Chapter 3

br> br>Erik didn't wake until the late afternoon. Still groggy from the potion he stumbled outside to let the fresh air clear his head. There was already a crowd gathering at the entertainment tents not far away. Grabbing his cape from his tent, and ensuring that his mask was firmly in place, he walked on the outskirts of the fair, far from any wandering eyes. He had always had incredible eyesight and he saw the festivities with no difficulty as he moved with great stealth and caution from attraction to attraction.

br> br>He was more likely to be spotted during the daytime and so needed to take extra precautions in his proximity to the crowds. In the nighttime he could be within a few feet of someone and they would never know, but in the light of day, he was no longer an entertainment to be gawked at. He was a monster that could be hurt or even killed without thought.

br> br>As he neared the crowds, he could see that nearly all the people had gathered around a great, circular cage. Erik judged it to be about 50 yards long. The iron bars that served as the wall of the cage stood ten feet high. Leaving the sky as the ceiling.

br> br>The cage was empty save for a box in the middle. Erik sat away from the crowds, out of sight on a hill to watch the blue-eyed girl and her tigers.

br> br>He couldn't help but think about the night before as he waited for the show to start. He was silently cursing himself for his stupidity. He should have left when he had seen her stir as she was regaining consciousness. Why had she not screamed or cried out for help when she saw him? Did he frighten her so badly that she couldn't even speak? All these thoughts were swirling in his mind as he heard a cheer go up from the crowd and he looked up to see a girl enter the cage. It wasn't the blue-eyed girl, but one of the sisters he had seen the night before at the bon fire. She walked to the box and though her voice was loud and carried well, Erik still had to strain to hear it.

br> br>"Madams and Monsieurs, you are about to witness one of the most dangerous acts to ever travel a fair. I must ask you, please do not come close to the cage or throw any items into the cage. While these tigers are trained, they are still wild animals. So for your safety and the safety of our trainer, please do not attempt to place anything within these bars. Thank you."

br> br>She finished with a flourishing bow and ran out of the cage. She held the door open as the girl and her two tigers ran into the cage to meet the cheering audience. Erik was slightly amused at the introduction, but couldn't help but want to clap himself as the girl ran into the cage. She looked different then she had the night before. She wore a leather corset and a long skirt that seemed to have designs on it. Though hard to tell from his perch on the hill.

br> br>The act was perfect. The mighty creatures obeyed her every silent command. Erik even found himself amazed at the performance. He was not surprised in the least when she did not try to have the Siberian leap over her. But it was still amazing to watch as they treated her as a cub would its mother. Even placing both paws on her shoulders when she stood on the box and held a treat over her head for the tiger to eat. It was incredible to see the height of the creatures. He knew that the girl was tall, but even standing on the box, the tigers had no problem simply balancing on its hind legs and merely using her shoulders to steady themselves when they ate the treat from her bare hand.

br> br>It was easy to see the power of the animals in the stunts they did. And equally simple to see how easily one could get hurt in a cage with those creatures.

br> br>The girl waved her goodbye and ran out to put the tigers back into their cage. Erik was surprised to see that it was the sister that gave the introduction and warnings at the beginning of the show to come back out and collect the money and answer the questions of the people as they left. But he dismissed it as a meaningless observation that he did not need to waste his genius on trying to explain, when there was quite possibly no explanation needed.

br> br>So he simply left to prepare for his own show that night. He was curious if the girl would come and watch him again. He assumed that he had frightened her too badly for her to come and watch him perform his mysterious wonders. This saddened him. As if in some way he had failed. He hadn't really noticed how much he enjoyed having her watch him until he thought of her not being there.

br> br>The sun was setting and the sky burst into a wonderful array of pinks, purples and oranges. Erik always enjoyed sunsets. The closing of the day met with such vibrant colors. He watched as the light bounced off the clouds as he walked to his tent. People would start flooding the area and he needed to make sure he avoided them at all costs.

br> br>He reached his tent just as the last of the color dripped from the sky and darkness took over. All the lamps were lit along the paths and he ducked inside just as the crowds started making their way down to the entertainments of the night.

br> br>His performance was the same as it always was. Flawless in every way. He did not see the girl's blue eyes until everyone was leaving. He caught sight of them just as they darted outside. He was happy that she had come. He had wanted so badly to see her that night.

br> br>He had planned on following her, just to watch her. He enjoyed watching the way she walked and interacted with the animals. But just as he had finished collecting all the money and the last of the crowds were filtering out of the fair and off towards their houses and warm beds, one of the sisters stepped inside.

br> br>"What can I do for you?" He asked. His voice cold.

br> br>"I... I was wondering if we might be able to talk." She said, obviously uncomfortable with having to talk to this ghost of a man.

br> br>"Talk?" He repeated as if he had misunderstood what the girl had said. "And what on earth would you need to talk me about?" He asked harshly. This girl did not want to talk to him any more than he wanted her to.

br> br>"About my sister. The mud flower."

br> br>Erik glanced sharply at the girl. He had heard the man at the fire call the blue eyed girl his mud flower. Surely that girl and the one that stood in front of him now could not be related. But as he studied the frightened girl's face, he could, in fact, see some resemblance.

br> br>"Alright." He said as he motioned for her to sit down. He placed the leather bag that he had put what he had collected that night by his bed and sat down.

br> br>The girl obeyed and her eyes widened at the sight of the bag. But she did not mention it. She had only come to say what she needed to and leave. She didn't want to stay any longer than was necessary.