Chapter 10
It was time to act, no matter much he may hate me, scorn my name for the rest of his and my years…I had to do this, we had no choice, he'd been crying for what seemed like an eternity, and I was standing over them. Sam was still alive, but only just, and Darren was still sobbing.
"Darren" I said at last, not feeling brave or good about saying what I was going too. "It will not seem the right time but there is something you must do. For Sam's sake and for your own" I said stubbornly
He wiped his face with his sleeve and looked up at me, "what are you talking about? Can we save him? Tell me if we can. I'll do anything…"
I hoped he would say that it only made it easier. But only just "There is nothing we can do to save his body, but there is something we can do for his spirit"
I paused and he looked at me as though he was hoping my words would be good…but I know he would hate this task and I decided to tell him bluntly the truth, "Darren…you must drink Sam's blood…"
He looked at me in disbelief, "HOW COULD YOU!" he said with a snarl, "One of my friends is dying and all you can think about—"he trialed off, "YOU'RE SICK! YOU'RE A SICK TWISTED MONSTER! You should be dying not Sam! I hate you! Get out of here!"
The words hurt, and in a way I wish I was a sick twisted monster, that way I would not feel the shame, the guilt or the hate at myself for what I was asking the child to do.
"You do not understand…" I murmured
"YES I DO!" he screamed at me, "Sam's dying, but all you're worried about is blooding me. Do you know what you are? You're a no good—"
"Do you remember what I told you? About our discussion about vampires being able to absorb a person's spirit…?" My question confused him. "Do you remember?"
"Yes…yes what about it?"
"Sam is dying…a few more minutes and he will be gone. For ever. But you can keep part of him alive within you if you drink from him now and take his life before the wounds of the Wolf man can…"
Darren could not believe it. "YOU WANT ME TO KILL SAM?" he screamed.
I shook my head with a sigh, "Sam has already been killed. But if you finish him off before he dies from the bites of the Wolf Man, you will save some of his memories and feelings, in you he can live on."
Darren shook his head as though to shake my words out, his face devastated "I cant drink his blood, not Sam's" he looked down at Sam and sighed. "I can't…"
I sighed, "I will not force you too, but think carefully about it. What happened tonight is a terrible tragedy which will haunt you for a very long time, but if you need not lose all of him"
"I can't drink from him," Darren sobbed "he was my friend…"
It was because he was your friend that you must!" I said as determined as I could, and with a sigh I backed away and stood looking away. If he did not do it or if he did, I did not want to see…
I hoped in my mind Darren would drink…I realize how much I did not know about the boy…I wanted to learn more about him, I wanted to be his friend…I wanted to show him the side of me I used to be…
However on the negative side, Darren would be a real vampire now…he would truly be my assistant…and that also bothered me…because in some ways he would not be much of a child anymore…
Those moments draw out like a blade as I wait; for once I am not sure that I can be patient…until I hear the small words…
"I'm sorry Sam"
I heard Darren sucking Sam's blood and turned my head to look, it was a terrible sight, Darren's eyes leaking with tears absorbing the blood, filling him inside and out and when he had done he started shouting and howling in grief…in shame of what he had done…
I recollected on Hibernius's words once more…and hoped they would come true…
"Be Cruel to be kind…you can make up for it later…"
Mr Tall soon arrived with the rest of the search party; I explained to Mr Tall what I knew about it. I told him that that I did not know who unlocked the cage, and that Darren was not in a state to interrogate. He was sitting beside Sam's now dead body, holding Sam's pale cold hand, not moving, and too tired to do much else. The little people were with Tall, and looking at them I remember Mr Tiny's warning…
That Darren would betray me…
After everything I had made him do, and everything I have caused him…
I did not blame him
I wished he would of killed me then, to get rid of the shame I was now hiding from the world…
When I saw the Little People step towards Sam's dead body after putting the knocked out Wolf Man back into there hostage.
Darren noticed. "Hold on, what are they going to do with Sam?" he said with a horse voice, you could hear how loud he'd been howling by the soreness in his voice.
Mr Tall coughed uncomfortably looking to me and then to my assistant. "I, ah, rather imagine they're going to dispose of him"
I knew what Mr Tall meant straight away, and I know Darren would not take it as an answer the moment he understood. "THEY'RE GOING TO EAT HIM!" he exclaimed in anger and shock.
"We can't leave him here and we don't have time to bury him. This is the easiest—"
"NO!" Darren said firmly, the murderous voice returning.
I tried to tell Darren it was no use arguing with Mr Tall but he shook his head.
"If they want to eat Sam they have to eat me first" he growled.
I will say one thing, the little people looked unnerved by the idea of eating a half vampire child and Mr Tall noticed it too.
"I am sure they would be glad to accommodate you" said Mr Tall dryly, a smirk on his face.
"I mean it!" he said angrily, "I won't let them eat Sam, he deserves a proper burial"
"So that the worms can devour him?" asked Mr Tall
Though I agreed with both Darren and Hibernius, the boy had a point this time. "Let the boy have his way Hibernius, you may return to the Cirque with the others, I will stay to dig the grave…"
Mr Tall shared a surprised look with me then shrugged nodding, and lead away the little people leaving Darren and I alone with the corpse. Once they were gone I sat down next to Darren.
"How are you?" I asked him softly, concerned.
I could guess it was hard to say how he felt, considering the circumstances. So I tried a more specific question.
"Do you feel stronger?" I asked.
"Yes" he answered softly.
We stayed silent for more minutes…then I looked to him, "You will not have to drink for a long time" I told him truthfully, hoping to put him to rest about that problem.
"I didn't do it for me" he said softly, "I did it for Sam"
Another silence.
"Are you angry with me?" I asked him at last.
"No" he answered, some of mind was put to rest
I wanted to say that I hoped I could make it up to him, anything to prove that I never wanted to hurt him intentionally…
"I hope—"I began but Darren stopped me
"I don't want to talk about it. I'm cold and sore, miserably and lonely, I want to think of Sam not waste words on you…"
Though the words stung I nodded. "As you wish" I told him and started to dig with him Sam's grave. It was after a few seconds he turned to me.
"I'm a real vampire's assistant now aren't I?" he asked me.
"Yes…yes you are…"
"Does that make you glad?"
I froze and looked at him in return and considered my words, "No…it makes me feel ashamed…"
He looked as though he was about to ask why, when a little person appeared out of no where above us, Darren raised his hand in warning, but the limping little person jumped in and started digging too. Telling Darren to rest I looked back at him as we dug.
I hoped he got over this soon…
Sam's body was laid low quickly, Darren did not say much, both of us were lost for words, it came close to dawn and as we parted, Darren was going to help pack the Cirque, get under way out of the town which had caused him a lot of misery whilst I was going back to my coffin to sleep…in protection of the approaching sun.
We walked away from each other, and I saw Evra in front of me, I thought it best to tell him what happened instead of hearing it from a worker who may exaggerate the tale. As I started walking I suddenly heard something
"Thank you…"
I turned, but Darren was walking the opposite way, and my eyes rested on him. I was unsure he had spoken to me…it could have just been my imagination. I watched and a small smile graced my lips.
"Your welcome Master Shan…" I said softly and turned back towards Evra towards my coffin and darkness, as the sun came over the horizon. As I felt that somehow, that night, had changed all our lives forever…
TO BE CONTINUED…..
YAY! I finished the story! Yahoo Yahoo! I cant believe it, all in all the firs to books are about 60 pages. faints and I have lots more books to do! It's going to take forever, but I'm going to do it. Besides, it's good to learn Larten's side of events right!
Thanks to all who reviewed! I am so greatful. I will start writing the 3rd book right away…considering ppl love this so much!
Gawd this is going to take over my life
Now where did I put that pen