The Darren Shan Saga Cirque Du Freak, Larten Crepsley's story

(AN - This is the story he would have wrote if he could read or write--!)

Introduction

How do you describe, as you may say, a 'Freak'? Some people may say, 'a person who was born different or is different'. Others say, 'a unique individual who is looked upon as different by the way they look or act,' or, 'a malformed being'. Some may even say, almost casually, 'my best friend!' Is there a correct answer?

All these answers can, in some way, be correct.

A Freak can be someone who was born looking different to any normal person. A Freak can also be looked atdifferently because of looks or characteristics. A Freak…can even become your best friend. They are not always monsters. They are hardly cursed. Sometimes, they can make you believe the impossible…

…Like the fact that vampires exist…

Unconvinced? I'm not surprised. When I was a child, I used to believe in them. Maturing made me believe they were nothing but a myth…a story…but then something happened. Something that changed me completely and even made me bear the titles 'Freak', 'Different', 'Malformed' and 'Unique'. Even the most stubborn of minds, like mine was, can be made to believe the unbelievable after they've been shown the impossible, as I had been…

…That happened over 200 years ago.

The truth behind the story?

My name is Larten Crepsley. I am a vampire.

How am I a vampire? That's not important. What is important is in the story that I am telling you now.

My good friend and loyal assistant, Darren Shan, has told you his side…now it's my turn. What follows is not exactly the same as his, but two sides of one story are never the same. That was his…this is mine. Its details explain my opinions on things, why I say or do things, how I eventually become worthy of the title, 'Friend'…and why I chose Darren as my assistant.

As in Darren's story, I am not using any real names for the safety of everyone mentioned in this story.

I think that's a good enough introduction. Just to point out, this is a true story. In fake stories, the hero or heroine saves the day, good always wins and everyone ends up happy. That's not what happens in anyone's life, and that's not what happens in mine. To try and get you to understand what I mean, I will start at the point where my life started to change and fate had different plans for me than I did for myself.

It all started when I had that dream again…