Sorry for the wait, I don't own any characters, places, and most of the plot line. Review please!
"I'm going to kill him." Darren said. "I'll wait until daylight and drive a stake right through his heart."
"Darren we don't know it was him." Elena said.
"Who else could it be?" Darren exclaimed. "The bodies were drained of blood Elena. Drained. As in none left."
"A human is capable of doing that too Darren." Elena said tears threatening to spill.
"Besides. You'll have to get in line," Steve snarled in disgust, "He tells me I'm evil and he's out here killing people."
"She's right Darren." Evra said, ignoring Steve's comment. "Maybe we should wait and be sure it was him before we kill him. That's not exactly something you can take back. Darren had to admit that he had a point. What if they killed Mr. Crepsley and he was innocent. "Listen I've known Mr. Crepsley longer than either of you." Evra said. "He's not a killer."
"He killed when he was a Vampire General." Darren said.
"Evil vampires." Elena protested. "Vampires that deserved to be killed."
"Oh come off it Lena, face the facts, it's most likely him." Steve said.
Elena glared haughtily at him, "I know it's not him, I just know it."
"So who was it then?" Darren asked.
"I don't know." Evra admitted. "But if it was your dad he must have had a good reason."
"Maybe they were evil." Elena suggested hopefully.
"I don't think there would be six evil vampires in one city Elena." Darren said.
"You don't know." She said crossly, "None of us do. Maybe evil vampires form gangs. Besides, I didn't say evil vampires. Humans can be evil too."
"Either way he gave up being a General a long time ago." Darren said.
"His friend Gavner Purl might have convinced him to return. After all it was when he left that we came here." Evra said.
"So what do we do?" Darren asked.
"We hunt him down," Steve said dryly.
"Don't be so dramatic, we follow him." Elena said, "See where he goes when he leaves at night. If he's innocent then we leave him be."
"And if he isn't? You still going to protest that he's innocent?" Steve asked with his eyebrows raised.
"You guys kill him." Elena said.
"Don't you mean we?"
She shook her head, "I know that if he is killing people he has to be stopped but…" The tears finally spilled over. "He's the first real family I've known Steve. He took me away from, from, that place and I just know I won't be able to kill him. It has to be you."
"Okay." He said sitting on the edge of her bed with her. "Okay." He hugged her tight until she had cried herself to sleep. Evra helped Darren place her in bed and tuck her in.
"I just hope we won't have to." Darren muttered before turning in himself.
Following Mr. Crepsley was a lot harder than they thought. He had a knack for moving without a trace, as most vampires did, and he could move much more swiftly than any of his trackers. Thankfully he had no knowledge of being hunted so he didn't move as fast as he could. It was still fast enough for him to vanish from their sight though.
They had developed a method to tracking Mr. Crepsley. Evra and Steve would scope out from the ground while Elena and Darren followed him from the rooftops, keeping tabs with cell phones Darren had bought the day before. Mr. Crepsley would just sit on the roof of a building, watching the humans below. Picking out a victim? Darren wondered. Or looking for humans that were evil?
The children's hopes of not having to kill their guardian deflated when it was revealed that the victims were people of good standing. Doctors or accountants, people who were good, that helped others. It was obvious that they weren't vampires, and nearly all of them had families that mourned their death. The news certainly dampened their spirits.
Darren and sometimes Elena and Steve would go see Debbie a few hours before sunset. Darren loved spending time with her she was his first girlfriend. She was also the first girl their age that Elena didn't mind hanging out with.
"Why don't I see you guys after dark?" She asked.
"Dad feels kind of guilty that he's gone all day." Darren lied. "He wants us to spend time with him in the evening."
"What about the first date?" Debbie asked, "He let you out then."
"I snuck out." Darren said. "He went mad when he found out. I got the silent treatment for a week."
Debbie frowned. "He sounds like an old misery-guts."
"True but he's our dad." Elena said. "What are we supposed to do?"
"I suppose so." Debbie said. Darren smiled. He enjoyed spending time with Debbie. He was just sorry it could only be a few hours at a time.
"Are you guys going to come over Christmas Eve?" Debbie asked as Elena and Darren were getting their coats.
"We haven't asked yet." Darren said. "But I promise to beg for him to let us come at least for a few hours."
"I hope he lets you." Debbie said she kissed Darren on the cheek and he began to blush furiously. Elena laughed and pulled her brother out the door.
That night Mr. Crepsley started to follow someone. He was perched on a windowsill, above a sea of shoppers when, without warning, he clambered to the top of the building and took off.
Darren called Steve. "He's moving again."
"Good." He replied, "It gets so cold just standing here."
"Go get something to eat. Me and Lena can follow him he's going slow." Darren could hear him talking to Evra on the other end of the line.
"Alright, you guys want anything?"
"No thanks." Darren said. "I'll see you soon."
He rang Elena and the two of them took to the rooftops tracking their father. They followed him closely for almost fifteen minutes. And then they saw it. Mr. Crepsley was staring intently at a fat man tying his laces on the corner. Sure enough, when the fat man started to walk again, Mr. Crepsley was right on his tail.
"Oh no." Elena said miserably.
Darren called Steve once again, "Action." He said.
"What?"
"Quarry has been sighted."
"Where are you I'm on my way."
Darren told him the address. "Stay a few streets behind though."
"Will do." Steve said before hanging up.
"Do you want to go back to the hotel?" Darren asked Elena.
She shook her head, "I'll stand by you, and I'll fight him, I just won't deliver the final blow."
Darren nodded. "Good."
Evra and Steve met them at the old arbitrator where the fat man entered. They stuck to the shadows watching Mr. Crepsley trail the fat man. He didn't make his move. He just watched him. They stood there for hours before Mr. Crepsley turned and headed back for the hotel.
"Do you think he'll come back?" Evra asked.
Elena shook her head. "Not tonight, it's nearing dawn."
"Come on," Darren said. "We have to be back before him or we're going to have a whole lot of explaining to do."
The next night Evra and Steve went down to the flats to trail the fat man while Elena and Darren stayed to make breakfast for Mr. Crepsley and follow him when he left. He woke abruptly, and he was in a very good mood. Because he was going to kill the fat man? Darren wondered.
"Where are Evra and Steve?" He asked as he was sat down at the table.
"Shopping." Darren replied.
"Shopping?" Mr. Crepsley asked. Elena and Darren grew nervous, what if he was suspicious?
"I think Steve is helping him with Christmas shopping." Elena said.
"I did not think Evra took part in this absurd festival. What is the date anyway?"
"The twenty-second." Darren said.
"Christmas is the twenty-fifth correct?"
"Yes. Christmas Eve is on the twenty-fourth though." Elena said.
Mr. Crepsley scratched his scar, the way he always did when he was thinking. "My business here may come to an end by then."
"Really?" Darren asked.
Mr. Crepsley nodded, "We can stay here until Christmas is over if you would like. The hotel staff are throwing a celebration are they not?"
Elena nodded, "They're having a big Christmas dinner for all the guests."
"Would you like to attend?"
Darren smiled. "Yes, you can come too if you'd like." He said.
Mr. Crepsley smiled back, "I have no interest in such affairs."
He ruffled Darren's hair and left. The twins glanced at each other and got up from their sitting positions. "If he's finished his business soon that means he's probably going to kill the fat man tonight." Darren said.
Elena sighed, "I know. So let's stop him before he gets the chance."
They followed their father straight to the arbitrator. He moved with purpose, no shortcuts, no pausing, a hunter after its prey. Evra and Steve arrived with the fat man.
"What do we do now?" Evra asked.
"You're going to stay here." Elena said. "Me and Darren will go in and Darren will… you know."
"What?" Steve whined, "Why do I have to stay behind?"
"You might get hurt in the fight. Besides if he kills us at least you're both still around to get another shot at him." Darren explained.
"He has a point Steve," Evra said.
"You can wait just inside the arbitrator if you want. It would look suspicious if you were hanging around outside anyway." Elena said.
"Okay." Steve sighed. "Good luck."
Elena and Darren carefully entered the building and the stench of blood and rotting corpses was nearly overwhelming. After taking a moment for their stomachs to settle, they glanced around at their surroundings. The floor was coated with dust, leaving their fathers footsteps perfectly visible. Darren motioned for Elena to follow and he led the way through the dark hallway.
Turning a corner sharply, Darren nearly ran into Mr. Crepsley. He would have if Elena hadn't pulled him back as quick as she did. "Thanks." He breathed. Elena just put a finger to her lips indicating for him to be quiet.
The fat man trudged over to an automated door and vanished behind it. Mr. Crepsley darted out underneath the door right behind the fat man. "Stay here." Darren said.
"But-"
"I know you said you'd help me fight him, but what if we lose? You might not kill him but that doesn't mean he won't do the same for you."
Elena wanted to protest but her brother had a point. She nodded her agreement and went to hide where Mr. Crepsley had before. "Darren?"
"Yeah?"
"Just make sure he is the killer first okay?"
"Okay."
"Please don't get killed."
He grinned at her, "I'll try not to." He dashed under the door and it shut behind him with a dull thud, locking him in a room with the fat man, and possibly his murderous father.
The fat man strolled around the room, Mr. Crepsley close behind him, and Darren close behind Mr. Crepsley. His father itched closer to the man and Darren saw his muscles tense. He was preparing to attack. Darren raised the long rusty knife high, he meant to lunge the same moment his father did, but he hesitated. As a result, the knife missed its mark of Mr. Crepsley's throat, instead burrowing deep into his arm. The elder vampire let out a howl of pain attempting to shove Darren off him. However he was in too awkward a position for his extra weight, or strength to be of any use.
Darren took a breath and raised the knife again sure that it would hit its mark. When a shape falling from above distracted him. He turned to face a tall man, broad shouldered and bloated, dressed in all white from head to toe. Apart from this the man was a dark purple colour, as though he had taken a bath in purple dye, and his eyes were a deep red…the same colour as blood.
Darren distantly registered his father cursing stumbling to his feet when the man dashed forward much faster then a human was capable. He head butted Darren right in the stomach, sending him flying into his father with an 'oof' rendering them both useless. The purple man deftly snuck out through the heavy door before either had time to recover.
The fat man was on the floor, whimpering like a baby, trying to crawl away from the scene. Mr. Crepsley strode over to him, wincing at the pain in his arm where Darren had landed on it oddly, and knocked him out with a breath. He turned to his son and growled.
"You idiot!" He roared, "You stupid, interfering, mindless fool! Do you have any idea what you just did?"
"I… I was just… I thought…" Darren stuttered beginning to realize he had made a very serious mistake.
"He escaped! You let an insane killer waltz off scot free!"
He didn't say anymore. He unceremoniously pushed Darren to the ground and walked away muttering curses and obscenities under his breath.
When it looked as though he had calmed down somewhat, Darren strode over to him. "Who was that?"
Mr. Crepsley glared at him again. "What were you doing here?"
"I was trying to stop you from killing him." Darren said nodding towards the human curled up on the floor.
"Stop me?" His father said incredulously He looked livid. "You thought I was a killer?" He roared.
Darren nodded glumly ashamed he had come to the conclusion that Mr. Crepsley was a murderer. "You idiot boy." His father said. "Do you have so little faith in me?"
"What were we supposed to think?" Darren cried. "All we saw on the news were several bodies drained of blood. You never told us what you were up to, you just disappeared until morning."
His father looked startled and then nodded.
"You are right. I wished to spare you the gory details, but I suppose you do have a right to know."
"It's okay. I shouldn't have gone after you."
His father glanced down at the knife. "You meant to kill me?"
Darren flushed, "Sort of."
To his surprise, his father let out a laugh, "You are a reckless young man," There was a sparkle in his father's eye, "But I suppose that just proves you are my son."
"Will you be OK?" Darren asked.
"Do not worry about me Darren."
"Who was that?" Darren asked.
"Not who, what. He is a vampaneze by the name of Murlough."
"He's a what?" Darren blinked.
Mr. Crepsley sighed, "A vampaneze. They are our cousins for lack of a better word. Perhaps you should make yourself comfortable." Darren sat on the edge of the window next to his father. "Long ago, vampires did kill the people they fed upon, however many vampires felt this was unacceptable and established laws against it. We began to feed the way we do now and most vampires were happy with this decision."
"But some weren't?" Darren guessed. Mr. Crepsley nodded.
"Seventy vampires, who believed it was wrong to keep their victims alive broke away from the rest, declaring themselves a separate race, naming themselves the vampaneze. They believe there is honor in absorbing a persons essence, and that it is shameful to feed a little, like a leech."
"That's crazy!" Darren exclaimed.
"Not so much depending on what way you look at it."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember when you were first changed and you refused to drink human blood?"
"Yes."
"Now you do not think twice about the matter but to many humans you are evil. A little half-vampire drinking blood from poor defenseless humans. If people knew about you, you would be hunted down and killed in a heartbeat."
Darren looked like he wanted to argue more but his father cut in before he could. "Look I am not trying to say I agree with the beliefs of the vampaneze, but I do not think that they are evil."
"So killing people is okay?" Darren said unconvinced.
"No, but I can see where they come from. They kill due to their beliefs, but is that so different than a soldier who kills in war?"
"I suppose not." Darren said.
"Time has changed the vampaneze though. Did you see his skin tone, and his eyes?"
"Yes."
"That is due to the large amount of blood they consume. Picking a vampaneze out is relatively easy, much easier than spotting a vampire."
He looked at Darren's face seeing his look of disgust and disbelief. Mr. Crepsley chuckled. "I know you think that they are evil, but they do have their good points as well. They are loyal, and trustworthy. I vampaneze will never break his word and if he ever did, his comrades would execute him, no questions asked. I do not like the vampaneze personally, but to say they are evil, that is going a bit far."
"But you wanted to kill this one." Darren said confused.
"Murlough has gone mad. He is killing openly, and often. The Vampire Generals can not intervene for fear of risking open war, that is why Gavner Purl came to me."
"How would Gavner know you would do it?" Darren asked.
His father smiled bitterly. "This is the city where I grew up." Darren's eyes widened.
"Of course, it is much different now then when I was a boy, but it is still my home. Gavner knew this, and he also knew I could not sit back and let him loose on my city."
"So do we still have relatives here?"
"I imagine, unless they have moved away. I used to keep tabs on them, but I have not for a long time. Our relatives now are long distant from us."
They jumped when the man behind them groaned. "Come," Mr. Crepsley said hastily. "We have to get out of here before he wakes up."
"We have to get Elena and Evra and Steve first." Darren said going over to the heavy door.
"They were in on this too?" His father asked. Then he threw his head back and laughed. "We will walk through then."
"So now that Murlough has gone will we go back to the Cirque Du Freak?" Darren asked pressing the button and waiting for the door to slowly open.
"Yes, I imagine that he will avoid this city in the future, he has gone mad, but he has not lost his cunning nor his wit. He still sticks to the traditions of the vampaneze to some level. Did you notice the three marks on the man's face?"
"Yes." Darren said recalling similar marks on the other bodies.
"Vampaneze mark their victims before they feed upon them. Three scratches on the cheek. They also give this mark to their allies."
Darren nodded thoughtfully and raced through the door as it opened, Mr. Crepsley following behind.
"Elena!" He called. "Elena!" He said again. He frowned and this time full out shouted, "Elena! Where are you?" He walked over to the hallway where she had been hidden. All he found was a smashed mobile phone and an opened window.
"Was this hers?" Mr. Crepsley asked.
"Yes. She must have gone to the porch with Steve and Evra." Darren said trying to convince himself she was fine.
Mr. Crepsley whisked away, a concerned expression on his face, Darren running behind him to keep up. The boys were in the porch waiting for Darren.
"Mr. Crepsley!" Evra gasped. "We were just-"
"It is alright Evra." Mr. Crepsley said quickly. "I know what happened, is Elena with you?"
Evra looked confused. "No she went with Darren."
Mr. Crepsley turned away from them sharply drawing in a quick breath.
If she wasn't here where was she? Then Darren remembered where Murlough had disappeared. Through the heavy door, straight into the room where Elena was waiting, and the open window in the hallway where she had hidden.
"The vampaneze has her!" He cried out.
Mr. Crepsley turned again and Darren saw tears glistening in his eyes. "Then she is most likely dead." He said and held onto his son tightly as Darren began to cry.