Chapter 19: Handsome and Haunting

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When we finally got back to the circus, Elly had me ushered into the costume department. My big red dress was no more. What was left after the rains had been shed and torn away under claw and hoof. I wandered the twisting labyrinthine halls of the costuming department, examining the various hanging outfits. I finally set my eyes on the One.

I exited the costume department, wearing a black and white striped leotard with a black belt around my middle. My arms were adorned with black fringed gloves up to my elbows. I was wearing fishlegs stockings and pointe shoes too. This was all they had. I didn’t look for long but this was all they had, okay? I locked and barracked the door behind me so people would know when I told them that. I scrawled a warning on the door frame in the blood that covered me for good measure.

In the time it took me to squeeze into the leotard, Elly had finished yet another show in the big top. When I entered through the flaps, she was pacing the ring while cosmic cowered in the centre.

“We have to go even BIGGER!! Cosmic, you’ll have to use some sorcery to keep things NEW!” She seethed. Cosmic whimpered and nodded. “The clowns AREN’T cutting it!!!! We’ll have to show,,,, the python.” as she said this her eyes locked with mine across the rows of empty seats. I gulped. I knew she wasn’t talking about an actual snake.

“Elly, I hate to interrupt, but you shouldn’t have to lower the standards of your show to the likes of Cosmic. Instead, allow me. I will make your show beyond successful!” I exclaimed. After what we had been through the past week in that cave, we were closer than ever. I knew she’d appreciate my contribution. She gave me a sick scowl. I flinched. Was she really bitter at my rejection?? I guess losing a dime piece like me must be a tough pill to swallow, no matter how emotionally mature you are.

“Are you really bitter at my rejection?” I asked, shocked. “I guess losing a dime piece like m-”
She flew across the room like an albatross and covered my mouth with her talon-like hand. She stared me down for a second before whipping her head around to Cosmic who was slowly rising from the ground.

“No way,,,” he looked at us, his eyes shining “Elly!!! You actually confessed!?” he started jumping around with glee. Oh my god i wanted to crush him with a big big hammer of 16 million kilograms. I know Elly did too because she sighed.

“It’s not personal Obsidian. It's pure, pure, pure business.”

I rolled my eyes. Could she be any more obvious? She was clearly still feeling the pain of my rejection.

“Okay, Elly, I understand. You heard what she said before, Cosmic,” I brought out a whip and gave Cosmic a lash, “Get to your sorcery.” His scream was raw and painful 🙂.

He waddled to the centre of the ring, crying. Shoving both of his hands into the ground, he pulled out two handfuls of shallots. I joyfully cracked the whip again.

“Come on, Cosmic, you can do better than that!” I laughed. Cosmic’s voice had become hoarse from screaming. More and more shallots sprouted from the ground. They started pouring from the sky, onions too. I demanded more still, leaving gashes across his bare back. Elly had a stone cold look on her face. This really was business for her, she wouldn’t let me do this yesterday when I tried. This was Elysium Forging’s cruellest disposition. I wasn’t going to let this chance go, not for NOTHING! Not for all the tea in China so I whipped him once more.

Later that night, the six of us gathered around a fire, roasting marshmallows. The six being myself, Venus, Elly, Robbing, Succa jr, and Moorish Zealous. We were all laughing and cracking jokes, it was a lovely night. Tomorrow would be even better, I bet. Moorish would return to his cage and the rest of us would get to see Cosmic’s new show. After the training we put him through, it was sure to be a smash hit. I recited the tale of my fun misadventures with Cosmic and the whip earlier today. Everyone laughed loudly and for a long time. Except for Cosmic, who we had left in the dungeons. I mean, maybe he was laughing, but who knows. Certainly not I.

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