Chapter 2

"By the way, Vin." Edward was stuffing his face with cake. "We've got tickets to the circus. Want to come?"

"Ed, I'll answer when there's nothing in your mouth.", Vincent answered, averting his eyes from the mess Edward had made.

"Ed! Do you not know how to eat?!"Margaret yelled across the table. Then she rushed over with a napkin to help clean the mess. Vincent sat in his place, watching Meg clean up around Ed and then brush the crumbs off his clothes. Only at times like this could you see that the two of them were cousins. Who… actually cared for each other.

"So," Ed asked as the last of the mess was cleared. "Will you?"

"Uh, I'll think about it. I have company work." Vincent was the founder of the candy company 'Moore's Confectionery'. The distribution and sales of the company as well as tasting of new candy flavours was all regulated by the earl, which most of the company did not know, was a 14 year old boy. But, he not only was managing a company, but was also the queen's personal agent. Vincent alone. Not his butler, not his servants. Only the household knew about this, and were used to the master leaving notes behind and disappearing off into the night, only to return by dawn. Or he would tell the household beforehand that he would be leaving, and left at night. What tasks he had to perform for the queen stayed between Vincent and the queen. Not even the queen's most trusted butler knew.

"Oh please, Vin!" Ed protested. "You always have work! Please, just this once!"

Vincent heaved a sigh. "Fine-"

"Yes!" Meg and Ed exclaimed, both flying off their chairs and onto Vin.

"If!", Vincent tried yelling through the tangle of arms around him. "Only if there isn't any important or urgent work that day."

"Aw," Meg recoiled. But Ed remained. "But there's the chance that there won't be!"

Vincent sighed. "I suppose so…"

"So it's decided!" Edward exclaimed, jumping up. "You're coming to the circus with us tomorrow!"

Vincent smiled a little to himself as he dressed the next evening. Edward and Margaret could be annoying, but they were caring. Since he had become earl, the only true affection he got was from Meg, Ed and Camille.

"Vincent!", Edward yelled as he threw open the bedroom door, startling the boy.

"Ed!" Vincent managed to exclaim as his butler reached the doorway panting followed by a surly Margaret.

"Hi vin!" Ed hollered as he jumped at Vincent as he had done the previous day.

"Ed, for the twentieth time in two days, behave yourself!" his sister roared. With a testy expression, he got off and helped Vincent up.

"Ow…" Vincent got up rubbing his head. He reached out for his coat still on the bed. "Maybe mellow down on that, alright Ed?"

Surprisingly, the carriage ride to the circus was calm. They arrived at the circus as the show was about to begin. Just as they hurriedly clambered into their seats, the first act walked into the ring. The clowns came in doing flips and cartwheels, the trapeze artists soaring above them.

This… actually isn't so bad, Vincent thought to himself as the lions began to leap through hoops of fire. Throughout the array of performances, the ring leader remained, conducting each act. The ring leader seemed to be an interesting fellow. A single bone white braid of hair fell down his back, gleaming in the light as his silver and black mask was. As the horses' act began, the ring leader made eye contact with Vincent. The boy stared back questioningly. Without warning, the ring leader's eyes flared red. The second it happened, a jolt of pain went through the earl's head. And Vincent saw the world around him turn black.