Chapter 1
How do you speak ill of those you love the most, no matter what they did? You could have a murderous brother. Wouldn't he still be your brother, though? Juliet in Romeo and Juliet once said something like that. When the nurse asked, "Can you speak well of him that killed your cousin?" Juliet responded, "Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?"
My love made a terrible mistake. One that may cost him his life. I want to be angry at him. But I can't be. Partly because he did it for me. But mostly because I can't blame him. I love him so much.
My name is Maria Daniels. I currently reside in a traveling freak show. This is my side of the story.
I jolted awake, hitting my head on the coffin lid, shaking uncontrollably. Larten woke up as well from my sudden movements.
"He's coming. Glalda's coming." I kept whispering over and over again.
"Maria, calm down. It was just a dream." Larten murmured. But I wouldn't have it and he knew it. Glalda was coming. Maybe not immediately, but he was coming. He wouldn't stop.
"I'm sorry, it's just…" I trailed off into silence.
Larten wrapped his arms around me gently. "Go back to sleep." He whispered. I knew he was right, and I lie back in his arms and fell asleep.
It was early evening when I woke again from another nightmare, this one not nearly as bad. We had been staying at this freak show called the Cirque Du Freak for some time. I can't remember the exact amount of time we were there. Perhaps a few years. The nightmares lessened from when they started, but they remained.
Evra suddenly ran past me, his huge snake on his shoulders. "Hey Maria!" He said, slowing down to wave.
"Hi, Evra." I smiled at the snake-boy. "Ready for the show tonight?"
"Yep!" Evra said, running off to get ready.
I laughed and continued to the fire at the center of the camp to make some food. We had a few hours before the show would start. It would give Larten a bit of time to practice with Madam Octa. I remember when he first came back with her.
Larten came into the church with a cage.
"What's that?" I asked him.
Larten uncovered the cloth over the cage to reveal a flute, a few vials, and a colorful tarantula inside. "A man gave her to me. By the way he was dressed, I assumed he was some sort of monk. He told me to take good care of her."
"The spider? He just gave it to you?" I asked. Larten nodded and shrugged. "Well, what shall we call her?"
Larten shook his head. "No idea."
I laughed. "Alright, how about…I don't know, Madam Octa?"
Larten laughed. "That actually has a nice ring. Madam Octa."
And when we arrived at the Cirque, he became Larten Crepsley and his performing spider Madam Octa.
And speaking of which….
I looked up from the fire to see Larten coming toward me, scratching his scar as usual. I grinned at him and he smiled back. He sat down on the log beside me.
"Morning." I grinned, handing him a sausage.
"Morning." He replied back. "Sleep any better?"
"Yeah, much." I lied. He looked at me suspiciously but didn't reply. "We've got a show tonight. We should get ready." I said, finishing my sausage. I walked back to the tent to get ready.