| “ | Who wants to be a vampire anyways? Vampires suck. Vampaneze rule! | „ |
| ~ Steve Leonard to Darren. |
Steve Leopard Leonard is the main antagonist in The Saga of Darren Shan book series and the 2009 fantasy film Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. He was Darren Shan's former best friend and the Lord of the Vampaneze.
He was portrayed by Josh Hutcherson.
Biography[]
In the books[]
In Cirque du Freak, Steve was a twelve-year old boy who was Darren's best friend and had a fascination with vampires. This changed, however, when Darren stole Madam Octa the spider who bit Steve. Darren had to become a half-vampire in order to save his friend. Mr. Crepsley, the vampire who changed Darren, had been asked by Steve to turn him into a vampire. He refused to do it, saying that Steve's blood was evil. Afterwards Steve is given the antidote to cure him of Madam Orca's venom. However after discovering what Darren had done to save him, Steve felt that Darren had stolen his dream of becoming a vampire and vowed to become a strong vampire hunter and would kill Darren and Mr. Crepsley.
15 years later, Steve (now 27) reencountered Darren and had claimed to have finally understood that Darren did what he did to save him. However, this was later revealed to be a trick and Steve was revealed to have joined the Vampaneze (vampires who kill their victims after drinking their blood) and that he was a half-Vampaneze.
The Coffin of Fire is a magical coffin, which will burst into flames when somebody steps into it. Only the person who is true leader of the Vampaneze can survive this. Steve was chosen for this.
Steve was careless as the Lord of the Vampaneze. He would make plans that were too complicated for his minions to follow. They were too theatrical. And if he got one of his enemies in his clutch, he would gloat and give them a chance to escape. He was the Lord of the Vampaneze as of book seven, Hunters of the Dusk.
Steve killed Mr. Crepsley by pushing him into a pit of stakes.
Steve also kidnapped and killed Shancus, the 8-year-old son of Darren's snakeman friend Evra Von. Darren prepared to kill Steve's son Darius (who Steve had made half-Vampaneze) in retaliation, only for Steve to reveal that Darius' mother is Darren's sister Annie, making Darius Darren's nephew. Because of this, Darren spared Darius and reblooded him as a half-vampire.
Darren and Steve later fight to death in their hometown. Darren got the upper hand and stabbed Steve in the chest. It was fatal, but not an immediate kill. Steve lay there, paralyzed with shock, when Desmond Tiny showed up. Mr. Tiny announced that he was the father of the two battling parties. Steve begged Mr. Tiny to take him as a son, since Mr. Tiny chose the winner, Darren, to be at his side. Evanna was present at this time and was as shocked as anyone else. Her brother Mr. Tall, had died earlier that day, and was shocked to find out she had two more brothers. Mr. Tiny disowned Steve at that moment and left him to die. Darren, who did not want to be owned by Mr.Tiny in becoming the Lord of Shadow to destroy the world, let Steve stab him until they both died.
In the film[]
In this film adaptation, Steve is sixteen years old.
After he and Darren cause trouble, Darren's parents forbid the pair to continue being friends. However, unbeknownst to their families, they became secret friends.
Steve and Darren later go to The Cirque du Freak and watch Mr. Crepsley performing with Madam Otca. Steve recognizes Mr. Crepsley from a vampire book he has. Steve later goes to Mr. Crepsley and begs him to make him a vampire. However, Steve ends up being rejected by Mr. Crepsley due to have bad blood.
The next day at school, Steve is bitten by Madam Otca (whom Darren had stolen from the cirque) and ends up in hospital. Darren makes a deal with Mr. Crepsley to become a half-vampire and his assistant in order to be given an antidote to save Steve.
Darren later fakes his death in order to start a life with Mr. Crepsley and the cirque. At Darren's funeral, Steve looks at Darren's "corpse" and notices markings on his hands (from Mr. Crepsley when making Darren into a half-vampire) and is upset that Darren got made into a vampire instead of him.
Steve later attempted to commit suicide, only to be stopped by a man named Mr. Tiny, who convinced Steve to become a Vampaneze. After being turned, Steve, with the assistance of an older Vampaneze named Murlough, went to his school and killed his teacher Mr. Kersey.
At the film's climax, Steve has kidnapped Darren's family and his love interest Rebecca the monkey girl. Steve tells Darren that he can only save either his family or Rebecca. The two former friends battle each other, through Darren becomes weak without blood. Rebecca manages to free herself and gives Darren some of her blood, which gives him the strength to continue his fight. The fighting is soon stopped by Mr. Tiny, who leaves with Steve and Murlough (who had been turned in a Little Person by Mr. Tiny after being defeated by Mr. Crepsley). Darren tried to convince Steve to stay with him, but Steve stated that they have their own destinies.
Personality[]
Steve is violent, sadistic, and a bad influence. He is quick to judge and will get into fights easily. He can hold a grudge easily and will go through elaborate plans to get what he wants.
Gallery[]
