Thank you, thank you so much for the favorites, follows, and helpful reviews. Such participation is always very much appreciated, as it keeps us writers going!
I noticed that some of you are a little curious about the voice of "the demon." I wasn't initially sure if I was going to write about it because I'm not sure if I can accurately interpret what terrible things it would say. But one of you proved a great point: it did drive Edward to take his own life. Both in the real myth and in the AMH version. I agree that it should at least be brought into the story.
IMPORTANT NOTE* I am sorry if anything "the voice" says later on in this chapter is offensive: but whatever drove Edward insane couldn't have been too pleasant. It will be harsh. Maybe, as the story goes on, I will be able to find its voice in a way that seems to fit more. But do keep in mind that I also think it is "vile," as Edward would call it… nor do I think some of what it says is true, though in this story it turns out to be.
Anyway, thank you all. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Please let me know if you have any questions!
-Angelwriter84
Chapter 2 That Hateful Show
Edward peered from behind the curtain at the vast audience, surprised by the number of people that actually paid to see such a show as this. The hateful whisperings of the fiend went on, up until he joined the others. The silence was a relief, but a few beads of sweat still dripped down his face as he struggled to recover from what he'd been hearing, especially about his new neighbors, the freaks. The fiend…was quite hateful.
Edward dabbed at his face with a handkerchief and stuffed in back in his pocket before anyone noticed. Well, almost everyone.
"Edward?" he startled at the gentle sound of Emily's voice and turned around with wild eyes. She held up her hands slowly to ensure she meant no harm. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Thank you," Edward said quickly.
Emily Beth laughed a little. When Edward gave her a blank stare, she gestured to her bow tie. "Edward, your tie. Here, let me help you."
For the first time that night, Edward noticed that the collar of his jacket was askew, along with neck tie being sideways. Before he could object, Emily Beth set to work on it. She showed little to no fear of reaching around the sides of his neck to straighten his collar. Something Edward's own mother could hardly bring herself to do for fear of touching the other face.
"There's no need to be nervous," she whispered. "You play with such ease; it will be over in no time. They will adore you."
How could Edward ever begin to explain to her that wasn't exactly it? Instead, he chose to simply grin at her. How could he ever tell anyone as innocent as she the terrible things he heard every day? Perhaps it was better to let her think it was nerves.
Just as some of the dwarves Edward had yet to meet was about to finished their act, Otto and Lewis rushed backstage at the last minute. Otto, with his pinstripe suit to show his features, was quite well put together. Lewis, one the other hand, was still carrying half his attire in his arms.
Edward gawked as Emily snickered a little and covered her mouth with her hand to keep from making too much noise. Bertha scolded Lewis for his bad timing. She spun him around and immediately set to work on his tie. "Oh, Lewis! Really, now!"
Lewis spread his arms. "Can a man be a few minutes late?"
"Not in the carnie circuit!" Bertha whispered, quickly finishing his bow tie. Lewis drew in a sharp intake of breath when she accidentally made it too tight. Bertha frowned and hesitantly loosened it.
"Sorry," she said in a monotone voice.
Edward cracked a smile as Otto and Emily Beth held on to each other in order to compile themselves. The dwarves, who had finished their act, bowed and came backstage.
One of them drew the curtains shut and turned to the group. His eyes were serious, but his mouth played at a smile as he dramatically lowered his hands like a musician hushing his instrument band.
"Ssssshhhhh," he said to them before exiting out the back. No one could look at each other for a moment for fear of starting the chain all over again.
The show went rapidly on as the manager began to announce the final act: theirs. "Ladies and gentlemen! And now for our final performance, featuring our newest member, which you've all been waiting to see…"
"We're on! Places, everyone!" Otto whispered.
They all formed a kind of line up: musicians first, dancers, and Otto at the rear. Edward took the stage behind Bertha and, careful to follow everyone's example, tipped his top hat to the audience with a grin but didn't take it off. He took his seat at the piano, which had been positioned to partially face the audience.
Emily and Lewis took center stage and bowed to the audience before assuming their position. The audience gasped when they noticed Lewis' affliction. Lewis, apparently accustomed to it, offered no change in posture. But Emily, who was facing Edward in their first position, shook her head slightly and raised her chin a little, careful to maintain her smile. With the light shining on them, Emily and Lewis looked like quite the lady and gentleman. Lewis had an exotic, sophisticated appearance with his hair braided to the side. Emily had the look of an angel; her strawberry blonde hair, fair skin, and light blue dress glowed so softly in the light.
Edward steadied his hands on the keys and struck an intro note to forewarn everyone that he was about to start. Then he immediately began to play, and felt wind as Lewis began to twirl Emily Beth 'round and 'round. But he didn't get lost in the music this time. He played to the audience, and was shocked to find that they truly adored the entire performance.
Some stared with open mouths as they watched Emily and Lewis' waltz. Others were tilting their heads to the side to get a better look at Otto, and the rest were astounded by Edward's ability to play the piano. And Edward found himself naturally able to put on a show. He'd smile at the audience and deliberately exaggerate the movements of his hands. He had more fun than he'd ever had before.
At the end of the song, he ran his fingers down the keys of the piano as a finale and rose from his seat as Emily and Lewis took their last bow. He waited until everyone else had taken their bows, then felt his heart sink as he took the middle of the stage. There was such uproar of applause when he approached, he dreaded what he must do next. But he was careful to keep his smile and hands steady as he reached for his hat.
In one swift, fluid motion, he defeated the purpose of everything he'd done. Any pleasure he gave the audience with his sweet melody was quickly replaced by screams and horror when he fulfilled his fateful end of the bargain and took a backwards bow to reveal the hideous devil face on the back of his skull to them. He felt his smile fade away. He'd played to no avail. He may as well just take the stage for a bow from now on.
Edward never looked back to see who had and hadn't stayed. He put his hat back on his head with a grimace and followed the other carnies offstage.
He was no musician. He was a carnie: a freak. He'd known this from birth, but was surprised to still find himself bothered whenever he was reminded. Edward stood like a statue as everyone else rejoiced at how successful their new act was. For a moment, he heard nothing. Everything seemed distant. Of course they thought it successful; the whole purpose of the show was to amuse, and ultimately terrify, the audience. It was what they paid to see, after all.
A gentle voice amongst the chaos suddenly caught his attention by saying his name. "Edward?"
Emily Beth. He slowly turned his head, eyes unblinking to look at her. Edward could see the deep sympathy in her grey-blue eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked quietly.
Before Edward could find his words, the manager burst into the tent all smiles. He had to reach up to pat Edward's shoulders with his hands. Edward kept his hands rested on his cane, not even phased.
"Well done, Mordrake! Weeeellll done! You've brought this show from the ground to the skies, you have. Keep doing exactly what you're doing, my good man!"
Some of the freaks were already cracking open the wine. Those who already had a glass raised it, while the others cheered. Otto brought Edward a glass, which he took with no intention of drinking. The manger went on to talk about the success and the agenda for the next week.
He concluded by saying, "For the next show, we have the miners coming into town. You all know the routine. Ladies, stay close by. And gentlemen, please make sure to watch over the ladies until the miners leave. Emily Beth and her partner will stay center stage for their entire dance. Sad to say these men do not get to see women very often, but we must keep it in mind. Does everyone understand?"
Edward looked to Emily and Bertha as everyone agreed. How could men have become so dishonorable they would even think of hurting such wonderful ladies as this?
The manager moved on. "Very good. Wonderful show tonight, everyone! Now, all of you get plenty of rest for a day of rehearsal tomorrow. For the day after that, is the next show."
Everyone applauded as the manager took a bow. Edward snuck away in the middle of the festivities, allowing the fiend to let its voice be heard once more so he wouldn't have to bear his own thoughts. He would have stayed as long as possible, if he could. To delay the sound of that terrible voice.
He threw the flap to the tent aside and paced the room with wild eyes as the fiend spat out horrible accusations against his coterie. Needless to say, the demon wasn't fond of being silenced by the presence of the carnies, or whichever member caused that horrible voice to cease.
"Those damned freaks…"
"Corrupted…"
"Monstrous."
"Diseased…"
"Bastards…"
"Whore!"
The last word caught Edward's attention. He grabbed the sides of his own head and gave it a violent shake. "Ssssssilence! Stop this now!"
There a moment of silence. Edward relaxed a little and sat down on his side, resting his hands and forehead on his cane. Suddenly, he heard that dreaded voice once more.
"….All freaks go to hell."
"Send them to hell…"
"Send them to hell…"
Edward covered his ears, which he already knew never helped. He fell back against the pillows and endured the fiend's fit, hoping he could wait it out and at least get some rest tonight.
…
Emily Beth
"Emily!"
Emily Beth turned her horse around only to see Matthew, the carnie worker who gave it to her, standing at the gate with a bundle of blankets in his arms.
As usual, the horse started to paw at the sight of Matthew.
"Steady, Lady!" Emily dismounted and cautiously led the horse the rest of the way.
The carnie circuit's newest horse, Lady, got her name by her nature. Matthew, the man that normally minded what few horses they had, could not do a thing with her. He got so frustrated on his third day with her, he was nearly ready to shoot her. Emily Beth begged him for a chance with her, and took Matthew up on his offer when he stated that the horse was Emily's if she could accomplish one thing with her.
It turned out Lady was simply an absolute woman's horse. Therefore, Emily Beth saw fit to name her Lady. She worked with her almost every chance she got. Emily Beth loved her; she was the only gift Emily had really ever earned for herself.
Lady tolerated standing an arm's length away from Matthew as he and Emily spoke.
"Have you managed to tame that wild animal yet?" he teased.
Emily Beth patted Lady's nose. Lady pawed and made a snorting sound when Matthew came into her view. "She is not a wild animal. She is perfect!"
Lady lowered her head to the ground when Emily Beth patted her nose. "What are those blankets, Matthew?"
Matthew lowered his head. "The manager thought the carnies might need extra blankets. It's cold tonight, but… It's late. I think both the ladies and gentlemen might react better to… a lady such as yourself offering the blankets than they would to me."
"Well, you might startle some of them a bit…" Emily teased.
Matthew smiled. "Also, 'tis late, Em. You know the miners could be in town any time. It is not safe for you to ride alone, even with a steed such as your Lady. I thought I might put her away while you take the blankets."
Emily hesitantly took the blankets and offered him Lady's reins with a knowing look. As soon as she stepped away, Lady whinnied and reared on her hind legs.
Matthew pulled back on her reins. "Whoa!" he shouted.
Emily laughed as Lady resorted to walking around in circles. "Or I could do both."
"No, no! I have it." Matthew paced around with Lady, trying to stop her. Emily shook her head with a smile and set out to deliver the blankets.
Otto and Lewis were already asleep, passed out cold from the wine. Emily Beth went ahead and draped the blankets over them. She moved on to Bertha, who was in need of a bigger bed, due to the fact that she took up all of it. How could she possibly be comfortable?
Emily counted the blankets… There should have only been three left, but there were four. Suddenly it dawned on her what Matthew had done.
Oh, that horrible man.
She went ahead and covered Bertha with both blankets. Since Bertha's tent was next to hers, she tossed the next to last blanket on her bed as she passed and moved on to the last tent. Edward Mordrake's.
As she drew closer to his tent, which was set a little further apart from everyone else, she began to wonder how he was coming along. Edward was so talented…and so handsome in manner. She still believed that, regardless of his second face, he could make history as a musician.
He seemed so saddened by the turn of the crowd's reaction at the end. She'd seen the same look with every newcomer, and had even felt that way herself. Emily wanted to tell him that she'd never seem them so transfixed as they were when he played. That their surprise did not mean his music was for naught, but he'd slipped away in the midst of their festivities.
She hesitated outside his tent. Should she call to him first? He was a gentleman, after all. Emily Beth gently pulled back the flap of his tent to see if he was sleeping. She froze when she saw that he was…in a way. But he thrashed and gasped like a child having a terrible nightmare. Sometimes he winced and covered his ears, turning side to side. All in his sleep.
Emily Beth tried not to look at the other face out of respect, but noticed that its lips were moving when he turned to his other side. Within seconds, he was facing her once more.
She entered and reached out to wake him gently from his nightmare, but then stopped. She remembered it would be improper and decided to gently drape the blanket over him, like she had the others. Just as she was about to leave, he bolted upright with wild eyes and seized her by the throat.
Emily Beth panicked when she realized she couldn't breathe or speak. Edward's eyes were still wide and unseeing. She tapped his wrist twice, but was too weak. The only other thing she knew to do was to slap him hard in the face.
Edward startled awake and gaped in shocked when he saw what he was doing. Emily steadied herself on his nightstand when he let her go. When she looked at him next, he gathered the second blanket in his hands, realizing what she'd been trying to do.
He looked up at her slowly with gentle, frightened eyes. Then at his hands. Edward began to get out of bed and reached out to her. "Emily Beth…"
Emily Beth winced at the pain when she tried to swallow and rushed out of his tent. She felt so ashamed; she should have just left the blanket for him at the foot of his bed. He called out to her again, but didn't pursue her. Emily made it a priority to get a cold rag on her throat to keep a bruise from appearing. If the manager found out, he would be furious. She had to make sure he didn't.
I shouldn't have run away… I shouldn't have…
Emily tried pressing a cold rag to her throat, and was overwhelmed by a feeling of nausea. She slipped under the back of her tent and vomited what little she was allowed to eat for dinner. She slipped back under when she was finished and cried as she held the cloth to her throat. When it was warm, she dipped it in cool water and held it to her neck and throat again.
She would be hungry until morning. She was still hungry before, but there was no possible way she would get anything else until then.
Later that night, she lay under the blankets, seeing the fear in Edward's eyes every time she closed hers.
PS- That's it for this chapter! Sorry about the cliffhanger. So… did anyone see tonight's American Horror Story episode? Crazy!