The sun was shining bright in the warm summer. The streets were bustling with commotion as everyone awaited for the arrival of the magical people. Posters were everywhere featuring each star of the show. The Sidonia Circus was on its way into town. Their carriages arrived early in the afternoon as young children were excited at the sight of the smiling troupe.
As they walked through the streets, they waved at each person who was eager to see them perform. They found the open grounds where they were allowed access and began to set up camp. The stars of the show began practicing for the performance the following night as the younger cast members began setting up the tents for their extended stay.
They had finally reached the big city and were ready to perform in front of the largest crowd that they have ever performed in front of in a long time. A young blonde boy was helping out a larger taller boy tether down some ropes that held up the tents. The two were engaging in conversation with one another expressing their excitement for the show. However, neither of them were set to perform. They only acted as stage hands in the performance making sure that props and equipment were set up in their necessary spots for the top tier performers.
"You can't forget Lucy's fire this time Keith," said the taller boy wiping his forehead.
"You're one to talk Lucas. Remember when you didn't tighten the rope and Philip crashed," Keith replied flicking his wavy blonde hair.
"That was an accident."
"Still happened. You're lucky Caroline was able to help him," Keith stated firmly tightening the rope of the tent.
"Keith, Lucas I have a job for you two," came a calming voice from behind them.
A woman wearing a dark red cloak with her curly long black hair poking through the hood snuck up behind them.
"Madame Nina!" Keith proclaimed.
"I want you two to head into the city with Jack and Nicholas. I want you four to scout the area and see what type of people we will be dealing with tomorrow night. I will be on the search for some rations for the next trip. Everyone else can handle everything on their own. Now go."
Keith and Lucas quickly dropped what they were doing and ran to find Jack and Nicholas. Before they were able to get very far Madame Nina called out to them.
"Make sure you are dressed accordingly. We want to be able to draw as much attention as we can."
The two looked at each other and were reluctant for what she was wanting. They responded and headed off to their tent. There, they changed into their costumes. Keith put on a pair of green shorts held up with suspenders. He wore a white collared shirt and black dance shoes. He placed on his head a green hat with a large red feather protruding from the side. Lucas wore nothing but his red suspendered shorts. His muscular body was above average for a kid his age as he stood tall towering over most. He was known as the strongest person that many people have ever met. Keith was the exact opposite. He was one of the shortest members of the troupe. However, his smaller size enabled him to be quick and nimble in his movements.
Keith equipped himself with daggers in the holsters placed at his hip as the two of them headed out to meet with Jack Adder and Nicholas Elric. Unlike Keith and Lucas, Jack and Nicholas were already considered top tier members. Nicholas was the newly announced future ring leader of the troupe after Madame Nina's husband. Jack had a unique talent of dealing with various animals, mostly reptilian animals. His talent provided him a spot within the show giving it a more mystical aspect.
Keith and Lucas met up with them near the entrance of their camp. Jack wore a dark black cloak with black boots, pants, and shirt. He equipped himself with a short sword and wore a stern expression on his face. His one eye covered with an eye patch after an accident with a lion had caused him to lose his eye. Nicholas was dressed in a white dress shirt with black pants and outfit that was normal for him to wear. He had a rapier attached to his hip.
"Hey, how come you get to dress normally and we have to be in costume?" Keith asked seeing that the situation was unfair.
"Because Emmett is making me a new one dumbass," Nicholas replied.
"Hey don't call him a dumbass you dumbass!" Lucas shouted.
"Everybody stop calling each other a dumbass!" Jack replied pulling down the hood of his cloak, "Now can we just get this done and over with!"
Everyone began to make their way within the city. People would stare at them as Keith was eager to wave in response to them. His bright smile was filled with happiness and cheer as he would often adjust his thin glasses that didn't sit right on his face. Lucas was the same, although he was more humble and caring when people approached them. Nicholas was considered the more charming one out of the group, while Jack kept to himself most of the times.
They made a note of the type of people who may be watching their show. Hoping for more of a wealthier variety, they did manage to pick out a select few people who may have some interest in them. The aristocratic groups often found circuses to be a treat from their everyday lives. A change of pace from their dreary lifestyle or so it appeared to most of the troupe members.
As they wandered, stomachs could be heard. It was decided that the small amount of money that they had would be able to get them at least something to eat and share between each other. They tried a little bakery not far from where they first started their walk. The man inside was cheery at the sight of the whimsical outfits. Although they were at the start of their teenage years, the baker treated them like little children. This irritated Keith who often felt like he was being talked down to especially due to his petite stature.
In the troupe, Keith was often picked on for being short and thin. People would mock him to the point where he had, had enough of their taunting. Considering how Keith is a smaller member of the troupe he is also known as one of the deadliest. Before joining, Keith was living with his parents. His parents were well known assassins of the underworld. This underworld consisted of a wide variety of criminals and various petty thugs. His parents were notorious for killing off many people for the sake of money. When Keith Aberdeen came into their lives, it became their duty to raise him and teach him their ways.
On one of their jobs, Keith's parents had left him all alone. Keith waited for their arrival but they never came home. He searched for them and found that they had been captured by the royal knights. They were finally held for a trail which would lead to their execution.
Keith was in the crowd that day. He held back the tears as he watched the cold faces of his parents sitting upon the cutting block. As the executioner raised his axe up high a hand had firmly grasped his face preventing him from seeing. He remembers hearing the voice of a man, "A young boy should not witness the death of their own parents. There is no telling what kind of a man it may turn you."
All Keith remembers hearing was the axe hitting the block twice and a bell being rung claiming that the execution had been completed. Keith never once resisted the grasp of the man as he continued to hold onto his face and guide him away from the scene. Tears trickled down his face as he could no longer hold them back.
When the man had removed his hand, Keith had found himself within the circus. Unknowing to him, the man knew of his parents and what was going to happen to them. He had heard of Keith before and decided that it would be best for him and his wife to take him in. He said his name was Neal Sidonia and told him that he was the ringmaster and knife thrower for the circus.
Keith kept to himself and was deemed as an angry child. It was hard for him to make friends. He would constantly be seen sharpening various knives for Neal. One day Neal was trying to talk to Keith but something he had said about his parents had angered him. He swung a knife and began to stab him repeatedly. Neal survived thanks to the medical help of Caroline Rogers, but was left out of action for some time.
This behaviour continued for a few months afterwards, frightening most of the troupe members. Some even requested that Keith was to be removed from the troupe as they had feared their own lives. When Keith would hear this, he would lash out in anger. It wasn't until an arrival of someone new that things really began to change.
Lucas Anderson was a runaway looking for a new life. He came across the Sidonia Circus and was immediately accepted into the troupe with open arms. A lot of the members warned Lucas of Keith and told him it was best to stay away. Being the type of person that Luke was, he ignored all of the warnings. What most saw Keith to be was an angry destructive child, was different for Lucas. What Lucas saw in Keith was a scared lonely child.
Keith turned a cold shoulder at first, but with Lucas' compassion he eventually had warmed up to him. With the help of Lucas, Keith was turned into the fire driven mischievous child who is easily excitable. The joy in his life was brought back. He trained under Neal to learn how to properly throw knives and was proven to be very skilled at handling various knives due to his parents. It was taken a step further as Keith eventually learned how to shoot arrows and even fire guns.
Keith's skillset and history still puts fear in some but his now gentle approach of things had begun to ease his involvement within the troupe a lot more. He has become driven to be one of the top tier performers one day, practicing his skillset whenever possible.
As they had gathered what piece of bread they could, they split it up between each other. Nicholas carefully watched around as he continued to scout out their prey for the show. Jack hadn't really cared all much to what was going on around him.
As they ate their bread there was something strange that could be heard from down the street. It caught Keith's attention immediately as he stood straight and peered out to see the commotion. A young girl with shoulder length black hair was running with various men running behind her. She was yelling at the top of her lungs catching the attention of everyone she ran past.
"Hey did you guys see that!" Keith proclaimed.
"Of course you idiot, how could we not," Jack replied.
Keith looked up at Lucas with bright eyes shining.
"Keith no,"
"Oh come on it looked like she was in some sort of trouble."
"He's right. Remember darlings, what our philosophy is?" came the cool voice of Madame Nina from within the shadows.
"Help those who can't get the help they need," Nicholas replied.
"Isn't that why you are all here?" she asked with a small smile.
"Let's go," Nicholas ordered.
With a grin on his face, Keith was rearing to go and get involved in the action. He lived for the adrenaline of stopping the bad guys. The young boys ran after the group. They followed them until they saw that they had cornered the girl within an alley. Quietly, Nicholas gave the orders on how to proceed. Keith and Lucas were to hang back and block their exit while Jack and Nicholas climbed onto the roofs to strike from above. Slowly and quietly Nicholas and Jack drew their swords. They looked down to see the young girl panicking as she held up her fists ready for a fight. Keith quickly jumped onto Lucas' shoulders to get a better angle as the two stepped into view behind the men. With careful precision Keith reached for one of his knives and threw it at the man closest to her. He aimed carefully and lodged the blade into the back of the man's neck. He collapsed down to the ground before her as she stared in horror. The others responded and turned around to see the young boys blocking the exit. Keith adjusted his glasses at the sight of the angered men as Jack and Nicholas jumped down from the rooftops. They swung their swords slashing the backs of two other men landing with grace.
As the two had made their attack, Keith was enjoying the moment a little too much wearing a sadistic grin on his face. He held up his knives to his face quickly turning his grin around succeeding in the distraction. Jack and Nicholas slashed the two other men. Lucas made his moved and grabbed a hold of one of the heads of the men and slammed it into the wall. As Lucas grabbed the head, Keith had jumped off and flipped in the air. Mid-flip he had altered his body enough to give him a better angle upside down. Once in this position he threw a few more of his knives hitting his desired targets. His feet touched the ground as Lucas had taken care of the last man standing.
A gentle smile returned to Keith's face as he turned around to see the shaken girl. She had a small amount of blood on her from a wound.
"Madame, I know you're there," Nicholas called out.
Nina came around from the corner with a calm smile on her face.
"Well done boys. Mama is so proud of your work. Sometimes you do need to get your hands a little dirty for Mama. Don't worry boys, I will have this taken care of for you. It's the least that I can do. Now my child," she said reaching her hand out to the young girl. "You have no need to be afraid anymore."
The young girl was still shaking but had become overwhelmed with emotions. She pulled herself away from the wall and collapsed down to her knees. The young girl let out a loud cry as the boys gathered around her trying to recompose themselves before walking out of the alley.
"She's bleeding," Keith said quietly making a note of her wound.
"Take her to Caroline and set her up," she pulled the girl up and crouched down to meet her eye level, "You're going to be going home now."
Jack pulled his cloak off and draped it around her shoulders as Nicholas had begun guiding her. Keith and Lucas were walking right behind, leaving Madame Nina to deal with the mess that had been created. The boys had become used to dealing with situations such as this and were not hesitant to kill for the sake of an innocent.
When they reached the camping ground, Nicholas and Keith had guided her to the medical tent were Caroline was residing. Keith ran into the tent and called for Caroline. She was calmly sitting at a table when Keith came running through the tarp. The loud boy startled her as she nearly fell out of her seat.
"CAROLINE, CAROLINE! WE NEED YOU'RE HELP THIS GIRL IS HURT!" he yelled at her.
"Calm down for goodness sakes. Bring her in and I'll see what I can do," she shouted back.
Nicholas had already brought her into the tent at this point. Caroline directed him to the medical bed were he helped prop her up onto the bed. The girl was quiet and didn't want to make eye contact with anyone. Caroline calmly examined the girl but found something odd.
"I thought you said she was injured," she stated peering over her shoulder towards Keith.
"She is! Look at her arm!"
"I am, and there is nothing. Not even a spec of blood is on her. Look Keith if this is some sort of prank it's not funny."
"This is no prank. She did have blood on her when we were first bringing her through town," said Nicholas.
"I don't understand then, did you clean it off of her?"
"No, we didn't!" Keith shouted.
"I see no wounds and I see no blood." She turned to the girl and calmly began to speak to her, "Are you injured anywhere?"
The girl shook her head no.
"Ok, well that solves that. I should still make sure everything is ok."
The girl allowed Caroline to examine her body. Her fingers ran gently up and down her arms and legs but she was unable to find any marks on her body. There was no indication that she was injured at all.
"You seem to be completely fine, are you sick at all. Do you feel ill?"
The girl shook her head again.
"Well that settles it, there is nothing wrong."
The two boys were bewildered by the fact that the girl was not injured. They began to rethink what they had previously seen in the alley. Keith was sure that she was injured when he saw her running thought the streets. Nicholas began to theorize that it was the blood of the men after her and not her own. However that was not enough to convince Keith. He was sure that there was some sort of wound present.
"Do you have a name?" Caroline asked.
The girl said nothing.
"My name is Caroline."
"And I'm Keith and this is Nicholas."
"Come with me, I'll take you to a tent," Nicholas stated holding out his hand.
"No fair, I wanted to do that," Keith whined.
Nicholas simply glared at him. It was enough for Keith to not continue the argument any further and let him do what he wanted. The young girl responded to Nicholas and was guided out of the tent and towards the back of the camping ground where she would be staying. Madame Nina had returned and spoke with Caroline about the girl's condition. She was declared to be in perfect condition aside from being thin from not eating. Her overall appearance suggested that she was living on the street and did not have a home.
The girl was very quiet and kept to herself. At first she didn't say anything to anyone. She would take her food and eat alone and often ran when one of the adults were nearby.
During the scheduled dinner time, Lucas and Keith sat together and enjoyed the warm stew that Lucas had helped prepare earlier. Keith couldn't help but to notice the girl sitting by herself with Jack's cloak still wrapped around her.
"You're stew is going to get cold you know," Lucas stated noticing Keith's stares at the girl.
"I know, I just can't help but to be sorry for her. She hasn't said a word since she got here. I wonder what happened to her. Like why were those men after her."
"It's best to leave that kind of stuff alone for now."
"I…I can't," Keith proclaimed as he grabbed his bowl and walked over to her.
He firmly planted his bowl onto the table which startled her. She dropped her spoon back into the bowl and stared at him with her bright green eyes. Fear was within them as she wasn't too sure whether she needed to get herself out of there or not.
Keith said nothing to her and just ate his stew. Occasionally he would look up at her as she remained still with her eyes locked on him. The longer that he sat there in silence the more the girl felt as though she was safe. She slowly began to continue eating her stew keeping a watchful eye on him. They didn't say a word towards each other and ate their stew in silence.
Back at Lucas' table, Jack and Nicholas had joined him. They took notice to Keith sitting at the table with their newest member to their circus family.
"Remind you guys of anything?" Nicholas asked gesturing to the two sitting at the table.
"Sure does. I remember when he didn't even look people in the eye," Lucas replied.
"You have to admit that they are different in their own ways though," Jack chimed in, "she's this scared little person while he was a sharp angry thing."
"Who knows maybe, they'll be good for each other," Lucas questioned.
"I don't know, it's hard to say," replied Nicholas.
"And what makes you say that?"
"Well, I mean look at her. Something is really not right, I can feel it."
"You have to admit though, she is kind of cute in her own way."
Nicholas stared at the girl hiding within the cloak. He watched her eat her stew as her black hair dangled. She pulled her hair back behind her face revealing the smooth dirtied skin. Her green eyes were dull as if they had lacked something.
"She is something," Nicholas replied quietly as he was becoming captivated and over looked the harsh exterior.
The following day everyone was in preparations for the show that was about to take place. The large stage was built together and dressed accordingly. Everyone was in their costumes even if they were not set to perform. There was the odd chance that a top tier performer would be unable to perform which meant a stage hand was able to have their moment in the spot light.
The young girl had no clue as to what was going on. She was caught in the middle of everything as she concealed herself within the cloak. It wasn't until the warm gentle hand of Madame Nina helped guide her to an area where she would be out of the way.
Jack was preparing the snakes and making sure that all of them were able to perform for the evening as Nicholas was stretching. The two of them were top tier members who earned their spots. Jack's unique and natural way with animals earned him the spot right away. However, Nicholas' experience and hard work was what pushed him to be top tier as a swordsman.
Both Jack and Nicholas had been there much longer than most of the performers. Jack was exiled by his family for being different. He was fascinated with snakes and various other animals. Eventually his fascination had landed him in trouble. One afternoon he had wandered into a nearby forest away from his village alone. Here was where he met his fate. He came across a large mountain lion who had struck him across his face. The sharp claws of the beast left scars on his face and caused the loss of his left eye. He was able to escape and live to tell the tale. However, due to his mistakes the animal was drawn to the village. Because of this, he was forced to be removed from their village and live out on his own. They considered him to be too much of a risk. Even his own parents didn't want the risk of that happening to them. He wandered around for a while before coming across Neal and Nina. They welcomed him with open arms.
Five years prior to Jack's arrival was Nicholas. Nicholas grew up knowing nothing but the circus. During their travels, the circus had come across a crying baby along the side of the road. The young child was barely holding onto life. Immediately they took him in and gave him the name. He became somewhat like a son to Neal and Nina and was considered the pride and joy of the circus.
As the evening began to draw near, crowds started rolling in as everyone was preparing for the night's performance. The young girl was welcomed to the back of the stage as she perched herself on some crates. The opening act was set to perform the minute Neal introduced the circus.
The young girl watched as each member participated in their performance and did a splendid job in doing so. Keith took notice to her stares and approached her quietly. He sat up on the crate next to her as his feather tickled the top of her head. The feather didn't affect her at all as her eyes remained locked on the movements of the performers.
"Cool huh?" Keith whispered.
The girl nodded in agreement with her jaw slightly dropped.
"That could be you one day."
She quickly looked at him and reverted her eyes back to the stage.
"I've performed up there before. One of them got injured and I got to do my act. I'm a knife thrower and I don't miss my mark," he proudly said.
The girl only responded with a slight glance at him.
Keith took notice to her amusement to the performers on the stage. He knew that she felt drawn to it all.
"I could probably teach you."
"Really!" she said quickly.
"So you do have a voice."
She was quiet and seemed to be timid.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm Keith by the way."
"Lana."
That moment was the moment that started the rest of her life. She wanted to have something more to her life and felt that being a performer was something that would help. Keith was thankful that she had finally trusted him to at least tell him her name. Now he had finally something to refer to her as. A feeling came over him as the dull eyes that he watched earlier sparkled in the light from the stage. As she was mesmerized by the movements, he was mesmerized by her.
