“I’m going for a walk, I’m fine,” I said, hoping he wasn’t about to chew me out over the phone.
“You’re not fine, and I’m sorry I haven’t seen that. I’ll come and get you, where are you?”
“I have no idea. If it’s okay I’d rather walk around for a bit.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Gavin asked.
I looked around the ghostly images of trapped emotions, loops of moments in time surrounded me. My shields were low enough that I saw some Roman soldiers, that hadn’t happened yet. Beyond that, the buildings and real people looked nice. I hadn’t managed to wander into a dangerous part of town. “I’m safe. I need some time, it’s a little after three right?”
“Yes, and you need to get to the theater by five at the very latest.”
“Okay, that’s fine, no problem.”
“Call if you need anything, and Sapphire—”
“Yes, Gavin.”
“We will talk about all the things you’ve not told me.” His words were calm, but I heard the anger in his voice.
I sighed, tears welling in my eyes. I blinked them back. “Fine,” I said.
“Sapphire.”
“I have to go. I’ll see you later.” Hanging up, I turned off my phone and started walking. My empathic shield was crap and my emotions in chaos. I heard the voices of the dead. Felt them tugging on me as they tried to get my attention.
“Sapphire.” They knew my name? This was a new crazy.
“Sapphire.” Strong fingers wrapped around my arm and a sense of water washed over me.
“Ramsey.” I turned. He stood next to me, his large dark eyes full of worry. My chin wobbled.
“Oh, hen, come here.” He wrapped his arms around me.
I leaned in letting his emotions surround me. I fought against crying. I didn’t want to sob all over him. How embarrassing would that be?
“Come on, let’s get out of the street,” Ramsey said. He led me to an alley where a blue van was parked the doors open. “We’re setting up for an audition.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I didn’t know you were here. I don’t even know where I am.” I pressed my lips together to keep from babbling further.
“Well, this,” he said waving his arm towards the unmarked door, “is the exclusive and illustrious back entrance for the Whitechapel Club. Be careful where you step—this isn’t the cleanest alley.”
I smiled but knew it didn’t reach my eyes.
“What happened?” he asked.
“A stupid argument, not worth mentioning,” I said.
“Good,” said the violinist. “Because we have to go, and this is important.”
“Courtney,” hissed Ramsey.
“What, she’s a cute piece of ass, shag her and dump her. We have work to do.”
Ramsey stood. His hot anger mixed with Courtney’s sharp cold anger. Okay, time to leave.
“I'm not like your boyfriend. I don’t treat women like that,” Ramsey said.
I stood. “Listen, I have to go get ready for our show tonight.”
“Sapphire,” Ramsey began.
“Let the little tart go. There are plenty of groupies where she came from.” Courtney reached out and grabbed his arm.
Ramsey’s anger flared, and Courtney’s jealously seeped through her icy anger. Oh, I felt nauseous.
I walked away while they argued. I didn’t get far—the alley was a dead end. I hadn’t noticed because of the crowd at the end. Not a real crowd, just the emotional impressions left behind from a tour. Why would a tour be down here? They stared at the ground, most were men only two women joining them. Obsession, admiration, longing, lust, and violence hung around them like a fog. Blood dripped from some of the admirers' fingers.
My panting breaths echoed in my ears. Slow, Sapphire, you need to breathe nice and slow. My hands shook as the crowd began to part. I didn’t want to see. I knew I didn’t want to see. Walk away, walk away, I yelled in my head, but I couldn’t move. I was trapped by the energy. A woman’s hand was the first thing I saw, reaching out for help even in death. She wore an old-fashioned dress, something I would expect to see in the original Sherlock Holmes movies we watched.
She’d been torn apart, blood splashed everywhere. His joy as he’d cut her up wrapped around her like a ribbon.
“No, please, no.” Everything vanished, and she stood translucent but alive and a man in the long cloak came out of the darkness. The knife in his hand flashed in the lamp light.
The woman and I both screamed as his knife plunged into her the first time.
Arms wrapped around me. I flailed. Someone picked me up. “Sapphire, it’s me, calm down.”
I froze.
“That’s it, hush, hush now. Courtney, get the fuck out of the way.”
I shook as everything became cold. Jack the Ripper. I saw Jack the Ripper. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Two seconds,” Ramsey said, and he kicked open a door.
The harsh smell of bleach hit my nose and my stomach roiled. He set me down, removed my scarf, and held my hair as I threw up.
“Are you throwing up blood?”
I waved my hand. “Beets,” I choked out before I threw up some more.
“Oh, thank god.”
When I finished, I flushed the toilet and let Ramsey help me up. I rinsed my mouth and splashed water on my face. I looked pale and my whole body shook.
“What do you need? How can I help?” he asked.
“Ramsey, can I help?” Solange asked.
“Water,” I said.
She snorted. “That might work in America, but here we must give you tea. I’ll go get some.”
I smiled. Weakly.
Ramsey wrapped his arm around my waist. “Come along, we must act properly, make you drink tea with lots of sugar and milk. Best thing for a shock of any kind. Unless you want a stiff drink—that’s the second best thing.”
“I think the tea will be fine,” I said looking around the empty club. The smell of stale beer did nothing to help my stomach. “Did I horribly embarrass myself?”
“No, actually I think I’m the one in trouble,” Ramsey said.
“What? Why?” I sat and wrapped my hands around the warm mug of tea.
“What have you done to this poor girl?” Murdock asked.
“I didn’t do anything,” Ramsey said.
“So,” said Solange. “Did you just let an empath go down an alley where Jack the Ripper killed a woman?”
“I’m normally better at shielding, but I'm emotional from earlier.” I took a sip of tea. Wow, very sweet.
Ramsey ran a hand through his curls. “I honestly didn’t even think about it. I’m so sorry, Sapphire.”
I patted his hand. “It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I should have taken better care of myself. It’s not like this is the first time something like this has happened.”
“So, what do you need?” Ramsey asked.
“The tea is helping a lot, then I need to rebuild my bubble.”
“Bubble?” Murdock asked.
“I see my shield as a bubble that surrounds me. I know what people are feeling but the bubble keeps their emotions from invading me.”
“That makes sense,” Ramsey said.
“Hey, are you guys going to play or what?” asked Courtney.
“Go. I’m fine—I have tea,” I said.
Ramsey smiled and kissed my forehead. “We will probably only play one song. Then I’ll take you to the hotel.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said.
I let the music and tea fill my senses. Taking deep breaths, through the three songs they were asked to play, I managed to rebuild my bubble. My fire pendant heated up as I pulled energy from Akasha to help rebuild it.
I poured myself a second cup of tea as the club owner talked to the Water Nymphs. I chuckled at the name.
“Sorry,” Ramsey said. “It won’t take long to pack up.”
“What time is it?”
“
Ten to five,” Ramsey said.
“Shit,” I took out my phone, my leg bouncing as I waited for it to turn back on. I ignored all the beeping letting me know about missed texts and calls. I texted Michael letting him know I was fine and on my way. “I have to go I’m supposed to be at the theater in ten minutes.”
“You're on the other side of town right now,” Ramsey said.
“Maybe I should take a taxi?” I said standing up.
“I’m sorry,” Ramsey said. “It’ll take us fifteen minutes minimum to pack up.”
“No it’s fine. I should have been watching the time better.” I wrapped my arms around Ramsey and hugged him tight. “Thank you for helping me.”
He held me tight. “Anytime, hen. I’d come by later, but we have a gig tonight until one.”
“No worries. I have to go.”
“Text me to let me know you got there safely,” Ramsey said.
“I will.”
* * *
Never tell a cabbie you’re in a hurry. I closed my eyes for the manic drive across London, but I arrived at the theater by five thirty. I ran to the door, then took a deep breath and walked in calmly. I changed into my costume, brushed my teeth, and went to go warm up before putting on my make-up.
“Sapphire,” Michael called out. “Everything okay? The others have been nothing but bags of nerves.”
“Yes. I’m so sorry. I won’t be late again.”
“Sapphire,” said Michael his brown eyes calm as he looked me over. “You do remember I know when I’m being lied to.”
“I’m in control, and I can perform. I’ll need to warm-up and drink a protein shake while I put on my make-up. I could talk about everything thing, but then you’ll lose my ability to do the show.” Seriously, one or the other, people. Pick one.
Michael nodded. “But you will talk to someone once you can?”
“Yes, I will,” I said doing windmills to warm up my shoulder.
“Okay, off with you then.”
“Thanks.” I lost myself in my warm-up routine, a mix of power yoga, conditioning exercises, and stretches. My muscles loosened and became more flexible. I felt better and began five-count breathing to strengthen my bubble before the audience came.
“We need to talk,” Sasha said.
I laughed, bitter and a bit cold. I let my forehead rest on my shins. “Not right now we don’t.”
“You’ll run off with Ramsey later and avoid us,” Miu said.
“We should wait for Gavin,” Taliesin said.
Enough of this crap, I was done. I stood up, and all of my ‘family’ stood there together. All of them as one group against me. They looked like some weird superhero team, everyone wore their costumes for the show. “Look, in less than an hour the audience is going to show up.”
“So,” said Miu.
“So I’m empathic. And every single show, the audience’s excitement, awe, envy, desire, inspiration, and lust beat against my shields. It’s even worse when I’m on stage. And if I’m not focused and centered, I can’t keep my shields up, which means I can’t perform. So you guys can either continue with your attack, or I can do the show.”
“Hey,” Gavin said, unwinding his scarf. “What’s going on?”
“Sapphire was telling us that her control on her empathy is so weak we can’t talk things out before the show,” Sasha said.
My hands shook. Sasha’s anger along with something cold and hollow slammed into my shields. What the hell was wrong with him? This needed to stop. “Did you know a girl hung herself in this room? Did you? Any of you? Because I can see the impression of her death every time I come in here.” I pointed to a rafter. “She threw a rope over that beam and hung herself. Her image sways right there.”
Kayin stepped forward. “Sapphire, we had no idea.”
“It doesn’t matter. I deal with it. I deal with it every day. Now, my shields were already ripped to pieces earlier, and that was super fun. I have them built up, but I either have to strengthen them, or I’m not performing. Please pick now, before I start to put on my make-up.”
“Could we just talk about—” Miu began.
“No, I can’t.” I shook my head, and the images from earlier today rushed forward. “Not even a little bit.”
“Stop,” Gavin said his voice firm. “Even if Sapphire weren’t empathic, this kind of conversation isn’t appropriate to have before a performance.”
Miu frowned. “Earlier you were as upset as we are.”
“Anali, happened I bet. Thank goodness,” Taliesin muttered, leaning against the wall away from everyone else.
“Tonight, after the show we will all meet in my suite,” Gavin said, looking at everyone. “I’ll order a bunch of food, and we’ll talk. Sapphire, can you perform with Kayin? Or do you two need to talk first?”
“I can perform.” I could feel some anger, but mostly sadness and hurt coming from him.
“Kayin?” Gavin asked.
He nodded. “I will be ready, and do my best to have my emotions tucked away.”
“Thank you.” I walked past them before they said any more and grabbed a protein drink before sitting at the make-up mirror.
I took sips of the sweet vanilla drink as I painted the thick red and black make-up on using the white to create highlights. With each stroke of the brush against my skin I let my day fall away and got into performance head-space.
Standing next to Kayin, I waited for our cue and took his hand. We connected, and our breathing synchronized. I could do this. Fake it until you make it.
Chapter Sixteen
Melusine clapped as the Chinese pole dancers left the stage. “Quintin, I am so glad you came with me.”
“Well, you're such enchanting company.”
“That silver tongue of yours is going to get me into trouble one day,” Melusine said.
Quintin grinned. “If only I could be that lucky.”
Three young women came onto the stage, they each held sticks with a length of rope attaching the sticks together at one end. The women moved the rope which made an hourglass figure twirl, bounce, and spin into the air. Quintin clapped as they began to toss the hourglass figure back and forth to each other. The girls bowed as the music changed, and Sapphire and a young man walked onto the stage.
“Oh,” said Melusine. “They're stunning.”
The male performer held his arms straight over his head and Sapphire held his hands and moved slowly until she held a handstand above him.
Quintin focused on the young woman from the party. “Yes, they are. Most extraordinary.”
Melusine chanted a spell under her breath while they clapped for the statue performers. Quintin sat next to her with his plain, boring, and completely human aura around him. Scanning the crowd, she saw a few auras that sparkled with faint traces of magic, but nothing strong enough to bother with the expense of a kidnapping.
Her head began to ache as the spell faded. The hula-hooper bowed as two silks fell from the ceiling and two young men walked onto the stage. Melusine gasped at the brightness of their auras. They sparkled like sunlight on newly fallen snow. Melusine fought to hold onto the spell, but the pain became too sharp. Exhaling, she released the spell, her eyes watering after being forced to see auras.
With their magic I can be free and powerful, Melusine thought. “I must meet them,” she spoke aloud to Quintin.
“If that is what you want, then that’s what will happen,” Quintin said.
Melusine smiled. “I’m so glad you understand how things work.”
* * *
“We’ll miss our reservation if we don’t hurry,” Quintin said, looking at his watch.
Melusine smiled. “You worry too much. Look, the crowd is thinning out.” She walked to the table where the two aerial silk artists stood greeting people and avoiding the grabby hands of horny admirers. The one with the white hair kept looking at the end of the table, as if he expected help.
“You both were magnificent,” Melusine said, looking ov
er the young men for some clue as to what kind of mythical beings they were.
“Thank you,” said one with a Russian accent.
“I have a gift for finding talent and helping those who are truly gifted become famous and respected in their field. You should give me a call.” She handed each of them a pale turquoise business card with silver gray writing.
The pale one raised a white eyebrow, and his forehead wrinkled. “Thank you but I don’t think either of us is thinking of leaving Cirque du Feu Magique.”
“One never knows.” She smiled and reached out to touch the pale young man.
“Melusine, would you like me to call the restaurant?”
“Oh, Quintin, you do fuss so. Okay, come along.” She pulled her hand back and took his arm. “Good evening, gentleman.”
“Mr. Monroe?”
“Oh, Miss Rayner, good evening, you were just lovely,” Quintin said. “You remember Melusine, our hostess at the gala.”
“Yes, it’s very nice to see you again,” Sapphire said.
“And you my dear. I’m afraid I don’t recognize you with the make-up on. You must have made quite an impression on Quintin for him to remember you,” Melusine said.
“Well, I didn’t step on his toes when we danced.”
Melusine laughed and pulled another card out of her purse. “You and your partner should come and talk to me. I could make you rich and famous.”
Melusine placed the card in Sapphire’s hand, her finger grazing the girl’s palm. Warm fire sparked then she was pulled away.
“Quintin.”
“I’m so sorry. Someone bumped into me and I was so enamored being near two such beautiful woman that I fear I lost my balance,” Quintin said. “You're all right, my dear, aren’t you?”
Melusine looked down at him and smiled. “I’m quite all right. Come along, we do have a reservation to keep.”
Quintin looked back at Sapphire, she rubbed her hand frowning. Oh well, at least he’d tried.
Chapter Seventeen
Kayin, Sasha, and Miu sat on the couch across from me. Kayin looked uncomfortable while the other two looked ready for a fight. Trays of sandwiches, fruit, crackers, cheese, and desserts covered the large coffee table in between us.
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