Yet again, they had stopped in a city. Yet again there were happy families all around. Yet again, he was being forced to preform. He had been kept in a cage for most of the voyage, now was his chance at freedom for a bit. On a leash mind you, but still, he could get up and walk around. He stretch, pulling at the collar that bound him to his cage. it was not tight, that was the worst part. Only a select few people could remove it.

He looked outside. The sun was setting, it would be show time soon. He went into the backstage of the main tent. They were a few friend, but fearful smiles at him. He bowed his head and he walked by. He got his costume on. It was a simple pair of baggy black pants with a white belt. No shirt. His black markings looked like a tribal tattoo down his back. He looked around him. Out of all of the freaks, he was the only one that could pass as a normal human being if need be. Freak... he thought. He hated the word, but since he was captured by the circus, it was a word that he had become accustomed to. In all true, he was a freak. A daemon, to be precise.

The ring leader came in, his whip in hand. He barked orders. The freaks all began to move, except for him. He was finishing the few last details of his costume.

"Alexei, move. Now."

Alexei, right, his name. He was not used to it. In his life, no one dared utter his name. But here, and now, it was used commonly by everyone. Alexei got up. Show time.

Sashi sighed as Her boyfriend pulled her along and into a large circus tent " Hermy come on you know i hate these things..." she complained not sure why he loved them.
" aww come on sash" his nick name for her " it will only be a few hours and it never come here" he reasoned with her until she sat down grumbling all the long while. she pushed her long brown hair out of her pale blue eyes. and watched the ring sullenly.

The Ring Leader walked out onto the centre ring. "Welcome one and all to tonight performance! We ask that before the show being anyone who be squeamish please leave no, because this show you are about to observe comes complete with strange oddities collect from around the world!" His grin widen.

Alexei watched the ring leader from just off stage. He rubbed his hands together, waiting for his act. He pulled at the collar around his neck. It itched and burned at the same time.

* * *

"Now ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the only daemon ever caught in existence. Do not make any sudden movements, and be careful, do not fall. He can smell your blood from a mile away. I give you, the one the only, Lord Alexei!"

Alexei walked from the back stage, the lights falling dim. Smoke filled the tent, and a soft red glow formed off of Alexei. He opened his eyes. They had began to glow red as well. He listened to the heart beats of everyone in the crowd. There was one who caught his attention. A girl in the front row. He was drawn to it. He spread what look like deep shadow wings, and continued his act, but his mind never drifted from this heart beat. It rang out like a cry in his head, making him both dizzy and crazy. His fangs were growing in, along with his nails. Calm down... ignore it... but he couldn't. This specific heart beat sounded just like hers.

At the end of his act, the smoke cleared. He was bowed in the centre stage. He thought for a moment, and formed a rose, then walked over to the girl and bowed. "For you..." He felt a quick jerk and was pulled off his feet and dragged back into the tent, dropping the rose on the girls lap.

She blinked a few times as the smoke entered the tent. she had tried to get up to leave but Hermy wouldn't let her " sit down" he whispered to her. she sighed and did for now she would sit through one act and then go home she swore to god.

she watched the man/ demon enter the ring. she was surprised by how human he was but thats not what drew her attention it was his looks...he was handsome... but then again she supposed most demon's were.

at the end of the show she watched him turn to leave then stop before her holding a red rose out to her. she was about to take it when they had jerked him away, it fell in her lap..she picked it up and lightly sniffed it.

His back hit the cold metal bars of his cage with one swift movement. The door was closed and locked, keeping him in. He moved ad sat over against the corner.

"Guess that was a stupid move, eh?" It was one of the younger girls. This one was human, but she was used more as a slave. He clothing was torn and her hair was a mess. She was also the only person who did not cower in fear of Alexei.

"You would not understand Kira..." His voice was harsh, but there was no cruelty behind it. Kira laughed and smiled.

"I am not a child anymoe Alexei, I am 17."

"To young for me kid."

"Oh, and what about that girl? Don't pretend I didn't see you give her that rose."

Alexei feel silent. He sighed, and looked up at the ceiling. Her words had somewhat impacted him. So instead, he wanted to try something. The concentrated on the girl in the front row. He pictured her, remembering her heart beat and her scent, and then broke his way into her mind.

"Help me... Please..."

Sashi twitched as she heard a voice in her head. thinking she was either going insane she tried to ignore it....when she couldn't she got up " I'm just going to go get some air" She told Hermy. who only nodded,
shashi wasn't one to leave a place after dark alone he mentally reasoned with him self. so confedient she would come back he let her leave the tent for now. She left the tent and sneaked around looking for the freak cages, she had some odd felling that the voice wasn't just her imagination...

Alexei watched as the young Kira cleaned around his cage, however he was not really paying attention to her. His attention was too busy being placed elsewhere.

"So, you just going to watch me, or what?" He looked at her, snapping back into reality.

"Kira, what have I told you about breaking my concentration?" He rubbed his head, looking at her.

"Right, right. You get headaches. I'm sorry." Alexei laughed softly, reaching his hand through the bars of the cage and messing up her hair. Kira laughed, moving out of his way. "Can't reach can you?" Alexei frowned, looking at her. She was the closest thing to a family that he was ever going to get. Kira shook her head and walked over to him, letting him mess up her hair. "Alright smart ass, I have to go clean before you get me in trouble."

As she left, Alexei relaxed back down. His ears twitched, turning his attention to the back of his tent. His eyes turned to a deep red, his voice dropping and a growl growing in it. "Who's there...?"

As Sashi left the tent she had heard some voices she fallowed them until she found a cage with that demon in it. she hid in the shadows not wanting to disturbed there concentration. She had been about to turn around and leave when she had been found out,
" I'm sorry I didn't mean to disturbed you" she said coming more into the light/ just out of his reach.

He looked at her, pausing for a moment, and then relaxed back down. "Do not be afraid, girl." He said. His voice was harsh, but his eyes were filled with a deep sadness. "There is no point to fear an animal whilst it is locked in its cage." He ran his fingers through his hair, looking at her. The girl as beautiful, there was no denying it, but he was still uncertain whether or not to trust her.

"Why are you back her anyways? Are you not enjoying the show? Or perhaps you have come to poke fun at the beast," He looked around the room, whispering softly "Or is it because you heard something strange, an almost familiar voice resounding in your head?" He smiled softly, carefully listening around them. If she was caught... He did not want to think about that.

She did not move closer nor did she move away, she simply looked upon him unwavering and spoke to him in the same manor. " look I don't usually come to these things so no i was not enjoying the show. further more..." and now she chose to come closer to the cage but she seemed almost angry " if you ever break into my head again I will hurt you" she walked away after that, but the cage door was now unlocked.....
She did not return to the show tent but veared off towards home. there was no reason to go back and she figured someone might want some answers.

He looked at the open door, laughing softly, but did not hesitate. He moved quickly and quietly out of his cage and closed the door behind him. He carefully peaked around the tent, making sure no one was there. He had maybe 10 minutes to move away from the circus before anyone found him. He ran quickly and swiftly, and even though the rocks were cutting the bottoms of his feet, he continued to run with all this might. He spread his wings, finally having enough momentum, and lifted off.

He was following someone, chasing her down. He had caught wind of his heart beat and was soaring off in her direction. She had helped him escape and he now owed her his life. What she didn't know however if that they knew she had helped, and they were going after her. He needed to no protect her.

Sashi walked until she came to a large manor house. the gate opened, it was electronic and operated from the gate house within. She entered and continued to the house were a butler opened the door for her. she nodded her head in thanks and moved on to her attic room. there really was no need for her to have a room in the attic its just simply the room she had wanted so her parents had given it to her.

She opened the large bay window and sat down in a chair, she started to read. waiting to see if he would fallow her.

He flew over top of the house, landing quietly on the roof. It reminded him of a house he once owned. He had been fond of the human world, and had lived in it whenever he was given the chance. It was only in the last 200 years that he had been an act for their amusement. Before that, he was considered a lord throughout history. Funny how times have changed... he thought to himself.

He then let himself drop from the roof and hover in front of the window. "May I come in?"

She glanced at him from over her book and gently raised an eyebrow " why do you think the window is open?" she said lightly setting her book a side for now. so as to give him her full attention.

He came into her room, his wings fading back to just a tattoo along his back. He ran his fingers in his hair, fixing it. His eyes went from the deep red colour they had been to a pale green. He looked at her. "So, why did you do something so incredibly stupid anyways? You do realize you are in danger now of sharing the same fate as me. Or they could decide to starve me and feed you to me." He was very nonchalant about it. "Just be wary, you must leave this place. Now."

She chuckled, " i am perfectly fine right were i am" She said simply, " I made surer to leave no traces behind me, in fact your the only person who knows i actually live here" it was true not even her boyfreind know were she lived which was always a cause of augment between them.

He laughed, then pulled at the collar around his neck. "Could you remove this for me?" He looked at her, rolling his shoulders, looking out the window. He was beginning to feel the tug again on his neck, and knew that the ring leader was gaining on him, and if he had any chance of saving this girl, he would need to leave before they found him there.

she nodded and got up " but you'll need to sit down...your so much taller then my i wont be able to reach" She said lightly. Her family was a bunch of thieves only reason why she know how to do half the things she did.

He looked at her with an eyebrow raised. He sighed walking over and sitting down on her bed. "Better?" He was half mocking her, but half genuine about it at the same time. He really had no time to fool around, they were coming for him, and the longer he stayed, the more likely that she and her entire family would be endangered. He would only be able to save one of them however. He could not carry more then one, unless it was a small child. Just please hurry... he thought to himself.

She rolled her eyes at his sarcasm and fiddled around with the collar she made it send out waves like he was on the move. going towards the ocean, she then removed it and waiting a few minutes she destroyed it. " there, they think your heading towards the ocean" She told him as she sat back down in the chair.

He looked at her, raising his eyebrow. "You can do that? Seems you are not so normal after all... Thank you for your help, however I should leave before they decide to return." He got up, going over to her window, climbing up onto the ledge. "Oh, and because you have set me free, I can not stray far from your thoughts. So, should you need me, its a simple call of my name and I will appear at your feet. I am yours, for now..." He said with a harsh tone before extending his wings.

she sighed and rolled her eyes at him. she had hoped he would have stayed but then again she had the feeling he would e back soon enough anyways. she grew tired and closed the window, after which she crawled into bed falling sleep.

He sat on top of her roof, waiting for her to go to sleep. The sound of her heart beat relaxed him. He laid down, putting his hands behind his head. He let his fangs and claws grow out, unable to hold his "human form" any longer. He hated this side of him, the more demonic side to him. He still resembled a human, minus the long hair jagged hair, ebony skin with black eyes and red slit pupils. He sighed a sih of relief, finally letting his body relax.

He watched the stars, wondering if it was true that it took billions of years for their light to reach us. He wondering if the stars were the only way he would be able to see into his past.

He shook his head, not wanted to think of his past. It was behind him, and he had no intention of ever looking back. He closed his eyes and began to let himself drift off to sleep until the first light of morning.

she slept well into the next day. it was a weekend so she wasn't worrying about school at all. when she finally did wake up it was around noonish. she opened the window and went off to find some breakfast.

He sat on her roof, listening to all of the events going on in her house. This was the first time in a long time her had ever felt so hungry for food. The scent of the food coming out from the window was mouth watering. He could feel his own heart rate begin to spend of from the soft aroma. He flew down into her room, but did not land. He did not want to make a sound, and let anyone know that he was in the house.

He followed the scent, leaving the attic. He was very careful though, making sure that no one was around or would know that he was there. If he had been found out, oh the embarassment. He listened softly, staying at the top of the stairs. He stomach growled, and he gripped the wall.