I wandered away from the vans and tents and found a secluded spot around the side of the old mill.
I stuck the cross on a piece of wood in front of me, took a deep breath, concentrated on the cross, and willed it into the palm of my outstretched hand.
No good.
I shuffled closer, so my hand was only inches away from the cross.
"I command you to move," I said, clicking my fingers. "I order you to move." Click. "Move." Click. "Move!"
I shouted this last word louder than I meant to and stomped my foot in anger.
"What are you doing?" a familiar voice asked behind me.
Looking up, I saw Mr. Crepsley emerging out of the shadows.
"Nothing," I said, trying to hide the cross.
"What is that?" he asked. His eyes missed nothing.
"Just a cross I found while Evra and me were hunting," I said, holding it out.
"What were you doing with it?" Mr. Crepsley asked suspiciously.
"Trying to make it move," I said, deciding it was time to ask the vampire about his magic secrets. "How do you do it?"
A smile spread across his face, causing the long scar that ran down the left side to crinkle. "So that is what has been bothering you." He chuckled. He stretched out a hand and clicked his ringers, causing me to blink. Next thing I knew, the cross was inhis hand.
"How's it done?" I asked. "Can only full vampires do it?"
"I will demonstrate again. Watch closely this time."
Replacing the cross on the piece of wood, he stood back and clicked his fingers. Once again it disappeared and turned up in his hand. "Did you see?"
"See what?" I was confused.
"One final time," he said. "Try not to blink."
I focused on the small silver piece. I heard his fingers clicking andkeeping my eyes wide openthought I saw the slightest blur darting between me and the cross.
When I turned to look at him, he was tossing the cross from hand to hand and smiling. "Figured me out yet?" he asked.
I frowned. "I thought I saw it looked like" My face lit up. "You didn't move the cross!" I yelled excitedly. "Youmoved!"
He beamed. "Not as dull as you appear," he complimented me in his usual sarcastic manner.
"Do it again," I said. This time I didn't look at the cross: I watched the vampire. I wasn't able to track his movementshe was too fastbut I caught brief glimpses of him as he darted forward, snatched up the cross, and leaped back.
"So you're not able to move things with your mind?" I asked.
"Of course not." He laughed.
"Then why the click of the fingers?"
"To distract the eye," he explained.
"Then it's a trick," I said. "It's got nothing to do with being a vampire."
He shrugged. "I could not move so fast if I were human, but yes, it is a trick. I dabbled with illusions before I became a vampire, and I still like to practice."
"Could I learn to do it?" I asked.
"Maybe," he said. "You cannot move as fast as I can, but you could get away with it if the object was close to hand. You would have to practice hardbut if you wish, I can teach you."
"I always wanted to be a magician," I said. "But hold on" I remembered a couple of occasions when Mr. Crepsley had opened locks with a click of his fingers. "What about locks?" I asked.
"Those are different. You understand what static energy is?" My face was a blank. "Have you ever brushed a comb through your hair and held it up to a thin sheet of paper?"
"Yeah!" I said. "The paper sticks to it."
"That is static energy," he explained. "When a vampire flits, a very strong static charge builds up. I have learned to harness that charge. Thus I am able to force open any lock you care to mention."
I thought about that. "And the click of your fingers?" I asked.
"Old habits die hard." He smiled.
"But old vampires die easy!" a voice growled behind us, and before I knew what was happening, someone had reached around the two of us and pressed a pair of razor-sharp knives to the soft flesh of our throats!
CHAPTER TWO
I froze at the touch of the blade and the threatening voice, but Mr. Crepsley didn't even blink. He pushed the knife gently away from his throat, then tossed the silver cross to me.
"Gavner, Gavner, Gavner." Mr. Crepsley sighed. "I always could hear you coming from half a mile away."
"Not true!" the voice said resentfully, as the blade drew back from my throat. "You couldn't have heard."
"Why not?" Mr. Crepsley said. "Nobody in the world breathes as heavily as you. I could pick you out blindfolded in a crowd of thousands."
"One night, Larten," the stranger muttered. "One night I'll surprise you. We'll see how smart you are then."
"Upon that night I shall retire in disgrace." Mr. Crepsley chuckled.
Mr. Crepsley cocked an eyebrow at me, amused to see I was still stiff and half afraid, even though I'd figured out our lives weren't in danger.
"Shame on you, Gavner Purl," Mr. Crepsley said. "You have frightened the boy."
"Seems all I'm good for." The stranger grunted. "Scaring children and little old ladies."
Turning slowly, I came face to face with the man called Gavner Purl. He wasn't very tall, but he was wide, built like a wrestler. His face was a mass of scars and dark patches, and the rims around his eyes were extremely black. His brown hair was cut short, and he was dressed in an ordinary pair of jeans and a baggy white shirt. He had a broad smile and glittering yellow teeth.
It was only when I glanced down at his fingertips and spotted ten scars that I realized he was a vampire. That's how most vampires are created: vampire blood is pumped into them through the soft flesh at the ends of their fingers.
"Darren, this is Gavner Purl," Mr. Crepsley introduced us. "An old, trusted, rather clumsy friend. Gavner, this is Darren Shan."
"Pleased to meet you," the vampire said, shaking my hand. "Youdidn't hear me coming, did you?"
"No," I answered honestly.
"There!" he boomed proudly. "See?"
"Congratulations," Mr. Crepsley said dryly. "If you are ever called upon to sneak into a nursery, you should have no problems."
Gavner grimaced. "I see time hasn't sweetened you," he noted. "As cutting as ever. How longhas it been? Fourteen years? Fifteen?"
"Seventeen next February," Mr. Crepsley answered promptly.
"Seventeen!" Gavner whistled. "Longer than I thought. Seventeen years and as sour as ever." He nudged me in the ribs. "Does he still complain like a grumpy old woman when he wakes up?" he asked.
"Yes," I giggled.
"I could never get a positive word out of him until midnight. I had to share a coffin with him once for four whole months." He shivered at the memory. "Longest four months of my life."
"Youshared a coffin?" I asked in awe.
"Had to," he said. "We were being hunted. We had to stick together. I wouldn't do it again, though. I'd rather face the sun and burn."
"You were not the only one with cause for complaint." Mr. Crepsley grunted. "Your snoring nearly drove me to face the sun myself." His lips were twitching, and I could tell he was having a hard time not smiling.
"Why were you being hunted?" I asked.
"Never mind," Mr. Crepsley snapped before Gavner could answer, then glared at his ex-partner.
Gavner made a face. "It was nearly sixty years ago, Larten," he said. "I didn't realize it was classified information."
"The boy is not interested in the past," Mr. Crepsley said firmly. (I most certainly was!) "You are onmy soil, Gavner Purl. I would ask you to respect my wishes."
"Stuffy old bat," Gavner grumbled, but he gave in with a nod of his head. "So, Darren," he said, "what do you do at the Cirque Du Freak?"
"Odd jobs," I told him. "I gather food for the Little People and help the performers get ready for "
"The Little People still travel with the Cirque?" Gavner interrupted.
"More of them than ever," Mr. Crepsley answered. "There are twenty with us at the moment."
The vampires shared a knowing glance but said no more about it. I could tell Gavner was troubled by the way his scars knit together into a fierce-looking frown.
"How goes it with the Generals?" Mr. Crepsley enquired.
"Usual old routine," Gavner said.
"Gavner is a Vampire General," Mr. Crepsley told me.That sparked my interest. I'd heard of the Vampire Generals, but nobody had told me exactly who or what they were.
"Excuse me," I said, "but what's a Vampire General? What do theydo ?"
"We keep an eye on scoundrels like this," Gavner laughed, nudging Mr. Crepsley. "We make sure they're not up to mischief."
"The Vampire Generals monitor the behavior of the vampire clan," Mr. Crepsley added. "They make sure none of us kill innocents or use our powers for evil."
"How do they do that?" I asked.
"If they discover a vampire who has turned bad," Mr. Crepsley said, "they kill him."
"Oh." I stared at Gavner Purl. He didn't look like a killer, but then again, there were all those scars
"It's a boring job most of the time," Gavner said. "I'm more like a village policeman than a soldier. I never did like the term 'Vampire Generals.' Far too pompous."
"It is not just evil vampires that Generals clamp down on," Mr. Crepsley said. "It is also their business to crack down on foolish or weak vampires." He sighed. "I have been expecting this visit. Shall we retire to my tent, Gavner, to discuss the matter?"
"You've beenexpecting me?" Gavner looked startled.
"Word was bound to leak out sooner or later," Mr. Crepsley said. "I have made no attempt to hide the boy or suppress the truth. Note that please: I will use it during my trial, when I am called upon to defend myself."
"Trial? Truth? The boy?" Gavner was bewildered. Glancing down at my hands, he spotted the vampire marks on my fingertips and his jaw dropped. "The boy's avampire?" he shrieked.
"Of course," Mr. Crepsley frowned. "But surely you knew."
"I knew nothing of the kind!" Gavner protested. He looked into my eyes and concentrated hard. "The blood is weak in him," he mused aloud. "He is only a half-vampire."
"Naturally," Mr. Crepsley said. "It is not our custom to make full vampires of our assistants."
"Nor to make assistants of children!" Gavner Purl snapped, sounding more authoritative than he had before. "What were you thinking?" he asked Mr. Crep-sley. "Aboy ! When did this happen? Why haven't you informed anybody?"
"It has been nearly a year and a half since I blooded Darren," Mr. Crepsley said. "Why I did it is a long story. As for why I have not yet told anyone, that is simpler to answer: you are the first of our kind we have encountered. I would have taken him to the next Council if I had not run into a General beforehand. Now that will not be necessary."
"It certainly will be!" Gavner snorted.
"Why?" Mr. Crepsley asked. "You can judge my actions and pass verdict."
"Me? Judgeyou ?" Gavner laughed. "No thanks. I'll leave you to the Council. The last thing I need is to get involved in something like this."
"Excuse me," I said again, "but what's this all about? Why are you talking about being judged? And who or what is the Council?"
"I shall tell you later," Mr. Crepsley said, waving my questions aside. He studied Gavner curiously. "If you are not here about the boy, why have you come? I thought I made it clear when last we met that I wanted no more to do with the Generals."
"You made it crystal clear," Gavner agreed. "Maybe I'm just here to discuss old times."
Mr. Crepsley smiled cynically. "After seventeen years of leaving me to my own devices? I think not, Gavner."
The Vampire General coughed discreetly. "There is trouble brewing. Nothing to do with the Generals," he added quickly. "This is personal. I've come because I feel there's something you should know." He paused.
"Go on," Mr. Crepsley urged him.
Gavner looked at me and cleared his throat. "I have no objections to speaking in front of Darren," he said, "but you seemed anxious to steer him clear of certain areas when we were discussing our past a while ago. What I have to tell you may not be for his ears."
"Darren," Mr. Crepsley said immediately, "Gavner and I shall continue our discussion in my quarters, alone. Please find Mr. Tall and tell him I shall be unable to perform tonight."
I wasn't happyI wanted to hear what Gavner had to say. He was the first vampire I'd met other than Mr. Crepsleybut from his stern expression, I knew his mind was made up. I turned to leave.
"And Darren," Mr. Crepsley called back. "I know you are curious by nature, but I warn you: do not attempt to eavesdrop. I shall take a dim view of it if you do."
"What do you think I am?" I said. "You treat me like "
"Darren!" he snapped. "No eavesdropping!"
I nodded glumly. "All right."
"Cheer up," Gavner Purl said as I walked away dejectedly. "I'll tell you all about it, as soon as Larten's back is turned."
As Mr. Crepsley spun around, with fire in his eyes, the Vampire General quickly raised his hands and laughed. "Only joking!"
CHAPTER THREE
I decided to do the act with Madam OctaMr. Crepsley's spiderby myself. I was totally able to handle her. Besides, it was fun to take over from Mr. Crepsley. I'd been on stage with him a bunch of times, but always as his sidekick.
I went on after Hans Handsa man who could run a hundred yards on his hands in less that eight secondsand had great fun. The audience cheered, and later I sold a bunch of candy spiders to clamoring customers.
I hung out with Evra after the show. I told him about Gavner Purl and asked what he knew about Vampire Generals.
"Not much," he said. "I know they exist, but I've never met one."
"What about the Council?" I asked.
"I think that's a huge meeting they have every ten or fifteen years," he said. "A big conference where they get together and discuss things."
That was all he could tell me.
A few hours before dawn, while Evra was tending to his snake, Gavner Purl appeared from Mr. Crepsley's vanthe vampire preferred to sleep in the basements of buildings, but there had been no suitable rooms in the old milland asked me to walk with him awhile.