Jean and Scott glanced around at the other people. They looked just as confused. There was nothing out here. Jean sighed, the Professor had sensed a group of mutants running a moving show of some sort, most recently set up here. He was confused as to why it had not shown up before and asked them to investigate. They had caught a ride with the people going to see the last show. At the moment, they were in front of a bunch of trees, as per the instructions given.
Then, a small fire lit up in a dish on the ground, revealing a small path. The group began to follow the path, following the lights that lit up one by one before them, and extinguished behind them. Finally, they broke into a clearing of sorts. The path continued on into a large rough circle of dirt. Benches surrounded half of it, slightly above it. The small dishes of fire grew in size the closer they got, eventually becoming unlit large dishes held on crossed platforms. Through the gloom they could make out a few tents and sleeping bags scattered around the rest of the clearing, as though abandoned. The entire effect was unnerving. They sat in the benches, and the final flames went out, plunging them into complete darkness. One woman screamed in surprise and fear.
A voice called out through the gloom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, don't be frightened! We don't mean to scare you. Much," The voice laughed, "The performers of Le Cirque would like to welcome you. I am the Ringmaster, the Mistress of Illusions. What I want you to sense, you will. Now, I would like to begin."
The large dishes suddenly caught fire, igniting the pit in hellish light, and revealing a girl, no more than eighteen, leaning forward onto a hand carved knobbed cane. Her eyes were shadowed by the dark grey hat, similar to a short top hat, which sat on top of her head of long ebony hair. She smiled up at them with black lips. On her lower half, she wore tight-fitted grey pants tucked into tall black buckled boots, and Jean was uncomfortably aware that her upper half was only covered up only by a loose black coat, ending slightly below her hips, but thankfully, it covered what it needed too. Her skin was a pale porcelain and was almost stretched over her excessively thin frame, etching out her collarbone. She did not appear to belong in this place.
Then she turned her head up to them to reveal blood red eyes framed in black bangs, and the midnight lips parted to reveal sharp teeth lit up in her smile. The two heard some of the crowd recoil in shock.
She laughed again.
"Please, enjoy yourself. Like I said, we'll try not to frighten you. Mag, if you would."
A young girl entered from the shadows and stood before them. Blue tattoo like things wriggled and moved around on her skin. She smiled at them with eyes of lapis lazuli. She lifted her hands into the air and they shot out of her nails, curling and twisting in the air.
And that was how it went. They performed silent acts, did tricks, made jokes with the audience. None older than the leader. None were laughed at unless supposed too. All applauded. All startled and amazed the audience. They showed off their powers, smiling secretively. Then, they vanished. The fires dimmed slightly.
"Now, one more performance. Ker."
A tall girl slunk into the light. She looked up at them and they gasped. A bandage cloth wrapped around where her eyes should've been. Lightning scars arced away from beneath the cloth.
Everyone fell silent as she spoke, her quiet voice echoing throughout the open area, "May I have a few volunteers?"
A few rose their hands, and after a moment's hesitation, Jean did as well. The Ringmaster glanced up at them with her red eyes, and smiled.
"You five," She said, pointing to those with raised hands, "Come here."
They obeyed.
The blind girl spoke again, "Now, please, stand here, in a line. Think of a question. Anything about you. Your personality, your history, where something is. I will tell you. I ask the audience to please stay quiet. I must concentrate."
They obeyed, and she slowly made her way down the line, each time taking their hand softly and answering the given question perfectly, her head looking up at them.
Finally, she got to Jean. As she took her hand, her head snapped up to face the older woman. Even though Jean knew that the girl couldn't see her, she felt as though the girl was looking straight into her.
"Ask your question."
"Um…What is the name of the person I'm with?"
"Scott."
"That's right."
The girl smiled, and it gave Jean an eerie feeling.
"Of course it is."
She let go of Jean's hand, and stepped away. The audience erupted as the girl bowed. The girl simply walked up to the Ringmaster, whispered something in her ear, and disappeared. The Ringmaster nodded to herself, then turned back to the crowd.
"Thank you for coming. I do hope we didn't scare you too much, and had some fun, we sure did. Au revoir."
Everyone began to file out, but Scott and Jean stayed. They watched the Ringmaster turn and vanish into the gloom.
"She could tell who we were. I know it."
A young boy they hadn't seen before appeared next to them, skin of pure white, with small horns growing from his head.
"Rin wants you to come to see her."
Without an answer, he turned and walked away. They glanced at each other and followed.