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[EPONINE JONDRETTE]

1. 2. 3. 4.

The beat vibrated through the thin soles of her shoes.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Red, gold, black, the colors swirling together as she spun, leaping as she did so.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Long, brown hair swept across her back as she swayed backward, her bare stomach taut and her swan-like neck arched as her head dropped back.

1. 2. 3. 4.

She fell to her knees, a brown mane flipping forward as she kissed the dirt beneath her. Fingers dragged across the loose grains before she tossed her hair back once more, crawling towards the ghosts in the bleachers.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Her feet planted her once more as she rose slowly, leaning back on her right leg, then forward on her left, long fingers dragging across her cold, pale skin, across her leather-covered breasts and into her hair. Long arms reached up as the long, lithe body fell back at the waist, strong legs planted firmly beneath her.

And the music was over. Eponine stretched forward once more, her muscles singing with the warmth restored to them, however briefly. Her hands dragged through the dark strands of her hair, rearranging them once more. Eponine had been with the circus for several months now and yet she couldn't figure out how to keep her hair from ending up a tangled mess by the end of a show.

She had not come here as many others had; she was not here against her will. Eponine had sought out the dark circus of her own accord. There was nothing in life she enjoyed so much as dancing; in fact, it was the only pleasure she found in life. Well, that and feeding. Right now, she could have used some blood to complete the high she got from dancing. But it wasn't the audience that gave her the rush--right now, she wasn't aware of anyone watching. It was the sheer life she felt in her limbs after she danced. The feeling was fading now, though, and the vibration of the music was retreating from her body. Silence had fallen in the great tent and she felt quite alone despite the number of people beyond the tent sleeping in the invisible chains that bound them. Eponine could not have cared less for them--she cared only that the silence was so deafening. There were no screams in the air tonight.

[MARQUIS MOREAU]

Marquis was old. He was much older in any sense that most people alive could fathom. He had practically lived three lifetimes, six actually, if you count the ferocity in which he lived them. Some days Marquis fell into a deep psychopathic depression. He has done all there is to do, several times over. He had experienced everything there was to experience. Marquis was bored with life, but much to in love with himself to lay down and become one with the earth.

Marquis found himself wandering, avoiding Six. He had been toying with the idea of sending her away for some time. He knew just the thought of sending her away would wound and enrage the emotionally fragile thing… the thought of tormenting her so excited Marquis. He had very little things to look forward to nowadays. Inventing new ways to torture the child he hated and adored seemed to be the only thing that tethered him to sanity and out of his depression. Some vampires took old age well. Others… just simply lost their minds way before their bodies.

”You will be dull tomorrow,” he spoke up before walking from the darkness into Eponine’s view. He hadn’t realized he was watching her dance until she had actually stopped. ”If you use all of your fire tonight, that is.”

Marquis wondered if this woman was also an angel, like Six. Maybe if he possessed more angels he would draw the attention of the human’s god.

[EPONINE JONDRETTE]

Eponine had not been aware of anyone watching, but she was not surprised when she heard Marquis' voice. She had been aware of his presence the moment he began walking from the shadows. Golden eyes gazed through the dim light of the tent, glittering a little with the life still coursing through her cold, sluggish veins. She had never met the circus master, but she had seen him from a distance. She had heard of his temper, and she didn't want to risk offending him. Slowly she lowered her head, saying softly, "Monsieur Moreau." Lifting her eyes again, she gave a small upward turn of her lips. "I will take your advice. I need only to feed, though, to restore myself." Though her French accent when speaking his name was impeccable, an elegant English one laced her everyday speech. She was not afraid of the old vampire, per se, but she was filled with respect for him. Seeing him now walking toward her only increased her awe, and her eyes betrayed a hint of her admiration.

Marquis Moreau was one of few vampires who had made a name for himself. Most vampires lurked in the shadows, drawing little attention to themselves to avoid revealing their existence to humans. Marquis, by his circus, made it clear he didn't care who knew what he was--Eponine admired that fearlessness. He had no shame for what he was, something she wished she could say for herself. It was not being a vampire that shamed her, nor the actions that came with being a vampire. What shamed her was the life that led her to become what she was. Her regal bearing showed none of that, however. Instead, she always remained cool and calm.

Eponine's large, heavy eyes dropped to the ground momentarily, gathering herself once more. She would not appear a starstruck fool like the other women who had no doubt fallen at his feet in the past. "I'm honored you would watch me practice," she began in her low, soft voice. "May I ask what brings you here on such a quiet evening?" It was best to tread lightly until she could gauge the circus owner's mood.

[MARQUIS MOREAU]

”Hmm,” was all that Marquis replied when she said she needed not but to feed to make sure her dancing didn’t dull. Something in her eyes pleased him. He awed her somehow with his presence, or she respected him. Something along those lines. Either way, more of his circus employees should look at him the same way.

He watched her eyes fall to the round and he continued moving slowly, around her and the dancing area, still not able to stand still.

”As you should be,” he sighed when she said she was honored with him watching her. ”You may not ask something so invasinve.”

His eyes flashed dangerously but for the most part his demeanor remained relaxed. The question was quite innocent, but Marquis didn’t like being questioned at all. What business was it to her what he decided to do in his circus.

”I need no reason to keep an eye on those within these gates. You should have a completely different mind set. You may find a moment where… you realize for once I am not watching you.”

[EPONINE JONDRETTE]

Eponine stiffened to hear and see the anger in Marquis' voice and eyes at her question. She hadn't meant to sound prying, but she realized how her question had sounded only after he replied. Regret gripped her stomach, but the most her face showed was the dropping once more of her heavy eyes. The last thing she wanted was to offend the man she admired. "Forgive me," she murmured, offering no defense for her question. It was best to let him talk. As he circled her, she felt as though she were prey and Marquis was the wolf, waiting for her to make a sudden move to attack. While it made her tense, she couldn't say she was afraid of Marquis. Eponine feared very little. She was the embodiment of death and she had lived a long time by human standards. True, she wasn't as old as Marquis, but she wouldn't fear death when she had already died. Even the thought of pain didn't frighten her--it meant she could at least feel something. But she didn't like the thought of losing the respect of a man she admired.

”I need no reason to keep an eye on those within these gates. You should have a completely different mind set. You may find a moment where… you realize for once I am not watching you.”

Eponine met his gaze when he said this, her golden eyes showing her intrigue at this statement. Marquis certainly had a way of pervading every inch of the circus, making the captives of the circus watch their every action for fear of upsetting him, even when he was no where to be seen. A small smile came to her face. "I imagine the day you stop watching is the day I should begin to worry. That would mean I am no longer needed; I would become expendable." Her eyes continued to follow him as he circled her, though not disrespectfully. She was just genuinely intrigued by him, as few people could intrigue her anymore. Marquis' every move was deliberate, smooth, and it made her wonder for a moment if he had ever been a dancer himself. "I should be happy to have you watch me whenever it pleased you," she stated, truly meaning it. Just being under the old vampire's gaze made a shock of electricity shoot up her spine, which she found even more interesting. That electric excitement was something she had not felt since she first became a vampire. Something about Marquis was so dangerously interesting.

[MARQUIS MOREAU]

The way she stood quietly and seemed to not want to upset Marquis pleased him. Most people cowered, or glared. She didn’t grovel, and she did not shy away from his eyes like a weakling. He may have a use for her other than dancing. While a strong vamire under his thumb could be useful, Marquis still couldn’t stand the thought of anything beneath him having strength. Physical, yes, but mental? He wouldn’t stand for it.

He was torn between two emotions. He could have laughed if the desire to tear out her throat in that moment hadn’t been so high. With one quick step he rushed her. He looked down at her face, not showing much emotion on his. It might read as disdain. Reaching up he pressed his cold fingertips under her chin to lift her soft features to the harsh lighting within the tent.

”Dear, dear, Eponine. You have always been expendable, and you will always be,” he whispered, making sure she saw the sincerity in his eyes. With that he kept his finger attached to her skin and continued walking around her, in a much smaller, way more invasive circle.

”Nothing pleases me anymore,” he said, raising his fingers along her neck, behind her ears to turn her head this way and that.

”Eponine, have you ever tasted the blood of a vampire?” he asked quietly. Marquis didn’t discriminate when it came to feeding.

[EPONINE JONDRETTE]

Marquis was suddenly standing in front of her and Eponine had very little time to react. She didn't jump or flinch, but she didn't look into his face until his cold fingers instructed her to. Slowly she lifted her face, looking into his eyes, and when she saw the anger on his face and heard him whisper that she was expendable, a shiver ran down her spine. A flash of fear might have crossed her golden eyes at that point, but she did not tear them away from his. Eponine knew he was right--in this circus she was expendable. She had not dared to hope she might be more than a dancer, but that was all she was at this moment...and there were always more dancers. The thought was disturbing, which caused the fear to flash in her eyes, if only for a moment.

Eponine kept her chin lifted as Marquis continued to touch her just beneath it, moving behind her slowly, deliberately. His skin was much older, thus colder than hers, and his fingers felt like ice as they crept up behind her ears. A shudder ran through her and she allowed him to turn her head this way and that. His words intrigued her, knowing she would feel just the same when she came to be as old as he was. She barely found any pleasure in anything anymore, and she had not reached a hundred years. Marquis was well past that and she could only imagine how impossible it was to please him now. With that in mind, she knew nothing she said would be able to please him, and she assumed nothing she did would either. Instead, she would have to avoid displeasing him.

His quiet question so close to her ear drew her eyes to the side, though she couldn't look at him now. Her body was mildly tense so close against his, but she imagined she was much more subdued than many others who he had held so close to him. Had she been human, her heart might have jumped to have him so near, his question ringing in her ears. "Once," she replied softly. Closing her eyes, she could still taste the cool, sharp blood on her tongue. Her maker had allowed her to feed on him just once...she had never felt so alive. A shiver ran up her spine, guessing why Marquis had asked, and she opened her eyes again when the shiver reached the base of her neck. It had been a very long time since anyone had fed on her.

[MARQUIS MOREAU]

”Hmm,” he replied simply to her admission. Only once. Marquis did not enjoy the taste of vampire blood. He often only fed from them to assert dominance and to humiliate them.

”It is an acquired taste,” he said after a moment of silence. ”One I’ve grown to tolerate… but it isn’t the blood for me.”

He sighed, much like a person would do when they’re bored or tired. Even now as he made this woman feel uncomfortable it was terribly boring for him. Only fear and pain excited him. Discomfort? He saw that every moment of his life.

”It’s the texture of the bite that I enjoy,” he continued. ”A true deep bite. The flesh of a vampire is something one can truly sink their teeth into.”

With that he grabbed a handful of her hair and roughly pulled her head to the side exposing her neck. He put his nose to her skin, taking in her scent, just barely touching her.

[EPONINE JONDRETTE]

As Eponine listened to Marquis talk about biting vampires, her body continued to tense against his. It wasn't the blood she had enjoyed--cold blood was not a tasty meal, like drinking cold soup. The feeling the blood gave her, though, that's what she enjoyed. It coursed through her ten times stronger than human blood and she went days without feeding after drinking her maker's blood. But Marquis began talking about the texture of the bite, and she remembered her maker's muscles being firmer than humans', harder to tear into. Marquis sounded like he loved that sensation, and would gain that pleasure from her. She was anticipating the pain, this build up excruciating, and she almost wished he would go ahead and bite her, if that's what he intended. Perhaps the pain would feel good this time.

When his hand came to her hair and pulled her head aside, Eponine cried out softly in surprise and the release of her anticipation. Finally, he would do it. But the pain never came. Instead she could feel the soft touch of his nose against her skin. Slowly her eyes opened as she realized there were goosebumps creeping across her cold, pale skin. She realized she was excited by all of this and there was a primal need building in her. It had been a very long time since she had felt such a fire. She wanted Marquis, but she dare not voice it. Instead, she turned her head to look back at him, her heavy eyes inquisitive. "Why don't you do it, then?" It wasn't really meant to be a dare, but she wanted to know why he had stopped himself.

[MARQUIS MOREAU]

Marquis gave her a disgusted look when she asked why he didn’t just bite her. He didn’t want to give her the impression that he wanted to bite her. But he did want to leave her with the feeling that he would, and would also enjoy it terribly.

”Instant gratification is for the weak,” he whispered before roughly releasing her.

He stepped away from her and began his prowling pacing again. With one swift hand he unbuttoned his waistcoat while plunging the other into his pocket where he had various small charms waiting for him to obsessively fondle them.

”I have been in this circus my entire life, so I find it often that I’ve become out of touch with what type of environment my subjects need,” Marquis began again. ”How are you liking your time with the circus?”

[EPONINE JONDRETTE]

Eponine stumbled a little when he released her, a cold wave rushing through her. She had angered him, and she didn't like that. Her hands rearranged her mess of hair, gathering herself once more. It was always better to show no emotion, to act as if nothing fazed you. When she raised her eyes once more, her face was calm, watching him pace around her. She wasn't sure what had agitated him so much, but she wouldn't ask anymore questions. Marquis obviously wasn't the kind of man to be questioned. He began fiddling in his pockets, another hand unbuttoning his waistcoat. Though she couldn't explain his unbuttoning, she gathered there was something in his pocket he was playing with. He had a lot of nervous habits, it seemed. Meanwhile she stood quietly, just watching him.

This time Marquis asked her a question and she smiled a little before answering. "I like being with the circus," she began. "It's a place for me to dance without having to take off my clothes. And I have everything I need." Including plenty of food... The nearby wilderness provided a perfect place to feed away from the prying eyes of other tourists. If her victims screamed, no one would hear them. Her answer was honest, as she always was. She waited patiently for Marquis' answer.