The Ringmaster's Keeper

Chapter 34: Empty

His eyes bore into mine. I willed myself to look away, but failed. In the end, he was the one to break eye contact, pulling his handsome eyes off mine. I didn't know where to look, so I lay my eyes in my lap.

Lili grabbed my hand.
"It's ok to cry." She whispered as she squeezed my hand so hard I thought it might lose life and wilt. Was it though? Was it? Would everyone not care if I did? Her hand was so pretty. No, flawless. Like the rest of her. I looked at the tiny band of silver that wrapped around her index finger which had intricate engravings of flowers and vines going all the way around it. I looked up to her face for comfort but she was talking to Oscar, in a voice so soft that it was barely audible. Although she said it was fine to cry, I knew it wasn't. If I let Austin see my like this with him not remembering me, he would think me crazy for sure. I didn't know how I would make him remember me, but it must've been achievable if Claudius set it as this year's task. Or was it? It seemed pretty impossible already, and we hadn't even started. I looked back at Austin. He was staring at my face. I wonder how long he'd been staring... I studied his eyes once more. They were so blank. Empty. I felt tears welling up in my eyes so I was the one who drew my eyes away this time.

Lili let go of my hand and I put my hands in my lap, trying to make myself look busy to Austin by pulling at the ribbon on the waist of my dress. Wait. Why was I wearing a dress? I looked up at the others and they were wearing different clothes as well.

I looked around for an explanation and saw a butler standing in the doorway that Claudius exited through. Great. What was happening now?
"Thank you everyone for dressing so appropriately for tonight's ball, but before that, we will first serve dinner. Tonight's meal will be served in three courses. French onion soup for entrée, roast lamb and vegetables for mains and sticky date pudding for dessert. Without further ado, we will bring out the soup." We all sat there, confused, and then of course, my mouth decided to speak.
"Do you actually think any of us care? Are you serious?! We've just been re-united with the people we love, who don't even know who we are anymore, and all you can think about is soup?! Seriously?! Go f**k off to Claudius or something." I said finally under my breath. I'm sure everyone was staring at me now, but I wouldn't know because I was looking down at my lap again.
"Who's Claudius?" I froze. I didn't know what to do. I'd just broken one of the rules and by doing so, Austin had actually said something to me. I slowly looked up to him with my mouth still slightly open. I couldn't speak, so Oscar did.
"He's no one really, just a friend of ours." Oscar covered up as he looked from Austin to me. How was he so able to pretend that he wasn't just talking to his brother. Wait a minute... Didn't Austin still remember Oscar?! Austin's mouth was hanging open and he was speechless.
"Oscar?!" He finally managed. "Is that... is that... you?" Then again, my mouth decided to talk.
"How didn't you notice him before? We've been here for nearly an hour..." He was still looking at Oscar when he said.
"Because I was so caught up in looking at you." He looked at me now. I felt a hot flush come across my face. I'm sure I was red as a tomato. I am pretty sure everyone was all listening in to our conversation. Even the butler.
"Um, ok... Can we please have the soup now?" The butler bowed even after how I talked to him before and left the room. There was a short silence.
"Keen for soup now are we?" Austin smirked. I think my cheeks went a shade darker than before.
"Um, yes..."
"You are quite beautiful you know." Yep, I'm sure I was at least a tomato, if not something redder.
"Umm, thanks." Austin turned back to Oscar and bombarded him with question after question, which most of, he had to lie in answer. The meals came out, one after the other. The soup was delicious, the lamb was a bit dry, and the pudding was a bit sweet. What can I say, I'm a picky eater. after everyone finished their desserts, servants flashed in and ot of the room, carrying big covered trays in, and taking our dirty dishes out. Once everything was cleared and set back up, the same butler reappeared.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. As I said earlier in the evening, we were to have a ball, but this isn't any ordinary ball. Please take the lids off your trays." He announced with a smile, and so I did. I lifted the large metal, only for it to reveal a mask.