The Sinful Circus

Chapter 5: Top Tent

Astoria and Gabby stood at the demonic and terrifying gates of the circus, having been quickly ushered to the very front of the line when some of the troupe saw the envelope in Astoria’s hands. Astoria noticed how cold it suddenly was and quickly regretted wearing the soft flowy pale pink dress that stopped half way down her thighs and simple ballet flats, she huddled closer to gabby who smiled cheerfully down to her before startling as a loud bang was heard and everything suddenly lit up.

“Ria! Look! It’s opened!” Gabby said excitedly as she rushed Astoria past the gates and into the huge Top Tent straight ahead.

Upon entering the cursed tent, at one of five entrances, Clowns dressed in checker printed colored clothing, oversized shoes and large rounded red and black noses. One particularly grazed a woman’s shoulder, laughing infectiously,

“welcome to the underworld, a hellish delicious delight “Honking his nose, he bowed and jumped up and rushed in the crowds as they gathered into their seats shrieking in fear and cautious wonder.

Thousands of seats circled around a lightly guarded stage of sand and metallic devices. Five caged creatures lined the sanded floor in a star shaped synchronization with each other awaiting the ring master to make his grand entrance.

Suddenly the lights cut off, minutes later torches caught on fire lighting the whole room in a yellow warm glow as a group of hooded creatures suddenly appeared, circling a large human sized black box. The clothed creatures began to run in circles around the box, suddenly revealing large curved blades and golden hilts, stabbing and running in circles around the box, chanting an incoherent language of fast whispering. Suddenly the box lit on fire, the black pieces folding outward suddenly as fireworks shot out in a loud booming noise that shook the whole tent and audience, and there he was the Ringmaster. Clothed in black leather pants, a white collared dress shirt and loosened tie , black stitched corset under a black leather cloak, a black leather top hat foreshadowing his elegant yet masculine face, bowing and carefully tipping his hat to the audience,

“ welcome to the show” slowly his eyes opened and grazed the audience, glowing red.

The rigmaster tossed his hat into the air and suddenly it began to float around the entire room, as a gloved hand climbed from inside it, waving at everyone, throwing out rose petals, some wilted and fresh, suddenly music blared and filled the entire room, tigers and bears dressed in black and white suits ran in circles in perfect unison on the sanded floor just inches away from the protected audience, a black clothed creature waved his hands with a small needle as if commanding and keeping them in character. Suddenly the hat made its way back to the ringmaster whom still kept his face nodded down and in a bowing form, suddenly the hand re appeared with a sharp blade, the ringmaster retrieved his own hidden blade and they began to fight and float around the stage, finally coming into the center again, he placed the hat back on his head and nodded once more, before finally looking up into the audience, a burst of applause, he breathed in all the infectious cheering and laughter, as all the creatures and otherworldly monsters made their way to display their best performances, He was absorbing and literally drinking in all of the energy and astonishment.

Astoria sat with Gabby at the front of the show in special VIP seating, watching in wonder at all that was going on around her. ocean blue eyes lit up in astonishment as she watched the top hat float around throwing its rose petals before returning for a duel with its owner. It was then that Astoria’s face paled as she finally saw the face of the ringmaster. It was the same man from her own performance earlier, stunningly handsome with red eyes glowing like beautiful rubies. Astoria huddled closer into Gabby, burying her face into her friend's shoulder to hide herself a bit. Something about the man seemed frightening to her and being descended from a mythical being, Astoria could tell something was off. The energy of the room seemed to be sucked in by the Ringmaster, as if he was drawing everyone's emotions and energy to himself. Astoria’s eyes flashed gold briefly as she felt that same force try to draw energy from herself and slightly reveal her descended nature, whimpering slightly as she tugged at Gabby’s hand.

“Gab…please…let's go do something else….”

Gabby, worried for the smaller girl, frowned but nodded knowing how sensitive her friend was to certain things. Wrapping an arm around Astoria’s slight figure she ushered the girl from the top tent unknowingly being watched as they made their departure.