Queen of Chaos

Marionette

I feel kissed by the magic in the air. I feel it caress my skin and I am infatuated. We are seated on a side seat in the front row, Tommy on my left and Billy on my right. The both of them don't appear to be as captivated as I am. When the violin starts playing I am examining the orbs of light rotating around the ceiling.

Now I move my eyes back to the large ring in the center of the tent. The entire crowd has fallen silent from the first sorrow filled note. One second he isn't there and the next he is, his head tipped down so only the top of the red hat shows.

I lurch forward, so drawn to his impossibly tall form I can't stand still. The air seems to swirl around him, drawing all attention to him. Notes from the violin soften and we all rest on the edge of our seats. This time I am almost positive the lights are being held up by nothing, powered by nothing as they swirl through the air.

Then he lifts his head and reaches out his long arms to all of us. I am to his left, examining the razor sharp angles of his profile. He is so breathtakingly handsome and mysterious. Finally he lifts his eyes and his lips spread into a devious grin.

Suddenly he raises his arms above his head and a circle of fire springs up encircling the ring. The front row shrieks, pulling their legs away from the licking flames. And I feel the licks of heat on my face and stare mesmerized into the blue of the fire. Tommy grabs my arm and wrenches me from the flames.

My eyes are drawn back to the tragic figure of the ring leader. "I welcome you to my circus." His voice needs no megaphone, it carries throughout the tent deep and sensual. Everyone is staring in awe at him, at the shock that is him.

And although I know if he saw my face he would frown, I drink in the sight of that smile. He spins slowly, facing each and every one of us in turn. His arms rise higher and the flames heed his command rising dangerously. Finally he faces us, faces me and he cocks his head ever so slightly to the side. Had I not been so focused on only his face, only him, I would not have even noticed.

Smile nearly lethal, the devil in human form dressed in all red. His white blue eyes hold mine deeply. Arms raising even higher, the flames nearly up to my elbows. Images flash through my head of him touching my cheekbones and my collarbone and brushing his fingers through my hair.

I gulp and lick my dry lips, spellbound as his eyes follow the motion. Then he turns back to the center of the ring and I realize all of this happened in seconds. Perhaps less.

Neither Billy nor Tommy seem to have noticed and I clutch the sides of my pants to stop my shaking hands. The ringleader lowers his arms and the flames lower as well, the only sound being the bittersweet violin.

"I do hope you find yourself taken with our show. It is my most sincerest desire," he is turning slowly to face every one in turn and his eyes meet mine at the deepened word desire, "that you are captivated by our magic. My deepest intention being to entertain you, mystify you." His voice has the effect he is speaking right into your ear, lips brushing it sensually.

Just his hands rise and the flames roar up to nearly above our heads. Still the place remains silent as everyone hangs in his grasp and from his every word. The violin rises in time with the flames, each stroke of the strings sending a shiver through me. The ringleader's head falls, gaze at the floor as if in thought.

Those flames could consume me completely and I would not be able to turn my gaze away from his tortured profile. Through the jumps of the fire I can see him perfectly, a mere number of feet from me. His long black lashes are brushing his high cheekbones and the angles of his jaw are taut.

The violin softens and he raises his head and whispers rawly, "Are you yet mystified? Are you yet entertained?" Despite his low voice everyone can hear him perfectly. It is that quiet.