Chapter 4
The next few days were the same as the first two. Go to the boy's house at ten, come back at five. Try to learn anything new about him. All that I had learned was that he liked soccer, he and Steve are best friends, he gets good grades, he loves him family a lot, and he is absolutely obsessed with spiders. That would explain why he stole Madam Octa!
I could tell that Darren was getting more skilled at controlling Madam Octa. Sometimes if I went early enough to watch him, I could hear him playing the flute. It did not take a genius to figure out what he was doing.
It has been at least two weeks since Darren stole Madam Octa. He was definitely very good with spiders and I could tell he would make good on his word to take care of her. Honestly, I wished Madam Octa would just bite him soon so I could leave the horrible theater and return to the Cirque.
But no matter how hard I thought about how much I wanted to kill this boy, the same thought always was in the back of my mind. He would make a fine apprentice. He had the spirit, the smarts, the strength to pull through. In short, everything a vampire could want in an apprentice! I have no idea why I thought about him as an apprentice. I had told Seba that I would never ever take on one, but here I was thinking about having one! I could be so hypocritical some times.
One night all my watching came to an end. Darren's friend, Steve, had come to visit. I only knew this because when I came at my usual time to watch Darren again, I found him awake and standing over the still body of his friend. I knew immediately that they had lost control of Madam Octa and that she had bitten him.
Darren watched his friend for a moment, then spoke to his sister who was also in the room. They were discussing what they should do. The little girl thought it would be best to get their mother while Darren thought that if they left it long enough, Steve would get better. I completely disagreed with Darren and was on the side of his sister. Leaving him would only make it worse. Only one thing would save Steve now, and that something was inside my coat pocket at that precise moment. The antidote to Madam Octa's poison.
Eventually Darren and his little sister agreed to get their mom. Soon Steve was hauled into an ambulance and driven to the hospital at top speed. I knew that no doctor would be able to save him, but it was a good try anyway.
I watched as Darren and his family rushed to the hospital to see Steve. I followed them for a little while before I decided to go back to their house. I wanted to see what Darren would do with Madam Octa now that she had bitten his best friend. Hopefully he would not want her anymore, and would leave her somewhere easy for me to get her back.
Car lights swung around as the car turned onto the driveway and stopped. I hid in the shadows so as not to be seen by any human eyes. They need not know that I had been here every night for two weeks straight.
Everyone headed to their rooms to think over what had happened that night. Though Darren, unlike everybody else, was very angry. He picked up Madam Octa's cage and started calling her every bad name under the moon! I was getting very angry at him for badmouthing my spider, then I saw him start shaking the cage. Madam Octa was holding on for dear life! Darren started turning in circles, trying to make Madam Octa lose her grip. Finally he got so frustrated that he threw Madam Octa's cage. I do not think he knew he had let go at a very bad moment until Madam Octa's cage flew through the open window!
I watched as her cage sailed through the air, and I watched as Darren ran to the window to find where the cage had landed. I think he was worried she might bite someone else. I could see where the cage was going to land, and I stuck my hand out in just the right spot. Madam Octa's cage landed lightly in my outstretched hand. I shook her cage gently to make sure she was alright, then I looked up at Darren. His eyes were huge from the shock of seeing me here. He was under the impression that I had left town! I simply smiled at him evilly, then turned and walked into the gloom.
The way back to the theater was uneventful. Madam Octa was showing images in my head of what she had done while she was away from me. Turns out that she really enjoys pizza! She also really liked Darren as a master. She had fond memories of their short time together.
When I got back to my temporary home, I set Madam Octa's cage on the little table by where I was sleeping. She got settled down and fell asleep after I had fed her a jar of bugs. I lighted a few candles around the table on the stage, then got out my now well used pack of cards. I sat and waited for Darren as I knew he would come and demand to have an antidote.
It took a few hours, but eventually I heard the tell-tale footsteps on the wood flooring of the theater. They were slow, obviously he could not see very well. I continued playing my one-man card game.
Five minutes later Darren Shan shuffled into the room. He looked scared and cold. He walked slowly forward. I could see he had something in his hands, but I could not see clearly enough to make out what it was.
"Good morning, Master Shan," I said simply. He looked at me with wide eyes. I did not look up from my card game.
"It's not morning, it's the middle of the night." Darren said back.
"To me, that is morning." I explained. I finally looked up at him and grinned. Darren stared at my teeth.
"You've been waiting for me, haven't you?" he asked. He looked scared.
"Yes." I nodded at him.
"How long have you known where Madam Octa was?" He questioned. I smiled again.
"I found her the night you stole her," I said.
"Why didn't you take her then?
I shrugged. "I was going to, but I got to thinking about the sort of boy who would dare steal from a vampire, and I decided you might be worth further study." I explained.
"Why?" he asked. His legs were shaking badly.
"Why indeed?" I mocked him. I snapped my fingers and gathered the cards at vampire speed. I put them away then cracked my knuckles. "So tell me , Darren Shan, why have you come? Is it to steal from me again? Do you still desire Madam Octa?"
Darren shook his head furiously. "I never want to see that monster again!" he shouted.
I laughed at him. "She will be so sad to hear that," I said.
"Don't make fun of me," he warned. "I don't like being teased."
"No? And what will you do if I continue?" I jeered.
He held out the things in his had. It was a cross and holy water! Ha ha! "I'll strike you with these!" he roared. The look on his face told me he expected me to be frightened out of my wits. I smiled and snapped my fingers again. Now the cross and holy water were in my hands. I studied them for a moment, then crushed the cross into a tiny ball and drank the water.
"You know what I love? I love people who watch lots of horror movies and read horror books. Because they believe what they read and hear, and come packing silly things like crosses and holy water, instead of weapons that could do real damage, like guns and hand grenades."
He was definitely frightened now. "You mean...crosses don't...hurt you?" he stammered.
"Why should they?"
"Because you're...evil," he said.
"Am I?" I asked.
"Yes, you must be. You're a vampire. Vampires are evil." How mistaken he was! Vampeneze are more evil than vampires are. I would have to set this boy straight.
"You should not believe everything you are told," I said. "It is true that our appetites are rather exotic. But just because we drink blood does not mean that we are evil. Are vampire bats evil when they drink the blood of cows and horses?"
"No, but that's different. They're animals."
"Humans are animals, too," I explained to him. "If a vampire kills a human, then yes, he is evil. But one who just takes a little blood to fill his rumbling belly...where is the harm in that?"
Darren had no answer to that. He was scared and—to him—defenseless.
"I see you are not in the mod for a debate," I observed. "Very well. I will save the speeches for another time. So tell me, Darren Shan: what is it you want if not my spider?"
"She bit Steve Leonard." He sounded like this should explain everything.
"The one known as Steve Leopard," I said, nodding. "A nasty business. Still, little boys who play with things they do not understand can hardly complain if—"
"I want you to make him better!" He yelled, interrupting my words.
"Me?" I acted surprised. "But I am not a doctor. I am not a specialist. I am just a circus performer. A freak. Remember?"
"No, you're more. I know you can save him. I know you have the power." At least the boy knew who was in command of this situation.
"Maybe," I stated. "Madam Octa's bite is deadly, but for every poison there exists an antidote. Maybe I do have the cure. Maybe I have a bottle of serum that will restore you friend's natural physical functions." I was hoping to get him into a corner. That way I might get him to become my assistant, even if he did not want to.
"Yes! I knew it! I knew it! I—"
I cut him off by raising one of my long fingers to silence him. "But maybe it is a small bottle. Maybe there is only a tiny amount of serum. Maybe it is very precious. Maybe I want to save if for a real emergency, in case Madam Octa ever bits me. Maybe I do not want to waste it on an evil little brat."
His voice softened. "No, you have to give it to me. You have to use it on Steve. He's dying. You can't let him die!"
"I most certainly can." And probably will, I thought to myself. I laughed again. "What is your friend to me? You heard him the night he was here: he said he would become a vampire hunter when he grew up!"
"He didn't mean it!" Darren gasped. "He only said that because he was angry." I could see Darren was getting desperate, clutching at straws.
"Perhaps," I mused. I scratched my scar and rubbed my chin. "But again, I ask: why should I save Steve Leopard? The serum was expensive and cannot be replaced."
"I can pay for it!" That was exactly what I had been waiting for. I hunched forward and smiled.
"Pay for it? But you are only a boy. You cannot possibly have enough money to by the cure." Come on boy, say what I want you to. Say you will do anything to get the cure!
"I'll pay in small amounts!" he promised. "Every week for fifty years, or as long s you want. I'll get a job when I grow up and give you all my money. I swear." Oh, he was definitely getting close to saying the words I wanted him to! I shook my head at his offer.
I spoke softly, "No. Your money does not interest me."
"What does interest you? I'm sure you have a price. That's why you waited for me, isn't it?" He is a very smart boy.
"You are a clever young man," I said. "I knew that when I woke up to find my spider gone and your note in her place. I said to myself, 'Larten, there goes a most remarkable child, a true prodigy. There goes a boy who is going places.'"
"Quit with the bull and tell me what you want," he quipped.
I laughed at him again, then got serious. "You remember what Steve Leopard and I talked about?"
"Of course." Oh, good. At least he remembered! "He wanted to become a vampire. You said he was too young, so he said he'd become your assistant. That was all right by you, but then you found out he was evil, so you said no."
"That about sums it up," I agreed. "Except, if you recall, I was not too keen on the idea of an assistant. They can be useful but also a burden."
"Where's all this leading?" he asked, cautiously.
"I have had a rethink since then. I decided it might not be such a bad thing after all, especially now that I have been separated from the Cirque Du Freak and will have to fend for myself. An assistant could be just what the witch doctor ordered." I smiled at my pun.
His eyebrows pulled together. "You mean you'll let Steve become your assistant now?
"Heavens, no!" I yelled. "That monster?" There is no telling what he will do as he matures. No, Darren Shan, I do not want Steve Leopard to be my assistant." I pointed at him again, and I could see intuition flash in his eyes.
I was about to speak, but he beat me to the punch. "You want me!" he yelped. I smiled darkly at him to tell him he was right.
Yay! Longest chapter yet! n.n
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