Chapter 1
"Acacia! Miss Acacia!" Clementine called out; she walked quickly through the streets looking this way and that for the dancer.
Truthfully, she was getting quite frustrated and anxious; her uncle and aunt had made her promise to keep an eye on Miss Acacia, but she had run off somewhere. It was bad enough Clementine had lost her, but Acacia was taking a huge risk wandering around Edinburgh by herself when she was considered an illegal citizen.
"She has to be around here somewhere." Clementine fretted as her pace quickened; she liked Acacia well enough, but she was a bit flighty, couldn't stand staying in one place for too long.
She was about to go back home and get her parents, but as she neared the town square, Clementine heard music; beautiful music, and voices singing.
Clementine took a shortcut down the alley to the open square; Miss Acacia was there with an street organ and she was singing with a boy Clementine had never seen before.
"Does she know him?" She wondered as she came closer; something prevented her from calling out to Acacia. It didn't feel right to step in; she and the boy were singing a duet, like they were the only two people in the square. They didn't seem to be aware of anything else but their song.
Clementine giggled as they bumped into each other; they were talking now, but the boy had collapsed as they were leaning in.
"Oh god." Clementine froze. "What just happened?"
A woman ran over to the boy and turned back to Miss Acacia with a glare; Clementine ran after Acacia as her thorns appeared and she took off.
"Miss Acacia!" Clementine called out as she ran; she couldn't lose her again! What in the world just happened? Why was there smoke coming out of that boy's chest?
Acacia came to an abrupt stop and whirled around, her thorns still covering her body.
"Clementine? Is that you?"
"Yes. You shouldn't have run off like that." Clementine stopped and tried to catch her breath. "You should be wearing your glasses. What if you got lost? You've only been here for a few months."
Miss Acacia smiled apologetically and the thorns went right back into her skin. "Want to sit down?"
"Yes." Clementine all but collapsed as they sat down on a bench; she looked over at Miss Acacia, who seemed to be off in her own little world.
"Who was that boy?"
"Hm?" Acacia looked up like a startled bird. "I don't know. He just started singing with me…" She looked down with a gentle smile.
Clementine sighed. "Please do be careful. What if he found out about-" She looked around quickly. "-you're not from around these parts?"
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to have a look around." Acacia said. "Thank you for looking after me. I can't tell you how grateful me and my mummy are to your uncle and aunt."
Clementine smiled. "Just think, you'll be an official citizen of Edinburgh soon. We'll be going to the same school; maybe you can join the theater group. You have a such a lovely way of singing and dancing."
"It sounds wonderful. Do you suppose that boy will be there?" Acacia asked dreamily.
"I'm not sure." Clementine replied. "I've never seen him at school before. By the way-" She looked fully at a confused Acacia. "Why are you wearing your uniform? School isn't until tomorrow."
Acacia smiled bashfully. "Oh, I just like it I suppose. Red's my favorite color and this is the only red dress I have."
Clementine frowned a bit. "Was it hard moving here so suddenly? I imagine you'd have to leave most of your belongings behind."
"Most of my dresses and toys are in Spain." Acacia explained. "But once we're legal, mummy says we'll be able to go back and get the rest of our things."
"Don't say that." Clementine said softly. "I despise you referring to yourself as "legal" or "illegal". It makes it sound as if you're not even a person."
"You and your family are so kind." Acacia took Clementine's hands in hers. "Shall we go now? I'm sure your parents don't want you out late, and I need to get back to your aunt and uncle's house."
Clementine smiled and nodded. "Yes, we should be going. Just wait, tomorrow I'll help you find your mystery boy."