A clip from“Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" explains the scene in which Darren Shan and his best friend Steve Leonard visit the Cirque Du freak. freak show. Steve believes a performer, Larten Crepsley, is a vampire.. Steve talks to Crepsley after the show and asks to become a vampire. Crepsley initially refuses but is talked into testing Steve's blood, that he spits out telling Steve he has bad blood. Steve furiously swears revenge and leaves. Darren overhears everything because he has been hiding in a cupboard after stealing Crepsley's spider, Madam Octa.