Note: I've started flipping back through the few Cirque du Freak books I still have to refresh my understanding of Mr. Crepsley's traits. I think he's skewed at times towards being completely cold and emotionless when really he cried several times throughout the series, had humor, sincerity, sensitivity, playfulness, etc; along with his serious, wary, and all-business attributes as well. He really is a very developed character alongside Darren, of course. I'm trying to keep this in mind and hope that it comes across as this story continues. (The Cirque will return soon, too!)

Ok. Let's get back to it!

"No, Larten. Stop. Stop!" Erin locked her arms against Larten's chest, halting him at the bottom of the stairs.

Larten looked down at her, grabbing her wrists, and gently removing them from his chest. Her dark eyes were searching his, tears making them glossy. He held her wrists so she was against his chest.

She grabbed his cloak. "Don't. Don't you dare say it." She said through clenched teeth, her voice breaking.

"I'm sorry-" He began.

"No. You're not. Don't start. Not yet, Larten, not yet." She stared into his eyes firmly. She was reaching for him with everything she had.

"Erin, you know that-" Larten started to say again, gently, trying to escape what she was doing to him.

"I do know, you idiot! Of course I know! But you know, too, and you're pretending. Stop pretending. I know, Larten, and so do you. And you know it isn't now." She choked out, tears starting to appear on her cheeks.

Larten looked down at her fists gripping his cloak. He rubbed his thumbs gently against her wrists. He could feel the X on her right wrist. His heart knew she was right but his mind was fighting to forbid it. His past trickled across his mind as he looked at her, struggling to keep an emotionless face.

Erin slowly rested her head onto the crook of his shoulder. "Just think of Gavnur." She gave a small laugh that was smothered in a sob.

Larten moved his face to rest against her head, breathing in her scent, as he brought up a hand to hold her neck, his thumb rubbing where her jaw met her ear. He opened his mouth to whisper something to her.

*Flash*

Erin came back to her senses. The notebook pages she had written on were covered in dried, wet spots that had created smudged words.

Erin sat the notebook onto the coffee table and held her head in her hands. Oh God, that had only been part of her dream. She still had more to go through. More that was darker and bloodier and carried the mark of death vs. life.

She lifted her head back to stare at the ceiling and clear her tears. She couldn't give in. She had to get the rest of it out. Her face twisted in emotional pain. What was going to happen? What would lead to that moment with Larten? Why, God, why did it hurt so much?! For both of them. What was he going to say to her? She didn't know. And she may not know until that moment came to pass, whenever it would be. It was only a moment in time with no context of when or why or the outcome.

Erin brushed away the wetness around her eyes and inhaled deeply. There was no point thinking about it now. She had it written down. She would remember it and if another flash occured perhaps it would shed some light on the matter. She didn't know. She just didn't know. But she did know that there was going to be something grow between Larten and her. This is probably what Brigid had been hiding. Erin cared for Larten. Greatly. But it wasn't admittedly romantic. Though getting to know him through flashes and watching his mannerisms, sharing his company...something had been planted. As far as on his end, she didn't know. Brigid seemed to act like she knew something, hinting at it during a conversation with Larten that Erin wasn't aware of. It had been meant solely for him.

Erin exhaled through her mouth, collecting her mind. She rolled her shoulders preparing to tackle the nightmare.

"Okay, okay, okay, get going, girl. Sooner you start, sooner it's over." She repeated to herself.

She took up her pen and the notebook again turning to a clean page. Erin closed her eyes and immediately hit her trance state.

*Flash*

She was in the same woods Murlough had taken her to but in a different spot. There was a creek with tall grass all around. Brigid was tied by her hands dangling from a low, thick tree branch, her feet barely able to reach the ground to balance herself. She was gagged and in her underwear. She had the same strange markings on her face and different ones down her torso. She was crying and fiercely struggling to get out of her bonds.

Murlough was over by a tree where he had stashed his vials and equipment. She was making the same marks on himself and chanting over his knife. He had built a small fire with a ring of salt around it and threw in a few particular herbs into the flames.

Standing, he started towards Brigid who kicked out at him to keep him away.

Suddenly Erin had her younger sister free and was telling her to run. Brigid grabbed her hand to make Erin run with her. There were flashes of trees, the crinkling sound of dried grass and leaves under their feet, until the scenery changed.

Erin was now pulling Larten to his feet. Erin's hands were on fire with pain but she wouldn't let go.

Larten yelled something at her.

"I can't! I promised!" Erin yelled back.

*Flash*

"Agh!" Erin cried out, her hands flying to hold the sides of her head. It was like a surge of electricity shot through her head, like multiple migraines all at once.

She rocked back and forth on the couch, holding her head, waiting for the pain to pass. It didn't happen too often and there was no real reason for why it did. At least none that Erin could pinpoint. The surge of pain, akin to electroshock therapy, happened a lot more when she was younger. But that could perhaps have been a side effect of her developing gifts.

Erin focused on her breathing as she felt the pain start to slowly, too slowly, lessen. She felt a rush of warmth run from her nose. She opened her eyes to see drops of blood on her jeans. Nose bleeds. Another occasional manifestation.

She slowly stumbled into the kitchen to grab a napkin to pinch over her nose, bending over the sink in case she got sick from the intense pain, which was very common when this happened. Erin felt clammy and dizzy and held onto the sink's edge for dear life. She was sweating from the nausea and prayed it would just pass.

After what felt like an eternity the nausea subsided and Erin could get her migraine medicine without fainting or throwing up on the stairs. If she hurried that is. She checked her purse first though to see if she had any of them in there. She always kept a few doses in her purse. It was always good to be prepared.

She checked the bottle she kept in her purse. There were three doses left. She took one and drank as much water as she could. She looked at the time on the microwave clock. It was already going on 6:00 P.M. She needed to start thinking about what to make for dinner.

The thought of food made her stomach do a sick twist. She shuffled over to the couch and laid down. She was still sweating. Her vision was blurred and she needed to stay horizontal and still until all of it had passed. The t.v. was still on so she listened to it as she kept her eyes close to stop the dizziness. She tried to focus past the pain while doing a breathing technique to help.

*Flash*

"Come here." a gruff voice said.

"I already am." a clear female voice answered.

"No, I mean here." There was the sound of a hand hitting a cushion.

There was the sound of a tray being set down and liquid being poured into cups.

"You can make your tea however you like it. I have cream, sugar, lemon. Whatever you want."

"I want you to sit." Came the reply.

There was the sound of squeaking as a body sat onto the cushion. It sounded like their back patio couch swing.

The night air was cool causing her to shiver. She pulled her cardigan around her tighter. The man next to her removed his jacket with a flourish placing it around her for added warmth.

"Nothing better than warm chivalry." Her voice lilted as she inched closer to where their arms were touching, her bent knees against his leg. "You were quite chivalrous when you were younger, too."

The man choked on his tea he had just picked up. He cleared his throat to take another sip. He was blushing furiously.

"Sorry. It was just a sudden, small flash. I couldn't resist." The woman's voice said sincerely, but not hiding the the humor in her voice.

The man cleared his throat once more, setting his cup down.

"It is nothing. Yes, I was, as my mentor used to say, a very fiery youth. I was not always as precise and measured as I am now. I respected my mentor greatly and wished to emulate him." He replied factually.

"But you're still quite you."

"Hmph." He scratched his facial scar.

The two figures were silent as they enjoyed the night. She leaned into his body for extra warmth. He shifted his arm to rest along the back of the porch swing, circling her in, allowing her to lean against him completely.

The moon shown down illuminating the garden, the only sound the squeaking of the patio swing, and the two figures taking comfort in the warmth of each other's presence.

*Flash*

Warm lips and cool hands. Heady smells and bodies pressed together. Warm glowing street lights all around. Laughing. Feet off the ground, swinging around in the air.

*Flash*

"Ugh..." Erin groaned opening her eyes. The t.v. was on and she was still laying on the couch. Her medicine had finally kicked in and taken care of the worst of it all. She lifted herself up and ran a hand through her hair. She still felt groggy but wasn't so debilitatingly sick.

She rubbed her eyes. Had she really had two flashes while sleeping? They were happy, serene, playful; the complete opposite of what she had dreamed last night. She scribbled down the gist of each: night conversation on back patio garden; kissing, town.

Good enough.

She needed to think about supper for Larten. Wait. Breakfast for Larten. She still wasn't hungry. She looked at the clock. It was almost 10:00 P.M. and he might be waking up soon so she needed to get started.

She would cook him breakfast food. Omelet, sausage, bacon, biscuits. Nothing intensive.

As she turned on the stove she checked her phone. Brigid had texted saying she was spending the night again but would be home tomorrow afternoon. Erin acknowledged her and said she'd see her tomorrow.

Erin pulled out the ingredients and got to cooking. Upstairs Larten was just starting to stir from the world of sleep.

Larten gave a small moan. There was a woman with warm eyes stroking the side of his face, smiling down at him. She traced a thumb across his lips before leaning down to place a full kiss on them. He snaked a hand through her hair holding her head in place, taking the lead in the kiss now. She pulled back and smiled but he didn't allow it long. His hand moved to the side of her face pulling it back down to kiss her again. He wasn't ready to stop.

Larten started to slowly drift out of his subconscious and into the waking world. He felt warm and his heart felt jittery; like the feeling you get from slowly waking from a good dream that you don't want to end. He gave a small 'mmm' as he relaxed in the haze of the dream for as long as he could. He stretched and lifted a hand to scratch his scar. He slowly opened his eyes, smiling. He was actually waking up in a great mood. Happy, even!

He was still in Erin's closet. He raised his head slightly and saw that he had a blanket over him. He lifted it off of him. He knew he hadn't fallen asleep with a blanket. Erin must have discovered him in her closet and covered him. She was thoughtful.

Larten sat up and stretched. He hoped she had slept well last night in her own bed. He couldn't hear her breathing through the walls. That's when he heard movement downstairs in the kitchen and the smell of bacon. Erin was up and cooking and the smell was beginning to make Larten's mouth water.

He got to his feet and opened the closet door. Everything was dark in the bathroom and bedroom. His inner vampire clock said it wasn't too far away from midnight. He was awake earlier than he liked to be. Early was anything before midnight! He grumbled to himself. Gavnur may snore like a bear but at least he didn't wake up like a grouchy old woman he would say, teasing Larten. He could probably go back to sleep, return to that stimulating dream that had felt wonderful, (he hoped the fuzzy feeling of the dream stayed with him as long as possible), but there was the smell of food and he was up so...food it would be. He flipped the bathroom light on and turned the shower on.