Of Silvers and Dances

"Oh no," Sybil leaned in to whisper. The shy girl seemed unbothered being close to her for a moment before her eyes widened in realization, taking a step away from the vampiress, her lips pursed.

Oh no, indeed. Evelina knew how aggravated Freeda was with Patrick leaving them without any notice. It was her who ran after him when he was infuriated with his chance to stardom.

Hat forgotten by the side of the fashion house's door, although she could have just left it in the hands of either Evelina or Sybil, Freeda walked in long strides- teeth baring and eyes fixed on Patrick. He had not caught sight of her yet but if he did-

His eyes widened and his shoulders slumped when he saw the three of them staring up at him. Especially seeing how the angry witch was already nearing him. Patrick turned on his heel, desperate to escape her wrath.

Evelina sighed. Yes, she had expected him to do something like that. And she had no choice but to use her ability just so… just so she can feel the joy of tormenting someone once again. It had been too long.

Like the actor that he was, he went through a crowded flower stall and pretended to buy something. "Madam, how much would it be for a… a pot of ice plant! Yes, that's right. A pot."

"It's not the season for succulents, dear. Why on earth would you need it now?"

"It's because-"

"Would it be rude to ask for a shrub of Mountain Laurels, ma'am?" Evelina asked, appearing beside the witch. Patrick gaped at her, his breath heavy, while her lips stretched into a wide smile. "Treachery is just so common these days, I would like to give it to an old friend."

Her speed must have surprised the witch and the mortal from behind. She had to admit that it was not the best time and place to use it, but seeing how the boy looked at her like she said something that offended and confused him made her want to mock him more.

The seller laughed. "Oh, you young people. The meaning of something would always matter to you, would it not? Wait just a moment, dear."

"Treachery? But I'm not-" Patrick stopped himself and shook his head. "No, how did you even get here? Weren't you way over there?" Patrick pointed aggressively behind them, where Freeda was already an arm's length away.

The vampire nodded, watching how the male witch was pulled away from the stall's crowd, Freeda finally getting her prey.

"Hello, dearest," her face was dark, and Evelina swore how she could also see the monster-like look that Freeda hid from many. How could one frown and smile at the same time? Forget Alardis, there's a new horrifying creature in town! "Is it me or has it been too long since we've seen you?"

"I… Freeda, you know how busy I am."

"Busy with what, may I ask?" her smile tightened as her grasp did the same. A small mew of pain escaped Patrick's breath. "From what I am aware of, you've been living with your former troupe your whole life? Have they come and accepted you again, then? After you left them for another?"

They seemed close, Evelina thought. After all, they would not be arguing like this in the middle of the street if they were not. They do not look like siblings but watching them now, with how Patrick was bearing with Freeda's scolding and insults, made her realise how their relationship was far from strangers who just met in a circle.

"So? Have you got nothing to say to me?"

"Besides the point that you're too close to chopping my hand? No," he shook his head, groaning. Freeda let his arm go, "Not to you anyway."

"And what does that mean?"

"I need to talk to the head of the troupe. Or any of the old members, not you lot."

Beside the vampiress, Sybil came heaving. "How- how did you get here so fast? I didn't notice you gone."

Evelina did not know if she should answer her. It was strange to see the girl stuttering most times, and talkative on others. Especially since she had the right to be uncomfortable around her. Then again, she was sometimes a bit relieved when the girl became cheerful around her.

"She's right," Patrick eyed her and she stared back, taunting him. "It wasn't you who I saw coming, yet you were beside me within a blink of an eye. What are you?"

It had been the second time she was questioned like this.

And she knew they were waiting for her answer, like they always did. Unfortunately for them, she would not fall for another trap set for herself.

"I am a special person, witch," she answered, her eyes glinting. The three stared at her in wonder but she had made up her mind to stray them from the subject. "If you want to speak with the other members, they'll be performing a street act on another part of the market place."

Evelina looked at Sybil, knowing that she would either add more information or confirm. Or both, probably. And the child did, nodding her head as her expression changed from exhaustion to enthusiasm. "Right! You could! We're also going to watch it so you could come with us?" She glanced at Freeda and Evelina. "That is… if it wouldn't be bothersome to any of them."

"Bothersome?" Freeda repeated, putting an arm around the boy. She smiled a wide smile and patted his shoulder- quite heavily if they counted his reaction. "Of course not! Patrick is a dear friend of mine- who just left us hanging, but let's not focus on that. Why would it be bothersome for me?"

Bloody bats, it sure wouldn't be comfortable for the other witch.

Wandering away from the plan of staying inside the fashion house, the four strolled the market to search for the place where West and the others would be performing their street act. Sybil said that it would probably be somewhere packed since audiences were what they were going for.

"What's the difference between a street act and what we did before?" Freeda asked Patrick. "I mean, it was also outdoors, right? It's different since theatre plays are supposed to be held inside a theatre."

"Well, the first thing is the stage. A street act doesn't require a stage. When we're on a stage, we could use our abilities, with people only thinking of it as part of the play. A street act would showcase real talent. And-"

"There it is!" Sybil pointed. In between the stalls, from fishes to meats to fruits, was a large crowd. Most were ladies, but there were children and men watching, too.

Evelina and the others tried to pass through them, unintentionally pushing some of the viewers, and saw that it was indeed the performers that they were looking for.

They were masked, but she had known them long enough to recognize their voices. Besides West and Royce was Giles. They built a stall of their own, but instead of selling something- they were the ones carrying parchments with prices written on them.

'A silver for a wish.'

That was the only thing that the poster said and Evelina did not find the sense of it for there was not much of a performance happening except with them just standing there, frozen, their eyes void of emotion. That was when a lady walked over and dropped a silver, the coin giving a clinking sound when it joined the others.

The lady whispered a wish. Suddenly, Giles moved from his spot. He was dressed in a princely costume, his clothes tidy as his mask looked far too pricey. He offered a hand to the lady, his smile striking the hearts of the audience, as he said with a sweet voice, "May I, my queen?"

The vampiress almost let out a loud laugh.

The lady gloriously accepted his hand, and they danced away- music seemingly to appear out of nowhere.

"So," Evelina started, her eyes following the fantasy-like scene in front of her. "This is the performance?"

"What?" asked a random lady beside her, her expression dreamy. Her hair was all over the place and she smelled of sweat and soil. She was carrying a trolley with two sacks of whatever it was that she bought. "Oh you mean the story? It was already done. The actors, however, gave others a chance to interact with them."

"This is a bonus, then?" Freeda cocked her head to the side, still confused.

The lady nodded, before letting out a disappointed sigh. "After that one dance, they'll be done for the day. I've only got five coppers in my pocket, I would have wanted a moment with the villain or the knight."

How distressing.

Evelina's gaze went back to the two who were still standing there. West, like the last time, had his hair slicked back.The colors of his suit were composed of green and silver while his mask covered his whole face. Meanwhile, Royce's costume had him looking like he would fall anytime. He was holding tightly to his sword which was either helping him keep his balance or was probably the reason why looking at him felt so heavy.

Or it could be her conscience from the last time she had seen him, who knew.

"Hey," she called Patrick. "You said that you wanted to talk to them, right?"

The boy crossed his arms. "I'm not dancing just so I could talk to them. I don't even have a silver with me! I could wait."

"Come on," Freeda nudged him. "I have silver with me. Besides, it would be a much better situation than just boringly announcing that you're coming back. You know, because of the music."

"Why-? And how did you know that I would come back?"

"Darling, it's pretty obvious already."

Patrick glared at them before letting out a groan. "Fine. But just so you know, you would be the one who would pay for me!"

The three ladies, finally coming together, giggled. "Then go get your man!"