VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 16

The air smelled of ale, sweat and vomit. Her face was flushed from the heat of the bodies packed into the tavern.

"Bring the lass over here, Fanny!"

The slurred words had her pushing herself further into the corner she considered hers. How many months had she been there? She heard mention it was Christmas this day, that had to mean it had been over two years.

"Leave her alone, David."

A foot kicked at her leg and she pulled her knees as close to her chest as possible. Her arms were shaking and fear was making her stomach turn.

The boot kicked at her again, this time at her feet. It didn't hurt so much, but she whimpered and reached into her skirts for the knife she had managed to steal form the kitchen. She made sure no one could see her weapon. Fanny was in the room and she would beat her if she saw Violet pulling a knife on her customers again.

The beating would be better than being pawed by whoever it was kicking at her, but it might not be better than starving if Fanny decided not to feed her again. 

"Pretty little girl aren't you?" The scent of whisky and vegetable pie came from right beside her ear and bile rose to her throat. Her fingers curled around the hilt of the knife...

Violet woke up, panting. Her hands reached up, touching her eyes, willing them not to cry. She may shake, but she would not cry, she had promised herself that long ago.

Her arms slipped around her thin chemise and she swayed, rocking herself as Cook used to do when she was a child. The memory of the old woman soothed her and made the shaking subside.

The nightmares had been her companion for many years now, but since her arrival in London they had become more frequent. Perhaps it was because she was close to finding the man responsible for it all.

Ismail.

The thought of his name brought her to her feet. In moments, she had dressed in a simple long skirt and shirt. No more fooling about. The night at the theatre had knocked some sense into her. She had almost given into Patrick, had almost let him sweep her off her feet and drag her away from her goals. But she was back on track now. It had been five days since that night and she had finally found a reputable detective who had agreed to take her case .

Stepping out of the caravan Violet breathed in the cold early morning air. It was getting colder by the day and soon it would snow on the city, she could smell it in the air.

Walking past the line of caravans and the lion cages, Violet walked to the small tent that was Graham's office.

"Graham?" She called out, knowing the old man would be awake. He and his wife woke early and while he checked the books from the tickets sales she would check the rations for the circus folk and animals.

"Come in."

Violet stepped in the tent. The scent of Carlo the juggler lingered. She briefly wondered what he might have wanted so early in the morning as she moved forward.

"I need my wages Graham."

"Alright." Violet heard him shuffling papers on his desk and then opening a drawer. "How much do you want?"

"All of it."

There was a moment of silence, before she heard one drawer shut and another open.

"Are you leaving us?" Graham asked as he handed her a wad of bills. She could not see what he had given her, but she knew the old man to be fair. In either case, she would find out soon enough if he had been honest.