Broken People (Serial)

Forty-Three

With his back against a pillar and his arms folded across his chest, Nicholas watched the audience's reaction. Surprise, followed by curiosity, then excitement. So far, so good.

Being too cold outside to perform anything outstanding in the yard, and having a special reason not to do it as they needed an excuse to be inside, the circus crew invaded the main hall. At first, the audience pulled back when confronted with the loud and colorful invasion, but soon, people relaxed as they realized there was no danger. Dancers spread through the crowd, tickling the visitors with their feathers, while the clowns juggled shiny balls, and the stilt men reached up to the ceiling.

As usual, waiting for the proper moment, Anya made her flashy entrance. Even her costume exuded drama with black-and-white contrasts, and a mask that emphasized it with a visage of a slightly aggravated Swan. Nicholas made a note to congratulate Cielo on the seamstress work. Anya winked as she passed him.

He might have been bold and blown her a kiss at the circus, regardless of how much trouble it would have gotten him into later. But here, he was a respectable circus owner who couldn't risk such a gesture. He smiled at her instead.

At the end of one of her signature pirouettes, the gymnasts smoothly pulled attention to their act. Their jumps and somersaults culminated in one giant human pyramid. Riella climbed on it, all the way to the top, to reach a wide, red ring hanging from a metal bar the stilt men held on their shoulders.

Her routine lasted for a few more minutes, and then the doors opened again. In an orgy of lights and sounds, Cole maneuvered his transporter in, coming close to scratching the plaster off the walls. Rake and Skinner had painted the vehicle in rainbow colors, so instead of soulless white, it sparkled in shades of red and purple with yellows and greens splashed in between. The arms and legs moved with confidence, and they spread enough to allow the audience to see the swirl of pink and blue fur trapped in a wire cage below the body of the transporter. Excited by the presence of so many people, the menzataxor didn't stand still for a second.

Positioned on either side of the transporter, Rake and Spinner threw knives at each other between the machine's legs, occasionally skewering flying balls in the process.

Like a spider on its web, Riella lowered herself until she grabbed one of the mobile arms and hung onto it.

Not about to let her take the spotlight, Anya emerged from the crowd and glided in a series of graceful moves up next to Cole. Once she effortlessly climbed on top of the transporter, she opened her mouth and sang. The Nightingale's voice came out through her lips.

The audience stared in awe, and no one noticed Cielo and Rosie entering the hall. Cielo, in her sequined dress and a scarf wrapped around her neck, slipped into the back of the crowd. Her golden mask was frozen in an elusive smile, but her lips moved behind it, producing the most enchanting notes. Getting the mask to freeze had been almost as difficult as re-growing Cole's nerves, but Spinner had somehow managed it.

With an armful of roses, Rosie circled the hall and offered every woman in the audience a strongly-scented flower. She'd cleaned up for the occasion and had put on a cute little pearl-gray dress, and her sandy blonde hair had been styled into a mass of soft ringlets surrounding her pretty face. No one could resist that angel face with big gray eyes. All she had to do was remember to smile with her lips closed.

Nicholas gave her a small nod, his eyes only leaving the Swan's act to investigate the people's faces. Was it too much? Who overreacted to the singing? He didn't like putting Anya in danger, but having her impersonate the Nightingale for a short while was a risk they had to take. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad with the circus leaving the city in the morning and not returning for a long time, whether they succeeded or not.

When the last song ended, he walked up to the transporter and offered his hand to help her down. Anya took it and descended without looking at Riella, who hadn't finished her acrobatic number. She was the star, more now that she'd sung, and deserved all the attention she got. That was why what he was going to do next would hurt her so much.

Slipping an arm around her waist, Nicholas tapped his fingers on her rib cage. The panel slid open, and he pushed his hand inside, looking for a switch that wasn't there. Anya froze, turning into a beautiful, lifeless statue.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "The Nightingale couldn't be with us tonight, but she lent us her voice."

He picked Anya up and moved her to the window, giving the established signal. His fingers lingered on her waist before releasing her, and he made sure to close the panel in her chest. Feeling the pump pulsate against his hand had been unnerving this time.

Small, prearranged explosions, sounding like gunshots, filled the yard with colorful smoke, and the visitors rushed to the doors to see what was going on. Few stayed behind, glued to the windows and not paying attention to the activity behind them.

Rosie crawled under the transporter and released the menzataxor. A smile split her face the instant the furry animal curled up against her chest, purring loudly like an army of drunk cats. Everybody around her would be smiling as soon as she introduced them to her colorful friend.

"Walk him around when they get back inside," Nicholas told the little girl. Even with her in this happy state, he didn't make the mistake of patting her head.

Rosie giggled, and her laugh echoed inside the deserted hall.

Nicholas glanced one last time around the place. Riella had taken her position in the doorway. The cold air rushing in made her shiver, but she would provide enough of a distraction if needed. The stilt men guarded the access to the grand staircase, and Rake and Spinner were already heading that way, waving at Cole to follow them.

"Let's go," Nicholas said with a nod to Dale.

Serioja stood by Cielo's side, his muscles flexing in anticipation. She would be safe with him around.

In the yard, Fei Lin performed an aerial ballet, consisting of a series of vaulted jumps. She had better not make holes in the pavement with her hard landings. Big Dino wouldn't be pleased if they had to pay for repairs.

"Wait here," Dale said to Aurore and rushed after them.

The Golden Lady pursed her lips and exchanged a glance with Nicholas but stayed put.