＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚
"What do you mean still no boyfriend?" asked Sakura, the opening act of the evening. Despite the flowery stage presence that The Ringmaster had molded for the contortionist, she had a fiery personality off stage.
That was why Rune enjoyed every minute they spent together. She took a sip of her Mosto and shrugged. "There's no one there."
The illusionist, Mysta, shook her head as she laughed. "What do you mean? All your stories have featured at least 3 boys. All of them with surnames of our sponsors. Meaning richy rich."
"Exactly!" exclaimed Rune. She turned to face her fellow performers, but the hairstylist twisted her head forward once again and chided her in Spanish. Though Rune understood none of what was said, she understood the anger well enough.
She made eye contact with herself in the mirror as she continued to speak to the others. "Do you see the problem? They share surnames with our sponsors. Meaning horrid horrible."
"They're all horrible," said Sakura- her bitterness evident in her tone- "It's just a matter of finding the least horrible."
Mysta commented, "The Rosier's don't sound as horrible."
"Your heart is as soft as the clouds, Mysta," remarked Rune, with a sad smile. "You wouldn't know horrible if it stood in front of you wearing neon yellow and jumping around like a niffler running after gold. And anyways, definitely not Evan."
"The Lestrange boy sounds sweet actually," said Mysta.
"Oh, he is. He always sends food to my room when I miss dinner. And he was my date to the Christmas party as well," added Rune.
When she saw Sakura and Mysta exchange a bemused look, she raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"You can't be that daft!" proclaimed Sakura. "He must like you!"
"What?" Rune shook her head. "Nuh uh, he doesn't."
"Uh-huh, he does," retorted Mysta.
"He's never done anything to show that. Besides he kept clarifying that we went to the party as friends," insisted Rune.
Sakura scoffed. "Obviously because he was waiting for you to say something!"
Rune's mouth fell open a bit even as she shook her head. "No, that can't be..."
The contortionist shook her head in disbelief. "I'll just wait for you to come to us with good news next year."
"Have you kissed a bit at least?" asked Mysta hopefully.
When Rune answered negatively, both girls groaned in frustration.
"If I was out there, I'd be living it up! Not living like some goody good girl!" exclaimed Sakura.
Rune laughed and clicked her tongue. "Easy to say. Being out there is not some fantasy—"
"It must be better than being in here though..." added a small voice.
All girls turned their attentions to the petite girl in the room. Rune had only met the girl yesterday. She was no older than twelve and she was a maledictus from central Africa.
Unlike Rune, she had no trace of magic in her bloodstream.
Since Honorius hadn't yet figured out what to call her, nor taught her enough tricks for her to be a named spectacle in his circus, she remained in the shadows until he was ready to let her out.
"What's your beast form?" asked Rune gently.
"The Ringmaster says I'm not supposed to say..."
"He won't mind if you tell me."
Just as she opened her mouth to disclose the secret, the door swung open and the said Ringmaster swooped in, a cape of sparkling white billowing behind him.
He looked around with his calculating, dangerous eyes and they lit up as they passed each performer. "This room alone," he said with a great sense of pride, "is the reason for my success. All my hard work manifested into you three- soon to be four- beautiful women."
The girls took their turns murmuring their thanks to him before he made for Rune and extended his arm to her. "Let's go, my Rune."
"I've still got make up and dress rehearsal—"
"Not to worry. You're priority when we return."
She was about to argue when he said, "I've got you Kingfisher."
Her mouth shut instantly, and she allowed Honorius to take her from the room.
Both Sakura and Mysta had been bought off the Wizarding Dark Market a couple years ago, but Rune had been found by Honorius when she was a baby. Though he hadn't been pleased by it, the fact that Rune could attend any school was a privilege. And it wasn't her only one.
She knew the other performers whispered rumours about her, she felt their eyes on her each time she returned. She knew they defiled her behind her back. Some thought she was The Ringmaster's illegitimate child was others believed she was warming his bed.
She laughed at their pathetic assumptions for they had not known their Ringmaster at all.
The only reason he showed Rune any interest at all was because she was his biggest spectacle.
Their Christmas and Summer performances were sold out no matter which part of the land they landed on all because Rune was present for those. Her malediction, her curse, drew in sponsors and caught the attention of powerful beings from across the globe.
It was sick to think the world could come together to ogle at the thing that would be cutting her life short. The thing that was the end all and be all of who she was.
Good was difficult to come by but it appeared that bad was in over-supply.
"A penny for your thoughts, Rune."
She turned to the man and shook her head. "It's nothing."
"You're not angry about the dress, are you?"
So, he had known it wasn't up to par and still sent it to her. "No."
"Good, because I know all the other ones would have made up for it. October's dress was made with the entire profit from our Opening Act in Beijing."
"I'm not angry about the dress! You'll be pleased to know that it was actually a beautiful fit. Perfect for the occasion."
Honorius narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, just managing to mask his temper. "Then I take it you're angry that I didn't let you spend Christmas with that Wizarding family."
"I'm not—"
"That is a ridiculous reason, Rune. You spend months with them at that darned school. You get one week off for Christmas and even that you want to spend with them. Do I not matter to you?"
She shook her head. "No! I'm not angry about anything!"
"Then why have you been moping around? You've been here three days, and this is the most I'm talking to you!"
"I've been... doing homework..."
As if.
All she'd been doing in between practices was speak to Super Mysterious Guy.
"Homework?"
Though it had been years since the encounter with Albus Dumbledore, there was still a fear of him left in Honorius.
"The Headmaster personally checks the homework after Christmas break. I just don't want to get in trouble," she shrugged.
The Ringmaster contemplated for a moment for sighing loudly. "I really dislike that darned school." Then he motioned to the dining room. "But why don't you tell me about your adventures there while we dine? I've got all your favourites prepared."
"Then you'll have no problem making me talk," she said as she stepped forward.
Once the performance was over, the week quickly rushed past and before long, Rune had bid goodbye to the circus.
Relief settled into her as soon as she boarded Hogwarts Express.
Her guard must have been down too long, because she let out a yelp at the feeling of her hair being pulled.
"Regulus!" she shrieked angrily, not needing to look at his face before turning around and stomping along the train as she chased after him.