Beta'd by Hoshiko13
So I wrote this chapter once, decided it was too cheesy, rewrote it, and this was the result. I'll be posting the 'original' as a one-shot alternate for this chapter.
Also, I'd like to take this time to thank everyone who's reviewed/followed the story so far. You don't know how happy it makes me feel when I get an alert. Not naming anyone, because that would be favoritism, and I like you all equally. :P
Chapter 2: How to Make Friends
Darren mentally kicked himself for not feeding when Crepsley had forewarned him to. He hadn't been planning on starving himself, but the half vampire had been so sure he could wait until after they left to hunt. Evra finally had to smack his back, telling him to get a drink before the show. "You've been eying everyone like food, Darren. Go get something before we find you attached to one of little people," The snake boy had joked then.
He couldn't help it any longer, like Evra had said, as he stalked a park and hid in the bushes, his hood hiding the upper half of his face in its shadow. It was a creepy coincidence that the Cirque had taken up the grounds that the supposed 'Circus Gothica' had taken place earlier, but it hadn't deterred anyone from taking fliers.
But now, wasn't anyone around, which surprised Darren until he remembered that this town was supposedly the most haunted town in America.
'Of course no one in their right mind would be out here alone at night', Darren frowned. He strained his ears despite his disappearing hope and was rewarded with a heartbeat approaching. Thud, thud, thud-
Darren already was formulating an ambush of the human, hoping to knock them out the old fashion way (Since he wasn't a full vampire and couldn't just knock them out with his breath like his mentor). As long as he kept his strength to a minimum, the human would only wake up with a headache and nothing more.
With the simple plan in mind, Darren subconsciously closed his eyes, focusing. When his target was in range, the boy leapt at them, swiftly backhanding them.
She, as Darren soon realized, passed out under him, her weird green earpiece making echoing a voice the half vampire almost didn't pick up.
"-meet up with you soon."
Darren raised an eyebrow at the odd technology, though decided that maybe whoever was on the other line would take a while to find them: Enough time to finish his 'meal'.
The boy fixed his position so he was beside her on his knees, grabbing the girl's wrist softly. He idly took note of her hair, a shade not unlike Crepsley's, and chuckled to himself at the thought of her being Crepsley's daughter. Vampires were sterile, but it was still an entertaining thought of watching Crepsley bend over backwards and chasing away boys from this girl.
Darren ran a nail over her skin, slicing deep enough only to drink, and brought the cut to his mouth.
He was almost finished when something green flashed, hitting his chest and sending him flying back. The half vampire looked up to see a boy with white hair behind over the redhead protectively, radioactive green eyes glaring at him with an intense glow.
'Phantom', His mind recalled the name that had been a popular topic at the Cirque. This was wrong. The only heartbeat Darren could hear was the girl's and his own. The other boy should be dead. It didn't help said boy was glowing softly, inhumanly.
"What are you?" Both boys asked at the same time.
"What the hell did you do to my si- Jazz?" Phantom growled.
"I only knocked her out, what the hell did you blast me with? That hurt." Darren retorted, taking a defensive position. He wasn't a fighter, but he prayed his vampire strength would be enough to balance things out.
"Ghost ray. And ew, " Phantom's eyes widen when he realized there was blood on both Darren's lips and Jazz's wrist, the later already drying. "Were you like, drinking her blood? Dude, not even Vlad does that, and he could pass for a vampire-"
Danny shut up at Darren's clenching fists and shaking form. Had he really hit a nerve? "… What? You don't really think- You aren't-" The ghost boy started laughing nervously. "Good one, vampires don't really exist. Maybe vampire ghosts, but vampires? Hahaha-"
Phantom stopped laughing when a fist met his face, a nice crunching noise filling the air. He was thrown back into a fountain, water splashing everywhere and flattening his hair. His eyes glowed harshly as he got back up, green ectoplasm dripping from his nose. It might have been broken, but he as he pushed it back in place he could feel it begin to heal, tissues connecting easily.
"I'll give you one, that actually hurt me more than Skulker's punches. But you'll have to do better than punching me to win," Phantom flew at the hooded figure, energy gathered in his fists as he attempted to give his enemy a matching blow. Darren was faster than he'd expected, dodging enough that only his hood was caught in the action.
It ripped, revealing green-blue eyes and a childish face. Phantom froze midair, staring. He didn't realize he was fighting a kid, or that a kid could hit like a truck.
"Look," The half vampire started, sensing Phantom's hesitation. "I don't want to fight you. I just needed a little bit of blood, vampires don't kill those they drink from. I'm sorry it looked like I was trying to hurt her, I wasn't…"
The white-haired teenager slowly descended, touching the ground with white boots. He wiped his nose clean with the back of one of his matching gloves before stepping forward. "So…" He rubbed his neck, now smiling sheepishly. "You're not a bad guy?"
Darren nodded quickly, relieved he wouldn't have to keep fighting.
"… And she's not going to turn into a vampire?" Phantom pressed, looking worried.
Darren shook his head, internally snickering. He remembered when he was that ignorant. "No, that's not how it works."
Phantom let out a sign of relief. "Good, I don't need to wake up in the middle of the night to find myself being chewed on…" He shuddered slightly, imagining Jazz with enlarged canines and blood-red eyes.
Darren laughed at that. "No offense, but that green stuff you're bleeding doesn't smell appetizing." And that was true, the half vampire was reminded of the smell of decay. Not a pleasant smell at all, although under it was a familiar scent, something Darren couldn't pinpoint an identity to.
Phantom's face tinted green, (He's blushing, Darren noted) before his attention was back on the redhead- Jazz he had called her, Darren reminded himself- who the ghost picked up bridal style. "I better take her home. Ou- Her parents will freak if she's not home soon, kid."
"Darren. Darren Shan." Darren wasn't fond of being called a kid, even though he was one.
"Darren," Phantom nodded, grinning slightly. "I'm Danny Phantom. Not Inviso-Bill or whatever some of the fruitloops around here might tell you. Anyways, I got to get going. You should do the same."
Darren was confused on why someone might mistake Phantom for that, since the D symbol with a smaller P was plainly visible on the ghost boy's chest, though he got his answer when both the ghost and the redhead disappeared from sight.
'Wow, great going Shan. First vampires, now you've attracted a ghost's attention..' Darren sighed as he rubbed his burnt chest gingerly, turning to head back to where the Cirque was camped. Crepsley would be pissed at him for getting hurt.
(break here)
Danny was thinking as he flew Jazz home, the redhead breathing deeply in her sleep. Clockwork had told him earlier that he would know it was close to the time to leave Amity when his ghost sense went off without the normal breath of cold air escaping his mouth.
That had happened earlier at the Nasty Burger, when he'd walked up to those two in cloaks. He hadn't caught either's face, though he had a feeling that Clockwork wanted him to go to this 'Cirque du Freak'. The vampire he had just met, Darren, was wearing the same cloak as those two...
Sam had bought tickets already for them. Tucker wouldn't be coming, due to his family planning on visit a relative, leaving him gone the date on the flier. Danny had a suspicion that his best friend was relieved not to be joining them, after reading on the flier about the snake boy. Tucker was terrified of snakes.
His train of thought turned back to the imminent leaving of Amity Park.
'Breathe, Phantom, breathe,' Danny chanted mentally, sure he was close to hyperventilating. It was too sudden. Yes, Clockwork had forewarned him, but it felt too soon to be leaving his home. 'Okay, whatever happens, happens. Clockwork said this was the best way to go about it. You can still visit home any time. It's not permanent, Danny. At least Sam will be there to see you off, right?- Oh crap, I forgot to tell Sam about the weird sense I had back there!'
The halfa groaned. Sam was going to make a full ghost out of him when she realized he was running away with a circus. Again. Because Clockwork indirectly told him to. And he might have to deal with vampires if he went.
'Forget Skulker's pelt threats, whatever she'll have planned for me makes me want to lay by his fireplace without a fight. Ew. And when Jazz takes her side, hell will freeze over- And it won't be my ice powers fault.'
Maybe he could convince the vampire to knock them out before he left.
...
Nah.
