Ella woke the next day with a new fire burning in her. She still had another hour before she was supposed to start her chores with Evra and she was going to take advantage of that time. She went to the tent that held all the extra costumes and clothing and she looked for something old she could wear. She found an old t-shirt and shorts and put them on. Mr. Crepsley mentioned that vampires often go without shoes, causing them to have extra tough feet. So that's what she will do. She tied up her hair and left the tent.

She started running in the direction of the city as fast as she could. Vampires were strong. Now she will be, too. She pushed herself as much as she could. When she reached the city limits, she turned around and ran back. She didn't know how much she would love running. It gave her time to think. When she got back, she realized she must have lost track of time, because she found Evra already starting on their chores.

"Oh my gosh...I'm so sorry...I'm late!" She said, completely out of breath.

Evra laughed. "It's ok, I just finished milking the venom from my snake. You look like you just ran a marathon!...and barefoot? You must be taking this vampire thing seriously!" He said, still chuckling.

"I am! So what's next on the agenda?"

"Well we need to feed the wolf-man. Come on, let's go!"

The wolf-man roared when he saw them coming. He shook the bars and lunged at them. "Why is he so vicious?" Ella asked as Evra tossed him a large chunk of raw meat, which he grabbed midair and bit into.

"Because he's a real wolf-man, no just a hairy guy. He's half human, half wolf? Evra said.

"Isn't it cruel to keep him caged up?" I asked, throwing him another piece of meat.

"If we didn't, he'd run free and kill people. The mix of human and wolf blood has driven him mad. If he was free, he'd murder all the time."

"Isn't there a cure?" She asked, feeling sorry for him.

"There isn't a cure because it isn't a disease. It's just how he was born. Kind of like me."

Ella started to feel regret for bringing it up now. "But you aren't a monster."

"But I was caged as one. I didn't always live at the Cirque du Freak." He told her that he had been born to ordinary parents. They were horrified when they saw him. They abandoned him at an orphanage, where he stayed until an evil circus owner bought him at the age of four.

"Those were the bad days," he said quietly. "He used to beat me and treat me like a real snake. He kept me locked up in a glass case and let people pay to look at me and laugh." Ella's heart broke for him.

He continued to tell her he was with the circus for seven long, miserable years, touring small towns, being made to feel ugly and freakish and useless until Mr. Tall finally came to the rescue.

"He showed up one night and stood by my cage for a long time, not saying a word. The circus owner came, thinking he was a rich man interested in buying me. He gave him a price and waited for his answer. Mr. Tall didn't answer for a few minutes. Then his left hand grabbed the circus owner by the neck. He squeezed once and that was the end of him. Mr. Tall opened my cage and said 'Let's go, Evra.' I think he can read minds, which is how he knew my name."

Evra was quiet after that. He had a far away look in his eyes. Ella came in and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. Evra's heart picked up pace slightly as he embraced her.

"So what's your story? No offense, but you don't exactly seem like the type of person that would want to be a vampire." He asked, laughing slightly.

Ella laughed nervously in return. "You're right. This isn't a life I would have chosen for myself." She was now looking at the ground and was kicking the dirt.

"So you were forced to become one?" He asked in slight horror.

"Yeah... Do you know about the vampaneze?

"You mean the murderous brothers of the vampires?"

"That's them. Well, one named Murlough broke into my home one night and blooded me. Mr. Crepsley didn't get there in time to stop it, so he blooded me into a half vampire to override the vampaneze blood." She told him.

"I didn't even know you could do that... So why did Murlough blood you to begin with?"

Ella thought about this for a second. She reviewed the events in her mind and remembered Murlough's rough hands running down her body. She visibly shivered at this memory and Evra noticed. "I think he just wanted a...companion to keep him company." She didn't hide the disgust in her voice. She nervously looked up at him, waiting for his response. He understood what she was implying.

"That's disgusting... I'm sorry. What was your life like before that?"

"Well it was pretty good... My dad passed away when I was 11, so it was just my mom and I. We were really close." She paused to think about this and then continued. "We lived in a small town where everyone knew everybody. I was about to graduate and go to college... I was supposed to audition for my dream school this week, actually. It was my dream to be a part of the Metropolitan Opera one day," she didn't say any of this in sadness, just as a matter of fact. "But, hey, fate had a different plan for me." She said with a smile.

"I'm sorry you had to become a vampire, but I'm really glad to have met you. I think we're going to be great friends." He said, returning her smile. "Indeed we will be!" She said happily. She hooked her arm through his and they continued walking through the camp, seeing who needed help.

Ella and Evra had a lot of time to spend together and she enjoyed getting to know some of the other members when they sat down and had lunch. Now the sun had set and she went to find Mr. Crepsley.

He had just woken up and was coming out of his tent when she found him. "Good evening, sir!" She said enthusiastically, causing him to smile.

"And good evening to you as well. How was your day?"

"It was great!" She told him about her chores with Evra and all the friends she was making.

"I am happy to hear that you are enjoying your time here. Are you ready for your lessons tonight? I thought I could educate you more on the history of vampires."

She looked down at the ground nervously. "Oh, that would be nice sir, but I was wondering if you would teach me to fight as well?"

When she raised her eyes to meet his, he smirked slightly. "You are sure?" She nodded. "Very well, then."

...

"The improvement you have made from before is miraculous." Mr. Crepsley said as she managed to strike him in the stomach. With enough concentration, not only was she able to track him easily, but she also was able to notice small details of his actions that would give away his next attack. When he placed his left leg behind him, he was about to kick with it. When his knuckles would turn white when his hands were clenched, he was preparing to punch. Little things like this allowed her to stay one step ahead and counter his attack.

She only made contact a couple of times, but he was still extremely proud of her improvement. "You have done very well tonight." He said when they finished. "I think you will make a great vampire." He saw her eyes light up as he said this. He had no idea how encouraging his words really were to her.

There were still a couple of hours to go before the show tonight. As they were about to walk back to camp, Mr. Crepsley saw that she looked like she wanted to ask something. "Something is on your mind." He observed.

Ella looked down at the ground and placed her hands behind her back. "I hope it wouldn't seem intrusive if I asked you... Well, why did you become a vampire?" She nervously looked up at him, hoping he wouldn't be angry at her asking a personal question like that.

He merely smiled at her, but then grew serious. "Are you sure you would want to know this? It is a dark story and you may find yourself learning things you did not want to know."

Ella thought for a moment and then responded. "Yes, I would like to really get to know you since we will be spending a lot of time together."

"Very well. Let us take a seat." They sat down in the grass facing each other. Ella looked at him eagerly, waiting for him to begin.

"I was born 1791 in the same small town as you. I had a large family, but was closest with my cousin, Vur Horston, who had been adopted into our family following the deaths of his parents. When I turned 8, Vur and I were sent to work in a textiles factory under a foreman named Traz. Together Vur and I loosened the fibers of silkworm cocoons for repurposing. In the factory, they would daubed our heads with different color dyes for each department of the factory for easy identification. This is why my hair is the color that it is." He paused a second to prepare himself to continue. "In 1803, Traz murdered Vur while taking his anger out on him. Consumed with rage, I retaliated, murdering Traz before running away." This may have frightened Ella, but Mr. Crepsley couldn't tell if it did because she sat there looking at him with the same expression she had earlier. This encouraged him to go on. "Seeking refuge in a local graveyard, I met Seba Nile, who I soon learned was a Vampire. Realizing that I was in need of guidance, Seba offered me to become his assistant. I accepted, and traveled with Seba for years. It took me a while to become who I am today."

"During the performance last night, you said you ate spiderwebs where you came from?"

"Ah, yes. When I sought refuge in the graveyard, I was starving and spotted a cluster of cobwebs. That's when Seba saw me and asked if they were a delicacy where I came from." He chuckled as he said this. Ella smiled and they sat in silence for a moment while she took it all in. "Well thank you for sharing this with me."

"I hope I have not frightened you with my past. It was a different world back then." He said sadly.

"I understand though. You loved your cousin and Traz was evil." She contemplated whether she should ask the next question on her mind, and decided to go ahead. "Is that the only time you have ever killed?"

He got up from his seated position and offered her his hand. He could tell she was in deep thought. She took it and stood up. "No unfortunately, but I promise to share that with you another time."

She nodded in understanding. "We should head back and prepare for the show. Mr. Tall mentioned he would like you to sell souvenirs tonight." They walked back to camp together, discussing the upcoming show. Though she learned that her mentor had committed murder, she was still not afraid of him. She trusted him more than anyone else at this point. Oddly enough, she looked at him with a new profound amount of respect and she was grateful that he was her mentor.