Chapter 3

Mr Tall was already on the stage when I reached the stadium, I whistled to Madam Octa to keep her amused and calm as I watched the other acts, I had to admit they were spectacular. Everyone I spoke to however, always said I was a better performer, though I think since they know of the power I used to hold at the Mountain, and would rather be on my good side than in my bad books.

I watched Han Hands perform, watched him give me the thumbs up as I walked past him to the stage and then stepped up to the plate myself…I switched to my trademark Larten Mode…the performer--not the vampire…

I bowed to my audience--even as a boy I was taught to bow to my superiors, tonight this audience would be. I was in my own mind, testing myself and my abilities as much as I was testing how afraid they were…even more reason I enjoyed performing here than any normal circus.

I kept the flute in my pocket for now and as I said my quick intro I suddenly heard someone gasp, looking up in the audience I saw two boys about the age of eleven looking intently at me. One had short black hair the other one (the one who gaped) had white slightly longer locks. The blacked hair boy was blue eyed and the other one green. Both expressions gormless and emotion filled for two completely different reasons, reasons which, I would only find out later in my story.

Usually I would pick an audience member to single out and concentrate on during the act to keep my line of thought clear…the look on the black hair boy's face was startling…not scared, in awe…like a boy who had just got his biggest wish in the world. It was then I truly started-- my aim of my act was to surprise--terrify and amaze…and I was about to do all three!

"It is not true that all tarantulas are poisonous, most are as harmless as the spiders you find anywhere in the world. Those, which are poisonous normally, have enough poison in them to kill very small animals…" I began. All faces were concentrated at me. I felt like a teacher teaching a new and interesting subject and I was enjoying every look they gave me.

"But some are deadly!" I stated "Some can kill a man with one bite--they are rare…and only found in extremely remote areas, but they do exist…I have one such spider…"

I opened Madam Octa's cage, a fatherly pride running through me--I knew this spider inside and out, from her large hairy legs to her intelligent and cunning brain. Then she stepped out, the large spider and it's eight purple and green limbs carrying her as she walked forward and then stopped…waiting for my instructions…

"Madam Octa has been with me for several years," I went on, "She lives far longer than ordinary spiders. The monk who sold her to me said some of her kind live to be twenty to thirty years old. She is an incredible creature, both poisonous and intelligent."

I saw one of the little people bring on the goat--and had no sympathy for it, I had had a lot of trouble getting that goat here two days ago and did not worry about letting Madam Octa be as savage as she liked. The more of a savage she became…the more she would terrify and amaze.

I took out my flute and lifted it to my lips and played five notes "attack the goat but do not exterminate it" I thought in my head, my eyes were closed. I did not need to see what would happen to Madam Octa's victim because the gasps from the audience and the twenty years experience said it all.

"This flute is how I control Madam Octa…" I stated, my eyes now open as I was holding it above my head, "though we have been together for such a long time, she is no pet…and she would surely kill me if I lost it."

That was partly a lie, Seba Nile could and would whistle to his spiders to mentally connect to them, but I was still under training at that part of the course, even if I had been doing it for two hundred years or just less. I explained about the goat being paralyzed since everyone was still amazed that the poor animal it was breathing. Under my control she was only able to injure not kill though it would die painfully eventually. I was glad I could get that idea stuck in the ugly lady's head it had taken a while to get her used to it--but I finally succeeded.

I blew the whistle again and ordered her to do the thing she desired, she bit the goat again and it died. She crawled down the goats lame and dead body and towards the front of the stage--the part I really enjoyed of this was the front rows faces as they stood up in alarm.

"DO NOT MOVE!" I shouted, "Remember my warnings…any sudden noise could bring instant death!"

The front row seaters froze and did not seat down for a while, some were terrified as she came back onto the table as I ordered her too. I was smiling even more now the audience who had stood were now sitting down again thinking it was safe…

"You will be safe now" I told them, "Well it is safe for you…" I thought to myself and continued "but please do not make any loud noises--because if you do she might come after me!"

This took all of my concentration--placing my eyes looking directly at the black haired boy I spotted earlier I waited for the tingle of Madam Octa's legs crawling on my arms…

The only things I was centered on was my control on Madam Octa's brain and the green eyes I stared in…deep and mischievous--he looked like the kind of boy I used to be--

I turned my thoughts back to the spider--thinking about my childhood or blooding would not amuse the audience. She scuttled down my shoulder, up my neck across my face, dangled from my chin from her thin line of strong webbing and then I did something that made the audience quiver in fear…I threw my head back and the large spider landed on my mouth!

I showed the audience--their fearful look they gave me was like a feast for the eyes. Hiberinus arrived just on cue, took my flute from me as the spider spun a web in the inside of my mouth. She hung from my chin again whilst I let the webbing dissolve in my mouth…in all my years of being a vampire nothing could prepare me for that taste as the webbing exploded in your mouth like ice-cream…yet was ever so filling…

After that I made her do all kings of things at the front of the stage including walking on two feet, lifting weights--you name it I could make her do it in an instant. It was the end of my act--I had succeeded and I was delighted because of it. I looked at the audience, did a bow and gave a final glance at the two boys I saw at the beginning of my act, before fading away at last behind the stage as my audience behind my rang out in applause.

For the rest of the show all of the performers kept on giving me complements as always--

"That was mega excellent Larten!"

"Good show old chap!"

"Bravo! Bravo!"

"Your getting better each time you perform aren't you?"

"Amazing Mr Larten, simply amazing!"

As always I ignored them, there comments never meant much to me…even Tall congratulated me…which though it was a rare treat was not my concern. Ever since I saw the two boys my mind got to thinking. What were children doing here in the first place? Why did he gape when he saw me? I know I am a little on the ugly side but that could not be it--he must have seen me before since I could see the recognition in his bold blue eyes--but I have never seen him before that I know of.

I walked out onto the stage, my mind still in a pensive mood. There was not even a whisper that could be heard as the audience had just exited. When I heard a shout at the edge of the stage and jumped up--hiding in the rafters as a figure came forward--and I saw the little boy with white hair chewing at his fingernails…

"Do not even think about it Larten!" said a voice in my head, "You hate children remember? Just leave him alone--he is just a child"

However for some reason I was compelled--I knew he wanted to talk to me--I wanted to know why, a curiosity overpowering logic swept over me like a blanket so I jumped down surprising him…

The boy jumped at the sight of me, which was quite amusing, I turned to him smiling, "I saw you watching me," I told him. "You gaped aloud when you first saw me. Why?"

He started stuttering like someone who had seen a ghost--or infront of his worst fear. Something I had only ever done once--which I hope never to do again, finding it amusing as I heard the boy state his reason.

B-b-b because I kn know who you a-are" he said and I raised an eyebrow. I was getting both impatient and annoyed with the kid, I was tired…

"I am Larten Crepsley" I answered my patience slipping away.

"No I know who you really are!" he replied and then I grinned on impulse.

"Oh? Tell me little boy, who am I really?" I mocked, maybe scaring or insulting the boy would get him to leave, but his eyes displayed courage in them. I did not expect what was coming next and nothing prepared me for it…

"Your real name is Vur Horston…you're a vampire…"