A Vampire and His Assistants

by madamecrepsley

Legend has it the gods would gift a pair of vampires with the ability to conceive a child. Darren Shan and Elena Crepsley thought they were normal average kids, but when a certain freak show pulls into town, they will learn the truth about themselves, and a certain orange haired vampire will have to embrace the task he never wanted: fatherhood. *Rewritten, previously called What If

16. Chance Meeting

I never have and never will own Cirque Du Freak. Review and thanks to those that have!

It had been six years since the Murlough incident and Elena had gotten over the worst of her nightmares. It had taken a long time, nearly two years before she could sleep all the way through the night or even by herself. She had stayed in her fathers coffin, her fathers arms a safe-hold against the bad dreams although she hated it because she felt she was being childish and not at all acting like a vampiress despite her fathers reassurance that any one would have nightmares after going through what she did. Eventually she was able to sleep in her hammock again, though there were still times when she would crawl next to Darren or Mr. Crepsley depending on what time it was. She had only crawled next to Steve once, when Darren and her father were out, but her father had gone ballistic and so she had never done it again. Steve was no longer with the Cirque in any case, he had left nearly five years ago.

Almost two years after the children had returned from their little "vacation," when Steve, Darren, and Elena were fifteen, Steve woke one evening with a burning in his throat. For the past fortnight, he had been having vivid dreams, dreams filled with rivers of blood. He hadn't said a word to Mr. Crepsley, the vampire had told him he had a killer's instinct, if he knew he was having dreams about blood…well that probably wouldn't bode well for Steve.

Mr. Crepsley entered the tent to find Steve clutching his throat, his hammock ripped to shreds. He glared at him, realization dawning on his face, "What did you do?" He roared.

Steve stared at him blankly, Darren and Elena entered the tent behind Mr. Crepsley. "Dad what's going on?" Elena asked, watching her father grow taller in anger.

"Did you convince one of my children to blood you?"

"What are you talking about?" Steve said angrily, "I'm human remember."

Mr. Crepsley snorted, "Not anymore you are not."

"Test my blood if you don't believe me." Steve said, holding out an arm.

"Dad this is ridiculous," Darren said, but Mr. Crepsley was already swiping a fingernail across Steve's forearm. He placed a drop of the blood in his mouth. The three children watched intently as he swirled it around on his tongue and spat it out almost immediately.

"I know, I know, I have bad blood, but you don't have to be so rude about it."

"Where did you find one." Mr. Crepsley said quietly.

"Find what?"

"A vampaneze boy!" Mr. Crepsley snapped, "You are no longer human, but you are not a vampire either, you are a half-vampaneze."

All three children's eyes widened, and Elena quickly backed out of the tent. Darren turned and followed her. "But-" Steve said.

"Where did you find one."

"I didn't. I swear, I didn't."

"Well then Steven, how do you explain this?"

"I don't-"

"I believe I can explain." Another voice sounded. Mr. Crepsley whipped around and found a short, ugly women dressed in ropes.

"Lady Evanna," Mr. Crepsley said, bowing his head slightly.

"Who are you?" Steve asked.

"Well aren't we direct." Evanna said.

"Steve, this is Lady Evanna, she, hopefully, has an answer to this problem."

"I do." Evanna said with a smile, "But I have to introduce you to someone first, Gannen?" A tall, purple skinned man with long red hair pulled into a ponytail entered the tent. He nodded to Mr. Crepsley, who returned the nod. "Gannen this is Larten, and this is Steve." Gannen leaned around Mr. Crepsley so that he could get a better look at the boy.

"I suppose you knew about this," Mr. Crepsley said to Evanna, while Steve stood from his hammock to stand next to Mr. Crepsley.

She nodded, "I did."

"So what happened to me?" Steve asked.

"Your nature took its course."

"What do you mean his nature?" Mr. Crepsley asked.

Evanna smiled, "Steve is not so different from Darren and Elena." Mr. Crepsley and Steve both stared at her. Her smile grew wider, "Gannen here is Steve's father."

Mr. Crepsley and Steve both froze. It was only a matter of minutes before Steve had launched himself at Gannen, beating at his chest. Accentuating each word with a thwap. "You." "Left" "Me." "Alone." "With" Her"

"Steve!" Mr. Crepsley barked, glancing apprehensively at the vampaneze.

Gannen simply placed his hands on Steve's shoulders and gently pushed him back, "I didn't know you existed." Steve only sobbed, resting his head on Gannen's chest. "I had no reason to return to your mother."

Evanna smiled again and beckoned for Mr. Crepsley to follow her. He glanced back at Steve and Gannen before following her out of the tent. "His mother is human?"

"Yes."

"Would Darren and Elena have turned into vampires by themselves if I had not blooded them?"

"Yes."

"And you knew about all three of them before did you not."

"I assisted Arra with the pregnancy and the birth, as for Steve, Gannen confided in me that he had relations with a human woman. Knowing that the gods had gifted you and Arra, I decided to check on the woman, and sure enough, there was a bouncing baby boy waiting." They stopped walking at the edge of the camp. "I have to go," She placed a hand on his cheek, running a finger down his scar.

"Of course, lady." The witch walked just past his line of sight, and then vanished without a trace.

Mr. Crepsley sighed and left to go find his children. They were sitting around the campfire in the middle of camp, whispering furiously to one another. "Darren, Elena."

They both stood, "Is it true?" Darren asked, "Is Steve really a half-vampaneze."

"Yes." Mr. Crepsley sighed, "It seems as though Steve's father is a vampaneze, he turned of his own accord." He smiled, gently putting a hand on Elena's head as her face paled considerably, "Do not fret, remember that Murlough had gone mad, I am sure Gannen is as honourable as any other vampaneze and he will teach Steve the same."

She nodded weakly, gazing fearfully in the direction of their tent, where Steve and Gannen were emerging. The duo approached the vampires, Gannen reached his hand out to shake Mr. Crepsley's, "Thank you," He said, "For taking him in."

"You can thank Darren and Elena for that." Mr. Crepsley replied, jerking his head to indicate the children standing behind him.

"Thank you both then." His red eyes swept over Darren, who nodded curtly, over to Elena, who was still trembling slightly. "I'll let you say goodbye Steve." He said, before drifting away.

Steve stood still, shifting from one foot to the other nervously, before he flung his arms around Mr. Crepsley, "Goodbye Vur Horsten."

"That is not my name," Mr. Crepsley growled, but gripped his shoulder and ruffled Steve's hair all the same, "In any case, I am glad that you found your father, now you can have what you always wanted." He squeezed his shoulder before striding away, leaving the children to say goodbye in privacy.

"I'll miss you." Darren choked out, throwing his arms around Steve.

"I'll miss you too Crepsley." He hugged his friend tight, "You got the chance to find your dad, now it's my turn." He let go of Darren and turned to Elena, arms wide open. "Don't I get a hug too?"

She backed away, eyes wide and fearful. Steve frowned, "Elena you know I would never-" She didn't hear anything else he said, taking off without even uttering a goodbye.

Steve looked down at his feet dejectedly, "Cheer up," Darren said, "You know as well as anyone what she went through, you can't take it personally, besides, we'll all live long enough that she'll feel silly about all of this."

"Yeah," Steve muttered. "Well, see you Darren." Both boys strode over to their fathers; Gannen gave one last nod to Mr. Crepsley, before Steve hopped onto his back and they flitted away.

At the moment, it was almost one o'clock in the morning and she was curled up next to her brother who had an arm slung around her protectively. Mr. Crepsley entered the tent and shook them awake.

"What is it?" Darren asked groggily.

"Pack your bags, we are leaving for Vampire Mountain tomorrow night." His father informed.

"Vampire Mountain?" Elena yawned, "What for?"

"It is time you two were presented to the Vampire Council."

"The Vampire Council!" Darren said snapping awake immediately.

His father sighed. "Yes, it is custom for every new vampire to be presented before the Generals."

"Then why haven't we gone before?"

"The Council only meets every twelve years. I also believe it is time you met your mother."

"Is she going to be there?" Elena asked excitedly.

Mr. Crepsley nodded, "She is a Vampire General."

"So will she judge your trial?" Elena asked. Surely if their mother was deciding his sentence he will walk away without punishment.

"No. They will consider Arra to be too close to my case and too influenced due to her… connection to me, the Council will consider her judgment to be clouded by emotions. She will be allowed to be present at the trial and she may speak up in my defence, but someone else will merit my sentence."

"Oh." Elena said looking disappointed.

"I am sure everything will be fine." Mr. Crepsley said. "I suggest you get a few more hours of sleep, we have a long journey ahead of us." He left the tent to do whatever he did in the early hours of the morning.

Darren and Elena woke at around eight or nine in the morning. They spent the day charged with the task of packing. A task that proved to be difficult, as they had no inkling of what Vampire Mountain was like.

After asking the leader of the Cirque Mr. Tall, they settled on packing for a cooler temperature. Their friend Evra helped them. Though he was really only a few years older then the twins' age of twenty, they looked to be fourteen whilst Evra was a full-grown snake-man. Darren had moved out of Evra's tent and into his fathers with Elena. Though they were the same age it was hard for Evra not to think of them as kids. Still he was close enough to help them pack for the trip.

When they looked through, they found there wasn't much to take. Spare clothes, Mr. Crepsley's special folding pots, thick boots, Darren's diary-he insisted despite Elena telling him the other vampires would tease him relentlessly-and other little things they might need. Extra vials of blood, a spare knife, hair ties, things of that nature.

Darren and Elena were in the middle of a whispered debate on whether or not to take extra socks, with Evra looking on amused until a booming voice snapped them out of it. "Well well taking a trip to the Mountain are we?"

Evra gasped the voice belonged to none other than Mr. Tiny. His booming voice also did the job of waking Mr. Crepsley. The first thing he did was glare at his two children thinking they had woken him until Mr. Tiny spoke to him. "Good Evening Larten."

"Desmond." Mr. Crepsley said with eyes wide. "May I ask why you are in my tent?"

"I heard word you were setting off to Vampire Mountain for the Council."

"I am. It is our custom as you know to present any new vampires to the Council."

"It is a dangerous route to take even for an experienced vampire correct?"

"Yes but I am confident in Darren and Elena's abilities to complete the journey." Darren and Elena smiled at their father's praise.

"Oh of course I would imagine that the children of Larten Crepsley and Arra Sails are more than capable but they are still young and so I'm sending these two as sort of guards." From behind Mr. Tiny a pair of Little People stepped into view. Elena recognized one of them as Lefty.

Mr. Crepsley didn't take kindly to the notion. He was shaking from anger, and Evra backed out of the tent at the sight of a furious vampire. "Are you suggesting that I am inept to protect my own flesh and blood Desmond?"

"Of course not!" Mr. Tiny said. "They are just there as a precaution and they carry a message to deliver to the Princes."

"I can carry the message for them if they wish." Mr. Crepsley said through gritted teeth.

"I would not wish to trouble you with such a burden." Mr. Tiny said and by the glint in his eyes Larten knew his battle was lost, the Little People would accompany them. He nodded stiffly to Mr. Tiny who exited with a smile that was malicious underneath the mask of pleasantness.

Mr. Crepsley glared at the spot where he had exited the tent and then sighed. "Let me see what you have packed." He looked through their bags taking things out, putting more things in. Elena and Darren watched silently at least until he pulled the boots out and tossed them aside.

"Aren't we hiking up the Mountain?" Darren asked confused.

"Yes but we are not to wear shoes."

"What? Over ice and snow?" Elena protested.

"The journey to Vampire Mountain is meant to wheedle out the weak from the strong. No shoes, ropes, or anything of that nature. I suggest you change your clothes as well." Mr. Crepsley said nodding to Darren's pirate costume and Elena's gypsy one.

He tossed them both thick woolen jumpers and trousers. "Exactly how long have you been preparing for this?" Darren asked.

"Quite some time." Mr. Crepsley admitted. "Where is Madam Octa?"

"Are you bringing her?" Elena asked surprised.

Mr. Crepsley nodded, "I wish to show her to someone."

"Who would want to see a giant, poisonous spider?" Darren asked carefully lifting Madam Octa into his bag.

"You seemed keen on her the first time you saw her if you recall." His father reminded.

"Right. I almost forgot." Darren muttered.

"Ready?" Mr. Crepsley asked.

"Ready!" Elena chirped.

"Ready." Darren said.

They said their goodbyes to the Cirque members and then started the long journey to the Council.

The trip was hard, and they hadn't even reached the snow-lands yet! They slept in caves most of the time, unless they came across a way station that was equipped with human blood and coffins. A vampires dream. The Little people usually trailed behind the three vampires, wandering off to go hunt something but finding his or her-Darren and Elena weren't quite sure what gender to associate them with yet-way back. Darren, Elena, and Mr. Crepsley usually fed off deer. Only cooking it when they were at a way station. But that wasn't very often.

They were placed far apart it took nearly a week to get from one to another, and then it might be taken over by animals or destroyed.

They moved faster as the days slowly started turning shorter and Mr. Crepsley could walk about for a longer period of time. As the days grew shorter, the nights grew colder particularly against the bare rock that they slept upon. "We will reach the snow drifts in about a week." Mr. Crepsley informed them as they tucked into a meal of deer and some berries Elena had found by the cave they resided in.

"Does that mean we're nearly there?" Elena asked.

Mr. Crepsley chuckled "I am afraid we still have quite a distance to go. Will you two be alright?"

"Why wouldn't we be?" Darren asked.

"It is going to get cold. Even for a full-vampire."

"We'll live. Besides we may as well keep going now that we started." Elena said.

A twinkle lit up in her father's eyes. "Yes you may as well. Tell me if your feet get cut, there are herbs along this path to seal pores."

Five nights after that they were trudging through snow up to their knees. During the day, Mr. Crepsley was forced to hold his two shivering children to him while they slept. All three were glad when they caught sight of the next way station. Warm coffins beckoned to them. Darren and Elena were ready to race into the cave but their father threw an arm out to stop them.

"What?" Darren asked irritably. He was tired and cold and wanted nothing more than to curl up in a coffin and sleep.

"I smell blood." Mr. Crepsley said. Elena and Darren instinctively drew closer to their father's back. Slowly they approached the cave. Darren and Elena's muscles were tense ready to run at the first sign of trouble. The coffin in the cave was smashed, and soaked in blood. Mr. Crepsley drew in a sharp breath. "It is the blood of a vampire."

He turned to face them as a strong arm wrapped around Elena's middle, and another around her throat. "Hah!" A voice called triumphantly but their victory didn't last long. Putting years of training to use. Elena swiftly brought her elbow up to her attacker's throat and freed herself when his grip on her loosened. She extended her nails out, preparing to deliver a killing blow when Darren grabbed her arm.

"Stop!" He said. "It's only Gavner!"

"Gavner?" Elena gasped dropping her hand. "I'm so sorry."

"You bloody fool Gavner, you nearly got yourself killed." Mr. Crepsley said.

"Well I didn't realize your little vampiress could pack quite a hit. Nice job by the way." Gavner replied.

"Thanks." Elena said quietly.

"What were you thinking?" Mr. Crepsley demanded.

"I was thinking I could finally sneak up on you, I've been trailing you for four nights now."

"And you didn't notice the blood?" Darren questioned.

"Blood?" Gavner looked confused but then he flicked his gaze to the contents of the cave. "Bloody hell!" He exclaimed.

"What do you think happened?" Elena asked curiously.

"Animal attack maybe." Gavner suggested.

"No." Mr. Crepsley said softly. "An animal would have destroyed everything, only the coffins are disturbed. This was a fight between the dead vampire and someone else."

"Well can we get out of here then?" Elena asked.

"I think that would be wise." Mr. Crepsley said.

They camped out in a clump of trees, lighting a rare fire, as the night was bitter cold. Even with the heat of the flames, Darren and Elena snuggled close to their father's frame for warmth. Once they had all gotten settled in, the Little People returned carrying a deer with them.

Gavner looked at them suspiciously and they peered right back with the same look in their eyes. "What are they doing here?" He asked.

"Desmond Tiny insisted they came." Mr. Crepsley said tiredly. "I will tell you later." He added when Gavner looked ready to bombard him with questions.

The talk turned to other things, old friends, Councils that they had been to before, trading stories of their travels.

"How have you two been?"

"Fine."

"So do you have plans of becoming full-vampires?" Gavner asked raising his fingertips to reveal his scars.

"No!" Darren said. Then looked at his father uncertainly, "I don't do I?"

His father shook his head smiling, "Not until you turn eighteen."

"We're already twenty." Elena reminded.

"I meant in vampire years." They looked confused.

"Physically." Gavner supplied.

"Oh." Elena said. She stood up.

"Where are you going?" Mr. Crepsley asked.

"I'm just filling up our canteens." Elena said. "I'll be fine."

"Do you want someone to go with you?" Gavner asked.

"She can take care of herself." Mr. Crepsley said before Elena could show off her mothers temper. "She nearly killed you did she not?"

Elena smiled and set off towards the stream, the problem was when she got there it was already occupied by someone else. A group of wolves were gathered at the stream drinking. They were beautiful. Their coats glistened in the rising sunlight. Cautiously she stepped to the edge of the trees watching them.

"Streak!" A joyful voice called out. Elena quickly vanished into the greenery and watched as a woman came out and greeted the wolves. She was fairly tall and muscular, with scars crisscrossing over her body. Her long black hair was braided down her back and she took no notice of the young vampiress in the trees though she was easily visible due to her bright hair.

"Do you remember me?" The woman asked. Running her hand down the male wolf's back. He had a strip of darker fur that ran from his head all the way to his tail. Elena could see why the woman had christened him streak. "Is this your pup?" She asked taking the small wolf cub into her arms.

Streak barked and the small wolf cuddled into her arms. The woman's face was sad, and Streak licked her face wondering what was wrong.
"I had to give my own pups up." She said miserably. "For their own good." One of the females nuzzled her shoulder sympathetically.

Elena gasped; surely this must be her mother. Vampires couldn't have children. Her mother was the only one who ever did. She was positive that this woman was in fact a vampire, from her many scars and her muscular frame. She was also positive that she was seeing her mother for the very first time. The wolves heard the gasp, so did the woman.

Elena drew her knife as a precaution; from the stories her father and Gavner told her mother was the type to attack first and question later. The wolf cup wedged his way through the trees to where she was standing. He yipped happily when he saw her. Elena figured that wolves and vampires must get along well. Then the vampiress pushed back the brambles to reveal her.

"What are you doing all the way up here?" The woman asked her muscles tense ready for a fight.

"On the way to the Council." Elena said. "Same as you."

The woman's face was pained. "You're a vampire?"

Elena nodded.

"Who did this to you?" The woman whispered.

"Larten Crepsley."

The vampiress' eyes widened. "Surely he's not that dull is he?"

"It's kind of a long story." Elena said. "Who are you? I don't think you've said your name." That was true. She didn't say her name but Elena did know this woman's name. She just had to make sure.

"Arra Sails."

"Really?" Elena asked eyes wide. She could hardly dare to believe it.

"You know me?" Arra asked suspiciously. "Who are you?"

"I-I'm…" She trailed off not knowing exactly what to say.

"You're what?"

"Your daughter." Elena breathed. "I'm your daughter."

Arra gasped. "Elena?"

Elena nodded tears threatening to spill over. Arra reached a hand out to touch her face, as if she didn't really believe she was there. "Elena, oh I never thought I would see you again." She wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter, burying her face in Elena's shoulder. "So I take it Larten found you."

"Yes." Elena said. "The Cirque came to town. Me and Darren went to see it."

"So Darren's here too?"

"He's with dad and Gavner, I went to go get water."

Arra smiled it felt like it was the first time she had since Larten had left. "Well fill up your canteens and we'll go meet up with them."

Once they had water, Elena and Arra walked back to the ring of trees where they found the three boys sleeping without a care in the world. The pack of wolves trailed behind them. Arra had told Elena about how wolves were friends to vampires and told her that she had met Streak while coming to a council several years before. Elena nicknamed the pup Rudi because of his red nose.

The Little People were awake and once they spotted the wolves, they moved in on them, preparing for the kill. Elena glared. "Don't even think about it." She said. The one named Lefty stopped as soon as she said that. He always seemed different than the others; but his brother didn't listen. He rubbed his stomach and kept moving forward. Elena snarled threateningly at him and Lefty grabbed him arm pulling him away from the wolves. All the commotion had woken the others.

"What's going on?" Gavner said tiredly.

"Arra?" Larten gasped as he caught sight of her.

"Hello Larten." She said sitting next to him.

"Mom?" Darren asked surprised and bewildered.

"Hello Darren." Arra said.

"Well I think I'm going to go get us dinner." Gavner said leaving them to sort things out.

"But how?" Larten said. Elena and Darren were surprised. Their father being lost for words was not something they were used to seeing.

"Elena found me. I was stopped by the stream to drink and she came."

"I see you picked up a few friends." He said to Elena who was playing with the wolf cub.

"I named him Rudi."

"They are not pets." Larten said.

"Oh come on Larten don't be such a spoil sport." Arra said. "Do you remember Streak?" She asked petting the older wolf.

"Like mother like daughter." He replied rolling his eyes.

Elena nudged Darren's ankle and they both quietly snuck out of the cave leaving their parents to talk in private.

"Why did you not tell me sooner?" Larten asked.

Arra laughed dryly. "We didn't exactly end things nicely the last time we met."

"But surely you must have known these circumstances made things different."

She sighed, "I didn't want to tie you to me if you didn't love me. Besides, the clan would probably treat Elena and I like Evanna if you weren't there. The orphanage just seemed like the most logical idea. I figured that they would be treated better there than with me."

"Arra Elena was abused in the orphanage." Larten said gently. He knew she would probably blow up at that and he wasn't proven wrong either.

"What?" She screeched. "Did you do anything about it?"

"I did not know about it until three years after I blooded her." Larten defended.

Arra looked ready to kill, "What about Darren?"

"He was adopted when he was younger."

"His adoptive parents gave you permission to take him?" Arra asked in disbelief.

"Well no, not exactly." Larten shifted uncomfortably.

"You didn't." She said. He stayed silent. "Larten you idiot."

"I did not think it through before I blooded them." Larten admitted. "I just wanted my children to be closer to me, is that such a crime?"

"No. It's not." Arra said softly. "So what are we going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well we're not together anymore; and I think it's safe to say we both want a part in their lives."

"Arra do you still love me?" Larten asked.

Arra was taken off guard by the suddenness of the question. Larten could see her guarded walls falling down. "Yes." She whispered. "I do."

"Do you think that quite possibly we could-"

"Not right now. I didn't expect to see you so soon. I'm still hurting, maybe in the future but right now can we just be friends?"

"Yes. I will wait until you are ready."

"Thank you." Arra said. Larten wrapped an arm around her and held her close to him.

Gavner, Elena, and Darren came back into the cave. Gavner was soaked to the bone and carrying a deer over his shoulder.

"What happened to you?" Arra asked laughing at her friends state.

"Your son pushed me into the stream." Gavner grumbled.

"It was an accident!" Darren said.

"Sure it was." Gavner said sarcastically.

"Well if your going to stop a few feet from a stream you should let the people walking behind you know." Darren said.

"Hmph!" Gavner grunted plopping down by the fire to warm himself up.

Larten and Arra laughed at their friend's misfortune. Gavner glared at them. "You wouldn't think it was so funny if it was you." He grumbled.

"No but at least we could punish them." Larten said.

Elena and Darren walked over and sat next to their parents, the wolves following. Rudi crawled over cuddling into Elena who wrapped her arms around the small form of the cub. Gavner skinned and cooked the deer while waiting to dry off, and as soon as the meal was done they all drifted off to sleep.

After five nights they came to a patch of briars that covered the path to the mountain from left to right. The thorns were thick and sharp, and would easily puncture the skin of a full-grown vampire.

"There's no other way to get to the mountain on time unless we go through." Arra sighed.

"We could climb the side of the mountain." Gavner suggested.

Arra shook her head, "That climb is dangerous enough for us to do. Elena and Darren would be killed if they slipped even once."

Gavner sighed and pulled his jumper over his head. "Well we might as well salvage our clothes from the thorns." He said stuffing it into his pack.

The other vampires followed his example, Larten growling and glaring at Gavner seeing him staring at his daughter. Gavner backed off immediately while Arra, Darren, and Elena rolled their eyes. When Gavner took off his trousers they saw he was wearing yellow boxers with pink elephants printed on them. Mr. Crepsley and Arra stared at him while Elena and Darren smirked.

"They were a present." Gavner muttered while blushing.

"From a human female you were involved with I presume." Mr. Crepsley said the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile.

"She was a wonderful lady." Gavner sighed. "But with horrible taste in underwear."

"And in boyfriends." Darren said cheekily. Arra and Mr. Crepsley roared in laughter at that. Gavner furiously muttering curses against the young half-vampire all the while.

The journey through the briar was long, tiring, and painful but they pushed on, none of the vampires wanted to try to sleep in a bed of thorns. The wolves had it easy. Elena thought bitterly picking thorns out of her hands; they could slip through the brambles as if it was nothing.

The Little People walked ahead of the-on Mr. Crepsley's order-seemingly unaffected by the branches that tore through their robes and grayish skin. Darren and Elena felt bad for them, and at the same time they didn't. The Little People cleared the way for the vampires so the going was easier.

They reached the end of the briar patch within a few hours. Cut and sore, but otherwise fine. Mr. Crepsley and Arra healed Darren and Elena's cuts before attending to their own. After pulling on their clothes, they made for the next way station. Larten was determined to reach it before day, and so they didn't stop once. They said nothing; the only sound was Gavner's heavy breathing. The way station came into view only minutes away from dawn.

Exhausted, they immediately lay down. Gavner had the sense to build a fire before drifting off; the others welcomed the warmth; particularly Darren and Elena who were freezing from travelling so long with next to nothing on. They curled up between their parents the same way a kid does when they have a nightmare.

Darren woke late afternoon. He glanced around, the Little People sat by the fire, keeping it going and stitching their robes back together. Gavner was snoring loudly on the other side of the cave. Darren wondered how everyone slept through that him included. Darren was sandwiched between his mother and sister; both were sleeping soundly his father was on Elena's other side. He was snoring lightly although it was impossible to tell over Gavner's monstrous ones.

He groaned and rolled over, pulling his pack over his head in an attempt to block out the men's snores. When his efforts were futile Darren flipped over and stared at the roof of the caves. Finding cracks that formed shapes and making up stories about them. His stomach grumbled loudly interrupting his game. He scowled not wanting to get up but his stomach was stubborn and egged Darren to feed it.

Groaning he stood and walked out of the cave the wolves tailing him close behind. The adult wolves went to hunt leaving Rudi in the care of Darren. Rudi was like a kid left in the care of their fun rule-breaking aunt and uncle. No parents to get mad when he misbehaved. He raced along the forest, Darren running behind to keep up, jumping up into Darren's arms to nip his nose; he was a small over excited ball of fur.

He found a small tree; it's branches low enough for the cub to pull himself up with his paws. He glanced down when he was about halfway up the tree and started to whimper.

"Hey it's okay, you're not that high up." Darren consoled the small wolf. It did no good; Rudi drew back his upper lip to bare his teeth and growled.

Darren frowned. "What's wrong?"

Another growl sounded but not from Rudi. It was a much deeper growl and much angrier. Darren turned to be faced with a large grizzly, frothing at the mouth and claws raised. The cub leaped from the tree and onto the bear's head, blinding it giving time for Darren to run to the cave for help. A small yelp got Darren's attention. Rudi was thrown from the bear's head and scampered up the tree again. The bear tore at the tree with its claws. Another set of claws attached itself to the bear's shoulder. The wolves had come running at the sound of Rudi's yelps and were attacking the bear.

The bear swiped at them, snarling loudly. Darren hoped it would be enough to wake the vampires in the cave. When the wolves were thrown off and the bear could face Darren again, he thought he was done for. Then the two Little People barreled into the bear. Darren had never been so glad to have them around. They were immensely strong; their strength nearly matched vampires; but they were no match for a foe of that size.

The bear threw his body weight upon them, Lefty got out of the way but his companion was squished flat by the bear with a nasty crunching sound. When the bear moved Darren could see a mess of bones and blue robes where the Little Person had stood. While Lefty continued to fight the bear with help from the wolves, Daren walked over to the fallen Little Person and picked up a bone. It was sharp, and a decent length. Darren rolled underneath the bears swinging claws and rammed it into its throat.

The bear almost looked surprised, and with a grunt it fell to the ground. Dead. "Darren?"

Darren turned to see his mother standing there. A look of pure shock etched onto her face. He ran over to her and threw his arms around her. He was shaking and crying. "Shh. You're okay, it's dead, it can't hurt you." Arra murmured as Darren dried his tears in the shoulder of her jumper.

"S-sorry." He choked out.

"You don't have to be sorry, Darren." Arra said gently prying him away from her to look at him. She wiped his tears with her thumb. The other vampires came onto the scene. They had gone hunting and heard the fight.

Larten glanced around at the scene. From the dead Little Person to Streak trying to coax Rudi from the tree to his son who had stopped crying but was still trembling in his mother's arms. Elena walked over to Rudi and lifted him out of the tree. He nuzzled his nose against the side of her neck and she held him, running a hand through his fur a few times until he stopped shaking. She gently placed him on the ground where he ran to Streak for comfort.

"Thanks Lefty." Darren said to the Little Person.

Lefty looked at him and slowly lowered his mask revealing a mouth full of jagged teeth. "Name…Not…Lefty…Name…Harkat…Harkat Mulds."

The vampires all stared at the Little Person. Gavner was the first to speak. "Did… Did it just speak?"

Harkat frowned. "He…Not…It."

"Right. Sorry." Gavner gulped.

"Darren what happened?" Mr. Crepsley asked.

Darren recounted his story from start to finish with no interruptions. When he was done Arra frowned. "Why did the bear attack you? You didn't do anything to agitate it did you?"

"No. But it was foaming at the mouth when it attacked me."

Larten leaned down and made a small cut, tasting the bear's blood. He spat it out almost immediately. "The bear is infected with vampaneze blood." He said spitting again to rid his mouth of the foul taste. Elena's face paled. The last time they had encountered a vampaneze it hadn't gone well. She knew that this would give her nightmares when she slept.

Gavner swore. "What would a vampaneze be doing here? Even a mad vampaneze has enough sense to stay far away from the mountain."

"I don't know but we should get somewhere safe and discuss it later." Arra said.

"We should leave now. Unless…Do you want to bury him Harkat?" Mr. Crepsley said indicating the broken Little Person lying in the snow.

Harkat shook his head. "That would…just…Waste time."

"Then let us make haste." Mr. Crepsley said.

The group hurried along through the snow. Not twenty minutes past where they had previously been standing they found a purple skinned body lying half in the snow a pile of rocks in a circle around him.

"So we don't have to worry anymore?" Elena asked hopefully.

"We have to worry even more." Mr. Crepsley said looking at her sympathetically.

"But he's dead!" She protested.

"But who buried him?" Her father asked. The question sent a chill through everyone's spine.

"Come on." Arra muttered. "The sun's coming up."

They made camp in the shelter of the forest. Not daring to light a fire for fear of attracting the attention of whoever buried the dead vampaneze. Once they were fairly settled the Little Person recounted his story.

They found out that the Little People were once ghosts. Souls damned to walk the earth forever. They each struck a deal with Mr. Tiny to serve him and then eventually be 'set free.' The masks were for protection. They could only breathe normal air for a certain period of time before they died.

"Can all the Little People talk?" Elena asked curious.

"Not… Sure." Harkat said.

"But why have you decided to talk now?" Mr. Crepsley asked. "After being silent for so long."

"I have a… Message to… Give to… The Princes… From Mr. Tiny."

"What was it?" Darren asked.

Harkat shook his head. "Can't… Tell you."

"We won't tell. We promise." Elena said.

"All… Of you?" Harkat asked.

"We won't say a word." Arra said.

"Mr. Tiny said… The night… Of the Vampaneze… Lord is… At hand."

"What's the Vampaneze Lord?" Darren asked. Harkat shrugged slipping his mask back on.

"The Vampaneze Lord is the leader of the Vampaneze." Arra said. Darren whipped around to look at her.

"Mr. Tiny came to the vampaneze and told them that a child would be born from a vampaneze and a human. That child would be their champion. The vampaneze aren't like us, they have no leaders or boundaries, but they would follow this one child blindly and he would lead them to war against the vampires and wipe us out." Arra said.

"Or he would bring peace between the two clans." Gavner said.

"I think I would prefer we were wiped out." Arra said. Larten nodded his agreement.

"Over-protective parents." Gavner muttered. But only Larten and Arra had heard.

"Why?" Elena asked bewildered.

"I'll tell you when you're older." Arra said.

"I think it is time we all had some rest before night comes again." Larten said softly.

Everyone but Elena and Larten went to sleep almost immediately.

"We have a long way to go yet." Her father said. "You should rest."

"I'm afraid to close my eyes." She admitted. "What if I close them and he's there again?"

Larten knew she was talking about Murlough. It hit him hard that she might never get over what happened and it was his entire fault for not telling his children about the vampaneze sooner. "Come here." He said hugging her to him as she started to cry. "He will never hurt you again. He can not."

"Daddy?" She managed to choke out.

"What is it?"

"Is Steve the Vampaneze Lord?"

Mr. Crepsley sighed unhappily, "I believe that is a fair assumption, but do not tell anyone else of this, the princes will debate the matter later."

"But he wouldn't-" She cried out, breaking into fresh sobs, "I never even told him goodbye." She said furiously, "I was too afraid of him because of-because."

"Hush." Larten said, pressing his lips to her forehead. Slowly her crying ceased and Larten looked down to see she had fallen asleep. He leaned back and drifted into unconsciousness. Comforted by the fact that his daughter was here. Safe in his arms.

A week later they arrived at the mountain. This was where they would part ways with the wolves. Arra leaned down to pet Streak as he went to leave. He wagged his tail and licked her face. Rudi was in Elena's arms cuddling into her before he left.

"Do they have to go?" She asked as Rudi leaped from her arms to join the older wolves.

"Yes." Mr. Crepsley said. "I told you they were not pets."

"He'll remember you even when he's old and grey." Arra said.

"Really?" Darren asked.

Arra nodded. "Always."

They entered the mountains tunnels. It was fairly dark but their way was dimly lit by a glowing fungus.

"Don't worry." Gavner said. "It'll get brighter the deeper we go."

"I hope so." Elena muttered.

They came to a cavern full of tunnels leading this way and that. "How do you know which way to go?" Darren asked.

"It is marked." Mr. Crepsley said indicating a miniscule arrow carved into the stonewalls. "Even so, do not wander off by yourselves."

They followed the tunnels until they came to a door. Arra knocked and a large vampire emerged carrying a large spear.

"Address yourselves to the gate." The guard barked at them.

"I am Arra Sails, come to seek Council." Their parents had told Elena and Darren this was the standard reply.

"I am Larten Crepsley, come to seek Council."

"I am Gavner Purl, come to seek Council."

"I am Darren Crepsley, come to seek Council."

"I am Elena Crepsley, come to seek Council."

"I am… Harkat Mulds…Come... seek Council."

The guard peered at Harkat, Darren, and Elena. "Larten Crepsley, Gavner Purl, and Arra Sails are all recognized by the gate. But these…"

"The children are my assistants and half-vampires." Mr. Crepsley said.

"You vouch for them?" The guard asked.

"I do." Mr. Crepsley said.

"Then Darren and Elena Crepsley are recognized by the gate."

"Harkat Mulds is a Little Person." Gavner said. "He has a message for the Princes."

"A message?" The guard asked. "From whom?"

"Desmond Tiny." Mr. Crepsley said.

"Harkat Mulds is recognized by the gate. The Halls are open to all of you. Enter and fare well."

With that the group stepped through the door. Their journey to Vampire Mountain was over.