Circus Supernatural

Chapter 10

When I woke the next morning, there was a fresh pile of clothes lying neatly folded in the locker beside my bed. Accompanying it, was a tall glass of orange juice and a plateful of assorted pastries. As I lifted the clothes I noticed they were a replica of the outfit I had picked from the crazy selection Callista had me try on - minus the smoke and fire damage. I was grateful that despite the destruction of my attire from the day before, she hadn't chosen to dress me like a glittery doll.

I dressed as I ate, with a hunger only realised once the first warm mouthful of a cinnamon swirl touched my lips. As I was slipping on the leather jacket and finishing the glass of thirst-quenching orange, I heard footsteps approach and I spun to see Dawson entering the tent. He was dressed in his Ringmaster outfit, and under his arm, he had tucked a shiny onyx top hat that made me arch a brow, a grin appearing on the edge of my lips.

"Are you going to pull a rabbit from that?" I nodded towards the hat.

He chuckled and gazed at the hat.

"I leave the rabbit-pulling trick to Callista and Caspian. However, it does add an air of sophistication to my ensemble, no?" He said as he placed it atop his head and did a jaunty exaggerated bow.

I laughed loudly and gave a rousing round of applause, as I stuffed a final piece of a still-warm croissant in my mouth.

"You got your breakfast. Good." He nodded, taking the top hat from his head and placing it under his arm before he outstretched his hand for me to take. Drawn like a magnet, my hand found him and I moved in step with him as we left the tent.

I was surprised to find it warm, and the sun shining high in the sky.

"How is it so warm? Its November. In England." I said incredulously.

"Would you believe me if I said we weren't exactly in England any more?" he said

"But..." I said coming to a halt as I stared at him open-mouthed. "I walked here."

"Well..." he said, scratching his stumbled jaw. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about today. There are some things about the Circus I need to explain."

"You mean more than how this place comes to possess magic, mermaids and winking lions?" I mused, feeling my head swim.

He laughed again and for a moment I felt like his laughter was the most magical thing about this place.

"Yes, but I think to understand this place, you have to see the show. But first, I think you and I need to talk. I want to take you somewhere and explain some things." His hand squeezed mine as he reacted to my body stiffening. "Don't worry, I'm not going to introduce you to anyone else...yet. It will just be me and you. Do you trust me?" He asked as he turned to face me.

I rubbed a hand over my face as I contemplated his question.

"It's not that I don't want to trust you. I don't trust anyone. But, I promise to try." I nodded, his eyes meeting mine.

"I understand, this must all be strange and frightening, but I am honoured you will give me a chance to prove you can trust me. I know up until now, and the danger I have put you in, will not have encouraged trust. But, perhaps when I divulge some of the secrets of this place you will find it in your heart to begin to try to trust me."

We began to walk again, following yesterday's path past the now empty animal enclosure, as we passed Maya's tank, which was also empty. We made our way through a thick forest, and I found myself aghast as the trees thinned, revealing a golden beach before us, and a glittering lake of crystal clear blue.

I gasped and felt myself steered towards a fallen tree trunk, grateful to sit, as my legs struggled to hold me upright.

As I stared out at the lake that seemed to stretch for miles, surrounded by thickets of trees, I basked in the heat of the sun, removing my jacket, and letting the vitamin D dance on my skin. Despite what had occurred in the past twenty-four hours, I had never felt so content as I did sitting here. Knowing that tonight I wouldn't have to fight for a spot for my tent. I wouldn't have to spend today foraging for old dry newspapers to stuff my sleeping bag with to keep out the cold. That I wouldn't have to spend the day begging or worse, risking my freedom by pickpocketing down in the financial district, to have something to pawn to afford to eat today. I knew this couldn't last forever, but at least for today I was warm and had a full belly from breakfast - and the company wasn't half bad.