X2.2.6 - Sold to the Highest Bidder

"Liar!" screamed Rosso.

"You said that you would let us go if we entertained your crowds," Roa pointed his finger at Balter who raised his hands and shook his head.

"I did not. I said that if you made the most spectacular spectacle even more spectacular, then you would gain your freedom. You boys are talented, I'll give you that. But, the circus hasn't achieved some new level of fame or prestige thanks to you. Should have tried harder," Balter shrugged his shoulders.

"Fuck off," Rosso blurted out.

"Now, on to business. I'm sure word got to you that we have finally found a worthy buyer, for such a worthy—exchange," he said as his eyes peered into the Sunflower's." Madame Solstice is friends with various Nobles of the Heavenly Caste of Default World. Turns out, one of her friends is interested in you, boy," Balter said, wagging his finger at him.

"Are you not even a bit ashamed of working with the enemy?" Roa asked with fire in his eyes.

"Enemy? There are no enemies—there are no friends. Only business," Balter said. "And we work for Madame Solstice, which means that what she says, goes."

"You're going to sell him to a Shadow? What's going to happen when they realize he doesn't remember anything?" asked Rosso.

"I don't know, and I don't care. All I care is that you two get sold to the highest bidder. What happens after that is none of my concern, honestly," the cat-man said.

The crowd cheered and the lights dimmed as the next show began. Rosso was on acrobatic duty. However, his partner was not by his side, instead being forced to sit in the section where all the VIPs were. Roa had been told to not say a single word, and to keep to himself. He sat in his chair, covered in a dark cloak, watching the members of the VIP box mingle, wondering which one would be the one who would take him away, back to Default World.

"Ah, today is a wonderful day, Sunflower," said Balter sitting next to him as he kept a close eye on the boy. Two large clowns stood behind them, making sure that the young man would not cause any trouble. "You see—today, the deal that Madame Solstice will make with the Noble will make us rich beyond our wildest dreams, and I will finally have finished paying off my debt."

"Debt?" Roa said, turning his head towards the white cat.

"Yes. This circus, once upon a time—was my own."

Roa stared at him without saying a word. He did not really care, but he listened regardless, in case that he could use the information to his benefit.

"This was my circus. Until it went broke. That's when I met Madame Solstice. She made me a deal. I would give her the enterprise until I paid off the money she put into it to bring it back to life, with lots of interest of course, and I would regain ownership the day that my debt would be paid off. You see—this is a great day, Sunflower. Today is that day."

"I don't care," Roa said, looking away.

"Well, it is going to be the start of your new life, so you should care. Look at them over there, discussing the terms of your purchase."

"My friend Rosso is coming with me, right?" the boy asked, only receiving a 'huh-huh' from Balter.

To their right sat Madame Solstice in a large, golden throne. She was an enormous woman, much larger than any normal Human—twice the size of one. She wore colorful, flowing clothes, and her face was mostly covered by a veil. However, through it, Roa could see a large nose topped by a dark mole. Her beady eyes danced around, analyzing her potential buyer, while keeping an eye on the show. Next to her was a beautiful woman, slim and elegant. She was very tall and wore a black dress studded in precious stones that glittered as she moved. She was smoking from a long cigarette holder made of gold. She laughed as the show went on, and the deal was being ironed out.

Roa's heart began to race. He needed to do something. He couldn't afford being separated from the only person he knew, and being brought back to Default World surely meant that he would either be put to death, or reset again. His eyes scanned around until they met Indigo's.

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She shook her head, and her eyes opened wide, as if to say, "don't."

"Oh, Solstice, you've always had great taste," Roa heard the Shadow say as he listened in to their conversation. He concentrated his aura, his mind, his spirit, focusing on their lips and words.

"Lady Comet, my dear, shall we talk—business?" Madame Solstice said.

"Of course. That is why we are here, is it not?" the other said.

"Indeed. I hear that the One has already found Exit Zero. I hope that you would not mind me asking—but why would he be interested in the boy?" asked the owner of the circus.

Lady Comet laughed out loud. It was the kind of laughter that only the rich have. "My dear, this business transaction is between us," she said as she moved closer to Solstice. "I am the one that's interested, not our father."

"Oh—"

"But that's just between you and I," Lady Comet said with a nod and a sly smile.

"I see. Well, I would be happy to oblige to this deal, regardless—for the right price, of course," the old witch nodded back.

Roa's heart was pounding in his chest. He had heard enough. He did not want to be sold away like some piece of meat, especially if he would be separated from Rosso. He was about to stand up when something caught his attention. An eye opened on the table in front of him, among the plates and drinks that were sitting there. Roa's eyebrows curled and his head tilted as he noticed the pupil moving about, staring in the direction of Solstice and her business partner.

Roa's eyes opened wide. "The Lord—he is watching!" the boy thought.

He noticed several more eyes hiding in his surroundings. One was on the floor, while another appeared on Lady Comet's chair, right behind her shoulder.

"He's listening to them," Roa thought to himself. "I wonder—if the so-called invincible Old Order is not so perfect after all. It seems that not all the nobles play along as they should." He looked around for more eyes. None were staring at him. "That woman—she's trying to buy me behind the Lord's back."

"What's the matter with you?" asked Balter.

"Nothing," Roa blurted out, covering his face with the cloak.

"The Lord hasn't recognized me. He might not know I turned into a child. He's still looking for my adult version, probably," Roa thought to himself as he stared at the eyes spying on the clandestine deal. "I knew those red irises and white hair were no coincidence," Balter's words echoed in his mind. "What did he mean by that?" Roa thought as he covered his head with the cloak. "I need to make sure this deal falls through, without the Lord recognizing me, or this place will turn into a battlefield in no time."

"I got it!" Roa said out loud, letting his excitement escape through his mouth.

"You got what?" said Balter.

"Nothing. I mean—" the Sunflower hesitated at first, then pointed to one of the tiny, blinking eyes near them. "Look."

Big Bucks Balter sat there, annoyed and confused until he finally noticed it. His eyes grew wide open and filled with terror. He looked absolutely petrified. His hands were shaking and no words were able to come out of his mouth for several seconds.

"Looks like your boss just made a fatal mistake. She tried to go behind the Lord's back with that noble there—and she got caught." Balter continued to stare, his gaze shifting from Roa's determined eyes to the Lord's tiny spying eyeballs. "Looks like you have two options now, on this--most-important day of your life, Balter. You either do nothing, and this deal goes through, and the noble, your boss, and most importantly you, get the axe from the most powerful, and cruel, man in Existence—meaning, you lose your circus. Or—"

"Or?"

"Or you tell the Patriarch what's going on, before it's too late, clear your name, prove your allegiance to him. Your boss gets the axe nonetheless—and you get your circus back, plus all of Solstice's riches. She won't be needing them where she's going," Roa smiled, his eyes firmly locked on his kidnapper's.

Balter stood up. He was shaking so much he seemed like he could collapse at any moment. Then, the cat mustered the courage, raised his hands up and screamed.

"Oh, great Patriarch, Lord of the Worlds! My name is Balter, your humble servant. Your friends have betrayed you! Madame Solstice and Lady Comet--have betrayed you!" he said, his voice quivering.

The people in the VIP box froze. The two ladies turned towards Balter; fury was in their eyes. However, that anger soon turned to terror when the Lord's Gaze appeared in full force. Thousands of giant eyes opened above, revealing themselves on the large tent of the circus, on the stage below, and everywhere around them.

"Tremble at my presence, you wicked fools, for you have sealed your fate with your treachery," the Patriarch roared. The audience scattered in all directions, running out of the tent as fast as they could, like mice scuttling about. The noble and the circus owner sat frozen in place, unable to budge a finger. "Who were you traitors going to exchange behind MY back, exactly?"

The ladies were left speechless, stuttering as they attempted to come up with an excuse. Balter gathered his courage again and spoke up.

"Great, invincible Lord of the Worlds—" he said.

"No! Don't do it, Balter." Roa pleaded as he yanked on his coat.

"Sorry, kid. You're just too valuable," he said, turning to him. "And he is just too dangerous."

"But I saved your circus!" Roa responded in anger.

"Great Lord of the Worlds," Balter continued, ignoring him, "it is he they are trying to sell—the Sunflower!" The cat's finger pointed at the boy.

The Lord's eyes opened wide and turned to the young man at once.

"You?" said the Lord. One large eye opened right above the boy. "There you are. So, this is where you have been hiding all this time…"

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