I'm trying to get this story updated as often as possible, since school starts in three weeks and they're running me ragged with color guard practice… And in two weeks my dad will be in Germany and my mom in DC, so I'll be staying with some friends, and probably won't bring my laptop. I'll try to write on my iPod though. Might be kinda insane though cuz it's a family of six and the youngest kids are in 1st and 4th grade versus high school. (Ooh, look, you get to learn some things about me!) And how about that cliff hanger? I'm just evil. So, without further ado…
"You are lucky that was a blank." A Chinese man snaps. "Allen… It is good to see you."
"Bolin," Allen sighs. "You freaking scared me. Bo, this is Lavi and Flynn."
"What organization are you from? Did you steal from the pope?"
"The Black Order and no, no one stole from the pope. Why do you always expect the worst?"
"Because you learned from the best."
"Uh, so you're part of the circus?" Lavi asks.
"I am."
"Can we come to the circus?"
"Follow me."
"It wasn't a 'no'." Allen shrugs and begins to follow the swiftly retreating Bolin.
"It wasn't a 'yes' either." Lavi groans, but follows with Flynn not far behind. The girl can't help but look around in awe as they approach the huge tents and various caravans. The bright colours are a thrill to her eyes, with brilliant sapphire and shimmery gold dancing in the bright flash of sun. Not to mention the lazy puffs of clouds blowing through the bright blue sky with tufts of treetops sticking up past the horizon line. Emerald grasses wave gently, beckoning to the group of exorcists to maybe just lie down for a little while. Bursts of brick red rooftops are splattered around, the closest being a hundred yards away. Black and white cows moo at passersby with horses braying, joining the cacophony of town sounds. There are vendors yelling about their fresh, juicy red apples or a newsboy running through the streets shouting about the circus performance in two nights. Then there's the circus noises- elephants are trumpeting, tigers are growling, a few monkeys are screaming. Performers are setting up tents or practicing their intricate acts on richly dyed rugs spread haphazardly across the grass. A campfire is set up even though its several hours away from nightfall and some performers are swallowing torches, only to breathe the flame back out as if they were dragons. Strings of luminescent stones are dangling from every surface. At the largest caravan, an elderly couple sits, barking orders to a young man and woman.
"But Anwen!" The young woman whines, stomping her foot. "Taonga's a much better partner!"
"You heard me, child. You will do your act with Tallula and Una," The older woman rocks back in her seat and sighs. Her eyes flash up to where Bolin has halted a respectful distance away with the exorcists behind him. "Taonga, please help Fiorella locate Tallula and Una while Helyan and I speak with our guests."
Fiorella flips her shining brown hair over her shoulder and stalks away, rage filling her movements. Taonga rolls his eyes and follows the woman, catching up with her quickly. Anwen turns her gaze to Bolin and frowns.
"Who have you brought, Bolin? The boy of snow I remember of days' past, the boy of fire and the girl of darkness I do not know." Anwen says. Her voice is slow and rich, as though she takes the time to think about and enunciate each word so the sentences flow.
"The boy of fire is called Lavi and the girl of darkness is called Flynn. The boy of snow is Allen, as you recall." Bolin nods and crosses his muscular arms across his chest. He moves fluidly, like a serpent.
"Where is Mana, un bach (little one)?"
"He's not with the living… I-I accidentally turned him into an Akuma, but I managed to save his soul." A flash of sorrow crosses Allen's face, and he looks down at his feet as he says this.
"You idiot. Bless your soul…"
"Well, you're pleasant." Lavi stretches back. Anwen extends her leg and kicks his shin.
"You are quiet." Helyan says to Flynn. She blushes slightly.
"Um, I didn't feel it was my place to speak… Sorry…" She squeaks, moving slightly behind Lavi.
"Don't be afraid, girl! We do not bite!"
"Cosmo and Ríona do." Bolin interjects.
"They're tigers, Bo. Flynn, why have you and your companions come to Zaragoza?"
"Well, um, we're investigating disappearances in nearby towns… And, um, it would be nice if you could help us, please…"
"Oh, I like her. So adorable. You remind me of my mab, Iolo. (son, Iolo)"
"Is your son a part of the circus too?"
"Cymraeg?"
"Ydw. (Yes)"
"Pa ochr eich teulu? Mam neu dad? (Which side of your family? Mother or father?)"
"Mae fy mam. Mae hi'n dysgu i mi yr holl Cymraeg gwn. (My mother. She taught me all the Welsh I know.)"
"Lavi, what are they saying?" Allen hisses to the redhead.
"Anwen's asking which side of her family is Welsh." Lavi replies.
"Byddai'n dda cael dynes arall Gymraeg yn y sioe. Beth yn eich barn chi, Helyan? Gallai fod yn gorchudd ar eu cyfer i ymchwilio i'r diflaniadau. (It would be good to have another Welsh woman in the show. What do you think, Helyan? It could be a cover for them to investigate the disappearances.)"
"Credaf fod yn swnio'n dda. Gall Allen, wrth gwrs, yn dod yn ôl. Dylem brofi'r Redhead er. (I think that sounds good. Allen of course can come back. We ought to test the redhead though.)" Helyan shrugs.
"Rydych chi'n gwybod Gallaf ddeall yr hyn yr ydych yn ei ddweud, dde? (You know I can understand what you're saying, right?)" Lavi growls.
"Edrych fel mae'n rhaid i ni ddod o hyd i le ar eu cyfer, yna. (Looks like we just need to find a place for them, then.)"
"Болин, показывают, три из них в пустой караван. Количество пятнадцать открытой в данный момент. После того, как они поселились в, довести их до шапито. Мы должны понять, что они могут сделать в шоу, если они использовать нас в качестве приманки. (Bolin, show the three of them to an empty caravan. Number fifteen is open at the moment. After they're settled in, bring them to the big top. We have to figure out what they can do in the show if they're to use us as a ruse.)" (A/N: That's Russian.) Anwen nods to the Chinese man.
"Come with me." He says simply, walking off again. The exorcists scramble to follow him across the circus site. He stops abruptly in front of a caravan with a trapeze artist painted on the side. "This will be your caravan. I will give you five minutes to rest and then we have to go to the big top."
For the caravan: .a/6a00e55378e8898834011571c6a8 9f970b-800wi
"Wow." Lavi grins as he steps inside. The caravan is incredibly plush on the inside. All of the furnishings are just as brightly coloured as the circus tents. A small tea set sits on a table in one corner and it's surrounded by flowers and blankets and rugs. "So, who gets the bed?"
"I think more than one person can fit on it." Allen rolls his eyes. "In fact, I know that at least four people can fit on that bed comfortably. This was my old caravan that I shared with Mana, Taonga, and Jasper."
"Well, then, who gets the middle? It'll be the most awkward spot." Both boys' eyes turn to Flynn, who blushes.
"Um, I suppose I can be in the middle."
"Great! Now that that's settled, where the heck is the bathroom?"
"There's one behind the fake wall next to the sink." Allen presses lightly on the wall and it springs open, revealing a fully functioning toilet and a small shower area. Someone knocks on the caravan's side and calls up, "It is time to go to the big top."
The exorcists scramble out of the caravan to see Bolin and a girl with long dark hair they haven't yet met.
"Eos!" Allen beams.
"Allen, it has been too long!" The girl smiles. She hugs Allen, and then goes to do the same with Flynn and Lavi. "It is good to meet the both of you, friends of Allen. I hope you are keeping him out of trouble."
"Mostly. Sometimes we just cause more." Lavi grins charmingly, wrapping an arm platonically around Allen's neck. Eos giggles and takes Allen's hand, skipping forward toward the tallest tent. "So, Flynn, think we should skip around like that too?"
"Um, if you want to…" Flynn looks at him oddly. He rolls his eyes at her and grabs her hand to follow after Eos and Allen. Bolin continues to walk behind the pairs at a steady pace, looking rather bored.
"Syrcas o Goleuadau will dazzle you! The show is incredible tonight! Thank you all for coming to see the Circus of Lights!" Fiorella is standing in the center of the big top arena in a ringmaster uniform and shouting up to the grandstands, Taonga is off to the side, whistling at a large eagle, Anwen is instructing a group of women on how to dance, and Helyan is watching a young man whisper to a tiger. A few people are riding around on elephants and a few others are dancing on horseback. There's a small band practicing in the corner. More of those odd little luminescent stones are hanging around the tent.
"This way!" Eos beams, waving Lavi and Flynn to her and Allen. They go up to them and she giggles again. "Anwen will see you in a moment. Everyone will help you out."
"What do you do in the circus?" Flynn asks.
"I dance!" Eos twirls around Flynn. "Bolin throws knives, Fiorella is the ringmaster and she dances too, Taonga has a trained eagle, Helyan rides an elephant, and Anwen keeps everyone in line. The boy taming the tiger is Sasha, his sister Kira is on one of the horses, as are Nadya, Adelaide, Mika, Zofia, and Tri. Oren, Urie, Quy, and Jae are on the elephants. The girls dancing are Macey, Evangeline, Yeva, Pen, and Thi. The clowns are Samir, Luna, Leif, Brougan, Katia, and Cyril. Cyril's also a strongman. Evangeline does trapeze with Sasha and Una and Tallula walk on tightrope. We hire bands from each town we go to, so I'm generally not very good with their names… You might be good at dancing, Flynn! And not the dancing they're doing, the dances I do with Nadya. Have you ever danced?"
"Um… I can ballroom dance and I took a bit of ballet when I was small."
"Well, throw that behind you because you're going to learn how to belly dance!"
"Oh, um, okay."
"Don't be so nervous! It's super fun! And you can probably wear one of my costumes! We look about the same size!"
"T-that sounds nice."
"Eos, stop harassing the poor girl." Anwen scolds, but she's grinning like there's no tomorrow, so it's clear she's amused by the teenager's antics. "Flynn, if you want to work with Eos, you can, or we can find something else for you to do."
"Actually, dancing sounds fun. Eos, I would very much like to dance with you."
"Yay! Okay, come with me!" Eos releases Allen's hand in favor of Flynn's and starts to pull her out of the main tent. "Oh and Lavi, you should come too!"
"W-why?" Lavi asks nervously.
"You look like a gypsy, that's why! C'mon!" Eos grabs Lavi's hand with her free one and pulls the two exorcists from the tent.
"She's just as energetic as before." Allen chuckles.
"That's one word for it." Anwen smiles. "Now for you. Will you be a clown again?"
"Yeah. For old times' sake."
"Again! Step, step, wiggle, jump, twist, wiggle, twirl, rotate, swing, bend!" Eos commands. Flynn and Lavi hurry to try and mime her easy movements, but end up tripping over their own feet. "That was better, now try again! We're going to keep going until you both get the hang of this!"
"I think she's trying to kill us…" Lavi whispers. Flynn nods in agreement before diving back into the complicated dance routine they've been working on for hours. She's significantly better at the dance than Lavi, but there's still much to be improved on.
"Flynn, work on your own for a little bit. Lavi needs help. Okay, I know this is your first time doing this, and it's really hard looking, but it's easy if you lose yourself in the rhythm. Now try with me. We'll go slowly at first. Now, step, step, wiggle… Be looser in your wiggle. Make it more natural feeling. Think like a dog shaking off after a bath. Let's try again…"
"Try it from the unicycle again." Samir suggests. The clowns wheel off to their starting points with Allen in the middle, feigning confusion. Luna and Brougan roll by and push him off his unicycle then Cyril jumps off his unicycle and steals Allen's. Allen mimes shouting and starts to chase after Cyril, but is stopped when Samir and Katia form a barrier. Katia beams and pretends to squirt him with a water seltzer while Samir honks his nose. Leif mimes grabbing Allen's wig off of his head and races around the arena, being chased by Allen. Luna and Katia run after them, waving their arms frantically. Brougan and Samir creep off and take all the unicycles, cackling as they run backstage. The other clowns look up as the flap snaps shut and race after them.
"That was a lot better." Luna grins, throwing an arm around Allen.
"I could tell. No one fell down this time." Allen laughs.
"Except for when we pushed you." Brougan corrects. The clowns laugh for a few seconds and then Samir claps twice, signaling that they have to practice the rest of their act.
"Okay, now onto the positions we'll have on stage. Lavi, you'll be in the center since you're the tallest. Flynn, you'll be to Lavi's right, and I'll be to his left. When we're performing, there'll be a light focused on us, so we have to look good, which means that all of will have some make-up on. Lavi, you'll be showing the most skin, so I hope you don't have any weird lumps or anything on your chest or back. Flynn, you'll have an outfit with the same cut as mine since I have two of the same thing in two different colors. The violet one should bring out your eyes. I'll be in blue and Lavi in green." Eos starts rambling on about the show. "We bring in a full house, so be prepared to perform in front of a lot of people. Tomorrow we'll perform in front of all the circus members for final critiquing, and we'll be in our stage costumes, make-up included. Lavi, Anwen won't let you wear a headband in the show, so I hope you'll be fine performing without it. Now, let's take a ten minute break. I'm going to get the costumes and we'll practice in them until supper. It's a lot easier to move in them, so you guys should be able to get used to the dance faster. However both of you are a lot better than when we started, and I'm proud of you. Okay, go get water!"
Eos dashes away from them and into a caravan with a group of dancers painted on it.
"I have never been so exhausted in my life." Lavi sighs, wiping off his brow. "Who knew dancing took so much work?"
"It's not that bad." Flynn shrugs.
"You haven't even broken a sweat! You weirdo."
"It's all the walking I do. Stamina build-up."
"Mmf I suppose. I wonder how Allen's doing…"
"Watch where you're going, dumbass!" Katia shouts as Allen nearly rams into her.
"Katia, chill, it was an accident. We all mess up." Cyril rolls his eyes. He's obviously seen her blow up before.
"You should know that more than others." Brougan snickers. Luna smacks his head and smiles sweetly when he glares at her.
"Everyone, take five. Tensions are too high for us to be frivolous clowns." Samir groans, his fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose. "You know that final critiquing is tomorrow! And we have to go after the dancers and Sasha, when we know that both Anwen and Helyan are tensest."
"I see that everyone still gets jittery the day before finals." Allen comments absently.
"You don't know the half of it." Sasha smiles. His tiger purrs beside him and its tail twitches back and forth when it sees Timcanpy fluttering around Allen's head. "You might want to put your golem away before Bogdan attacks it."
"Oh, good thinking." Allen shoves Timcanpy in his vest pocket and turns back to Sasha. "Are tensions always this high? It seems a lot worse than I remember."
"Oh, yes, you were here several years ago, no? Fiorella told my sister and I tales of the child clown, Allen. It has been increasingly worse in the last few weeks because of the disappearances. Most of the police force believes that we're the ones behind them, but that is not the case. Taonga told me that he's been seeing strange monsters floating around the edge of the caravans for awhile now. He thinks that they're behind the disappearances."
"What do you think?"
"I think he is right."
"Alright, Lavi, go put this on behind the screen over there and Flynn, come with me." Eos leads Flynn to a different screen, hands her a bundle of clothes, and pushes her behind the thin paper. Flynn slips out of her clothes easily before examining the costume Eos gave her. It appears to be a bra with jingling coins dangling from it and some sort of odd swooshy pants with the same coins on them. She sighs and pulls the pants on, then the top.
"Eos, can you make sure I'm wearing this right?" Flynn asks, popping her head out. Eos comes over to the side and giggles.
"Silly, you're supposed to take your bra off before you put the top on."
"Oh…" Eos retreats back and Flynn quickly makes the change and steps out from behind the screen. Lavi is sitting on a stool looking unhappy in his clothes. He has on a vest and swooshy pants similar to the girls'. But that's not what makes Flynn laugh. It's the fact that Eos is putting a thick smudge of eyeliner around his visible eye.
"You're next, so don't laugh." Eos smiles wickedly.
"Alright, back to work everyone! We'll take it from the top!" Samir claps twice and everyone takes their positions before rushing out from backstage and into the arena to practice.
"Let's go from where we left off. Wiggle, twist, turn, swing, and bend. Then step, bend, wiggle, step, bend, wiggle, swing, twist…" Eos leads Lavi and Flynn in another round of dance, unaware of the glowing amber eyes that watch them.
Another chapter out! In a matter of days, too! So proud o3o Okay, on the Russian, most of the circus members are bilingual so they can communicate without outsiders knowing what they're saying. Normally it works with just Welsh, which was made a requirement to know in order to join Syrcas o Goleuadau. There will be a few members that can only speak one language, so be prepared for random translations. And sorry if any of the translations are wrong... I just used Google Translate since I don't know anything other than English... I'm taking Mandarin though! I was actually going to have the Russian be Mandarin, but the site doesn't understand Chinese characters, so yeah. So far this has been my favorite chapter to write, and I hope it reads well, because there is no way in hell that I'm going to edit it right now. And I found what the costumes'll look like for Lavi, Allen, and Flynn, so enjoy!
Lavi and Flynn: .
Allen: . .full.