Disclaimer: I do not own the Cirque du Freak series.

"Murlough was wondering when he would get his hands on you." It was dark and she could barely even make out any shadows, but Ella recognized the deep, gruff voice that has haunted her for four months now. She couldn't scream. She couldn't even move. Her eyes slowly started to adjust to the darkness and she was able to make out his horrifying face. Her breath caught in her throat and she saw his wicked smirk. He started towards her and she tried to counter him, but her back was already against a wall.

"Nowhere to run, love." He said lowly as he reached out to caress her soft cheek. Panic started to set in as she desperately looked around for Mr. Crepsley. Nothing. They were alone.

He took another step towards her and pressed his body against hers. He took his other hand behind her back and ran it downward. "Please.. don't" She begged as tears started to spill from her eyes.

Suddenly, she saw something glowing out of the corner of her eye. She focused her eyes to see a person rolling a heart-shaped watch in his hands. "Mr. Tiny!" Ella exclaimed, slightly relieved. The short man chuckled and his words echoed throughout the small room

"...Your future as a vampire will be hard..."

"So hard..." Murlough whispered in her ear as he pressed his hips onto her, forcing her to feel his erection.

She whimpered as she looked back to Mr. Tiny only to find him gone and replaced with Mr. Crepsley. "Thank the gods!" She whispered. Still trapped by the vampaneze, she reached out to her mentor. But he didn't move.

"So weak..." She heard him say. She felt as if her heart had stopped. She looked back at Murlough to see him slowly leaning his head downward to her lips. She frantically looked back to her mentor, only to find he had disappeared. Yet, his words still echoed in her head.

"... So weak... So weak..."

Ella woke drenched in sweat. Her eyes were still wet with tears. That wasn't the first time she had a nightmare about Murlough, but it was the first time Mr. Tiny and Mr. Crepsley were in it. Does Mr. Crepsley really see me as weak? She thought. She hasn't given him much reason to think otherwise... He did say once that he was proud of her and that she had come a long way. She has changed.

If he saw her now, though, he would be disappointed. She was crying from a bad dream. She didn't want to admit to herself how often she did that. If Mr. Crepsley knew, then he would definitely say she was weak. She's probably the weakest vampire in the entire history of vampires. What a disappointment she is!

She has spent every day working on her physical strength, but now she needs to work on her emotional strength. She vowed to herself that she will never give Mr. Crepsley a reason to think her weak any more.

That night, the cirque prepared for yet another show. Ella did her part by helping to set everything up while the performers were in their tents getting ready. While she was setting up a booth of merchandise to sell, a little person tugged on her shirt. She turned around to see him motion for her to follow him. The Little People had been with them for two months now. She wasn't too fond of finding dead animals for them to eat, but she was beginning to get used to it.

He led her into Mr. Crepsley's van where she found him waiting for her. "How would you like to be my assistant on stage tonight?" He asked with a slight smile.

Ella gasped and he could see the excitement in her eyes. "Really?! I would love to! What would I get to do?" She asked.

"Well you can bring Madame Octa on and let me perform tricks on you. I have milked most of her venom so if something were to happen and she were to bite, you would not die. I just thought you might enjoy the chance to be on the stage and do something different for once."

"Yes! Oh my goodness thank you!" She said cheerfully. "I'm so excited!..." She started rambling. Soon, he wasn't even listening to her words. Normally when children maundered on, it would annoy him. But with her, it was completely different. He was watching her hand gestures and the joy on her face. He noticed how dimples formed on each side of her cheeks as she smiled. She is absolutely precious. He mentally slapped himself when he realized his thoughts. How inappropriate! What was wrong with him? Ella was beautiful, pure, and innocent. She was a rare creature to be found in today's world. So sweet and modest. Other cirque members had tried flirting with her but she always seemed oblivious to them. He realized that he hadn't heard a word she was saying and tuned back in time to hear her ask a question. "...Oh gosh, what will I wear?"

"Oh uh," he quickly composed himself. "Go back to your tent. I have asked Truska to assist you with your costume and makeup." He said plainly and ushered her out.

When Truska was finished with Ella, she did not recognize herself. Her long brown hair was pulled into an up-do with loose curls framing her face. She had put eye shadow and mascara on to bring out her light blue eyes. Her lips were colored red that matched the dress that she was wearing. It was a simple dress, but very sexy. It was a long sleeve, off shoulder, and tight while the bottom flared out just above her knees. She looked way older than 17, and she felt very uncomfortable about that. But she didn't want to hurt Truska's feelings because she was the one who had made the dress.

When the time came, Ella made her way to the large tent they were going to be performing in. Leah, one of the on-stage assistants, noticed her when she walked up and cat-called to her. "Damn, girl! You are looking sexy!" Ella giggled and ignored the comment so she hopefully wouldn't elaborate.

"Have you seen Mr. Crepsley? The show is about to start!"

"I haven't, love." Leah smirked as if she knew something and walked off.

The show was beginning so she went backstage to wait. When it was Evra's turn, she crept to the side wings to watch her friend perform. She was unaware of the presence that stood behind her.

Mr. Crepsley had been watching her since she arrived to the tent. She took his breath away. "You look beautiful." He said. Startled, she spun around and caught her foot in a rope and would have crashed to the ground if it wasn't for the strong arms that had wrapped around her to catch her.

Ella lifted her eyes to meet his. Butterflies formed in her stomach for reasons she didn't understand. "Thank you." She replied, not knowing if she was responding to his compliment or for catching her. He took the opportunity to examine her up close. Truska had used makeup to subtly bring out her mesmerizing eyes and a touch of rouge on her plump lips. She definitely did not look like a child.

They then heard applause and saw Evra walk off the stage. He did a double take when he saw the two so close together. Mr. Crepsley snapped to his senses and then flitted onto the stage. This is ridiculous. She's my student! He shifted his focus to put her out of his mind and began the introductions.

Ella ran backstage to retrieve the spider and returned back to the wings and waited for her cue to come on. "And now I would like to introduce to you Madam Octa being brought on by my lovely assistant, Ella." The crowd applauded and whistled as she came onto the stage and Mr. Crepsley smiled. Ella sat the spider's cage on the table and opened it while he retrieved the flute from his pocket.

He put the tin whistle up to his lips and began to play. Ella saw Madam Octa come in her direction so she put out a hand to allow her to climb onto her. She kept her arm extended out to allow the spider to swing and do her tricks. The crowd oohed and ahhhed at the miraculous creature.

When Mr. Crepsley was commanding Madam Octa to do her tricks on the props, Ella took a moment to look out into the crowd. She felt good being on the stage again. Even if she wasn't singing famous opera arias, for a few brief minutes, she felt as if nothing had changed.

She imagined her mom in the audience applauding for her in the front row like she always had. But then the applause died down and her mom was nowhere to be found. She wanted to cry. Her breathing intensified and she was starting to panic.

Suddenly, she felt someone grab her hand. She turned to look and saw Mr. Crepsley staring deep into her eyes with concern. She snapped back into reality and smiled at the audience. They took a bow together and he gently led her off the stage as the next act came on.

Still hand in hand, he led her outside to get some fresh air. The night air was cool against her. They stood under the night sky alone with the distant sound of the audience in the background.

She looked at her concerned mentor. She decided to tell him what was on her mind. "For a brief second on the stage... I had expected to see my mom. She was always there to support me, and now she's gone. Rather, I'm gone..." Her voice trailed off. She felt tears stinging her eyes but quickly blinked them away. She then remembered her vow to not show Mr. Crepsley her weakness any more. "But it's ok." She shook her head. "I'm ok." She removed her hand from his and turned to walk away.

Mr. Crepsley knew she wasn't. He reached to her shoulder and turned her around. "It is alright to not be ok." Her features remained unmoving.

"No really, I'm fine." She said, offering him a smile. She intended to keep that promise she made to herself. She pushed all previous thoughts out of her mind and focused on the here and now. "I had a great time tonight. It was fun being your assistant on stage, too."

He knew she was trying to change the subject. It kind of hurt him to think that she did not trust him to view her emotions as he once did. What had changed? She was so open to him before and always spoke what was on her mind, but now she's closing him off?

"Are you sure?..." He asked uncertainly.

"Promise." Before she turned to leave, she closed the gap between them and stood on her toes and gently kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you." She told him, still smiling. His face flushed as he stood slightly stunned while he watched his assistant walk away.

A/N sorry it took so long to post a new chapter!