Author's Note:
Even though this is a fairly obvious point, from here on out there will be spoilers for the later part of the season, so be aware!
With that warning out of the way, I hope you enjoy this chapter and leave me a review if you did!
"We have business to discuss," Elsa softly purred, looking over her shoulder at the handsome 'Talent Scout' who was seated behind her. He stared at her with a strange softness, an amused smile playing on his lips.
"And you wouldn't be the first young man to show up, expecting a lesson in love."
Before she turned back to look at herself in the mirror, admiring herself in her own vanity, she saw the man's eyes flicker down to his left. The smile appeared to fade, becoming almost sad before he blinked it away, standing up and moving into the next room as she had requested.
Elsa blinked out of her trance, the song of the young siren reaching her ears once more. Despite its beauty, she found it did nothing but irritate her, "Liebchen, liebchen, liebchen…" She groaned, rubbing her forehead with her satin gloved fingers, "There is no passion in your voice, try it again!" Her usually soft accent turned harsh with her command.
Siren glared up at the older woman and crossed her arms, "No matter how hard you try, Elsa, you will not be able to conjure up this 'passion' you so desire," Turning her head away, she snapped, "I will not sing another note."
"Oh, don't be childish!" Elsa snarled, storming over to the young girl with just as much attitude. Though, ever the one to be elegant, she forced herself to regain her composure, even if she was biting the inside of her cheek, "Come on now, you sing so beautifully," Siren could feel bitterness radiating from the word, however sweet it appeared. Her eyes lit up with an idea, "What if I bring in the twins, hm? Bette really needs your tutorin-"
"Elsa, please!" The girl sighed, resting her head in her hands, "I do not want to do this right now."
At a loss, the freak show leader sighed, sitting down on her sofa like a teenager in a huff. Both turned their heads away from the other, falling into an awkward silence.
After what felt like hours, Siren put her hands back onto the wheels of her chair, "If that's all you wanted, I shall return to my caravan."
Elsa looked up, "Wait!" Siren did stop, glancing up to see what the woman wanted. With a sigh, Elsa placed her hand over her mouth, "I hate it when we fight, liebchen… We shouldn't fight. I am a mother to all of my beloved freaks; your mama!"
Siren's eye twitched, "With all due respect, Miss Elsa, you are not my 'mama'."
Reminded, the woman lowered her head, "Ah, yes." A flicker of something danced across her eyes suddenly as she stood up, speaking distantly, "That reminds me…"
The young freak watched in confusion as Elsa wandered into the next room, disappearing from sight for a few moments before returning with a newspaper in her hands. She was flicking through, clearly looking for a specific page, "Ah, here it is. As you requested…" Folding the paper over, she handed it to Siren who took it and glanced at the page.
'Charity Ball for Lost Children Funded and Hosted by Mournful Parents'
There they were, in black and white. She instantly recognised them from the picture which she traced lightly with her finger. They looked so sad, their heads tilted down as they stood to the side of the main spokesperson. Maybe it was just that the photo was taken at the right time…
Elsa's voice cut through her moment, "I had my best people look for this," Her face was drawn into a tight frown, and she sighed, "I suppose I should get you to a phone…"
"No," Siren cut in quickly, lowering the paper, "I am not going back to them."
"What…?" Elsa looked confused, "Then w-why did I waste my time getting you this paper?!" She was getting angry again. It was at times like this that she almost sounded like Madeleine.
Avoiding eye-contact, Siren explained, "I do not want them to know what I have become." Elsa paused, blinking in surprise, "Who wants a depressed freak as a daughter?" She was deadly serious, but there was something more hiding in her deep eyes, too deep for Elsa to see.
Elsa's eyes had softened as her lips slowly closed, the tent falling silent once more. Then, quietly, she approached the young 'mermaid', tracing her satin fingers across the girl's pale cheek. She didn't lean into her touch, "You are one of the few I can truly identify with, liebchen."
She scoffed, "I doubt that. You probably say that to everyone."
"Yes, I do say things to everyone, because I love all of you. You, however…" Elsa paused, brushing a piece of pale blonde hair behind Siren's ear, "You are the only one to know of my… affliction."
Upon seeing the sadness leak into Elsa's features, Siren sighed, her own face softening. She couldn't stay angry at her when she was like this; she was as ashamed of her legs as Siren was. If nothing else, the two had something in common. It was in that moment, that Siren's respect for Elsa became almost unbreakable. She had seen the true side to the woman, not the act.
After several moments of thought, she allowed herself to lean into Elsa's loving hand. The smooth wood of the prosthetic limbs briefly brushing the patchy skin of the 'tail'.
Siren had been carried out of Elsa's tent not long after that exchange. Her throat was beginning to hurt anyway, she had been singing for over an hour before the argument broke out. Eve had carried her, by request, to the big top where the big table was still set out in front of the stage.
Siren sighed, settling into the wooden chair. She'd have her wheelchair brought in in a while, but for now she was quite happy to just stay there. She had a lot on her mind anyway. Lighting up another cigarette, she drew it closer to her lips in preparation for that first drag.
A deep but loving sound came from the tent flaps, and Siren turned to see Pepper running forward with a big smile on her face. Immediately, the cigarette was stabbed out and discarded. Pepper was more than enough to make her forget her pain.
Siren smiled, it was an amazingly natural one she seemed to only show to Pepper and Salty, and greeted the innocent woman. Tracing her fingers sweetly over Pepper's forehead, she quietly commented that she 'looked lovely today', which made Pepper grin in joy, lowering her chin in that shy way she always did.
Pepper span around, showing off her old dress with childlike joy. Siren smiled and clapped softly, "Very lovely!"
Her smile faded slightly. Lovely. Sighing, Siren lowered her head into her hands. Pepper immediately noticed and, unseen to Siren, her own smile quickly faded. She made a soft noise of concern, pushing tentatively at Siren's shoulder.
The 'mermaid' did look up, immediately feeling the wave of guilt washing over her for making Pepper worried. The so-called 'pinhead' (God how she hated that word) knelt down and Siren took both of her hands, "Pepper, do you love Salty?"
Immediately a shy but girly grin broke out on her face, "Ye-es!" She nodded her head excitedly.
Siren returned with her own more restrained smile, her eyes temporarily lowering. Some part of Pepper's brain, despite all claims of her incompetence, saw through Siren's smile. She instantly knew what was going on and she cried out, "Love!"
Siren looked up in surprise, not sure what she was being told. She tilted her head in confusion.
"Lo-o-ove!" Pepper pointed at her, or more playfully jabbed her in the chest several times with both forefingers. Siren stared in shock, her mouth slightly ajar.
"Pepper," Paul called from the tent flap, the carnies coming in to clear away the table before afternoon rehearsals, "Elsa wants you." Pepper responded quickly, smiling at Siren before dashing off to her beloved Mama.
Siren watched silently as the girl was sent away, a strange wetness returning to her eyes which she quickly dashed away. She was carried back to her tent eventually, after the show had finished but she didn't sleep. Something felt off… Something dark would wash over the freaks that night.
The next morning, Salty had passed away.
Siren was as helpless as the others, she spent hours with Pepper to try and console her but nothing helped. She had lost her soul mate and her 'child'. Suddenly, reading books and commenting on how pretty she looked no longer brought that innocent smile back.
Not even a week later, she was sent away. The only light in this godforsaken place had gone… only corruption remained, only pain
Author's Note:
I can't be the only one who cried during 'Orphans', right?
Also thank you so much to Kaylee for your lovely review! It's stuff like that... it just brightens up your day - especially when you're in the middle of essay writing season and you're in dire need for some kind words. Thanks again!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next couple will hopefully be on the longer side so... yeah, see you then!
