The Sinful Circus

Chapter 4: Astoria performs and invitations

Astoria took steady steps as she walked towards the curtains to the stage, mentally preparing herself and taking slow, deep breaths. Her long blonde tresses had been styled into an elaborate up-do of thick curls with small black studded diamonds spread throughout. Make-up consisted of Smokey eyeshadow with thick wing-styled eyeliner that made her ocean blue eyes glow. Lashes barely needed any mascara--as her lashes themselves were already long and thick. No concealer or foundation touched her face, as her porcelain skin was already flawless and without any blemish. Only two beauty marks, one right under her left eye and the other on the right side above her lip marked her face, with dark red crimson painted onto her lips as the last touch. The gown she wore was heavy but gorgeous; a black ball gown that flowed and trailed behind her. The Bodice had black rhinestones that made intricate, swirling designs around the top and fit tightly around her dainty torso, pushing her full breasts up and accentuating her small waist. Puffy sleeves fell off the shoulder and ended at the elbow, showing off more of her porcelain, unblemished skin. The skirt flared at her hips, heavy and full from the petticoat underneath--the bottom was designed with the same rhinestones, making the same swirly designs and trailed a solid 2 feet behind her. The final adornment was the choker made of diamonds accentuating her slender neck and the small diamond earrings that hung from her ears. Astoria was stunning and about to become the siren that she was so often called as the curtains opened to the stage and the audience fell into a hush--waiting for the siren to bless them with her song. Astoria gracefully walked onto the stage, halting at the center and turning to face the crowd. For some reason she felt like she needed to make this performance the best--yet there was also this urge to run…and hide. It was a feeling she had never had before and it made her pause for a second before she blew it off as stage fright. Signaling to the maestro below to begin, Astoria raised her hands to the crowd, opened her mouth and began the Divas Song.

As the beautiful, dark song flooded the opera house, within the darkness of the private boxes, particularly in box A, four black hooded men rushed to pull curtains back to reveal a tall morbidly handsome man dressed in an all blackened suit with a leather tie, just behind where Astoria stood singing. Black onyx skull-shaped diamonds decorated his cufflinks with matching collar studs, his blood red, almost glowing eyes peered out of a skull shaped mask made from human bones that hid his eyebrows to just above his full pursed lips. Raven black glossed silk hair fell evenly around his face and mask as a sudden pleased smirk smoothed over his pale flawless face, tongue sliding over his sharp canines. The four hooded men quickly returned to sit at all the seats at the man in black’s side, along the stage, in response to one small gesture he had made with his hand. As Astoria’s singing continued, the man crossed one leg over the other, moving to rest his chin over his right hand, while his left hand caressed the cold, hard texture of his skull mask as a small trickle of blood slipped through the cracks. With a soft chuckle, he licked the blood away with his long serpent tongue, careful not to keep his eyes away from the siren, following her every move that had his utmost undivided attention--blood red eyes reflected her very image as a slow smile crept across his face.

Astoria’s voice came to a crescendo as she reached the end of the song, her body shook with small tremors as she felt a dark and haunting stare from somewhere within the crowd. She had felt it the moment she had begun the Diva’s song and could still feel it on her now, staring at her intently like she was something to be eaten and swallowed whole. Her eyes scanned the crowd discreetly before falling onto a pair of beautiful blood red eyes from one of the top private boxes closest to the stage. Astoria felt like her soul was being completely bared, like she was stripped naked and vulnerable. Quickly ripping her eyes from the hypnotizing gaze she gave herself a slight shake as she got ready for the second part of her performance. Dancers twirled onto the stage and around Astoria covering her from the crowd as they unattached the bottom half of her gown and twirled away leaving her in the same upper half of her previous outfit but the bottom half now being reduced to a thick, tulle skirt that covered little more than her upper thighs and revealed slender legs with small feet covered in black ballet flats that laced up to her knees. Gliding her body across the stage in beautiful and precise movements, she began to sing once more--her song “Danse”, echoing through the theater as she twirled and danced with her song, trying her best to avoid the Alluring red eyes.

As the final song was coming to an end, Orpheus slowly uncrossed his legs and rose to a discreet stand. The other cloaked beings rose along with him and they each united in the hallway. One particular cloaked creature held an intricate designed ornate box in his arms. A small chuckle escaped Orpheus’ lips, as his index finger ran across the edges. A careful and literal surprising invitation holding an offer one could not refuse, a porcelain hand cut off at the wrist holding half wilted roses, the other half lively and just bloomed, red bleeding roses. Attached to a spring that would pop out once opened. A daring dark invitation envelope in black with a red demonic rose seal. With a quick nod, the cloaked creature moved quickly and disappeared into darkness. Orpheus made his way out of the building as the encore ended and the applause came, he inhaled deeply, breathing in all the energy and aroma his eyes turning white from adrenaline. His hand gripped a rose to shreds as the petals escape his fist, he disappeared into the night with the other cloaked creatures.

A deep sigh left Astoria’s lips as she finally walked off the stage, her mind and soul shaken and tired from this particular performance. Those blood red eyes had not left her mind and she was still feeling disturbed from it. Quickly making her way through the crew members and backups who greeted and congratulated her at every turn, Astoria finally made it to her private dressing room. As with every performance the room was filled with gorgeous flower arrangements and gifts from fans and admirer’s, However one gift stood out the most as it was placed right in the middle of her vanity. A beautifully intricate crafted ornate box sat apart from all the other gifts and Astoria could not help but sit at the vanity and run her fingers along it. Lifting the lid, Astoria almost fell from shock as an interesting bouquet of half wilted half bloomed roses popped out in front of her face. Looking interestedly at the flowers and porcelain hand holding them, Astoria noticed the Black envelope. A sense of wariness immediately filled her as she plucked the envelope from the bouquet and broke the seal, Reading the contents she realized it was a personal VIP invitation with tickets to the very Circus that Gabby planned on bringing her tonight. Furrowing her brows in thought she wondered if maybe Gabby had already made friends with someone from the cirque or maybe they saw her performance and felt the need to extend an invitation. Whatever the case this just put Astoria more on guard as she finally stood back up to change. According to the tickets and Gabby she had an hour to get ready before the circus opened its gates.