Serpentines Debut chapter 9 - I only own Jessie the rest belongs to Darren Shan
Jessie couldn't believe what she was hearing, she had never had a boy interested in her before and absolutely loved the idea of just walking off together holding hands (ok maybe they wouldn't hold hands) but even so how romantic. Then Jessie knew she couldn't do it. The only thing stopping her was Mr Crepsley she knew she couldn't leave him she loved him too much. He had always been there for her and she would always be there for him nothing would ever change that.
Then Jessie had an idea. 'Listen Jack can you give me half an hour I may have a plan'.
Jessie shot off to find Mr Tall. 'Mr Tall could you tell me how long we are camping here for?' Mr Tall looked at Jessie with a curious look on his face 'only three more
days Jessie why do you ask?' As Jack was leaving Jessie knew it would be alright to
confide in Mr Tall. 'Mr Tall, I have met a boy who is a bit older than me and he's been staying in the old shed. I have sneaked him some food and clothes. I know you
have every right to be cross with me for not telling you but he made me promise not
to tell anyone. I was so worried about him that I agreed. He is heading off now to
go to his Aunts house. We have become good friends and I want to walk part of the way with him'.
Mr Tall did not look pleased 'you need to talk to Larten about this Jessie, I am not your mentor so I can not give you permission'. 'Does that mean as you're not my mentor you also can't stop me Mr Tall?' grinned Jessie.
'I would hope that you would consider how you would feel if Larten just went off with out discussing it with you, think how upset you would be. It would be the same for Larten'.
'If Mr Crepsley knows I am safe and that I wont be long I think he ll be ok, I mean I wont be on my own. I m going to walk all day with Jack then we would get a room each in a cheap hotel then walk to the nearest train station. I have enough money to catch the train back and I ll give Jack enough to get the train to his Aunts'. I will only be gone one night and I could leave Mr Crepsley a note to explain'. Jessie knew Mr
Crepsley would be furious and would try and find her but hopefully she would get away with spending some time with Jack before Mr Crepsley caught her.
Mr Tall looked displeased to say the least. 'It sounds like you have already made your mind up Jessie'
Jessie quickly wrote a note and decided to give it to Evra as Mr Crepsley would most likely come looking for Jess in their tent. Evra didn't seem to mind as he thought it would be funny to see Mr Crepsley explode when he wasn't involved.
Jessie packed a small rucksack with some overnight things and then headed off with Jack. They laughed and talked whilst walking along and covered many miles before nightfall. Jessie and Jack checked into a hotel, unfortunately they were both told they needed to have an adult accompany as they did not let children stay on there own. 'Oh no I hadn't thought of that last time I needed a room it was just me and it was a bit old and run down so they didn't seem to care'. Jack and Jessie started walking around the small town but the only rooms available where in hotels and they would have the same problem as before – no children allowed without being accompanied by an adult.
As the night got darker Jack came to a decision 'I don't like doing this with you Jessie but I think we need to find somewhere we can sleep rough, we are not going to be able to find a room. Your first train home leaves at 6am why don't we hang around the train station and see if we can find somewhere to keep warm for the night'. Jessie and Jack found they could sneak into the train station toilets through a broken window. The smell wasn't very nice but at least Jack had a blanket to lie on and a sleeping bag to wrap around themselves. Unfortunately Jessie had old cut off denim shorts and a baggy red Tshirt which said 'bite me' on the front. Jessie had only brought the T-shirt a week ago and this was the first time she had worn it. Jessie was a bit disappointed that it would end up smelling of loo's.
Jack and Jessie lay together as Jessie looked at her watch she realised it was nearly 1 am. Jessie thought of Mr Crepsley and tried to sleep but couldn't help wondering how much trouble she was in.
Larten had risen and went to the campfire to eat. He wondered if Jessie had kept her promise and had eaten breakfast and lunch. Also Larten was curious to find out what Jessie's secret was. Not long after finishing his soup Larten wondered over to Jessie's tent to find Evra sitting smiling at him. 'Hello Mr C I have got a letter to read to you' (as Mr Crepsley was unable to read) said Evra. 'Go ahead' said Mr Crepsley with a frown on his face as he scanned the tent for Jessie. 'Dear Mr Crepsley, the secret I have been wanting to tell you is that I have been hiding a boy in camp who has become my friend. He is leaving today to go to his Aunt's house and he asked me to go with him. I would really like too but I could never leave you, as I love you so much. I did say I would walk some of the way with him and then return to the cirque tomorrow. Please don't worry Jack is older than me so he said he will look after me and we will stay in a hotel overnight. I will see you tomorrow night. Love you Jessie'. Evra looked up at Mr Crepsley to get his reaction and he was stood right in front of him and had pulled him up by the collar. 'Which direction did she go and where is she heading' yelled Larten into Evra's face. Evra started shaking and said 'I d d don't know'. Larten pulled back his fist as Mr Tall walked into the tent and grabbed Larten from behind. 'Larten, Evra does not know anything, but Jessie did talk to me before she left. I told her she should talk to you before leaving but she was sure you would not mind if she left you a note. She asked for my permission and I said I could not give it as you were her mentor and she said does that mean you cant stop me going then. With that she left the note and headed West out of the Cirque, I am sure you will be able to pick up her trail and find out which hotel she is in'.
Larten looked deadly, his face had gone a very red colour and he looked ready to kill.
'This Jack had better hope he has a separate room to my little Jessie and if he has caused her any harm I will kill him'. With that Larten flitted out of camp leaving a worried Evra and Mr Tall staring at the space where Larten had once been.
Larten had no trouble picking up Jessie's scent after all he was well used to it. He was surprised how far she had walked and noticed she and her friend had been in and out of many hotels. Larten then followed the scent to the train station and up to a broken window. Larten looked through and saw Jessie and a older boy fast asleep on the toilet floor. Larten could not believe what he was seeing, they had better be dressed under that sleeping bag. Larten opened the toilet door easily and stepped inside. He would never of thought his assistant could be so disobedient, he would make sure she would never ever try anything like this again. Larten noticed Jessie's foot sticking out of the sleeping bag and grabbed Jessie's ankle and lifted her up in the air leaving Jessie suddenly hanging upside down. Larten then kicked the boy lying on the floor. 'who the hell are you' shouted Jack. 'This is my guardian Mr Crepsley said Jessie'. 'Shh ' said Mr Crepsley to Jessie. 'You boy what the hell do you think you have been doing?' hissed Mr Crepsley' Jack looked absolutely terrified. Jessie tried to interrupt but Mr Crepsley just turned her over so she had her feet on the ground, held her to him with his hand over her mouth as Jessie wriggled to try and get out of his grip with no success. 'Look I am sorry' said Jack 'we were going to check into a hotel but they wouldn't let us without an adult, we would of got separate rooms its not what you think, we are just friends'. With that Larten clipped Jack around the head. Jessie was so annoyed with Mr Crepsley she stamped on his foot. Larten then let go of Jessie's mouth to clip her around the head. Jessie had forgotten to eat; she had been having so much fun with Jack. The clip around the head made Jessie's head spin and Larten had to pick her up to stop Jessie falling flat on her face. 'We are leaving and if I ever see you around the Cirque or anywhere near Jessie you will be truly sorry'. With that Mr Crepsley left Jack in the toilets and flitted back to the Cirque with Jessie.
Larten was carrying Jessie in his arms and although he didn't wish to talk to Jessie, as he was so annoyed with her he needed to ask if she had eaten. 'Did you eat today as you promised ?' muttered Larten in her ear as he flitted. Oh no thought Jessie he truly is going to kill me 'well, no Mr Crepsley um sorry, and sorry for going off n that'. Jessie looked up at Mr Crepsley who looked so mad that Jess didn't dare say another word. Mr Crepsley took Jess to the campfire at the Cirque where fortunately the fire was still going and the remains of a stew was simmering. Larten spooned some onto a plate and handed it to Jess. He then sat Jess on his lap whilst she ate. Jessie still kept her gaze away from Mr Crepsley and just kept looking at the plate. She ate half of the meal then went to put the plate on the table. 'Eat it all' snapped Mr Crepsley as he held Jess and pushed the plate back into her hands. It took Jessie a while to finish the stew then put the plate on the table. 'Go and wash it up' snapped Mr Crepsley again. 'Yes Mr Crepsley' said Jess as she got up to wash her plate and fork. Once Jess had washed up she started to head to her tent. Mr Crepsley grabbed her wrist and walked towards his van. Oh no here goes I am for it now thought Jessie. 'Drink this (Larten handed Jessie some blood), all of it' said Larten . Jessie drank the blood down and handed Mr Crepsley the empty vile.
Jessie noticed Mr Crepsley had a bed in the van as well as his coffin, although the bed was an old mattress, which had been pushed into the corner with a pillow and an old blanket. 'This is where you will be sleeping and you can only leave the van to go to the toilet, but you must come straight back here. If you wish to leave any other time you must ask my permission and you must do all your chores at night. 'But Mr Crepsley I' but Jess got no further, 'do not talk to me Jessie I am in no mood to talk to you. You will remain quiet unless I speak to you directly. Do you understand?' 'Y Y Yes Mr Crepsley'. 'Good, go to bed the sun is up and I have wasted a whole night searching for you'. 'S S Sorry Mr Crepsley' cried Jess with big tears rolling down her face. 'Shh' said Mr Crepsley angrily as he stepped into his coffin and closed the lid.
Larten lay in his coffin listening to Jess, it broke his heart to hear her softly sobbing but he knew she had to learn not to do something so reckless ever again. Larten fell asleep but it was sometime before Jessie managed too. When Larten woke he stepped out of his coffin and stretched, scratched his scar and then looked down at Jessie. He liked having Jessie in his van, he liked knowing she wasn't getting into any trouble. Jessie had pushed the blanket off her sometime in the day and Larten noticed for the first time her Tshirt. Larten thought how the colour red suited Jessie and couldn't help but smile at what was written on the front. Larten decided to wake Jessie with a light kick. 'What the ohh its you Mr Crepsley' with that Jessie lay back down and pulled the blanket over her. 'Can I have a bit longer in bed Mr Crepsley I am exhausted I haven't slept properly' with that Jessie started to close her eyes. Mr Crepsley noticed how tired Jessie looked but just bent down and tipped her off the mattress.
'Start your chores Jessie you have a lot to catch up on'. 'Yes Mr Crepsley' with that Jessie dragged herself out of bed and went about her chores still wearing the same clothes from the day before. This routine dragged on not just days but nearly three months before Jessie could take no more. She was not supposed to leave the van with out permission but she just didn't care anymore. The only reason she hadn't left with Jack was because she loved Mr Crepsley and now he didn't seem to care about her. He hadn't said anything nice to her or hugged her in three months and Jessie was devastated. She had woken before nightfall and normally would sit and wait till Mr Crepsley got up but not today. She had missed the sun and walked out of Mr Crepsley's van and into the fading sunshine. Jessie took herself off to the old barn, climbed the ladder and sat looking out of a large doorway, which had once been used to throw the hay down. The barn was still in the Cirque grounds but even if it hadn't of been Jessie couldn't care anymore. She felt like she had lost everything. Everytime she tried to speak to Mr Crepsley he just said sshh. So Jessie decided to not talk anymore, and hadn't spoken to anyone in over two months, no one noticed as she was only up at night and was busy doing chores anyway.
Jessie sat with her legs hanging over the edge of the door way looking out at the setting sun as tears streamed down her face.
Larten rose as normal, stretching and then looking down at Jessie. Larten was surprised Jessie was not sat on her bed waiting for him to wake but then Larten thought maybe she had gone to the toilet. Larten decided to follow Jessie's scent and was surprised when it led to the old barn where Larten could hear quiet sobbing. Larten flitted up the ladder and stood looking down at Jessie. 'What is the matter Jessie why are you crying?' asked Mr Crepsley worriedly. Jessie did not answer she had got out of the habit of talking and didn't want to anyway. Mr Crepsley kept trying to get Jessie to speak to him but she no longer even noticed he was there.
Mr Crepsley sat behind Jessie and then pulled her onto his lap cuddling her gently . 'Please Jessie tell me what is wrong I am really worried about you, please just speak to me'. Jessie just stared at Larten with a blank look and went back to staring at the now dark night sky.
Larten gently picked Jessie up then cuddled her in his arms. Larten softly started speaking 'little Jessie you mean the world to me, I have been so foolish. I was so desperately worried when you left that I just wanted to make sure you never left again. Jessie you are my family and I love you please forgive me' pleaded Mr Crepsley. Jessie looked up at Mr Crepsley and noticed how strange it was that tears were pouring down his cheeks. Jessie slowly wiped his tears away and gave him a small smile. Mr Crepsley carried on talking to Jessie and saying how special she was to him until eventually Jessie looked up at him and said 'I love you too' then placed her head on his chest and gently hugged him as her eyes fluttered closed.
Larten kept one arm around Little Jessie whilst the other one softly stroked her cheek as she drifted off to sleep with a content peaceful look on her face.