Stefan's Journey

Chapter 1

The circus had come to town. The brightly colored tents had been set up on the fair grounds. Circus performers walked the streets handing out flyers and free tickets. People came from all around to see the circus. They wanted to laugh at the deformed, cheer the strong, and gasp at the scary.

Stefan fixed his cape and peered into the mirror at his reflection. His blonde hair was dyed black and was slicked back. Stefan bared his teeth and checked his fangs. They gleamed in the faint candle light.

Stefan sighed as he let his reflection fade. He was a true vampire, but the Ring Master had him dress as the stereotypical vampire for the audience. The only thing different between him and movie vampires was that he could make his heart beat and skin warm to the touch. That was a tool in a vampire's hunting repertoire. He could also move about during the day if he wore sunglasses, a hat, and long sleeves. He preferred wearing a bowler hat, 19th century sunglasses and a trench coat all in black. If he could get away with it Stefan would prefer to wear a cloak and hood, but that was considered too strange. Either way Stefan looked pretty dashing.

Stefan gave another sigh and straightened his high color one more time before he left his dressing room. He looked around him in the area where the circus performers relaxed and saw no one. He moved stealthily through the tents before he reached the big top. He ducked inside and instantly regretted it. The noise of the crowd made his sensitive eardrums ache. Stefan swore that vampires could get headaches because he had a huge one at the moment.

"What you hear?"

Stefan turned to see Claudia standing next to him. She was dressed in her steampunk dress that was Victoria era inspired. She wore her brunette hair piled high atop her head with a small hat perched on top. Her make-up was dark and her face pale.

"These are the days I wished I wasn't a vampire."

Claudia gave him a sympathetic look as Stefan rubbed his forehead. She reached forward to touch his arm. "Too bad Aspirin doesn't work on you."

Stefan laughed. "No, but blood does."

Claudia gave him a saucy wink. "You'll get plenty of my blood later tonight. I promise you there are no drugs in my system tonight."

Stefan raised an eyebrow at her. "How can I be sure of that?"

Claudia's answer was to walk away laughing. Stefan shook his head as she walked away. Claudia ran with a group of performers that enjoyed getting high. It made what they did easier. Claudia was also the person Stefan bit during his part of the show. He got enough blood to function, but it always gave him a nauseous feeling afterwards. Vampires and drugs don't mix.

Stefan moved so he could watch the performers while he waited for his act. He hated doing this, but he owed the Ring Master 500 years of service. There was a silver lining in his dark world though. His 500 years were almost up. In two more months he'd be free to go.

Stefan planned on leaving the circus. He also planned on leaving a bunch of dead bodies behind him. The Ring Master hadn't treated him right and neither had any of the other performers. His servitude here reminded him of his human life and how he had hated that life.

***

Tonight was Stefan's last show. After tonight he'd be free for the first time in 500 years. He had plans and things to do. The first thing was to destroy this damn circus and those in it. The performers deserved their freedom too and there's will only come through their death. For the Ring Master owed everyone here till they died except Stefan who couldn't die. The second thing Stefan planned on doing was gorging on untainted blood.

A knock sounded on the post outside Stefan's rooms. "Are you ready Stefan?"

Stefan swept the curtain that served as his door back and smile at Claudia. "I'm ready."

Claudia eyed him a little nervously. "You're in a good mood tonight."

Stefan gave her a dazzling smile. "Tonight I'm free."

"Not till midnight," Claudia pointed out.

Stefan didn't say anything. The Ring Master had forgotten when Stefan had quit fighting. He physically gave in at midnight, but mentally he'd given up two hours before that. Stefan had done that on purpose so he'd have an ace in his hand when the Ring Master tried to get him to stay. Stefan moved silently till he was in position and waited for the Ring Master to introduce him.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! I'd like for you to meet Vlad, our very own vampire!"

Stefan stepped forward and gave the crowed a bow. He held his hand out and Claudia placed her hand in his. Stefan drew her towards him and couldn't keep the shudder that racked his body hidden.

'Are you alright?" Claudia hissed at him.

Stefan pulled Claudia to him and turned her head to the side like he always did. Just before he bit her he whispered in her ear. "My freedom came at 10 o'clock, not midnight."

Claudia tried to push him away. Stefan ripped into her neck, relishing in the screams from the crowd and the other performers. He tossed her body aside. Stefan wiped the blood from his mouth before he addressed the crowd.

"Humans, this is not your war. Flee now before you get caught in the snare of the Ring Master. Take your children away. They are too young to witness the carnage about to happen."

When no one moved, Stefan bared his fangs at the crowd and hissed. Pandemonium broke out and people fled. Stefan stood straight and turned to where the Ring Master was kneeling by Claudia's side. He looked up at Stefan with judgmental eyes.

"You killed her."

"I did," Stefan acknowledged.

A triumphant look appeared in the Ring Masters eyes. "You have violated the terms of your servitude. You killed without permission. You are mine for another 500 years."

Stefan gave the Ring Master a sinister smile that revealed his fangs. "My imprisonment ended at 10 o'clock and not at midnight like you thought it would."

The Ring Masters eyes widened and he surged to his feet. Stefan was already moving by the time the Ring Master had gained his feet. Stefan's hand snaked out and left a ribbon of blood across the Ring Masters throat. Stefan turned to face the other performers as the Ring Master fell to his knees with his hands to his neck.

"Who's next?" Stefan asked as he lunged at Igor the Strong Man.

Several hours later, Stefan stood in the middle of a stream staring up at the full moon. The circus with its dead bodies and burned tents was miles behind him. Water dripped down Stefan's back as the wind blew through his wet hair. Stefan pushed his blonde hair back behind his shoulder. He was grateful to have his natural hair color back.

Stefan stilled at the sound of a wolf howling. A smile broke across his face as he heard the children of the night howling. Since he was a creature of the night he considered the wolves his brothers. Stefan left the stream. He stopped long enough to grab the cloak that was part of his costume before he went in search of the wolves. The Earth felt wonderful beneath his bare feet. The wind felt cool and the stars and moon provided ample light for him to travel quickly through the night.

Stefan slowed when he found the wolves. He dropped to his knees and waited for the Alpha wolf to approach. A thrill went through Stefan when the Alpha wolf touched noses with him. Stefan joined in the howling as he rejoiced in his freedom.