Chapter 5

That night was one of the best sleeps I had had in a long time. I was so glad to be back that Darren didn't annoy me one bit that evening, He told me how Evra had thought it funny that He was sharing and I knew why. Evra had always hated sharing with me. I kept him up during the night and he kept me awake during the day. I remember him telling me how he hated sharing with stubborn stuffy vampires, and yet he had become a best friend with one…or rather half of one. The next three days went rather quickly, there were no shows since Cormac Limbs hadn't arrived and so I do an odd number or random jobs for everyone.

Even though I enjoyed it here it seemed Darren was enjoying it far more than I was. His face was always alight with excitement telling me about what he had been up to and who he had met and where he had been. He had made friends with Evra better than even I had guessed and a human named Sam but as Darren seemed to enjoy the Cirque Du Freak I also realized that as the days went by he was looking paler and paler. I tried to forget about it…if he did not want to drink it was his problem but I could not help but worry…and it did not help my worry at all when I woke up one evening to hear that Mr Tiny had arrived…

When I heard I cursed loudly, especially when my messenger had said he had wanted to see me. With a sorry look on my face I walked to Mr Tall's van, automatically looking round and seeing to my horror Mr Tiny's little people setting up their tent.

When I first met Mr Tiny I had wanted to laugh and say what was all the fuss about, the little man in green Wellington boots and a bright yellow suit seemed like a clown's sidekick. However, in this charade I was turned into the clown. He insulted both Tall and Seba and then when he turned to me, he told me to my anger and fear how pathetic I was, I would be dead in a couple of months if I did not keep my head high. I wondered what he would say now.

However, as I reached Mr Tall's van I wish I had not returned, the dark horse Tiny was evil…I didn't need to taste his blood to know it. When I knocked on the door Mr Tall opened the door. His face was grave. He need not to say anything to me about why because Mr Tiny sitting in Mr Tall's van as though it was his own spoke first.

"LARTEN!" He said with an evil grin, "Sit down old chap."

"I would rather stand" I said bluntly, Tiny smiled and then stood, walking closer he looked at me as though I was dinner.

"You've come a long way Larten…! I never thought I'd be having this conversation with you…when was the last time we met?" he said and I was not sure myself so I did not answer, he noticed my forgetfulness and he smirked again. "Not that it matters!" he continued, "It seems the last time I met you you'd barely become a vampire—and here you are…a mentor to the youngest half vampire since Paris Skyle himself…! What's his name again?"

I did not answer, because his face told him he did not need my say so. I would have rather been fighting Arra on the bars and have my head brutally kicked in than be anywhere near this monster again… "Oh that's right—its Darren Shan isn't it….I have a job for him whilst you're around Larten I hope you don't mind…"

Like I was going to disagree with a man who was this evil, I nodded slowly and sadly, when he beckoned me closer.

"You know, I would be weary of your apprentice Larten…you never know one day you might wake up and realize that he has drove a steak through your heart…! It must be awful to wonder what the young man feels for you Larten…as an mentor, as a guardian…even an loathed enemy…!"

"Darren Shan is not my enemy!" I blurted out in anger—but as I said it his twisted truths hit home. Darren had sworn to kill me, so has he been pretending to befriend me? Is he waiting till the time is right and then would blame it as an accident?

I watched Tiny smirk, his plan had succeeded what ever it was, and there was a smile most terrible on his lips. With that there was a knock on the door and who should stand there but Darren and Evra.

I could not look at Darren as the thoughts hit home so I gave a quick glance and bowed my head, Tiny's thoughts disturbing the quiet water under the bridge between us. I wanted to get Darren there and then and force him to tell me if he would kill me. I did not like the thought of dying that way—I wanted to be able to trust him but the rage that filled me up inside was incredible—

Tiny was speaking to them about feeding his little people, when he said he couldn't stay I was glad but the conversation was far from over. I barely listened to the conversation but then as Tiny waved his hand to make them leave Darren stayed where he was.

"Excuse me," he said looking like he was about to quiver with fear but stood proud all the same, "but why do you call them Little People?"

I felt my mouth drop—what was the brat doing! It's like giving cheek to a vampaneze when you're in their power to kill but ten times worse.

"Because they're little…" said Mr Tiny pleasantly, or would have been pleasant if didn't know him.

"I know that!" said Darren, "But don't they have another name? A proper name? If somebody said "Little People" to me I would think they were talking about Elves or Leprechauns!"

Tiny smiled, "They ARE Elves and Leprechauns! All around the world you will find stories about small magical people and legends have to start somewhere. These legends started with my short loyal friends…"

"Are you telling me those dwarfs in blue coats are elves!" Darren cried out.

"No" Tiny replied, "Elves don't exist. Those dwarfs - as you so rudely put it were seen long ago, by ignorant people who invented names for them: Elves or fairies or sprites. They made up stories about what they are and what they can do."

"What can they do?" said Darren curiously.

With a frown Tiny suddenly seemed to lose his patience just as I do, but he had the power to kill Darren. Where as I could not…

"I'd heard you were quite the one for asking questions!" he growled impatiently, "But nobody told me you were this nosy! Remember Darren Shan: curiosity killed the cat."

I thought Darren might drop the conversation and leave but he did not, in fact he just made himself stuck in a sticky situation.

"I'm no cat!" he said to our disbelief! Tiny leant forward and his face darkened, "If you ask more questions," he hissed, "you might find yourself turned into one! Nothing in life is forever not even the human form."

I turned to Darren, "Go to bed now and get a good night's sleep…" I told him as he left with Evra, "There will be no lessons tonight…"

"And rise early boys!" Tiny added, "My little people are always hungry in the morning and it's not wise to let there hunger go unattended, You never know what they might set their minds and teeth into if they go unfed for too long!"

With that Darren and Evra left and Mr Tiny too went to leave. "I guess I'd better go…nothing but insults around here!" he muttered and then said goodbye to a pale looking Hiberinus first and then turned to me with a smirk.

"Remember Larten Crepsley…trust is a fickle thing…and you may be regretting blooding the boy very soon and saving the Leonard boys life also…" and with that turning my head right round the little monster left smiling like the cat that had caught the cream.

That day's sleep was a difficult one, dreams of betrayal flooded to my mind, a mind of confusion as I heard Tiny's words…trust is a fickle thing…but Mr Tiny made it sound as though Darren would be killing me any day. Whilst I slept the dreams I had were very familiar…the dream I had two months before after blooding the boy and saving the leopard boy. Darren Shan lifting me from the fire and Steve stabbing me but this time round there was a significant difference…Steve Leopard was not there at all or the one doing the stabbing. Darren was working alone and a grin most unpleasant was displayed on the boy's face…whilst on my face—

Agony…