5 Years Ago

Master Taiken didn’t look good.

Lita stopped walking, clutching her thick, lamb skin cloak closed, despite the warm night, as she observed the demon trudging toward his tent. His steps were heavy and his head hung low, his unkempt red hair obscuring his face. She bit her lip and gave into the impulse to run across the way to him.

She had to dodge people rushing around as they got ready for the show. Even over the din of the performers she could hear the bigger crowd beyond the animal skin wall, which separated their side from the amphitheater.

Laughing. Talking. No matter how many times she performed, the excitement was contagious and she grinned and bounced with each running step.

“Master Taiken, sir?”

She skidded up beside him, slowing her pace to match his. It took a long breath before he slowly raised his head to look at her and she breathed in sharply.

His eyes, which were usually blue, an odd color for a demon, had turned black. Black veins had taken over the whites. He blinked slowly at her and she clutched the cloak closed even tighter, a wave of shame hitting her and heated her cheeks. She tried to push it away by focusing on him.

“Are you alright?”

There was a thump and someone cursed behind her but she didn’t turn to see what had happened.

The demon took a deep breath, wrinkled his forehead and licked his lips.

“Y-yes. I’m fine, Lita. Are you ready?”

“Yes, sir. But, you- Maybe you should lay down? Or I can tell Kelly you don’t feel good and we can cancel your act tonight?” Helplessly she tightened her hold on the folds of the cloak, wishing it wasn’t so hot. Wishing she was better dressed and she dared give him a hug.

A wry smile twitched on his lips and he shook his head. “Kelly wouldn’t like that.”

She pouted. “I bet I can get her to agree.”

“Maybe.” He leaned down and kissed her on the top of the head. It was a gesture she herself had demanded he started doing when she was eight. He didn't have to lean so far anymore. “I’m alright, Lita. Are you ready?”

“You already asked me that.”

“Did I?”

He straightened up. It was like watching an old man. Which he technically was. All the demons were old. Unlike an old man he managed to get totally straight and took a deep breath.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to ask Kelly?”

“Mistress Kelly is busy. And I’m fine. You better get going. I’m sure someone needs help with something.”

She pouted again. Master Taiken was dismissing her! Wrinkling her nose at him and suddenly not feeling guilty at all she raised her chin. “Fine. I’ll go help someone with something.”

The girl didn’t see Master Taiken’s smile as he watched her leave, her bare feet leaving little prints in the loose top dirt of the hard ground. But, there was no relief for him. The incessant headache that had started months ago was only getting worse.

Without his noticing his back began to hunch forward again and he began again his walk toward his tent. It seemed so far away. So far away.

“Sheldon!” Lita moaned dramatically when she found her brother hunched over a crate, looking for something amid the rope and other odds and ends she could see from where she stood. She bounced impatiently on her toes, getting hotter and hotter.

“Yup?” Her brother didn’t look up.

“Taiken’s sick.”

“Demons don’t get sick, Lita.”

She sighed in exasperation. Sweat was beginning to trickle down her back and stick the coat to her skin. Maybe she’d go pull on a shift. Her act was next to last and that coat was going to kill her before then.

“I know that! He’s sick anyway.”

Sheldon sighed and stood up, holding the pulley he’d been looking for. It was made of stone, something Master Taiken had fashioned for them when the need arose.

“What exactly do you want me to do about it?”

Her brother sounded tired.

“I don’t know. Get him to not do his act tonight. Maybe that’s what’s making him sick?” Anxiously she thought of the act. The blood, the gore, the maniacal laughter of humans hacking at a demon who couldn’t die.

“Lita-”

“I know something’s wrong! Why won’t anyone do something about it?”

“Lita.” Her brother sat on the lip of the crate, swinging the pulley and rope in one hand as he talked. “There’s nothing we can do.”

She stopped bouncing to watch him, eyes growing round. “You know what’s wrong.”

“Yes.”

“Then, what needs to be done? Is he dying?”

“No, he’s not dying.” He gave her a weary smile. “He’s fighting Compulsion.”

Her face blanked. “Demons can’t fight Compulsion.”

“You just asked if he was dying,” Sheldon teased. “Now you’re saying a demon can’t do the impossible?”

“But-”

“He’ll get better once he can’t fight Compulsion anymore.” Her brother’s smile faded and he looked tired. “Then may the Lord of the Void help us.”

Unable to swing at her brother, lest she reveal her costume under the stupid cloak, she stomped her foot. “I don’t understand! Why is he fighting Compulsion? Isn’t it better for him just to give in?”

She thought of his black shot eyes and tears filled her own.

Voids on that demon! She wanted to smack him.

“I think so. In this case anyway, it would be better for everyone.” He looked away.

Fear suddenly tightened her stomach. “What's he supposed to be doing?”

Her brother didn't answer. Didn't look at her.

“Sheldon!”

“It’s not my place to say.”

“But- It’s nothing bad, right? Taiken wouldn’t Contract something bad.”

Again, he kept silent.

“Sheldon!”

“I have things to do, Lita. And so do you.” Her brother stood up and stretched, still holding the pulley. “Aren’t you hot in that?”

She scowled at him and turned on her heel, marching away with the hardest stomps she could manage in bare feet. Brothers are stupid. And so are stupid demons.

The tent where her fellow sword dancers were gathered was almost as hot as her cloak. But at least she could close the flap and push the stupid thing off. Two of the other girls were there. As well as Mistress Kelly. The woman was leaning over Verona’s head, brushing out her lovely brown hair and helping the older girl pin it up.

“You’re next,” Kelly said without looking up from her task.

“Lita! Look what Mistress Kelly brought us!” The third girl squealed as she got up, her matching costume of white leather breast strap and short skirt moved pleasantly with the tassels as she pushed a basket at Lita.

Lita looked in and her eyes rounded in delight. “With honey?” she demanded rapturously as she pulled out a piece of sticky cornbread.

“Don’t get it on your costume.” Kelly twisted another of Verona’s locks. “It’ll trail dirt wherever the sticky sticks.”

Lita bit into the bread and watched Kelly finish the locks and twists of Verona’s hair. It was elaborate... and would hurt by the end of the night. It was worth it, though. She could imagine the awe of the crowd.

The crowd was getting louder outside. It was going to be a good show!

“I like these costumes.” The third girl had another piece of cornbread. “It’s so hot in the old ones.”

“Won’t Master Taiken be mad?” Verona shifted uncomfortably, pulling at her skirt as thought it would get longer if she did. “I thought he said no to the new costumes?”

“Let me take care of Master Taiken.” Kelly finished the last twist and kissed the top of Verona’s head. “Your turn, Lita. Everyone else is ready.”

Lita sat down on Verona’s vacated stool, enjoying the feel of Kelly playing with her hair. For an instant it made her think of her mother, brushing and braiding her hair for the day. While Lita brushed and braided her little sister’s hair.

She winced at the memory and tears filled her eyes.

Quickly she blinked them away.

“Mistress?”

“Hmm?”

Well, here it goes. “Master Taiken doesn’t look good.”

“Hmm? So?”

Lita started to turn her head to look at the woman but caught herself just in time. “It’s just- I don’t think-”

The words wouldn’t come. Like they’d turned into shy puppies hiding behind their mama.

“Lita, Master Taiken is my responsibility.” She could hear a mix of emotions in the woman’s words and felt a little yank on Lita’s hair. “I’m handling it.”

“But, Sheldon said-”

Kelly snorted and abruptly let go of Lita’s hair to go around her and look her in the eye. There was a tight twitch next to the beautiful woman’s eye as she forced a smile. “Lita, you have a job. What is it?”

“To sword dance.” She shrank a little on the stool.

“Do your job, Lita, and let me do mine.” The smile that Kelly gave her wasn’t at Lita but it was still contemptuous. “Let me take care of Master Taiken.”

“Ok.”

She hated how small her voice sounded. How cowardly she'd backed away from her goal.

When Kelly was done she leaned down and hugged Lita from behind, squeezing her with real fondness. “Sweetheart, you look beautiful tonight.”

Lita twisted around and hung onto Kelly’s chest. Burying her face in the woman’s shoulder as she listened to the other two girls chatter about the honey farm in Balse.

***

She was right. He knew she was right.

Even though it had been half the night since she’d come to him for help, Lita’s concerned face kept coming back to him. Over and over. He ground his teeth and clenched his fists. For a long moment he did nothing but stare at the stars.

So bright the lamps didn’t completely snuff them out. So bright they were almost clear, even through the glimmer of the magical shield that encased the valley and lake between the mountains.

He was startled from his thoughts by a shrill voice that made him wince. Turning he saw Kelly yelling at the prop master, Fariz.

“What. Is. This?!”

Fariz was not a man to be intimidated, but this was the Master’s mistress. As he hurried over to where they were, Sheldon saw the man’s hands tighten into fists.

“A nick in the paint, ma’am.”

“Do you want everyone to know that these swords are mostly fake?” Her face turned red in anger. “I told you to maintain this!”

“Well, I-“

She raised her hand to slap him and Sheldon, unable to take it anymore, stepped between them and caught her wrist.

“How dare you!”

“Mistress Kelly.” He spoke slowly, firmly. “I know the Master has given you free reign over the troupe, but this is unacceptable. Our Contracts guarantee us freedom from abuse. Do you want me to inform the Master of what you're about?”

She yanked her wrist free. They could hear the applause as the last act was being dismissed.

“Go. Have those ready for the next act.” She nodded stiffly to the prop master who then scurried away as quickly as he could, pushing the wheelbarrow of large sword props. “And you, Sheldon.” She stuck a finger in his face. “Mind your own business.”

He pushed her finger away. “I'm the Master’s personal aide. It is my business to watch the goings on around here.”

“Watching is not the same as interfering. I expect you to hold your tongue. Is that understood?”

“Or what?” His smile was grim as a breeze abruptly blew his unusual blonde hair into his eyes. He didn't push it away, not daring to break eye contact first. “Do you think the Master will send me away?”

Her face reddened again in fury and she withdrew her hand into a tight fist. She dropped the fist to her side.

“No. He won’t.” He stepped forward, forcing her to take a step back. “And I'm warning you. The Master may put up with your crap but I won’t anymore. In the end you may have the best Contract but you’re as vulnerable as the rest of us.”

He abruptly gave her a smirk.

“I've read your contact, Mistress Kelly. You're even more vulnerable than the rest of us. If I were you, I’d break it before it’s too late.”