It had been a long time since she had been here.  Here was home, Russia.  Sure she had been here a couple of nights already but this was the first time she really had the time to take it in.  She was in a small town somewhere in the eastern side of the country with only the one bag of clothing among other things, sharp metal things, and the cloths she wore.  It was a warm night for Russia and there were people actually out and about.  Even a store or two open.  As she headed down a road toward her destination she could hear the sound.  At first soft, but as she approached it grew in intensity.  The sound of a crowd cheering.  An ominous drum roll and the sound of an entire crowd gasping at once greeted her as she stepped inside the cloth fabric that posed as a door. 

 

                There he was swinging back and forth and Kara swinging in a mirror of his movements.  They were building up momentum.  Then she watched as Kara maneuvered so she was hanging by her legs.  It was a fairly long drop to the ground, no need for a net, not for these two.  He swung back one final time giving Kara a nod to tell her  he was ready.  As he approached the end of his forward movement and began to arch upward he released his grip on the trapeze.  He flipped and twisted as the crowd gave small “oo’s ” and “ah’s”.  It was a wonderful sight just watching her sire fly.  He was beginning his decent and she could feel the crowd tense.  She could see Kara was lagging, but she knew her sire was in no danger.  It was going to be close, but the two had probably planed it that way.  She saw as he reached his hands out to hers and the entire tent was transfixed on the spot where their hand met.  You could swear you heard their hand hitting each other as she grabbed his, but when the crowd took in that the stunt was successful they let out a cheer that left Heidi’s ears ringing.

                She watched as the pair made it back to the high platform and bowed to the crowd and then departed after descending a rope to the ground.  Heading back outside she glanced over her shoulder at the manager announcing the next act when she ran into a wall.  This said wall then grabbed her and said in a very unhappy voice “ You didn’t buy a ticket.”

                Heidi remembered that voice, even after almost two and a half decades. It was Yuri’s.

“I wasn’t aware I needed a ticket.” She said looking up at the easily 6’6” all muscle Brujah.  She saw when the recognition hit his eyes and even though she knew it was coming she was surprised when she was picked up in a near bone crushing hug.  Yuri almost screaming “HEIDI!”  He shook her back and forth in the hug, huge smile on his face. 

 

                “Good to see you to Yuri, can you put me down before you break my back?”

 

Yuri suddenly put Heidi down realizing that his reputation was going to come into question if anyone saw him acting like a three year old who just got a new toy.  Stepping back he gave her a sharp nod and a smile.  Then motioned for her to follow him, which she did.

 

“You know he is going to be happy to see you?  Nothings really changed since you left.  She still doesn’t like you that much by the way, in case you wanted to know.” 

 

“Oh the fun this is going to be.” Heidi stated as she spotted the staff tent.  Keeping in step with Yuri and behind him she hung back when he entered the cloth building.  After a few seconds she stepped thru the door hearing Yuri say “Look who I found.” She almost laughed at how proud he sounded.  She spotted Kara sitting on a pile of blankets and noticed how her face fell when she saw who Yuri meant.  She could have sworn she heard her growl.  Come to think of it she probably did.  Her eyes scanned the room until she found Trowa, he was in the back washing the makeup off and was in the process of drying off the water on his face.  Heidi had not realized how much she had missed her sire until the moment she saw him there.  She did not run to him, nor did she give any sign that she really cared.  He would know how she felt though.  He would say it was her eyes that gave her away.  An expression reserved only for him.  She was surprised when he did approach her and gave her a hug then pulled away to give her a good look over. 

“Perhaps we should take a walk, I don’t have another act tonight.”  The sentence implying that they would be left alone by the other tent occupants as Kara and Yuri had work to get back to.  Pulling her gently outside she was guided in the direction of a park not far from the circus area.

“Still cold as ever, I see America hasn’t changed that.” She gave a smile.  “You spent all these years away, is it so hard to drop that mask with me?”  She looked into his eyes, and then leaned forward, digging her face into his shoulder.  She inhaled his scent and ran her hands up his arms and over his chest.  She had truly missed this.

 

                “Yuri says things haven’t changed much, so how are things going?”

 

                “Yuri is right although I don’t think we will be keeping up with the circus much longer.  It was more fun when people were happy with a little trick here and there, now they want a “real show.”  Sure we still bring in a crowd, but they don’t last like they use to.  Remember we could spend a month in one town, now we just give shows on the weekends then move on to another town.”

 

                “That explains why it was harder for me to figure out where you would be.  I was behind a couple of days.  I’m just lucky you still move in a pattern.”  She gave him a nudge and they sat down on a bench. 

 

                “So how is America? Is it that much different than here?”

 

                “Ah, America, Where to begin?  It is easier to move from place to place.  It was hell trying to get back into the country though.  People there don’t like me very much.  Alaska reminds me of home most.  It’s cold there, and people don’t like to ask too many questions.  I made it down to Oregon.  Learned English, but not English the same as the British as someone pointed out.  There are a few variances on what certain words mean apparently…” The two talked more, back and forth for a good two hours.  The two sat side by side, Heidi almost leaning on him and him with an arm around her waist.  There were silent moments and moments where one would laugh at the tale the other was telling until they got to the question Heidi was really waiting for. 

                “How long are you planning on staying?” His voice sounded sad to Heidi and she looked at him.  Heidi in an ever so optimistic way said the first thing that popped into her mind.

                “Until I can’t stand to be around your sister.”  It was a very direct answer that left the exact time she would be staying open-ended.  Trowa frowned at the answer but knew it was true.  Heidi and Kara did not get along.  They weren’t exactly at each other’s throats every minute but it was understood that the two were not allowed to be left alone for any length of time.

                “Sometimes I really don’t understand what it is between you two.  I hate that you had to leave before, I hate knowing that you are going to leave again.  Why can’t you two get along?  I know she is annoying, she has always been that way, but I could never understand what it is about you that she hates so much?”

                “All these years and you never asked her?

                “I don’t have long in depth conversations with her like I do you.”

                “Well I’m not sure either, maybe it’s the same reason I don’t like her.  We were fighting over was more worth your time. At least I was.  You keep saying she is such an annoyance, why don’t you just get rid of her?  No, I already know why.  You gave her this gift so you could look after her out of a weird sense of obligation, isn’t that the word you used.  But why do you keep her around.  When I leave why not go with me, take a vacation. You left her behind once for me…”

                “She has her uses.” Heidi looked at him face showing what she was thinking before she said it.

                “Name one.”  Trowa went to say something then realized he couldn’t come up with anything.  So the question went unanswered.  After a few minutes of silence Trowa moved on to a different topic.

                “Just promise me you will try to be civil.”

                “I’ll try. 

                “And I mean it.  No cutting the trapeze lines or greasing the bar, or leaving the animal cages open, or provoking her in any way.”
                “She was the one that was doing all the provoking last time…”

                “And I remember what happened last time, and I’ll talk with her about you staying.”  The incident that happened last time was no small fight.  Kara had been on a mission to prove she was better than Heidi and that was by any means possible including trying to show her brother that Heidi was just a useless pet that should be gotten rid of.  Kara’s goal was to piss Heidi off, only it worked a little too well.  By the time Heidi had come to her senses Kara was a bloody mess and two ghouls were dead.  After a long talk with Trowa, Heidi decided it would be best for her to leave.  It was not easy leaving, but Trowa had made sense in his reasons why it should be her and not his sister.  He had stated that he could trust her to be on her own, something that he couldn’t say for his sister.  He had encouraged her not to stay away and that she should come visit, that she was always welcome, but she knew she would need much more self control in order to face Kara in the future.  

Heidi scowled at the memory.  She hated that she had lost control, something that had disappointed her sire, even though he had never said it. 

 

Again her eyes gave her away to him.

 

“You know I don’t blame you for what happened.  We all loose control at some point.”

 

“I won’t loose control like I did last time.  Living in a country that, for the most part, dislikes Russians has helped.   I’m not as easily insulted, and I’ve been call a lot of things in the last 24 years.”  Heidi gave a small chuckle imagining directing a few of those phrases and names at Kara. 

“Well,” Trowa began changing the subject again. “What are you going to do while you’re here?”  Heidi merely gave a shrug.  “I suppose we could have you work out an act with Yuri.  Or do you want go back to your throwing act.  No you cannot use Kara as the target.” Yuri was the Strong Man at the circus and before she left Heidi quite good with the throwing daggers. 

“Either or.  I’m not picky remember, that’s you sister, but we should be getting back.  Who knows what problems she has cause since you’ve been gone.”  She said this while grasping his hand and pulling him to his feet after standing herself. 

 

19 months later----

 

She knew her vacation could not last forever.   She would be leaving the following night as soon as the sun set.  Trowa was concerned that she was going to go crazy if she stayed much longer. There were no real incidents between Heidi and Kara over the last year and a half, nothing more that a very abusive verbal fight that would have progressed into more if it were not closer to dawn after a rather strenuous night already.  By the next night the two had cooled down.  It was a relief to the entire staff that nothing had happened. 

It was back to winter in Russia and snow was everywhere.   Trowa had given Heidi a going away gift of sorts in the form of a hunt, just the two of them.  The unfortunate pray lay cold at their feet as the two licked the remaining blood from their lips. He had not given in and fought tooth and nail for his life, but didn’t stand much of a chance against the two hungry vampires and now all that was left of the mans blood was what had fallen in the fight. The heavy snowfall that had begun just after sundown had lightened and their tracks were slowly disappearing from the ground.  They were both in a good mood, one was more content and the other was almost giddy.

“You don’t seem to be enjoying yourself that much.”  Heidi said a rare grin plastered on her face.  “Don’t make me have to cheer you up, you know I’m not any good at it.”  She stopped her almost bouncing around and put a hand to her chin in thought.  Trowa was dumbfounded when his childe suddenly dropped into the snow and laid back.

“What are you doing?”

“Well I think I’m making a snow angel.” She replied and stood not disturbing the outline. Trowa had to laugh. 

“What’s so funny?” Heidi said spinning in one spot just above the outline to create a halo.  It was a beautiful sight for the sire to witness.  Heidi spinning in the falling snow, it sticking to her hair and a few places of her face.  Some of her footprints leaving red marks on the white blanket around her.  Her face still slightly blood splattered form the fight. Smile on her face.  He wished she was like this always, but knew once they were in sight of the tents her mask would be back in place like it had never fallen.

Walking around the artwork in the snow he stopped her spinning and hugged her close. “It’s getting late we should be getting back, you still have to pack.”

 

“And the sun will be up soon. But what to call this?”  While she had meant her freshly completed snow art Trowa was staring at her features.

 

“A blood stained snow angel…” He had only meant to think the words but they had come out anyway.

“A Blood Stained Snow Angel.” She repeated.  “Sounds like a name to me.”

 

As they walked back to the circus camp conversation was directed towards the future.  “You know where you’re headed?”

 

“I thought I would make my was to Los Angeles.  Heard just before I left that it was a fun town to be in.  After that I’ll probably head to Las Vegas.  It’s supposed to be run by our clan.  Figure it would be a good place to get in touch with other of our clan besides you, your sister, and Yuri.  You never know.  I might even get a job there.  Help pass the time.”  She looked onward, hands in her pockets, trying to not think about her departure tomorrow night.  “I’ll write as much as I can.”

 

“You had better.”

 

When the time had come for her to board the train that would take her closer to the coast she was as calm and collected as she had been when she arrived.  Trowa, of course had been there to see her off.  And Yuri and a couple of the ghouls as well.  She had received a tight hug from Yuri that was just as bad as the one when she arrived and with no surprised to her Kara had not been there to see her off.    Hearing the last call she gathered her suit case and boarded the train.

 

Finding a seat near the window on the only half full train she places her luggage in the spot next to her and looked out the window.  She gave Trowa and Yuri a smile and a small wave as the train pulled away.  Back to the unknown for her.  Looking back over to her brown suit case she studied it.  It had felt heaver when her sire had handed it back to her when they had gotten to the train station.  She didn’t bother to look before because she didn’t want to miss the train on accident. Now she had time.  Pulling the handled box into her lap she snapped open the latches on either side of the handle.  Easing it open she was greeted with half a smiling face.  Her sire had placed his porcelain clown mask amongst her clothing and knives.  He had given her a gift the last time she had left but this one didn’t have much use.  Before it was the same throwing dagger set that the mask now rested on.  What was she going to do with this other than look at it and imagine her sire was on the other side?  While the train ride would not be long, the boat ride over the ocean was.  She could think about it then.  Now her efforts would be spent trying to ignore every single passenger that was on the train.  Her mind fighting with itself.  /Think how easy it would be, look no one is even paying attention, they won’t miss one person/  \It’s way too easy to get caught and they always make too much noise to feed this close to other people.  Someone WILL hear the screaming.\