A.N. sorry for lack of updates but I was working on new stories and I updated some existing ones. Nothing much else to say. But come one people you can at least bribe me with reviews ya know? Also Victoria makes an appearance after who knows how long.

Disclaimer: Cirque du Freak in all of its glory doesn't belong to me.

Chapter 46

*Dorene's POV*

I had to look up at Darren as we talked, it felt weird after having been able to look at him at even heights. I smiled and slightly blushed at the sight of him in the clothes that no longer fit right.

"I think we should try to find a store." I said as he looked down, Darren seemed almost unsure about his matured body and to add to the situation, his toes were sticking out of the front of his shoes and then his clothes were actually tearing at the seams.

Darren agreed with my suggestion, while Mia and Harkat silently laughed,r. Crepsley nodded and then we were off once again, and I hated admitting it, even to myself, but I constantly had to stop myself from staring at the muscles that Darren had developed during the Purge.

After a few more minutes of walking a small town finally came into view and luckily for us, though mainly Darren, a small store sat almost at the very edge of town.

Not wasting anytime I grabbed ahold of Darren's wrist and began pulling him behind me as I walked toward the small shop. Inside I turned away from the register and pulled Darren towards the few racks of clothes that the store had to offer. Darren unsure of what to get as he looked through while I quickly browsed through the small selection.

In the end he settles with a regular pair of sneakers, black jeans, a plain tee shirt and sweatshirt. Overall Darren looked like he never spent those six years as a prince in Vampire mountain.

"Well, it certainly looks more comfortable." I said as we walked to the register, paying for what Darren was wearing. While I was counting the change another man wearing a baseball cap walked in and asked about getting supplies written on a list. As I was handing the change to the cashier Darren seemed to freeze, then pulled me outside behind him as he rushed out of the shop.

"Darren, what's your deal?!" I yelled as we got back to the gravel path that led to the others, he looked at me then shook his head.

"I'll tell you once we get back to the others." Was all he said before we were running once again.

*Mia's POV*

I watched as Darren and Dorene ran toward us, noticing Darren's look of urgency and Dorene's look of confusion as they got closer. Before Darren even stopped he was already talking.

"Guys I think there was someone fishy inside the store." I looked to Dorene to see what she had to say but she was looking at Darren. "Darren, just because someone comes walking in with a baseball cap on doesn't mean they are 'fishy'." Dorene said as they finally came to a stop.

"Dorene you didn't see, but he noticed your fingertips when you were counting the change and giving it to the cashier." Dorene along with the rest of us just stared at Darren, unsure as to what he was trying to make a point of.

"I think he knew what the scars on our fingertips meant." Darren finally added.

"What were they buying?" Mr. Crepsley then asked, Darren thought for a second then looked at his teacher. "They were getting guns and a whole lot of ammo from what it looked like."

Mr. Crepsley was silent for a second. "Looks like we have a vampire hunter on our hands, or maybe one of those new Vampets that we heard about."

*Victoria's POV*

I couldn't escape as I raced through the alleys trying to keep a distance between me and my pursuer. I turned a corner and was faced with nothing but a tall brick wall of a dead end that looked so painfully familiar. I turned around hoping to leave only to find that I was somehow deeper within the dead end and the predator was blocking the only exit.

Their large form casting a shadow that concealed the entire alley as I slowly found myself backed against the wall in a vain attempt to put more distance between me and it. From where I stood I could see deep crimson eyes that shone through the coarse, rough red , almost a dried blood, colored hair that covered it's body, it stood on its hind legs like one would picture a werewolf with claws dragging along the ground.

Just as my back hit the wall behind me the monster attacked.

I woke up in a rush, breathing hard as I clung to the blankets the covered me, as I sat up to get ready for the day I found Darius sitting at the edge of my bed with a small children's book sitting opened in his lap.

How long were you sitting there?" I asked as I ruffled his hair, trying to forget any remnants of the nightmare.

Darius turned to me with his slight smile. "You said we would go to the park today after I woke up, but then I woke up and you were still asleep." Darius explained as he closed the picture book. I smiled, remembering telling him that.

"Okay just let me get dressed and the we can go, deal?" I asked as I stood, making my way to the closet, filled with clothes that Annie had given me during my time here. Behind me I could hear Darius happily jumping from the bed, acrossed the floor, and then out of the room. I sighed as I pulled out some plain blue jeans and I dark blue tank top, as I turned away from the closet, a flash of purple caught my eye and I began digging into the back of the closet.

In the end I pulled out a purple sweater that I had all but stopped wearing after arriving at the Shan house, I clung to it and tried to remember the face of the one who gave it to me, though all I could really picture were her light pastel, aqua green eyes. I smiled as I began pulling the once large garment over my head, finding that after all these years it was finally close to fitting.

I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Darius sitting (impatienly) on one of the chairs at the table. I pulled snacks that I had packed the day before and placed then in a lunch box then finally turned to the young Shan child.

"Are you ready?"

It was almost as though he had rockets strapped to his shoes, he launched out of the chair and was at the door in what seemed to be record time. "Okay I get it, let's go." I said as I grabbed the spare keys from their hook and locked the door behind me.

I followed Darius to a nearby park and sat at a bench that was located close to the swings. I watched as Darius ran between the different set of equipment till like all the other times he settled for the swings, and called for me to join him.

I smiled and obliged him as I sat the bag next to the swings within my line of sight and began pushing myself from the ground, soon it became a contest to see who could get higher , though I slowed down and let Darius win at that.

Out of the corner of one eye, I could see someone standing in the shade of a nearby tree watching us, granted they could've just gotten there and were watching in a paternal kind of way, but that would be a lie because I swear I saw the same person watching Darius and I for awhile now and I think I remember seeing him the last few times we came here as well.

I began slowing down my swing, and jumped off as its arc got low enough, Darius seemed to understand as he got off his swing as well. After retrieving my bag I grabbed ahold of the young boy's hand with my free one and the two of us began walking back in the direction of the house. As we were walking I became aware of the man walking behind us. I tried to quicken my pave to one that Darius would hopefully be able to keep up with and looked over my shoulder to see the man still following only he hadn't picked up his pace to keep up.

After a good distance was between us and them I slowed down once again. Due to the quick bout of speed we reached the house quicker and I ushered Darius inside as I shut the door and locked it behind us. I could tell Darius was confused by my action though he didn't ask anything as he walked into the living room to watch tv.

Feeling paranoid, I looked out the front door window and practically freaked out when I saw the creep making his way down the street. I opened the door and stepped out, telling Darius to lock the door behind me and to only open it for me or his mother. With that I made my way to the end of the yard and glared at the man as he stopped in front of me.

"Why did you follow us, what the hell do you want?" I demanded, putting more force into my voice then I thought possible. The man smiled, an expression that I found unnerving as I subconsciously took a step back.

"Is it bad that I want to see my son after so many years?" The man inquired as I finally remember his face from when Annie brought him to the house a few years back when she was in high school.

"Oh and I wanted to talk to you as well Victoria," I stared at him shocked that he would even know my name, though what he said next shocked me more.

"About a secret that your friend from the freak show, Mia, has been hiding from you."

A.N. how long has it been since the last update, truly, honest to god I am sooo sorry, honestly, you can come at me with Torches now, I admit that I deserve it. Really though I don't even know if people want me to update this due to lack of reviews. So give me at least something to go off of.

Until Next time Peace, Love, and Virtual Hugs.