The School for Good and Evil: Another Story

12~The Circus of Talents

At 8:00 p.m. the students entered the Theater of Tales that was residing now at the School for Evil. Above each side floated a chandelier of ten swan-shaped candles burning white over the side for good and a dark blue over the side for evil. Between the chandeliers hovered the Circus Crown with seven long, sharp spires.

As the decorations seemed to come to life and interacted with the students eventually the children found their seats on their side. The ten who would be competing were to sit up front in front of the stage. Nine Evers sat up front and started chatting with the decorative princes and princesses. The Evergirls flounced around in their gowns and the Everboys strutted about in their tuxedos.

From the east doors barged in the Nevers hooting and cheering telling each other the Theater of Tales would be staying on their side. Evers blanched at the decorations on their side; beasts murdering peasants and witches eating children. Their ten champions claimed their seats up front.

Lily looked about worried. Cedric was not here yet and he was supposed to be a part of the competition. The students began to settle down and Lily craned her neck to find him.

Then the west doors opened once more. Everyone watched the angel walk in. Dressed in all white with golden hair stepped in Rose. He wore a pure white shirt, a pure white waistcoat, his tuxedo pants were white striped with a bright purple. He wore a pure white cape as well with an amethyst holding it on.

Lily gaped with all the girls at the beautiful prince as he took his seat in between Raven and Monica up front.

"Welcome to the Circus of Talents," a white wolf from the School for Evil growled. Beside him was a sparkling fairy glowing green. "We'll begin with the 10th ranked Never and Ever. They will perform, a winner will be selected, and the loser shall be punished. Then we shall move onto the 9th ranked. Then the 8th. Etcetera etcetera until this blasted thing is over. Let's get it over with. As of now the doors are locked. No one gets in. No one gets out. Not until the Circus is over. Now, we'll have Julie and Bard begin. Bard, begin."

And so the event started. Bard stood up on the stage and began belching the Happy Birthday song. Nevers started hooting and cackling at him while the Evers cringed at the horrible noises. Following him Julie, who had worked hard to work her way up to tenth place from twelfth, stood upon the stage and performed a ballet from Swan Lake.

A blue candle was snuffed out and suddenly Bard began belching rainbow gems. One by one the students competed and the losers were punished. A white candle went out and Adrien broke out in boils. A blue candle went out and Maggie's spectacles became an iridescent beetle. Percy's ears turned into bunny ears when a blue flame died. Stefan was chased by a rouge chicken and a white disappeared. Vlad looked at the chandelier in horror as a blue flame went out and his hair fell out.

Corrin took the stage and Rose looked upon his competition. Corrin's red eyes glowed with confidence as she pulled out a pocket watch. Slowly, she swung the pocket watch from side to side and gazed deeply into Julie's eyes, "You are getting sleepy. You are getting sleepy." Corrin chanted over and over again until Julie began to chant with her, "I am getting sleepy. I am getting sleepy." Slowly, Julie's eyes closed and she began to softly snore, which many Nevers laughed at. "Now, Julie. When I snap your fingers, you are a chicken." Corrin snapped her fingers. Julie opened her eyes and started clucking and flapping her arms about. The Nevers started laughing even harder. Corrin snapped her fingers again and Julie stopped and blinked. She looked around and blushed. She had no idea what she was doing standing up and why the Nevers were laughing. She quickly sat down.

It was Rose's turn. He stood up upon the stage and reached into his waistcoat. And pulled out a flute. Rose hadn't known what else to do so he was going to play the lullaby his great grandmother sang for him. Closing his eyes he brought his flute to his mouth and began to play.