Katyusha shivered as she waited for her little brother. She hoped he was doing okay with that Japanese gentleman. Ivan's temper had a short fuse, she knew all too well. Even if he protected her whenever he could, Ivan scared Katyusha. Who wouldn't be scared when your kin was a beast just under the skin? Sure, that beast had gotten their little family out of trouble time and time again, but it was hard to control. That's why Ivan chose a life of solitude after Natalia grew up. He could keep to himself and reduce the damage he could cause. But he was so lonely. Katyusha had dragged him out from his home to keep him company . . . to make him happy. Maybe coming to Cirque de Terreur wasn't the best idea.

Katyusha sighed.

"You alright, miss?"

She jumped a little. A man with long brunette hair stared worriedly at her. "O-oh! Y-Yes, I'm okay."

"You looked like you were about to cry."

Katyusha touched her eyes. They were wet. "Oh!"

"Shaken up by the big top performance?"

"A little," The woman admitted shyly.

The man smirked. "I'm Toris. I work the Ferris wheel."

"I'm Katyusha, I'm an interior designer."

"I've never heard that name before. It's exotic." Toris laughed in a good natured manner. "Where's it from?"

"Ukraine."

"Interesting."

"Where's yours from?"

"Lithuania."

"Katyusha," Toris jumped back seeing Ivan. The man seemed to not notice the carnie or how his sister was making small talk to him.

"Brother! What did the ring leader want with you?" the well-endowed woman asked.

Ivan found the ground very interesting at the moment. "He wants me to join the cirque."

"Why?"

"To learn control."

"Oh,"

A long silence lapsed over the siblings. Toris tried to busy himself with letting passengers off is Ferris wheel but what the tall Russian said to break the quiet made him nearly jump out of his shoes in shock. He stopped the ride a bit too harshly and people swung wildly.

"I accepted his offer."

"Y-you did?" Katyusha was just as shocked as Toris.

"Da," Ivan smiled. "I can learn to get my monster under control and I'll be traveling too, so I'll be exposed to all sorts of people, like you want me to be. I thing this would be a good move for me."

Katyusha forced a smile. She was happy for her little brother, she really was but she was sad that she wouldn't be able to see him often. "I think so, too. Let's go home. I'll help you pack."

Ivan let his sister's arm curl into his. He escorted her to the car they had driven to get to the cirque. Toris slumped against his controls. He was not too excited to have another big scary guy in the cirque. And another werewolf to boot! Maybe he should quit.

Ivan didn't' say goodbye to his younger sister, Natalia. She had a strange-creepy-way of interacting with him on a normal day to day basis. He didn't want to endure a goodbye of this magnitude with her. Though, he did give Katyusha a proper farewell; a hug, a kiss, and a few, sweet, parting words. She cried but smile the whole time. He promised to write and/or send postcards and souvenirs.

Cirque de Terreur looked so different in the day-time than in the night. The red color didn't' seem as dizzying, and the ground was so much more clean. People still crowed everything but didn't hinder him as she made his way towards the trailer yard. No one seemed to notice his backpack full of possessions.

"Gently now . . .they're only a few days old."

Ivan felt himself stop hearing a quiet kind voice. He searched for the speaker.

"See? She's very soft."

A crowd of children giggled as they scrambled away from a crouched man. He waved friendlily at the parents before standing back up.

He wore a tux with a red vest adorned in gold. The coat tails reminded Ivan of a penguin. His top hat had a crimson ribbon, and his red bull whip had an ebony handle. His features were similar to the ring leader's but they were softer and kinder. Big lavender eyes speckled with bright blue seemed to smile, his nose was petite making him look a little effeminate, and his grinning lips were pink and soft. Well to Ivan they looked soft . . . his blonde hair was shining delicately in gentle waves, and one curl bounced in front of his face stubbornly. The picture of him on the poster did not do him justice.

"Oh! It's you again!"

Ivan jumped. The blonde waved him over.

"Hi! Nice to meet you properly, I heard that you're joining the cirque?" his voice was just barely above a whisper. "My name is-"

"Hey, Mattie! You met Ivan, already!" Alfred bounced out of nowhere. Ivan couldn't help noticing how the effeminate blonde wilted a little.

"Good morning, Alfred."

"So, Ivan, I checked over the living arrangements and all the trailers are full accept my little brother's" the boisterous man jabbed a thumb to the quiet one. "You don't mind bunking with him, do ya, dude?"

Ivan opened his mouth to say he did mind. It wasn't common for him to accidentally lose control when having nightmares-which was often- but he didn't want to test his luck. Maybe a cage would suit him better?

"It's settled then! Mattie, Ivan! You're roommates!"

Ivan was about to protest when Alfred suddenly disappeared into the crowd. Already he didn't much are for that man.

"Um . . ." Mattie's fidgeting caught the Russian's attention again. "Do . . . should I show you to my-er our house?"

"I guess . . ." trailers were carnie houses?

"One moment, then." The man stooped to pick up a crate full of wriggling cubs, bear cubs by the looks of it. Mattie brought them to a cage that had been hidden behind a velvet curtain. The cage held the cubs' huge, powerful mother. "There. This way, Mister Ivan."

"Ivan's fine."

"Oh . . . then call my Matthew."

Matthew's trailer had been painted to show a snowy desert. Bears roamed the spindly trees around the corners. It actually was beautiful. Inside was a small but cozy and organized. There was a lot of cherry wood; cherry wood bookshelves, cherry wood benches, cherry wood cabinets, closet and bathroom door. And warm bright fabrics lightened up the richly colored space. One end, to the right, had the living space; booth with a table and two seats that could hold up to four people, a small television, a kitchenette and a full sized steel refrigerator. There was also a bench under a painting of a world map. A window brightened up the table. To the left were the beds and a bathroom. The beds were on opposite sides and tucked under some shelves. The one on the left was neatly made with a white comforter with a red maple leaf and matching pillows. Books and souvenirs filled the glass covered cherry wood shelves. Clothes must have been in the tiny closet at the foot of the narrow bed. The one on the right had to have been Ivan's. It was unmade and bare. The shelves and cabinets around it were empty.

"Make yourself at home. Now that, well, this place is your home . . ." Matthew rambled. "Did you bring a blanket? I have spares if you didn't."

"I brought one." Ivan assured the carnie with a smirk.

"Oh, good. It gets cold at night in here, even in the summer. The heater sucks, it turns on by itself, blasting cold air sometimes, and the hot air . . . well, it doesn't . . . make hot air."

Ivan ambled to his bed, ready to make it his. Good thing he had brought sheets, too.

"Before I forget . . . Everyone has to turn in before one in the morning, there is no set waking hour therefore no breakfast bell or lunch bell. But at eight thirty report to the house that is covered with music notes for dinner." Matthew opened the door to the trailer letting in cool, crisp autumn air. He gave the larger man a brilliant smile. "If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask."

Ivan nodded in understanding before flashing a small grin of appreciation. Matthew blushed and widened his smile. Then he left the trailer. The large man watched through the sheer curtains, as he strutted back to the fair grounds. Matthew seemed nice enough, shy that's for sure, and babbles when nervous, but nice. The new carnie felt like he had gotten lucky with Matthew as a roommate. Although, Ivan didn't trust himself to keep his cool around him. If the beast within got out for even a few minutes, the small effeminate man would . . .

Ivan shuddered. What a horrible thought.

Thank you for reading! Please comment!

I am sorry in advance if I get ramble-y. I promise this story will be more than just conversations!