I don't own Cirque Du Freak! This will be the last chapter of the Vampire's Assistant. Longest chapter yet!
Read and Review.
Elena and Darren didn't go outside the tent until midday. Evra met them just as they were exiting. "I was just coming to look for you two!" He exclaimed. Then he frowned. "Where did you go last night? Mr. Crepsley was frantic, he had the whole Cirque looking for you."
"He did?" Elena asked surprised.
Evra nodded, "I've never seen him so, I don't know. I guess I've only seen him really calm and collected. It was a bit of a shock. So where were you?"
"We got into an argument with him." Darren said softly. "We fell asleep by the trees we always hang around by."
"Oh." Evra said. "Must have been some argument."
"Yeah." Darren muttered. He wasn't about to admit he nearly killed his father.
"Steve ran over to them, "Where the hell have you two been? I saw Sam and R.V after the show," Steve said, "Sam loved it. Especially Cormac Limbs…"
"I'll see him later." Darren said. "What about R.V?"
"He was upset." Steve frowned.
"About the goat?" Elena asked.
"That was part of it." Steve said. "But I told him the goat was sick, and we had bought it from a butchers. It would have been killed anyway."
"So what's he still upset about?" Elena asked.
"The Wolf-Man, Madam Octa, and my snake." Evra said.
"What's the matter with them?" Darren asked.
"He wanted to know if they were being treated right. I told him that the Wolf-Man wasn't locked in a cage of the stage. That was just for the show. And how my snake sleeps with me. I said that the only one that was in a cage was Madam Octa, but even then, you guys took her out and played with her."
"And he believed you?" Elena asked suspiciously.
Evra nodded seriously. "I think so. But he kept asking questions. Like what they ate and where we got it from. We'll have to watch him until we move on."
Darren and Steve had officially moved into Mr. Crepsley's tent. Evra's snake had come down with a virus and she was in a foul mood. Which meant that the three assistants were left alone to do the chores.
Sam came around to help later that day. This time Elena let him help with the chores as they were down one man, and Darren was rendered practically useless from the lack of human blood.
Once the chores were completed, the boys decided on going to that old railway station. Elena left muttering something about cleaning Octa's cage as she went. Sam shrugged his shoulders. He was used to the orange haired girl making excuses to leave when he came by.
The boys wandered around the old tracks. Climbing on top of old carriages, catching some sun. They were lying on an old grey carriage when Sam shot up straight.
"Hey!" He said. "I have an idea!"
"What?" Darren asked lazily.
"We could be blood brothers!"
Darren nearly fell from the carriage at that."W-what?"
"We could cut our hands and then mix our blood together!"
"I don't think that's a good idea Sam." Darren said sharply. A little vampire blood might not harm him but Darren didn't want to take that chance.
"Why not!" Sam protested. "Are you chicken?"
"No." Darren said crossly.
"Chicken!" Sam accused. "Coward! Coward! Chicken!"
"Alright I'm a coward." Darren laughed.
"What about you Steve?" Sam asked.
Steve shuddered, "I'm good thanks," Darren couldn't stop himself from snorting, less than half a year ago Steve was begging his father to exchange his vampiric blood.
"What are you laughing at?" Sam asked, "You didn't either."
"But you didn't come rushing to wash the Wolf-Man the other day."
"That's different."
"Sure."
They hopped off the carriages, strolling back through the trees as Sam had to go home and Darren and Steve had to meet his father. Darren had told Sam that they were pulling out soon. Sam looked slightly depressed. "Could you put in a good word for me? Please Darren?"
Darren wanted to say 'no.' but he looked at Sam's longing face and crumbled. "I guess I can put in a word for you."
"When?"
"As soon as I get back." Darren promised.
"All right!" Sam said happily.
"But if Mr. Tall says no," Darren warned, "It's over. When he says no he means no."
"Fine by me." Sam said.
Darren waved goodbye to Sam and the boys all headed home. He meant to go straight to Mr. Crepsley's tent but he passed Truska on the way. She grabbed his arm and motioned for Darren to follow. When he got to her tent he saw his sister there perched on the bed sporting a blood red gypsy skirt, and a loose white blouse. Her hair had been cut and pulled away from her face with a red sash, the same colour as her skirt, and tied in a bow to the side. Darren thought it looked a lot better than her funeral outfit. Though he wasn't sure how Mr. Crepsley would take the shirt, which hung off her shoulders leaving them bare.
Truska dragged Steve and Darren to the middle of the room while Truska measured them. She crossed the room to a large wardrobe. Truska rummaged through it and emerged holding trousers. She moved to a different wardrobe and pulled out some shirts. She got a jackets from another and some shoes from a small chest. She motioned for the boys to come beside her. She led them to a set of drawers and allowed them to pick out their own vest, underwear as well as socks.
They each stepped behind a silk screen to change. Darren suspected Evra told her of their need for clothes and was quite glad he did. Truska and Elena both clapped their hands when they came out, and Truska pushed the pair in front of a mirror so that they could see how they looked. Darren was pleasantly surprised that he actually looked pretty cool. He had on a light green shirt, dark purple trousers, and a gold and blue jacket. Elena came up behind him with a long satin cloth the same colour as her skirt and tied it artfully around his middle. He looked like a pirate! He glanced over at Steve, who had on a red jacket, a billowy white shirt, and dark trousers. He smirked, while Truska had dressed him up like a pirate, Steve looked more like a prince charming character from a fairytale.
"This is great!" Darren said. "The shoes are a bit tight though." He pointed to his feet and Truska took the old shoes away coming out with a new pair. They were a lot softer than the other pair and the toes curled like Sinbad the sailor. Darren loved them immediately.
She motioned for both of them to come toward her and sat them down. She got a pair of scissors and gave the boys a badly needed haircut. When she was done, she placed a Robin Hood hat on Darren's head and tousled Steve's hair
"Oh Truska…" Darren couldn't find the words to say so he placed a big sloppy kiss on Truska's cheek. Truska beamed at him.
Elena laughed and looped one arm through Steve's and the other through Darren's and led them both away, "Come on Romeo. And thanks a bunch Truska!" She called over her shoulder as they left.
All three were ready to drop by the time night came. They crawled into their respective hammocks and were out like lights. Darren was floating in a dream and then suddenly he was drowning. He could feel a hand on his throat, pressing him underwater. As he struggled for breath he felt liquid entering his mouth he struggled even more lashing out at his attacker. Darren shot out of bed as the pressure was released.
He saw his sister sitting up and looking at him confused and a little frightened. Darren looked around and saw Steve leaping out of his hammock, turning his head, Darren noticed his father looking dishevelled and clutching a bloody nose. His first emotion was guilt. His father must have been trying to wake him from his nightmare and Darren lashed out. Then he saw the empty little vial in his father's other hand.
"You were trying to get me to drink!" Darren gasped his guilt turning quickly to anger.
"You have to." His father said. "You are dying Darren. Within a week you will be beyond help. If you do not have the courage to drink I will force you to." He looked down unable to meet Darren's eyes. "I was only trying to help."
"If you ever try that again, I'll wait until daylight and chop your head off."
"Darren!"
"It is alright Elena." Mr. Crepsley said softly. "I did not think it would work but I had to try. I thought maybe if you had a taste-"
"I'll never have a taste!"
Mr. Crepsley nodded glumly. "I did my best. If you insist on being stupid so be it."
"I'm not being stupid I'm being human."
"You are not human Darren, in many ways you never technically have been."
"But I want to be. I want to be like Sam and have family and friends. Or even like Steve so I can grow old when I'm supposed to. I don't want be afraid of the sun or of vampire hunters and I don't want to feed off humans."
"Too bad." Mr. Crepsley said. "This is the hand you have been dealt, you must learn to live with it."
"I hate you." Darren muttered.
Mr. Crepsley's look hardened but Darren had a funny feeling it was to mask a look of hurt. "Too bad, you are stuck with me and if it is any consultation, I am not too fond of you either."
"Dad!" Elena exclaimed.
"Turning you into a half-vampire was the worst mistake I ever made. However you are free to leave at any time." Mr. Crepsley continued ignoring his daughter.
"Really?"
Mr. Crepsley nodded, "In fact I would prefer it. That way I would not have to watch my idiotic son waste away."
"Maybe I will go then." Darren said.
"Darren no." Elena choked.
"Go ahead." Mr. Crepsley said.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Elena screamed, tears streaming down her face. The boys turned to look at her for the first time since the argument had begun. "Please stop fighting." She whimpered. "I can't stand it. Please stop."
Mr. Crepsley and Darren both backed down immediately. Steve shifted awkwardly from one foot to the next, looking terribly out of place. "You're wrong Darren. You don't have to be human to have a family. We're a family. And you." She snapped, looking at her father. "You don't really hate Darren, admit it you would be upset if he left."
Mr. Crepsley sat next to her on her hammock. Brushing his fingers through her hair. "I am sorry." He whispered.
"I'm not the one you should apologize to."
"I am sorry Darren." Mr. Crepsley said louder holding an arm out so Darren could sit with them.
"I'm sorry too." Darren said putting his head on his father's shoulder. They both laughed and things turned back to normal.
Darren told him about what he and Sam had done, including nearly becoming Sam's blood brother. "It is a good job you stopped when you did." Mr. Crepsley said.
"What would have happened?" Elena asked.
"The vampire blood would have tainted his. He would acquire a taste for raw meat, and he would have aged a little slower. It would have been enough of a difference."
"Enough of a difference to do what?" Darren asked.
"To drive him mad."
"What do you think of Sam?" Darren asked carefully. Elena's gaze turned on him. He could feel her sharp green eyes piercing him and he shifted uncomfortably.
"I have not seen much of him." His father admitted. "He usually comes by during the day. But he seems nice. Very bright."
"He's been helping us with our chores."
"I know."
"He's a good worker."
"I have heard."
"Darren no." Elena said.
"Let him finish." Mr. Crepsley scolded.
"He wants to join the Cirque." His father's face darkened. "I was going to ask Mr. Tall, what do you think he will say?"
"Hopefully no." Elena muttered. Darren glared at her while Steve smirked.
"He will say you have to ask emme/em. Children have to have an adult guardian.
"I could be his guardian." Darren suggested.
"You are not old enough." His father remarked. "You need a guardian yourself. I would have to give my permission but I will not."
"Why not?" Darren pleaded.
"It is a crazy idea. I already have three children to put up with I am not about to take on a third."
"But it would give me company."
"You have Elena and Steve do you not? And Madam Octa." Elena smirked in triumph ignoring the look Darren gave her. Mr. Crepsley noted her expression and gave her a curious look. "Why do you look so happy about this?" He asked her. "Do you not like Sam?"
Elena shrugged. "He's nice enough, but he's just a pompous, know it all, that get on my nerves." To their surprise Mr. Crepsley burst out in laughter. "What's so funny?" Elena asked.
"Nothing." He said. "You simply remind me of your mother."
"How?" Elena asked confused.
He chuckled. "There is a vampire who is a little, different shall we say? Your mother holds a similar opinion about him."
"Who is their mother anyway? I always meant to ask but never got around to it." Steve interrupted.
"Her name is Arra Sails," Mr. Crepsley answered, "She's a Vampire General."
"What's a Vampire General? Hans mentioned them the first day we got here,"
"You ask far too many questions," Mr. Crepsley said.
"And you answer far too few!" Steve replied cheekily.
Mr. Crepsley laughed, "You know," He said wagging a finger at Steve, "I am starting to finally like you, against my better judgement. So what do you think of Sam?"
Steve shrugged, "I don't think I hate him as much as Elena does, but I still have to agree with Elena, sorry Darren."
"So he can't join?" Darren asked changing the topic back to Sam.
"He can." Elena groaned. "On one condition." His father's face spilt into a wicked grin. "He has to become a half-vampire too!"
Darren had a heavy heart as he saw Sam come into camp. "Did you ask him?" He asked excitedly.
"Yes."
"And?"
"He said no." Elena said passing by a happy smile on her face.
His face fell. "Is she telling the truth?"
Darren nodded as Sam's eyes filled with tears. "Why not?"
"You're too young."
"You're not much older!"
"No, but I have nowhere else to go."
"Then I'll sneak in!"
"No!" Darren shouted. He looked around thinking up a story.
"Have you ever wondered what happened to my mother Sam? Why you've never seen her?" Sam shook his head. Darren looked down sadly. "That's because I killed her Sam."
"What?" Sam's face went white.
"I go crazy sometimes like the Wolf-Man. I used to spend a lot of time in the hospital when I was younger. My parents decided to take me home for Christmas one year and Dad and Elena left for something. Mom and me were getting dinner ready and I snapped. I grabbed the knife and cut her to pieces. Know what happened then?" Sam's head shook again. "I ate her. I snapped out of it when Dad and Elena came home. Dad dragged us off to here. He can't even look at me now. Elena doesn't really hate you, she just wants me to stay away from you so you don't get hurt."
"You're lying." Sam said.
Darren picked up a large stick and bit right through it. He made sure to cut his lips to make himself seem scarier. "If you joined, you'd have to stay in my tent. I'd kill you Sam." Sam couldn't say anything he knew things like that were very well possible in the Cirque du Freak. "Leave Sam," Darren said sadly. "Leave and never return."
"Darren I-"
"Leave!" Darren snarled. Sam turned white and went running for the hills.
Someone put an arm around Darren. "I'm proud of you." Elena said laying her head on Darren's shoulder.
"Yeah." Darren said.
It was the final show. A few of the acts had already gone. Mr. Crepsley, Darren, and Elena were backstage. His father wouldn't let him perform tonight as he was getting weaker each minute. Darren only had a few days left. Elena had been spending even more time with him then usual, trying to get him to drink.
"It's not that bad once you have a little," Elena said sitting on her brother's hammock with him.
"I can't Lena, I'm sorry."
"Please just have a little,"
"I can't"
"Why not?" Tears were beginning to gather around her eyes. Steve entered the tent, standing just inside the doorway, watching the exchange.
"I'm afraid it will turn me evil," Darren admitted.
Elena looked hurt, "Do you think dad and I are evil?"
"NO!" Darren shouted looking horrified.
"Then why are you afraid you'll be? We're in the same boat."
"I just, I don't,"
"Come on," Steve butted in, "Everyone's sick about you, and your dad already explained that drinking blood wasn't evil."
"I can't," Darren said miserably, "I'm sorry." He stood and ran from the tent, leaving Elena with tears streaming profusely down her face.
"I'll be sad when we leave here." Evra said. "You can't see the stars as well in the city."
Darren nodded silently. Then he clutched Evra as a dizzy spell came over him. Evra panicked and Steve ran to get Mr. Crepsley.
"What is it?" The vampire said as Steve burst into his tent out of breath.
"Darren…faint….dizzy…" Mt. Crepsley ran out of the tent before he could catch his breath.
Darren!" Mr. Crepsley said coming over immediately. He picked his son up in his arms. "I'll take him back to the tent Evra." Mr. Crepsley said.
Darren woke alone in the tent feeling awful. He wanted to shout for his father or his sister but decided on taking a short walk. The breeze might make him feel better. He heard a snapping sound. Darren froze glancing around. When it was silent he started walking again. Then it happened again. Louder this time, like it was closer. He realized it was from the Wolf-Man's cage. When Darren got to the cage, he saw R.V attempting to cut the chains of the cage. "What do you think you're doing?" Darren demanded.
"Freeing this poor animal. I called the police, they're gonna shut this freak circus down."
"Are you crazy? He'll kill everyone in a five kilometer radius!"
"Only because you treat him like a monster."
"He isn't an animal though R.V. Let's talk this through and you'll see-"
"I'm through talking!" R.V snarled he reached behind the bars of the cage, where the thickest chains were.
"I'll free the victim! I'll see justice! You won't stop me I'll-" He stopped ranting and pulled his hands out. Or rather, his arms. His hands were in the Wolf-Man's mouth. R.V was left with two bleeding stumps. His screams pierced the air, and he turned and ran into the night.
Darren was about to go after him but he heard a growl behind him. The Wolf-Man was behind him, the cage of the door swinging wide open. The Wolf-Man pounced and Darren covered his face, he didn't want to see himself die. But the Wolf-Man bounded right over Darren's head after someone else. Darren ran after him stumbling over something in the grass. It was a bag. And on the bag, in messy handwriting, was property of Sam Grest. Darren's heart caught in his throat. He ran after them. He arrived at the old railway. He searched the carriages, looking in windows. As he came to the third window, a heavy metal bar moved towards his face.
"Sam it's me." He gasped. "It's me."
"Darren?"
"Yeah."
"What do we do?"
"I don't know, move inside and help me think."
They sat there trembling silently. "We could go to the guard station." Sam said. "And climb up on the rafters."
Darren thought it over, if they fell there it would be over quickly. There was only one way for the Wolf-Man to get to them there. It was the best shot they had. "Okay."
"Let's run for it." Sam said.
"Why did you come back?" Darren had to know.
"To join." Sam said simply.
"Even after what I told you?"
"I decided it was worth the risk."
Darren laughed. "On the count of three?"
"One-" Sam began. "Two, Thr-"
Before he got to three, a pair of hairy hands pulled his legs out from underneath him. The Wolf-Man had been hiding under the carriage. Darren ran toward him with a howl but the Wolf-Man lased out with a fist and he went flying towards a tree, and unconsciousness.
When Darren woke he heard a strange sound. Munch. Munch. saw the Wolf-Man coming into focus, bending over eating something. No, not something. Darren realized. Someone.
"No!" Darren shouted. "Sam!" He punched the Wolf-Man, who shoved him away. Darren continued to hit and kick at him. Finally the Wolf-Man turned. His mouth was covered in red as his lips formed a howl and he lunged at the young vampire. He leered over Darren, preparing to finish him off, in one, huge bite. A pair of hands wrapped around the Wolf-Man's neck twisting it to the side. The Wolf-Man scrambled off Darren with a shriek and fell unconscious to the ground.
The figure stood and pulled Darren to his feet. Darren found himself looking into his father's flushed and scarred face. "I came as soon as I could." The vampire said, tilting Darren's face gently from side to side to inspect the damage. "Evra told Mr. Tall that the Wolf-Man was loose. The show was cancelled. I thought of you and sent Elena to check on you. When she told me you were missing I-" Mr. Crepsley choked off, tears forming in his eyes. "I thought the worst had happened."
"I thought… I was…. Going to die…" Darren moaned. "I thought…No one would come…I-" He wrapped his arms around his father and sobbed into his chest. "Thank you," He said as Mr. Crepsley hugged back. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." He remembered his friend. "Sam!" He ran over. Sam's body was mangled, but you could still see the boy breathing lightly.
"Darren?" He heard his sister gasp as she came next to him. Steve let out an audible gulp and wrapped an arm around her as she buried her face in his chest.
Darren felt an arm wrap around his shoulder. He looked up to see his father. "Darren Sam's body is beyond saving,"
"Stop." Darren said.
"Hear me out." Mr. Crepsley said gently. "His body may be broken but you can save him."
"How?"
Mr. Crepsley grimaced. "You have to drink his blood."
Darren pushed him away. "You're a monster." He spat.
"Do you remember what I told you about my friend Paris and Shakespeare?"
"Yeah, he drank Shakespeare's blood so his memory could live on."
"You could do the same for Sam. He could be alive in you."
"I can't drink from him." Darren sobbed he was my friend." At this point a few members of the Cirque had gathered watching the exchange between father and son.
"It is because he was your friend that you must."
"I'm sorry Sam." Darren whispered. Steve turned away as Darren drank. When he was done he began to cry all over again, Elena walked over to Darren and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"What happened?" Mr. Tall asked. "How did the Wolf-Man get free?"
"I do not know Hibernius. And I do not intend to ask. Darren is in no shape for an interrogation."
Mr. Tall nodded and indicated for someone to take the Wolf-Man away. The Little People moved toward Sam.
Darren looked up. "What are they doing?"
"I imagine they are going to dispose of him." Mr. Tall said.
"No!" Darren roared leaping out of Elena's arms to move in front of Sam's body. "He deserves a proper burial."
"So that worms can have him?" Mr. Tall asked brow raised.
"Let him have his way Hibernius." Mr. Crepsley pleaded. "Just this once."
Mr. Tall nodded and left. Accompanied by the Cirque members, the Little People, and Steve and Elena. Darren was glad his sister didn't stay. She never liked Sam, it wasn't right for her to bury him.
"Do you feel stronger?" Mr. Crepsley asked sitting by his son.
"Yes. But I didn't do it for me. I did it for Sam."
"Are you mad at me?"
"No." Darren sighed. "You only wanted what was best for me." They didn't say anything else for a while. "Dad?" Darren asked again tentatively.
Mr. Crepsley looked slightly surprised, "Yes Darren?"
"I'm a true vampire's assistant now aren't I?"
"Yes." Mr. Crepsley paused, scratching his scar, "I believe that is the first time you have called me that."
"I think you're right." Darren said with a low chuckle. A small figure appeared. It was a Little Person. The one that Elena and Darren had christened Lefty because of the limp in his left leg. "What are you doing!" Darren exclaimed. "Get away!"
"He is not going to eat him Darren, look! He is helping to dig."
"Okay."
"Rest." Mr. Crepsley said gently. "I'll call you when it is time to bury your friend."
The Cirque pulled out that day; they packed up the tents and rested in vans. Mr. Crepsley was asleep in his coffin that had been strapped in securely. The children sat outside it. Mr. Crepsley told me you drank Sam's blood to him alive." Evra said.
"Yeah I did." Darren said.
"I found this." Elena said. "I thought you'd like to have it."
It was Sam's backpack. "Thank you." He said. She put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.
"We're stopping." Evra said. "Do you want something to eat?"
Darren shook his head, the taste of Sam's blood was still on his lips. "I'm not hungry." Evra shrugged and turned to leave. "Wait." Darren said stopping him. A smile crept onto his face as he thought of a curious smartass kid he used to know. "Do we have any pickled onions?"