Part 2 (2/2)
”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 said you 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 a.s.sistant 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 was - a 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 compa.s.sionately, ”but we have no choice.
I must be away with the coming of dusk - I would leave now, were we not so near to dawn - and 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'll ask 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 you - I 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 Freak - or 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.
<script>