I don't own Cirque Du Freak! Read and Review

They'd been at the Cirque for about a week now. Mr. Crepsley had gotten a hammock strung up for Elena in that time period, and the children spent their days with Evra, helping him with his chores or, if there were none to do, simply lounging about together. Darren and Elena's nights were spent with their father, learning how to be vampires. Mr. Crepsley often made Steve join them too, he told him that if he wanted to be his assistant he would have to learn their ways even if he wouldn't blood him. Steve had grumbled considerably at first, but was growing to enjoy the lessons from the vampire, though he would never admit it to Mr. Crepsley's face. Both of Mr. Crepsley's children still refused to drink human blood, much to Mr. Crepsley's dismay. In fact, that happened to be the subject of the argument that Mr. Crepsley was having with his daughter at the moment.

"I won't." Elena said stubbornly as Mr. Crepsley held a vial of human blood in front of her.

He growled in frustration, "I refuse to sit around and watch you die from something that is entirely preventable. Drink up."

"No." She said shaking her head.

"Please?" He asked quietly.

"She shook her head again, eyes downward.

Mr. Crepsley put his hand underneath her chin and gently tilted her head up to look at him. "Elena please drink emsome/em human blood, even a little will keep you going."

"I just can't." She said pulling away. "I'm sorry."

Mr. Crepsley sighed and watched her leave. When she was out of sight he growled and lashed out at a near by tree, leaving deep scratches in the bark. He turned into his tent before the sunlight could shine on him. Elena walked through the campsite kicking stones out of the way miserably. She knew she was hurting herself by not drinking blood. She could feel herself getting weaker from the lack of it. But she knew she was hurting her father even more by forcing him to watch both of his children waste away, but the thought of drinking a human's blood was too much for them to bear.

On her walk she spotted three figures resting by the trees. Approaching them, she realized it was Evra, Steve, and her brother. She made her way over to them. "Where were you?" Evra asked.

"Talking with Dad." She muttered.

Darren smiled in sympathy. They didn't like talking about their ah, appetite in front of the other performers. Still, everyone in the Cirque knew about the little war that Mr. Crepsley had with his children. Hans often joked that if Elena and Darren weren't his children, they would have been murdered long ago from Mr. Crepsley's lack of patience. Some of the women told him off and said that Larten would never do that with anybody but Darren and Elena silently agreed with him.

"Who's that?" Evra asked, sitting up straight suddenly.

"Nice try Evra." Elena said thinking he was just trying to get her mind off the topic of drinking blood.

"No really," He said seriously. "Who's that?"

They all followed Evra's gaze to see a shadow in the bushes. "I think it's a kid from the village over there." Steve said. "I see him hanging around a lot."

Elena turned to Darren and grinned. "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?"

He took in the glimmer in her eyes and the smile on her face. "What are you up to?" He asked cautious as always when Elena had an idea.

She beckoned them closer and whispered her plan in their ears. The boys grinned and nodded. Evra yawned and stood up. "I'm gone, I'll catch you later."

When Evra was out of sight, Darren stood too, "Come on Elena, dad probably has a million and one chores for us to do."

Elena groaned. It wasn't acting either; Mr. Crepsley probably did have a list of fifty chores for them to do tonight. She followed Darren back in the direction the Cirque. When they were out of the boy's line of sight, they circled back around the other side of the bushes. Their vampire senses were not weakened so much that they couldn't walk quietly. They met Evra and Steve about ten feet behind the boy. All four grinned, and crept low so that they were out of sight. They started to moan, the same way ghosts do in bad horror movies.

"Who's there?" The boy said frightened. Darren and Steve let out low moans. And Elena threw stones ahead of the boy so that his head whipped around in every direction. "Whoever you are I swear I'll-" The boy stopped his speech as Evra crept behind him and made a hissing noise, licking the back of his neck with his snake tongue. That did it. The boy let out a scream worthy of a six-year-old girl, and bolted from the scene. The four friends stood there howling with laughter. They stood up straight as the kid came back despite what had just happened.

He's got guts. Elena thought impressed. "Was that you guys?" The boy said as he approached them.

"Sorry kid couldn't resist." Elena said.

"Name's Sam Grest. Nice to meetcha."

"Well Sam Grest, it's nice to meet you too." Evra said. And that was how Darren made friend number two.

Sam came from a slightly larger family than the mom, dad, and two-point-five kids. Especially if you factored in all the animals they had. "So are you guys with the show?" He asked one day.

"Show?" Darren asked.

"I saw the vans, but they weren't marked very well. Then I saw the people and I figured you were most likely performers. So what kind of show is it?"

Elena shook her head in protest but Evra and Darren ignored her. "A freak show." Darren said. Flinching under his sisters' death glare.

"Really?" Sam asked eyes wide. Evra and Darren spent the entire afternoon telling Sam about all the acts in the show. Evra mentioning a few that the others had never seen. Elena didn't approve of telling Sam about the show. Sure he was a nice enough kid, but he could be a little too pompous at times, besides they'd have to leave him behind anyway once the Cirque pulled out. When Evra and Darren had gone through all the acts Sam was silent for the first time since meeting him.

"I'm a hard worker." He started off.

"Oh no." Elena muttered.

"Bright as a button," He continued, not hearing Elena's comment. "Used to responsibility, I could be an asset. Could I join? I could be an assistant. Please?"

"I don't think so Sam," Evra said. "The only kids we take are ones with parents in the Cirque, like Elena and Darren, or kids with nowhere to go like me and Steve."

"And even Steve is a special case." Elena added, determined to waver Sam's mind off joining.

"But my parents wouldn't mind!" Sam insisted. "They would think it was a wonderful opportunity!"

"Sorry Sam it's just not possible." Darren said.

"This entire world is a bloody corrupt system!" Sam exclaimed. "If a kid wants to be an explorer, let him be one! If they want to open a chocolate factory, go for it! If he-"

"Sam," Evra cut in, "Would you like to see my snake?"

"Would I ever!" Sam yelled. "Lead the way then."

Elena smiled, glad that they had gotten Sam off the topic of becoming a member of the Cirque. They led Sam through the Cirque meeting the other performers, and showing him some of the acts. Sam would have stayed forever, but it was close to sunset, and if Elena and Darren were late for training, Mr. Crepsley would have given them at least three times as many chores to make up for it. They tried to tell Sam that they had to eat but he insisted that he wasn't hungry, and he could stay until they were finished. Then they tried to tell him about how many chores they had to do. He said maybe he could help, he would be happy to in fact. Elena was quickly becoming annoyed, how thick could you get, she thought angrily. She spotted Truska nearing towards them and an idea sprung into her mind. "Hey Truska!" She called out.

Truska replied of course, in her seal like language.

Elena frowned then turned to Darren, "Dad's looking for us." She said. "We have to clean the Wolf-Man's cage."

"Th-the Wo-wolf-man?" Sam stuttered. She nodded. The boys secretly smiled at her quick thinking. "Do you have to let him out?" Sam asked fearfully.

"Well yeah, if we're going to clean his cage. Are you staying to help?"

Sam looked around quickly. "Actually, I regretfully have to be somewhere."

"I thought you said you could stay." Darren said.

"I believed that I could." Sam replied, "But I have an, um, appointment! An appointment that has come to my attention."

"We'll see you around I guess." Evra said, looking disappointed.

"Yes well, goodbye." Sam said, running as fast as his legs would carry him.

"You're brilliant, you know that?" Steve told Elena.

She shrugged. "Come on Darren, you know what will happen if we're late." Before they could say goodbye to Evra, they caught a flickering light like a torch.

Evra frowned. "Who could that be?" He said.

The torch broke through the trees to reveal the blue-hooded people Elena and Darren had seen at the show. There were twelve of the hooded people, and a taller, normal sized thirteenth member of their party. The thirteenth person held the torch. When the group stepped into the clearing Evra froze. But it wasn't because of the smaller beings of the party. It was the last member. He was big compared to the small people, but was quite short compared to an average sized person. He had thick whit hair that was cropped neatly, thick glasses, a sharp yellow suit, and long green Wellington boots. The man was plump, and he walked like a penguin. A waddle opposed to Mr. Crepsley's smooth stride. He smiled pleasantly when he passed. The others were unsure of what was making Evra so frightened of this man. He made his way to Mr. Tall's tent. As he disappeared, Steve turned to Evra.

"What's wrong?" He asked. Evra shook his head, seemingly scared speechless.

"Evra What is it?" Elena asked concerned. "Who was that? Why are you so frightened?"

"It was Mr. Tiny!" He breathed out. And that was all they could get out of him.

It wasn't until all the chores were completed and the three friends were safe in the boys' tent that Evra finally spoke up. "Mr. Tiny is the leader of the Little People." Evra said suddenly.

"The people in the cloaks?" Elena asked.

Evra nodded, "He calls them the Little People. He hasn't been here for two years. He's the spookiest person I've ever met." Evra shivered.

"He seemed alright to me." Darren said confused.

"That's what I thought when I first met him. But when he talks to you, you feel like he wants to skin you alive, roast you on a fire, and eat you for a snack."

"Does he eat people?" Steve asked, a slight glimmer in his eye.

"I don't know, I just know the way he looks at you makes you think he wants to eat you."

"Where do the Little People come from?" Darren asked.

"No one but Mr. Tiny knows." Evra said. "Usually there's a bunch here all the time. It's strange that there were none here when you arrived."

"Do you think it had anything to do with us and Mr. Crepsley?" Darren asked seriously.

"I don't think so." Evra said thoughtfully. "It was probably just fate." He paused. "Oh yeah, Tinys' first name is Desmond."

"Okay…" Elena trailed off.

"He tells people to call him Des." Evra said.

"Des Tiny." Elena said. Then her eyes widened. "Destiny."

Hans Hands entered the tent. He looked nervous. "Mr. Tall wants all four of you in his tent as soon as possible. Along with Mr. Crepsley."

"Well go get Mr. Crepsley then." Evra said.

Hans scoffed, "I'm not waking Larten Crepsley up. I would like to live a bit longer thanks."

"I'll get him Hans." Darren said.

"What does he want us for anyway Hans?" Evra asked.

"Oh it's not Mr. Tall that wants you. Tiny's with him. It's him that wants you."

"M-Mr. T-T-Tiny?" Evra gasped. Hans nodded and beckoned them to get a move on. Steve, Elena, and Evra made their way to Mr. Tall's tent while Darren made his way to Mr. Crepsley's.

The outline of the coffin was barley visible in the dim light of the tent. Darren approached it cautiously and knocked thrice. He could hear a grumbling from inside and the lid swung open to reveal Mr. Crepsley. He was half-asleep, and looked ready to kill who ever knocked. He glared at Darren. "If you tell me you woke me up for anything less important than one of you dying, I will kill you."

Darren gulped. "Mr. Tiny is here." Mr. Crepsley sat up straight immediately. "He wants to see you." Darren said.

"Just myself?" Mr. Crepsley asked pinning his cape on his shoulders.

"No, me, Steve, Elena, and Evra too."

Mr. Crepsley froze. He turned to look at Darren. "Promise me that you will not do anything even remotely stupid."

"I won't." Darren promised.

"Good boy," Mr. Crepsley let out a breath and put an arm around Darren's shoulders, leading him to Mr. Tall's tent. When they reached the tent, Mr. Tall, Mr. Tiny, Evra, and Elena were waiting for them. Mr. Tall and Mr. Crepsley both looked nervous, and it put Elena and Darren on edge.

"Hello boys," Mr. Tiny said cheerfully. "Why don't you sit?"

"I think I prefer to stand if that's all right with you." Darren said.

"I've heard a lot about you two." Mr. Tiny said slowly indicating Darren and Elena. He held a heart shaped watch in his hand. The ticking was audible whenever he took a pause in his speech. "Sacrificing everything to save a friend. That's good to hear. People are so self-centered these days. It's nice to know that the world can still produce heroes. As for you," He shook a finger at Steve and giggled, "Well you're another sort of bird altogether, mark my words, I'll be keeping an eye on you, I never would have expected you to join with your friends after they betrayed you." The room stayed silent. "Mr. Tall tells me you two are reluctant to drink human blood. I don't blame you, the stuff is repulsive. Except of course the blood of children."
Elena frowned. "You can't drink blood from a child." She said. "They'll die."

"So?" He asked with a sick smile. Elena felt a chill run down her spine and backed up slightly into Steve.

"You saw me arrive with my Little People. I want you kids to gather food for them. They have such big appetites." He looked at Mr. Crepsley. "I've already got permission from Mr. Tall for Evra so what do you say Larten? Will you allow this?" Mr. Crepsley nodded though he looked less than pleased with the situation. "So how about it? Will you help poor old Mr. Tiny and his Little People?"

Darren looked over at Evra, he looked like the last thing he wanted to do was help Mr. Tiny, but he nodded his head anyway. The others followed his example.

"Excellent!" Mr. Tiny said clapping his hands together. "Young Evra Von knows what my darlings like, I'm sure. If you have any problems, report to Hibernius and he'll sort you out."

He waved a hand around to tell them to leave. Steve, Evra, and Elena backed off immediately, but Darren stood still.

"Excuse me," He said, "But why do you call them Little People?" Mr. Tall and Mr. Crepsley's jaws dropped. If he had been able to, Mr. Crepsley would have clipped his son round the ear right then, but the only thing he could do was watch in horror and disbelief.

"Because they're little." He said pleasantly.

"But, don't they have names or something? I mean if someone told me about Little People I'd think they were talking about Elves or Leprechauns."

"They are Elves and Leprechauns. That's where those legends started my dear boy, with my loyal friends."

Darren frowned, "So what can they do?"

Mr. Tiny's smile slid off his face. "I was told you ask a lot of questions," he growled, "But I never imagined you were this nosy. Tell me Darren, have you ever heard the phrase; curiosity killed the cat?"

"I'm not a cat." Darren replied cheekily.

Mr. Tiny leaned forward menacingly. "If you don't watch yourself, you may find yourself turned into one."

Darren decided then it was time to take his leave.

"Bed. Now." Mr. Crepsley said sharply. Despite the sharpness in his voice, Mr. Crepsley seemed a little shaken. "There will be no lesson tonight."

"And up early kids." Mr. Tiny said, "My Little People are always hungry. There's no telling what they'll set their minds – or teeth on – if they go hungry for too long."

The children hurried out the door and ran back to the boys' tent.

"Are you crazy?" Evra asked. "Talking to Mr. Tiny like that, are you mad?"

"Yes are you?" A voice said from the doorway, it was Mr. Crepsley.

Darren looked down somewhat guiltily. "Hi." He muttered.

"I thought I told you not to do anything stupid."

"It's impossible for Darren not to do anything stupid." Elena said.

"Hey!" Darren shouted.

"Well it's true." Elena said.

"No it isn't." He retorted.

"Yeah it is."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is."

"No."

"Yes."

"N-"

"Enough!" Mr. Crepsley roared holding the bridge of his nose. He clipped Darren lightly around the ear.

"Ow!"

"You have to learn how to hold your tongue." He glanced at Elena, "And both of you have to learn to get along."

"Come on," He said to Elena, "You heard Mr. Tiny. You have to get up early tomorrow."

When Darren fell asleep that night he dreamed of Mr. Tiny's heart shaped watch. Only in the dream it was his heart. And when Mr. Tiny squeezed it…Agony.