A/n: EDITTED

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"Yo ho, yo ho, the Pirates life for me..." I sang quietly as my tent-mate, Doll, fixed my hair up in elegant, fitted twists and twirls with pins to hold it in place. Suddenly, I felt a tight pierce on my scalp, in which I couldn't suppress a squeak to escape my red painted lips.

"Oh goodness! I'm so sorry, Camellia," the precious child apologized instantly behind me, stepping away like as if she was now too scared to hurt me again. I felt a strand of my long, raven hair fall against my bare back when she had let go.

I glazed my blazing topaz eyes over onto the freckle-faced girl in the mirror and gave her a comforting smile. "No need to be sorry, sweetheart. It was only a small prick to the head," I told her in my most soothing voice. "You're still doing wonderfully with my hair. Just a few more to go until I can put on my wig."

Doll nodded with a small smile. She cautiously continued putting pins into my dark hair so it could stay up firmly. "By the way, Camellia, I know I have mentioned this before, but I absolutely love your voice. It's quite mesmerizing."

"Why, thank you. I guess I have a knack for it," I replied with a shrug.

I continued to hum along to the short song until she finished my hair. I turned my head slightly so I could see her work in the mirror. "Perfect as usual, Doll." I stood up from my velvet chair and picked up my extravagant, powder-blue wig from its little stand on top of the chest at the foot of my bed. I carefully placed it over my head as to not ruin any of Doll's efforts. I looked at the mirror once again, I now felt contempt with how I looked. "Ok, sweetheart, your turn." The young brunette sat down in the seat I was recently in and I started working on her makeup, powdering her face paler than it already was. "My, how I wish this makeup wasn't so thick. Your freckles are absolutely darling."

She blushed furiously at the compliment. "Camellia, please. I'm not as beautiful as you are. You have every boy here under your spell," she chuckled lowly. She then let out a hum of pleasure. "Even Joker, someone I never would have thought to commit into a romantic relationship."

"Doll, how many times do I have to tell you? Joker and I are not together," I informed her calmly, now adding some fake eyelashes among her closed eyelids.

"You two flirt endlessly!"

"Flirtation and actually being in a relationship are two different concepts," I said with pursed lips.

"If you say so," she sighed. "Just remember how much he adores you, Camellia. I care for both of you very much but I've known Joker longer."

"I know, my dear, I know." I added a few finishing touches on Doll's porcelain face. Once done, I smiled at the younger girl in delight. "You're all done, sweetie. We need to go ahead and change before we run out of time."

"It's going to be a full show tonight. London is such a big place," she commented while standing up, an expression of excitement on her face, causing me to beam at her enthusiasm.

We both hurried to our performance outfits and changed as fast as possible while conversing normally about our anticipation for tonight's performance.

This was a normal routine for us, Doll and I. Ever since I met Doll a year and a half ago when auditioning for Noah's Ark Circus, we've been extremely close. Despite being the rookie of the first string artists, I've treated the young girl like she was my own sister. Our bond only strengthened when Doll asked me specifically if we could share a tent together, since she preferred to sleep with someone else in the room. I was more than happy to oblige to her request.

Just as the two of us were nearly done getting ready, the loud calls from our talented ring leader were heard clearly outside. Doll and I popped our heads out the tent and saw Joker rounding up all the first-stringers for the tonight's show.

Instantly, Joker's dazzling amethyst eyes met my golden orbs, he approached us with a cheeky smirk. With a wave of his skeletal hand, he made a bouquet of flowers appear out of thin air and hold it out towards me. "My, my precious dove, as beautiful as ever," he complimented with his amiable cockney accent, bowing slightly.

I took the flowers and gazed at the magnificent array of colors under only the lights of the lamp posts above us. A wave of happiness warmed my body as I held the flowers close to me. "You think you're so charming giving me these camellias," I smoothly said, returning a pleased smile.

"Who would I be if I wasn't charming?" He asked, laughing lightly. "Well, show starts in a few minutes, ladies, we need to get going."

Doll nodded and left the tent to walk with Peter and Wendy, leaving me behind with a teasing expression on her face as she glanced back at me. I stuck my tongue out at her. Doll let out a giggle before she averted her focus onto the two she briskly walked with.

"Alright. Let me just drop off these flowers," I informed Joker before turning back into my tent and gently setting down the bouquet on top of my messily-covered bed. I stepped out of the tent and noticed Joker waiting for me. Before I could reach him, I felt a harsh bump onto my shoulder, causing me to stumble forward a bit. I glazed my eyes over to not be surprised by the culprit.

"Beast! Tell Camellia 'ee are sorry," Joker called out to the tiger tamer in an displeased tone. A scoff was the only response from the woman in black as she continued her stroll with Dagger glued by her side. "I don't 'ave the slightest clue why she dislikes you. It's rather odd."

"It's not odd at all," I thought to myself, heaving out a sigh. I linked my arm with his real arm and tugged at him. "Well, let's go, oh Ring Master, we have a show to perform." He smiled over at me and we strolled to our destination arm in arm.

...

"And now introducing, our beautiful angel Camellia, who's going to do graceful aerial acrobatics!" Joker proclaimed in a boastful voice.

I stepped out into the ring while people cheered for my appearance, even a couple whistles were heard from within the crowd at my arrival. I joined by the redhead's side at the center of our stage. I then notice his right eye slightly twitching. I could only giggle lowly at his reaction to the amount of attention I've gotten mostly from male watchers. I gave the audience my best, dazzling smile as I gave a pat on Joker's shoulder to reassure him.

I then unclipped my navy blue skirt from the front of my outfit and set the piece of clothing into his hands, revealing my slender legs.

And so I began.

I grasped tightly onto the long, silky curtains that have been lowered for me thanks to the second-stringers. Once I wrapped myself into the soft fabric, they risen me up high into the air. I did my best agile spirals and turns in the ribbons with my nimble, flexible limbs, making the audience gape in awe at my performance. There were times where the people gasped in horror when I teased them by purposefully letting go of the silk into a free fall then catching myself. Of course, it was all part of the act, having them on the edge of their seats.

While climbing to the highest point on the silk to do my grand finale, something peculiar caught my attention. A familiar, intoxicating scent wafted amongst the air... I paused for a second as I tried to think desperately back to when I had smelled that magnificent aroma.

"Where have I smelled that before?" I thought painfully. I had no idea if it was because the aroma acted like some poison or if I had thought too much about the idea but my brain felt like it was about to exploded. My head throbbed with unusual piercing pain and for a moment I saw white.

My grip on the silk loosened. I heard Joker and the other first-stringers shout in terror around me at my unplanned free fall. Once snapping back into reality, I grabbed onto the silk as fast as I can. But since I wasn't in form and I was acting out in desperation to not fall to my death, a small snap was heard from my left shoulder. Searing pain blazed within my shoulder, causing me to see stars. Blinking away the unbearable agony and keeping in a roar of pain, I looked down to see I was only two feet away from the ground. If I hadn't acted fast as fast as I did, the floor would've been splattered sickly crimson with my blood.

Coming back to my senses, I flashed the audience another smile, which they cheered for. At least, now they believe that was part of the act.

I carefully placed my feet down onto the ground while trying to maintain a dignified posture. I noticed Joker rushing over to me at the corner of my eyes. He had on a forced smile, probably so he doesn't bring any sort of suspicion to the audience. "What 'appened up there?" he asked me in a whisper into my ear. He reached out and touched my shoulder, in which I instantly flinched away at the tremendous pain that erupted from my shoulder. "You hurt 'eeself."

I looked straight into his worried, violet eyes and told him in a soft tone, "It was nothing, Joker." He was contemplating my answer, over whether he should let go of what happened or not. I gazed at him more intensely. "You have nothing to worry about."

His brows furrowed at my claim and he seemed to have calmed down a bit. "Fine, but go over to Doc as soon as the show is over," he commanded. I solemnly agreed to his wishes.

Both of us faced the audience. "Wasn't she magnificent, everyone?" Joker announced to them, causing them to roar joyfully. "Miss Camellia!" I bowed once and made my way out of the ring just as Beast strutted out to start her performance. Even though I have avoided eye contact from the ruby-eyed woman, I could basically feel the hatred she had for me radiate off of her as we passed. It's such a shame that things turned out this way.

A few stand-ins and the other first string members who stood at the entrance burst out their questions, asking if I was ok. I told them I was fine, in hopes to ease their uncertainties. I definitely did not want to worry them about my shoulder... I'm sure it's just dislocated. "That drop was not part of your act, right? Asks Wilde," Snake asked me in a deep tone. His voice changed as he told me, "You shouldn't create new moves without doing it in dress rehearsals, says Emily."

His snakes slithered towards me and I scratched both of their heads adoringly with my right hand. "I know. Quite silly of me. I won't do it again," I replied, earning a relieved expression from Snake.

"You better not!" Doll blew up with a frown. "That was insane! You were lucky you were able to catch yourself."

I cupped her face in my hands and grinned down at her. "Don't worry too much about it, sweetheart. I am more than capable of doing dangerous stunts." Thankfully, she seemed to have calmed down herself and she gave me a nod.

All of our attention was suddenly taken away back to the middle of the ring where Joker, Beast, and her tiger Betty were performing. Joker seemed to be asking for audience participation. "Oh? This gent in the tailcoat sure looks eager! Please come to the stage!" The redhead announced, his prosthetic arm extended towards the audience.

I followed my eyes to where his arm seemed to be pointing. Instantly, my face paled at the sight of the volunteer, my heart skipping a beat. "Step right up, sir." The man clad in nearly all black made his way to the stage in a calm manner. No... He can't be here... My golden eyes monitored the man with sleek, ebony hair and crimson red orbs as he entered the ring. "Now, if you'll just lie down here-" The man's focus was elsewhere as he passed Joker, completely dismissing his order.

He had approached the tiger. "Ah, what lovely round eyes you have!" The man cooed at Betty while gently stroking her fur. Everyone gasped at this gesture, including myself. I knew Betty to not be the nicest of creatures, I know from personal experience. "Soft ears... I've never seen such vivid stripes! They're adorable."

I sweat dropped at the scene before me. This man surely has a thing for... that's right. He definitely has a thing for cats. "Oh dear, your claws have gotten a bit too long... we'll have to groom them." The man picked up Betty's paws in his hands, as he continued to observe her adoringly. "And your paw pads are full and plump. Very attractive!" Surely, this was the longest Betty hasn't acted out. Maybe, he was a natural cat whisperer?

Suddenly, Betty leaned over and took the whole man's head into her mouth. I spoke too soon! "Betty, let him go!" Beast commanded as she used her whip on the ferocious creature.

The man in black was unbelievably fast, and stopped the whip from getting to Betty. "She hasn't done anything wrong. I was so overcome by her charm that I behaved rudely, that's all. And..." He turned around towards Beast, holding up her whip in his gloved hand. "Indiscriminate whipping isn't enough to train her properly."

I gulped at his sudden crudeness towards Beast. We may not have been on the best of terms lately, but surely that was something not to be discussed about in front of hundreds of people watching.

Then, Betty pounced up, digging her claws into his shoulder and gave him another powerful bite to the back of his head. I restrained myself from running out onto the stage to help with the situation but I was frozen in shock. He... didn't look like he was in pain. In fact, his expression looked overjoyed to be in this predicament. "Betty! Spit him out this instant! He's dirty!" Beast shouted at her tiger frantically.

"Camellia." My eyes averted away from the absurd scene and landed onto Doll, who still stood next to me. "Do you... know that man?" she asked me curiously. "You keep mumbling a name under your breath over and over."

I now realize I was doing exactly Doll had mentioned. The name I had mumbled repeatedly in nearly in inaudible whisper tasted bitter in my mouth. "No, not at all," I quickly lied.

I glanced back at the man, who had freed himself from Betty's clutches. His crimson red eyes then met my golden orbs in an instant. I could feel my throat restricting as he seemed to be detecting who I was from afar. In a panic, I turned my heel and left the tent, not daring to go back to finish our show.

It is him. And that boy he was sitting next to in the audience. Yes, I didn't mistaken that either. The proper, dark haired boy was indeed wearing an eye patch... What on earth are they doing watching a circus performance? The aroma was obvious now. I didn't want it to be true but surely, they were both here for something out of the ordinary.

What kind of business would the Queen's guard dog and his butler have here at Noah's Ark Circus?