Hey all, this is Jinx with a new story for the Darkest Powers world! Don't worry I have NOT abandoned my other story. I know it's been a long time since I updated it but I'm just hitting a little snag in the next scene is all. And I've been working on my own too novel so I've been busy. Anyway there is an idea I've been sitting on for a long time. I hope you like it. :)

Chloe has lived her whole live in Cirque De Dreams, a traveling carnival complete with a circus, a physic, food carts, and shops. So when her and her best friend Liz watch their beloved home go up in flames and have to escape before the arsonists can capture them, they head for the Blackwood Forest. Who would want two young carnies so badly as to kill for them? What about the rumors of wizards and witches in the woods? Are werewolves really extinct? And who is Mr. Edison, the man says he can "cure" the supernatural, really?


"Welcome, one and all!" My voice booms like thunder, so loud that I can see children cringe in their seats.

"Welcome to Cirque de Dreams!" I stand alone at center ring. I feel safe in the embrace of the patchwork crescent moon that is stitched into the flooring below me.

"Tonight we are proud to bring you the very best of entertainment!" Lighting the huge dark enclosure of the purple tent palace are hundreds of free floating lanterns, each with its own preference as to where to hover during a performance.

"We guarantee that you will see wonders that you have never dreamt of...," It's a full house tonight and I wish my father was here to see. "...but will dream of for the rest of your lives!" He was right though, I'm not scared of being up here alone.

"From the shocking!" To my left a man is illuminated to reveal the many moving tattoos that live and writhe in his skin earning a gasp from the audience. "To the lovely!" From behind me six women steal the spot light, their only just covered bodies begin to sway and swoon to the heavy, heart-like beat of the music that seems to cast a spell on the crowd; in particular our male crowd. "From the daring!" All at once our brightest lanterns light themselves to reveal the trapeze above and the many cat like figures that fly back and forth casting bright shimmers of light off their body suits. It makes them glisten like the charms that hang in their aerial work space. "And the bold!" Two young men come soaring in from my right their cutlass' flashing, eyes glinting in razor sharp concentration, and lean muscles flexing in the attempt to shed blood.

"To the Comical and-" I'm shoved of stage by a very boisterous mute man in loud clothing who promptly began to impersonate my dramatic narrating with wild arm gestures. "-And lighthearted."I growl, pretending to be ticked. I put my hands on my hips and glare up at him. His eyes go wide in mock terror he slowly inches away allowing me back my spot back. I turn back to the crowd knowing that he will appear behind me again to continue his antics. "My name is Chloe and I will be your ring leader tonight!" I bow to them like a server at a restaurant. As the ear splitting applause washes over me I smile. Nothing could feel more like home than this, nothing.

My name is Chloe Saunders and I'm the ringleader's daughter. Tonight was my first solo performance and it couldn't have gone better. I can tell because my ears are still ringing a solid hour after the Cirque had closed. I'm sitting by physic's booth waiting for my best friend to finish up with her latest client. I can't wait to tell her how well I'd done, she'd be so happy for me! That was the great thing about Liz I suppose, not that she's not awesome in every other way. It's just that she's so empathetic. She really is happy for someone when they are. And right now that happy person is me.

Just as I take my last bite of candy apple a woman comes storming out of the little orange tent in a huff, muttering mutinously beneath her breath. I stare after her as she stampedes toward the rode that no doubt take her back to town. "Honestly, some people!" I hear behind me. I turn my head to see Liz's exasperated face; taking in the oddly colored dust that had apparently been thrown down her front by yet another vain costumer. "If they don't want the truth why do they ask for it?" I probably shouldn't, but I smile anyway, "So what was her deal?" Liz settles her gaze back on the ever shrinking outline of the retreating customer. "I told her that her children didn't like lessening to her because she's a selfish tyrant. And that-"but I'm already giggling; the other awesome thing about Lizzie is that she's honest. Really honest.

"It's not funny; what a holy terror that woman is! You should she the memories that she 'treasures'."

"Oh, it's kinda funny." I laugh. "Too bad for her kids though."

Liz sighs, "Too bad indeed."