AU: Angor Rot lives and goes with the trolls to New Jersey

Claire wished she had a flip phone so she could harshly snap it closed; as it was she had to settle for aggressively shoving the cellphone into her bag.

It wasn't that she had very high expectations (she had learned early on to set them low) but she had thought that they would make the effort to make just one night… even just the first act… Was that too much to ask?

Jim had borrowed Strickler's glamor mask and come to every single night. The only reason he wasn't here now was an inescapable Trollhunting call. He had still dropped by to bring her flowers before leaving. (She was going to need more vases.) Toby had showed up yesterday and cheered so loudly at the end of the performance that several people had glared at him. Blinky had made it to opening night and watched from the rafters and then had shown up a second time with Aaarrrgghh to watch from behind a curtain backstage. Even the ever busy Dr. Lake had made an appearance.

Claire sighed and peered through the curtain. It was closing night. They had almost a full house and none of her friends could make it. She hadn't been too bothered by that because her parents had promised to come… but then they had bailed on her… again.

She tried not to read too much into it. Her Mom's job kept her busy, her Dad as well. They had Enrique to take care of. On top of all of that they were helping Barbara find homes for the Familiars. Of course they didn't have time to make some stupid play…

Claire's fingers curled into the curtains, clenching until her knuckles turned white. She grit her teeth and swiped at her eyes. This was nothing. She was used to it. She was stronger than this. It was just a play, after all. Not some big, life-changing event. She drew in a deep breath and started to let go of the curtain.

Movement drew her gaze to the back of the darkened auditorium. As she watched a tall African man began to work his way through the back row, glaring in annoyance until he found a seat next to the fire exit. He was dressed in a loose, but appealing, patterned brown robe with dark trousers that looked rather out of place among the standard styles of New Jersey. His long greying hair was done up in tight braids and pulled back into a low pony tail and, most arrestingly of all, he only had one eye. It was an unusual golden-brown.

Claire frowned as she searched his face. He felt familiar.

She jolted when he made eye-contact with her. They stared at each other for a moment, across the distance of the stage and audience, before the corner of his lips curved upward into a smirk. He held out his hand, palm upward and fingers clawed. Claire's brows drew together in puzzlement. Purple magic, a shade darker than hers, sparked between his fingers and his eye glowed yellow for a second.

No. Way.

"It's time Claire." One of her crewmates tugged at her shoulder.

She released the curtain and scrambled into position, her mind still churning. There was no way that was Angor Rot and yet… She'd recognize that magic anywhere. Also that eye.

What was he doing here? And how did he look human?

Claire made it through the first part of the play without incident… but only barely. The moment the curtain went down and intermission was announced, she was scrambling off the stage in search of the mysterious visitor.

He wasn't in his seat, or anywhere in the audience for that matter. Claire let out a groan of frustration but quickly pasted on a smile as various theater-goers approached to talk or ask for photos.

Finally, just as the intermission was nearing its end, she slipped out of the crowd and into the hallway. Disappointment gnawed at her insides. Had she just imagined him? Had she been that desperate for affirmation?

A very familiar chuckle brought her back to the present. Claire dodged to the side, pulling her own dagger out of her skirts to deflect the blow. She pushed the weapon away and jumped backward, putting distance between herself and her assailant so she could get a look at them.

"Very good." Claire froze at the voice. "You appeared distracted so I chose to test your awareness. You are learning well."

The man from the audience stepped out of the nook he had been hiding in and faced her. To the casual onlooker he seemed loose and relaxed but Claire knew better.

"W-what?" She sputtered. "How?... Why?"

Angor Rot smirked and indicated with a hand at his body.

"This is just an illusion… I believe we went over those?"

"Yes," Claire said, relaxing just slightly now she was sure he was done testing her. "But why haven't you… If you could do this then…."

"Why didn't I use it before?"

Claire nodded.

Angor sheathed his knife and folded his arms behind his back.

"As convincing as this is, an illusion is just an illusion. It would not have protected me from sunlight. I could not have used it in conjunction with the shadow staff either. The magic drain would have been too much given both spells are shadow magic."

Claire nodded, mentally jotting the information down. They had discussed energy drain and its relationship to types of a magic a few weeks ago.

"Besides, this does not have quite the intimidation factor of my true form."

"You still haven't said why you're here." Claire crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "I assume you didn't just show up to attack me in a dark hallway."

"Five minutes until the end of intermission," A voice announced over the PA system. "Please return to your seats."

Claire didn't move, watching Angor Rot intently. He returned her stare, eye half lidded before letting out a quiet grunt and looking away.

"This is important to you, isn't it?"

Claire blinked.

"Yes but…"

"You are my student," Angor continued. "You have put as great an effort into this as any hunter ever did pursuing their prey; it is only natural that I should come to observe your triumph."

Claire froze, eyes wide, her words failing her.

"Besides this… Play… has been no trial to watch. The story is… strange… but you and your fleshbag companions are worthy performers. I anticipate the conclusion."

Angor strode past Claire back toward the auditorium. On the way by, just for a second, he grasped her shoulder.

"Well done."

The words were so faint Claire almost thought she had imagined them.

She turned and stared at where he had been for a minute. A smile slowly formed across her face. It remained there as she hurried back toward the stage.