Cirque Du Freak: A Freak's Story (soon to be in editing)

Chapter 19: Sympathy for the Devil

I was furious. Furious with Mr. Tall for putting me in the show when I specifically told him I did not want to preform, and mad at myself for not ever getting a damn cat.

It'd be much easier if I knew right off the bat that I could control cats, but I didn't, and that meant I had to find out.

After meeting Lucifer (couldn't get any worse than having a partner named after Satan himself), I slowly allowed myself to calm down and fall asleep at precisely three a.m.

This morning was rough. I woke up with a serious pain in my neck and had to get Bishop to cure it; angel mojo, man. Then my tail cramped up and Ash, an employee, stepped on it, causing me to shout and drop the pans I was carrying. I kept it wrapped up the rest of the day. Then I had to scrub the blood out of Darren's clothes,and only manage to do a little. I fed Madam Octa, and boy, did she feel threatened. Crepsley had to play the flute softly and calmly while I fed her two rats.

Once it reaches about twelve p.m., Bishop and I retreated from the kitchen for a break. I knew I should be reporting to Mr. Tall's tent and begin practice with Lucifer, but honestly, I was scared.

"Let's grab a little something to eat," I told Bishop. His wings shifted as he's at in the grass, looking up at the sky.

"I do not feel the need to eat human food right now, but thank you, Cammie."

I shrugged and walked back to the kitchen. I wasn't planning on having any big meal, just something small. There was a bag of apples in the back so I walked to the back. I grabbed an apple an took one big bite out of it, purring softly because of the sweet, sour juice goodness. I turned to walk out, but bumped into something.

I fell flat on my bottom and dropped my apple. "I'm sorry," I managed to get out, pushing my hair out of my face, only to see Mr. Tall towering over me. "Oh, Mr. Tall!"

"Shouldn't you be practicing with your new partner, Ms. Churchill?" Mr. Tall asked, bending down to reach eye level with me.

I fiddled with my fingers, unable to make eye contact. "About that..." I breathed out, shifting my gaze from the sink to the pans to my hands. "I... uh, don't really think this whole partner thing... especially with a liger, will be okay. I mean, I'd be cool with a house cat... But a liger?"

Mr. Tall looked at me like I had just I insulted his great ancestors. "I believe in you, Ms. Churchill. I believe that you will achieve in training Lucifer. The only problem is that you do not believe in yourself."

Oh, please, I feel like I'm in one of those summer horse movies.

"But, I--"

"Come with me, please."

Mr. Tall turned and exited the kitchen tent. I sighed, blowing a short steam of hair out of my face. I scratched my ear and began to follow. If he wasn't the owner of the Cirque Du Freak, I swear, I'd scratch him.

I should be calm about this, though. I am part cat, anyway. Lucifer and I should have a connection since we are the same species, right. Questions, questions, ugh.

I was freaking out.

Mr. Tall guided me to the big top. There were tons of rows of seats, all lined up perfectly, the red, silky leather smooth and clean. Centered in the middle was a large cage on dirt ground with a stage behind it, and in the cage was none other than an angry liger.

Mr. Tall stepped to the side and crossed his long arms over his chest, taking his hat off. "Do as Larten says, Cammie."

"Wait, Crepsley's teaching me? How? He's just a vampire,"