AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Laurent rolled his eyes. “What did Samuel do this time?”
“Oh, nothing much! He only threw a pair of scissors so deep inside my hair that I can’t reach them,” she grumbled, her fingers methodically weaving through the many strands. “I can nearly start to grasp them but there’re so many tangles and knots that I can’t wrap my fingers around the damn things.”
“Shouldn’t this matter be taken up with your hairdresser sister?” Laurent asked, clearly eager for the conversation to end.
“And lose valuable time that could be spent rehearsing for the grand finale?” Bernice asked sarcastically.
“Vernice?” Laurent asked, looking over my shoulder. I was startled to find Bernice’s sister standing right behind me. “Can you do nothing to help your sister with her plight?”
“I’ve already spent far too much of my time trying to help her,” Vernice protested.
Laurent shook his head and couldn’t keep his irritation out of his expression. “As many years as you’ve lived with your excessive hair, one would think—”
“And one would be wrong!” Bernice snapped impatiently. “Now can you help us with this issue or not?”
Laurent gave an accusing look at Vernice, before reluctantly examining the back of Bernice’s head. She cleverly stood to block Laurent’s view of me and Vernice. The latter slipped me a pair of gloves. I gave them a quick once-over and smiled.
“They’re perfect,” I whispered gratefully to her.
She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Glad to help, dear.”
“Tell Liberty to be careful when she takes Amelia back to the trunk,” I added as I carefully placed the gloves inside the top of my leotard.
Vernice seemed confused. “What are you talking about? Liberty didn’t leave. She’s been practicing the whole time we’ve been—”
A sudden cry from Bernice, followed by cursing at Laurent’s clumsiness, ended that thought. Vernice quickly came over to assist the pair. In the corner, I saw that Liberty was indeed rehearsing her recitation of facts. She sounded like a loud carnival barker, but it was a voice of comfort I’d come to know so well. My throat tightened when I looked back at the stands as I wondered: if Liberty had been rehearsing here the whole time, then who was it I’d spoken with a short while ago?
Chapter Fourteen
My need to know, to understand, what was happening in this godforsaken place continued to haunt me when I sat on my tent cot much later.
Everything I’d seen atCirque du Noirmade me no stranger to odd occurrences. But there was a world of difference between the odd and the downright inexplicable. I couldn’t help but recall the flicker-book which Amelia had given me. How had she come upon it? And what was the purpose in showing it to me?
As my questions swirled round and round in my head, the last rays of daylight faded from my tent, and night fell. Within a couple of hours, the grand finale of the tour would be performed. Things would finally come to a head one way or another.
The nervous affliction I always suffered before a performance was only exacerbated by my anxiety over Liberty, the sisters, and Jiang getting caught by the circus and ending up as dolls. I couldn’t taste my supper that evening, my thoughts were in such a flux.
After finishing my unsavory meal, I retrieved my costume and began putting it on. I considered checking in on Amelia inside the trunk. But having two new stagehands outside the tent and the hour of my performance fast approaching, I decided that was unwise. My recurring thoughts of Brandeis kept intruding like a swarm of buzzing flies.
Could she have been as lonely as I am? I thought.Was she aware of the mysteries of this circus? Did she happen to learn them? Was that why she was no longer here?
Did she manage to escape in the end? Something I’d failed to accomplish. I only hoped such was the case because if she did get away from the circus, maybe I could do the same.
The familiar sound of monkey chatter came from the front of my tent. The new stagehands were watching Samuel closely before one said, “No visitors allowed.”
“Especially mischievous, furry visitors,” the other one said with unmasked contempt. In return, an outraged series of shrieks came from Samuel.
“A sensible practice,” Jiang said with restraint and formality. “That is why we seek issues of business rather than the pleasure of Bindi’s company.”
“What business?” the second one sneered.
“Why, collecting her dinner plate and ensuring she has everything she needs for her upcoming performance, of course,” Jiang responded. She used the tone a caretaker might choose to address a slow child, explaining so carefully, there could be no mistake in understanding.
“How do we know you ain’t up to no good?” the first one inquired.
The silhouette of Jiang’s nails made interesting shadows on my tent wall. “If you are convinced that I bring only treachery and deceit, then I must insist you search my person thoroughly.” Samuel reacted to her comment with alarm, and she added, “Have no fear, Samuel. If we cooperate, they shall not harm us.”
Both of the guards seemed puzzled before obediently patting down Jiang until they were satisfied she had no hidden devices. “With such long nails, how can you hold up a dinner tray?” One of the guards asked.
