Evra Von

Evra Von was Darren Shan's first real friend after becoming a vampire and remained a trustworthy ally during Darren's life. He was a 'snake-boy' (his skin was either covered by or made of scales.) He was born to normal parents, though when they saw him, they were horrified, and left him to live at an orphanage. There, he was picked on by the other kids until he was four and was bought by a cruel circus owner. For seven years, he lived there, being abused and neglected, kept in a glass tank, and forced to feel ugly, useless, and freakish. When he was eleven, Mr. Tall came and rescued him by killing his previous "owner." Evra stayed with the Cirque his entire life, and met another freak named Merla, who he fell in love with. He had three children with Merla (who has detachable ears), named Lilia (a little snake-girl), Shancus (a snake-boy, and named after Darren) and Urcha (the only normal skinned child of Merla and Evra).

Shortly before Mr. Tall's death, the Von home was invaded by R.V. and Morgan. They cut up one of the family's three snakes, and started on a second when they were interrupted by Mr. Tall, Darren, Vancha March and the others. R.V. took young Shancus, who had just turned eight, hostage. Morgan murdered Mr. Tall when he tried to rescue the child, and they escaped with Shancus in tow. They were pursued by Vancha, and led to the old theatre where Darren and Steve, who would become the Vampaneze Lord, first saw the Cirque du Freak perform. Shancus was killed by Steve, despite the fact that Darren had taken Steve's own son, Darius Shan (who later was revealed as Darren's nephew) hostage.