Hi everyone! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted; I hope I haven't lost any of you guys…

I realized that, in previous chapters, my computer changed "manager" to "managed," even after I edited. I am very sorry. I will try to take care of that and watch for it from here on out. Sorry if it confused anyone.

Thank you for all the reviews, follows, and favorites. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. I probably won't post again until after the holidays, but I can always answer questions, if you have any. Enjoy!

Chapter 5 A Tale for a Tale

Emily

Prominent home in London: Early 1800s

The little girl of five years ran her fingers along the letter etched onto the sides of one of the blocks her parents had gotten for her. After careful trace and thought, she determined what the letter must be.

"A…"

She stacked it on the pile of blocks she knew and ran her hands through the scattered array for another block. When she found it, she ran her fingers along the sides until she felt the pattern of the letter. She didn't recognize this one yet. It felt like an "O," but with something different. She set it in the pile she didn't know.

She heard the sounds of a pair of footsteps along the hall and recognized who they belonged to long before they came to her. Eventually, she could hear the conversation between her mother and father. Her mother was the perfect example of a lady. Her steps were quick, quiet, and modest. Her father was a working gentleman of the time, but had a hard nature about him. His steps came in long, easily audible strides.

"James, how can you just hide her away? I fear you will never realize what a bright and beautiful child you and I have-"

"She is to stay with her caretaker out of sight for tonight's events, Clara. I do not wish to discuss it any further. Clara, she is blind and a child. She will never understand what is around her; dancing, and such. She will either be in the way or cause a mess. I won't have it!"

"But she can learn. She must!"

Emily Beth cringed when her father came into the room and swept her off her feet in such a harsh manner that her head spun in her dark world. She clung to his strong shoulders and trembled as he turned to her mother, who she heard hurrying in after him. "She will never need to!" he yelled.

Her mother's voice turned cold as ice. "Put her down this instant. Or I will never make another appearance at an event of yours again."

Her father shuffled his feet. For a brief moment, his grip on her softened. James sighed and gently lowered her until her feet were on the ground. Emily Beth pattered in the direction where she knew her mother was and nearly fell into the multiple layers of her dress. When she found her, she buried her face in the skirt of her mother's dress. Her mother's gentle hand stroked the top of her head as she and James stared at the each a moment.

He cleared his throat. When he spoke again, his voice was kinder. "There is no time for petting. She goes to her room."

He left without another word to either of them. As his steps faded, Clara knelt down and pulled Emily Beth into a tight hug. Emily breathed in the rosy scent of her. Clara tucked a stray curl behind her ear and lightly kissed her forehead before taking her hand. "Come, Emily Beth. Let's do as your father says."

Emily Beth held her mother's hand and was slowly led through the halls.

Edward: Present

"You are going to condemn them all to hell, Edward. I can never be silenced for good. For, even if you have her, she will eventually be gone. If not by your hand, but the tragedy life brings. Then you will act, my monster. And all that is left here…will be gone."

The young gentleman whipped the flap to his tent back and stepped outside, taking in the fresh air and sunlight versus the darkness of his tent. He inhaled and exhaled one good time, and brushed his hair out of his face. It was probably midday, as they had all gone to sleep early that morning. But the latter part of that sleep was terrible for him. He barely slept.

Edward made his way to the big tent for breakfast. The manager, Lewis, Minnie, and some of the staff were the only ones there. Everyone else was still sleeping. Minnie was kind enough to bring a plate of food to both Edward and Lewis.

Edward took it. "Thank you, dear lady."

Minnie's smile brightened. "Do you hear that, Lewis? Such a gentleman."

Lewis responded by yawning and snatching his plate away and jabbing his fork into his eggs.

"Emily?" Edward inquired, after a moment of silence.

Minnie filled their glasses with grape juice. "She is much better. Dr. Edison took care of the wound, but she is not permitted to dance for several weeks."

Everyone paused to take this in as Minnie continued. "She was awake this morning. Bertha is staying with her. I meant to bring her some food because I know she is hungry, but I've been helping here and haven't gotten a chance…"

"I will take it to her presently Minnie," he said. "I would…like to see her."

"Thank you, Edward."

A few moments later, she joined them for a quick bite to eat. She finished before them, and went back to her chores. Edward and Lewis, hardly in the mood for conversation, finished their breakfast and rested their heads on their hands.

The manager brought a covered plate to Edward. "Thank you for volunteering to take this to her, Edward. We are short-staffed this morning because of…" He trailed off because he couldn't finish. "Tell her the funeral is later this afternoon.

Edward stood and took the plate. Perplexed by its lower than average weight and not in the mood for nonsense, he uncovered it. There were only the tiniest helpings of each dish. Edward's eyes darted down to stare at the manager in silence. He wondered if the man was on the brink of insanity.

"There is nothing here," Edward snapped. "The lady has been through much, my good sir. She's lost more blood than she weighs. And I see there is food to spare. Tell me, can she not get any more than this?"

"Mr. Mordrake, she is a dancer. Emily Beth works for this company, and must keep herself in the proper form as an entertainer. And, besides you, she is the most promising member we have ever had. I am thinking of our business here."

Edward gave him a long, cold stare before going over to where the food was placed and putting modest portions on the plate. "I refuse to give an injured human being morsels when there is plenty to spare. If you want someone to go along with this, you might ask someone else."

Since Minnie and the staff were close to where he was, they were able to hear. Along with Lewis, who was close to the manager. When Edward was finished, he covered the plate and stopped by the manager on his way out. "And, if you do not allow her to take in the nourishment her body requires, you may not have her much longer. Now, pardon me."

Edward walked off then, no longer concerned about the manager's reaction and leaving him to however he felt about his words. He found Emily Beth sitting up in her bed with Bertha looking for something in the chest of drawers nearby.

She did not see him at first. She leaned her forehead into the palm of her hand brushed away a tear, only spotting him when she happened to look up. She pushed herself into a more upright position. "Edward…"

He managed a small smile and passed her the covered plate. Emily Beth took it. "Thank you. You seem very tired."

"I am," Edward confessed. "But it warms my heart to see you well again, Emily. For a moment, we were afraid we had lost you."

Emily Beth looked down, going very quiet. "There are some moments I think…it should have been me. This morning I woke up expecting Matthew to come and tell me how my Lady was behaving."

Berth hugged her from the side. "You mustn't think that."

Edward put a hand on her shoulder, then stepped away to leave her to her meal. As he departed the tent, he passed the manager's message along to them. "His memorial begins later this afternoon."

…

Emily

She watched as they prepared to lower Matthew into the ground, barely managing to keep herself steady on Lady's saddle. A man of the staff managed to bring Lady to her so she could attend the funeral without anyone having to carry her. At first, she felt strong enough. But as the minutes went by, she felt weaker and weaker. But she was determined to stay in honor of Matthew.

Lewis, Otto, and Minnie were the last to arrive. Everyone that had mourning clothes was dressed in them. Minnie held Lewis' arm, and he let her. But Emily Beth could tell he was angry. Angry for what happened. Otto simply…accepted it as a part of Freak Show society. She glimpsed at Edward, already in place near the grave. But she couldn't read his expression.

Minnie stood on the other side of Lady, with Bertha on the other side. As they passed, Lewis and Otto got a little too close for Lady's taste. She two-stepped her feet and snickered at them three times. Everyone, including Edward himself, started for her in concern the mare would throw her.

Emily jerked the reins once, trying to look as if it were nothing but actually feeling light-headed from the movement. Lady, sensing Emily's distress, finally stood still once more. Lewis held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, my apologies, Madame! Come no closer, she says…" he mumbled to the men as he took his place among them.

Emily couldn't listen to the words as their manager removed his hat and began to say what a noble boy Matthew was, how kind he was. Everything seemed like an understatement now. As they lowered him into the ground, she gasped as she thought she heard his voice. It only turned out to be a mere distant memory.

"Why are you here? You seem like any other woman to me. Better, if I do say so myself." Matthew turned to her as they watched the sun set from the fence. "Emily, couldn't you do better with your family?"

"No Matthew, I certainly couldn't," she answered solemnly. "I have no choice. And I am not like any other woman. I cannot say why yet… I just…wanted to forget why I'm here."

Matthew nodded. "I understand. I needed to forget, too."

As they watched the wind blow through the trees, they spotted a flock of blackbirds scattering through the trees. "To forgetting," Matthew stated.

Emily Beth gasped, breaking down in tears from the memory. She'd never answered him. He never knew the answer to her question because she was under the delusion that she could simply "forget." Now Matthew was gone.

Emily squeezed Lady's reins as Minnie reached up and took her other hand. What good did forgetting do anyone? Had Matthew really forgotten why he was there?

They lowered Matthew into the ground and began to cover him with dirt. Emily closed her eyes. Everything seemed to move so slowly. She bowed her head as the manager opened an old copy of the bible (possibly the only one on the entire grounds) and began to read as the carnie hands covered the corpse of a good man so wrongfully murdered.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…"

…

Later on, when all was said and done, Emily Beth let one of the of the carnie hands that was to resume care of the stables lead Lady by a long rope as she sat there, not even bothering to take the reins. The rest of their coterie walked alongside her, men a little more careful about keeping their distance than women.

When they were close enough to her tent, Emily slid off Lady's saddle and heavily leaned on Bertha as the carnie hand took Lady away. Lady reared up several times when she found that Edward, Lewis, and Otto were a little too close for comfort. Bertha and Minnie cracked a smile when they were all forced to take a step back for her to go through.

When she was well on her way, they all approached.

"A brave soul, to mind the stables," Edward remarked.

"You could, ah, pet her, Edward," Lewis joked.

"No thank you," the young gentleman replied softly.

"Lady is quite a fitting name." Otto cleared his throat and held out his abnormally thin hand. Lewis sighed and reached into his coat pocket for a shilling, which Otto took.

Emily Beth stared at them in disbelief. "You bet on my horse?"

Lewis and Otto froze. "All in good spirit, Em."

Emily hopped on one foot to regain her balance, as the other was too heavily bandaged to stand on. Edward stepped forward and offered his hand to her to relieve Bertha. "Allow me, my lady."

Bertha gently helped her lean on Edward. "Should one of us stay with you, dear? Or shall we bring you dinner from the tent?"

Emily shook her head. "Please, all of you. Go and have dinner at the table. Bertha, if you will, bring something later. I will do fine alone for a while. Thank you all for your help and comfort, both yesterday and today."

"You're certain?" Minnie asked.

Emily nodded and leaned into Edward, suddenly feeling very small in stature compared to him. He nodded to the others. "I will be along."

Everyone went away slowly, as if they were unsure of leaving her. Edward lifted Emily like she was nothing. She felt entirely useless. She couldn't even walk herself.

"I think I'll sit in the chair and read a bit, Edward. I do tire of sleeping so much." She felt him nod as he brought her to the chair she typically read and, occasionally, dozed in.

When he sat her down, she untied her black bonnet in one fluid motion and sat it down on the little end table, letting the loose braid she managed that morning fall over her shoulder. "Thank you, Edward. I'm sure you tire of carrying me everywhere," she laughed nervously.

He smiled and knelt beside her so his ice blue eyes were level with hers. "'Tis no trouble 'tall. Shall I bring you anything? A book, perhaps?"

Emily Beth smiled and gestured to the midnight blue book with gold letters that she had been reading every spare moment she had. "The one on the far end, if you don't mind."

He went to the shelf and took it. Emily noticed his eyes quickly scanning the shelf of titles as he turned away and offered it to her with the brightest smile she had seen from him yet. Emily, as usual, couldn't help but return it. He had such a handsome smile.

"Ah. Wuthering Heights. A sad, tragic tale… However, a beautiful love story."

Emily took it, letting his hands slide off the cover before lowering it to her lap. "You've read it?"

Edward briefly grinned and lowered his gaze. "Heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights…"

Emily recognized the quote and said the rest with him. "…where I woke sobbing for joy."

He nodded as she stroked the cover. "It is a favorite of mine. If only the world knew such love as Heathcliff," she said quietly.

"You no longer believe such human emotions exist?" he asked.

"I wish to. But…the more tragedy life brings, the more tales such as these sound like fairytales. After last night…"

Edward cut her off. "I understand."

He walked over to the shelf of books she had managed to collect over the years. "I must admit, it is good to see such works again. My parents' home had a fine library, one of the few things I miss."

Emily watched him a moment. She decided that his voice sounded a little too strained to discuss the questions she had about his former aristocratic life. He actually sounded as if he missed much more than that.

She nodded. "Well, this is no library… But instead of saving what little money I come across, I always find myself buying a new book. You are welcome to borrow one at any time. Lewis and Otto are always stealing them, though I'm such you've either read all these or write your own by now."

His eyes fell on a title. "I never got around to Oliver Twist."

"Oh, you must take it! Whatever kept you from it?"

"David Copperfield," he answered.

Emily laughed. "I heard it was a masterpiece. But I never got to read it."

"Why?" he asked, as if it were something to be sympathetic for.

She ran her fingers around the edge of her book. "It was…the latest work on the market. At the time, I was a newcomer here. I could never afford it."

Edward briefly grimaced and stood in front of her once more.

"Emily," he said in the softest of tones. "Are you alright?"

Emily Beth tried to keep a straight face even when she felt her eyes welling with tears. She had cried so much recently, she grew weary of it. If she remembered any of her mother's values, it was to remain strong in company.

Though she struggles to hold her tears, she managed to whisper. "I don't understand how men can be so cruel. Those miners, they should pay. For what they've done…the humiliation of last night… Matthew… What have we ever done?"

"You've done nothing," he answered as he knelt beside her. "'Tis the way of the world, innocent one. No amount of scholars could understand the world and its cruelty and its foul sense of justice."

Emily quickly wiped a tear from her face and tried to smile. "You once asked why I was here. Matthew asked me once, and I never answered. Now he's gone."

They were silent for quite some time before she could work up the courage to tell her story, the entire story, for the first time. Finally, she sat the book aside and stared into his intense gaze. "I think I am ready to properly answer your question, Edward. But I must tell you, unlike many of the others, my being here is not by my choice."

…

Edward

He stared into Emily's tired grey eyes, holding his breath as he tried to conjure the words to tell her she didn't owe him any explanation. But he couldn't, because one look at her told him she needed to answer him. Therefore, he listened to Emily as she revealed her story for the first time.

"I was blind once. As a child, I was born with it. I came from a prominent home, very much like you. My mother loved me, but my father only saw me as a shame to our proud family lineage. He didn't believe I could ever learn to understand their way of life for my lack of sight. Sometimes, he was right. But oftentimes, I learned quickly. But he never gave me the chance to show him otherwise. If he wasted any time with me, he was only thinking of how to keep me out of sight for the next event he was to host. He so wanted to put me away, but my dear mother… she wouldn't have it. It was because of her I was able to live happily until I was eight years of age."

"Around my eighth year, I began to regain my sight. Not all at one time, of course. Just enough to distinguish light, color…blurs. At first, my parents were thrilled. Our physicians predicted that my condition was not permanent and that sight may return to me one day. But my parents began to doubt around my sixth year. However, I did not have nearly enough sight to learn all my father wanted me to learn about our world. He became furious when I accidentally bumped into an important aristocrat at a celebration once. He hid me away again. Around my tenth year, we learned my mother was expecting another child. We were all thrilled at first... I was thrilled. But she…didn't do so well. As she became frailer, I came to be more and more terrified. I knew that if anything happened to her, my fate would be left to my father."

Edward let out a shaky breath, mortified by the cruelty of her tale. Emily hesitated as she stared outside through the gap in the flap of her tent. "What happened?" he asked softly, after a few moments had passed.

She turned her head slightly so that her gaze once again met his. "My mother died in childbirth, along with the baby. I never really got to say goodbye. My father became even more withdrawn and cold. I never crossed his path for a year. He allowed me to stay in his home for five more years. By then, my sight returned. Never fully, but enough so I could read and get around and recognize people. My caretaker saw to it that I learned to adjust to my new sight. I spent most of my time seeing the world I had missed. I learned to read by sight, was able to go see the streets of England, and basic dances in case my father ever called me to attend an event. But he never did."

"One day, in the middle of my fifteenth year, he called me to his study. Just to talk. My caretaker thought it best if I brought the tea myself. I'd been pouring tea since before my sight returned, but I must have practiced a dozen times that day before I dared to approach my father's study. When I entered, he said nothing. He never looked up from his paper and quill. Finally, I sat the tray down and prepared the tea just as my caretaker had instructed me to do. I sat his saucer before him and waited for him to tell me what to do next. A large portrait behind him happened to catch my eye. It was of him and my mother. I stared at her forever. It was the first time I had seen an image of her besides the one portrait he'd left in the hall."

"Finally, my father spoke up and confirmed it was my mother, and that I looked almost so like her. He accepted the tea, but his gaze was still cold when he finally looked at me. I was petrified. And humiliated. The first time I'd really noticed someone look at me like an incompetent monster. My father was a brave man, so it was as if he saw me as something to fight. He told me that I needed to pack a bag. He didn't say why, so I took my leave and did as he said. I thought he might send me to boarding school away. And I wanted to go, to prove I belonged in that world. I was shocked when I saw him waiting for me at the carriage. He'd never offered to escort me anywhere before. He was silent the whole way, never offering an answer as to where we were going. Finally, the carriage stopped. He took one last look at me before getting out of the carriage and took my bag, instructing me to stay."

"My father left the carriage door open so I could see out. I saw him stop and speak to a very short man, our current manager. One look at the place told me I had been wrong about boarding school. I was frightened by the people I saw, our people. There used to be a man who could shove a sword down his throat here. I became frightened when I saw another man with blue skin that was once here. Then I saw Lewis. I looked back to my father to see if he was ready to leave. And he was, but not with me. He passed our manager five pounds of money and came for me, assuring our manager that he was certain I belonged here."

"I said 'Father' many times as I begged him to take me away from this terrible place, but he pulled me from the carriage and gave me to the nearest carnie hand. I was so confused and frightened that I could only watch helplessly as he boarded the carriage and told the driver he was ready to go. I went into somewhat of a shock after that, but was soon comforted by Bertha and our manager. I learned that things weren't as bad as they seemed here, but that I would have to earn my stay. Our manager…he…soon helped me discover my talent in dance. But… no matter how far I've come, or how hard I've worked, I am still viewed and treated as property of the Freak Show. I did not come voluntarily. Our manager was paid by another to keep me here. Therefore, I am passed from act to act. They say I am one of the best, but to this day I am nothing. Only a dancer told where to go and what to do, day by day. The only thing that keeps me going is the kindness of the people here."

Edward grimaced briefly as she finished her tale. For a moment, never of them could speak. He felt more angered by the injustice of her tale, and then saddened. Finally, he found the most appropriate words he could come up with as a response. He kept eye contact, to show her he was sincere.

"The most terrible and cruel mistake I've ever heard anyone make, your father." Edward shook his head. "A cold and selfish man…to put a bright soul such yours away. Emily Beth, you are the most astounding human being here. And this place has so many good people with unique gifts. Is that why you are only allowed limited portions, dear one?"

Emily nodded slowly, as if she was reluctant to discuss it with him. "I get more than I used to."

He nodded slowly. "If anyone is made to be a performer, it is you. But they must treat you better. You are no man's property, my lady. They should treat you as such. I will not have it in my presence."

Emily grinned a bit. "I wondered how on earth I received such a vast meal earlier."

Edward grinned back. After a few moments had passed, another question got the best of his curiosity. He took a step forward and lowered his gaze, unsure of how to ask.

It was as if Emily read his mind. "Yes, I can see clearly. But not as keenly as you can."

Edward nodded slowly, still wondering how her lack of sight really affected her. Emily Beth looked up at him. "Do you miss it? Your past life? I imagine it was…difficult for you in the aristocratic culture, but you stayed for so long. You have all the refined talents to overcome your affliction, I think. Why did you not stay?"

He gave her a long, hard look, pondering whether honesty was really the right thing. He thought hard about how to phrase his answers. "I… do miss the opportunities in that life. Nothing else. Like you, I was treated as a monster to be hidden away from the outside world. But my family…they attempted to give me every opportunity to succeed as a scholar. They did try to help me. However, they never accepted me for who I was. But it wasn't meant to be. I could never claim such a title as that of my family under the circumstances I was cursed with. In the end, it was evident. My family had no further use for me."

Emily's gaze mirrored what his must have looked like when she told him the tale of her father. "So they sent you away? Just because of… appearances? After all that time? That is cruel…"

He cut her off softly. "Emily."

She looked up at him, and he held her eyes with his as he revealed the truth about his parents. Both to her and himself. "They were not cruel. I've been denying this to myself for quite some time. They did everything they could for me."

His voice turned harsh as he admitted the entire cruel truth to her, sure she would turn away from him with the same look he had seen on the faces of every single person he had ever dared to care for.

"Emily Beth. I haven't been entirely honest with you. That night, when I nearly choked you in my sleep… It was an accident, but not due to night terrors. It is something else. The other face attached to me by some cruel act of God, it is a monster. Since I was a boy, I have been plagued with the most…terrible, demonic whisperings that should never touch human ears."

For some reason, his felt his eyes filled with tears. "I've never known rest. The whisperings…they never ceased. All my life, I've never known silence. All those poems, the operas, the compositions of music… It was all an attempt to distract me from the constant hell I live in. I must confess the only time I have ever known silence was when I met you. Whenever you are near, it is silent. I have many theories, but I know not why."

He drew a shaky breath, compiling himself. "I am a monster, a true monster, Emily Beth. The whisperings drove me mad. My family sent me to Bedlam. I might not have blamed them… But as they took me away, the only look I saw on their faces was relief. For a long time, it was just the dark room and I. I was left to the whisperings. I was so inconsolable; they at least gave me paper and quill. But in that dark room, with no light of day, I found no relief. I let the demon persuade me to slaughter a caretaker of Bedlam in order to escape. I had nothing, and no choice but to come to this place. The only reason I stay alive is the delusion that I can still hold on to what is left of my humanity. That is my reason for being here, Emily Beth. I am by no means the good gentleman portrayed in the show."

"Don't," she said suddenly. Edward held his breath, waiting for her to turn him away. Ready for the resent in her eyes. But when she looked up, her eyes welled with tears instead. "Don't say that…. You mustn't. Edward, you are the only true gentleman I've seen yet, despite whatever afflictions it causes you. You are alive and remain strong when most men wouldn't be. You are not a monster. I refuse to believe it. You mustn't think that."

They were silent for a long while. Finally, Emily spoke. "I think…I knew it wasn't night terrors. That night, when I brought your blanket, you turned and… I saw…its lips moving. But the courtesy here is to treat it like any other part of your body. I dared not ask because I thought it might be a reflex it shared with you. Like when Lewis' extra limb flinches when his left leg does-"

Edward could do nothing but laugh and pace the tent in disbelief. The girl was honestly suggesting that the movements of the half-face were simply "shared reflexes." She doesn't believe me, how could she? She proved him wrong by holding out her hand to show she meant no offense.

"But you looked so terrified. I knew it was something, but I couldn't bring myself to mention it at the time. I should have put it together, Edward. I am a stupid woman. And I am so sorry. But, no matter how…horrible that thing is… It is not you. We will find a way to prove that, Edward. If not to it, then to you. I know we can. All of us. You will."

Edward turned and looked at her for a moment. At first, he felt…somewhere enraged by her straightforwardness. Then he remembered she was from the same world as he was. They both realized there was no need for sugar-coating the truth anymore, as they were no longer a part of it.

When he saw her face, that wide-eyed blank stare, he knew she really meant what she said with the most sincere intent. The coldness in his eyes softened. He wished for her purity. Everything about her was light and beautiful. And everything about him was darkness.

He felt something rising in his chest, and felt it catch in his throat. It hurt him. He knew what it was when he felt his face crumple. He quickly wiped away the one tear that fell from his eyes and put a hand over his heart, looking back to Emily Beth. She was not afraid of him, and she believed him.

Emily Beth looked on with compassion as he wept, but couldn't come to him. So he came to her. He gently cradled her face in his hands and kissed her. At first, she did nothing due to shock. Then he felt her tiny hands on both sides of his face as she returned his kiss.

They pulled back a moment, staring deep into each other's eyes. He stroked her cheek with his thumb as she ran he fingers through the hair behind his ears. Edward gently lifted her so that she wasn't putting any weight on her injured feet, but so that she was standing on his with the toes of her shoes. They kissed again and again, softly. Finally, she leaned her head on his chest as he held her in his arms. He kissed her forehead and leaned his cheek into the top of her head, sure he finally may have found why he was meant to be here. Finally, after all this time, someone accepted him for who he was.