Innocent Creatures

Chapter 19 (P.O.V: Iza and Yolanda)

(Iza)

Memories...

I trudge through Circus tent, remembering how many shows I had done here. I did love it, but sometimes wonder I did of what else could I do. As walking, tiny child skips up to me from where she was on the floor next to the stairs, smiling.

"Iza... Do you tame dogs?" Tiny child says, looking up at me beaming a smile.

"No, Lions and Tigers be tamed by me" I do say, she makes small, jerking movement then smiles.

"No dogs?"

"I do not enjoy dogs" I sit down on a chair to outside of ring, and open the brown, wooden trunk next to me. 

"Why?"

"I do not like them" I slowly pull a scarf from trunk, and pull it around me neck to make a shield from the wind.

"Why do you not train cute animals?" she asks, with big smile, sitting next to me.

"I do not want train easy animals. I train big animals so I, how do you say, feel powerful" I give her smile, from which I do not feel happy, and cross my legs.

"Why?"

"Because it better than feeling... forgotten" I look at the trunk for seconds, then pull out a tiny doll with a similarity to tiny child. I have wanted rid of it for long time, as it remind me of my deceased relative. I think she will like and make use of it. "Here!" I pass to her the small doll.

"Oh! Thank you Iza!" she looks at doll, smiling widely.

"Your welcome" 

But then tiny child make a strange face, and shrieks, then whimpers. She falls to the ground, and I feel like I have to help. The back of her tiny dress is red, lumpy, and when I lift it up, I almost make sick.

"Gosh!" I gasp "YOLANDA, COME!" I make loud noise too, whilst I examine the child's back. Large bones were displaying, with a lot of blood, and it make a shiver from me.

(Yolanda)

I run over to Iza with much haste, not wanting to start a quarrel with her. As soon as I approach the tent, I can tell that something is wrong because little Ariana is whimpering on the floor. A pool of fresh blood surrounds her delicate body, but the blood is not just red, it is also purple. I scream.

"Gosh, oh my! Dear lord! We need Sebastian! Where is Sebastian?!" My eyes dart everywhere, and I see one of the new boys dawdling by the stage in the tent. "River? River! Please get here!".

He sees Ariana, and he sprints over as quick as he possibly can, kneels over her, holding her cold hands and whispering in her ear. "It will be okay, you... I promise that you... I love you like your brother does... we will get him as soon as possible, okay?" he mumbles, tears pouring down his cheeks. She cries, turning to her side slightly, clutching some tiny, strange doll, so that she can look at River.

"Okay" she whispers, without a smile, "I want Mummy Sheila as well"

"I know you do..." both River and Ariana's eyes are bloodshot from their crying, and Ariana interlocks her fingers with River's. Iza looks away and states that she will locate Red, but I do not expect him to be found too easily.

"I love you" Ariana whispers, smiling slightly.

"How long has it been this bad?" River asks, looking at Ariana's back with horror.

"I did not want to cause alarm... "

"How long?" River's voice quivers as he speaks.

"About a week..." Ariana's voice is strained, and it sounds raspy and weak.

"Ariana..."

"What?"

"The bone..."

"Tell me, tell me!"

"The bones are slightly green..."

"What?!"

"Also..."

"What!"

"They are almost half way out of your back... It's going to tear your skin more"

Ariana begins to wail, kicking ant screaming at the notion of this.  I want to comfort her, but I can not find the correct words or actions. I simply place a hand on her head for comfort. River touches Ariana's back, leading her to scream, and when he removes his hand, it is decorated in clotted blood.

I want to help her, but just at that moment, Derik walks in holding Zeek by his collar.

"Zeek!" I shout, seeing his discomfort "Derik let him go!".

"Oh Yolanda, do you truly believe I am going to let this rapscallion leave?"

I make a confused face, not sure about how he has reacted. "Let him go, Derik!"

"No"

"Why not?!"

"He defied Sir Sebastian, so he must stay in his previous cage" As Derik says this, Dean thrashes hard, unable to speak as a muzzle covers his mouth.

"Derik, stop this ludicrous behaviour at once! Let the poor boy go!" I stamp my foot in anger.

"No, he must be punished!" Derik's gaze hardens, and I quiver in fear.