Conley Brothers

Camila couldn't stay standing long though and had to sit, still very much drained from before. She still couldn't place why it had affected her so badly.

Finally the show came to a close and guests started to get up and leave, satisfied and amazed by what they had seen.

Felix stepped back stage, rolled his shoulder and glanced around with a slight frown. His routine had been interrupted. As far as he could tell it was Camila and Mimic to blame

--

By the time he got back Ling had her patched up.
 
Leon waited until everyone or at leas mostly everyone was gone then stepped into the center ring. "Felix, we have a problem," he said quietly.

~~

Vlad smiled at Ling. "You did good work. Well done."
 
"I assumed with the unexpected change in the show" he frowned "what's going on? What's happened to Spectra and mimic?" He guessed the problem was with them

--

Ling smiled "thank you" she said amd glanced up at Spectra "so what happened?"

Spectra frowned and sipped the water a moment before answering "I came back here to grab something for the show. I heard two voices outside talking about Camila. I don't think they knew I was here....I came out and they rushed me...I don't remember after that"
 
"Spectra was attacked and her wagon set on fire," Leon said quietly. "She was a little delirious, but she said her attackers were after Camilla. I went to check on her, her door was open, she was still asleep, and this was on her counter." He pulled the letter from his pocket and held it out to Felix.

~~

"Two voices?" Vlad asked softly. "Could you tell if they were male or female?"
 
Felix frowned and took the envelope, brushing a hand across it, using a quick silent spell to make sure there was nothing besides what it looked like. Satisfied he opened it. He pulled put a slip or paper. A clipping of Camila's hair taped to it with a short message.

"Payment is come due. This is a warning"

--

Camila's brow furrowed a little "both..I'm..not sure...it's..a bit foggy"
 
"Payment? What payment?" Leon asked sharply. "What have you done, Felix?"

~~

"One male, one female?" Vlad asked. "What could they possibly want with either you or Camila?"
 
"You didn't think our power came free dis you? And you can blame our father" he said and pocketed the whole thing "we shouldn't talk here. Far too many eyes" he said seriously.

"Camila go see to Spectra dear sister. Male sure she finds a place to stay tonight?"

"Wait hang on I am a part of this family too I.." she started to protest but Felix put a hand on her shoulder and she blinked as if forgetting what she was saying or thinking

"Of course, I'm sure Mimic would't mind bunking with her for a night" she smiled, happy to help, and not remembering anything about the envelope. It wasn't the first tome he had blocked things from her memory, keeping her innocent.

--

She shook her head again "I'm sorry I don't...all I remember is someone talking about Camila..they needed a distraction to get to her..that's all.."
 
Leon gave Felix an odd look. He couldn't remember ever seeing his brother use his power on Camilla. This must be serious. He glared at Felix, daring him to try. He'd put safe guards in place so that if ever Felix used his power on him, Leon would know it, and Felix knew that he had. Leon would not put up with it, but this... whatever it was... was different.

~~

"That is alright," Vlad assured her. He looked at Ling. "Is it alright if I leave? I need to go check on the twins."
 
Felix waited until Camilla had gone off to find Spectra and Mimic before he spoke again "come on" he didn't try to use his magic on Leon, heading out of the big top and heading towards his cart again where they could speak privately, he moved around the back way to avoid the crowds. In no mood to deal with them.

-

Ling nodded "of course. We're fine here" she ssid rubbing Spectras back when she started coughing again
 
"I'm looking forward to hearing about this," Leon said as they reached Felix's wagon. "You have a lot to explain."

~~

"Please come and get me if you need anything at all," Vlad said as he turned to go. He hoped the twins had done as asked and put the unicorns away.
 
Felix frowned but didn't comment as they headed back, not speaking until they were both inside his wagon. Not much personalization, at least not from the surface. No pictures or anything hanging on the plain walls. His belongings stowed away out of sight, even the bed folded up to make room for the table that doubled as his desk.

He cast a quick silencing charm so nobody could listen in to their conversation. "As I said, you can blame father for this, we simply inherited the debt" he pulled open a compartment and produced the old weathered spell book he'd found as a child, his and Leons first source of spells, of course since expanded upon.

"Father signed a contract with a much more powerful entity to ensure he and his children would be endowed with magic" he pulled out the folded parchment tucked in the back "Unfortunately dear father is dead. So along with his power we inherit the debt that must be paid in blood. It seems I miscalculated the days and have missed a payment" Now it was making sense why sometimes people went missing and why he was always seeking new attractions and workers.
 
"Well. That was absolutely stupid of him," Leon said dryly. "Now, would you like to explain to me why you keep up on these payments? I mean, yes, I do adore being shiny and hypnotizing people, but we have money now. Just give up the magic and stop paying."

Leon despised being in the debt of anyone. It reminded him too much of being on the streets at the mercy of everyone and anyone who walked by. As it happened, he couldn't help feeling disgusted by their late father's deal and his brother's continuation of that deal. As he underestimated his powers and took them for granted, he saw no reason not to lose them if it meant getting away from this traveling dirt bath. After all, how great was it to be able to make light shine? Not that great, and he hardly ever had to use his hypnotism skill unless getting Felix's wretched beings out of trouble.
 
"And this is exactly why I kept you in the dark" he said "We stop paying..." he took the envelope with Camilla's hair out and tossed it on the table "We lose our magic and they come after us to collect the debt themselves. In case you don't understand what that means, they will kill Camilla and us and anyone we care about even slightly. The deal is made and it can't be unmade little brother. It must be paid in blood" he frowned. "I do this to protect you and Camilla"
 
Leon rolled his eyes. "Woopty-friggin'- doo. So we keep on paying and paying and paying and... what? What happens when we get caught? Which I guarantee you we will if we keep this up! Then we're still at their mercy. No. Not doing it. And you're not doing it to protect us, you're doing it to protect yourself and your pretty little circus," he said scathingly, irritated and, not that he'd ever admit it, scared.
 
Felix grit his teeth but rather than argue with him, he let out a slow easy breath "Fine, we delay another payment. I will let you see what happens" he put the parchment away and tucked the book back in it's compartment "But whatever harm comes to Camilla, will be on your head, not mine" maybe after a lesson in truly dealing with dark magic, he'd listen to reason. Though he hoped they wouldn't kill Camilla right away. It was a gamble he hoped Leon would be wise enough not to take
 
Leon snorted. "Oh, please, Arthur, that is a hollow threat and we both know it. You would never put Camilla in danger, you're not nearly as much of a narcissist as I am, and not even I would do that. Now, why don't you sit and pout for a while and start figuring out how to get us out of the debt you got us into, hmm?" Leon turned to go. "You can't blame our dearest father forever. And, Felix? Try to shift the blame to me again and I'll kill you myself, dark forces or no."

He walked out, closing the door firmly behind himself. He didn't care if their father was the one who started this mess. As far as he was concerned, Felix had continued it, and therefore was to blame. Leon would not be in anyone's debt. He thought back to the stash of money he had hidden away. Maybe it was time he left the circus. He hated this traveling dust bath, anyway, and had only ever stayed on because he was used to following Felix everywhere, but he was thirty now. An adult. Time he made his own way, and maybe take Camilla with him. He'd wait a while and see how this played out, but he wouldn't wait long.
 
Felix frowned after him. It was no empty threat as they say. He would wait to make a payment, let Leon see for himself what they were dealing with, what he had been striving to protect them from. Leon didn't understand the forces they would be against if they resisted. Felix knew, he knew too well.

He was bitter and angry for good reason. When he first found out about the debt he had resisted and the woman he had foolishly allowed himself to fall in love with, died as result. He'd said it was some accident hoping to spare his brother and baby sister. They'd all been so young then. He had never told the truth about what had happened to her, said it was some accident. That was when he began to form their circus so he could have a constant source to pay the debt from.

Now clearly Leon needed to learn. Perhaps he had sheltered his siblings too long and perhaps years of this had made him all the more cruel.

He hoped camilla would be fine. But he also doubted there was anyone else Leon would care at all about.

--

Come evening Camilla returned to check on claudius, bringing him more food and fresh water. She'd brought along some other things too. Of he allowed it she intended to clean him up with warm water and a sponge and treat the rest of the cuts with more traditional methods.

She pulled up the corner of the tarp again and looked in first
 
Claudius had spent most of the day since Camilla's last visit dozing. He never fell too deeply asleep, ready to wake at a moment's notice, but no one had come. There had been distant noises, cries of joy, screams, other strange sounds, but none of them had seemed to be cause for concern for him, personally. He'd smelled the smoke from the fire, but again, it did not seem close or going to impact him, so he rested while he could.

Then the tarp fluttered. He raised his head, blinking at the light, tense. The face of the female who had cared for him before came into focus. He relaxed just a little. He still didn't know what to make of her, but at least she was familiar. He didn't say anything, just watched her and waited to see what she wanted.
 
She offered her same kind smile "I brought more food and water" she told him before undoing the latch and opening the door to slide the tray with food and a cup of water in to him

"Can I clean you up a little after you eat?" She asked
 
He inched forward and carefully accepted the tray. Before answering her question or doing anything else, he closely inspected the food and water, sniffing it and studying it intently. It seemed clean. Nothing in it. He'd gotten really good at scenting and sensing drugs, but nothing seemed to be in this. Satisfied, he looked up. "Clean up?" he repeated uncertainly. What did that mean?
 
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