#spooky circus

“Will there be monsters?” Another kid asked excitedly. He bore a reptilian face with slanted nostrils and pale green scales. His eyes were wide as he eagerly waited for the boy’s reply. He slowly nodded, and found their cries of joy rather annoying. But said nothing as they huddled together and started walking away. Chattering excitedly about what could possibly be inside those towering tents.

Behind them, the boy looked up from his phone as something big stirred in the trees. He watched with a disinterested expression as a massive, tarantula bodied Drider stepped out of the treeline and made his way to him. His spider body was covered in deep purple fuzz streaked with black over his legs and abdomen. His human torso was hidden behind a brown leather jacket and his shirt had the label “security” on his right breast. A small duffle bag hung from a harness around his waist and the boy noticed the protective vest hiding beneath his shirt. The Drider towered over the booth, and had to curl his legs a little to bend down and greet the boy inside. He offered a polite smile and the boy replied with a drag of her cigarette. 

“You the new bodyguard?” The girl asked. Though, he already knew the answer.

The Drider nodded. Shifting his legs around so he didn’t have to bend in a weird way to look at him. “My name is Victor. I was contacted by Jennifer to come meet her for a job?” Victor had been given very little detail on what that job was. He was security. So, usually that entailed standing somewhere and looking scary. The circus had been a surprise. He had been given a time and a location, but not the establishment. This morning, he almost didn’t arrive. About to call the strange number that contacted him and say he was unable to take the job. But the curiosity had been too much. He just took more precautions in his protection today than he usually did when meeting a new client. 

“I’m Ben.” The boy said. Swinging his legs to the floor and standing, exiting the booth from a side door to gesture for Victor to follow. “I’ll take you to see the big lady. Ever worked for a circus before?” 

“Can’t say that I have.” Victor replied. Lifting himself up to follow the boy. He had to walk slower than he usually did. His strides were much longer than his and the boy walked with a lazy step. Like he was in no hurry to get anywhere. “Have you been with the circus for long?” 

Ben replied with a laugh. But didn’t give a proper answer. Just another drag from his cigarette and a bellow of gray smoke. Victor decided he wasn’t going to carry the conversation and busied himself with looking at the tents and attractions as they passed. The tents were tall and wide, and those that he could peer inside, harbored various festival games and circus attractions. He was pretty sure one of the tents had a haunted house maze, but it was too dark to see far into the enclosed space. There were skeletons propped up behind the games or sitting on chairs. Victor could have sworn one of them tilted their head in his direction as they passed. There was enough space in some of the tents that you could fit an entire house inside. And in between the canvas shelters were cobbled paths of dark stone. Dampened by the misty rain that started to fall, but were saved from mud and dirt as Victor would expect after a rainstorm. 

Ben led him to the center tent. A towering monument of canvas and steel poles. Small decorations of painted skulls and bones adorned the trim of the entrance, which was rolled up and tied to the side with red rope. Ben strolled in through the wide doorway and Victor followed. Stopping to take in the showroom.

This circus tent was circular inside. Many chairs and raised benches surrounded a center patch of sand and sawdust. Ropes and chains hung from the ceiling from unseen anchor points. Platforms were positioned high in the air and there was a massive, ancient looking cannon placed on the sand below. Standing beside it was a tall yet slim woman dressed in a long goth inspired dress of black and silver details. A slender hand lazily grasped the thick pole of a massive mallet that leaned against the canon’s side. She stood facing away from them as Ben approached, but turned as she noticed Victor’s approach. Victor had worked with Undead before. But never in his lifetime, has he came face to face with a Lich. 

Her skeletal features were adorned with black and green crystals. Thrumming with the necromancy that kept her “alive”. And a faint blue glow emanates from beneath her corset. Another heavy pulse radiated from her. Victor knew it to be magic. But the power that radiated from her made his fuzz stand on end.

“Ah! My lovely new guard has arrived. A pleasure, sir. Victor, yes?” Victor nodded, his voice caught in his throat as the warm voice came from the lipless skull. What was he getting himself into?

The Lich was obviously female, or at least femme presenting. Her voice carried a thick french accent and as Victor’s hand clasped around the bones of her fingers in a hand-shake, the magci was chilling to touch. It took every fiber of his will power not to yank his hand back in shock to the cool presence. A broad brimmed hat that was adorned with frills that sat atop her head. Purple candles hung from the accessory by thin, silver chains. Victor had to look again, but the candles looked more like sticks of dynamite than actual candles. And being held in one delicate hand, was an old fashioned cigarette holder. Matching her outfit in black and silver. 

“Y-Yes, ma'am, sorry. I was just-” He didn’t want to sound rude in the first meeting. “I’ve just never had the pleasure of meeting a Lich before. It’s an honor.”  Victor quickly added on as their hands left the other after their introduction. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Ms Jennifer.” The woman smiled and did a small small twirl for him. As if showing off her entire outfit at once. The trail of smoke from her cigarette holder formed a delicate gray spiral around her as she stopped. And the magic inside her glowed brighter with her laugh.

“An honor, you say? My, my, you’re the sweetest boy I’ve ever met.” Jenniffer said with a wide smile in her voice. “Usually people say the opposite.”

“All cowards, I tell you. You should be honored! When do you ever meet a marvel of dark magic and necromancy?” Victor startled a second. Looking to Jennifer’s right hip where a collection of chains tangled around a cluster of bones and a skull. He didn’t notice it before; but the skull was kept together by black twine and dark petalled flowers. And it had just spoken in a smooth, male voice.

Jennifer laughed and reached down to stroke the skull’s chin affectionately. 

“Now, now, my sweet Enzo.” She purred. “You know that people are scared of the dark. I am the embodiment of evil to many cultures.” The skull, Enzo, mumbled something, but seemed to almost lean into Jennifer’s touch. “Victor, this is my husband, Enzo. My moon and stars.” Jennifer introduced Victor as she pulled her hand away. Victor smiled politely and nodded his greeting to the skull. 

“A pleasure, sir.” He said. 

“Hmm,” Enzo hummed thoughtfully. “A big fellow, aren’t you.” 

Victor couldn’t help but laugh. Moving his legs so he stood a little shorter than before. So the lady didn’t have to bend her head so much to look up at him. 

“Yes, sir. One of the many reasons I'm good at my job. Not many people will mess around with a Drider my size.” Victor attempted to break the ice. Get a laugh out of his employers so they felt more comfortable around him. Though, it may have been the other way around. 

“You’ll fit right in.” Jennifer said, clapping her hands together in delight. It made an odd clack noise. “Come, come. I’ll introduce you to my daughter and then we can discuss business.” 

Victor nodded. Turning to say farewell to Ben but found he had already gone. He shrugged and followed Jennifer to the cannon, moving around it so his face didn’t near the wide barrel, and was introduced to a small girl. She smiled a blackened teeth grin up at Victor and offered a soot covered hand to him as her name was spoken. A fat cigar poked out between the wonky teeth. Victor didn’t smoke but the branded symbol on the object looked expensive and intricate enough to be fancy. And the tip glowed with a deep purple light.

“Gertie, meet Victor. Victor, Gertie is my little girl and my main attraction to my circus.” Jennifer cooed. The little girl was just as eccentric as her mother. Her long dark hair was filthy and looked like it hadn’t been washed in eons. Reaching down to her ankles and tangling in the frills that covered her little black dress. Though her scalp was fitted with a black beret, Victor could see a pair of big, leather bound goggles on her forehead. The same design you’d expect a mad scientist to own in an old horror movie. He couldn’t quite make out what manner of creature she was. But the slitted pupils and longer fingers possibly suggested some sort of ghoul.

“Very nice to meet you, Gertie.” Victor said, leaning down as they shook hands. And the poor girl had to tilt her head back far to look up and look Victor in the eyes. 

“I’ve never seen a Drider before.” Gertie said excitedly. “You’re really big.” Her words were carried on a puff of strange smoke that twisted and twirled in the air like it was a living thing floating away from her pale lips.

Victor laughed again. Taking a step back and lowering himself so his spider half was laying on the ground. Curling his legs tightly against himself to talk to Gertie in a way that was more comfortable for her.

“I get that alot. What do you do in the circus?” Victor asked. And again, the surprise passed through his mind as the little girl stuck the cigar in her mouth and gestured to the cannon beside them with both hands.

“I get blasted into the sky with this! Or explode with lots of colors. Like fireworks. Really depends on what I’m feeling on the day. Do you like fireworks, Mr Victor?” Victor wasn’t entirely sure how the exploding part worked with a ghoul. The undead he worked with very rarely allowed themselves to be pulled apart. Occasionally, the stitches that held them together may fall away and an arm would flop to the ground. Or their necromantic power gave out and their brain would return to dead mode. But he could already tell this little girl was different. Her body was thin and her skin felt like dry paper. There was very little decay that was noticeable, but he said nothing. The reek of perfume was making his nose itch and he could see parts of her skin were fraying away from her flesh. The usual undead things. But never had Victor seen a ghoul explode of its own volition. 

“I do. I’m excited to see your part of the show, Gertie.” Victor said. And Gertie seemed to swell with excitement. Almost like her torso was expanding with air.

“Oh! I can show you now! I’ll need your help loading-”

“No, no!” Jennifer quickly cut Gertie off and snatched the cigar from the child’s mouth. Taking the attention off of Victor to Gertie’s mother. “We have a lot of preparation to do. And I do not have time to put you back together right now. Leave it as a surprise for Victor.” Gertie huffed and stamped her feet irritably. Her little hands reached up to try and snatch her cigar from her mother’s hands. But the Lich merely lifted her hand that touch higher out of the girl’s reach. Twirling her cigarette holder in a display of nonchalance as she kept the cigar held high until the girl gave out a terrifying screech. But the woman merely gave her a stern side-eye.

“Gertie, listen to your mother.” Enzo lightly scolded from Jennifer’s hip. “You have to get the cannon ready for tonight. You don’t want it to shoot you into the wall again, do you?” Gertie seemed to settle. Still very obviously annoyed, but she nodded reluctantly and Jennifer handed her little girl the cigar back. Gertie then stomped away, shoving the cigar between her lips and going behind a curtain off to the right. 

“Gertie gets very emotional.” Jennifer explained softly. Taking a puff from the thin holder between her fingers. Victor watched as the smoke passed between her teeth and down into her ribcage. It blew out of the seams of her dress as she gave a breathless sigh. “She has a sweet tooth for gunpowder and explosives. So, if she gets too riled up, her body will combust. Can be very dangerous. And we prefer to keep her whole most of the time. It can get messy and time consuming to put her back together.” 

Victor didn’t know which part of that he was more concerned about. The child smoking. The ghoul that ate explosives and gunpowder. Or the fact that this volatile creature was stuffed into a cannon and sent into the sky via an explosive means. He plastered on a smile. Hoping his confusion and concern were hidden behind the professional grin. 

“Understood. Anything else I should know?” He asked. 

“Don’t let her boss you around,” Enzo piped up. And Jennifer tilted her hip so Enzo could look at Victor.  “She can get a little bratty with the other members of the circus. The only thing she controls is her act. Anything else, goes through us. Oh, and don’t let her chomp down on Ben. That is a big no. We give you permission to give her a good whack if she steps out of line. Throw her into the sky. It's what we do.” Victor nodded again. Trying to ignore the growing surprise in his chest at what he was just told. But then Jennifer gestured for him to follow. She took hold of the massive mallet. Spinning it between her fingers like it weighed nothing but a bag of feathers, and rested it on her shoulder in one smooth motion. As they walked, Jennifer asked Victor about his other jobs and what qualifications he held as a security guard. A business conversation passed between them. Nothing Victor hadn’t discussed with employers numerous times before. They were always the same. What were you prepared to do to protect your employer or their establishment? Are you capable of wrangling large or monstrous beings if they get too rowdy? Do you understand anything that happens here is under a confidential agreement between you and the owners? All pretty standard stuff. But Jennifer added on a new question that took Victor by surprise. 

“Are you able to help us find any of our troop that fall from the sky too far away from the circus?” Victor wasn’t sure if she was talking about Gertie. By the conversation before and the cannon, he suspected that she would fall from great heights. But surely it was all planned. Or purely just for show and it made it look like Gertie was blasted from a cannon. Victor allowed his confusion to show.

“I’m not sure I follow, ma'am.” He said. And Jennifer tilted her head in a way that made her skull look like it was smiling. Her voice carried the sweet patient tone like a mother explaining something to a child. Twirling the cigarette holder so it dramatically drew a circle of smoke around her as she walked.

“Here, we have a way of dealing with things that annoy us. Or things we don’t want to deal with right now.” Jennifer explained. She led Victor into a roped off area behind a line of tents and stalls. It was a small open field with a circle of large caravans and structures that looked more like cottages than tents. In the center of this field was a centaur. Her equine body was a sickly thin gray body with clumped white tufts of hair over her hooves and a long but thin tail that was braided with black ribbons. Her human body, though as thin and frail looking as below her waist, Victor watched with respectful awe as the centaur curled a heavy set of dumbbells. It almost looked like those weights would snap her arms clean off their elbows. But their was no strain to each curl. And was nonchalantly talking to a short, elf girl that had to crane her neck all the way back to talk to her. 

“You won’t get that wet.” The elf girl said. “Tania swallows you whole. I never touch the water. I only ever get wet from her tongue on the way down.” 

The centaur looked incredibly uncomfortable. And shook her head, stomping her hoof on the ground like she was emphasizing her unease. 

“I’m not taking part in your set, Katharine. What you do with Taina is your thing. I’m not getting my hair wet because you want to have her swallow something bigger than your twiggy body.” 

The elf girl huffed and poked the Centaur’s chest. 

“You’re just scared of water. I haven’t seen you take a bath in weeks! And you reek like a pile of-”

The elf didn’t get to finish her sentence. In a span of seconds, the centaur threw down her weights and spun on her two front hooves. Gracefully positioning her rear into the elf’s face and then curling her back legs as she smirked over her shoulder. The elf wasn’t fast enough, and Victor winced as the small woman was pelted full force in the chest by two dinner plate sized hooves, and was sent flying into the air. Victor exclaimed a shout as the elf not only flew a few feet, but was sent sailing hundreds of meters high and disappeared in a twinkle some distance in the air. And as she sailed over the tent, Victor heard her voice just enough, “You can’t stay a strong woman forever, Alecia!”

“She just won’t take no for a damn answer.” The centaur snorted. Her smile widened as Victor was introduced to her. Her cheeks were hollow and gray circles underlined her eyes. She looked like she had just recovered from the worst case of the plague. But she let the weights fall from her hands, leaving heavy indents in the mud as they splattered her legs with dirt, and trotted over to Jennifer. Victor however, was still staring off towards where the elf disappeared, half wondering if he needed to go check on her. But Jennifer hooked a cold boney hand around Victor’s arm and half dragged him towards the centaur. Introducing Victor with a flurry of her cigarette. 

“Alecia. It’s nice to meet you.” The centaur said with a cheerful swish of her tail. Snapping Victor out of his stupor. She then nodded towards where the elf disappeared. “Don’t worry about Kath. She’s a graceful lass. Always landing on her feet. I haven’t seen her land face first in the mud yet.” 

That didn’t entirely soothe Victor’s concern. But he saw no worry in Jennifer’s composure and took that as a reason not to go help out Katharine. He shook Alecia’s hand. Trying not to flinch under the crushing curl of her fingers as she clasped onto his palm. Even if her hands were as thin as Jennifer’s, Victor could feel the restraint behind the centaur’s grip.

“A pleasure to meet you.” Victor said, and then turned to Jennifer. “I’m guessing that is how you deal with conversations you don’t want to have?” Jennifer chuckled with a nod. 

“We are a stubborn lot. So, sometimes we need a reminder that no, means no.” Jennifer stated. “Alecia here is our strong woman. Anything that you can’t lift, she can ten fold.” 

“My show is all about throwing logs and breaking things.” Alecia shrugged, a glow of pride emanating off of her as she flexed her biceps and winked at Victor. There wasn’t much muscle on her. But Victor didn’t dare say as such. “But a big man like yourself can surely lift a thing or two.” 

“I’m sure I can’t hold a candle to you.” Victor replied with his own wide smile. “But I look forward to seeing what you can do. Just don’t kick me into orbit? I don’t think I can survive my ribs being shattered into millions of shards.” 

Alecia laughed, slapping a heavy hand onto Victor’s shoulder. He almost crumbled under the pressure of her fingers.

“I only punt the circus troop. Anyone outside the circus is safe from my hooves.” 

Victor nodded. Relief washing over him as Alecia excused herself from the conversation and scooped up the discarded weights. Returning to her exercise as Jennifer started to walk away with Victor trailing behind her. 

“We are a small troop.” Jennifer explained. “I’m sure you know the stereotype with the circus. We stick together. We’re a family. And I want to keep them safe, Victor.” Jennifer’s tone lowered into a sorrowful tone. “The outside world is cruel and distrusting. We have had many instances where visitors will disrespect us and throw things into our ring. I do not want that to happen again. I want to run my show without worrying that someone is going to jump from their seats or call my little girl all manner of ill names. If we defend ourselves, regardless of the situation, we are always the bad guys.” Jennifer stopped and turned to look up at Victor with an empty stare that seemed to sink into his soul and freeze him in place. “I never would want to put someone in harm's way, Victor. But I wish to keep my family safe from people that want to ruin what we have. While we are here, do you accept the job to protect my circus? You will be paid handsomely, and while you stay with us, you will be treated with the same kindness and love we share with one another.” 

If Victor wanted to look away, he couldn’t. Her stern gaze fixed him in place and locked his mind on her words. He nodded. Licking his lips as he felt the unease in him begin to fall away as Jennifer’s posture cracked with gentle laughter.

“Oh, thank you. Now, we must discuss your stations and walkabouts when the guests arrive. But I’ll introduce you to my last two girls and then we’ll get down to business.” 

Jennifer seemed to walk with a new skip in her step and a sway to her mallet as it hung loosely on her shoulder. Enzo hummed cheerfully as they wandered around the back of the main tent and towards a small stall. It was surrounded by floating blue orbs that gave off soft blue light. And the path that led to it weaved between stone tombstones. A low fog drifted around Victor’s feet as he approached the stall. For a moment, he didn’t recognize that anyone was inside. But then a cloaked figure raised their hooded head and Jennifer cheerfully greeted them. Beneath the cloak, Victor saw only moving shadows and two faint orbs of blue light. But the more he looked and as the figure rose from their slouched position on a stool, he could see more of them. It was a young girl, possibly the same age as Gertie, or at least what Gertie’s young features expressed. She wore a heavy black cloak that was torn and frayed at the seams. Underneath that, Victor saw only shadows and a pair of very pale hands that were clasped around a deck of cards. Idly shuffling them between her fingers. Her eyes mimicked that of a human gaze. But Victor's experience with undead told him that this was merely a trick. Before him was a Shade. A creature of death and shadow. He had only ever seen one. And it had left him in hospital for three weeks with painful, bone tearing curses and disease. As Jennifer approached, the long, distant stare of the little girl came into focus, and a massive maw opened up beneath the hood. Victor halted in his tracks. Glimpsing the grotesque rows of needle like teeth and void like throat as the creature…yawned…

The Shade sniffed at the end of her yawn. And the eyes glowed brighter as the Shade spoke. “Ms Jennifer! Sorry, I drifted off for a second there.” The young girl said softly. Her voice was heavy with sleep, like she had just woken up from a nap. 

“Your stall looks as good as ever, Ester.” Jennifer cooed. Flicking her mallet off her shoulder to rest the massive, heavy head against the ground. “I wanted to introduce you to Victor. He will be guarding our circus while the guests are here.” 

Ester seemed to slide off her stool like she was floating through water. The shadows swarmed around her like an eager puppy as she floated towards Victor. She was smaller than the Shade Victor met. And he desperately hoped his unease wasn’t clear on his face as a pale hand slipped out from under the cloak towards him. 

The shadows under the hood parted just enough for Victor to see the shy smile on the Shade’s face. And as Victor bent down to shake it, he hated how his fingers shook. But he stubbornly pushed past his fear and shook the creature’s hand. 

“A pleasure, Ester.” He said as he retrieved his hand from the Shade’s cold touch. It almost felt like her touch burned him.

Ester seemed overly pleased that he had touched her. She giggled softly and bowed dramatically with a swirl of her cloak and a swirl of shadows.

“Do I scare you, sir? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She said as twisted her hand and clicked her fingers. A spark of blue erupted from her palm and Ester offered a small flickering flame up to Victor. “To warm your hand.” She explained as Victor stared down at her. He hesitated, but leaned down and opened his palm to her. Who cradled the flame like it was a small animal and then gently tilted her hand so the flame passed onto Victor’s. He winced at the stab of heat. But then found the flame seemed to soften its ferocity to a comfortable warming sensation. He cupped his fingers around it like he was caring for an injured bird. He smiled. Feeling the magic emanating from the tiny source of light. “You’re a sorceress?” 

“A magician.” Ester corrected him. “I’m the circus’ magician! I do all sorts of tricks and illusionary displays. Mostly like what the human magicians fancy, but with my own twist.” 

Victor nodded. Watching the flame begin to flicker down and lose its warmth, before sparking out in a burst of heat. He squeezed his palm as the warmth started to wane off his skin and smiled down at Ester. Finding some surprising comfort in Ester’s presence. She didn’t seem so bad.

“I always enjoyed a good magic show. So, I look forward to it.” The glowing orbs around them seemed to brighten as Ester’s fanged smile broadened in excitement. 

“You’re going to be watching?” She asked, and Ester clapped her enthusiasm when Victor nodded. “I will make sure to do something absolutely incredible! You’ll be blown away!” 

And with a flick of her dress, Ester disappeared in a gust of gray fog.  The shadows rose high around her. Enveloping her in its mass as the fog descended back to the ground. Victor didn’t say anything, but he glimpsed her back away through the stool she was sitting on and then disappeared past the tent interior. All while the shadows remained. Like it was trying to distract him from her retreat. He could hear her giggling as Jennifer led Victor away from the graveyard.

“Everyone here is very sweet.” Victor said with a warm smile. “But, if you don’t mind. Is Ester an adopted daughter? Or an adopted member of the circus?” 

“A member of the circus.” Jennifer replied with an affectionate tone to her voice. “Everyone here has been found needing a home. And I provided them with more than that. I also gave them a purpose. A family. But I do see Ester as a daughter in a way. But Gertie will always be my little girl.” 

Victor nodded. Leaving the conversation there as they returned to the main tent. But this time he was led to the back entrance, where props and costumes were stored for the show outside the massive curtains. The dark place was lit by floating lanterns that seemed to follow Jennifer as she weaved her way through the maze of circus gear. 

Until she parted some curtains and allowed Victor to enter another part of the backstage. Where a monstrous tank was set up on a large metal wagon with big round wheels to hold it up. 

In the large clear tank was a mermaid. Or siren. Victor wasn’t entirely adept on aquatic beings and how they differed from one another. But she was of considerable size with a tail that was long and thickly scaled. Victor would almost say it looked reptilian with her plate like scales and hooked like spines that ran down the length of her tail. The mermaid lounged lazily on the bottom of the massive tank. Her tail coiled about the space luxuriously. Circling behind her to act as a cushion under her head. In her hand was an ornate pipe of similar proportions to her size. Her dark plump lips drew in whatever substance was crushed into the boiling end and she blew bubbles from her gills on the sides of her neck. These bubbles captivated Victor. Some were large and round, others tiny and clustered; all shimmering different colors as they ascended to the surface of the water and popped. Releasing, what Victor would guess, was smoke. But just like the bubbles, each cloud of smog drifted into the air in several colors. 

The mermaid watched this display with an air of contentment. Her free hand rested on her stomach, gently tapping the pale belly in a rhythmic pattern. Her smile was almost predatory as her gaze fell on Victor. And for once in his life, he actually felt small standing next to the creature in front of him. 

“Oh, aren’t you a sweet looking thing.” The mermaid, Tania, Jennifer introduced her as, cooed from behind the glass. Her voice carried surprisingly clearly through the water. And her gills bubbled with the strange smoke with every word. “Kathrine told me you had arrived. But she didn’t get to meet you before the mule kicked her.” Her voice carried a sweet melody behind it. And Victor felt the alluring pull of magic as her words passed into his ears. He shook his head clear of the faint fog and greeted her. He glimpsed thick, crocodile-like fangs behind her lips. And her gaze fixed him in place. Sending chills down his spine as her cold gaze washed over him curiously. Victor was about to ask if the elf was alright, but took a horrified step back as the mermaid’s jaw opened like a snake unhinging its jaw. And from the depths of the mermaid’s throat, crawled the elf Victor had seen before. She waved at them both and then kicked off from the mermaid’s tongue to glide over to the massive pipe. She then seated herself in the round lip, lounging comfortably as the bubbles were blown around her. Gently lifting her up and then allowing her to float back down into the pipe. Her voice, like the mermaid’s, carried through the water clearly.

“Hi! We didn’t get introduced. I’m Katharine.” Victor was sure he had just had a hallucination. He swallowed the ball that was lodged in his throat and allowed his chest to suck in a fresh breath of air. It was his job to take the weird and crazy in stride and do his job regardless of any factors outside protecting his employer. But he had never seen someone crawl out of the mouth of a larger creature before. 

“Nice to meet you both.” He hated how his voice squeaked a little. “Are you ok? That hit to the chest must have hurt.” 

The elf shrugged. Kicking her feet a little to keep in the pipe as Tania blew a small cluster of bubbles around her. Swallowing her in purple and black colors as the bubbles popped against her. “I’m used to it. Her accuracy is getting better. Landed me right outside Tania’s tank.” 

She pointed down at the ground and Victor internally winced at the deep impact in the dirt just inside the tent’s entrance. Like she had hit the ground and slid a few feet before coming to a stop in the dirt. He then turned back as he heard a cry of surprise. Just managing to glimpse Katharine’s legs disappear into the pipe as a great gush of water was sucked into it. Then, Tania swallowed something and her hand went back to her stomach. Patting it affectionately. 

“Alecia takes any opportunity to kick someone in the sky.” Tania huffed. “I’ve had to swallow her a few times to calm her down. Almost broke a rib once.” The confusion on Victor’s face must have been plain enough to see. He seemed to be doing that alot. Giving away how shocked all this made him. But Jennifer touched his arm reassuringly and spoke with a soft voice, like she was trying to comfort him. 

“We’ve all been in her stomach once or twice. Gertie gives Tania heartburn. And her singing voice can make Gertie’s head explode.” That did not at all soothe Victor’s surprise or unease. But he brushed it off. Surely, this wouldn’t happen to him. 

Tania’s nose curled in disgust at the mention of Gertie. “That little girl tastes awful. Rotten to the core.” 

Jennifer clapped her hands excitedly. Throwing down the mallet with a heavy thud as she twirled her dress and addressed Victor with a wide smile. “Now, that's everyone! I’ll let everyone know that if they see someone or need assistance with a guest, to come to you right away. But, we must let them go for now so they can get ready for the show tonight.” Her cold hand lightly touched his shoulder as she guided him outside the tent.

“I first need to have a private word with these two before we discuss further, Victor. Please, make yourself at home. Welcome to the circus.” Jennifer bowed dramatically to Victor as she threw down the curtains to the tent. Closing Victor off from the shelter beyond to roam the circus ground until she found him again. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the guests filled the seats and the chatter rose to a deafening roar inside the main tent; Victor stood by the entrance doors. Arms crossed over his chest and a polite, but professional smile, breaking the intimidating presence he provided. Enzo had been the one to suggest a smile while Victor stood watch. 

“So the magic of the entertainment doesn’t shatter when they see your terrifying self at the door.” Enzo had said with a chortle. Victor had laughed too. He wasn’t used to being a part of an atmosphere that wasn’t tense or dangerous. Where people were laughing and having fun. Kids running around while their parents huffed after them in an exhausted fast walk. He was merely there to ensure people behaved. And it was a nice change from the usual work. 

The lights started to dim and a hush settled over the crowd. Victor nodded a silent greeting to Ben as he slid out of the darkness and closed the curtains to the tent’s entrance. He gave his own nod, using his phone to light the way backstage. And Victor silently moved to stand closer to the center ring as a blinding light bathed the sand pit. He kept out of view of the crowd but kept close in case he needed to rush someone. Jennifer stood in the center. Her dress sparkled brilliantly in the light as she swung her mallet dramatically over her head in a twirl. Displaying her strength and dexterity with the weapon as she threw it into the air, spinning and rolling, to come down and be caught in her hand as she bowed. Her necromancy swelled beneath her dress. Making it billow around her and the magic rose from beneath her bones to scatter around the ring in a display of black starlight and a veil of purple power. Excited gasps passed over the crowd as Jennifer released the magic with a silent explosion of dark sparks. That rained down on the crowd but glinted out of existence before touching them.

“Welcome all! I hope my circus and its family have treated you well this evening.” Her voice echoed through the tent clearly. And a whoop and wave of applause from the crowd followed her words. “Now, you will see my very best tonight. In their daring acts and array of tricks. And I first present to you, Alecia the Strong Woman! And Ester the Ghostly Magician!” 

The roar from the crowd was deafening. But was silenced in a blast of orange fire as Jennifer was swallowed by flame and replaced by Alecia. Who burst from the heat in a gallop. Trailing cinder behind her as she ran the full circle, curling her arms to tense her biceps and calling out to the crowd as she kicked her back legs and stomped her hooves. The display was almost comedical if Victor hadn’t already seen the strength behind the illusion of thin arms and sickly appearance. Ester appeared high above the crowd in a cloud of shadows. She drifted towards the ground, throwing balls of blue light around her. Her small hands moved in a blur as a pack of cards appeared between her fingers, and she passed them between her palms. The cloak billowed around her like wings as she reached the ground. Victor couldn’t follow her hands precisely, but she moved them in a way that created arches over her head and around her body. Alecia skidded to a halt in the center, just as Ester landed in the sand and reared, kicking her hooves as the balls of light began to spin around them. 

Ester then clapped the cards together in her hands, and threw single cards towards the crowd. They spun quickly, like small blades, before dropping into the sand and exploding with a cloud of purple smoke. What was left behind was a perfectly cut log. Standing upright about a few feet high. Seven of these logs sat on the edge of the sand pit, perfectly spaced between each other. 

Alecia dropped from her rear and held out her hand. Ester floated away from her and a card flew from her fingers to slice into Alecia’s hand. Another cloud of smoke appeared, obscuring the centaur for a moment. Before a large ax carved through the smog and Alecia leapt into another gallop. Victor was so entranced that he almost forgot to watch the crowd. He tore his eyes away just as Alecia swung the ax in a devastating blow to a log. Splitting it cleanly down the middle without missing a stride. The crowd cheered and whistled excitedly. Their gazes glued to the show as Ester threw more cards. They exploded mid-air, transforming into more thick pillars. Aimed right for Alecia. The centaur laughed and shifted her stride to skid along the sand, dramatically spinning on her hind legs as she swung the ax. Slicing through each of the wooden pillars that flew towards her. 

Everyone was fixed in their seats. Victor glimpsed some kids sitting on their parents shoulders. Other patrons clapped as loud as they could. Calling out Alecia’s name as she slammed the ax into the last standing log and left it buried. Ester’s lights then plummeted towards her shadowy frame. Conjoining to make one giant ball of light. Blinding everyone as Ester stood atop it. Her cards were still spinning and flicking around her in strange patterns. Before she stomped her foot against the ball of light, and the brilliance vanished. Like someone had flicked off a switch to a bulb. Leaving behind a monstrous metal ball. 

Victor tore his eyes away again. Scolding himself for not watching the crowd as Alecia called for a volunteer. A large muscly man was chosen. And Alecia had him approach the metal ball. 

“See if you can move it!” She told him. And Victor heard Ester giggle as the man attempted to shift the object. It was the size of a car. Possibly bigger. And Victor distinctly heard the sound of metal scraping on the sand as Alecia playfully pushed the man aside, and rolled the ball onto her shoulders. Lifting it up with such ease that the crowd bellowed its surprise and wonder. 

Jennifer appeared from the shadows as Ester twirled her hands and the ball popped like a bubble. Releasing purple and blue smoke high into the air as she floated down to land on Alecia’s back. Victor could see the shadows had phased through Alecia a little but the two trotted off stage as Jennifer called out again to the crowd. 

“Wasn’t that amazing! The strength and mystery of Ester and Alecia.” Her words created another wave of applause. “Next, you’ll meet the daring leap of faith! Presented to you by Katharine and Tania!” 

Jennifer spun the mallet once more, gesturing with the heavy weapon to the curtains as Tania’s tank was pushed into the center of the ring by Alecia. Who waved and blew a kiss as she turned to leave Tania. 

The mermaid spun and coiled in her tank. Water splashed over the sides and Victor wasn’t surprised when a few of the first rows were splattered with water. Tania rose from the water in a courtesy-like breach, throwing her hands around to address the crowd. Her spines splayed out like a layered skirt around her tail as she spun and then dived back into the water. 

A light then flashed high above the crowd as Katharine appeared from the high ropes. Her thin legs were wrapped around a trapeze swing. Sailing herself through the air gracefully. She released herself from the swing and started to fall. Tania circled underneath her like a shark, before leaping out of the water, jaws open with a melody filled screech. But then Katharine’s hands snapped out and caught a rope, swinging her just out of the jaws of Tania. The teeth snapped together with a loud crack. And the massive mermaid landed in her tank with a colossal splash. The crowd screamed their excitement. Those in front shrieked with joy and surprise as a wave of water crashed down on them. 

The two played this cat and mouse game a few times. Katharine would swing, gracefully falling and tumbling through the air, and Tania would launch out of the water. Twisting and splashing, only to miss the elf by a hair's breadth. Then, the crowd quieted as a drum-roll started. The lights dimmed, saved for one spotlight on Katharine high above the tank, standing on a small platform on a very tall pole. And a light fixed on Tania. Who positioned herself in the center of her tank, jaws opened wide and head tilted back. The sound of her jaws cracking to further widen them made a few in the crowd recoil. Katharine took a deep breath, like she was steadying herself, and then let herself fall forward. A chorus of gasps echoed from the crowd as Katharine lazily rolled in the air, and then disappeared into Tania’s mouth with a loud clap of her jaws. The mermaid made a show of swallowing her partner and then opened her jaws to display the now empty mouth. The audience cheered and whooped as Tania bowed. Letting herself fall back into the tank with one final splash of water over the crowd as Alecia trotted out and began to push her tank behind the curtains. 

Jennifer then came out. Her voice sharing the crowd’s excitement. “Wasn’t that terrifying?” She asked the crowd. And many called out to her with a yes or no. But she only laughed cheerfully as the crowd clapped again. “A daring act. But nothing will compare to what comes next. What is a circus without something death defying?” She asked, beginning to walk the circle with her mallet slung over her shoulder. “It's what you all want, yes? Some fire?” The crowd cheered. “Some more danger?” Another roar of claps. “Well, that’s why we’re here! To give you a show that you will never forget!” 

Jennifer spread out her hand and pointed towards the curtains as Gertie came running out of the darkness. Behind her, the cannon was pushed along on its heavy wheels by Alecia. Who seemed to move the heavy weapon like it was an empty cart.  Gertie smiled a wide, childish grin. Her cigar firmly clamped between her crooked teeth as she ran to her mother and waved excitedly to the crowd. The anticipation was heavy in the air as Jennifer waved for Gertie to take over. The ghoul eagerly clambered onto the cannon, shooing Alecia away as she turned the cannon and pointed it up towards the sky. Jennifer theatrically flicked her dress around her as she turned to approach the cannon. She placed an affectionate kiss on her daughter’s forehead and then the small girl slipped into the barrel of the cannon. Jennifer withdrew the lit cigarette holder from the skirts of her dress. The smoke swirled around her as she twirled it between her fingers, making a show of almost pressing the glowing tip of the cigarette to the cannon, then to pull it away with a flourish. The drumroll played according to Jennifer’s hands. Increasing in tempo when the lit tip was near the cannon, only to slow when Jennifer pulled it away with a flourish to the crowd. Victor heard Gertie call out her impatience and the crowd laughed as her little head poked out to glare at  her mother. Jennifer smiled and then pressed the cinder tip to the cannon. Victor braced himself. Jennifer stepped away and Alecia plugged her ears with their fingers and Victor saw the crowd begin to do the same. A countdown began. And on ‘1’, the blast seemed to shake the ground and Victor glimpsed Gertie’s small frame shoot into the sky through a hole in the tent’s ceiling. Sparks of color rained down on the crowd as they stared up at the smoky trail of Gertie’s ascension. And then, a glow of light sparked from her small body. Like a twinkle of a star. A moment later, Victor watched Gertie’s body plummet back to the ground in a inferno of sparks and brilliant light. 

Alecia leapt to the side as Jennifer’s arms opened, and the ghoul landed neatly, but very heavily, in her mother’s arms. 

“All intact! A remarkable display!” Jennifer called out to the crowd as she lifted Gertie up and spun her, then pulled her into a tight hug against her chest. Gertie squeezed her mother tight but then Victor glimpsed her eyes bulge and she coughed a cloud of smoke as she swallowed something. 

The crowd erupted with claps and cheers as Gertie was placed on her feet. They bowed deeply. Calling to the crowd with wide smiles. But then Victor saw Gertie’s grin fade. Her hand went to her stomach and she quickly tugged on Jennifer’s dress. She leaned down and Victor tensed at the way Jennifer’s frame tensed. In a blur of motion, Jennifer said something to Alecia and the centaur quickly galloped away from the sandpit as the vampire flourished to the crowd. Alecia came galloping back with her mallet just as Gertie grabbed her belly and doubled over. Victor couldn’t hear what was being said, but in a blur of motion, Jennifer’s mallet spun in the air around her and slammed into Gertie. Victor suppressed his shocked cry as the small figure was launched into the sky, through the same hole in the ceiling; and then Gertie’s body combusted in a shower of bloody parts and fireworks. The boom from the explosion shook the ground and the tent trembled with the blast of air. 

The crowd howled once more but Victor could see the relief on Jennifer’s face as the explosion died down. Gore and black blood rained down on the centre ring. Their was a disgusted murmur through the crowd but many continued to clap and cheer. Gertie’s head landed with a thump by Victor’s leg and he gently scooped her up. Her laugh was almost as loud as the crowd. 

“What happened?” Victor asked, horrified. 

But Gertie only giggled. A dazed look passed over her face as Victor shook his head. Moving behind the crowd to carry her head back to Jennifer as they dragged the cannon back behind the curtains. Who quickly scolded her daughter for being so careless as Victor passed Gertie’s head back. 

“I’m guessing this wasn’t meant to happen,” Victor said. And Jennifer laughed as she patted some singed hair away from her daughter’s eyes. 

“No, the silly girl swallowed her cigar!” Enzo huffed irritably from his seat on a backstage crate. But there was some amusement to his words. “Lucky for the circus, Jennifer has a mighty swinging arm.” 

“She’ll be ok once we put her back together.” Jennifer explained. Walking over to a small crate that other circus workers were placing their pieces of Gertie in. Jennifer smoothed down her dress and took a deep breath, tilting her head at Victor. “The show must go on. Could please watch over Gertie? I’m sure the stitching process will be better with you to talk too.” Victor nodded and opened the curtain for Jennifer as she flourished her arms open wide and strode into the light. 

“Give it up for my daughter, Gertie, everyone!” The crowd roared and the thunderous applause rattled Victor’s ears. He went over to the crate and smiled down at Gertie as her smile widened so much that it almost split her face. 

“Is that applause for me?” She asked. And Victor nodded. 

“They loved the fireworks.” He said. And he has never seen a decapitated ghoul look so happy in his life. 

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