The room grew colder and Mr Tiny's smug smile returned as he heard Steve acknowledge his prophecies. Mr Crepsley exchanged a meaningful glance with Darren but, hidden behind a curtain, Rose missed their fleeting looks of anxiousness; she was watching Steve carefully. His chest rose and fell dramatically as he drew large breaths possibly due to his rising excitement of the threat of an oncoming war. He glared at his enemies as though already contemplating an attack strategy already. Darren however seemed less eager to involve others in their conflict.

"It won't start a war," he said, "if no one hears about it." In a split second, both boys had lunged at each other's throats, intending to destroy one another, restore the peace and gain power. Rose rolled her eyes. Sick to the back teeth of fighting, she pocketed the dagger and headed backstage. High up on the wings, Rebecca watched her leave and swung down to follow. At ground level, the air was warmer and noisier and Rebecca found Rose had headed towards the exit, probably craving the silence of the cold night air. Out of the dusty darkness, her slender figure emerged and Rebecca jogged over to her trying to catch up. The girl was almost running towards the door.

"Rose!" She called. Rose spun around but her smile faded slightly when she saw it was only Rebecca. Rebecca slowed slightly, hurt that Rose wasn't pleased or at the very least, concerned to see her.

"What?" Asked the freak. Rose assumed a fixed friendly smile and wiped something away from the corner of her eye.

"Nothing," she sighed, "nothing. I'm glad you're alright. I came to find you but when I saw you cut yourself loose, I figured you had probably run back to the Cirque."

"How did you know where I was?" asked Rebecca but Rose just shook her head sadly.

"Um, Evra... and a little help from Harkat."

"Harkat?"

"Yeah. Um, can we leave now then?" Rose appeared eager to get away as quickly as possible but Rebecca frowned.

"We can't just leave. We have to help Darren and Mr Crepsley." She turned to head back but Rose grabbed her wrist. Her eyes were watering and her lips were stretched tight into a "Please". Rebecca sensed something was wrong. Anxious to get back and aid Darren, she asked what it was hurriedly.

"Nothing!" Repeated Rose but her lip began to tremble and she took a deep shaky breath. She looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

"It's been a long night, that's all. I just want to get out of here."

"But we should help..."

"No!" Cried Rose a little louder than she'd intended. She was still confused and anger about Steve and needed to clear her head.

"I don't want to see his face!" She muttered but Rebecca heard her. Thinking she was talking about Darren, she took offense and yanked her arm out of Rose's tight grip and walked back to the theatre's stage. Alone in the suddenly vast corridor, Rose wrapped her arms around her and sighed. If she returned to help, she would almost certainly have to pick a side. Right now, she needed time to think. With great difficulty, Rose turned her back on the entrance to the theatre and with gritted teeth, walked out into the cold night's welcoming embrace.

Outside it was easier to breathe and Rose sighed heavily and watched her breath rise in curls of vapour. Upon exiting the building, the echoes of the fight had been left behind and the street's stillness left her free to think. So Mr Tiny had successfully convinced Steve he had some sort of pre-destined future and now the boy was intent on filling it. Not that he took much persuading, thought Rose, he craved power and longed for control. Tonight's events had utterly confused her. Back at the Cirque, Rose had thought Steve was under some kind of spell. Caught in a web of Mr Tiny's lies, he was trapped forever unless cut loose by Rose but his actions at the theatre had swayed her into believing he was capable of fulfilling his own future, he just chose to fulfil the future Mr Tiny had laid out for him. Rose had been shocked to see him launch himself so readily at Mr Crepsley with knives in both hands. He had intended to kill but by some incredible chance, missed. Rose hugged herself tighter as she wondered if he would ever attempt to kill her on Mr Tiny's orders. The man had informed Steve that Rose was an obstacle capable of interfering with his destiny and preventing him from reaching his dream. That may have been true, thought Rose, when he cared about her and what she thought, but since then he made it quite clear that he no longer loved her and his actions tonight had only confirmed that he would do anything to gain power. If he had no trouble killing the innocent to fulfil his destiny, it wouldn't bother him to sweep Rose aside either. Rose fought back tears as she thought about how Steve had no problem finding his place in this world yet she remained an outcast yet again.

Suddenly there was a bang from around the corner making Rose jump violently. She calmed down in time to realise that it was only the stage door's exit slamming shut in the wind however voices soon followed.

"You have to teach me how to do that someday!" Rose recognised the nearing voice as Steve's and she froze when she saw she was unable to hide behind anything in the deserted street. They were most likely heading to the car parked down the road to her left; maybe they wouldn't spot her.

"Oh I'll teach you everything son, all my jives and gambles." Mr Tiny was walking beside Steve waving his staff theatrically in the air as he made more false promises. Steve's face lit up and a dangerous gleam lit his dark eyes as he smirked. Rose's shoulder's drooped. It was useless pretending, Steve was happiest as a Vampaneze.

"Now, ready to go meet your people?" The car's door clicked open and swung back on its hinges as if by magic to allow them entry. The two walked towards it followed by a hobbling figure. A little monster jogged to keep up, its robes lifted to its knobbly knees to stop it tripping over. Rose turned away, not wanting to see Steve get into the car. It would be too final, like seeing a coffin's lid close forever. Her movement caught the attention of the small creature who hissed to alert his master of their unwanted spectator. Mr Tiny, already seated in the car, swivelled in his seat to see the intruder walking away dejectedly. Apprehension seized him as he noted Steve's torn expression.

"Get in," he instructed but his prodigy hesitated.

"Steve!" He repeated louder but the boy had made up his mind. He closed the car's door softly, rudely trapping Mr Tiny inside and called out Rose's name. She did not look back.

"Rose!" He called again, this time walking quickly after her. Rose glanced back over her shoulder and hesitated slightly when she saw Steve. She so wanted to run back towards him but something stopped her. Behind him, Mr Tiny had exited the car and was watching with interest. Rose interpreted his intrigued expression as smug and worried that her earlier fleeting concerns that Steve might be ordered to dispose of her had come true. She shoved her hand in her pocket and gripped the dagger's handle and carried on walking.

"Rose, wait," puffed Steve. He was jogging now and his patience was thinning. To his delight, Rose spun around but her expression was fierce.

"What?" She demanded. Surprised, Steve couldn't think of a retort.

"What? What do you want Steve?" Rose repeated. Steve's brow furrowed and his expression darkened. Rose was being difficult.

"I wanted to talk to you," he hissed but Rose cut him off.

"No. You got to talk earlier, remember?" Steve reddened.

"My turn," she snarled, "I don't know what kind of crap the fat guy's been feeding you and I don't want to know, OK? Think you've made it clear that I'm not part of it so just leave me alone." Steve recoiled in confusion as Rose advanced.

"So go! Go on! Go follow him and the others, leave me out of it!"

"I'm not following them," retorted Steve, "I'm their leader! They follow me!"

"Is that what they told you?" Laughed Rose bitterly, "You believe that? Why would they want you as a leader? What so special about you, huh? They don't care about you Steve. They want someone to die for them, to die for their cause. I know you don't really care about them. You can't! You don't know them. All you know is what they've told you and most of that are lies!" She paused for breath and glared at Steve. Strangely, he remained silent which infuriated Rose even more.

"Well!" She prompted.

"Well come with me," he offered. Rose sighed heavily.

"What?" she said, exasperated.

"Come with me," repeated the boy, a smile spreading across his face. A brilliant idea had just struck him.

"They don't care about me but you do. Come with us and tell me the truth!" He made a grab for Rose's hand but she pulled it out of his way.

"What makes you think I care about you?"

"Oh, come on Rosie!" laughed Steve arrogantly, "Seriously?"

"Serious. I used to, way back when I knew who you were but you've completely changed! I don't know who you are any more, you're too different!"

"I'm still me Rose." Rose shook her head.

"No you're not. I saw you back there Steve, you enjoyed that didn't you. It was a miracle you didn't kill Mr Crepsley. You aimed for his heart!" Rose looked disgusted by this.

"You distracted me!"

"Oh, so it's my fault he isn't dead?"

"Yes! No! I mean..." Steve threw up his arms in exasperation, "I mean I saw you and changed my mind. You reminded me I'm not that person Rose. I kill for food, yeah, and that one time with Kooky Kersey... but I couldn't do it. But I couldn't not do it either, I had to wound him. Not for me, for Murlough." He hesitated on his old mentor's name and Rose felt a stab of pity for him.

"I know you don't understand," he muttered, "But please try to. Come back with me Rose."

"And do what? Live with you and a bunch of savages?" Rose could tell Steve wanted to apologise but he hadn't made up his mind either. Not really. She knew a small part of him still hoped Mr Tiny had been telling him the truth and that he really was a leader of the Vampaneze. Rose thought that by inviting her back to the lair, Steve hoped she would see that Mr Tiny's promises of a destiny were accurate.

"You really don't care," said Steve. It was a statement, not a question and he hoped she would contradict him.

"No," lied Rose. Inside, she felt her heart practically fall apart but her answer seemed to harden Steve's.

"Fine" He looked over his shoulder at Mr Tiny and then back at the girl in front of him. Rose stared at the floor, she knew if she caught his eye she would blurt out the truth. She still loved him, she wanted him back but not like this. She wanted the old Steve back, the one who only cared about her and nothing else, least of all Mr Tiny and his destinies.

"Well, goodbye then." Steve stared at her stoically and made to twist away but Rose grabbed his shoulder.

"No!" She cried. Steve's smile returned. Not a sneer or a smirk but a genuine happy smiled tainted with relief. He held out his hand for her to take but she slapped it out of the way.

"You said goodbye last time. I'm not letting you walk away from me again!"

Steve opened his arms to embrace her but Rose spun on her heel and walked firmly in the other direction leaving him opened mouthed and alone on the pavement.

"I'm leaving you!" She yelled. Her goodbye echoed around the empty street and lingered in the air. Helpless, Steve watched her leave and realised what he'd lost. Behind him, Mr Tiny raised an eyebrow. Young love was so... unpredictable and, hopefully, over.