The inside of the tent was small but cosy however there was barely any room to move around the large oak coffin centred in the middle of the space. Rose appreciated the colour of the tent. From the inside, it meant that she would be always kept in darkness which she liked. From the outside, it was a warning; it let the other freaks know she was different and therefore they would stay away. The black small tent on the edge of the campsite surely secured her privacy. The coffin was a nice touch too. Rose circled it, moving her hand along its smooth edges and flicking off any dust or dirt she found. The brown coffin was much nicer than the dingy, cramped black one she had before. This one looked almost new. She opened the lid, noting that it did not creak and admired its interior. A faded salmon pink silk lined the inside with a small cushion at the head. Along the side, it had pockets which Rose supposed would have been useful had she had any possessions to put in them, but it was the thought that counted.
Rose jumped into the coffin and quickly lay down, resting her head against the smooth silk pillow and closing her eyes. Outside she could hear pots and pans clanging in the distance as the freaks made their breakfast. Rose snuggled down, letting sleep overwhelm her, positive no dream could be as strange as the reality she was quickly leaving behind her.
Outside, Evra and Darren had sneaked close enough to the tent to hear Rose's faint snores. Resting against an old tree by the edge of the campsite, they discussed the strange girl sleeping inside the midnight coloured tent.
"He asked you to put a coffin in it?" Remarked Darren in surprise.
"Yeah, huge thing. I had to get Rhamus to help me," he laughed at the memory, "You should have seen his face when I asked. He still doesn't like the idea of you being here never mind another one of your lot!"
Darren looked thoughtful for several moments. So the girl must be another Vampire, that would explain the coffin, but why was she here?
"You'd think Crepsley was running a day care centre with all you baby Vampires running around the Cirque!" Erva sniggered at his joke.
"Hardly," came a cold voice from behind them. Neither boy had to turn around to know that Mr Crepsley was standing right behind them. Darren was the first to face the old Vampire. He offered him a somewhat lopsided grin before awkwardly digging Evra in the ribs. The snake boy swivelled on the spot to face Mr Crepsley.
"Oh, oh hi, Mr C..." he trailed off uncertainly, "I was just, that was just a ..." Evra looked at Darren pleadingly but the boy was carefully avoiding his gaze, his lips pressed together in an effort not to laugh.
"Nope. No way to recover..." said Erva uncomfortably. He left the scene as quickly as was possible for him, leaving Darren alone on the edge of the campsite with Mr Crepsley.
"Impudent boy," said Mr Crepsley gruffly. He stared at Darren as though he knew what his next question was going to be but decided to interrupt him before he even had a chance to ask.
"You shouldn't be hanging around back here. I have a few chores for you to do back at the Cirque." He placed his hands on his assistant's shoulders and pushed him in the direction of the crowds.
"But who-" Darren began but he was silenced by Corma Limbs asking if he wanted breakfast. He flatly refused, noting how she held a sharp kitchen knife over her fingers.
"Sausages?" She called again, hoping to tempt him but the thought only made Darren gag. Taking advantage of the boy's distraction, Mr Crepsley pushed a list of errands into his hand before taking off again.
"Hey!" Called Darren in protest after his master's retreating figure but Mr Crepsley only laughed.
A few hours later, Rose woke with a start. A loud noise outside had stirred her from her dreams. She opened her coffin's lid and rubbed the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand. Another explosion not far away made her jump again. What was that? Climbing out of her bed, Rose peeked through the gap in the canvas tent to make sure no one was around before stepping out. She stretched and yawned in the late afternoon sunlight and squinted to try and make out the figures in the next field. As she walked a little nearer, it became clear that the group were made up of freaks. Their unusual silhouettes stood out against the setting sun. In the middle of the next empty field, Rose could see thin wispy smoke rising from what looked like a guitar amplifier. Whoever the amp belonged to was cursing at the top of his voice.
"For Pete's sake Loaf Head! You've damaged it!"
"It was an accident," whined another freak in the group. Since no one was paying her any attention, Rose hurdled the fence to get a closer look. None of the freaks acknowledged her as she approached; they were too busy enjoying Erva's show. It appeared the snake boy had set up a bass guitar and an amplifier along with his pet snake Pip-poe and had been trying to attract a crowd with his music when one of the freaks had spilt a refreshment down the side of his sound system. Rose squeezed herself in between two freaks, careful not to touch either of them, to watch. The boy named Erva, the one who had fetched the vials, was currently trying to desperately wipe the amp clean, jumping back every time it produced sparks.
"Dammit," he cursed as another load of sparks caught him by surprise. The wires sizzled as he wiped them with his sleeve. One by one, the grumbling freaks began to move away as the sight bored them. Erva looked around him frantically.
"CD's are available in my tent guys!" He called as they left. Soon only a handful of freaks were left and Rose, who had been distracted with the spectacle, suddenly became aware that they were watching her.
"Can we help you?" said a woman with unusually teeth in a manner which quite clearly let Rose know she wasn't welcome there. Even Erva ceased trying to soak up his amp to stare at her. Rose looked around the small group. Each pair of eyes was locked with hers and she was stunned to see that none of the group looked afraid of her. She glared at them all, shoving her hands in her pockets. The freaks should be trembling at my feet, she thought angrily. The snake boy even had the cheek to try and smile at her! She cleared her throat and put on her most frightening grin. This is what Steve would do, she added to herself.
"I'm thirsty," she growled menacingly, looking each one in the eye meaningfully before glancing at their throats. As soon as she said it, Rose realised it was true. She felt a burning in her throat and her stomach ached. As she had hoped, the group began to look panicky and Loaf Head even turned to flee however he ran straight into Mr Crepsley's knees. Rose hadn't noticed him a moment ago. She assumed he had just flit.
"This way," he snarled, reaching over and pulling her away from the others. As soon as they were a safe distance away, he let go of her arm and strode ahead.
"I didn't think you'd be hungry again so quickly. You only fed a few hours ago." Mr Crepsley did not face Rose as he said this but she detected the disgust in his voice anyway.
"Yes, that was what they called me back then. I was the bloodthirsty one." Rose licked her lips in anticipation of her next meal. By his tent, Mr Crepsley paused and reached into his jacket to produce another vial of blood. He handed it to Rose wordlessly and looked away.
"I'm not a baby, Mr Crepsley. I don't need to be bottle fed," Rose handed him back the vial and crouched low.
"Let's hunt," she grinned but to her astonishment the older Vampire tackled her and pinned her against a tree, his sharp nails digging into her wrists.
"Listen Vampaneze," he threatened, "I don't know why you were sent here but listen to me. We. Do. Not. Hunt. Here. This is neutral ground and any threat to the Cirque's stance will be disposed of, do you understand?" He paused, allowing Rose time to nod cautiously.
"Now, you and I hunt very differently so until you leave or change your feeding habits, you will drink from my supply of blood vials. I will not let rouge Vampaneze like you destroy the safety of the Cirque. Clear?"
Rose pushed the man away from her and rubbed her wrists. The stupid Vampire was treating her like an infant!
"Whatever Crepsley," she growled.
"That's Mr Crepsley to you," snapped the proud Vampire hooking his thumbs through his button holes and standing up straight.
"Mister? Why should I respect your demands when you've shown no respect for me?"
"Oh!" Said Mr Crepsley smacking his forehead as though something obvious had just struck him, "Its respect you want?" Bringing his face just inches from hers, his tone was soft yet sarcastic.
"Well earn some!" He snapped shoving the blood vial in her hands. Rose watched him leave with growing anger. She knew she was no match for the Vampire in fighting skills but perhaps one day she'd get the chance to beat him. Rose downed the glass of blood in one gulp and licked the congealed mess from around the edges of the bottle's rim. Unfortunately for now she would have to rely on the old man for food if he would not let her hunt.
Steve had warned her about Vampires when she had stayed with him. He had never mentioned names but she got the feeling he was familiar with some of them. He had told her how they were treacherous and disloyal and unlike the Vampaneze, they could lie. He often swore he would defeat all Vampires and Rose had usually scoffed at his promises however now she was beginning to see his point. At least the Vampaneze showed her proper respect. Mr Crepsley and the freaks showed her nothing but contempt. Fear was the closest the freaks had ever come to respecting her.
Throwing the glass vial against the ground, Rose watched it smash with satisfaction. She looked up from the mess on the forest's floor to see a pair of eyes watching her through the bracken.
"Hey!" She called but the figure turned and fled. Rose kicked the broken glass out of the way and chased the retreating stranger. It was becoming clear that she was faster than he was as she caught up to him within minutes. It was a boy, wearing dark clothes with a red leather jacket and he seemed to be trying to flit. Every now and again he would blur and speed up before stopping a stumbling only to carry on running away. As he neared the bustle of the campsite, Rose felt her chance to catch him slipping away.
"Oh no you don't!" she snapped, reaching out to grab his jacket. She caught him by his collar and pulled him backwards. The two stumbled to the floor where Rose promptly sat on him.
"Hah!" She laughed triumphantly. She wriggled back a little to allow the boy to roll over. Beneath her the boy groaned and rubbed his knee as he turned to face his capture. Rose gasped with horror as she realised who she'd tackled and she leapt away from him as quickly as she could.