Cirque Periculum

Chapter 10.3

The group walked across town to the hotel and checked in. Their bags were taken by the bellhop to be taken upstairs and they circled up outside in the grass after they all changed from their swimsuits to more casual clothes.

Mr. Summertin clapped his hands and everyone went silent. "Today is pretty much a free day. Feel free to explore the island, but do not go past the shield. Tonight we're meeting our new members at Speckled Owl for dinner. Be there no later than seven, and don't be late. I have money for all of you before we separate."

Connor, Riley, Adam, and Kirk lined up with everyone else and once they had money in hand they sprinted off.

Riley deemed the fountain in town square the first stop. The white marble covered in runes carved into the surface spat out water from sporadic angles, rainbows reflecting in the spray. Riley pulled a handful of coins out of her pocket and distributed them between the four of them.

"People without gifts hold the tradition of dropping a coin into a fountain and making a wish," she said, balancing a coin on her thumbnail. "This tradition came from us. They saw a group of children shouting their wishes and throwing a coin into a fountain, and their wish would appear in the water."

"What do you mean?" Adam asked.

"Whatever the kids wished for appeared in the water. Of course, they didn't wish for things like the ungifted do now, ponies and food and wealth. These kids wished for knowledge."

"Wow!" Adam exclaimed. Connor made eye contact. Didn't he hate learning? "I mean, wow that's lame. Who'd want that?"

Connor rolled his eyes. "Does it still work?"

Riley nodded before flipping her coin into the pool of water trapped in the marble bowl. "I WISH TO KNOW THE BEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN TO EAT LUNCH."

Out of everything she could have learned, she chooses that?

The water gurgled and splashed, and Connor expected to see an image in the water, but none was there. A marble pillar broke the surface and fanfare came from all around the square, blaring in their ears.

All at once, the commotion died down and a slip of paper ejected from the pillar of marble. Riley took it, laughing, and the pillar sunk back below the surface.

Connor and Adam didn't notice, they were both looking at each other and trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"Herald Cafe," Riley said, shoving the card into her pocket.

"What?" Connor and Adam said. Kirk chuckled.

"That's the place we're going for lunch," she said.

Connor rolled his eyes as she grabbed his arm and dragged him in tow. He knew that he wouldn't have much time to think about the decision that needed made, but he pushed the thoughts from his mind and smiled as they ran down the cobbled path to the Herald Cafe.

***

The evening came faster than Connor would have liked. Most of the day was spent by Riley dragging the boys around into all the shops she wanted to go into. Adam moaned relentlessly at each one, and eventually Kirk had enough and went to the Speckled Owl to sit and wait for everyone to come for dinner. Adam joined him.

Connor didn't mind them leaving. Riley had two less people to talk to, and that left the two of them walking down the cobblestone alone. He felt his palms gathering sweat just thinking about it.

"So, uh... Have you been here before?" Connor asked.

"Yeah," Riley said. "I came here with the circus once, and then another time with my boyfriend."

You already knew that she's been here you idio- BOYFRIEND??

"Boyfriend?" Connor's voice squeaked.

This isn't good! Back out of the conversation Connor. C'mon, back out!

Riley nodded, her face solemn. "We broke up last year, when he left the circus."

Phew... "I'm sorry..." Connor said, his mind fumbling for something else to say.

Riley smiled. "He was a jerk."

"Do you miss him?" The words were out of Connor's mouth before he could stop them.

Riley gave him a strange look. "I mean, not really. The jerk abandoned the circus for a boot camp. They're against us."

"The rival camp?" Connor asked.

Riley nodded. "Kirk told you about them?"

"Not really. He just thinks that they're the ones that ruined our show."

Riley glared at him. "Let's just say that they're bitter. I wouldn't be surprised if it was them."

This night wasn't going like Connor had wanted. I need to change the subject...

Riley laughed. "If you don't want to talk about them just tell me. Don't think it at me."

"I didn't mean to..."

They walked in awkward silence for a while. Riley seemed to be interested in looking around, but Connor couldn't bring himself to even pretend. His heart was pounding and it felt like a huge rock was lodged in his stomach.

The sun set and they continued to walk in darkness. Connor felt Riley inch closer to him as the cold of October set in, her bare arm brushing against his. A small light cast their shadows in front of them, as more yellow light lit the night. He glanced behind them to find two glowing orbs floating behind them.

"What are those?" Connor asked, stopping. The orbs stopped too.

"They're energy orbs," Riley said, putting her hand under one. "They're part of the light gift."

She lifted the orb up slightly and looked at Connor, smiling. The warm light washed over her face, her eyes glittering a beautiful hazel as warm as a summer's day. She grabbed Connor's hand and lifted it up to hers and dropped the orb into it.

Connor felt the orb's warmth, but no weight. He glanced at Riley before throwing it into the air. The light streaked high above them before exploding into fragments and falling around them.

"How did you know they would do that?" Riley asked laughing and spinning in the falling stars.

Connor couldn't think of a response. All he could do was stare at her. There she was, twirling and laughing with her head tilted towards the heavens and her eyes gleaming. She was beautiful.

She stopped spinning and locked eyes with his, smiling warmly. "Connor? Are you okay?" She asked him, coming back to his side.

Connor snapped out of it and shook his head, managing a smile. "I'm fine, just thinking."

She smiled. "I know."

Turning to stand by him, she took his hand, interlacing her fingers into his. Staying close enough to feel each other's warmth, they walked back towards the Speckled Owl in a comfortable silence. Connor felt his confidence swell. He knew with a sudden assurance which gift he would choose, and he knew that Riley would support him either way. It was a good feeling, and he relished in it.

***

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