Suddenly a woman appeared behind Steve and spun him so he faced her.

She looked rather...insane. She was old, and, well wrinkly. You know, old lady. She had her hand over Steve's mouth. "Don't speak that name!" she hissed at him. "Do you believe you can just treat that named like something you can throw around!" I yanked Steve away from her and she stepped back at the sight of me and walked away.

"Well then..." Annie said. "She reminds me of someone from Harry Potter." She started giggling. Annie was right. The woman reminded me too of a Harry Potter character.

Steve dragged us around a bit, me and Alan starting to get bored. There wasn't much to do, well actually, we did get something to do because, well we started getting questioned as to who we were...Oh joy.

After a few minutes, I got...bored. I got up...And walked away. Sorry guys!

There was a tent up in the middle of everything. A Huuuuuuuuge multicolored and patched tent, which would have made a really cool pair of pants.

I brushed past and entered the lit by fire canopy, and noticed about thirty people all stacking chairs and building up a makeshift stage.

"I'd figure you'd be here soon, Miss Hollow." I heard a voice say from behind me. Whaaa? When? How'd...how'd someone get behind me?

The only word I could use to describe the man...

Tall.

Immensely Tall

"H-hello..." I squeaked, looking up to try and see his face, which was completely invisible to someone of my height. "D-Do, I know you?"

"Your father does, Gabriel Hollow, right? He told me you would probably arrived here soon. Steve Leonard, with you led you here. You father knew he'd probably do that. Please, come with me."

Waaah! How does he know me! I mean! Gaaaaah!

The odd, very tall man introduced himself to me as, heh, what else, Mr. Tall. He was the manager of the Cirque. Excuse me, Cirque du Freak. He explained he knew Steve since he had been there a year or so earlier.

He led me to a trailer, a very beat up, old trailer. I probably could have used it as a makeshift rocket. Imagine that, vampires on the moon.

"You father told me you're searching for Darren Shan." Mr. Tall asked.

DAAAAAAAD! Do you have to tell everyone!

"Yeah, I went to school with him last year." I said, shifting uncomfortably. "I left for a year or so, and I came back to hear that he...quote un quote died." Mr. Tall opened the door to the trailer and allowed me to step in.

I know what you're thinking, "That man could be a petophile!" But listen, I know my dad knows him. My dad's a vampire. My dad knows everyone. I can trust anyone my dad trusts.

I took a seat in the trailer, just to notice I was sitting on top of a coffin. Meep! I jumped off and sat on the floor instead.

"Yes, that is Darren's mentors coffin. I presume you know the name, Larten Crepsley. I know he happens to be the one who blooded your dad. Always said he would never take an assistant until Darren."

"But---" Cut off

"Your father knew the ways of the vampires when Larten blooded him. I believe the man was, Gavner Purl who taught him the ways." I began waving excitedly.

"Dad always called him my godfather, even though my mom wouldn't allow it!" Whee! I get to tell a story!

"Yes, I know, your mother left after you were blooded." he said.

That I do not know how he knew.

That's something I've never told anyone. Just something discussed between me and Dad. But, he would have told me if he told someone.

This guy's gotta be stalking us!

"I know a lot of things Dana." Mr Tall added. "I'm afraid I can't tell you how, but I will say, that I am by no means stalking you. That's the last thing I would do to someone."

Yeah, this is really fricken creepy.

No, eerie.

"Why are you telling me about this?" I asked, now scared as hell. Ha, a scared vampire. That's a good one! I crack myself up!

That was sarcasm, by the way.

"Well, I'm afraid you've come to the Cirque at a horrible time. Darren has left with Larten and one of our acts, Evra, the snake boy, and I'm not quite sure when they'll be back. You're welcome to stay as long as you need to. But I cannot say how long it may be until they return. I know not long after they come back to the Cirque, they'll probably embark once again for Vampire Mountain. I strongly suggest you do not attend. You must be well acquainted with how the Princes frown upon young vampires.

I nodded.

"Until then, please, you and your friends stay as long as you need to. But I dont believe that Mr. Leonard will be staying much longer. He has such scorn toward the vampire kind. But surely, not you. What's so special about you, to Steve Leonard?"

Twitch...twitch...twitch...

"Maybe because I didn't betray him like he says Darren did. Maybe that's why. Maybe in the hopes that one day I'd blood him instead." I answered.

"Could be." Mr. Tall said with a very curious expression. "But only time will tell. We don't even know if you'll become a full vampire one day and take an assistant of your own, or if you remain a half vampire for the rest of your life."

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I found everyone after Mr. Tall let me go. He sent a few short people in blue robes with me, with stakes ( Ha! I laugh!), ropes, and a tent, with several hammocks for all of us. Looks like we were going to be guests at the Cirque no matter what.

I couldn't help but feel...different around Steve, after what Mr. Tall said. I mean, maybe he does think that, maybe one day I will blood him. But, hey, I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I don't know, and I won't care until it happens.

"So, Dana," Steve said, with one of those wink-wink, nudge-nudge looks. "Are we going to be working with the Cirque at all. I mean, I'd pay to be able to work here."

Never thought of that...

"Guess so, you can ask Mr. Tall." I turned to see Annie running toward me, laughing.

There was this kid with her, who's hair kept changing colors. Isn't that even defying science! It just turned blue! It's been going from pink to blue for the last few minutes!

"Kelly doesn't talk, but she said I could help in her act tonight!" Annie cheered. "Depending no what color she touches, she can turn whatever she touches after that into the color! Watch!" The little girl, Kelly, tapped Annies fingernails and the slowly started to turn blue. and not like a bruise! "It's something with pigments in your body right?" The girl nodded. "Yeah, only problem is that this affects her sense of speech."

I guess we are working with the Cirque. If Annie is. So can the rest of us.