Lex turned as he saw Athena. He slowly rose as he got up and gave her bow. "Hello lady Athena. "He said as he smiled and stood facing her. "I am sorry for causing you trouble I have been just here. I was here with the others morning in our own way. How are you doing?" He asked as he stared at her.

Rae finished her meal and went back to the ring masters tent. She didn't go in. Instead she stood outside of it as she held out her hand. She closed her eyes as a white aura and light came from her hand. A quick flash of light filled the entire circus and surround area. As it faded a crystal and marble monument stood where the tent had. The master put to rest in a jade coffin beneath. She stared at her work. She had everyone of the curies members engraved on the moment and the master favorite quotes. She even left the different items that the others had left for him.

Rae slowly left as she went to her own tent. She sat there as she felt alone again. It was just like when she was younger. She slowly petted the strange carnivorous plant that Lex had gave her. She had named it Leafy. It was a great friend and even better protector.

((page two!! Yay!))

"I'm as great as expected." Athena said chewing her lip "Are you going too leave?" she asked figitting.

Erik went to check on Rae though he knew Athena had already tried to cheer her up he didn't want her to thing he was avoding her. "Rae you in here?" he called into her tent.

Lex eyes widen as he heard her question. "I am not sure in all honesty." He said as he stood there not really sure. "The ring master was the only one who could keep everyone in check and acting as one family. With out him the others will start a fight for ring master. Most will leave and only a few will be left. For now I'll stay. I promised the man I'd protect Rae for him. So as long as she needs me I guess I'll stay. If she leaves I'll go." He said not really sure.

Rae slowly raised her head as she heard someone near her tent. She smiled softly as she heard Erik. "I am here." She spoke up not moving from her spot. She didn't really know what to say as she just sat there.

"We have to stay together If we support one person maybe everyone will stay." Athena suggested being hopefull that she wouldn't lose anyone in her adopted family.

Erik went in "How you feeling?" he asked sitting down next to her.

Lex stared at Athena as he softly smiled. He gently caressed her face as he stared into her beautiful eyes. " We do have stay together you are right. We are a family and we have to stay together."


Rae just sat there as she lessen to him. "I am not sure. Physically I am fine if that is what you ask." She said as she sat there lessening to the rain as it kept falling." I made him a monument and placed him beneath it. I made sure that we have permits to do so. I also let his daughter know where to find it and him."

"Do you think we'll be able to keep the circus?" Erik asked "I'll stay with you either way." he smiled

Athen blushed "Of course I'm right." she looked away figitting "Why did you make flowers appear during my act?"

"Only if we get our act together and can prove that we can still go on." Rae said as she sat there. She moved her head to where she heard his voice. He was one of the few people that she wished she could see. She could see a aura of shorts of things but not the real thing. She could see the real them. She slowly open her eyes behind her blindfold as she stared at him. Or the real him. "Why would you stay with me? " She said as she gently reached out and caressed his face gently. She gently let her hand fall as she looked back to the floor. "I don't need anyone's pity especially not yours. Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I'm weak. If your saying this because, you if feel obligated to protect me because of some promise to the master then please get out of my tent and don't return. I only want someone who loves me for me here. " She said knowing it was a little harsh but it was the truth. She was done being a bird in a cage. She was also worried about his reason for being here. "You could have any person on this planet why be here? I see the real you your amazing yet you hide. It's a shame you can't even be yourself around the people you supposedly love and care for. " She said as she stared at him. She waited to see his reaction. His reaction would decide if she helped him or not. She could see his spirit or soul of sorts. This meant she was the ultimate lie detector of shorts.


Lex blushed slightly as he heard Athena. "I just wanted to show case your beauty was all. Please don't be offended. I find myself very drawn to you. I think you are the most beautiful flower on this planet. I..I..." He froze as he was lost for words. He found it hard to tell Athena how he felt. He let out a sigh as he hung his head. "I can grow a thousand roses a new world and secret guardian. I can't tell you what I want to. I don't deserve you." He said as he hung his head. "I will not bother you again Athena nor appear in your presence again or your shows." He said as he turned frustrated with himself for not being able to say he loved her and that was the reason why he did everything.

Erik sighed "Look I don't piety you I think you're the most amazing person in the world you're kind, gentle, hot, did I mention amazing?" he smiled at her "I would stay with you even if the world blew up because." he paused taking a moment to think "I do believe I'm in love with you."

"Why don't you deserve me?" Athena asked with a frown "I think you're a great guy and I like you a lot if you weren't around I would have to hang out with Erik all the time and he just isn't that fun."

Rae froze as she heard him. She was speechless for the first time in a long time. She just stared at him from behind her blindfold. "I...was just testing you to make sure you where worthy of ring master and if I should help you. I wasn't trying to hurt you and I wasn't expecting that. I thought you knew it was my job to test any potential candidates. That is why I am not allowed to be Ring master or one of the reasons. There are the other three and me as well as every other member who decided who the next ring master should be. Since I have been trained on what to look for in a ring master and I can see some ones soul and honestly know if they are true or not was why I was picked to test any potential ring masters a long time ago." She said as she felt herself blush. "I...am not hot so you know Erik you really should get those eyes of your checked." She said in a playful tone as she smiled at him. "And so you know I love you to Erik. " She said as she leaned in and kisses his cheek gently.

Lex turned as he gently caressed Athena's face with his hands in a quick motions leaning in giving her a loving kiss on the the lips. He closed his eyes as he hopped this would help Athena know how he felt for her and where she had always stood to him. There was no other girl on the planet that could ever compare to her in his eyes. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and the only one he ever wanted to be with permanently by choice. He blushed softly as he let the kiss fade and gently held her face opening his eyes staring into hers. "Athena I love you and I will never leave you." He said meaning it.

Athena stared at him for a while unsure what to say she had just received her first kiss and it was very unexpected though she hadn't hated it her mind had paused. "You...I...you...and...the..." she shook her head blushing trying to get her brain working again. "Really?" she went with the first coherent thought that went threw her mind.

Erik smiled "I hadn't expected you to think I could be ringmaster when I hadn't thought of it myself." he hugged her "I'll glad you love me two."

Lex softly caressed her face as he stroked it lovingly. He closed his eyes as he kissed her again this time lovingly and gently moved his right hand from her face as he gently used it to pull her closer to him holding her there. As the kiss faded he looked into her beautiful eyes. "Athena I love you." He said to her meaning it.

Rae smiled as she heard him blushing very brightly. She gently punched him in the arm at his commit as she laughed. She gently leaned up and kissed him on the cheek as she smiled. "Ah my ego Mackinac as normal. I am glad some things don't change." She said as she giggled at him saying he was happy she loved him too.

"I think you would make a better ringmistress." Erik said changing it's meaning so it would fit a girl. "I think everyone does the rest of us have are own spots and love them plus the pressure would freak me out.

Athena blushed "I don't know Lex I'm not sure how I feel about you I've never really thought about it."

Lex nodded as he softly kissed her forehead. He turned and left her there. He went to his own tent a hedge around it so no one could get into it. He tented to his plants as they comforted him. He spent the night in his tent drinking most of the night and then passing out.

Rae smiled as she looked at him. " I think you would." She said softly as she gently wrapped her arms around him softly placing her head on his chest. She drifted off to sleep there.

Erik let her stay there smiling down at her sleeping form.

Athena went back to her tent thinking about Lex and how she felt about him.

Rae slept through the night. She slowly woke happy to feel him there. "Good morning handsome." She said as she slowly stretched trying to wake.

Lex left his tent early in the morning as he went to the fixing the tents and helping the others get ready to move. It was time for them to move to the next city and preform. He thought of nothing as he fixed tents patching them and putting them away and packing them loading the wagons.

A black cat ran up to Lex and sat down in front of him letting out a cute meow. It just sat there looking at him like it wanted him to do something.

Erik blinked awake. "Morning." he said with a yawn.

Lex looked down as he arched a bow at the cat. He gently reached down and stroked it softly. "Can I help you?" He asked as he stared at the cat.

Rae smiled as she heard him. "Good Morning sir." She said as she slowly sat up.

It mewed then jumped out of his arms running off but stopping a few feet from him looking back like it wanted him to follow. Athena smiled she was getting good at controlling her creatures.

Erik sat up as well "How are you feeling today? Any better then yesterday?"

Lex slowly followed the cat. He was wondering where the strange cat was leading him. "Come now, where are you leading me?" He asked as he followed.

Rae sat up as she smiled at Erik. "I am here so I guess so.How are you doing?"

"Tired." Erik said he was always tired or bored it was just who he was. "Should get up and do something." he sighed and got up stretching "What's the plan ringmistress?"

The cat just looked back at him as if to say you'll see. It lead him to a clearing a short walk away from the circus it bounded into the flowers mewing softly Lying there asleep was Athena. The cat looked at him then vanished revealing it to have been a shadow cat.

Lex just froze as he watched the cat vanish. He hung his head as he just stood there and waited. He didn't know what to expect in truth he hadn't expected to see her again much less have her shadow animals summon him to her.


"I do not know.We should move on I guess. That is what...." She paused as she pushed back the pain and looked forward instead. "Where to next...what about the mountains." It would be different for all of us and give us time to rest. We can always stay there for a few years before we get the urge to move on. It would be nice to stay somewhere for a little while don't you think?"

"Yes but I don't think staying in a place we wouldn't get much money would be a good idea." Erik frowned slightly

Athena opened her eyes and stared at him for a minute "Lex?" she wasn't sure she was actually seeing him or if she was still asleep.

She hung her head as she sat there trying to think. "Why don't we ask Athena and Lex. They will give us more voices and help with this choice. We are a family after all lets see what the others would like to do." She said as she slowly rose trying to contain herself and keep herself together to look strong for everyone else. She headed out the tent as she looked around for the other two hoping to find them soon.


Lex looked at her as he gave her a slight nod of his head. "Yes it's me." He said in a warm voice as he stood there not sure what he should say or do. He was never really sure around her.

((Not sure I'm interested in this anymore.))