Innocent Creatures

Chapter 15 (P.O.V: Ariana)

I sit perfectly still.

A man is sitting next to me, and it is extremely scary. I examine his face, looking at his eyes and chin. He has a short, grey beard, which ages him a lot, he has a tiny scar on his nose, also his jaw line is very defined. This man has thin lips, and deep-set wrinkles in his old forehead. He is also very large.

"Your too big to sit in that chair, Sir" I point out, looking at the chair, intrigued.

"Shut up and watch!" He growls, making me tear up, and start to whimper, "Watch!". He pushes my head so that I can see everyone on the newly assembled stage, shivering and holding each other's hands. The man next to me grimaces, and looks to the carpeted floor.

"I wonder what YOU do!" The scary ring-master in a tall, black top hat says, pointing to Fia. "What do you do?" He asks, walking in a circle around her, across the black floor of the ring. He pulls her hair auburn behind her ear, and whispers into it "Tell me... "

"I do not wish to tell you anything!" she whispers, shivering and scared. Sebastian makes a sad face, then pinches her left arm, drawing blood, which makes Fia's eyes close, and her mouth quiver.

"Tell me... "

"Okay... " she says "I have tail".

"Oh darling, what a funny time, we already know that dear! I mean what can you do in terms of acting or dancing?" Sebastian laughs, bending his knees and clapping his hands as he laughs.

"Oh... Well I can dance"

"Show me!"

"I do not feel comfortable... "

"For me..." Sebastian kisses her cheek, making me feel queasy, and I look away.

For some un-identified reason, Clive stiffens when Fia starts to dance. She dances like a beautiful ballerina, her bruised body leaping and twisting with tears falling from her emerald eyes. Her feet move fast, and she looks utterly amazing. Professionally, she pirouettes, spinning and dancing.  Her hair flies everywhere, and I can hear her crying, but no one says anything. She flounces and prances around the stage, glancing at Red and River.

"Okay... stop!" Sebastian brushes his hand over her shoulder whilst he calmly whispers "You are too hurt to dance... go and sit next to your small friend".

Fia runs towards me, and sits next to me on the front row, her ripped, also stained, dress flows onto the floor, and she starts to cry again.

"Now, what do you do?" The ring-master points to Red, after waiting for Fia to sit next to me.

"I guess... I believe I can sing well" He closes his eyes, realizing that he now has to sing.

"Okay, sing the chorus of the song that I am going to be using in my next show" Sebastian pulls a crumpled piece of paper our of his pocket, and hands it to Red, who takes it and gulps.

"Every night when the moon is awaking,

We walk down by the silver lake,

Even... umm... when it is cold and you're shaking,

We go so you we feel awake"

 He sings with passion in his voice, but Sebastian does not hear it. He hits Red hard around his head and screams "Do not EVER dis-honour my work again with in-correct pronunciation!"

"But I simply... "

"SHUT UP!" Sebastian hits him harder, so Red stumbles.

"No!" I hear Fia whisper, tears cascading down her cheeks.