AU: Come one, Come all! [Lani]

[Karalie Heise]

His hand held tight to hers as she gave her introduction bow, pulling her skirt out to the side a bit to give the impression of being a true lady.  The smile that graced her face was mostly forced, but as he winked it turned into something more genuine.  He was a master at keeping up the act/  She could easily crack under pressure, or so she thought.  In reality she was stronger than she gave herself credit for.  Actually, most of the credit she deserved she laid on Lani, because in her mind she felt he was the reason behind her strength. On many levels he was.

She accepted the little white rabbit, cradling him into her arms before nuzzling her face into the soft white fur.  He was so soft and cute.. she wished she could take one of the rabbits with them.  She knew they couldn't, but it would be nice to have one to hold.  She savored the moment, for it was the last time she would likely have a chance to hold one for who knew how long.  

Lani began the next act, but she continued to scratch at the rabbits head, who seemed content to be nuzzled there.  She caught his signal and mentally prepared herself to be lifted.  Would he lift her again after today? She supposed if she asked he would.  That and who knew, maybe they would end up as an act for another circus.  She didn't like that idea, but it was no secret this was the only world either of them ever really knew.  They felt comfortable in the old train cars and tents.  Maybe they could start an honest circus themselves! One where people came on board because it was their desire to, not because they were abducted in the night and forced to do as they were told if they cared to live without being tortured. 

She pressed the thought from her mind as she felt Lani take over, defying gravity for her.  Her body came up off the ground and she wiggled her feet ever so slightly to call attention to them, pointing them down towards the ground as though she were on her toes and then flexing them back up as she rose a little higher.  She always loved the gasps and pointing, people amazed by Lani and his 'magic'.  He brought out the jeweled saber and slid it both above and below her, knowing the thing wouldn't cut her if it accidentally slipped past her, but the audience certainly didn't need to know that.  The warmth of her friends hand found hers and she grasped it tightly, cradling the rabbit with the other hand.  Her brow raised curiously at his suggestion of an idea, but she nodded ever so slightly to show she was on board with whatever he was cooking up.  He would never put her in harms way, especially in front of five hundred eyes, so there was no need to question him.  

He lowered her back to her feet and took the animal from her arm, a twinge of sadness touching her heart at the animals farewell.  He instructed her to pick out a 'friend' and she smiled out at the audience, putting on her own little show.  A finger came to her lip in contemplation as she looked out at everyone with squinted.  What sort of person did Lani want her to pick out? A small child? A dainty woman? A labor hardened man?  Her hand came to her brow, cupping over her eyes as she searched the audience like a sea and finally gave a nod.  She climbed down the steps leading to the stage and came upon a skeptical looking man.  He was small in stature, maybe a couple inches taller than herself.  She offered a hand to him and smiled.  "Come with me." She insisted and she could see the uncertainty edge his face.  His wife and child urged him on and finally he stood with a little hmph, allowing her to lead him to the stage by the hand.  She gave Lani a look that said she wasn't so sure about this as they came back to center stage.  This would be an interesting show..

[Lani Hunter]

Lani felt warmth flow right through his core as she smiled back at him. He couldn’t have even imagined finding a friend here, much less someone he trusted and loved so dearly. Lani was always extra careful when moving another person and he had done so with Karalie so often that it was almost easy. He would never assume he had full control and so he would always keep his focus sharp. He’d never forgive himself it he hurt her. Even if it was an accident. Karalie knew what to do, when he’d been asked if he’d wanted an assistant he’d jumped on the chance to have Karalie as his helper. He helped her and she helped him, they made a good team. But it wasn’t as if no one else could do what they did.

Catching Karalie’s wordless consent Lani flew into his plan. This was, in a sense, his grand finale. He was excited to go out with a bang. Figuratively, hopefully. He was excited and he figured Karalie had an idea of what he was thinking when she went off into the audience and Lani came back on stage with identical boxes. When she pulled a rather uncomfortable looking man onto the stage Lani couldn’t help but beam. What a treat he was in for. “Hello, my dear sir, what is your name? Charles? Ladies and gentlemen, Charles and my dear, Allizoi are going to help me with my next act.” He took Karalie’s hand and led her to one of the vertical boxes. “Hold tight,” he whispered to her. She knew this trick as well as he did, but he’d never done it with two people, this was going to be fun. He led the man into the other one.

Now Lani turned his back to the audience and raised his hands to the boxes and they started to spin. They spun rapidly, luckily the one that Karalie was in had a stable base and so the box spun but she would not be disoriented. The poor man on the other side was not going to be so lucky Lani merely hoped Charles wouldn’t get sick. The boxes stopped spinning abruptly and without touching them the doors sprang open and they were empty, or so they seemed. He turned and bowed to the audience who cheered. Now this was the fun part. Lani closed the doors again and spun the two boxes 180 degrees and opened them. Karalie and Charles had switched places. Lani beamed as a cheer went up from the audience and he bowed low. He went over to a dazed looking Charles and shook his hand, thanking him for his help before letting him off the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, join me in thanking Charles,” he said and clapped his hands for his victim.

“Now, for my final act I shall attempt a feat never before attempted. Miss Allizoi will lock me into this box.” He waved a hand as some stagehands moved a rather ordinary box onto the stage. It stood open so the audience could see chains and one of the stage hands handed Karalie the keys. He smiled at Karalie. “Once I am well locked in, the box will be lifted to the top of the tent and just to make things a little more interesting in exactly thirty seconds this box will drop and well, I don’t want to think of what will happen if I am still inside,” he said gravely putting a hand on his chest as if he were sincerely considering his mortality. “Now then!” He said brightly, “Shall we give this a try?” He beckoned Karalie and stood in the box, expectantly, he knew she hated this one, but it was one of his favorites.

[Karalie Heise]

As she climbed back onto the stage with Charlies in tow, she noted the two boxes.  Now she knew the trick that involved one box, since she did that one with him often, but two?  Was he planning to do to Charles what he did to her? It was a good trick, and the crowd would be wowed for sure.  Charles would know his secret in the end but it wouldn't ruin the secret.  Charles was a meek man and besides, this was their last show.  

As Lani led her to the box she narrowed her eyes questioningly at him, as if to ask what he was up to with all of this.  His whispered answer only made her sigh, her smile barely faltering.  He was going to get them in trouble..  She did as he told her, holding tight as the door shut, throwing her into muffled darkness.  She could still hear Lani calling out to the audience, but her own breathing was audible there in the wooden box.  She wondered how Charles was doing on the other side of the stage.  Freaking out, probably.  Surely he feared he would disappear, or have his trousers removed magically or who knew what else would go through his mind.

The box spun as it always did and she tried to enjoy the ride for it would surely be her last.  The box stopped suddenly and she heard the door at her back spring open of its own accord, the expected gasps from the audience filling her ears.  Poor fools had no idea they were the ones truly being taken for the ride.  The door shut once more and the box once again spun, stopping quickly as the door opened and out she came, arms in the air as she took a pose.  Dark eyes fell on the poor soul she'd taken from his family.  He looked confused and she knew she'd picked the right participant for the job.  She watched him go back to his family, a pang of jealousy in her chest. In another life that could have been her in the crowd, waiting for her father to return from the stage.  She'd have loved the act and would have applauded as the young girl in the audience was, pure joy etched on her face, completely oblivious to the horror that happened behind the scenes of the show she so enthusiastically enjoyed.  The people who were tormented, half starved, threatened and abused.  She couldn't know she was supporting it.  None of them could.

Time for the final act at last.  Karalie hated this trick with a passion.  She hated the thought of Lani potentially being dropped to his death, but he always got out safe and sound.  It didn't matter; she feared for him anyway.  Lani enjoyed the thrill of it, she knew that, but if ever they got their own act she would insist upon vetoing this one.  It almost always gave her heart failure.  

Karalie accepted the key and made a show of letting the audience take a good look before  slipping it into her dress there in her cleavage.  The reaction from the audience was always a bit mixed, the men smiling and chuckling while many of the women frowned or offered blank faces.  Lani made his speech and she came closer, giving him a hard look as she turned away from the crowd.  "You be careful." She warned softly. "I need you."  It was nothing he didn't already know, but she needed to remind him for tonight she needed him more than she'd ever needed him before.

She helped close him into the box, pulling the chains around the opening and slipping the lock in place.  She repeated the process twice more until all the chains were securely in place.  Finally she pulled aside and moved her hands towards the box, as though presenting it for them all to see.  Look at this magician locked tight in his tomb!  She pulled the key from her cleavage and swung it around to prove she still had it, her smile wide and wicked as the box began to rise.

[Lani Hunter]

His eyes sparked with mischief as she looked at him in askance. Now Karalie knew that the magicians never reveal their secrets. Even though she knew nearly all of his. Nearly. As he stood, he watched for a sign of anything going wrong. If anything were going to go wrong it was not going to be under his watch. Lani beamed as Karalie struck her pose. He wondered if she would miss this as well. When they were doing this it was a trick, a sham, absolutely, but it was fun. Surely the people in the audience didn’t really believe in magic, or maybe they did. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Karalie and he hoped she was ready for what they were about to do.

Watching the man leave the stage, Lani couldn’t help but wonder if the man even guessed about what circus life was. At least here it was horrid, Lani had heard that there were others that were better. Why on earth had he been unlucky enough to be coerced into working at this traveling hell hole? He had a feeling that anywhere else he would love doing this. He smiled waggling his brows at Karalie, silently teasing her for her worries. He knew how much she hated this one, but Lani’d never failed and he wasn’t about to fail now. Perhaps he was a little too confidence in his own abilities. He settled himself in comfortably. The box wasn’t that large but at least he could be comfortable in a crouch more or less.

Lani smiled to the crowd despite the glare Karalie was giving him. He nodded to her and he reached out his hand to brush hers before she shut him in. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” he reassured her, as he did every time he did this. He wasn’t looking for death, he knew what was at stake here, especially tonight. Which was why he would not fail. Lani closed his eyes and settled himself. He felt and heard the chains moving and the locking mechanisms strike home. If Lani wasn’t a telekinetic he would have been out of luck. Lani tensed as he felt the box begin to move. Once it locked into place he would have exactly thirty seconds. To signal, the start a great drum roll began and Lani rocked the box. The telekinetic had always wondered what the audience thought when they saw the start, were they panicked? Did they think it was all a ploy?

Whatever they thought, Lani had a job to do. He kept his calm and instead of working on the locks he surrounded himself with his power, effectively increasing the pressure so he was packed in as though he were wedged into a pad. As always the initial moment of freefall made his heart jump and he snapped one of the locks. A moment later the box smashed into the stage caving in on itself and presumably whoever was inside. Luckily for Lani, he was no longer inside. Rather he was under the stage and racing toward the back of the stands through a secret tunnel. Now he could hear the gasps of the crowd and the nervous shifting as people fretted about having just seen someone die. He moved fast and was in position moments after Karalie opened the box, to find it empty, save for his top hat. With a grin of his own he grabbed the hat with his power. It flew through the air and into Lani’s open hand. The crowd turned to the back of the tent where Lani was now bathed in spotlight. Silence reigned for a moment and then Lani flipped his top hat in his hands and settled it on his head. The crowd erupted and Lani bowed low.

He hopped down from his small platform and trotted back to the stage. He gave Karalie a beaming smile and held his hand out to her so they could share their last bow.

[Karalie Heise]

The box began to move, Karlie turning to look up at it as she moved aside to allow the audience to focus only on the wooden cub rising above them. She felt the familiar cool sweat bead at her brow, the dull ache of fear in her gut as it rose higher and higher, knowing Lani was inside. She knew the trick well, knew he would almost certainly make it out in one piece, but there was that nagging fear that something would go wrong. Something could always go wrong..

Her eyes moved from the box to the crowd, every last eye focused upwards towards the unseen magician. The looks of wonder and worry spread evenly among the viewers as they all wondered the same thing; how could he possibly escape this alive? The box rocked and her heart hammered; it was all a show. He was a master of his art and she could respect that. This was where he belonged. Not in this circus, but certainly in front of a sea of wondering eyes.

The moment had come; the box dropped. Karalie held her breath, staying far away as the box clattered loudly to the stage, splintering and certainly killing any normal human within its confines. Luckily, Lani wasn't a normal human, something she was grateful for if for no other reason than having had him in her life. The crowd watched in horror, mostly gasping, one woman shrieking, many standing to crane their necks further as if to catch a spot of blood perhaps. Deep, chocolate brown eyes went to the back of the room, waiting, hoping.. she hated this part, the opening the box. What if he was inside? She would be the first to see, the first to know that Lani would no longer be there with her. She pulled the key from her neck and unlocked the box, noisily stripping it of its chains. Next she had to try the broken door from it, which came off easily enough after pulling aside a broken shard that had managed to jam it. She pulled the hunk of broken wood aside to reveal none other than the empty box. Gasps again rang through the crowd, looks of confusion were exchanged and the crowd murmured. Karalie only sighed with relief, her eyes moving to the back of the room once more, and if by clockwork, there he was, that smug smile on his face that made her want to almost weep with joy.

The hat that had been on top of his head when he'd entered the box now sailed above the heads of the crowd, the people below turning to watch as it flew into Lani's hand.  They were quiet, dumbstruck, as Lani placed the hate on top his head.  The simple motion was a cue for the crowd to erupt into applause, Lani beaming brightly as he made his way to the front of the stage. To her.

Karalie couldn't help but smile a little as he climbed up beside her, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly within her own, a gesture she did at the end of every show as if to silently tell him she was glad he was okay, and that perhaps she might not let go for fear he would be stupid enough to climb into another sky bound box.  She curtsied beside him, bowing low and throwing charming smiles to the crowd before the pair made their way from the stage.  Their last show, over.

"Nothing like going out with a bang." She teased softly to him once they were off stage.  She wanted to wrap her arms around him but refrained, instead enjoying the feel of his hand.  Finally she pulled herself from him and took a deep breath.  "I guess I should go to my tent and change." It wasn't a strange thing to profess, as she was in a costume and would be expected to take care enough not to muss it up.  Maybe she would take this dress with her.. it was nice, after all, and didn't women need nice dresses out in the real world?

[Lani Hunter]

Perhaps Lani would be able to be talked out of the act, but it had been the final of the Myskrifties before him and the one before that one. It was just enough of a thrill to get the crowd anxious and enough of the wait at the end that the audience went they were a part of the victory. It made a lot of money. Lani had never imagined himself a magician until he had been taken in here and now he felt like there was no other life he could have. Everything else would be boring, but perhaps at another place. He would do boring if it meant having a steady income and regular meals, not to mention safety from abuse. It was worth it to leave, as much as he would miss this, he was not tied to magic, in fact he was far from magic, he was a fraud through and through and that could only get him so far. He would have been surprised if people had figured out that there were meta humans in this show. They rare enough and no one talked about them, it was very likely they were completely unaware.

He smiled a soft, warm smile at Karalie, only for Karalie as he took her hand. He let his eyes linger on her a moment longer as he felt her tighten her grip, as she did every show. He returned the gesture before putting on his beaming smile and turning to the crowd. He bowed low and the curtain closed on their last show. Their last bow. He turned and longed to give her a hug, they were so close! But that would only cause eyes to draw to them, attention of the audience was a great thing, attention of the ringmaster and his cronies was not. He grinned. “We can’t leave them without a death defying stunt,” he winked back at her. They were going to have a much bigger final act. A magnificent disappearing act.

Lani didn’t want to let her go, now that the show was over he sobered and found himself worrying. They had to pretend like nothing was different, nothing had changed between Karalie’s act and his. “Right, I’ll see you at the party,” he said brightly, taking her hint. They wouldn’t be at the party. “I’ll see you soon, my dear Karalie,” he said and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. He flickered his eyes to her, sending her a private and excited look before he covered it quickly and let her go. The telekinetic strode through the circus to his own tent and making sure no one was around he pulled out an old bag he had that he used for keeping his belongings in. It wouldn’t be strange for him to be packing, they were leaving in the morning, after all.

He dressed in a pair of dark trousers and a dark gray shirt, his jacket a faded and frayed, but warm, black thing. He tugged it on and now it was the waiting game, he would wait and he would listen. Wander enough to know when the ring master was getting good and drunk. Then he would return and wait for Karalie. Waiting, so much waiting. He paced back and forth, rearranging things in his bag, stuffing something else in, taking something else out. He had another bundle of cash (one that he hadn’t shown Karalie) bound tightly in one of his shirt pockets. Nervousness filled him and he longed to be gone, but this had to be carefully timed. When the door opened he turned, expecting Karalie and his joy quickly turned to seriousness as he turned to face one of the ringmaster’s dogs. “Everyone’s needed for a meeting in the mess tent.” With no more explanation than that the man left. Panic jumped into Lani’s throat, what now? A meeting was essentially a gentle word for a public punishment.

His heart hammered as he outwardly kept his cool. What if they had been discovered? He looked back at his bag and on a whim took it with him. He slipped out of the tent and keeping a careful eye he slipped toward the tracks and stashed it behind the wheels on the tiger’s cage. Then as silently and invisibly as he had cone he returned and then switched his sneaking for a saunter as he approached the mess tent. Automatically his eyes started searching the crowd. Where was Karalie? He needed to find her. He moved through the milling crowd his head up and searching. The ringmaster hadn’t arrived yet and Izar wanted to find Karalie before that happened.

[Karalie Heise]

Karalie gulped, chocolate orbs following his lips as they pecked the back of her hand. Her heart fluttered in a strange way from the gesture and she realize she was as equally giddy as she was frightened that they were about to run away. At least he’d be with her. They would start a new life. Together. Her head nodded ever so slightly, gaze lingering for a moment before he turned and walked away. She held her hand to her chest, watching him go a moment before turning and doing the same.

The dress she chose to wear was modest. It wasn’t her nicest garment, but practical considering the traveling they intended to do. The light green color complimented her as well and she found herself looking in the filthy. Cracked mirror for far too long. She should be packing! She should be preparing for their trip!

When someone entered her tent, her heart jumped into her throat. She turned and looked at the oversized man, hiding her bag to the best of her ability with her body as though she had something to hide, because really she did. Of course, they were leaving in the morning anyway so it made sense for her to be packing, but her mind wasn’t there at the moment. “Meeting in the mess tent. Now.” He said and Karalie thought she might throw up. She nodded, the guy watching her a moment longer than necessary before leaving her tent. Karalie looked down at her feet; could he know? Of course he could know, but did he?

Karalie got herself together and packed a few extra things hastily. If they needed to leave quickly then she wanted to be ready. She was probably forgetting some stuff, but it would have to do. At least she had little of value. Not five minutes later she was out the door and headed to the mess hall. Meetings there were never good news. Ever.

When she got in she immediately scanned the crowd for a familiar mop of blond hair. He was easy enough to pick out of the crowd. The room was somber at best, tension high as they all knew they were there for some public shaming. It took a moment before she found Lani, but sidled up next to him, standing as close as she could, taking his wrist in her hand as she looked up at him; a knowing look that said she wasn’t sure if this had to do with them. She bit her lip, wanting to say something, but the room grew still suddenly and one look towards the front of the tent told her why; there he was.

Karalie gulped watching the man that an entire room full of people feared. His hair was black, peppered with a few strands of gray. His eyebrows were high and dramatically arched, his mustache thick in the center, going thinner the longer it went out, curling up at the edges. His eyes were a cool blue and his goatee was shaped almost like a trident there on his chin. He was the type of man who could make anyone feel uncomfortable with his simple presence, yet was highly charismatic when necessary. Had it not been for his verbal hold on her as a girl, she would have never gone with him. She could still feel his hot, sardine breath on her cheek as he carried her out into the night.


"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages!" She felt the heat rise to her cheeks.  This was going to be a spectacle, whatever it was.  "Look around! It seems there is a thief among us!" There was no difference in his tone now than when he put on a show, which told her he intended to do just that' put on a show.  A chill shot down the length of her body; what would he do to them? Was it them? Did he even know?  

"Now, now, don't be shy.. come on forward and perhaps I will consider a light penance for your injustice."  It was a lie.  He wouldn't go any easier on them for stepping forward and admitting their faults. They'd all seen it before.  She didn't dare look at Lani, for fear of giving him or herself away.

[Lani Hunter]

The hope and excitement Lani felt plummeted rapidly as he walked toward the mess tent. This was never good and only his skill at acting kept his mask from cracking and showing how worried he was. His panic rose steadily as he couldn’t find Karalie. What if something happened to her? Lani’s eyes flashed, if he hurt Karalie, Lani would kill them all. His power cracked out and swept through the area and suddenly he could have closed his eyes and counted how many pairs of shoes were moving. But none of that would help him find Karalie. His stress grew his power and he caught the first look at the ringmaster as he entered. Lani focused his power and prepared to strike. At just that moment a soft hand touched him and he looked down suppressing his relief as much as he could when he saw it was Karalie.

He pulled his power back but the dragon rested in the back of his mind, coiled and prepared to strike. Looking her in the eyes he knew she was as clueless as he was. Maybe this wasn’t what he thought after all, maybe just this once they were lucky and someone else had done something stupid. Turning his eyes back to the ringmaster Lani shifted just slightly moving himself just a hair forward and in front of Karalie. Not enough to be obvious that he was protecting her, but enough that he could step in for her. The telekinetic schooled his features, washing away any sign of strain and relaxing his posture, all while keeping himself braced. It was all an act, something he’d learned on the stage and perfected in life. To anyone looking on, Lani looked bored and even a little sleepy. As if this meeting was a mere inconvenience. He had nothing to fear. That was why he allowed his jaw to set, because looking too relaxed looked suspicious.

He raised his chin as the ringmaster’s eyes swept over them. He’d lured Lani here with adventure and magic. The tales he had spun had made it seem like this life was going to be wonderful. Lani was far from home by the time the man’s voice stopped talking and the real reality set in. Maybe Lani was imagining it, but he thought that the ringmaster’s gaze lingered just a moment too long on them. It could be a trick, maybe he was doing it to everyone. Lani had gladly been a thorn in his side since he’d been brought here. It hadn’t taken long for the ringmaster to realize that he couldn’t beat Lani into submission, but he could beat someone else and break Lani’s will to resist. It was something Lani couldn’t help, his weakness, other people hurting. Or worse, hurting because of him.

Lani’s expression didn’t change more than to raise a brow in mock interest at the thought of a thief. Lani’s heart hammered in his chest and he shifted his arm and subtly pushed Karalie back, in case in some version of this plan Karalie got desperate and said something. There would be no mercy. Not today. A nervous murmur started through the crowd like a whisper and Lani turned and made side eyes with the person next to him. He didn’t look at Karalie, instead he turned his eyes back to the front. If they stepped forward now they might as well die. There was still a chance, Lani thought. Stay calm, Lani told himself and projected as well as he could the fearlessness that could only come from guiltlessness. The ring master’s eyes swept over them again, his smile cruel and excited for whatever was about to happen.

“You.” Lani flinched at the word but the ringmaster wasn’t pointing at them, or even near them but rather across the room. “Do you know who it is?” Lani’s heart was in his throat. He could tell by the sickeningly sweet tone that the ringmaster was using his power. All he had to do was turn to them and demand truth. Whoever the poor soul was had his truth stripped out of him, which luckily for Lani and Karalie, seeing as they hadn’t told anyone, and luckily for himself was only able to yelp, “I don’t know!” Lani watched the scene, so far so good. The ring master picked a few other people all with the same answer and then turned to face them. For a moment Lani’s heart dropped, he thought the man was pointing at them but then the power didn’t sweep over him but the man next to him shivered and blurted: “Davy did it! I told him not too but he did took an extra ration when Cook wasn’t looking!” Now Lani couldn’t hide the real shock that came that time. Was this what this was about? Now he dared a look at Karalie, did he dare hope that they’d escaped?

[Karalie Heise]

She did what she could to remain stoic.  This wouldn't end well. It couldn't.  She didn't miss Lani's hand pushing her back, her brows furrowing slightly as she turned her gaze to him, her head still facing the ringmaster.  She wanted to stop him, tell him not to try and protect her, but she was also grateful for that protection now.  Could he really save her from him?  He claimed to be stronger than she knew, but that could have been a cover up. Could it?

Confusion left her unable to act, not sure what to think of Lani's words and action.  It didn't matter though.  Not now, not when the ringmaster was going down the line asking for information.  The temperature seemed to rise in the large tent, her clothes feeling too tight.  Could it be that someone else had stolen from the ringmaster? She knew it was improbable, and it was only a matter of time until those pale eyes landed on either she or Lani.  They'd sing like canaries, whether they'd meant to or not.

It didn't take long for an accusation to arise, only it wasn't she or Lani's name that was announced, but Davy's and for a crime that he likely had committed in order to stay alive.  Was that all this was about? A ration missing? She took some deep breaths, hoping, praying that was all this was about.  The ringmaster tisked, and the sea of eyes watched as he paced before them.  The man didn't look at the crowd, simply continued pacing until he was in front of a boy, who upon closer inspection, Karalie could see was trembling.  Davey.  He was young, fourteen if Karalie remembered right.  A rock lay heavy in her stomach as she watched him.  

"Your crime shall not go unpunishable."  Karalie looked to Lani and then back at Davey, swallowing hard.  "But alas it is not the crime I am seeking.  Not tonight.  Unless, of course, you have mooore to confess?" The ringmasters highly arched, manicured black eyebrow rose as the words slipped through his dry, cracked lips almost like a song.  She nipped the inside of her bottom lip; who knew of Lani's transgression? "N-no sir." His voice shook as he spoke, just starting to truly deepen.  The ringmaster stood there for a long moment, watching Davey before continuing his silent back and forth pace before them, a look of contemplation on his face.  The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife; everyone was on edge.  "I could spend all day asking each one of you who stole my money, but who has the time for that? Why doesn't the culprit step forward and save us all a whooole lot of trouble, hm?" He waited a moment, looking around the room before stepping forward and grabbing poor Davey, who whimpered with the motion.  "Or.." He suggested, "Davey can pay for his sins and yours." Her heart hammered in her chest.  Davey was too young.. he was too innocent! He'd only wanted a bit more to eat.  He was growing and she could see from there how rail thin he was.  He was underfed and it wasn't fair! This wasn't his fault!

What could she do?

[Lani Hunter]

Outwardly, Lani’s calm didn’t break but he was panicked internally. His power swirled in his head and he had to keep a tight lid on it or else it would start throwing thing and give them away. His head was start ache from the effort to keep himself calm. The dragon raged and he almost dared the ringmaster to call on him so he would have an excuse to let everything go. He knew it was only a fantasy, the ringmaster was smooth talking and Lani’d be in no control of his own actions if that happened. Worse he could hurt someone. That monster could make Lani hurt someone. His eyes darkened angrily and he forced himself to drop them so he didn’t draw attention to the emotion. His heart hammered in his chest and he could feel Karalie next to him and he unconsciously gripped her hand.

The shock of the revelation came over Lani like he had been dunked in ice cold water. He was utterly speechless and almost too shocked to feel relief. Almost, quickly as his shock had come he was almost weak in the knee with relief. He glanced at Karalie but Karalie was focused on the boy now. Davey, Lani didn’t know him. He was young. Lani’s eyes dropped, he couldn’t watch this. He couldn’t sit by. He struggled to keep himself from saying something. The sharp tang of blood washed in his mouth as he broke through his tongue he was biting it so hard. He gripped Karalie, as much to keep her from stepping forward as to hold himself back. He wouldn’t let this happen. It wasn’t just him, it was Karalie as well. She wouldn’t go without him and he couldn’t force her to, she’d already made that clear. He was doing this for her as much as for himself.

Davey didn’t know anything, Lani already knew that. No one had seen him, he had been sure of that. Lani cursed inwardly and held onto his tongue, the soothing sound of that voice almost made him want to confess and he wasn’t even in the direct line of the power. Lani watched in horror as Davey was taken by the arm. No, no this was all wrong! Lani couldn’t watch. He gritted his teeth. Davey had done something wrong, he was stupid enough to get caught doing it, he deserved it. Lani’s mind tried desperately to reason with itself. “Now Davey, firstly stealing food. It seems to me you’re eating too much, fasting for a week should do the trick with that.” The poor child’s eyes widened and he looked like he might cry but the ring master wasn’t done yet. “And for stealing… hmmm let’s see. Why don’t you go ahead and cut off your right hand for that.” The ringmaster held out a knife which Davey’s hand, shaking took hold of.

The blade rested against Davey’s skin. He held back but when the first line of blood showed on Davey’s arm Lani couldn’t take it anymore. No! Lani almost cried out and his power slipped out before he could stop it. The knife jerked from Davey’s hand and the boy looked like he would cry in relief. It was loose and raging through him. He was merely a vessel for its will. Without explanation the ringmaster’s feet went out from under him. He panicked, it would be all too clear who had done that. He needed a diversion. A nearby rope served. He split it and the rope lashed like a whip through the crowd, with Lani’s skill avoiding hitting anyone but doing enough to frighten. “STOP!” The ringmaster bellowed and the world went still. Lani’s power held onto the knife and he was barely away that Davey had stopped crawling away from the ringmaster. Who was now rising to his feet. Lani pointed the blade at the ringmaster but it remained frozen in air quivering as if it struggled to move forward.

[Karalie Heise]

Her breaths came quickly, her heartbeat so loud she could hear it drumming in her ears.  She watched the poor boy wrenched from the crowd and brought forth to be made an example of.  It was all so surreal, a horrible nightmare she needed to rouse from.  This was all their fault, hers and Lani's.  Davey wouldn't be in this predicament now had they simply stayed where they were meant to, done what they were supposed to, behaved like the pathetic slaves they were.  They were being punished for their transgressions.  No.. no Davey was.

An entire week without food was a severe punishment for a boy already starving, and she wouldn't even be there to give him some of her own rations.  Would someone else step up to the plate? Perhaps they could stay another week, make sure the boy was alright.  What was one more week? She looked at Lani, knowing he would never allow it.  He needed to leave.  If he didn't, he might do something regrettable.  Her hand clenched his, seeing the anger red in his eyes.  The pure hatred for the man who held them all captive with something as simple as his voice.

The next punishment made the young retrocog ashen faced.  That should be Lani's hand and her own, and now Davey would suffer that fate.  And do it to himself, no less.  She stood frozen in fear and dread, nausea making bile bubble at the bottom of her stomach.  She was going to be sick..

The blood shown bright red on Davey's arm as the knife began to slice into the taut skin.  She had to stop him! She had to do something! Her mouth opened when the knife suddenly pulled from the boys hand.  It didn't take a genius to know what had happened.  Her dark eyes moved to the boy beside her, his own eyes concentrating hard on the scene before them.  She heard the bang of the ringmasters body hit the ground but her eyes stayed locked on Lani, so incredibly grateful that he stood up for the boy.  Her heart swelled for him and if she could, she'd have hugged him for saving the boy.  It wasn't until she heard the ringmaster's cry to stop that she finally turned away to watch the rage filled man whose pale eyes bore into the boy beside her.

"That was a fools move, Lani." The man warned and Karalie felt her throat go dry once more. There was no one else who could have done what had just happened.  The man they all feared took a step closer to she and Lani and Karalie watched in horror as suddenly they were singled out, both caught in his glare.  The others had panicked while the ropes swung around and were spread across the tent, but the ringmaster moved closer.  "Turn the knife upon yourself." She watched as though it all happened in slow motion; the knife turning, Lani unable to stop himself with such strong powers of persuasion.  If she didn't do anything, he would be dead. Lani would be dead, and she would be too, for she would die there at the circus.  Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but she would die there, and she would never forgive herself for standing by idly while the ringmaster took away the one thing in this world she truly cared about.  Lani. 

She saw the mans mouth open to speak his next command, but the girl didn't allow it to go much further than that.  Without another seconds hesitation, she flung herself forward, slamming her entire body into the ringmaster to save Lani.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani had not lied to Karalie about his power, but that was assuming he could control it when he let it go. It lashed out there was nothing Lani could do to stop it, mostly because his power answered to his emotions, not his logic. Karalie was right, he needed to leave, he needed to leave a week ago. He couldn’t see straight for all of his rage and the he was barely aware of Karalie next to him as he focused ahead. The dragon behind his power roared and he could only hope he would be fast enough. Unconsciously, Lani’s hand closed around Karalie’s, using her as his anchor. The knife was free and Davey was free, but now Lani was caught.

The knife quivered as Lani’s will battled internally with the ringmaster’s will. The knife quivered gaining and losing hairsbreadth as Lani struggled. Lani’s strength was no match for the ringmaster’s will. “I’d rather be a fool than a coward,” Lani declared raising his chin, delivering the challenge he knew would seal his fate. “Or a murder of children.” Lani’s icy accusation strengthened the ringmaster’s rage. Lani could almost feel it, pushing into his mind and crushing his will. The words reached Lani’s ears and he screamed at his power to resist. The words soothed him, made him want to obey. He glanced at the knife and it had turned. The man opened his mouth to give Lani his sentence and the telekinetic braced himself. The ringmaster wasn’t going to be merciful. This was going to be a slow and painful death. Lani was afraid. He was afraid of the pain and afraid of death. But his only regret was that he didn’t get Karalie out.

The next think Lani was aware of the knife reversed direction and shot off like a bullet and buried itself harmlessly up to the hilt in a pole. “Karalie!” He cried in surprise and fear. He started forward, desperate to help her. He didn’t pay attention to his surrounding and two of the ringmaster’s men fell on him, grappling with him briefly. “Karalie!” He cried. The ringmaster recovered enough to strike at Karalie. “Enough of this foolishness! Get off me! Stand up Karalie!” Lani felt the dread of it taking over him. This was it. The ringmaster exchanged a glance between Karalie and Lani for a moment genuine surprise crossing his face. “Well, if this isn’t rich. I expected this behavior from Lani, but not from you sweet Karalie.” Lani hissed as the man caressed Karalie’s face. Lani would see he lost that hand. “What brings this on?  Is he your lover?” Lani’s focus increased and his eyes flashed. This time when his power threatened to take him over he let it. Now, Lani couldn’t hear what the ringmaster leaned closely to whisper in Karalie’s ear but it was the last straw. Control slipped through Lani’s fingers.

Fighting for control, it was too much! Lani’s head felt like it was going to slit open. He felt himself falling, the feeling left his limbs and he was everywhere and nowhere. He was fully aware of the world around him, his body merely an anchor. Anger held him like a claw and he looked out at the world tinted red. The ringmaster licked his lips. Hate! The man stepped back but when he opened his mouth no words came out. Rage! The ringmaster’s hands grasped at his neck. Lani’s laughter reached his ears slowly. “Cat got your tongue?” Lani taunted his voice sounding strangely far away. His eyes glowed with power and with a gesture of his chin the men holding him were flung into the air in opposite directions. He didn’t feel his body as he straightened. He cocked his head, rage still burning in his eyes. “Tell me, can you control that which cannot be controlled?”  Gathering to attack, Lani wondered at the little man. It would take no effort at all to crush him beneath his power. Barely had the thought cross his mind when the man was forced to his knees by the weight of Lani’s anger.

His power flowed through him and it was everywhere. The ground shook beneath their feet. Rage! He couldn’t control it. He was losing himself to his power. What if he didn’t survive this? He struggled to get himself back and his head felt as if it were struck by a hammer. He couldn’t control it, and he was losing his grip on himself. He’d never let his power loose this much. He didn’t know how to stop it! The tent tore and whipped around them. Power!  He was lost.  Without even realizing he was calling out his voice tore from his lips, fear and desperation packed into a single word: “Karalie!” 

[Karalie Heise]

And though she be but little, she is fierce.

Karalie blindly attacked the man she feared more than God himself in an effort to save the only person who had ever truly meant anything to her. The one person willing to put his own life on the line to save her own. She couldn't allow their friendship to be one sided, though. She would never be able to leave without him. He was her rock. Her courage. Without him the only way she would leave the circus would be to leave this world along with it. She had nothing to lose by attacking the ringmaster; nothing but her life, which was as good as gone anyway if she stayed put. It was an easy decision to make as the older man collapsed under her small weight. His hand was strong as it grabbed at the neck of her dress, flinging her off him as though she were nothing more than a rag doll. His bark for her to stand forced her legs to move below her, her body lifting as she stood helplessly at his mercy. Mercy was all she could hope for now.

The young girls face grew sullen as she looked at her feet, brows knitting as she came to terms with her fate. With Lani's. They wouldn't be getting that supper tonight after all.. The scolding tone of the ringmaster's voice made her feel like an errant child. It wasn't like her to act out. In her entire time there she had never caused trouble, keeping to herself as much as she could, though that had less to do with being good and more to do with wanting to be noticed by the ringmaster less. At the question of Lani's relation to her a chill crept down her spine, a blush rising to her cheeks especially as the mans rough, calloused hands ran past her cheek. Karalie shuddered, feeling sick to her stomach. Of course he wasn't, they truly were only friends, but that didn't mean the thought of them being more hadn't occurred to her. She trusted the boy with her life. She selfishly hoped he would be with her forever, taking care of her always. He'd always been there for her and in her mind it was the next logical step, but the ringmaster didn't need to know that. He didn't need to know her secret feelings for Lani or what he represented in her life.

"If it was a real lover you sought, my door was always open." The flush crept down her neck fierce and hot and Karalie turned her face away, her eyes shutting tight at the lude remark. His breath had smelled of sour milk and felt warm on her cheek, making the small hairs at the nape of her neck stand on end.

It took a few moments for Karalie to realize something was going on, a silent war between Lani and the ringmaster. At the boys words she looked up at him, her eyes still holding a trace of pleading to be saved, but Lani’s eyes seemed far away, amused, maybe even wicked. She swallowed hard, not turning to look at the ringmaster, afraid at what she might find if she did. What was he doing to the man? Something told her he was controlling his tongue, or his voice in some way. Could he do that? The ringmasters only weapon; could he truly do that, though? She felt the man drop to his knees, the air of the sudden movement, washing past her. Karalie finally turned, seeing the fear in the ringmasters pale blue eyes. She took a cautious step back away from him, glad to be free for the moment, but fearful of what Lani might do. The ground shook and her eyes widened, looking to Lani. Was he doing that? The hatred in his eyes, the intense focus on the man they despised.. This wasn’t the boy she cared for. This wasn’t the Lani she knew, and though she understood his anger, he frightened her on some level. The tent ripped, the poles swaying angrily, the ropes whipping around like angry snakes. She shrieked before she realized what she was doing, her name being called out.

She didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to stop this, but she needed to. Lani was losing control; she didn’t need to know the depths of his power to realize that. He couldn’t stop himself, for if he could he would have. Though she was afraid, she moved to him as quickly as she could, a rope lashing out at her and whipping her shoulder. She winced but moved past it, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling strangely safe even though she was clinging to the source of the storm brewing around them. “We need to go!” She insisted loudly in his ear, the sound of the ripped tent flapping roared around them while the last few people struggled to free themselves from the supernatural destruction erupting around them. “Please..” She begged in a softer, more insistent voice. “Please take me away..”

[Lani Hunter]

If someone had told Lani about it and he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes he never would have believed that Karalie had just lunged forward. It took his mind a moment to catch up with all that happened, the knife in the board, Karalie and the ringmaster on the ground, and that he was free to act. Horror slowly dawned on him, he couldn’t let Karalie get hurt, but she had given him a precious moment and he let everything go. A very stupid and admittedly probably deadly act. The telekinetic had never used all of his power, he used his power in the show and the only thing he was sure of was that there was a deep reservoir of power but it was connected to a teeming swirl of emotions. It was with this power that Lani made his move. He felt himself slipping away. He’d never lost control like this before, he’d never handled this power before and it was devouring him.

He like to think he was in more control than he was, but the truth of the matter was that he was a self-trained telekinetic with more power than he knew what to do with. It was like trying to direct a tornado and it swirled both in and around him. There was no control, not even a hint of it. When he grabbed onto the ringmaster he couldn’t have imagined that he was actually doing this. He’d promised himself he’d never hurt anyone, but it was beyond that, this man had gone too far. Lani’s power grabbed at anything and everything, but it passed harmlessly through people. From where he was the only proof of living things was that clothing was moving, he couldn’t feel anything alive. It was as thought he had descended into a world where nothing was alive and therefore nothing mattered. He was vaguely away of a mass exodus from the tent and he let them go, the whole weight of his fury pressed down on the ringmaster.

The ringmaster tried to speak and Lani tightened his hold. He was using the man’s collar to strangle him and even now he could see the color changing on the man’s face but what was most terrifying was that there was a cold tongue that raced through his veins and he didn’t care. It did make him happy or sad. It was void of emotion. It swept over him and his emotions flared and he desperately tried to hold onto himself. The heat of rage swept following up and he didn’t stop trying to crush the life out of the man. A scream cut through all the others and his mind recognized it. He snapped back to himself and his eyes found Karalie her face twisted in fear. His power was everywhere and it was pulling him in every direction. He didn’t know what to do and the more he attempted to contain it the more it. He didn’t want to do this! He didn’t feel in control of himself and he was hurting people.

His hands went to cover his ears and he couldn’t think through the pain. The nothingness coaxed him in with relief from the pain. If he went to it, it would be over and he could be at peace, but… but if he went to it then he’d become that void, a object inside a living shell. Squeezing his eyes shut he grasped for the world of the living and fought to hold onto himself. Through the darkness a hand reached out for him. Struggling he reached back and as he took it he came back to himself. The glow in his eyes faded and Lani looked around wildly, seeing the destruction for the first time. He came aware of things one at a time. Karalie’s arms around him, the ringmaster motionless on the ground, a slash in Karalie’s shirt with red dyed edges. Moisture slipped from his nose and ears. His power released the ringmaster and he felt the man, his hand, his head. Lani mind swam and a wave of nausea swept over him as he realized what that meant. A moan of despair escaped from Lani and without her holding him up he might have collapsed or bolted or done something of the sort.

There was a ringing in his ears and his head felt as though it had been split open. It made it hard to process and Karalie’s words seemed to come to him on a lag. He couldn’t take his eyes off of the destruction going on around them. His destruction. He swallowed dryly and her insistence came to him again and he closed his eyes and asserted his will over the raging dragon in his mind. STOP! The world did stop. It stopped so eerily that things stopped midflight and whipping ropes stood poised like snakes preparing to strike. “Okay,” he managed, his voice weary, but no longer distant. He squeezed her and his shoulders shook, giving away the fact that he was failing to holding back tears. He pulled away from Karalie and grabbed her hand and started running. He wiped his sleeve across his face and his vision wavered and he felt sick as he pulled his sleeve away and it was blood streaked.

Outside the tent was chaos. People were running and as they saw Lani coming many screamed and pointed others ran from him. Lani’s heart and stomach dropped. There were names called out. Monster! Demon! Lani’s lips opened and he was surprised by how quickly people had turned against him. Unconsciously, he shied away from them, backing into Karalie as he did so. Doing so seemed to remind him that she was there but he jumped from her as well and got a better look at her and the wound on her shoulder. He dropped her hand in horror. He’d hurt her! Oh God! His power caught a rock midair and his eyes flashed finding the culprit. He caught himself before he lobbed it back and it dropped. Lani bolted like a frightened animal, the strong need to just be away taking over. He darted through tents, his desperation driving him. He didn’t make it very far, just to the edge of the camp where he doubled over and lost his meager dinner in the bushes.

[Karalie Heise]

His weight grew as the fury bristling around them died down, a strange, sudden calm taking over.  The kind of calm that happens after a hurricane rips through a town, dying down quickly and leaving nothing but a void where life once was.  It felt like the calm after the storm, where everyone surveys the damage, checks for lives, checks to make sure their homes are safe, secure, that their lives won't be destroyed by the brief, dangerous chaos.  The world was quiet, frightening and dim as she pushed herself closer to Lani, not nearly as frightened by him as she should be.

His words were alarmingly soft, almost frightened as he spoke them, his arms comforting as they held her. She turned her head and looked at the still body of the ringmaster.  Was he..? She hoped he was. She hated how much she hoped he was.  Cheeks flushed she turned back to Lani as he pulled away from her, his hand finding hers.  

She wasn't expecting the run, but knew there was some urgency with their situation now.  They needed to go. They needed to leave and now.  When they got out into the night air there were people running everywhere, screaming and suddenly all eyes were on them.  She knew why they were afraid, she understood their fear at the boy tugging her along.  Their harsh words weren't completely unwarranted, but despite that she felt angry at them all.  The ringmaster had attacked them all, he had abducted them, he had stolen their lives, he had abused them and used them, and it was only a matter of time before someone snapped! Did they not see that? Did they not see how Lani was a victim of the ringmasters crimes as they all were?

Her anger faltered when Lani backed into her, dark eyes meeting frightened blues.  She'd never seen a look like that in his eyes, or anyone's.  Her gaze followed his to her shoulder, to the blood seeping gently from the wound.  It was barely a cut at all, only a small surface wound where a sharp thread of rope sliced through her.  It didn't hurt, not really.. she looked back at him and shook her head when he backed away.  "Lani.." Her voice was ragged, concerned as he dropped her hand and turned away, stopping a rock in mid air.  She watched it fall to the ground, the boy running away from her.  

Frozen.  Karalie stood frozen in shock, watching him go before turning back to the group of foolish carnies.  "You're sheep!" She snapped at them all, throwing an accusing look and pointing her finger at all of them.  "He hasn't done anything you wouldn't have in his situation! He's freed you and this is the thanks he gets?" Her small frame shook with rage.  "You all deserve to stay under that dictator!" It was the most bold she'd ever been.  Normally quiet, Karalie kept to herself, rarely speaking up and never speaking out against anyone, especially the tyrant who kidnapped them all.  

She didn't stay for the backlash, didn't want to fight with them all.  She didn't have the energy nor the time.  Lani was out of her sight and she needed to find him.  She ripped through the tents to try and follow him, but she saw no sign of the boy.  Until she heard the retching in the bushes.  She knew his backside better than cared to admit and knew the one hunching in those bushes was the man she was looking for.  

Karalie came behind him slowly, slipping her hand to his back and rubbing it comfortingly, up his spine and then down again.  "They're fools." She told him softly, her fingers gentle as the moved over him.  "You've saved them all, they don't know it yet."  Her eyes were worried as she watched him, reaching for his hand.  "You did it.. You did it, Lani.. we're free..  Because of you.."  Her eyes moistened as she looked down at him, the sounds of running not terribly far behind them..