3 years. Since Christmas. Since Murlough and Debbie and the big city.
3 years since we've been back with the cirque touring the world, night after night. I'd become a regular part of the act with Mr. Crepsley. By day I was a performer, by night I was a half vampire under his tutelage.
Evra had grown from a scared girl to a beautiful woman before my eyes. I remember the days she was begging me to help her with her makeup or analyze our favorite magazine(teen digest) for the latest celeb gossip. Now all she could talk about were her dates with the local boys or possibly completing some online college courses. At times I was envious of her and her seemingly normal life, but at the end of the day she was still my best friend.
Everything had reached a point of stability. Including the stagnant status of mine and Mr. Crepsley's relationship. I thought maybe since that snowy day in December we would make some progress. Yet he remained clueless and I remained too timid to speak my mind. We continued in the same routine.
"You sound like you're dying." Evra laughed as she handed me a thermos cup, she pinched her nose so she wouldn't have to smell the bitter metallic tang of blood.
"I am dying, of hunger." I grunted as I quickly downed the contents of the thermos. I was sitting in my tent, a hot water bottle nursing the last battlements of cramps from my monthly cycle. Not only was I tired but I was twice as hungry as I should Female vampires are rare. Mostly due to the sacrifice of fertility it takes to have children. Most women would not want to give up that choice. But for some reason, given my involvement with the enigmatic figure Des-Tiny. I was exempt from that rule.
"Just so you know, grumpy bat was stalking around looking for you. Something going on?" Evra sat on a chair and began to open up some of her social media.
"No idea, we don't see each other when I'm like...this. He avoids me like the plague." We both chuckled at that.
"Samantha?" Speak of the devil. The vampire stood outside the door of our tent, and called just loud enough for me to hear him, "Pack our bags at once, we leave for Vampire Mountain at once."
That through me for a loop, no one said anything about leaving. "What?" I yelled and threw the blankets off my lap, I had to move quickly but I just felt achy all over. "Why are we going there?"
The vampire stood waiting for me outside the tent, as if he knew I would follow after him. We headed toward the other side of camp,"To present you to the council," he replied as we neared his van the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. "It is time."
"The council of generals?" I whined, "Why now?" The last thing I wanted to do was leave the cirque. Besides, who knew when we would be back. It could be 50 years before I see Evra again.
"We go because it is proper," he said. "And we go now because the Council only meets once every twelve years. If we miss this year's gathering, we will have a long wait until the next." And that was all he'd say about it. I stood standing outside his door like an idiot. He ignored the rest of my questions and tucked himself into his coffin before the sun rose, leaving me to worry the day away.
I spent the day fussing over our bags. Over the years I'd gained more practical luggage but I still preferred my school backpack. I'd taken it everywhere with me, and it gave me a sense of comfort to have something that still reminded me of home. Of my parents and my sister.
Vampire Mountain. A place to battle and learn; the epicenter of our culture and politics. So many questions raced through my mind at once, I decided to tackle them one at a time. First and foremost:
What do I wear?
Turns out, no one knew much about this secret council location, given it was...secret after all. Mr. Tall, however, did advise that I should pack for frigid conditions.
"Hey snow bunny, you need some help?" Evra chuckled as I finished off tying my winter boots. For myself, I kept my thick fleece pants and dress combo but added a hat, gloves, scarf, thick socks, and my heavy green jacket. For Mr. Crepsley I packed his red wool cape, his heavy jacket and the thickest pair of pants he owned. He was responsible for his own footwear.
I scoffed, "Don't laugh at me! Preparing is half the battle."
"Make sure you take a rope with you, and your sleeping bag. Unless of course you want to cuddle up next to the caped crusader to keep warm." She cackled.
My face burned, "I do not!"
"Of course she does! After all, it does get so cold up in those mountains." Someone boomed behind us.
I whipped around and came face to face with an evil entity some only see in their nightmares. Mr. Tiny. The portly man might have appeared like a kind old uncle, but really he was a sadistic monster who would cut your nose off despite your face, if you catch my drift.
"Vampires love a challenge. The mountain is filled with all kinds of danger. The cold may be biting, so make sure to bring matches." He giggled at his own private joke. "Where are my little people."
"In the tent, sir." I tried to sound confident but inside I was dying to distance myself from the man before me.
"Ahhh, I see," He winked. "I'll be off. Be a dear, and tell Larten to see me before he leaves."
"I don't know if we'll have ti-"
Mr. Tiny smirked, "He will always make time for me"
Mr. Crepsley was not a happy camper when I woke him up. He hated to rise early, and looked even more miserable when I told him why he was shaken awake so abruptly.
"I wonder what he could want… Fetch me my finest cape. I always want to look nice for visitors."
I scoffed, "Good luck Count Dorkula," I grinned. "Because you're going to have a hell of a time taming that bed head."
Mr. Crepsley began fussing with his hair which was impaired by his lack of mirror in his van. The superstitions were wrong, vampires do have a reflection. They just may choose to avoid looking at it.
"Just let me do it," I laughed as he struggled for the third time to get his hair out of his face. Personally, I thought he looked rather rouge-ish with some of his curls touching his face. He just thought he looked unkempt. I smoothed the hair back for him and he buttoned up his shirt and I was struck with the mirror image of my mom helping my father into his Sunday suit all those years ago. I laughed slightly to myself.
"What is it?" Mr. Crepsley asked.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
An hour later, with the sun setting, we made our way to Mr. Tall's caravan, where Mr. Tiny was entertaining the owner of the Cirque Du Freak with stories of what he'd seen in a recent earthquake.
"Ah, Larten!" Mr. Tiny boomed. "Prompt as ever."
"Desmond," Mr. Crepsley replied stiffly.
"Have a seat," Mr. Tiny said.
"Thank you, but I will stand." Nobody liked sitting when Mr. Tiny was around-I supposed it was in case they needed to make a quick getaway.
"I hear you're taking off for Vampire Mountain," Mr. Tiny said with a smug grin, although he wasn't speaking to me he kept looking at me out of the corner of his eye. I felt like I was some rare exhibit at the zoo everything his beady eyes landed on me. All I could do was stare at the ground and will him to put his attention somewhere else.
"We leave tonight," Mr. Crepsley confirmed.
"This is the first Council you've been to in about fifty years, isn't it?"
"You are well informed," The vampire grunted. He seemed displeased that Mr. Tiny knew so much about his comings and goings.
"I keep an ear to the ground." There was a knock at the door, and Mr. Tall let in two of the Little People. One walked with kind of a limp. He'd been with the Cirque Du Freak almost as long as me. I called him Lefty, although that was only a nickname — none of the Little People had real names.
"Ready, boys?" Mr. Tiny asked. The Little People nodded. "Excellent!" He smiled at Mr. Crepsley. "The path to Vampire Mountain is as hazardous as ever, isn't it?"
"It is not easy," Crepsley agreed cagily.
"Dangerous for a young lady like Miss Shan, wouldn't you say?"
"Samantha can look after herself," Mr. Crepsley said, and I grinned proudly. Take that!
"I'm sure she can," Mr. Tiny responded, "but it's unusual for someone so young to make the journey, isn't it?"
"Yes," Mr. Crepsley said curtly. "Although her strength has grown considerably the past few years.
"Nonetheless, I'm sending these two along as guards." Mr. Tiny waved a hand at the Little People.
"Guards?" Mr. Crepsley barked. "We do not need any. I have made the trip many times. I can look after Samantha myself if need be."
"You can indeed," Mr. Tiny cooed, "but a little help never went astray, did it?"
"They would get in the way," The vampire growled. "I do not want them."
"My Little People? Get in the way?" Mr. Tiny sounded shocked. "They exist only to serve. They'll be like shepherds, watching over the two of you while you sleep."
"Nevertheless," He insisted, "I do not want —"
"This is not an offer," Mr. Tiny interrupted. Although he spoke softly, the menace in his voice was unmistakable. "They're going with you. End of story. They'll hunt for themselves and see to their own sleeping arrangements. All you have to do is make sure you don't 'lose' them in the snowy wastelands on the way."
"You cannot expect them to be granted entrance once we have arrived!" He snapped. " The princes will not stand-"
"The princes will kneel before the man whom is responsible for the construction of their great hall. Paris Skyle and the rest know which side their blood is buttered on you can rest assured."
Mr. Crepsley practically shook with rage, which was only intensified as he knew he would have to bend to the will of Desmond Tiny. The horrid man in his equally horrid suit (yellow was so not his color) finally got his chance to lock eyes with me. I swallowed hard as he gave a smile that was maybe meant to be kind, but looked more predatory.
"And you, young lady. Step forward."
Shakily I did as told. I felt like I was on display for all to see. Mr. Tiny looked me up and down, his eyes holding little interest until they came to rest on my left hand.
"Ahhh, what's this?" He grabbed for my hand and instinctively backed away.
"Nothing." I said quickly. Too quickly. Mr. Tiny narrowed his eyes in displeasure at the sight of the ring on my finger.
"It seems the Little Miss has grown up after all. A little gift? From a suitor perhaps." I remained quiet. Mr. Crepsley's eyes remained forward.
"Very well. Keep all the fun to yourself then. You'll need grit and confidence going forward. Keep your hope high as you continue on, little one." I hadn't expected such words to come out of Mr. Tiny's mouth. I eyed him warily and nodded my head in response.
We couldn't postpone leaving anymore, so Mr. Crepsley helped me finish packing.
"Your clothing will not do." He muttered, "Please strip."
"Excuse me?" I exclaimed, ad threw my arms over my chest. The vampire realized his mistake immediately.
"Pardon me. I was only referring to your jacket and boots." I eyed him warily and did as told. I felt ridiculous in only my pants and dress.
"What about rocks and stuff? Won't that hurt my feet?" I already hated this mountain and I wasn't even there yet. Aren't trips supposed to be fun?
"They will toughen your soles up even more." He grinned, then took off his slippers. "It is the same for all vampires. The way to Vampire Mountain is not just a journey — it is a test. Boots, jackets, ropes: Such items are not permitted."
"Sounds absolutely barbaric."
He asked me where his spider was and I contemplated lying. I did not want that creepy thing anywhere near me while I slept. This trip was already going to suck enough. "There is someone I wish her to meet." He explained. I hesitantly retrieved her and placed her in the bag.
Evra came up to me as we prepared to leave and gave me a hug goodbye, but not before slipping something into my pocket. She brought her mouth close to my ear and said in a low whisper, "Mix a little of this with some water and it'll keep away your cycle. I wasn't sure how much you'd need, so if you use a teaspoon every other day it should last you a little over a year."
"You're the best!" I cried and squeezed her harder. I had to confess, being trapped in a mountain with mostly male vampires did make me worry about my ahem feminine problems. After saying goodbye to her and Mr. Tall me and Crepsley began our journey over a foreign land that was cold and steeped in blood