Heirs of Avalon

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

He took my hand, his warm fingers wrapping around mine. “This is the second time you chose to keep things from your uncle, Little Sister. I do not like it.”

  I nodded. “I know, but neither thing could harm anyone, and with how Anali is feeling, I don’t want to burden them right now.”

  “You are not a burden.”

  “I know.” And I don’t intend to become one.

  Chapter Seven

  Running my finger down the glossy image, I couldn’t believe that it was me and Kayin. Michael arranged for a photographer to come and take photos of everyone during a dress rehearsal and make them into a new program. The make-up we wore to highlight our features made us look older and more severe. Of course we were both concentrating on not falling over, but you couldn’t tell. We looked powerful, balancing against each other, defying gravity. We wore skin-tight red costumes, that showed far more skin than they covered, so my copper brown skin contrasted beautifully to his ebony.

  I closed the program and peeked out into the theater. I could smell the popcorn and candy. Small children waved pink clouds of cotton candy close to their parent’s faces. The clowns were beginning to come out and mess with the audience. The show would start in about fifteen minutes. Little faces lit up as they saw the clowns wearing their baggy, silly mismatched clothes. The male clowns wore dresses and tutus, and the girls wore ugly plaid sport coats and ties. Their hair was in silly, messy styles. Their make-up was strong, but not creepy clown make-up, thank goodness. They slinked through the aisles. Adults sitting in the front tried desperately to not make eye contact, not wanting to become the focus of the clowns’ attentions. I searched the crowd. There! Ramsey had come. Sitting next to him was the pretty lead singer of the band. Oh, well, it’s not like I was staying or could have an actual relationship with him. Sighing, I watched her fingers tame his wayward brown curl.

  “Ready?” Kayin asked.

  “Yes, just watching the crowd.”

  Kayin leaned over my shoulder to peek through the curtains. “They seem excited tonight.”

  The crowd burst into laughter as the clowns threw a bucket of confetti over a woman. “I think we are the ones who are excited. I hope I don’t mess up on our first time performing statue.”

  “You’ll be great,” Kayin said. He placed his large hands on my shoulders and squeezed. “And remember what Michael says.”

  “Someone get me a coffee,” I teased.

  Kayin chuckled and shook his head.

  “If I didn’t have to go on right now,” Michael said, his eyes sparkling. “I’d make both of you do push-ups for that comment. I believe the one saying Kayin was referring to is, ‘have fun and do your best. The audience doesn’t know the routine, so if you make a mistake, fake your way through it.”

  “Yes, Michael,” we said, stepping aside so he could sneak through the audience while the clowns held the crowd’s attention.

  The house lights went out, and the audience gasped. Their excitement swirled through the air like autumn leaves dancing on the wind. I watched as a crowd of strangers, hundreds of strangers, become one. Their eyes widened as the Chinese pole performers walked onto the stage. Their costumes, which looked like multicolored ribbons, brought small smiles of delight. Watching the audience gasp, cry out, flinch, hold their breath and clap, I was able to tell exactly what the performers were doing. It was amazing to see all of these different people captured by the power and passion of the performers.

  As the music faded, the audience released their collective breaths and clapped, coming out of the trance. I watched looks of admiration and envy, and several people were flushed with desire. This is magic, not the strange powers I woke up with almost a year ago, but being able to unite people, if only for a moment. This is true magic.

  “Sapphire, we need to go queue up,” Kayin said, tugging on my arm.

  “Okay.” I listened to the fast violin music begin, signaling the diabolo act. Would their performance of tossing a wooden hour glass figure between each other on thin ropes entrance the crowd in the same way? They were very skilled, it was difficult and took hours of practice, but would the audience be as enchanted, or were the feats of strength, of seeing the human body in all its glory what enchanted them?

  “Have you seen Gavin and Anali?” Kayin asked as we waited in the back.

  “No,” I said as I stretched. “They said they would be here to see us, but they were going to nap first. Anali was really tired.” I didn’t expect them to come. I ignored the cold shard of sadness in my heart that accompanied the thought, but Anali wasn’t feeling well, and I truly did understand. There would always be other shows.

  Kayin nodded.

  “Are you ready?” Sasha asked. He wore skin-tight leggings of blue and silver. His make-up had triangles of blue on his cheeks, making his GQ cheekbones look viciously sharp. The silver on his lips and eyes seemed to glow.

  Sasha looked amazing, but Taliesin looked heartrendingly beautiful. Taliesin’s mother Cordelia designed all the costumes, and these new ones made her son seem godlike. His white skin and hair glowed against the blue and silver. He looked as if he was bathed in moonlight with his unicorn nature exposed, glowing silver under the moon’s gentle caress.

  “Wow,” I gasped. “You two look stunning.”

  Sasha grinned. “Yes, I do look very nice.”

  I rolled my eyes at Sasha, grateful for the distraction so I could catch my breath. I thought I was immune to beautiful people after traveling with the circus for so many months, but apparently my teenage hormones could still get the best of me. For once I was grateful for the thickness of the stage makeup that covered my blush.

  “You two look great,” Taliesin said, “The red complements both your skin colors, and makes the differences stand out. Very sensual.”

  “Thanks.” It was nice of him to say so, but as I stood surrounded by these three breathtakingly perfect men, I felt very plain. Hopefully the costume and makeup would help the audience buy the illusion of my being as beautiful as Kayin.

  The violin music faded and the diabolo girls bowed and waved to the audience, while the clowns ran about in their usual between-routine performance intended to distract the audience from set and prop changes. Kayin held out his hand, I took it, and we walked out on stage. Our breathing synchronized as we moved into place. I could feel the audience. My shield held, so I wasn’t overwhelmed by them, but I felt it when we caught their full attention. The audience began to breathe as one, gasping and cheering as we amazed them with our strength and balance.

  Kayin held up my hands, and I tightened my body, moving into a handstand above his head. Breath by breath, we moved into different balancing poses. Tightening my stomach, I held motionless as Kayin moved to the floor with me balanced above him on his shoulders. A wave of excited fear from the audience hit my shields. My body trembled, and I wrapped my arms around Kayin’s chest to balance myself.

  He froze, and I curled down. “Let’s go to the floor together,” I whispered.

  “Yes.” Kayin began to move again. I slid next to him on the floor then, in what I hoped was an artistic way, repositioned myself so we could get back into our routine.

  Only a few beats later I was sitting on the soles of his feet, then we stretched out in opposite directions before he brought me back in, and we curled around each other as the cello music began to fade.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  “You did great.”

  Now that I wasn’t focused on the routine, I felt the audience’s full force. Lust and envy licked at my shields. Later when we interacted with the audience, I would need to keep an eye on Kayin. If people were feeling like that about him, they must also look at Taliesin and Sasha that way. Maybe Miu would help me protect our boys.

  The music stopped. A pause of silence, then the audience broke free of the spell and began to clap. We stood, bowed, then waved to the audience before walking off stage as the clowns ran on and began their routine again.

  “Well
done,” Sasha said, slapping Kayin on the shoulder.

  I smiled, my chest heaving and my body buzzing with excitement. We had done it. Our first statue, and we had done it. Okay one minor slip-up, but we managed to bring the routine back on track.

  “Sapphire,” Taliesin said, “you looked wonderful out there.”

  “Thanks, I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it.”

  “You two practiced a lot. Of course you would be great,” Sasha said.

  “Okay. Sasha and Taliesin, you’re ready?” Michael asked.

  “Yes,” they said.

  “Great. After the clowns, it’s the hula hoop, then you two.” Michael pointed at me. “After silks is poi and stilts so you need to go and get into your next costume. Then we’ll have intermission.”

  I smiled. At this point we had the schedule memorized, but Michael felt better saying it out loud and reminding everyone of what was to come. “I’ll go get changed right now.”

  Because I was supportive in poi/stilts and jump-rope I added pieces to my costume but didn’t have to change my make-up, which was lucky as this stuff is a pain to get on and off.

  “Need a hand?” Shin asked.

  “Yes, thank you.” I took his hands, tucked my stilts against his feet and let him pull me up. The black-and-white striped skirt fell almost to the floor, hiding the aluminum stilts. “You guys were amazing, the crowd was entranced.”

  Shin grinned. “Thanks. I like the routine, and the new guys are a strong addition to the group.” Reaching up, he adjusted the black-and-white polka dot vest I wore over the red top.

  “Is my hat okay?” I touched the tiny top hat pinned in my hair, hoping I wouldn’t mess it up while checking to see if it was messed up.

  “It’s perfect.” Shin sighed. “So how is Kayin?”

  I frowned. “Fine, he’s around here somewhere. You could ask him yourself.”

  “He seems a bit nervous around me lately,” Shin said.

  “Oh, well, he’s trying to figure things out.”

  Shin nodded.

  “But I know he wouldn’t want to lose your friendship. We’re going to the pizza place afterward, you should come with us.”

  “I think everyone is going. Michael reserved half the restaurant and already ordered pizzas. But yes, I’d love to go with you guys.”

  My stomach growled at the thought of pizza, the heavy protein shake I’d drunk at five would get me through the show, but I would eat a disgusting amount of pizza later.

  “So did your rescuer show up?” Shin asked.

  “Yes, and he brought a very pretty woman with him.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I mean, it’s not like we could date or anything.” Inside I was pouting, but on the outside—total fake maturity. Go me.

  “No but what about having a torrid romance?”

  “Really? Me in a torrid romance? Please.” I rolled my eyes. The music changed. Looking out, I watched the hula hoop performer disappear as two silks fell from the ceiling.

  The audience leaned forward in their seats when Sasha and Taliesin came into view. Many lifted fluttering hands over their hearts.

  Moving in sync they climbed the silk, their bodies solid as they used only their arms. When they got over half way up, they stopped and began to twist in the silk. I had seen them do this before so I looked at the audience. They were enraptured, and gasped, eyes wide, as Taliesin and Sasha slid down the silks head first, stopping a few inches above the floor. Jumping to their feet, the audience clapped and roared their approval.

  “They make me feel clumsy,” Shin said. “I’ve seen them practice, but this is amazing.”

  I rolled my eyes and stepped back. I needed to queue up. “You're ridiculous. Yes, they're graceful and stunning, but so are you, Mr. Park.”

  Shin jerked his head, which would have tossed his bangs about dramatically if they hadn’t been gelled to his head. “You speak only the truth, Sapphire. Thank you for setting me straight. I am magnificent.”

  I was surprised there was enough air in the theater to breathe with the size of the egos around here. Reaching down, I shoved his shoulder. He didn’t move. Huffing, I left to queue up before Michael got mad at me.

  * * *

  Dodging the other performers backstage while wearing stilts is a special skill set. I made it back to my changing area and grabbed hold of a flimsy pole, saying a quick prayer before starting to lower myself to the ground.

  “Wait, let me help.” Gavin held out his hands.

  I took them and let him help me to the ground. “Thanks, I didn’t think you’d come.”

  “And miss your first statue performance, of course I came.” Gavin lost his smile. “Did you really think …”

  “Sapphire, you were so beautiful,” Anali interrupted, her arm linked in Kayin’s. Her skin was pale still, but her amber brown eyes shone brightly. “And the two of you together, the skin color difference alone is erotic, but the way you moved, I was afraid your Uncle Gavin would have a heart attack.”

  Gavin blushed. “I knew it was just an act.”

  “Well, Little Sister, if we could fool your uncle, I’d say we did a good job,” Kayin said.

  And no one seemed to notice my mistake. I smiled and began undoing my stilts. “How are you feeling Anali?”

  “Okay. We had a lovely nap, and made it here just in time.”

  “I was thinking of taking her back to the hotel so she can eat, then get to bed early,” Gavin said, taking Anali’s hand.

  “Of course. I didn’t expect you to come anyway, not with Anali so sick,” I said. Really. What were they thinking coming here when she felt like this?

  “Anali, are you feeling better?” Taliesin asked, handing out bottles of Recharge. “Michael asked me to pass out the drinks.”

  “Thanks,” I said taking a deep drink, shivering as the cold sports drink chilled my hot body. It felt like air conditioning went off in my chest.

  “Taliesin, you were stunning,” Anali said. “Where is Sasha? I wanted to congratulate him, too. I swear several women near us were about to faint watching the two of you.”

  Taliesin rolled his eyes, but smiled. “I’m glad you liked, it but I doubt anyone was in danger of fainting.”

  “Why is someone fainting?” Sasha asked.

  “Because the two of you are just stunning,” Anali said and fluttered her eyelashes. I would have to move away soon, the teen boy egos were expanding quickly.

  Sasha choked on his drink.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.” Gavin said. “I can offer advice; it is a burden being this handsome.” He tossed his hair and posed.

  I groaned. Here we go.

  “Gavin, my dear, how will you ever survive before we can perform again? Your poor ego will deflate without a constant supply of hot air.”

  “Anali, I'm wounded. Are you saying you won’t spend this pregnancy telling me how wonderful I am?”

  Anali giggled and then froze, her eyes lost focus, and her breath became shallow. What was happening? I reached towards her.

  Gavin moved to support her to the floor. “Anali, breathe. It’s a dizzy spell. It’ll pass but you need to breathe.”

  Anali took a shuddering breath. “Okay, sorry. Everything just got fuzzy for a moment.”

  “No, worries I have you.”

  I hugged myself, how does someone go from vibrant to weak so fast? Was she really okay? I bit my lip, and watched Gavin.

  “Gavin,” Taliesin said, handing him one of the Recharge drinks.

  “Thanks,” Gavin said. “Anali, I have a drink for you, and then we are headed back to the hotel.”

  She took a sip and nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about. The midwife said it could take a few weeks before your body settles down,” Gavin reminded her.

  Weeks? She was going to go through this for weeks? I was never getting pregnant.

  Anali laid her head on Gavin’s shoulder. “I ho
pe it isn’t this bad the whole time.”

  “It won’t be,” Gavin said, his voice firm as if he actually knew. “Feeling better?”

  “Yes, but I feel silly,” she said.

  Gavin kissed her forehead. “No need, darling. Come on, let’s go back to the hotel, order room service, and you can gush about how amazing I am.”

  Gavin stood and helped Anali up. I kept my eyes on Anali in case she felt faint again. Gavin wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “Sorry for the drama,” Anali said. “You were all wonderful and I’m so glad we got to see your first performance.”

  “Good night, Anali, take care of yourself,” I said, reaching out to touch her. I drew back. I didn’t want to upset the delicate balance Gavin had created.

  We watched them walk away, all of us holding our breath until we couldn’t see them.

  “Poor Anali,” Miu said.

  I jumped. “Where did you come from?”

  “I just finished getting ready.” She was painted like a geisha, and wore a pale gray kimono with pink and white cherry blossoms on it. A paper fan dangled from one wrist.

  “Can’t you help her?” Sasha asked, his Russian accent thick.

  His worry prickled against my shield.

  “Not really,” Miu said. “It’s her and the baby coming together. Basically she has low blood sugar. The fear and worry because of the miscarriage isn’t helping. As far as I can tell everything is fine with the baby, and the teas and ginger are helping her some. Her body will settle soon.”

  I hoped so. I didn’t like seeing Anali so weak.

  “Fifteen minutes,” Nyota said as she walked by, her focus on some piece of equipment in her hands.

  “I need to go get ready,” Taliesin said.

  “I’ll go with you,” Kayin said, and they walked off to change for their next routine.

  “Sasha, were you able to Dream about the dampening field?” I asked.

  “Da. I told Nyota this morning. There is no problem, Anali and the baby are safe,” Sasha said before following the others to get changed.

  “Good.” At least we could continue to protect Anali and Gavin under the dampening field. I couldn’t imagine what the Sons of Belial would do if they captured Anali while she was pregnant. I pulled on the baggy, blue overall shorts with bright yellow flowers, neon green knee high socks, and purple tennis shoes I wore for jump-rope. I didn’t look at myself in the mirror. This outfit was not my favorite.