“Ready?” Rowan asked, holding up the piece of bread he was about to toss me.

“Yep!”

“I’d hate to drop it in the water, that’d be gross.” he grimaced.

“If it does, I’ll still eat it, even as gross as it’ll be. I’m hungry.” I shrugged, my stomach rumbling. When the meals had been passed out, Meeks had, true to his word, skipped over me, sending a nasty sneer in my direction.

I, of course, had stuck my tongue out at him again, and flipped him the bird, which had earned me a scowl. Part of me had wanted to moo at him again, but if I did it too much, he’d probably realize it was me.

“Alright.” the centaur shrugged, and then was about to toss the bread into the air, when one of the firebugs buzzed over.

“Don’t!” Pippa cried, coming to the rescue. “I’ll just fly it up to her!”

“Oh, thank you, Pippa.” Rowan smiled at her, handing the piece of bread over.

“It’s no problem!” Pippa smiled, her black beetle eyes wrinkling at the corners as she flew up to me, and handed me the bread.

“We should have thought to ask sooner.” I grimaced, gratefully taking the bread from her.

She tilted her bugg-y head to the side and offered, “I have some cheese left, would you like it too?”

“I would love that, but only if you’ve eaten enough yourself.” I said between bites as I scarfed down the bread.

“Yeah, don’t worry, I’m full.” She nodded.

“Then yes, thank you.” I bowed my head, grateful. “It’s very kind of you.” I called down to Rowan, “You too, Rowan. I know it’s my own fault.”

“We shouldn’t be in this situation.” Pippa murmured. “You wouldn't have gotten so angry if we were treated properly. Or just not held against our will.”

“I know.” I sighed. “I wouldn't be in a circus or an exhibit at all, given my choice though. I don’t particularly like the attention.”

“No, I know. I don't either. I think most of us don’t.” Pippa told me, buzzing back to the cage that held all the firebugs’ roosts.

Everyone was free to roam the tent whenever the exhibits were closed to visitors, since none of the cages, corrals, or enclosures could really keep us inside, if we decided we wanted out.

Instead, it was the rune-carved bands we all wore that kept us from leaving the tent except for performances. Or when we were moving on to the next stop, per Bellows’ orders, we could be out and about for that too. But given my distinct lack of legs, it was pretty difficult for me, since I’d have to drag myself down the steps hidden in the fake rock, and I’d get all dirty pulling myself around on the ground.

Rowan normally ferried me around whenever I did need to be out and about for whatever reason. But he couldn't manage to climb the stairs, they were too narrow and steep for his horse legs, so I still had to haul myself down them each night for the performance.

Pippa returned with a small piece of cheese. “I know it’s not much, but you’re welcome to it!”

I accepted it gratefully, “Thank you so much, Pippa!”

“Mud has an apple left!” Mud’s squeaky voice called from below. “Marri can have it, if she wants!”

“Are you sure?” I asked, “I don’t want anyone else to go hungry on my account.”

“Mud is full! Mud don’t really like apples much cause Mud has to eat them waaaay too much!” Mud replied, sending his large ears flopping around comically as he shook his head.

“Well, thank you, Mud!” I beamed down at my little goblin friend.

Mud hurried to the back of my tank, and made his way up the steep steps. He arrived at the top, and held out the apple to me, which I accepted with a murmur of thanks. The little goblin settled down beside me, and Pippa followed suit. Though he wasn’t particularly bright, even for a goblin, Mud was extremely sweet. It made my heart ache that such a kind little soul had to live in such a situation. Though to be fair, he seemed happy enough despite the metal band that hung loosely around his neck, binding him to Bellows’ will.

“Will Marri sing Mud a lullaby tonight? They’re always so pretty, and they help Mud sleep.”

“Of course. I can include anyone else who’d like that as well.” I offered, throwing my glance around the others in the tent as I finished off the bread and started on the cheese.

Charlie nodded his large head, his big, golden eyes already sleepy, though we still had our performances to get through that night.

“I’d love that.” Rowan nodded. “There’s nothing like one of your lullabies, if I’m being honest.”

“That’s so true! I’d love one!” Pippa buzzed, the other firebugs all echoed their agreement.

The gryphon squawked his assent, and our resident selkie, Serha, murmured that she’d like a lullaby as well. The pixies indicated they were interested, the cockatrice crowed approvingly, and the rest of the goblins nodded as well. More glancing around told me that apparently everyone wanted me to sing a lullaby that night.

“Well, if everyone is interested, that makes it easy.” I smiled. If they were all interested, then I didn’t have to try to remember who to exclude from my lullaby.

Having reached a conclusion on the matter, I finally bit into the apple.

It was crisp, juicy, and surprisingly sweet, the perfect chaser after the tangy cheese. Sometimes we got stuck with the mealy, overly sweet ones, but this apple was very good.

Mud was right, though, we did get apples a lot with our meals, but sometimes we’d get other fruit like peaches or plums, or even grapes and berries on occasion, and it was typically a different kind of cheese every day, I guess just to mix things up. So we did get a little variety, and what we got did keep us alive, even if it got boring.

“If you wanted, you could do it every night, Marri.” Serha murmured, “It was nice to sleep so well. I know it’d be difficult to do it on the road, but whenever we’re in the tent, it’d be nice. I had such lovely dreams…it was like I was at peace, with a home of my own and a family.”

“I definitely dreamed of my family and home last time we had a Marri-lullaby.” Rowan sighed, and there were general murmurs of agreement from across the tent, all tinged with melancholy.

“Well, I don’t want to do that, if it only makes everyone sad.” I frowned.

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“No, please. It’s a nice respite. I was glad to see I hadn’t forgotten my wife and children’s faces.” Rowan replied, managing a smile. “You can sing for good dreams, right?”

“Yes, of course, that’s why you all had nice dreams last time. I don’t want you to have bad dreams. But it sounds like the ‘good dreams’ you had still made you all kind of sad.” I told them, finishing off the cheese and starting on the apple.

“They might, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still do it, Marri.” Serha murmured.

“Alright then.” I shrugged. Sometimes I dreamed of my family too, but given my singing magic couldn't affect me, it definitely wasn’t because of any spell that brought good dreams. Just my subconscious.

“Mud dreamed he got to eat a whole feast last time!” Mud laughed gleefully. “Mud can’t wait to see what he’ll dream next!”

I had to smile at him, “I can’t wait to hear about it when you wake up!”

“Marri will be the first person Mud tells!”

“Alright.” I laughed a little. “Well, when everyone is ready tonight, then I’ll sing you all a lullaby.”

“What’s all this racket in here?” Meeks’ voice came from outside the tent.

Hastily, I shoved the rest of the apple, which I wasn’t finished with, behind part of the fake rock, not wanting to be caught with food when I wasn’t supposed to have any. The punishment would be severe, if I did get caught.

“We’re just relaxing before the show tonight, sir.” Rowan shrugged, tone conversational as the manager entered.

“Well, keep it down! The guests for the show are starting to arrive! Why aren’t any of you ready yet?”

“We were just about to start, Meeks.” Serha murmured, blinking her large, dark eyes at him innocently. Serha’s gorgeous raven hair fell in loose curls around her delicate face. She used her lovely looks to intervene when she could, knowing that Meeks was particularly susceptible to her charms. The lovely selkie continued, “You know none of us like to be late.”

That was true. But only because if we were late, we’d get punished by Meeks, or worse, Bellows and his whip. I always worried for her, since she walked a fine line, given that Meeks had all the power in the situation, and if he chose to…bother her more than just an ogle, then there wasn’t much we could do, since we’d all been commanded not to lay a finger on any of the circus’ actual employees, or harm them in any way.

That said, I might be able to figure out some way around that order, if I put my mind to it. I suspected that I could sing him a song similar to the one I’d sung the idiots who’d bothered me earlier that day. After all, what I’d done to them hadn’t caused any lasting harm, and Meeks had forgotten to add it to the list of things I wasn’t allowed to do. That said, I’d pay dearly for intervening if I ever did. But hopefully it would never come to that.

“Alright then.” Meeks muttered, Serha’s gentle interjection having its desired effect. “But you all need to be ready in fifteen minutes! No dawdling!” The manager turned and left.

“Shit.” I muttered, hauling myself quickly across the platform, and over to the fanciest part of any of the enclosures in the exhibition tent. One portion of my fake rocks had hidden hinges, and the rock swung open to reveal my belongings, meager though they were. There was also a mirror and a seat, which I hauled myself up onto, then folded out the privacy screen so I could change.

Bellows might be a horrible, evil person, but given he was a dwarf, even I had to admit that he had made some really clever things. The tank also had built in, magically-operated sanitary facilities for me, hidden in a small, hollowed out interior of the fake rocks that made up the platform. Everyone else had their own discreet restroom areas as well, because it would really ruin the whole effect of the exhibit hall if Rowan or the firebugs left their corral or enclosure to use the bathroom while the customers were milling around. We were supposed to be like wild magical creatures, kept at bay by our enclosures, or something like that, not able to leave because we had to piddle. So in order to preserve some of the air of mystery and danger, Bellows had gotten pretty creative, a piece of shit though he was for keeping us there against our wills.

I changed quickly into my costume, which consisted of a fairly revealing corset in a bright, ugly lime green. It was really very tasteless, and glittered with hundreds of rhinestones, but it was what I had to wear. Folding away the privacy screen back into the fake rock, I started on my makeup.

“Do you want me to do your hair real quick, honey?” Serha asked me, already fully prepared for the show.

Her performance consisted of her in seal form doing incredible tricks, and culminated in a big reveal, in which she took off her seal skin and revealed her true, beautiful form, much to the awe of everyone. As such, she didn’t have to wear flashy makeup or a silly costume. Instead, she wore a simple, but still devastatingly beautiful, gown of perfectly draped silk in a pale blue color, and left her pretty, dark hair down in its natural curls. Her delicate beauty was such that she only put on the slightest bit of rouge on her cheeks, a smidge of pink lipstick, and a bit of dark mascara so the bright lights didn’t totally wash out her pale complexion.

I, on the other hand, was billed as ‘the siren queen’ and had to wear ostentatious makeup alongside my stupid, garish costume. I also wore cheap costume jewelry and a crown and hair net, which could take some time to get on.

“Yes, thank you! You’re a lifesaver! Meeks would have my fins for dinner if I wasn’t ready on time today!” I grimaced. I didn’t regret what I’d done, but I certainly didn’t want to get into any more trouble.

Serha giggled, “I thought the mooing was hilarious!”

“I knew you would.” I snorted. “You’re doing okay? We try to keep an eye out, but we can’t always…he’s not bothered you, right?”

“No. I think Bellows warned him away from…touching the merchandise, as it were. Not that he doesn't want to, I think. But he knows if he crosses that line, Bellows might slap him in one of these,” she shook the metal restraint on her wrist at me. “and make him embarrass himself by turning into a cow every night. So it’s in his best interests to behave. As long as his sense of self-preservation holds, I’ll be safe.”

“I don’t know if I trust his sense of self-preservation, given how little sense he has in general.” I muttered, carefully sweeping the alarmingly bright green eyeshadow on my eyelids, then swiping on black wings of eyeliner with a steady, practiced hand.

The makeup was all water-proof, of course, given my act took place largely in the water. It took a special cream to take off, and wasn’t particularly comfortable on my skin, but it was part of my costume, and I had to wear it for each performance.

Serha sighed as she poked and prodded my hair into its usual half-updo, then started to weave the chains through it, “I know. But what else can I do?”

“You don’t have to use your pretty face to get us out of trouble. Especially if it’s just him blowing off steam at us. We can handle getting yelled at, you know. Not that we don’t appreciate it, but we don't want you getting hurt.” I told her, frowning at her in the mirror. “Because if he lays a finger on you, we’ll all do what we can about it, heaven help the consequences.”

“I know.” She managed a weak smile, “And I don’t want you all to get shocked by the bands or, barring that, get punished for just trying to protect me. I’ll be more careful.”

“Thank you. I’d much rather deal with him yelling at me than risk you getting hurt.” I told her firmly.

We finished my hair and makeup just as Meeks came back in, shouting, “Alright, time’s up! Get to the tent and to your places!”

“You ready?” Serha murmured.

“As ready as I ever am.” I shrugged.

“I don’t think I could do what you do.” She shook her head and helped me move towards the stairs.

“It’s not so bad.”

“The flaming ring trick is.” the pretty selkie shuddered.

“Well,” I scooted down the stairs on my butt, taking them one by one. Rowan stood by at the bottom, waiting for me so I could ride on his back to the main tent. “I’ve had a lot of practice, of course. I’ve been doing this a while now. It was scary at first, I’ll admit, but I’m over it now.”

“How long have you been here again?”

“Mm…I think it’s something like forty years now.” I told her.

“You were taken when you were quite young though, weren’t you?” Serha asked as Rowan helped me haul myself up onto his back. Thank goodness he was a centaur, it made him the most practical person to transport me around the camp.

“Yeah, only twenty or so.” I nodded.

“Just a kid.” Rowan sighed.

“Yeah. I don’t think I was even as long as my tail is now.” I smiled a little sadly, shrugging.

Rowan had been taken from his family after me, and had been there for about thirty-five years now. He had practically raised me from the moment he arrived. Luckily, he was already an experienced father at the time, but that made it all the more painful for him to have been enslaved, since it had separated him from his family, pretty cruelly.

Serha was a relatively new addition, having only been bought by Bellows five years earlier, though from what I understood, she’d been born into captivity and had lived among humans beforehand, rather than a dwarf-owned circus.

“We should go.” I told them both, nodding to the entrance. “I’ve gotten myself into enough trouble today already, and I’d hate to get you two into trouble as well.”

“Of course.” Serha smiled a little, and we made our way from the exhibit tent.