The Vampire General walked slowly, rubbing the scars on his face, like Mr. Crepsley did a lot when he was thinking.
"Do you enjoy being a half-vampire, Darren?" he asked.
"Not really," I answered honestly. "I've gotten used to it, but I was happier as a human."
He nodded. "You know that you will age at only a fifth of the human rate? You've resigned yourself to a long childhood? It doesn't bother you?"
"It bothers me," I said. "I used to look forward to growing up. It bugs me that it's going to take so long. But there's nothing I can do about it. I'm stuck, aren't I?"
"Yes," he sighed. "That's the problem with blooding a person: there's no way to take the vampire blood back. It's why we don't blood children: we only want people who know what they're getting into, who wish to abandon their humanity. Larten shouldn't have blooded you. It was a mistake."
"Is that why he was talking about being judged?" I asked.
Gavner nodded. "He'll have to account for his error," he said. "He'll have to convince the Generals and Princes that what he did won't harm them. If he can't" Gavner looked grim.
"Will he be killed?" I asked softly.
Gavner smiled. "I doubt it. Larten is widely respected. His wrists will be slapped, but I don't think anybody will look for his head."
"Why didn't you judge him?" I asked.
"All Generals have the right to pass judgment on nonranked vampires," he said. "But Larten's an old friend. It's best for a judge to be unbiased. Even if he'd committed a real crime, I would have found it hard to punish him. Besides, Larten's no ordinary vampire. He used to be a General."
"Really?" I stared at Gavner Purl, stunned by the news.
"An important one, too," Gavner said. "He was on the verge of being voted a Vampire Prince when he stepped down."
"Aprince ?" I asked skeptically. It was hard to imagine Mr. Crepsley with a crown and royal cape.
"That's what we call our leaders," Gavner said. "There are very few of them. Only the noblest and most respected vampires are elected."
"And Mr. Crepsley almost became one?" I said. Gavner nodded. "What happened?" I asked. "How did he end up traveling with the Cirque Du Freak?"
"He resigned," Gavner said. "He was a couple of years shy of being ordainedwe call the process of Prince-making an ordinationwhen one night he declared he was sick of the business and wanted nothing more to do with the Generals."
"Why?" I asked.
Gavner shrugged. "Nobody knows. Larten never gave much away. Maybe he just got tired of the fighting and killing."
I wanted to ask who it was the Vampire Generals had to fight, but at that moment we passed the last of the town houses and Gavner Purl smiled and stretched his arms.
"A clear run." He grunted happily.
"You're leaving?" I asked.
"Have to," he said. "A General's schedule is a busy one. I only dropped by because it was on my way. I'd like to stay and chat over old times with Larten, but I can't. Anyway, I think Larten will be on the move soon himself."
My ears perked up. "Where's he going?" I asked.
Gavner shook his head and grinned. "Sorry. He'd scalp me alive if I told. I've already said more than I should. You won't tell him I told you about his being a General, will you?"
"Not if you don't want me to," I said.
"Thanks." Gavner crouched down and faced me. "Larten's a pain in the butt sometimes. He plays his cards too close to his chest, and getting information out of him can be like prying teeth from a shark. But he's a good vampire, one of the best. You couldn't hope for a better teacher. Trust him, Darren, and you won't go wrong."
"I'll try." I smiled.
"This can be a dangerous world for vampires," Gavner said softly. "More dangerous than you know. Stick with Larten and you'll be in a better position to survive than many of our kind. You don't live as long as he has without learning more than your fair share of tricks."
"How oldis she?" I asked.
"I'm not sure," Gavner said. "I think about a hundred and eighty or two hundred."
"How old areyou ?" I asked.
"I'm a whippersnapper," he said. "Barely past the hundred mark."
"A hundred years old!" I whistled softly.
"That's nothing for a vampire," Gavner said. "I was barely nineteen when first blooded and only twenty-two when I became a full vampire. I could live to be a good five hundred years old, the gods of the vampires permitting."
"Five hundred!" I couldn't imagine being so old.
"Picture trying to blow out the candles onthat cake!" Gavner chuckled. Then he stood. "I must be off. I have fifty miles to make before dawn. I'll have to slip into overdrive." He grimaced. "I hate flitting. I always feel sick afterward."
"Will I see you again?" I asked.
"Probably," he replied. "The world's a small place. I'm sure our paths will cross again one fine, gloomy night." He shook my hand. "So long, Darren Shan."
"Until next time, Gavner Purl," I said.
"Next time," he agreed, and then he was off. He took several deep breaths and started to jog. After a while he broke into a sprint. I stood where I was, watching him run, until he hit flitting speed and disappeared in the blink of an eye, at which point I turned and headed back to camp.
I found Mr. Crepsley in his van. He was sitting by the window (it was completely covered with strips of dark sticky tape, to block out the sun during the day), staring moodily off into space.
"Gavner's gone," I said.
"Yes," he sighed.
"He didn't stay long," I remarked.
"He is a Vampire General," Mr. Crepsley said. "His time is not his own."
"I liked him."
"He is a fine vampire and a good friend," Mr. Crepsley agreed.
I cleared my throat. "He saidyou might be leaving, too."
Mr. Crepsley regarded me suspiciously. "What else did he say?"
"Nothing," I lied quickly. "I asked why he couldn't stay longer, and he said there was no point, since you'd probably be moving on soon."
Mr. Crepsley nodded. "Gavner brought unpleasant news," he said carefully. "I will have to leave the Cirque for a while."
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"To a city," he responded vaguely.
"What about me?" I asked.
Mr. Crepsley scratched his scar thoughtfully. "That is what I have been contemplating," he said. "I would prefer not to take you with me, but I think I must. I may have need of you."
"But I like it here," I complained. "I don't want to leave."
"Nor do I," Mr. Crepsley snapped. "But I must. And you have to come with me. Remember: we are vampires, not circus performers. The Cirque Du Freak is a means of cover, not our home."
"How long will we be away?" I asked unhappily.
"Days. Weeks. Months. I cannot say for sure."
"What if I refuse to come?"
He studied me ominously. "An assistant who does not obey orders has no purpose," he said quietly. "If I cannot rely on your cooperation, I will have to take steps to remove you from my employ."
"You mean you'd fire me?" I smiled bitterly.
"There is only one way to deal with a rebellious half-vampire," he answered, and I knew what that way wasa stake through the heart!
"It's not fair," I grumbled. "What am I going to do by myself all day in a strange city while you're asleep?"
"What did you do when you were a human?" he asked.
"Things were different," I said. "I had friends and a family. I'm going to be alone again if we leave, like when I first joined up with you."
"It will be hard," Mr. Crepsley said compassionately, "but we have no choice. I must be away with the coming of duskI would leave now, were we not so near to dawnand you must come with me. There is no other"
He stopped as a thought struck him. "Of course," he said slowly, "we could bring another along."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"We could take Evra with us."
I frowned as I considered it.
"The two of you are good friends, yes?" Mr. Crepsley asked.
"Yes," I said, "but I don't know how he'd feel about leaving. And there's his snake. What would we do with that?"
"I am sure somebody could look after the snake," Mr. Crepsley said, warming to the idea. "Evra would be good company for you. And he is wiser: he could keep you out of mischief when I am not around."
"I don't need a baby-sitter!" I huffed.
"No," Mr. Crepsley agreed, "but a guardian would not go amiss. You have a habit of getting into trouble when left to your own devices. Remember when you stole Madam Octa? And the mess we had with that human boy, Sam whatever his name was?"
"That wasn't my fault!" I yelled.
"Indeed not," Mr. Crepsley said. "But it happened when you were by yourself."
I made a face but didn't say anything.
"Will I ask him or not?" Mr. Crepsley pressed the issue.
"I'llask him," I said. "You'd probably bully him into going."
"Have it your own way." Mr. Crepsley rose. "I will go and clear it with Hibernius." That was Mr. Tail's first name. "Be back here before dawn so I can brief youI want to make sure we are prepared to travel as soon as night falls."
Evra took a lot of time deciding. He didn't like the idea of parting company with his friends in the Cirque Du Freakor with his snake.
"It won't be forever," I told him.
"I know," he said uncertainly.
"Look at it as a vacation," I suggested.
"I like the idea of a vacation," he admitted. "But it would be nice to know where I was going."
"Sometimes surprises are more fun," I said.
"And sometimes they aren't," Evra muttered.
"Mr. Crepsley will be asleep all day," I reminded him. "We'll be free to do whatever we want. We can go sightseeing, to the movies, swimming, anything we want."
"I've never been swimming," Evra said, and I could tell by the way he grinned that he'd decided to come.
"I'll tell Mr. Tall you're coming?" I asked. "And get him to have someone take care of your snake?"
Evra nodded. "She doesn't like the cold weather in any case," he said. "She'll be asleep most of the winter."
"Great!" I grinned. "We'll have a blast."
"We'd better," he said, "or it'll be the last time I go on 'vacation' with you."
I spent the rest of the day packing and unpacking. I only had two small bags to bring, one for me and one for Mr. Crepsley, butapart from my diary, which went everywhere with meI kept changing my mind about what to bring.
Then I remembered Madam OctaI wasn't bringingher alongand hurried off to find somebody to look after her. Hans Hands agreed to watch her, although he said there was no way he'd let her out of her cage.
Finally, after hours of running aroundMr. Crepsley had it easy, the wily old goat!night came and it was time to leave.
Mr. Crepsley checked the bags and nodded stiffly. I told him about leaving Madam Octa with Hans Hands and again he nodded. "We picked up Evra, said good-bye to Mr. Tall and some of the others, then turned away from the camp and began walking.
"Will you be able to carry both of us when you flit?" I asked Mr. Crepsley.
"I have no intention of flitting," he said.
"Then how are we going to travel?" I asked.
"Buses and trains," he replied. He laughed when I looked surprised. "Vampires can use public transportation as well as humans. There are no laws against it."
"I suppose not," I said, grinning, wondering what other passengers would think if they knew they were traveling with a vampire, a half-vampire, and a snake-boy. "Should we go then?" I asked.
"Yes," Mr. Crepsley answered simply, and the three of us headed into town to catch the first train out.
CHAPTER FOUR
It felt strange being in a city. The noise and smell almost drove me crazy the first couple of days: with my heightened senses it was like being in the middle of a whirring blender. I lay in bed during the daytime, covering my head with the thickest pillow I could find. But by the end of the week I'd grown used to the supersharp sounds and scents and learned to ignore them.
We stayed at a hotel located in the corner of a quiet city square. In the evenings, when traffic was slow, neighborhood kids gathered outside for a game of soccer. I would have loved to join in but didn't darewith my extra strength, I might accidentally end up breaking somebody's bones, or worse.
By the start of our second week, we'd fallen into a comfortable routine. Evra and me woke up every morningMr. Crepsley went off by himself at night without telling us whereand ate a big breakfast. After that we'd head out and explore the city, which was big and old and full of interesting stuff. We'd get back to the hotel at nightfall, in case Mr. Crepsley wanted us, then watch some TV or play computer games. We usually got to bed between eleven and twelve.
After a year with the Cirque Du Freak, it was a thrill to live like a normal human again. I loved being able to sleep late in the morning, not having to worry about finding food for the Little People; it was great not to be rushing around, running errands for the performers; and sitting back at night, stuffing my face with candy and pickled onions and watching TVthat was the best!
Evra was enjoying himself, too. He'dnever known a life like this. He'd been part of the circus world for as long as he could remember, first with a nasty sideshow owner, then with Mr. Tall. He liked the CirqueI did, tooand was looking forward to returning, but he had to admit it was nice to have a break.
"I never realized TV could be so addictive," he said one night, after we'd watched five shows in a row.
"My mom and dad never let me watch too much," I told him, "but I knew guys in school who watched five or six hours of it every night of the week!"
"I wouldn't take it that far," Evra mused, "but it's fun in small doses. Maybe I'll buy a portable TV when we get back to the Cirque Du Freak."
"I never thought of getting a TV since I joined," I said. "So much else was going on, it was the last thing on my mind. But you're rightit would be nice to have a TV, even if we could only watch reruns ofThe Simpsons ." That was our favorite show.
I wondered sometimes what Mr. Crepsley was up tohe'd always been mysterious, but neverthis secretivebut in truth I wasn't overly bothered: it was nice to have him out of my hair.
Evra had to wrap up in layers of clothes whenever we went out. Not because of the coldthough itwas chilly: the first snow had fallen a couple of days after our arrivalbut because of how he looked. Although he didn't mind people staring at himhe was used to itit was easier to get around if he was able to pass for a normal human. That way he didn't have to stop every five or ten minutes to explain to a curious stranger who and what he was.
Covering his body, legs, and arms was easypants, a sweatshirt, and glovesbut his face was tricky: it wasn't as heavily scaled or colored as the rest of him, but it wasn't the face of an ordinary human. A big baseball hat took care of his long yellow-green hair, and dark glasses shaded a lot of the upper half of his face. But as for the lower half
We experimented with bandages and flesh-colored paints before hitting on the answer: a fake beard! We bought it in a joke shop, and although it looked sillynobody would mistake it for a real oneit did the job.
"We must look like quite a pair," Evra said with a giggle one day as we strolled around a zoo. "You in your pirate costume, me in this getup. People probably think we're a couple of escaped crazies."
"The people at the hotel definitely do." I giggled. "I've heard the bellboys and maids talking about usthey think Mr. Crepsley is a mad doctor and we're two of his patients."
"Yeah?" Evra laughed. "Imagine if they knew the truththat you're a couple of vampires and I'm a snake-boy!"
"I don't think it would matter," I said. Mr. Crepsley tips well, and that's the important thing. 'Money buys privacy,' as I heard one of the managers say when a maid was complaining about a guy who'd been walking around naked in the corridors."
"I saw him!" Evra exclaimed. "I thought he locked himself out of his room."
"Nope," I smiled. "Apparently he's been walking around like that for four or five days. According to the manager, he comes every year for a couple of weeks and spends the entire time roaming around naked as a baby."
"They let him?" Evra asked in awe.
" 'Money buys privacy,'" I repeated.
"And I thought the Cirque Du Freak was a strange place to live," Evra muttered wryly. "Humans are even weirder than us!"
As the days passed, the city became more and more Christmasy as people geared themselves up for the twenty-fifth of December. Christmas trees appeared; lights and decorations lit up the streets and windows each night; Father Christmas touched down and took orders; toys of every shape and size filled store shelves from floor to ceiling.
I was looking forward to Christmas: last year's had passed unnoticed, since Christmas was something hardly anyone associated with the Cirque Du Freak bothered celebrating.
Evra couldn't understand what the fuss was about.
"What's thepoint of it?" he kept asking. "People spend a bunch of money buying each other presents they don't really need; they drive themselves half-crazy getting a big dinner ready; trees and turkey are bred and slaughtered in huge numbers. It's ridiculous!"
I tried telling him that it was a day of peace and goodwill, when families come together and rejoice, but he wouldn't listen. As far as he was concerned, it was a crazy money-making racket.
Mr. Crepsley, of course, only snorted whenever the subject was brought up. "A silly human custom," was how he put it. He didn't want anything to do with the festival.
It would be a lonely Christmas without my familyI missed them more at this time of the year than ever, especially Anniebut at the same time, I was looking forward to it. The hotel staff were throwing a big party for the guests. There'd be turkey and ham and Christmas cake and cookies. I was determined to make Evra get some Christmas spirit: I was sure he'd change his opinion when he experienced Christmas firsthand.
"Want to come shopping?" I asked one frosty afternoon, wrapping a scarf around my neck (I didn't need itmy vampire blood kept me warmor the thick coat or heavy sweatshirt, but I'd draw attention if I went out without them).
Evra glanced out the window. It had been snowing earlier and the world outside was frosty-white.
"Nah," he said. "I don't feel like getting into heavy clothes again." We'd been out that morning, throwing snowballs at each other.
"Okay," I said, glad he wasn't coming: I wanted to look over a few presents for him. "I won't be more than an hour or two."
"Will you be back before dark?" Evra asked.
"Maybe," I said.
"You'd better be." He nodded toward the room where Mr. Crepsley lay sleeping. "You know how it goes: the one night you aren't here when he wakes will be the one night he wants you."
I laughed. "I'll risk it. Want me to bring you back anything?" Evra shook his head. "Okay. See you soon."
I walked through the snow, whistling to myself. I liked snow: it covered up most of the smells and muffled a lot of the noise. Some of the kids who lived in the square were out building a snowman. I stopped to watch them but moved on before they could ask me to join in: it was easier not to get involved with humans.
As I stood outside a large department store, studying the window display, wondering what to buy Evra, a girl walked over and stood beside me. She was dark-skinned, with long black hair. She looked about my age and was a little shorter than me.
"Ahoy, cap'n," she said, saluting.
"Excuse me?" I replied, startled.
"The costume," she grinned, tugging my coat open. "I think it's cool, you look like a pirate. You going in or just looking?"
"I don't know," I said. "I'm looking for a present for my brother, but I'm not sure what to get him." That was our storythat Evra and me were brothers, and Mr. Crepsley was our father.
"Oh." She nodded. "How old is he?"
"A year older than me," I said.
"Aftershave," she said firmly.
I shook my head. "He hasn't started shaving yet." And never would: hairs wouldn't grow on Evra's scales.
"Okay," she said. "How about a CD?"
"He doesn't listen to much music," I said. "Although if I got him a CD player, he might start."
"Those are expensive," the girl said.
"He's my only brother," I said. "He's worth it."
"Then go for it." She held out a hand. She wasn't wearing gloves, despite the cold. "My name's Debbie."
I shook her handmine looked very white compared with her dark skinand told her my name.
"Darren and Debbie." She smiled. "That sounds good, like Bonnie and Clyde."
"Do you always talk to strangers like this?" I asked.
"No," she said. "But we're not strangers."
"We're not?" I frowned.
"I've seen you around," she said. "I live in the square, a few doors up from the hotel. That's how I knew about the pirate costume. You hang out with that funny guy in glasses and a fake beard."
"Evra. He's the one I'm buying the present for." I tried placing her face but couldn't remember seeing her with the other kids. "I haven't noticed you around," I said.
"I haven't been out much," she replied. "I've been in bed with a cold. That's why I spotted youI've been spending my days staring out the window, studying the square. Life gets really boring when you're stuck in bed."
Debbie blew into her hands and rubbed them together.
"You should be wearing gloves," I told her.
"Look who's talking." She sniffed. I'd forgotten to put on a pair before leaving. "Anyway, that's what I'm here forI lost my gloves earlier and I've been roaming around from store to store trying to find an identical pair. I don't want my parents to find out I lost them on only my second day out of bed."
"What were they like?" I asked.
"Red, with fake fur around the wrists," she said. "My uncle gave them to me a few months ago but didn't say where he got them."
"Have you tried this place yet?" I asked.
"Uh-uh," she said. "I was on my way in when I spotted you."
"Want to come in with me?" I asked.
"Sure," she said. "I hate shopping by myself. I'll help you choose a CD player if you want. I know a lot about them."
"Okay," I said, then pushed the door open and held it for her.
"Why, Darren," she said with a laugh, "people will think you have a crush on me."
I felt myself blushing and tried to think of an okay responsebut couldn't. Debbie giggled, walked in, and left me to trail along behind her.
CHAPTER FIVE
Debbie's last name was Hemlock, and she hated it.
"Imagine being named after a poisonous plant!" she fumed.
"It's not that bad," I said. "I kind of like it."
"Shows what kind of tasteyou have," she scoffed.
Debbie had only recently moved here with her parents. She had no brothers or sisters. Her dad was a computer whiz who regularly flew around the world on business. They'd moved five times since she was born.
She was interested to learn that I was also used to moving around. I didn't tell her about the Cirque Du Freak, but said I was on the road a lot with my dad, who was a traveling salesman.
Debbie wanted to know why she hadn't seen my father in the square. "I've seen you and your brother lots of times, but never your dad."
"He's an early riser," I lied. "He gets up before dawn and doesn't come back until after dark most days."
"He leaves the two of you alone in the hotel?" She pursed her lips as she thought about it. "What about school?" she asked.
"Are these like the gloves you want?" I avoided the question, picking a pair of red gloves off a rack.
"Almost," she said, studying them. "Mine were a shade darker."
We went on to another store and looked at a bunch of CD players. I didn't have much money on me, so I didn't buy anything.
"Of course, after Christmas they'll be on sale," Debbie sighed, "but what can you do? If you wait, you'll look mean."
"I'm not worried about the money," I said. I could always get some from Mr. Crepsley.
After failing to find the right kind of gloves in another couple of stores, we walked around for a while, watching the lights come on above the streets and in the windows.
"I love this time of evening," Debbie said. "It's like one city goes to sleep and a new one wakes up."
"A city of nightwalkers," I said, thinking of Mr. Crepsley.
"Hmmm," she said, looking at me suspiciously. "Where are you from? I can't place your accent."
"Here and there," I answered vaguely. "Around and about."
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" she asked directly.
"My dad doesn't like me telling people," I said.
"Why not?" she challenged me.
"Can't tell you." I grinned weakly.
"Hmmm," she grunted, but let the matter drop. "What's your hotel like?" she asked. "It looks kind of stuffy. Is it?"
"No," I said. "It's better than most places I've been. The staff don't hassle you if you play in the corridors. And some of the customers" I told her about the guy who walked around nude.
"No!" she squealed. "You're kidding!"
"Honest," I swore.
"They don't kick him out?"
"He's paying. As far as they're concerned, he has the right to walk around however he pleases."
"I'll have to come over sometime." She grinned.
"Whenever you like," I said, smiling. "Except during the day," I added quickly, remembering the slumbering Mr. Crepsley. The last thing I wanted was for Debbie to walk in on a vampire while he was sleeping.
We headed back for the square, taking our time. I liked being with Debbie. I knew I shouldn't be making friends with humansit was too dangerousbut it was hard to reject her. I hadn't been around anyone my own age, except Evra, since becoming a half-vampire.
"What will you tell your parents about the gloves?" I asked as we stood on the front step of her house.
She shrugged. "The truth. I'll start coughing when I tell them. Hopefully they'll feel sorry for me and won't get too mad."
"You're bad." I laughed.
"With a name like Hemlock, are you surprised?" She smiled, then asked, "Do you want to come in for a while?"
I checked my watch. Mr. Crepsley would be up by now and had probably already left the hotel. I didn't like the idea of leaving Evra alone too long: he might get annoyed if he thought I was neglecting him and decide to return to the Cirque Du Freak. "Better not," I said. "It's late. I'm expected back."
"Suit yourself," Debbie said. "Feel free to come over tomorrow if you want. Anytime. I'll be in."
"Won't you be at school?" I asked.
She shook her head. "With the holidays so close, Mom said I don't have to go back until the New Year."
"But she let you out to look for gloves?"
Debbie bit her lip with embarrassment. "She doesn't know I've been out walking," she admitted. "I left in a taxi, telling her I was going to see a friend. I was supposed to come back in a taxi, too."
"Aha!" I smiled. "Now I can blackmail you."
"Just try it!" She snorted. "I'll cook up a witch's brew and turn you into a frog." She fished a key out of her purse and paused. "Youwill come over, won't you? It gets pretty dull by myself. I haven't made many friends here yet."
"I don't mind coming," I said, "but how will you explain me to your mother? You can't exactly tell her we met in a taxi."
"You're right." Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't think of that."
"I'm not just a pretty face," I said jokingly.
"Noteven a pretty face!" She laughed. "How about I come over to the hotel?" she suggested. "We can go on to the movies from there, and I can tell Mom that's where we met."
"Okay," I said, and told her my room number. "But not too early," I warned. "Wait until five or six, when it's pretty dark."
"Okay." She tapped her foot on the doorstep. "Well?" she said.
"Well what?" I replied.
"Aren't you going to ask?"
"Ask what?"
"Ask me to go to a movie," she said.
"But you just "
"Darren," she sighed. "Girlsnever ask boys out."