Aiko looks at the people around her on the street. She was in town, going through shops to quell her growing boredom A paper flies at her and Alex grabs it.
"What is it?"
"It's a flyer about a circus."
"A circus? Wonderful!" Aiko smiles. "We have to go! When is it?"
"It looks like it'll be in town starting tomorrow."
"I want to go! I could use something new to entertain me."
"You are hard to keep entertained my lady."
"That is a punishment you'll have to deal with for as long as you want my soul." She smirks and walks into a toy store, looking around for anything interesting. When she finds nothing that catches her attention she buys a handful of toys and passes them out to the children around the store. As she and Alex then begin their walk back to the carridge Aiko looks up at the sky. "Alex, tell me something. You went through such trouble to get me in a deal with you, but, what made you so interested in me in the first place?" She looks back at him. Alex smiles, thinking back to the first time he saw her.
"Well my lady, that was some time ago..."
Aiko is weak, having just undergone a painful experiment to gain more strength. The test was only partially successful. Her muscles have been pushed past their limits for the testing after the experiment. She slides down a wall to a sitting position, trying to catch her breath, but feeling as though her lungs are collapsed. She has been there for a long while now, and has even stopped dreaming of escape, its hopeless to her. She cries silently, unable to make a sound. In her weakness she falls over, lying on her side against the wall. Aiko closes her eyes, then falls into a deep sleep, dreaming only of the horrors she has already endured. It isnt long before alex suddenly appears. He looks around, wondering who might have summoned him. He sees aiko on the floor.
"This child? She summoned me... and in her sleep." He smirks. "She must have been so miserable, to do such a wicked and dangerous thing as to summon a demon for aid..." he kneels and lifts her chin. "Child, wake up. Or was i summoned in vain?" Aiko's eyes open slowly. She looks up at the demon in front of her, and glares.
"D-disgusting... creature..." she shoves his hand away, then curls up, a wave of pain, an after-effect of the experiments, overtaking her body.
"You summoned me here."
"No! Get away!" She yells, surprising him. "I have... i have only hate for you... y-you demons... i don't..."
"I could save your life, and even restore you. Just take me hand and..." he starts to hold out his hand, but she slaps it away, still glaring at him with her weak, tired eyes.
"N-never... i... i want no more... no more demons... no... more... demo..." her eyes close again, her small bit of energy spent. Alex waits a moment, curious as to whether or not she might wake back up. When she doesn't he stands back up straight and looks around again, then back at Aiko.
"This girl..."
"She is special." He looks to see Aiko's previous demon tormentor standing outside the cell. "I've watched over her for many years, until her fathers contracted expired early."
"Ahh, a previous experience explains her strong emotions."
"She has a lot of hate, and if i could somehow enter in a contract with her i would. Her soul is very sweet and spicy. A pure girl, hate only for the evils of this world she lives in, and strong hate at that."
"You sound like you want to convince me to make a contract with her."
"I'd be happy to assist." He smirks.
"I'll give her time. Her misery may get the better of her yet..."
"I spent every night in that cell or nearby, trying to convince you. But of course, your stubbornness forced my hand."
"A spectacular thing that is, a strong will. Broken only by a heart that cared too much." Aiko sighs. They reach the carriage and get in, heading back to Aiko's home...
"Hurry Alex!" Aiko runs into the tent, excited to see the circus.
"Calm down, please. I know you think you aren't one, but you,re a lady and should act as such."
"What did you say?" Aiko glares at Alex. "I am a lady! However i never went to the circus before." She looks around the tent, which is still mostly empty. "I'm just, you know, excited. Thats all." They get upfront and take their seats. Aiko sees a snake slithering towards her and reaches down. It comes up to her hand and smells her, its tongue tickling her. She giggles and gently pets the snake's head. It wraps around her wrist, then slithers up her arm.
"My lady, put that thing down." Alex frowns.
"But its so cute." Aiko smiles as she snake wraps loosely around her neck and seems to relax, just content to stay there and be warm.
"Excuse me, but you have my friend, says Wordsworth." Aiko and Alex look up at the man standing in front of them, a couple of snakes wrapped around him. Aiko smiles at him.
"So it seems." She gently unwraps the snake and holds it out to the new man, who takes it. It looks at him, and he nods.
"Thank you, says Oscar."
"No problem. He was a sweetheart." Aiko smiles. "What's your name?"
"Snake, and this is Oscar, says Wordsworth."
"Its nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the show." He nods and walks back out of the ring.
"My lady..." Alex sighs.
"What? I like snakes." Aiko leans forward on the railing. "Back in the cell there were a couple of animals that slipped in and out. The rats and mice came when i was asleep, but there was a snake that came during the day. Because i was warm it would come over to me and wrap around my leg. I've never been afraid of snakes, but i didnt have any real love for them either, until that snake showed up. It helped me feel a little normal, having something else there with me, something with a beating heart."
"I never saw that snake." Aiko suddenly looks sad.
"One day it came to curl up around my leg, but that was a day they were going to run a test. They came early, and i didnt have time to hide the snake. One of them grabbed him off my leg and walked away. I never saw him again..." she sighs. "I went back to feeling so alone..."
"My lady..."
"Hi!" Aiko looks at a little girl who is smiling at her. She smiles.
"Hello. Whats your name?"
"Nini!" She giggles. "Are you here to see the funny people? I wanna see them on the wire waaaaaay up there!" She points up.
"Im looking forward to that too." Aiko smiles.
"Nikollete!" A woman walks over. "I'm sorry, i hope she didn't disturb you."
"No, its fine." Aiko smiles. "She was a delight, and seems very excited."
"I like you." Nini giggles. "Whats YOUR name?"
"Aiko Setrous."
"S-Se... oh! Oh my! I wasn't expecting someone so important to be here." Aiko smiles at the woman.
"Please, don't be so alarmed. I'm merely here for the same reason you are. I wanted to see the show."
"Come on mommy! Lets sit doooooown!" Nini pulls her mother away. Aiko returns to looking out at the stage, wondering what all she will be seeing. After a minute a man walks out, checking things. He notices Aiko watching him and smiles, walking over,
"What brings such a sophisticated woman such as yourself to our humble tent tonight?"
"I've never been to a circus, and this sounded like a fun one." Aiko smiles.
"And is the stiff your bodyguard?" He looks at Alex and Aiko smirks.
"He's my butler. My name is Aiko Setrous."
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Joker, and tonight i'll be your happy host." He bows.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the show." He smiles and returns to his checking. Finally the show begins, and aiko watches, excited to see everything. When Snake comes out Aiko watches closely, intrigued. When he walks off she feels something wrap around her leg and looks down. "Dan!"
"What?" Alex looks at Aiko, who reaches down and pulls up a snake. It smells her, then wraps around her neck. "Another one?"
"Alex, this is the snake from my cell!" Aiko excitedly says. She pets the snake. "I was so sure you were dead dan. Im happy to see you got away." The snake rubs its head against her cheek, making Aiko smile. She spends the remainder of the show talking quietly with the snake, worrying Alex a bit, especially since the snake seems to respond, nodding and shaking his head. Finally things are over, and as they walk outside aiko looks around.
"What are you looking for?"
"Well, i'm wondering where that guy is, Snake. I've missed Dan, but he has a home now." She pets the snake, which then points. "Alright, this way it is." Alex sighs as they follow the snake's directions, finding their way back and at the front of a tent where aiko can hear the hissing of other snakes. "Excuse me..." after a moment the flap opens and Snake walks out. Aiko smiles and unwraps the snake from her neck and holds him out to Snake. "I believe he should be with you. I hope you didnt worry too much."
"Ahh, that's..."
"Dan. Or, at least, that's what i named him when i met him years ago." He looks surprised. Aiko smiles. "He was a very good friend when i was very lonely. I thought he had been killed when he was taken away from me, but i'm glad to see he found a good home."
"Thank you, says Wilde." He takes the snake, which then wraps around his arm and seems to give Aiko farewell look.
"Alright, i must head home now. It's too late for a lady to be wandering around." Aiko waves. "I enjoyed the show. I may have to come back. Goodbye Snake. Goodbye Dan." She turns and walks away, Alex following.
"You seemed to have left him in a state of shock."
"I have that effect on people." Aiko sighs and looks up at the sky. "Alex, i just want to go to bed now."
"Of course my lady. But you haven't had dinner yet."
"I think i'll skip dinner tonight."
"Aiko..."
"I'm not hungry Alex. I just want to go to bed." He sighs.
"Alright. You worry my sometimes Aiko. Your constant need for entertainment of some sort and lack of healthy eating and sleeping habits..."
"Its your punishment. I will find every way possible to make you miserable for as long as this contract is in place." Aiko smirks at him. "Because i hate you." Alex sighs, then smiles.
"I know, my lady..."