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They rose before the sun came up to go hunt for food. They were tired and grumpy, particularly Darren, who hadn't slept well at all.
"So what do the Little People eat anyway?" He asked Evra.
"Meat." Evra replied. "Anything really. So if you find something that's dead pick it up to save some time." They split up so that it would go by faster. They all met back at camp. Evra mentioned a farm that had lots of cows near by. He said he'd go back later and steal one. It would keep the Little People fed for a few their chores were completed, they went to their spot by the old tree. They found Sam in the bushes again. When Elena spotted him she muttered something about having things to do and turned on her heel, running back to camp.
"She doesn't like me very much." Sam said sadly.
"Elena has trust issues. She'll come around eventually." Darren said although he knew she probably wouldn't.
"I hope so." Sam said. Then his face brightened. "Let's go somewhere!" The other boys had to run after him. Sam led them to an old abandoned railway station. They wandered around it, exploring, when Darren caught a foul smell.
"What is that?" Evra asked.
"What?" Sam frowned. "I don-"
"Gotcha!" A voice said. A large hand appeared on Steve's shoulder pulling him around to face the stranger. Steve cried out, lashing a fist out at his attacker. He came face to face with, a very hairy, very smelly man. "Name's R.V" The man said. He seemed friendly enough, Steve lowered his arm "Are you kids locals?"
"I am." Sam said. "These three are with the circus. So is his sister." He indicated to Darren on the last part.
"Circus!" R.V said raising his bushy eyebrows, "How did I miss that?"
"It's a freak show actually." Sam said. "I'm joining too!"
Steve looked vaguely amused, it seemed that Sam hadn't been convinced to forget about joining. He couldn't wait to see the look on Elena's face when he told her. It didn't bother him too much, he supposed Sam would forget about it once they moved on.
"Are you part of the freak show?" R.V asked Evra. Evra nodded shyly. "They treat you good? They don't whip you, or underfeed you?"
"No." Evra said. "It's my home."
"So you are there of your own free will?" Evra nodded once again. "That's cool man." R.V said. "Are you part of the show too?" He asked Darren and Steve.
"No, my father is though." Darren said.
"Cool. What are your names?"
They all told him. When Evra said his, R.V asked "Evra Von what?" Just as Steve had done the first time. "What does R.V stand for?" Darren asked curiously
"Reggie Veggie."
"Reggie Veggie?" Sam asked giggling
"My name is Reggie, but I'm a vegetarian so kids in school used to call me Reggie Veggie."
"Cool." Evra said.
They spent the remainder of the afternoon with Reggie Veggie. He explained he was an eco warrior. They fought to protect the planet. Right now they were protesting against a highway being built nearby. He showed them his camp. They discovered that all the eco-warriors were as smelly and hairy as R.V. They said goodbye. And made their way back to the Cirque.
Throughout the week, Evra, Darren, and Sam would hang out at the old railway. Occasionally R.V joined them. Elena and Steve did too once or twice. But whenever she was around Sam she'd be surly and difficult, where Sam was nervous, and not himself. Steve quickly grew almost as annoyed as Elena at Sam's pompous manner, and opted to spend most of his time with the orange-haired vampiress. As a result, the amount of contact they had with each other was minimal. Though Darren and Steve still got on the same as ever, the twins began to grow apart slightly. When they were together, they'd start petty arguments, and a few times, threw punches.
They still did their training in the evenings. Sometimes their father had to physically pull them apart to stop them from throwing punches at one another. Tonight, they were going to town. Steve stayed behind, Mr. Crepsley said it was important for Darren and Elena to come, and it was easier for him to carry two of them. He said he had to 'stock up' whatever that meant. They came to a stop at the back of an old back door was locked but Mr. Crepsley laid a hand over it, snapped his fingers with the other, and it swung open just as Steve's window did. He led them through a dark corridor, up a set of stairs, and then on to a bright hallway. They reached a large white desk and Mr. Crepsley rang the bell on the wall. The door to the next room opened and a man wearing a surgeon uniform came out. "How may I-" He stopped mid sentence. "Larten Crepsley! What the hell are you doing here old man!"
"Hello Jimmy." Mr. Crepsley said. The two men grinned at each other and shook hands.
"I heard you had been killed. An old foe had finally run a stake through you're rotten heart."
"You should not believe everything you hear." Mr. Crepsley said. He nudged Elena and Darren forward. "Jimmy, this is Darren and Elena. This is Jimmy Ovo, and old friend and the world's finest pathologist."
"Hello." Elena said pleasantly. Darren settled for waving.
"Pleased to meet you." Jimmy said. He took in Elena's hair as he shook their hands. "She yours?" He said nodding at her brightly colored locks.
"Yes." Mr. Crepsley said. "They both are."
"So you two aren't… I mean, do you guys belong to the club."
"They are both vampires." Mr. Crepsley confirmed.
"Half-vampire." Darren snapped.
"So what does a pathologist do?" Elena asked curiously.
"I cut corpses open to see how they died." Jimmy explained. "I don't do it with most bodies, just the ones that died suspiciously." He gestured for them to go into the examining room. There was a body on the table but that was it. The rest of the room was huge, built out of large cabinets around the walls.
"I had an old friend of yours in here a while back by the way." Jimmy said to Mr. Crepsley as they took seat in the chairs next to the table.
"Oh?" Mr. Crepsley said, "Who was that?"
"Gavner Purl."
"Gavner?" Mr. Crepsley hooted delightfully, "How is the old dog, still as clumsy as ever?"They spent some time talking about their friend Gavner Purl while Elena and Darren waited patiently.
"Any fresh bodies?" Mr. Crepsley asked turning the conversation around.
"The earliest is a man who died eight hours ago. Car crash."
"Nothing fresher?"
Jimmy shook his head. "Afraid not."
"Well it will have to do."
"It will have to do for what?" Elena asked. Mr. Crepsley didn't answer her, he just pulled several vials out of his cloak.
Darren immediately understood. "You can't!"
"And why not?"
"It isn't fair to drink from the dead. Besides the blood will be sour."
"It will not be the best, but it is fine for bottling. Besides, it is not as though he needs it." Mr. Crepsley said. He made a deep cut in the man's chest. He stuck a tube into the cut, right where his heart was, and then squeezed the organ, drawing the blood into the vials. He filled eight bottles then turned to Elena and Darren a serious look on his face. "I know you are reluctant to drink human blood but it is time to get over that fear."
"No." Darren said immediately.
"Come now Darren," he growled, "This person is dead he does not need it."
"I can't drink from a corpse!"
"But you refuse to drink from a live person!" Mr. Crepsley exploded. "You will have to drink eventually, this is the best way to start." Jimmy quietly snuck out of the room. "You have to drink. You are not only a vampire's assistant, but also a vampire's child. It is time you start acting like one."
"Not tonight." Darren begged. "Another time. I can't drink from a corpse, it's disgusting."
Mr. Crepsley sighed, "I do not suppose you have a different answer." He said to Elena.
She hesitated; there was still a part of her didn't want human blood. But the rational part of her said it wasn't fair to her father to protest, he only had her best interests in mind. She needed the blood, whereas this man didn't. "Okay." She said softly. Mr. Crepsley smiled, his expression one of relief. She took the vial from him and drank. Darren turned away, not wanting to see it.
"Do you feel better now?" He asked once she had finished. She nodded. He turned to Darren and shook his head. "One night you will realize how silly you are being." He said. "I just hope you are not beyond being saved when you realize."
They walked back out through the hall where they met Jimmy. Mr. Crepsley thanked him and the pair began to talk about old friends, and past events. Elena and Darren sat together, but by themselves, both miserable for two different reasons.
Nobody spoke the whole way home; when they got to the Cirque, Mr. Crepsley angrily tossed Darren to one side. "If you die," he said, "It is not my fault."
"I know." Darren said.
"Stupid boy." He said before he whisked himself and Elena to his tent.
Darren returned to his own tent, Evra was asleep, while Steve was sitting in his hammock, playing a card game by himself. "Where did he take you?" He asked Darren when he came in.
"A morgue," Darren answered and then grimaced, "He bottled some blood for safe-keeping."
"Did you guys drink any?"
"What do you care?"
"My best friends dragged me on the road with their vampire father who hates my guts, you know I'll never forgive you if you two kick the bucket for something as stupid as not drinking human blood."
Darren sat on his hammock, legs swinging back and forth underneath him. "Lena did, I couldn't." He pulled a face, "It was a corpse."
"No shit, you went to a morgue for gods sake." Steve snorted. He hopped off his hammock and sat next to his friend, "You are going to drink eventually though aren't you?"
Darren shrugged, "At some point I guess."
Steve knocked him across the head with a pillow, "You better, I don't understand what your problem is, you're the son of a vampire for crying out loud, shouldn't drinking blood come natural to you?" Darren glared at him haughtily. "Alright," Steve relented, "But you should drink soon,"
"You're not going to start teaming up with my father are you?" Darren asked.
Steve laughed, "That would be something wouldn't it. Come on, let's get to sleep."
Cormac Limbs arrived the next day. His arrival brought with him, the first night of the show. The whole camp was busy preparing, the air buzzed with the excitement of a performance. The performers spent most of the day and evening getting ready. Sam came round during the afternoon while Evra, Steve, Darren, and Elena helped other performers set up. He wanted to stay and help but Elena told him he would only get in the way. She also sent him packing in a not so nice manner. Darren felt bad for him and also slightly mad at Elena for being so rude. He had a sudden idea that he was sure would cheer Sam up.
Sam wait here! I'll be right back!"
Darren ran to Mr. Tall's tent. He barley reached it when the door opened and Mr. Tall stood there with two tickets in his outstretched hand.
Darren gaped. "How did you know?"
"I have my ways." Mr. Tall replied. "Now go on."
Darren ran back to Sam, "Here." He said giving him the tickets.
"What's this?" Sam asked.
"Tickets for tonight's show. You can give the other to R.V if you want."
"Oh wow." Sam said.
"It starts at eleven." Evra said.
"I'll be there!" Sam said, and then he ran off to find R.V.
"I have to go groom my snake!" Evra said. "I'll catch you guys later."
"You shouldn't have done that." Elena said after Evra had left. Darren glanced at her; she looked ten times better since she had been drinking human blood. The lack of blood in Darren's system made him irritable and moody. Unfortunately, he usually took it all out on her. She put up with him throughout it all, and Darren knew that he'd have a heap of apologies to tell her once he drank the blood and came around. But he didn't care.
"Why not? If Sam wants to part of the Cirque he can."
"You know that's not true Darren." She said softly.
"Oh what do you know anyway?" Darren stormed off angrily, leaving Elena slightly hurt. Steve sent a glare Darren's way and put an arm around Elena.
Darren stomped past Mr. Crepsley's tent as the vampire was just exiting. "What happened?" He asked.
"Nothing." Darren muttered.
Mr. Crepsley sighed. "Did you get into an argument again?"
Darren looked down at his feet. "Yeah."
"You two have to learn to behave."
"It wasn't her fault." Darren admitted. "I was the one looking for a fight."
"You would not be looking to pick pointless fights if you had human blood in you." Mr. Crepsley hinted.
Darren glared. "I'm not drinking human blood."
"Very well," Mr. Crepsley said. "Polish Madam Octa's cage and brush off your suit. You are going on with me."
"Really?" Darren asked excited.
He nodded, "I'll go get your sister. And if emeither/em of you pick a fight during the show I will skin the both of you alive."
Darren and Elena watched the show from the wings. It was even better than before because now they really knew the performers. It was like parents watching their kids' football game. Steve was helping the Little People sell wares in the audience, though Elena suspected he wanted to get as far away from Octa as possible since she would be out of her cage for the show. The Wolf-Man began the show; thankfully no hands were lost tonight. Then Hans, and Rhamus Twobellies. Mr. Tall went on stage and darted around the stage. Vanishing from one spot, and appearing in another in less than half a second. After Mr. Tall came Truska, and then it was Darren and Elena's turn to grace the stage.
The light dimmed and Mr. Crepsley began his speech about Madam Octa. Darren opened the cage door to let the spider out as Elena led a goat on stage. There was an angry gasp as Madam Octa killed the goat. R.V. Of course, Darren forgot how big of an animal lover he was. Oh well. It was time for Darren and Elena to take control of Madam Octa. They played a haunting melody to get Octa to spin her web. The flutes worked in harmony, blending notes together, becoming one. As he was playing a thought occurred to Darren. He could kill Mr. Crepsley. His finger could 'slip' and his father would crumple to the floor in a heap. He didn't act on it. He played it through safely. He didn't quite understand why. This was the man who took his life away, who was trying so desperately to take his humanity away. He also gave you life in the first place. Darren's conscious murmured. Darren couldn't make his fingers slip. He couldn't kill his father, who he had begun to feel quite close to. Together the three of them bowed and exited the stage.
"You thought about killing me just now." Mr. Crepsley said softly.
"What?" Elena said wide-eyed looking at Darren. She thought he'd gotten over his hatred of their father.
"It would not have worked." Mr. Crepsley said. "I milked her fangs before we went on stage. Killing the goat took the rest out of her."
"It was a test?" Darren said quietly. He felt a burning anger at Mr. Crepsley forming. "I thought you were being nice to us, but it was all just a bloody test!"
His face was serious. "I had to know if I could trust you. Both of you."
"Trust us!" Elena said in disbelief. "Shouldn't you do that already?"
"You have not given me any reason to." Mr. Crepsley said softly. "Now you have."
"What about the fact that you're our father!" Darren yelled. "Doesn't being family mean anything to you."
Darren thought it was just his imagination, but he thought Mr. Crepsley looked quite hurt at that comment. "Of course it does." He said.
"Clearly it doesn't mean as much as it should." Elena said. She grabbed Darren's arm and they both stormed to the line of trees. They both felt betrayed, even though they knew what their father had said made sense. The only good that came out of this was that Elena and Darren had made up. They both nodded off against the tree uneasily, filled to the brim with feelings of anger and sadness.
The next morning Darren and Elena woke up curled up in Elena's hammock with a familiar red cloak draped around them. It was obvious who had carried them to bed. They immediately felt terrible for walking out on him. He took the time to go look for them and take care of them. It was Mr. Crepsley's way of saying sorry without actually having to say it. It was also his way of showing how much he really cared.