I don't own the Cirque, (Mr. Tall does.) Or any of the characters etcetera. Reviews are welcomed with open arms
Mr. Crepsley led the way out of the building. Walking confidently in the dark. When they were outside he turned and looked at his children thoughtfully. "How are we going to do this?"
"Do what?" Elena asked.
"I suppose I could manage to carry both of you that distance." Mr. Crepsley mused.
"Carry us?" Darren asked disbelieving.
"Darren hop on my back. And do not let go or make any sudden movements." Darren climbed on and wrapped his arms tightly around his father's neck. Looking down he noticed that Mr. Crepsley was wearing slippers. He thought it was rather odd, but he didn't dare say anything.
"What about me?" Elena asked.
"Come here." Mr. Crepsley said. He picked her up bridal style and reminded Darren to hold on tight. Then they were flying. No, not flying Darren realized, Mr. Crepsley was running. The world around them was a blur. They made it to the hospital in minutes. Normally it would have been a twenty-minute trip. And that was running the whole way.
"How did you do that?" Elena asked Mr. Crepsley amazed as he set her on the ground.
"You will find out in time." He replied simply. He said no more as he wandered into the shadows so that they would not be seen. "What room is your friend in?" he asked. Darren told him Steve's room number and then he and Elena trailed behind as Mr. Crepsley began counting windows. When he stopped, he nodded and told one of them to get on his back.
"You go." Elena told Darren, "I'll stay here"
Darren hopped on Mr. Crepsley's back once again. Mr. Crepsley walked to the wall and looked at it. Then he shoved his nails right through the brick. "Hmmm," He said. "It will hold, but do not panic if we slip, it takes a very long fall to kill a vampire." He then began to scale up the side of the hospital wall. Within a minute he and Darren were right outside Steve's window. Mr. Crepsley laid a hand on the glass right by the lock, snapped his fingers with the other hand and the lock sprang open! They both climbed in and Darren ran straight to Steve's side.
"It is a good job that you did not wait any longer." Mr. Crepsley told Darren. "A few more minutes and he would have been gone."
"Just hurry and give him the antidote." Darren snapped at him. Mr. Crepsley leaned over Steve and made a small cut in his neck. "What are doing?" Darren said in horror.
"It must be passed on by mouth." Darren stayed silent and watched as Mr. Crepsley put the serum in his mouth and lowered his head towards the cut on Steve's neck. He blew the serum into Steve. When he was done, Mr. Crepsley sat back and spat the remainder of the serum onto the floor, wiping his mouth. "I am always afraid of swallowing that stuff by accident."
Darren started to reply when Steve began to move. His face contorted with pain, he let out a moan. "What's wrong with him?" Darren cried rushing to his friend.
"It is alright, it just means the antidote is doing its job. He will be in pain until the poison is all out of his system, but he will be fine." Steve's eyes shot open and focused on Crepsley. He then passed out.
"Steve? Steve!"
"He will pass in and out of consciousness for a while Darren, he will be awake by morning." Then a nurse walked into the room. Mr. Crepsley quickly threw a blanket over her head. "Come," Mr. Crepsley hissed. Darren glanced at his father, then Steve, and then the open door of the hospital room. "I see you are going back on our deal." Mr. Crepsley said. Darren ran out the front door, the voice of his father following him right out into the parking lot. "Very well, run Darren! It will do you no good. You are a creature of the night now. You will come crawling back on your knees begging for my help! Run fool, run!" He heard the cackling laughter in his head all the way home.
The next morning Darren realized he left Elena by herself with Mr. Crepsley. She didn't have to leave behind a family even if it wasn't his real family. They had raised him and he still cared about them. She'll be better off staying with Crepsley than at the orphanage. He wondered briefly what the vampire would do if he ever found out how his daughter had been treated. Would he be angry? Would he even care? His mother rushing into his room tore Darren from his thoughts. "Steve is alright!" She told him. Darren acted surprised and pleased.
"How?" He exclaimed. "Did they find a cure?"
She shook her head. "The doctors say it was a miracle, his body fought off the poison by itself."
"That's great!" Darren said.
He went to see Steve that Tuesday. He was surprised to see Elena sitting on the edge of Steve's bed. Steve was delighted to see Darren, starting to tell him about his stay in the hospital. The food, the games, and the presents he had received. "I should be bitten by poisonous spiders more often." He joked.
"Don't make it a habit." Elena told him. "You might not recover next time."
"What did you do with Octa after?" Steve asked.
"I killed her," Darren lied. Elena shot him a look, which he pointedly ignored. "I got mad and stomped her to death."
"Really?"
"Really." Steve was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, "You know, when I first woke up I thought I saw you Darren. You and creepy Crepsley."
"Strange." Elena said.
"Yeah," Steve muttered. "Strange."
Darren dragged Elena to the hospital parking lot after a nurse shooed them out. "You didn't go with Crepsley?"
She sighed. "He told me that you went back on the deal, and told me that I could stay at the orphanage if I wanted."
"So you're staying?" Darren asked hopefully.
Elena shook her head. "I'm staying for a week to say goodbye you know. I'm sorry Darren but I can't live in that hell hole anymore, not when I know that I could be living with someone who might actually care about me."
Darren hated it. He hated that he would lose his best friend that was like his sister to a monster. No, she was his sister, and that monster was his father, but he understood. "I'll miss you." He choked out.
"I'll miss you too." Elena wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
The next week both kids noticed changes in each other, and in themselves. They were faster, stronger, and had sharper senses than before. It was hard to go to sleep when the moon was out.
Steve rang Darren that Thursday. He complained he was dying of boredom, and that he had persuaded his mom to let him come to school tomorrow rather than on Monday.
"You mean you want to come to school?" Darren asked in disbelief.
"Sounds weird doesn't it?" He laughed. "Staying indoors sucks, for a couple of days it was fun, but it gets lame after a whole week."
Steve was the center of attention on Friday. Everyone wanted to know everything. What bit him, how he survived, and did he have any scars? "I don't know what bit me." He said, "I was sitting by the window at Darren's house. I got bitten and then passed out."
Darren felt even stranger that Friday, and Elena wasn't even there for him to talk to. He wondered what he was doing at a normal school, with normal people. What good would English, History, and Geography do a vampire's assistant?
Tommy and Alan told Steve all about his skill on the field. "He can run like the wind these day." Tommy said.
"Elena's the only one who can keep up with him!" Alan said.
"Have you two been practicing while I was gone?" Steve joked suspiciously.
Darren played badly on purpose to throw Steve's suspicions off. It worked, until near the end of the game. When Alan went after the ball that was in Darren's path. Darren and Alan collided. Alan went flying with a cry and the sight of blood made Darren stop dead in his tracks. Darren dropped to his knees and began to drink Alan's blood. As people gathered around he drew back horrified. He jumped up and spread his arms, "I am the vampire lord!" He laughed. Everyone thought it was a joke. It was fine. The bell rang to signal everyone to return to class. Darren caught sight of Steve's face. He hadn't been fooled at all. He knew.
When they got to class, Mr. Dalton, the Headmaster, and a few policemen were there.
What's going on?" Tommy whispered to Darren. He shook his head and took his seat.
Class," The Headmaster said softly, "I'm very sorry to tell you that your classmate, Elena Crepsley had an accident last night." There were whispers around the classroom. Darren sat in shocked silence. He knew what had happened, "She fell from a window and her neck broke." He continued.
"The funeral will be this weekend." Mr. Dalton said. "I hope you will all attend to say goodbye."
One of the officers stepped forward. "Elena had bruises that couldn't have been caused by the fall, do any of you know where they came from? We need to know if this was really an accident."
The whole class was silent. Then Steve spoke up. "They," He took a breath, "They used to beat her at the orphanage."
The policemen nodded to him while the entire class gasped. "Thank you."
"You will be dismissed early today." Mr. Dalton said. "The buses are waiting for you outside."
Darren avoided Steve on the way home. He couldn't believe he drank Alan's blood. He didn't want to drink blood at all. He locked himself in the bathroom and stared at himself in the mirror. He didn't look any different, except for his hardened nails. He ran one across the glass. I deep scratch appeared there.
"Darren can I come in to use the bath?" He heard Annie's voice say.
"Sure," He replied. He let her in.
"Admiring yourself in the mirror?" She asked with a giggle.
"Of course," Darren grinned, "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well if my face looked like that I'd stay away from mirrors." She laughed again and wrapped a towel around herself turning the water on. As she leaned over, her bare neck was exposed. Darren stared at it, slowly drawing circles with his finger. He saw Annie becoming sleepy. He was hypnotizing her! Darren licked his lips. Baring his teeth he leaned forward, and then he realized what he was doing. He ran from the bathroom into his own room, shutting the door and leaning back against it. He knew what he had to do. Darren waited until his parents fell asleep then snuck off to the theatre. Crepsley was waiting for him.
"I knew you would come back." He smiled. "You lasted longer than I thought."
"I'm doomed aren't I?"
"Yes, but you got lucky. Most vampires kill someone they are close to until the realize what you did."
Darren sighed. "I suppose I'm stuck with you then."
Mr. Crepsley nodded. "You will not believe me when I say this," He said, "But I know what you are going through and I do feel sorry for you." He shook his head, "Come Darren Shan, or should I say Crepsley? We have much to do before you can be a vampire assistant."
"Like what?" Darren asked.
"We have to kill you."
Darren spent the weekend visiting all his favorite places, and spending time with his adopted family. His father had only given him the weekend he said he was eager to get out of this place. He went to Elena's 'funeral' on Saturday. He could still hear her heart faintly beating, and hear her light breathing. He laid a crown of flowers that Annie made on her head and whispered; "I'll see you soon."
His last night in his house, his parents noticed he was acting weird. "I'm worried about him." Darren heard Angela say.
"He's grieving over his friend Angie." Dermot said. "He's a smart kid, he'll realize Elena wouldn't want him to live like this."
"If you say so." Darren heard his parents go to bed.
He slipped in his room. Mr. Crepsley and Elena were both squashed together in the wardrobe. He flung open the door and they both burst out quickly. Darren threw Mr. Crepsley a bag. "What is this?" He asked brow raised.
"Just some personal stuff." Darren muttered.
Mr. Crepsley shrugged and swung the bag over his shoulder. He produced a bottle from his cloak. "Ready to die?" Mr. Crepsley asked smirking.
"Just get it over with." Darren snapped. He picked Darren up, paused for a moment, and then hurled him out the window.
The next morning Darren was very much conscious when his parents found him. His mother wouldn't let him go. There is nothing worse, Darren thought, then having to listen to your own parents grieve your death.
His funeral was two days after the fall. A priest spoke over his body. Friends and family cried. Some people stroked his hair or his face. Once he felt someone gently lift his fingers. Then they buried him alive.
He lay there thinking of all the what ifs in his life. What if he hadn't stolen Madam Octa? What if his mother didn't give him up? What if she had told Mr. Crepsley he had twin children? Darren heard a noise above his head. He knew it was Mr. Crepsley digging him out. He heard the thud of metal against wood. About time he thought sarcastically.
When the lid opened Darren jumped up despite the pins in needles all over his body. He immediately wrapped his arms around his father in a tight hug. "Thanks you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Darren repeated over and over. Mr. Crepsley awkwardly patted his back while Elena laughed from the side. "Go work out some of the stiffness." He said when Darren had released him.
Darren and Elena both strolled around the cemetery, wondering what life would be like from now on, when the two of them were yanked behind a tree.
"If you move a fraction," A voice warned, "I'll drive this right through your hearts."
"Steve?" Elena gasped.
"I've got a new sport besides football, I took up vampire hunting." He said simply. "And it looks like a found me three."
"How did you know?" Elena asked not even bothering to pretend.
"I followed Darren after Friday." Steve said. "I saw you and Crepsley throw him out the window. Plus I checked both of your hands at your funerals."
"You know about the fingers?" Darren asked surprised.
"It was in an old book, the same thing Crepsley's picture is in."
"Darren? Elena?" They heard Crepsley call.
"Over here!" Darren yelled.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine, we'll be there in a minute."
"Why are you here Steve?" Elena asked.
"To kill you."
"Why?"
"You're a vampire."
"Exactly." She shoved Steve hard and he went flying.
"I won't kill you tonight, but one day, I will hunt you down and kill you." Steve vowed. He turned to go, but Elena ran and threw her arms around him before he had the chance.
"Wait!"
Steve stiffened under her grip. "What are you doing?" He demanded.
"Come with us," She begged.
Steve gave a low chuckle and spat on the ground. "After that vampire told me I was evil, no thanks."
"You're our best friend!" Darren chimed in, "Come with us, maybe we can convince him to turn you into a vampire too."
"Some best friends you are." Steve snarled, "Being a vampire was my dream, mine! And you both took my place."
"Steve it's not like that," Elena protested, "We became vampires so he would give us the antidote for Madam Octa's poison. Besides," She added softly, "He's our father."
Steve stopped struggling against her grip, "What?"
"He gave us the antidote for Octa's poison,"
"No the other thing,"
"Angie and Dermot adopted Darren, he's my twin brother, and Mr. Crepsley is our dad."
"Bull," Steve challenged.
"It is true." Another voice said. The three children whipped around to come face to face with Mr. Crepsley. He regarded Steve warily, "What are you doing here?"
Steve's mouth moved open and closed quickly, but no sound came out. "He's here to come with us," Darren said quickly.
His father's hard stare flickered between Darren and Steve, "I am not turning him into a vampire," Mr. Crepsley finally grunted, "I have already tested his blood, he is,"
"Evil. Yeah, yeah we get the point." Steve interrupted.
"You don't have to turn him," Elena said quickly, "Let him come with us as a human."
"We do not have time to fake his death too, and the three of you dying in a row would be far too suspicious."
"Group suicides happen all the time if one friend dies," Steve challenged. "But you wouldn't have to pretend to kill me anyways. No one would be surprised if I ran away, especially since my two best friends died."
"Would your mother not miss you? And your father?" Mr. Crepsley asked with a raised eyebrow.
Steve snorted, "My dad walked out on my mom before I was even born, and she'll just drink all her pain away anyways, like she always does."
Mr. Crepsley's expression slightly softened, "I see."
"Can you please let him come with us?" Elena begged, "To keep us company?"
Mr. Crepsley groaned, "Fine." He snapped, "But he stays human."
"That's fine." Elena said, eyes shining.
"I have to finish filling in Darren's grave," He said, striding away smoothly.
"Hold on, I never said I wanted to come with you." Steve said.
"Then why were you just helping us convince him to let you come?" Elena said with a smirk.
"I-I," Steve stuttered.
"You want to come." Darren said, "There's nothing to be ashamed about."
"Fine," Steve sighed, "I do want to come." Darren and Elena both swung an arm over one of Steve's shoulders. "I am glad you two aren't really dead though." He added, "Life would be really boring without you guys."
"Right back at ya Leopard," Darren teased. Together they walked over to where Mr. Crepsley was tossing the final few shovels on Darren's grave.
"Ready?" Crepsley asked smiling.
"Ready." Darren said grabbing bag from the ground. "I haven't eaten since Sunday." Darren said, his stomach grumbling. "I'm hungry."
"Me too." Elena said.
"Well then," Crepsley said. "Let's go eat."
Trying not to think about what was on the menu, Darren grabbed his fathers' hand. Elena took hold of his other and Steve took her opposite hand. They turned away from the graves. Side by side, the vampire and his assistants vanished…Into the night.