The Circus

[Sherazade]

Brightly colored tents and caravans sprawled across the field just outside of myrken town. Cages with exotic animals Forming an avenue that led to the ringmasters office. A tent was beside it within it was hung with silken veils, flickering flames of candles creating shadows that crawled writ he over the cushions . A low table was within its center a crystal ball set into wooden cradle,
Tarot cards and crystals spilled over its surface and from behind a dividing wall of canvas came angry male tones "You will not escape me again Anwyl, you are mine you belong to me". Chains clink ground against each other as he fastened them round her ankles and wrists looping them through a ring on the wall of the hidden cage "I belong to no one." the shout followed him as he left the tent mocking laughter spiling from his thin cruel lips.

The laughters taunting tones were like razors to her , sharp blades that cut into her soul. She trembled then shouted statement falling in the softest of whispers from her lips "I belong to no one ". Tears fell then creating warm wet silvery trails down her moonlight pale cheeks , slender form curling up upon the cushions within her cage for the chains allowed some movement. Dio had brought her back made her return to her prison just like he always had and now she had to watch had to wait for an opporunity to escape one that might be a long time in coming.

[Biske]

He required no chains, no bars to hold him, save for the own he had created throughout his thirty years of cursed existance. He had his own quarters, rather posh for a travelling circus; furs carpetted thick over the uneven ground, an elaborte wallscreen between his bed and the general public. Then again, his tent was off-limits, set far back from the other garish clusterings, more closer to the various enforcers and drudges that were in the Circus' employ.

It was difficult to tell what exactly the half-breed's job was; he certainly was part of the spectacle, with his monstrous appearance, hailed as the demonic offspring between unicorn and man; not the enobled and pure whites, but of the fighter stock in their servitude. The story went, of course, that one of these had abandoned it's post for more earthly pleasure, raping a peasant woman it had found unprotected. And it all could be true. Diomedes was not one to reveal his secrets.

And yet he alone of the Circus' 'monsters' was allowed free reign, his costume the most elaborate and cared for; he was allowed to take pride in his appearance, always appearing clean, his favored crimson sliks fasted about his waist, mane plaited, pulled back to reveal the stunted, curled horn centered in his forehead; the halter, however, was just a touch-up.

And it was incredibly itchy. Dio scratched under it with a grunt, garnet eye narrowing at a couple of boys that looked as if they were about to toss a few rocks into the Divination tent. They, of course, wilted under his glare, fleeing the Enforcer's presence in a panic. Ah, by nightfall, no doubt Dio had been about to rip their heads off and drink their blood. He was used to it.

With a duck of his equine head, the black half-breed's boots scraped as he stepped inwards, eyes searching the room to make sure things were in place. His velvet lips tugged back from white, carefully filed teeth, tail twitching.

"You're behaving yourself, I hope," he spoke, towards the woman within.

[Sherazade]

Gaze lifted from the book in her lap emerald depths lifeless dull "with you always in my shadow how can i do anything else " there was a disturbing lack of spirit in her voice given how she had tried to stand up to him the strength she had shown seems the drugs did more than force her to adopt this shape. The book was closed and slender hand set it on the low table reached for the glass of water.. Open palm passed over a circus flyer, she stiffened, eyes going wide a sharp intake of breath heard as she was assailed by a vision.......

Autumns last leaves spiralled to the ground lifted with its decaying fellows into the winds icy embrace. "we winter here patronage has been good" the voice reached her ears and then the vision warped changed......

Blood spilled scarlet over the frozen ground, the acrid stench of smoke filled her mouth her nose causing to cough, to gag as she tried to draw in air. bleary stinging eyes flowed over mangled corpses and all around her dark manical laughter filled with glee/

Back in the tent she wimpered raised her arms as if to ward off a blow "please no more i don't want to see" It was no good the visions grip was merciless as it showed her the full extent of the horror. not one left alive not one left breathing ... but wait near the trees in the brush two figures stirred and she saw her own face. "freedom comes at a price" the dark laughter taunted her with those words and she screamed.. fell back into the cushions trembling before the one who had brought her back to her prision

[Sherazade]

Gloved hand pushed aside the flap of the divination tent, bloody woman where was she , still abead perhaps. The thought she might be wearing nothing or very little and vunerable brought a cruel smile to his lips and he strode through the cushions ruthlessly crushign them beneath his heel or kiccking them aside as he pleased . Head poked through the curtain graying bangs falling into his field of vision only to be brushed aside "Anwyl my pet..... " Whatever the words had been going to be they flew from his mind her bed was empty had not been slept in.

He turned away then strode back through the tent , gaze serached for Dio. Where was that misbegotten mongrel how had he let her escape again. Serach of gaze proved fruitless and snorting in anger he bellowed out "Diomedes you misbegotten useless stack of horseflesh, get your fly haunted arse here Now".

Tones would carry they always did when he shouted thus and arms folded over his chest as he tapped his foot waiting.......