Darren Shan is just an ordinary schoolboy who enjoys hanging out with his three best friends. Then one day they stumble across as invitation to visit the Cirque du Freak, a mysterious freak show. Only two tickets are available, so they draw straws to see who will go. As if by destiny, Darren wins one, and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires.

Visiting his hometown with the Cirque Du Freak, Darren falls into a vampaneze trap and is shot with a bowgun by Steve's son, Darius. Saved by the vampirites, Darren is reunited with his friends, but another enemy attack leads to Evra's son, Shancus', abduction. With Darius held hostage in order to strike a deal, Darren witnesses the horrible sight of Steve murdering Shancus. And to make things worse, Darius is Darren's nephew!