The woman's lovely face paled as she read the underlying threat and understood what he meant.

“How-“

“How dare I?” The young man bowed. “As you saw, very easily. Now, if you don't mind, I must make sure the Master is ready for his act. Should I tell him you're ready as well?”

“You- you-!”

“I'll take that for a yes.”

Sheldon turned on his heel, ignoring her sputters as he made his way through the Inner Complex.

The animal pens and most of the troupe’s residences were actually outside in the Outer Complex of walls. Walls made of animal skins stretched on frames. The Inner Complex was where they kept most of the props, costumes, changing tents, the main entrance onto the amphitheater floor...

And the Master’s private tents.

Absently the man touched torch holders placed at intervals throughout the camp. Renewing the light with a push of magic. It wasn't necessary, the lamp lighters had a set schedule that kept all the lights on without a hitch. But, it was a habit from the days when he'd done it basically alone. And for some reason it eased his riled up nerves.

Finally he stood outside the Master's tent, the curtain over the doorway fluttering from an inner breeze. With a frown he pushed his way in and looked around.

The first room of the tent, where Kelly’s costumes, props and other belongings dominated the room, was empty of life. He glanced at the bedroom doorway but instead chose the open doorway to the stairs.

The Master’s private viewing balcony, set into the sheer cliff side above the amphitheater, had a great view of the stage. Albeit from above and to the side, giving you plenty of time to study the back of a performer's head.

Everyone outside would also have a great view of whoever sat near the railing within the alcove.

A feature Kelly loved. And the Master didn’t.

Sheldon instead took a step to the side and climbed a narrow set of steps that was cleverly camouflaged into the rock, mostly hidden by a thin rock wall from the front. At the top was an alcove, far more hidden and private than the balcony below.

The view, just as good.

Would have been better from the front, in Sheldon’s opinion.

Didn’t matter how good or bad the view was. The pathetic creature slumped in his chair wasn’t watching.

Sheldon watched, his lips tightening angrily, as the demon just sat there. Covering his eyes with claws that he couldn't retract, the Master visibly winced with every burst of sound below. Applause, boos, laughter and cat calls, it didn't matter. The sound echoed in the little hidden room.

“Master Taiken, sir?”

He'd been careful to be quiet. But, the demon still started violently, jumping to his feet with a gasp and looking around with wild, black shot eyes.

Lita was right. This couldn't go on anymore. Sheldon formed fists and took a deep breath to steady his anger.

Even if he had to take care of it himself it couldn't go on any longer. The question wasn’t what needed to be done.

It was how.

“I'm sorry to disturb you, Master. But, it's time to get ready.”

The demon stared at him for a long moment.

Walking demons appeared human most of the time. Human in the way a recently deceased, white corpse looked human. But, his Master had barely been able to retain a semblance of late. The whole eye, whites and all, were turning black. Red hair was falling out in clumps. Claws, fangs, scales, it was all making some sort of appearance on his body.

Not all the time. But, he was having a more and more difficult time keeping all of it hidden.

The only thing that hadn't morphed was the general shape. Which Sheldon was pretty sure was this demon’s shape in either form.

In short, his Master was a mess.

“What?”

“It's time to get ready.” Sheldon cautiously stepped forward and put a hand on Taiken’s shoulder.

“Right. Yes.”

Like a child, the demon allowed himself to be led down the stairs and back into the dressing room. There he collapsed onto a stool and let Sheldon help him into a different shirt. This one with easy to undo ties so he didn't have to pull it over his head.

Sheldon was growing more and more livid. Clenching his teeth and working to keep his hands from shaking.

“Maybe we should just cancel your act tonight, sir.” He stepped back from his task and surveyed the slumped demon. “You’re sick. We could always refund some tickets and give vouchers to the participants.”

“He's a demon, Sheldon. The monsters don't get sick.”

Kelly pushed past him, nearly knocking him off his feet, and proceeded to scowl at his work. Taiken made an effort to sit up properly. Mostly the demon failed to sit up straight and went back to slumping with a vacant look in his eyes.

“And if I'd known you'd try to talk him out of his responsibilities I would’ve come myself.”

She helped Taiken up, pretending to croon and fuss over him as she straightened his shirt. Then she rose on her toes to kiss the demon, allowing him to wrap his tired arms around her.

Sheldon clenched his hands.

Can't he see she's acting?

Of course he could. Damn him!

Sheldon had to do something. Something more decisive. But, it was delicate. So delicate that he'd been reduced to hints and innocent comments up until now

“Oh! Master Taiken, I wasn’t expecting you to be here. I just saw Mistress Kelly in the Outer Complex. It's late enough I thought you were meeting her there.”

“Must've had a good time last night, eh, sir?”

“Did you have Mistress Kelly get you something special in town, sir?”

It had been difficult. And all it had done was increase the illness.

His Master was far, far too stubborn. Sheldon silently cursed the demon again as Taiken rested his forehead on Kelly’s shoulder.

“You may go, Sheldon. I've got it from here.”

Taiken lifted his head while Sheldon raised an eyebrow. Then Kelly scowled as Sheldon pointedly looked at Taiken. The demon gave him a faint, appreciative smile. It was creepy with those blackened eyes and the fangs.

“Go on, Sheldon. I'm fine.”

No, you're not. Few of us are. But, what else can I do about it?

Stiffly he bowed to the pair and left. He'd think of something. Something so direct that the Master could no longer lie to himself.

He just didn't know what or how.

And he was worried about after. After is what had kept his interference minimal up until now.

It would do none of them much good if it broke Taiken in the process.

“Sheldon! Thank the Void’s God, I found you!”

At a side entrance to the Outer Complex Sheldon stopped to face Verona. She should’ve been heading toward her act, not flushed with a too heavy coat and looking anxious. She’d always been difficult for him to be around but especially lately. Now that she'd given up on him and turned her attention to his rival.

Not that he'd been competing.

“What's wrong? And don't use that name.” He fought the urge to look around. “You’ll get everyone in trouble.”

She brushed off his concern. “The special guest is demanding wine. The only wine left is in Kelly's stash.” She wrung her hands anxiously. “I was going to ask Lita for help but we’re supposed to be on right now.”

He sighed. Why was it he got all the difficult jobs? At least Lita would've faced little or no repercussions.

“Who's serving them?”

“Him. It's only Lord Aridon tonight.”

Lord Aridon? Sheldon didn't mean to but he started with surprise. What was that adder doing here?

“Voids! Why didn't anyone tell me it was Lord Aridon?” His face grimaced in horror and he rubbed his forehead. “Who's been serving him?”

“Me and Kandi. But, I need that wine now and I’m supposed to be on now and I can’t find Kandi-”

Ah. He relaxed a little. “They should be out of their tent by now. I’ll go and get it.” He grimaced. “And I'll tell her it was me when the show is over.”

Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Thanks, Sheldon.”

Nightmare. And everything has been going right for once. At least the show itself hadn't had any problems.

He watched Verona rush toward the Inner Complex, wearing that cloak. What was it with the girls and those heavy cloaks tonight? They must be dying!

Shaking away the loose thoughts he headed back toward the Master’s tent, only to meet Kandi and send her to get the wine. He had to assure her, too, that he’d take the blame before she’d go.

From there, and with a sigh, he continued outside and to the main amphitheater entrance. This was where the guests came in, through a door from the outside that kept them out of the Outer Complex.

He climbed a ladder set into the stone, right inside the doors and up the back of the bleachers. From there, looking over the heads of the guests, he had a good front view of the amphitheater.

The sword dancers act was on.

Now he understood the cloaks and threw back his head in a groan. The girls were practically naked. He understood the appeal, and had difficulty keeping his eyes off Verona, but… still.

“That’s my little sister,” he growled under his breath.

On stage, Lita, as well as Verona and three other girls, were jumping and rolling their bodies through the spaces between deadly looking blades. More than one gasp of awe resounded with each dangerous looking trick. Lita flipped then positioned herself to catch the littlest girl, helping to toss her through the props.

The blades, ranging from normal to person sized, were set at angles on stands or held by the dancers. They looked impossible to maneuver around without some sort of serious injury.

But, the girls did it. And did it with dramatic ease.

Lita had no idea that, even knowing they were dull, Sheldon still had to look away to keep the anxiety down. He’d yet to watch a single full act.

It was while he wasn’t looking that she performed a manuever that she’d practiced in secret. Well padded during practice her side was now exposed. When suddenly the crowd gasped in concern, Sheldon, at the top of the bleachers, spun around to see why.

Lita, still smiling and wearing nothing but a frilled loin cloth and breast cloth, bowed to the cheering crowd. A thin, bloody slice down her torso telling the rest of the story.

Voids!

How could she smile like that? So pleased with herself!

Her brother was not the only one who’d cursed amid the crowd’s approval. From a side entrance Taiken turned with a snarl to the smiling Kelly.

Sheldon was seething. “Taiken told her to make sure they were better clothed.” He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands. “Voids to her! Just- Just! Voids!”

No one heard his angry complaint.

He had a headache.

Kelly was his headache.

His sister exited the stage, grinning and bowing to extra applause. Her world was as light and beautiful as she imagined the moment to be. Grimly her brother continued walking the line behind the crowd, adding fresh magic to the lights trained on the amphitheater floor

“Good people of the Capital, the greatest city in the Separation! It's my privilege to present the last act of the night. Parents, take away your tender children. This is not a sight for them.”

Dalius, the events master, bowed beseechingly to the parents in the crowd, ushering them with little wrist twists. And as he spoke the prop master began wheeling out additional weapons, leaving the sword props where they were.

It was this act that was the reason those voided swords weren't completely fake. He'd cleaned blood off of those blades himself many times over the years and it still infuriated him. He leaned back against the wall at the top of the bleachers, slamming a fist behind him at his waist.