Tales of Gloomsdale #4: The Horror of the Big Top

Chapter Sixteen

Noticing the guilty look on Antonio's face, I quickly put two and two together. It wasn't Demelza who had gone against us.

I gaped at him in shock while he raised his head, sending me an apologetic look. I couldn't stop myself from sending him a furious glare.

"I... I'm sorry," Antonio tried to apologize. "I—"

"Don't apologize," Mr. Alvarez assured, lifting his hand from his arm to gently clap his shoulder. "You did the right thing. I knew I could count on you, even if you were manipulated by the others at first." I glowered at his words. "I'll be expecting a lot from you in the future. I'll even see about having you replace one of the performers' roles, like you've always wanted. Maybe the fortune teller's, since she was scheming against me as well."

"Where is she?" I demanded, trying to look past him. "You... you used that thing on her, didn't you?"

"Now, now. Do you know the full extent of my power?" Mr. Alvarez pointed the staff at me again, causing me to go silent. "But so what if I did?" I shuddered at the satisfied smirk on his face.

"He didn't," Antonio spoke up, his voice shaking. I was slightly impressed he had the nerve to say anything at all. "Well, he did, but he hit her with the other end. Twice."

The ringmaster glared at him, tightening his grip on his shoulder until he winced. I did as well, imagining Demelza knocked out.

"But she wasn't the only one conspiring against me, was she?" Mr. Alvarez pointed out, scanning the field. "Where's that worthless clown? Your father?"

"He... he isn't here," I lied. "He's at the circus."

When Mr. Alvarez raised the staff at me again, I winced. I could almost feel the heat of the orb, the same way I had from the crystal ball. Then I did feel it, becoming gradually warmer until it felt like my entire body was on fire. I began to panic as I felt the heat spread through my body, paralyzing me in place.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you," I choked out. "He's... he's over there." I raised my head and gestured to the caravans. I felt the heat leave my body as the ringmaster aimed his staff in the opposite direction. I didn't feel any relief, just an uncomfortable tingling sensation.

I glimpsed inside the caravan while Mr. Alvarez walked over. I winced as I caught sight of Demelza lying in a motionless heap, her thick skirts and mass of dark hair scattered across the floor of the caravan. I noticed a large, ugly-looking bruise on her arm that was thrown over her head.

I felt guilty for suspecting her. I turned my gaze to Antonio, who had his head lowered in shame. I glowered at him, unable to hide my anger.

"She's... she's okay," Antonio insisted shakily. "He didn't just hit her arm, but her stomach as well. That's what caused her to fall over. It just knocked the wind out of her. But she'll be up in a little while."

I just continued to glare at him, not sure what to think. We were this close to freeing everyone who worked at the circus from the ringmaster's ruthless reign, including my dad, and he had ruined it. Now he would continue to enslave and mistreat innocent bystanders, continue spreading evil with the staff's powers. I knew he was afraid of the ringmaster, but everybody at the circus was. He clearly cared more about winning his father's approval than helping everyone else.

But at the same time, I didn't feel like yelling at him. What was the point? It wasn't like it would change anything.

Actually, maybe it would, I realized as I watched Mr. Alvarez approach the caravan my dad was hiding in. It probably hadn't been a good idea to enact our plan in an isolated area instead of the crowded circus, but there might still be a few people wandering around on the streets. If I yelled loudly enough, I could get their attention, and they could help us. At worst, we'd look stupid if they showed up and Mr. Alvarez put on his innocent act again, but at least it'd be enough of a distraction to run off before he did something truly terrible to us.