This chapter is to basically summarize how the other members of the Cirque feel about everything and what other opinions are floating around out there.
Personally, I like Mr Tall the most heehe and Crapsley the least (this may be obvious) but i've tried not to write too ooc but there may be ooc moments of course since it is a fanfic...
Mr Tall drummed his long fingers on the important looking desk and looked over a pair of invisible spectacles to regard the party in front of him. The group were divided not only by space but by their own opinions of the situation. Outside the rain continued to pound the canvas tent, washing out the bright colours of the Cirque until everything was a variation of the colour grey. However since a thick autumnal fog had decided to settle amongst the campsite, the grey caravans were no more than threatening shapes looming towards each other.
Mr Tall had started out that morning leaning against the entrance enjoying the blank canvas that was his view. He had breathed in the crisp morning air deeply, exhaling with a contented sigh. His day set out before him, he was looking forward to spending it as he pleased at a steady pace when the sudden sight of five indistinct figures emerging from the mists in front of him put an end to any ideas of relaxation he might have been harboring. He hadn't even bothered to ask why the group had frog marched into his tent, instead he dragged his long legs back around his desk and sat heavily in the chair where he waited silently and patiently for someone to complain. As expected, Mr Crepsley had begun.
"It's the Vampaneze," he had explained, "they've penetrated our forces! They're within our fortress!"
Mr Tall raised his wiry eyebrows and peered over the top of his steepled fingers at Mr Crepsley.. He appeared to be listening to something outside but only the sound of the rain could be heard through the silence. He flicked a skeptical gaze from the tents entrance back to the old Vampire but remained silent.
"Well, the Vampaneze Lord is here," rallied Mr Crepsley who was undoubtedly frustrated and a little surprised at Mr Tall's lack of concern, "but surely that means the rest are on their way?"
"He's here to see Rose!" chimed in Rebecca, "he's not here on business."
"On business?" cried Mr Crepsley incredulously, "he's the Vampaneze Lord! That's not something you take time off from!" Rebecca crossed her arms defiantly and looked sideways at Evra who suddenly felt as though he was expected to contribute to the odd conversation.
"Well...nothing's happened yet," he grimaced, earning an approving nod from Rebecca and a glare from Mr Crepsley.
"So we should hang around and wait should we?" said Rhamus Twobellies suddenly rounding on Evra, "should we sitting and wait twiddling our thumbs for another attack? We should be ready! Armed!"
"I agree! We need to defend ourselves!"
"But he's here to see Rose! That's all! He'll be gone soon!" The group glared at each other before turning as one, demanding a solution from their ringmaster.
"I see," said Mr Tall at last. So the party had come to him to find an answer. Should they fight or not? Should they retaliate? The giant sighed and rubbed his temples. Rebecca, standing in one corner with her arms crossed across her chest had dragged Evra into the tent to defend Rose's right to love, whomever it was she chose. The fact that it was the Vampaneze who kidnapped her seemed not to matter if he made Rose happy. Evra begrudgingly agreed although Mr Tall doubted if it was by his own free will. Evra's expression clearly told everyone he'd rather be anywhere but in the tent. Rhamus filled the tent on behalf the freaks. Only interested in their safety, he was in favour of attacking a bloodthirsty race if it meant protecting his family. Mr Crepsley stood shoulder to shoulder with Rhamus and Darren, teeth bared, pushing for the Cirque's support. Beside him, Darren seemed uncertain. Mr Tall asked him.
"And you Darren? What do you think we should do?"
"He attacked Darren last night! Of course he wants to fight!" Cut tin Mr Crepsley. Mr Tall bade him be quiet with an impatient frown.
"Fight... - ?" said Darren looking at Mr Crepsley. Only the slightest tremor at the end of his voice suggested it was a question but Mr Tall picked up on it.
"You fought him last night did you not? Since neither of you are dead, who won?" Darren looked uncomfortable. Mr Crepsley groaned and Mr Tall guessed that the old Vampire had already spoken to the boy about the situation at length.
"There was no winner or loser," said Darren robotically, "it was a..."
"Stalemate," murmured his mentor.
"...stalemate," finished Darren.
"I see," Mr Tall repeated. Rebecca tutted and placed her hands on her hips.
"Hah! A stalemate?" she said sarcastically, "Interrupt me if I'm mistaken, but from what Mr Crepsley has said so far, it would have taken a huge force to prevent the Vampaneze Lord from killing Darren. Especially if the fight had taken place undisturbed." No-one interrupted her.
"So what force prevented him then?" breathed Evra, caught up in the moment. Darren glared at him.
"What?" said the snake-boy defensively.
"Love," sighed Rebecca romantically. She clasped her hands to her heart and smiled dreamily. Rhamus Twobellies burst out laughing whilst Mr Crepsley scoffed at the idea. Darren merely looked uncomfortable.
"Enough," snapped Mr Crepsley impatiently, "we need to know the Cirque's position Hibernius. This has taken place on your soil!"
"Neutral," replied Mr Tall, "as it always has been."
"Neutral," repeated Darren, "in other words, you half agree with the Vampaneze do you? They killed a member of our family!"
"They nearly got Rebecca," reminded Evra softly. Rebecca took his hand in hers.
"I was just bait," she said consolingly, "they needed me."
"That wouldn't have stopped them," said Darren darkly. Rebecca said nothing. Mr Crepsley, tired of wasting time, slammed his fists down on the desk in front of Mr Tall.
" Hibernius you must choose a side!"
"I will not endanger any- "
"They're already endangered! If the Vampaneze Lord is here, the rest won't be far behind and when they do attack, where will you be standing?" Mr Tall looked imploringly at Rhamus who seemed to represent all those absent.
"Behind you," said Rhamus to Mr Crepsley. Mr Crepsley exhaled loudly and smiled.
"Good. At last some clarity!" Mr Tall looked reproachful.
"My aim has always been to protect the Cirque," he reasoned.
"And yet the enemy's leader is in the middle of campsite," muttered Evra a little too loudly. He reddened as everyone turned to look at him. Several moments seemed to drag on as the group contemplated this and then, as one body, they all turned and fled the tent. Mr Tall hurdled his desk and, against all probability, reached the door first.
"Which way? Which way?" he boomed. The crowd turned to Darren.
"I - we fought over there," he pointed to the woodland before shrugging, "and then they left... I'm not sure where they went."
"You, you boy," said Rhamus to Evra, "you were the one who said you saw them. Where did they go?" With an encouraging prod from Rebecca, Evra told them once again how he'd watched Rose lead a boy towards the empty caravan nearest his tent.
"To the tent!" Cried Mr Crepsley, leading the party. The settled fog had thinned to a fine mist and the shapes and even some colours of their surroundings were just visible. Anyone watching from above would have seen the odd group weaving their way in and out of the maze of tents, occasionally reaching a dead end and doubling back before they slowed.
"That one," said Evra confidently. He and Rebecca were pushed back as Mr Crepsley advanced. The peeling blue painted door was firmly closed and the netted curtains had been drawn across the window. Mr Tall placed an oversized hand on Mr Crepsley's shoulder as he advanced towards the door.
"I should like to go first," he said gently. Frowning, the Vampire did not step aside and so the giant simply went around him as carefully as possible. Darren heard the creak of the door as it opened; it was unlocked. Mr Tall paused.
"What is it?" said Rhamus quietly, wishing he'd brought his meat cleaver. Mr Crepsley advanced.
"There is something blocking the door," said Mr Tall giving it an experimental shove with his bony shoulder. A voice from behind him ordered him to stand aside. Obediently, Mr Tall stepped back and watched as Mr Crepsley took several steps back and a flying leap forward. The door caved in as whatever was behind it was pushed out the way. There was a thump as the couch fell backwards.
"Odd," remarked Mr Tall at the sight of it. The couch had been acing as a feeble protection against intruders - an absurd idea created by someone as strong as Steve Leonard. Privately, Mr Tall guessed the boy had been feeling vulnerable but he did not raise the idea with the others. He looked around the sad little room. A few belongings of former residents still lurked in damp corners and a stale smell lingered in the air but mostly the room felt empty and abandoned.
"Gone," said Mr Crepsley. He had gone straight out the back to check out the adjacent rooms, " left a few hours ago I reckon. The beds are cold." A sharp blast of icy air reached them as a draught made its way from the open window out the back to the door like a tunnel of wind. Standing in its path, Darren's brown hair was blown across his eyes as he looked up to meet his mentor's gaze.
"Rose too?" he asked though the answer was obvious.
"Rose too," Mr Crepsley confirmed. The party stood for a while, unsure how to react. Rebecca and Evra had wandered in and were poking around the small caravan and Rhamus had run off to tell the others. Soon only Mr Tall, Darren and Mr Crepsley stood looking at each other.
"What do we do now?" asked Darren at a loss. MR Crepsley pursed his lips.
"I'm sure he'll show up," he said to Mr Tall.
"Oh most definitely. It would be most unlike him not to. In fact, I think I'll go put the kettle on in my tent." Darren watched the man leave, his mouth open in a circle.
"He won't come back...?"
"Who? Oh, Steve? No. He won't come back and I doubt Rose will either."
"Then...who?"
"Steve's master..." Mr Crepsley grimaced at the thought of Mr Tiny. Darren sniggered at the idea of anyone trying to control his old best friend.
"Steve doesn't have... you'd have to be - well, you'd have to be worse than Steve to control someone like him!" Mr Crepsley just nodded.
"Worst than Steve?" Darren shuddered at the idea of someone as terrible as that. Then his ears caught up with his brain, "And you've just let Mr Tall go off on his own to put the kettle on for him?"