Marionette

Chapter5 -Beastly

Alice

In the morning, it was as if it had never happened. Instead of the sound of moans and earthy whispers, the murmur of circus employees, the whiny calliope, and the rowdy laughter of performers’ little children filled Crows’ Nest.

I was used to waking up early. Mother wanted me to make sure everything was as it should be, and I prayed before I prepared breakfast for her.

Who’s taking care of her now?

It was strange waking up and getting into one of the outfits Madame Yora gave me – a long-sleeved, white peasant blouse and a heavy, brown velvet skirt, without someone fussing in my ear. Mother would have approved of the way the fabrics covered most of my body, but she’d find something else to say, like maybe “Where the hell did you buy that? You must have used all of your allowance.”

Allowance. I barely got any because I stayed at home and read my books like a good girl. I wasn’t even allowed to look for work even though I was old enough, and according to her, educated enough even though I had to rely on her and books. These thoughts reminded me of my bag, with all that I had managed to bring along with me so that I could live my new life.

Free.

Free also meant getting used to circus life. It was actually good that I had a strict upbringing because I knew how to bathe with minimal water. The circus had a water storage for showering, cleaning up, and flushing toilets. It was fascinating, but it made me wonder if I could last here for long. If I couldn’t find another job, I would have to stay. I had free lodgings here and $200 a week. I didn’t know whether that was high or low since I had lived a mostly sheltered life, but it was a lot considering I didn’t have to spend a single cent here.

“Sheltered? You know just how to spread your legs when you feel like it. You little w***e,” my mother’s voice brayed in my head. There was no way she would know what was going on here with Zachary and me, of course, but her mind could have gone into the gutter since I’d run away from home. Was she looking for me?

Shaking her off, I skipped a little to the middle of the tents where the popcorn and candy were sold and the chairs for those having a breather were laid out. A familiar figure was already there before me, busy at only eight in the morning. He was scrubbing something sticky from one of the chairs. We both must have woken at the crack of dawn.

As expected, Hugh was also up early. I had been here for just about a week, but I somehow felt like I knew him. Though he was past seven feet tall to my five feet four, he didn’t intimidate or scare me. Even the eye that was covered with white film didn’t elicit anything but warmth. Hugh was a good person; my heart could tell. He was always ready to help other circus employees during early morning preparations. He worked hard until sunset, but I wondered what it would be like to sit with him and watch the moon. When he met me upon my arrival was the only time I’d seen him at night. He seemed alert enough. Did he even sleep?

“Good morning, Alice!” he called out. He was so nice, so different from the mysterious Zachary. His hunched back didn’t seem as pronounced today, either. “You need any help?”

“I can set up my own table. Everything is in my tent, anyway.”

“Oh, well. We have two more months and three weeks left here. Then, we’re moving on, and you’ll need my help.”

My heart somersaulted in my chest. I knew Crows’ Nest wouldn’t stay in one place. Being reminded of its deadline made me anxious. Then again, I should be thankful. The farther away I was from Edgefield, the better. Mother was probably still busy raging right now; I could almost smell the alcohol in her breath and the anger in every trembling muscle. Would she be calling Sheriff Hiller?

“Yeah. I suppose Crows’ Nest has to move on. I still don’t have much for you to carry. The others will need your help more when the time comes.”

“Mr. Crow will be here in, maybe, a couple of hours,” Hugh said, quickly changing the subject.

What was that in his tone? Hugh sounded guarded, but his eyes seemed to probe my reaction. It was probably my imagination.

“I thought Mr. Crow only visits during full moons,” I said, my words sounding more like a protest.

“Where did you hear that?” He laughed. “Mr. Crow brings the full moons. Whenever he’s here, we call it Full Moon Night. There’s usually a party. A ball on the third night.”

“Oh. That sounds nice,” I said, my voice coming out almost like a moan. I shivered. It was chilly, but the ice that zipped up my spine was not because of the temperature.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling. He was wearing gloves, huge ones that reminded me just how big he was. If his back were straight and his right eye weren’t blind, Hugh could have been the circus strongman and not Felix. But what if he still could? He seemed to be standing straighter.

“Y-your back. It’s not -,” I stuttered, my hand flying to my mouth as I realized what I was saying aloud.

“Not quite bent?” he asked, c*****g a brow. He grinned at me. “It all depends on the little monster inside it. How he decides to fix himself up inside.”

“What?”

“I’m just joking, Alice. Dr. Xi has been helping me with my back. He calls it physical therapy. He said my bones are not quite as crooked as we originally thought they were.”

I frowned. I could swear his back was so hunched that the curvature actually took off a few inches of his height. At least around four inches.

“Oh. So, we have a doctor onboard?”

I thought of Zachary and his brand of healing. So, he treated psychological problems? Or was he just a lothario the circus used as a bait for lonely rich women?

“We do. Do you have anything you need to get checked? He does just about everything, even surgery.”

“I’m fine, Hugh.”

“Well, well, well. Why am I not surprised that the biggest man in the circus would capture the attention of the most beautiful woman that ever set foot on Crow’s Nest?” an authoritative voice boomed.

“Sir, uh, I’m j-just o-offering my help.”

“You're needed to make sure everything is ready and secure for tonight’s show,” the man said. “The lions need to be fed. They will be on stage tonight now that I’m here.”

I turned to see a handsome man in his late thirties to early forties. He was slender, with leaner muscles than Zachary’s more developed ones, but his strides and command projected his strength, inside and out. His handlebar mustache was dark and sleek and would have looked silly on someone else, but not him.

“Good morning, sir,” I greeted, the man’s identity dawning on me. “I’m new here.”

“I’m Charles Crow, the Ringmaster and owner of this circus. I’m glad that you’ve joined us, my dear lady. What’s your name, by the way?” he asked, taking my cold, clammy hand in his warm, strong one and kissing the knuckle.

“I’m Alice, sir. Alice Woodhouse.”

I chided myself for not even changing my name when I came here. What was I thinking? I guessed I just wanted everything to be honest and consistent, with my documents supporting my identity. I was hoping that I’d make friends here, kind ones who would gladly hide me from my mother if and when she decided to come for me.

“I hope everyone’s been kind to you so far?” he asked as he came closer. He smelled of cigars and spicy perfume. Strangely enough, I didn’t find it upsetting. He didn’t have a command over my body like Zachary had or a tug at my heart like Hugh, but Mr. Crow certainly had a presence.

“Everyone’s been nice, sir. Too nice. I’m happy to be here.”

Mr. Crow turned to look at Hugh, who was just staring at us from a few feet away.

“Go on now, boy,” the Ringmaster barked. “I told you you’re needed to check equipment and feed my lions. We’ll follow you. I want Alice to see my Tora and Omar.”

“Sir, I would love to see the lions,” I said, as I saw Hugh skulking reluctantly away.

“The twins have been good to you so far?” Mr. Crow asked, a smirk fixed on his face. The initial like that I felt was quickly dissipating. How could I think this man was anything but arrogant? Yes, Hugh was his servant, but he didn’t have to send him away like a dog with his tail between his legs.

“Essie and Bessie? I rarely get to see them, but as I said, everyone’s been kind to me.”

Mr. Crow laughed, and I didn’t know what the man thought was so funny. My hand automatically went to my face. I had bathed and hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, but my fingers reached out for my face. My mother used to laugh at me when I had something on my face.

“Not so perfect now, huh, Alice? For godsakes, you’re eighteen years old! You talked to my guests with those crumbs on your face.”

That was a few years ago, and it wasn’t the first time. Whenever she was sober, she was the perfect mother. I was her perfect daughter. She boasted about me – my face, my hair, and even, albeit inappropriately, my body. I was lucky I hadn’t been sold to one of her gentleman callers.

“Rhea Woodhouse had truly fallen from grace. She shouldn’t have run away from her family.”

Apparently, my grandparents were filthy rich. My mom decided to leave for some reason, more likely because of my dad, whoever he was, or because she got pregnant with me.

“Oh, Alice,” Mr. Crow crooned. “There’s nothing on your face. I laughed because everyone thinks of Essie and Bessie when I say twins. They’re not the only set of twins in Crow’s Nest, sweetheart. We have another, and both of them, I heard from Madame Yora, had taken a liking to you.”

“Both of them? Who?”

I barely interacted with the other circus employees and performers, unless it was over some haphazard lunch or dinner setting. People would be munching their food in a rush, eager to be ready for the next performance or to support the others by watching with the crowd.

“Hugh and Zachary, of course.”

“W-what?”

“I can’t blame you, sweetheart. Madame Yora doesn’t even introduce them as brothers because their siblinghood, as I like to call it, is much more complicated than that. If one of them tells you one day, they must like you very much.”

They.

So, both of them must like me for them to share whatever secrets they had. My mouth clamped shut and my heart racing, I followed Mr. Crow as we walked toward where the lions were caged.

Through the bars and beyond the big cats, I could see Zachary looking at me.

Zachary!

“Do you like them? Tora and Omar?” Mr. Crow asked excitedly, and I didn’t have a choice but to tear my eyes off Zachary to look at him.

The two lions bared their teeth and growled at me. When I turned back, my eyes scanning for Zachary, he was gone. Meanwhile, Hugh was hosing down an empty cage. It looked like he was able to transfer the lions to their current location. That was either courage or skill, or both.

“Where are you, Zachary?”

I had so many questions.