Le Cirque

Chapter Two

  The first thing Shar did as she and Hale exited the train (it was called something else, but the name was in a strange language and she couldn’t pronounce it) was lean over and retch violently onto the ground. Someone started shouting at them. Hale grabbed her hand and ran. They turned a corner where a glass door stood. Pulling out the same key, he shoved it into the lock, opened the door, and shoved Shar in. they were met by a small hallway. He sighed. “Portals are so pesky. Certain ones work in certain places at certain times with certain keys. Beyond that, the coordination of the places, times, and keys have absolutely no correlation with each other. It’s almost easier not to use them at all.” He gave her a wry look. “That is, unless your traveling companion get motion sickness.” Shar blushed. He led the way to another door. This time, she wasn’t shoved through, and walking slowly in between, she felt a strange sensation. Like everything was stretching around her. She could feel strands of space shift, and she wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. Hale followed, and they entered a field. At the end was a yellow and black pinstriped tent. Hale walked towards it, and Shar hastily scampered behind him. Inside, it was dimly lit. A single woman sat on the floor. One of her eyes was turquoise, the other the same eerie orange. Her skin was the color of toffee, but you almost couldn’t see it because her whole body was covered with black symbols and pictures. Her hair was jet black. Her face was wrinkled, and she looked very old, but somehow it just added to her beauty. She sat huddled, as if the world had worn her down and tired her out. She stood as he entered and gave a long, low bow. He did the same. Then, they both sat down. Shar huddled in the doorway, not sure what to do, but the woman beckoned for her to come closer. She took the girl’s hand in hers. “I am Madame,” she announced. There was a strange, almost melodic characteristic to her voice. It somehow reminded Shar of the honey she would steal from the vendors along the roads, sweet and incredibly smooth. “Now,” Madame continued, “To see what you’re good at.”

  Shar should have been afraid. She should have been crying, screaming, begging to go home. Death should have scared her. Portals should have scared her. Strange, inhuman creatures should have scared her. But she was six.

  Very few things actually scare six year olds, because they really just don’t know better. And besides, she had no home to go back to.

    Madame took Shar’s hand and produced a pen. Lightly pressing it to her arm, she closed her eyes. Her hand began to move. Shar began to squirm, but Hale glared until she was still. After what felt like forever, Madame stopped moving her hand and opened her eyes. A smile bloomed across her face as she inspected her work. “Tightrope.” She said. Shar looked down. On her wrist was a tiny, intricate rope. She ran her finger over it in awe. Hale laughed. “Good, she’ll make a good sparer for Maralove.” Madame raised an eyebrow. “That child? Those two will murder each other, I assure you. Hale rolled his eyes. “As long as one survives to perform. What’s this one’s last name, by the way?” “I don’t have one!” proclaimed Shar. “Last names are stupid!” Madame laughed. “True, they are stupid, but you need one so everyone knows what world you’re from. When people see it, they’ll know you’re human. If you didn’t have one, you’d be a mutt, and no one wants that.” Shar nodded. “Your last name is  Magdelena.” Shar was about to ask why, but then Hale was dragging her out of the tent. “We have a few miles to walk, and then you’ll get to see the circus.” He said. Shar nodded. For the rest of the trip, she tested the word on her tongue. “Magdelena”

She liked it.