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It had been nearly a year and a half since Mr. Crepsley had blooded Darren and Elena and though they had aged mentally, physically they remained unchanged with the exception of their strength, speed, and stamina. Steve had gone through a growth spurt over the past year and was now nearly a whole foot taller than Darren and Elena.
At the moment, the Cirque was camped out behind an old mill. It was an ideal place. Few cops or nosy people around, but there were still enough to bring out a crowd for the show. Darren, Elena, Steve, and Evra were put to work that day hunting food for the Little People who travelled with the Cirque. There were a number of the Little People but only one was helping the three children in their hunt.
It was the one that they had nicknamed Lefty, he had helped bury Darren's friend Sam last year. "Hey Lefty!" Darren called out, "Is this good?"
The Little Person couldn't respond back of course. None of them could actually talk. However Lefty had a way of communicating with the two half-vampires, he patted his stomach to indicate that he was still hungry and they set about catching more animals.
"The Little People need to learn to eat less, or at the very least normal food." Elena muttered darkly holding her nose as she raised a rotting fox into her hunting bag.
Evra laughed, "That's like saying you need to learn to stop drinking blood."
Elena glared at him and Evra gulped and swallowed his laugh. For a while Elena and Darren had refused to drink human blood and for a while it was hell. Vampires grow weak without human blood and eventually they die. It had taken months for them to come around and drink blood, during those months they looked like they were the walking dead. It was a touchy subject. Most of the Cirque folk didn't mention it.
Darren set off on his hunt prowling a pile of rubbish to find at least a rat or something, when he spotted a small silver cross in the rubble. He remembered when he had first met his father, how Mr. Crepsley had made the cross fly from Darren's hand into his own. He decided to give it a try.
Standing several feet away from the cross, Darren clicked his fingers and held his other palm open. The cross stayed put. He cursed after a few tries his father made it seem so easy. He pocketed the cross and returned to camp deciding on trying it later.
It was late November, the snow had not begun to fall but it was cold and the skies looked ready to send a storm of white any day now. Truska had fashioned jackets lined with fur for Darren and Steve, and a thick woolen shawl for Elena to fight the cold. Only Steve wore his consistently. Darren and Elena thanked her but it wasn't necessary, the vampire blood in their veins kept the cold at bay.
Darren strolled away from all the tents, to a secluded area of woods. He set the cross on a piece of wood and snapped his fingers. Noting happened.
"Move." He growled. "Oh come on!" Darren stomped his foot angrily when the cross failed to move.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked and Darren turned to see his father, sister, and best friend emerge out of the trees.
"Nothing." Darren said innocently.
"What were you doing with the cross?" Mr. Crepsley asked again.
"I was trying to make it move." Darren explained.
"Is that what has been bothering you?" Mr. Crepsley asked surprised.
Darren nodded as his father laughed suddenly the cross was in his hand "How do you do it?" Darren asked. "Can only full vampires do it?"
"Watch closely." He tossed Steve the cross and snapped his fingers and the cross flew to his hand again.
"Can you do it again?" Elena asked with a smirk. Darren had a funny feeling she had figured it out though he had seen nothing.
"One last time." He said. "Try not to blink."
He threw the cross to Elena and snapped his fingers again. But this time Darren noticed a blur between her and where Mr. Crepsley stood. "You flitted!" Darren said excited he finally figured it out.
"What's with the snapping?" Elena asked.
"To distract the eye." Mr. Crepsley explained. "I dabbled with illusions before I was a vampire but I always kept my hand in."
"Could we do that?" Darren asked.
"If the object was close enough perhaps. You would have to practice, I will teach you if you would like to learn."
"What about locks?" Elena asked. "How do you unlock those?"
"With static energy."
"Like when a comb sticks to paper?" Darren asked.
"Yes when a vampire flits a strong static charge builds up. I learned to harness that charge, and thus am able to open any lock."
"So what's with the snapping?" Steve asked, arms folded across his chest.
Mr. Crepsley smiled, "Old habits die hard."
"But old vampires die easy!" A voice said and Darren felt the cool metal of a knife pressed against his throat and saw a similar knife against his father's throat, Elena and Steve were both too far away something that Darren was pleased to see. However, Mr. Crepsley didn't even flinch he simply shrugged the knife away and turned towards their attacker.
"Gavner, Gavner, Gavner," He sighed. "I could hear you from a mile away."
"Not true!" Gavner protested taking the blade away from Darren's throat.
"True." Mr. Crepsley said, "Nobody breathes as heavily as you, I could pick you out blindfolded in a crowd."
"One night Larten," Gavner muttered. "One night I'll catch you out."
"That night I will retire disgracefully." He cocked an eyebrow at Darren who was standing tense, frozen with fear, eyes wide. "Shame on you Gavner Purl, you frightened the boy." Mr. Crepsley said.
"Seems all I'm good for nowadays." Gavner said. "Scaring children and little old ladies."
Darren turned to face the stranger. He wasn't tall exactly, but he was burly. He had more scars than Mr. Crepsley he had short brown hair, a broad smile with glittering yellow teeth. He was dressed plainly in jeans and a white jumper.
Darren spotted the scars on his fingertips and realized that this man was a fellow vampire.
"Darren, Steve, Elena, this is Gavner Purl." Mr. Crepsley introduced. "He is an old and clumsy friend. Gavner this is Darren and Steve, and this is Elena."
"Pleased to meet you." Gavner said shaking everyone's hand since Elena and Steve had come closer upon realizing they weren't in danger. "Did you hear me coming?" The children shook their heads in denial. "There!" He said proudly. "See?"
"If we ever need you to sneak into an orphanage you should have no problems." Mr. Crepsley said dryly. Elena giggled.
"I see time hasn't made you more enjoyable." Gavner noted. "How long has it been? Ten years?"
"Fourteen since October." Mr. Crepsley corrected.
Gavner whistled, "I didn't think it was that long."
"Does he still complain like a grumpy old lady when he wakes up?"
"Yes." Darren said laughing.
"It took up until midnight for him to be positive. I had to share a coffin with him for four months, longest four months ever." Gavner shivered.
"You shared a coffin?" Darren asked incredulously.
"We were being hunted." Gavner said grimly. "I'd never do it again though, I'd face the sun first."
"Oh please," Mr. Crepsley snorted. "You had no cause for complaint your snoring just about drove me to face the sun myself."
"Why were you being hunted?" Elena asked curiously.
"It does not matter." Mr. Crepsley said and Elena pouted.
"Ah, come on Larten, let the girl know it was sixty years ago, it's hardly classified information."
"The girl has no interest in the past."
"That's what you think." Elena muttered.
"And I have no interest in her knowing it. You are on my soil Gavner. I would ask you respect my wishes."
Gavner nodded his acknowledgment. "So what do you three do at the Cirque?"
"Odd jobs mostly," Steve said with a shrug.
"So is it with the Generals?" Mr. Crepsley inquired.
"Same old."
"Are you a General?" Steve inquired curiously.
"Yes, this one was too a long time ago,"
"So what do you guys do?" Darren asked interested now, he had heard many people mention the Vampire Generals, but none of them explained what they were.
"We keep an eye on the vampire clan. Making sure none of them are causing mischief like this one." He nudged Mr. Crepsley's shoulder in jest.
"They also track down evil vampires and put an end to them. As well as weak or foolish ones." Mr. Crepsley sighed. "I have been expecting this visit. Shall we retire to my tent and discuss this matter?"
"You've been expecting me?" Gavner looked startled.
"Well it is not like I have made any attempt to conceal the children." Mr. Crepsley said. "Note that if you do not mind. I will use that during the trial."
"Hide the children?" Gavner looked confused and then noticed the scars upon their fingers. "Charna's guts Larten! They're vampires?"
"You mean you didn't know?" Elena asked.
Gavner shook his head. "Well only two of them are, Steven is my human assistant for the time being,"
"The blood is weak, they're only half-vampires." He noted.
"We do not normally make our assistants into full vampires."
"Nor do we make vampires of children!" Gavner sounded much more authoritative now.
"Normally vampires do not have children." Mr. Crepsley said.
"What were you thinking?" Gavner said apparently not hearing Larten's previous comment. "Children! What made you blood them? Why haven't you informed anybody?"
"I have not informed anybody because you are the first of our kind we have encountered. As to why I blooded them, they are my children as I already stated."
"Your children!" Gavner exclaimed. "By the gods Larten, I never thought the legend would ever come true."
"What legend?" Elena asked annoyed.
"It says that the gods will gift a vampire couple the ability to conceive a child once." His brows furrowed together in confusion. "But-"
"We're twins." Elena explained.
"Ah." Gavner said. "Who's their mother?"
"Arra." Mr. Crepsley said turning red.
Gavner burst out laughing. "So before you left you and Arra-"
"Gavner!" Mr. Crepsley shrieked. His face was now as red as his hair as were Darren and Elena's. Steve's face was nearly split in half by a broad smirk.
"Alright fine. I'm not sure how the princes will take this."
"I was going to take them to the Council but now that you are here you can pass my verdict."
"I don't think so. I'll leave you to the council."
"What's the council?" Darren interrupted, but was ignored.
"If you are not here on the account of them why have you come?" Mr. Crepsley asked.
"Can't I just see an old friend?"
Mr. Crepsley raised an eyebrow. "Alright, they're two reasons why I came. Your mate first of all wanted to know if you were alright."
Elena and Darren both paid more attention to this. Surely Gavner was talking about their mother when he said this. "She's not my mate anymore Gavner." Mr. Crepsley stated.
"No but you still care about her and she you. That's another reason you should take them to the council."
"I suppose you are right for once." Mr. Crepsley sighed.
"What do you mean?" Elena said. "What's the Council?"
"Shh." Her father gently hushed her. "I will tell you later. What is the second reason?"
"There's trouble brewing. Not to do with the Generals, a more personal matter. I came because I felt it was something you should know."
"Go on."
"I have no problems speaking in front of the children, however you seem to steer them clear of areas concerning your past."
"Darren, Elena," Mr. Crepsley said immediately. "Go find Mr. Tall and inform him that I will not be performing tonight. Gavner and I have things to discuss in my quarters alone."
Elena made to protest but Darren grabbed her hand and led her away. "And I know you are both curious by nature but if you attempt to eavesdrop I will take a dim view of it and there will be consequences."
"What do you think we are?" Elena asked. "You treat us like-"
"No eavesdropping." Their father said expression stern.
Elena sighed and walked away. "Cheer up." Gavner said. "I'll tell you all about it when your father's back is turned." Mr. Crepsley turned his hard stare on Gavner. "Only joking!" He said.
Steve stood still, "What are you guys talking about?"
Mr. Crepsley sighed, "What I said applies to you as well."
"But-"
"Steve!"
"Fine!" Steve stormed away.
"Steve?" Mr. Crepsley called him back.
"What?"
"Tell Darren and Elena they can perform with Madam Octa if they wish."
Steve rolled his eyes and left to go find his friends as Mr. Crepsley and Gavner entered the tent.
Darren and Elena performed alone with Madam Octa that night. They were able to handle her well by themselves, much better than when she had bitten Steve. They even made up a new part of the act, as they weren't comfortable with her spinning a web over one of their mouths, Darren played the flute as Octa spun a silky design over Elena's costume. Gavner and Mr. Crepsley had even emerged from the tent to watch! Their father smiled and told them they had done well, ruffling Darren's hair before he and Gavner disappeared again.
It was almost dawn when Gavner came out of Mr. Crepsley's tent. He asked Elena who was waiting to get into the tent to go to bed to walk with him for a little while. "Do you enjoy being a half-vampire?"
"Parts of it." Elena said. "But there are parts of it that I don't."
"Were you happier as a human?" He asked peering at her facial expression, which had darkened.
"No." She said. "I wasn't."
"What about Darren? Was he happier as a human?"
"I think so." Elena said.
"So what made your human life worse than his?" Gavner asked.
She glanced around. "Promise me you won't tell Dad?"
"I promise." Gavner swore.
"Darren got adopted when we were little but I was still at the orphanage and-" Her voice faltered.
"And?"
"The woman who ran the orphanage was abusive."
Gavner's eyebrows vanished under his hairline. "Isn't that something you should tell your father?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore it's in the past."
He looked at her carefully and laughed. "You're very much like your parents."
She smiled slightly. "I've been told."
Darren and Steve ran up to them. "Are you leaving?" He asked Gavner.
Gavner nodded. "I suspect your father will be leaving soon as well."
"Why?" Elena asked surprised.
"I'd tell you but he said he'd scalp me if I did."
"Does he have to go face judgment?" Darren asked.
"Not yet, but he will, and he will have to convince the princes he had a good reason for blooding you."
"He won't be killed will he?" Darren asked worried.
"I doubt it. These are unique circumstances; he showed some good judgement by not blooding Steve yet. Your father's very respected. I imagine they'll let him off with a slap of the wrist. He was a General once you know. He was even in the running for prince."
"Really?" Darren asked.
Gavner nodded. "That was part of the reason he left, he didn't want that responsibility."
Steve snorted, "I doubt he plans on blooding me at all."
"Yes, he told me about that," Gavner said, "If it's any consultation, he seems to have warmed up to you considerably."
"What'll happen to us if he is killed?" Elena asked softly.
"You'll be alright." Gavner said. "I'll take you to your mother if it comes down to that though I can't imagine it will."
"Promise?" She asked somewhat childishly.
"Promise." Gavner swore.
He shook the children's hands. "So long Darren, Elena, Steve."
"So long Gavner Purl." Darren said.
"Bye." Elena said.
He took off into a run until he was nothing but a blur. Elena and Darren made their way to their father's tent while Steve went out to Evra.
"Hi." Elena said.
Mr. Crepsley turned to look at them. "Gavner's gone." Darren said.
"He is a General, he has many jobs to do."
"I liked him." Darren said.
"He is a very good friend, and a very good vampire."
"He said that you might be leaving soon as well." Elena said.
"What else did he tell you?" Their father asked suspiciously.
"Nothing." She said quickly.
Mr. Crepsley nodded, "That is true I am leaving soon for a city."
"What about us?" Darren asked panicking at the thought of their father leaving and never returning for them.
He scratched his scar thoughtfully. "I was going to leave you here but I think I have need of you. It would also put my mind at ease knowing for sure you were safe." He admitted.
"And what are we supposed to do in a strange city while you're asleep all day?" Darren grumbled.
"What did you do as a human?"
"We were in a place we knew then. And we had friends." Elena said. "We'll be alone again."
"Steve will come with us as well. I know it is hard," Mr. Crepsley said. "But you must come with me. We leave at dusk tomorrow so you had better pack our bags before I wake. Of course…"
"What?" Darren asked.
"We could bring along another. Evra could come with us if he was willing to of course."
"I'll ask him." Darren said.
"It would be better, he is older than you and could keep the three of you out of trouble."
"We don't need a babysitter." Darren said.
"No but you seem to attract trouble when left to your own devices." Mr. Crepsley said. "Stealing Madam Octa, and that mess with that human boy. Though now that it comes to mind most of that was Darren."
"It wasn't my fault!" Darren protested.
"No but it happened while you were alone."
"Fine." Darren said.
"Now, I bid you Goodmorning." Mr. Crepsley said climbing into his coffin and closing the lid.
Darren and Elena ran off to find Steve and Evra. It took some convincing but eventually Evra came around to the idea of a 'holiday' as they put it. "My snake sleeps most of the winter it shouldn't be too hard to find someone to look after her."
Elena cursed.
"What?" Evra asked.
"We have to find someone willing to take care of Octa." That task alone took up the entire morning. Finally Hans Hands agreed to look after her as long as he didn't have to open her cage.
Darren and Elena set about packing. The only thing Darren didn't switch out was his diary, finally Elena told him to let her pack his bag as she had hers and their father's already done. Grateful to be free of decision, Darren rushed about double-checking they hadn't forgotten anything important.
When Mr. Crepsley woke he checked the bags and nodded. They told him about leaving Octa with Hans and he nodded again. After saying goodbye to the Cirque members, the five of them headed out.
"Will you be able to flit with all four of us?"
"Heavens no!" Mr. Crepsley said.
"Then how are we getting there?" Elena asked.
"Buses and trains." Mr. Crepsley replied.
"Vampires can use buses?" Darren said surprised.
"None of them will know that we are vampires, there is no problem with a vampire using public transport."
"I guess so." Darren shrugged.
The group caught the first train out. Elena put her head on Mr. Crepsley's shoulder and fell asleep quickly. They had been awake since the day before after all, Steve was on Elena's other side, and Darren was sitting by the window with Evra, before falling asleep the last thought that crossed his mind was what the other passengers would think if they knew they were travelling with a vampire, two half-vampires, a vampire's assistant, and a snake-boy.