"Sorry, guys! I didn't mean to take so long, but it seems that life's getting to me and I'm not getting a lot of inspiration for stories... luckily for you this one's been finished since before I posted it-"

"What?!"

"O-oh, hi, Arrow..."

"So basically you're letting then squirm?"

"Pretty much... after all, reviews make me post faster."

Arrow rolls his eyes. "And what about the other stories?"

"I'll get to them later. Will you please...?"

"Nonya doesn't own anything besides the plot and her OC... or is it more?"

"No, it's just Topaz."

"Oh, okay. Then yeah, that's all she owns."

"Miss Topaz," Mr. Tall's voice says behind me, making me jump.

I clutch the cloth over my heart and whirl on him, giving him a glare. "You're going to give me a heart attack."

"You'll be fine," he says, rolling his dark eyes. "Come with me, you too Larten."

I feel like I'm in trouble. I get up and follow Mr. Tall. You would expect him to take long strides, like Mr. Crepsley, but his steps are short, most likely for the benefit of those around him. I do know that those legs can move fast because he can disappear in less than a blink of an eye. I walk beside Mr. Crepsley and realize that I'm trembling. Mr. Crepsley gives me a reassuring smile that calms me down almost immediately. I end up standing with the both of them and Mr. Tall turns around and faces us.

"I've noticed that you're reluctant to use your talent and so you will be training with Mr. Crepsley and I until you get full control of it."

"B-but I might hurt you," I protest, not liking the idea of hurting the two people that know all about me and accept me still. "I'm not hurting you two."

"We can handle ourselves," Mr. Crepsley assures.

I look them both in the eyes and sigh in defeat. "Fine... I'll train with you, but if you end up hurt..." I let it go unfinished, having no clue how to finish it.

They smile at me, amused that I'd threaten two powerful beings such as themselves.

"Do you want to go back to camp or start now?"

I close my eyes and ponder the idea of both, but there's nothing to do around camp so I open my eyes. "Let's train."

|A—F-E-W—L-E-S-S-O-N-S—L-A-T-E-R|

I pant and I'm bent over, holding my knees as the grass around me burns. I bring the flames back into my body and collapse. "I'm never gonna get it!"

"You will, just keep practicing," Mr. Tall assures.

I glare at him. "You keep telling me this, but I'm getting nowhere!"

"You're able to keep your flames in when you're angry now, that is progress," Mr. Crepsley says.

Even if it's true, I'm not keeping from burning anything and I growl in frustration. "But look at the grass. If I hadn't brought my flames back the entire forest would be on fire!"

"Just keep trying," they say.

I shake my head and stand up straight before I make my entire body flame up and I will them not to burn the grass. I notice that the grass doesn't catch on fire so I try touching a tree, but it goes off in flames. I bring all of my flames into my body again and I fall onto my back and sigh.

"It's useless," I sigh. "I'm nothing but a-," I'm interrupted by both of the Mr.'s.

"Do not say it," they growl.

Mr. Crepsley walks over to me and helps me up. "I believe in you... try again."

"Then back up," I say.

He pulls me forward and hugs me. "I'm not going anywhere."

I put my hands on his chest and push even though it's useless. "No! I'm not doing it! I'm not killing you!"

My blood is on fire and I still can't manage to push him. "You can do it and if you cannot I regret nothing."

I give up and my hands lay limp on his chest and my face is buried in his chest. "No... I won't do it."

"Please... for me, try," he whispers.

I wrap my arms around his torso and I will with every fiber of my being that I don't hurt him and I set my body aflame. I wait for the screams of pain like with Sarah, but they never come. I look up and see that he's fine. I let my flames go back into my body and I smile at a grinning Mr. Crepsley.

"I... I did it," I whisper.

"I knew that you would be able to," he says.

"And now you are ready," Mr. Tall says.

My eyebrows come together. "Ready?" I question. "For what?"

"To perform with the rest of the Cirque!" Mr. Tall grins with his black teeth.

I gulp. "I'm not really one for performing. I'm more of a stage hand," I insist.

"But you can share your gift with the world... I will gladly be your assistant," Mr. Crepsley says with a smile.

I shake my head. "No, I'm not performing."

Before they can say anything else I go back to the camp and go into the tent I share with Madam Truska. She smiles and greets me and I smile and greet her back. Then I lie down and go to sleep fully clothed, not caring at the moment due to exhaustion.

For days everyone begs for me to perform and for days I've been refusing and threatening to burn them alive, though I don't have the heart and they know it. I'm currently lying in my hammock with Darren and Evra begging on their knees. My eyebrow twitches and I'm itching to punch them both in the throat, but I know that could kill them.

"Fine! I'll perform!" I groan.

"Yes!" they yell.

"Hey everyone! Guess who finally cracked!" Darren yells, running out of the tent.

"Did Mr. Crepsley break into song?"

"No not yet," Evra sighs.

How many betting pools do they have? I wonder as I get up and walk out into full view of everyone. "I'm performing."

Everyone breaks into cheers and suddenly I'm swept into a hug by Mr. Tall, and I cling to his jacket, afraid of the fall down, making him laugh. "I knew that if the boys begged long enough you'd break."

I glare at him. "Oh, how very nice. Send two boys in with a girl who can set them on fire if she's angry enough," I say sarcastically, causing him to laugh. "Now... can you put me down? I'm kinda afraid of heights."

He sets me down. "You are not afraid of heights," he says.

"Yeah, it's the fall and the landing I'm afraid of," I agree.

This causes those around me to chuckle and I manage a smirk. We run around, getting ready for the show and Evra shows me the flyer. My name's on there. I'm between Mr. Crepsley and Alexander as The Flaming Topaz and I can't help but feel that everyone's expecting a stone instead of me. I shrug at this thought and find that Evra's grinning at me.

"What?"

"I just can't wait to see your act. What do you plan on doing?"

What am I doing? I think before I smirk. "That's a surprise."

I hand back the flyer and run to Mr. Crepsley and knock on his trailer door just as the sun is setting, seeing as I don't want him to lose too much sleep. "Mr. Crepsley! Wake up, I need to talk to you!"

The door opens and Mr. Crepsley stands there, hair not in order and clothes rumbled while he scratches his scar. I find this cute and can't help but giggle at how disarrayed he is compared to when I see him throughout the night.

"What is it, Topaz?" he asks.

"I need help with coming up with what to do for the act," I say.

He nods. "I will help you. The show is in quite a few hours, plenty of time to come up with something."

I smile and after he gets ready and eats breakfast we head into the forest and I manage to come up with an act for the show. After that we sit beside each other, leaning against a tree and just talk. I learn of a vampire named Gavner Purl who snores loudly and breathes so loud you can hear him from a mile away. I laugh at some of his stories and end up leaning against him. I blush and move away with a giggle and he chuckles and gets up, holding his hand out for me to take. I take his hand with no hesitation and he pulls me up and he drops my hand after a few seconds, again leaving my hand feeling cold.

"Did you know they have a bet of when you're gonna burst into song?" I ask him.

He sighs and rolls his eyes. "Of course," he says. "They are always placing silly bets."

"I want to hear you sing."

He stops and I stop too. "I cannot sing."

"Please? You hum just fine."

He observes me for a minute and then sighs. "Alright."

He hums an unknown song that I've never heard before and it sounds almost like a lullaby. When he finishes I clap and grin.

"It is not that good," he insists, ears red and eyes down and to the side.

"Are you kidding? I love it," I say. "You're voice has to be my favorite."

Did I really just say that? I ask myself.

He chuckles. "That is good to know," he says before he takes my hand. "We must hurry back. The show will begin soon."

I nod and we run back to the camp hand in hand and we end up there on time. I notice everyone smiling at us and I share a confused look with him before I shrug and go sit next to Darren who has Madam Octa in hand.

"You take good care of her," I notice.

He smiles and nods. "Yeah. She's pretty much the cause of me being a half-vampire though..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I say. "I'm not willing to share my story with anyone."

"Mr. Tall must know... and what about Mr. Crepsley," he says in a teasing tone.

I feel my ears go red. "Well... he knows parts of it."

Not that I'll tell him about that, I think as I look away from the grinning boy.

"Larten and Topaz sitting in a tree, K-I-," He stops as soon as my hand covers his mouth.

"You are so annoying, you and Evra," I mutter. "Now when I release your mouth, you're not going to say anything, got it?"

He nods and I release his mouth slowly. "You know, I think Mr. Crepsley's got a soft spot for you."

My ears and cheeks must be tomato red. "Shut up... I think you're next."

"I've still got time to tease you, and even when I leave, Evra will take my place."

I palm my face and mutter under my breath, "Stupid kids getting into my love life."

Darren chuckles and calls Evra over to help tease me.

"Darren! We are next," Mr. Crepsley calls, saving me from embarrassment.

Evra yawns and leans against me. "It takes forever to get to my act," he mutters.

"Well, they save the best for last," I say, attempting to cheer him up.

It works because he grins. "Thanks, Topaz. You're great."

"I try."

After a few more minutes of talking to the snake-boy it's my turn.

"This is the first time she's ever performed, and her act is one of the safest, but it is also one of our most dangerous. Please, do nothing, and stay in your seats for, the Flaming Topaz!" Mr. Tall announces.