Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 66 - The Marvelous Circus Arcanus

You reluctantly plunged your head into the shallow stone basin, but the clouded silvery substance it contained did not feel like water against your skin. Instead your feet lost its touch with the ground, and you fell through unknown skies, biting your teeth together to not let out a scream of horror before you landed on the surface, somehow softly and with ease. You found yourself in a field surrounded by a dark forest, in the middle of it there was situated a large circus tent from which a warm, welcoming glow emitted subconsciously pulling you towards it.

There was strange music in the air, coming from a pipe organ somewhere, and you felt a strong sense of expectation as you walked towards the source. Outside, you saw colourfully painted carriages, written on them was the name "The Marvelous Circus Arcanus", but the paint was chipping off making the place look somewhat run down, or forgotten as it had seen it's better days.

You were startled, as a young man left the entrance of the tent before you, in a hurry. He was handsome, dressed in a plain black suit, his cheeks gaunt and sculpted. But it was as if there were nothing behind his eyes. Nothing that could possibly reveal anything of the secrets he held within.

You could hear the spectacle from inside, a gnarly voice announcing of the most beautiful and dangerous woman ever known to man. But this young man, he had gotten enough of the many curiosities the freak show offered, it seemed. As you passed him by, seemingly without him noticing you – you entered the tent, struggling to let your eyes adjust to the bright lights inside.

The audience were sparce, but it soon got clear that it solely consisted of men. They all sat on the very edge of their seats, as their eyes lingered towards the glowing woman standing on the centre stage. She was beautiful, truly. With her long silver hair, alluring eyes, it was clear she had the whole room entranced by her presence. Despite this, she looked miserable and you quickly took notice of the silver chain locked around her left foot, all so she would not fly away or unleash her Veela fury on the place and her captors.

She was your mother, Circe, you knew it immediately. As much as you had longed to see her, you quickly left the tent, feeling some strange magnetic pull affect you.

Now outside, you saw the strange young man walk towards another smaller tent, seemingly with great intent. You quickly followed him, and inside you discovered a large circular empty cage of silver. The young man studied it for a moment, emotionlessly brushing his hand against it clearly testing if it contained some sort of magic. He then quickly slipped out of the tent, just as someone could be heard outside, approaching it. You quickly followed him, as you could not shake of the feeling that you wanted to remain unseen, hidden away as you watched how it would all unfold. Trying to remind yourself that what the Dark Lord had chosen to show you, might very well be altered to manipulate you.

As the voices could be heard leaving, the young man slipped inside yet again – this time with his wand in hand. The Veela was now locked inside the cage, standing and seeming to be waiting as if she had been expecting his visit.

"How long have they kept you here?" the young man asked firmly, as he circled her cage and the Veela smiled a soft smile at him. You could tell she was charming him, the effect must have been far stronger than what he had realised, even if he had thought of himself as invincible for all this time.

"All your life, waiting, but not for more" she answered mysteriously, and the young man came closer to the tent.

"But not for more" he repeated, before pointing his wand at the lock of the cage.

"Alohomora" a bright yellow light shot out of his wand, and the lock opened with a click.

Swiftly, your mother pushed the door to the cage open, and she approached the young man with an air of mischief, brushing her lips against his. He hungrily returned the kiss, but not a moment later she stepped away, gazing down at the silver chain of her leg which still kept her imprisoned.