I peered out through the tent flaps;
There were two men sitting in the back of the numerous rows of seats, almost hidden in the shadows that night brought. I watched Elsa perform 'Life on Mars' and lip sync through the entire ordeal. I watched the bearded lady appear on the stage as well as Jimmy and also the Strong Man who easily hefted up Amazon Eve on his shoulder. My turn would come during the intermission. I was to walk out into the sea of empty seats and blow fire overhead. Somehow I was supposed to seduce the men in the very back because they were new to Jupiter and were looking for a good time. Elsa told me that perhaps if they saw a good show, they would recommend us and we'd get more customers.
I was wearing my red and yellow leotard, and my skin was painted bright red aside from my eyes and cheekbones which were a deep orange. My hair had been shaved back slightly to expose my horns more and make me look more like a creature from hell.
I didn't care, I just had to get through this act then scrub off the makeup. That was my goal for this evening.
Ma Petite, the worlds smallest woman, waved and smiled before she began blowing kisses and giggling in such a way that it made butterflies flutter in your stomach. The two men in the back watched without reaction at one of our finest acts as she opened up a bird cage and stepped inside, daintily holding her skirt to keep it from snagging. She stepped in with no hassle or fuss before she waved once more, completely inside the cage. Amazon Eve picked up the cage and hefted Ma Petite over her head as if she were a pedistal for the tiny woman.
I closed my eyes, attempting to envision what it would sound like if there was a massive audience outside the tent. That's when I felt a finger on my shoulder and Elsa pushed me towards the empty stage.
Following me, the 'ringmaster' grinned like a super-model.
"We will have a brief intermission, in the meantime, watch and be amazed by our newest act; The Fire Eating She-Devil!"
I tried not to react at the appalling new title I was given, but I couldn't help it as a blush crept onto my face. The two men in the very back did not move nor clap this time, I felt beyond terrified that I might screw up my act.
I carefully lit the match and clumsily lit the torches in either hand, one after the other. A moment later I clenched both torches in my one hand as I sucked a large ammount of gasoline from the canteen I'd brought with me.
The gasoline in my throat burned something awful, but I forced back any complaints before I held the torch a half-foot from my lips.
I blew out a massive pillar of fire that expanded to the center of the tent before diminishing entirely once the gasoline was licked up from the fires. I tried to see how the two men had reacted, but I couldn't see now; I was on a roll.
I downed another mouthful of gas before I blew a tornado of fire overhead; causing it to spin madly like a top. My heart fluttered in my chest when I saw the remnants of the flames vanishing.
My final act now.
I blew another pillar, but this time in the face of the tent flaps where a faint breeze was coming in. I hoped it was enough.
I watched as the fires ricocheted back towards me, I held my hands open as if I was welcoming the flames and they vanished just before they were to hit my face to give it the illusion that I'd inhaled the flames.
Still a torch left and Elsa had not returned to pull me off the stage. I picked up the torch and began to pass it from palm to palm.
"I will need a volunteer from the audience." I said in a booming voice, a smile flickering on my deep red lips. I knew the couple heard me, and I knew that they were now debating who should join me.
When no one stood up, I ran out towards the crowd, smiling like a child.
"I will choose..."
Now I had a good look at the audience. It was an old man and a boy who looked about Jimmy's age. Who to choose?
I pointed at the sulking figure of the boy and grinned.
"Come with me, boy. Let us show your friend, here, that you have your own magic."
The boy looked like he was about to complain before he shrugged and stood up. He was taller than me; how marvelous.
He followed me without a word as I began to contemplate what I would do with my guest.
"Stand right here." I said after a moment. The teen stood stock still where I'd assigned him and stared at me, his brows furrowing together in either curiosity or boredom.
"Look..." I giggled as I tossed the torch over the boy. If I didn't match this perfectly, the boy would lose his hair, so I had to nail it.
The audience member cowered as soon as I caught the ball of flames from the torch and seemingly swallowed them. I caught the empty torch in my free hand with a wide, psychotic grin.
"Well done... Look... are you burnt?" I asked him, stalking around the lean boy slowly. The teen looked physically shaken, but shook his head.
"Want to try another trick?" I giggled. The boy nodded enthusiastically as I relit the torch.
"I want you to sit down and let me cover you with this..." I said with a smile as I handed him the black blanket. Elsa and the others were watching with both fear and anxiety on their faces.
From the other crowd-members point of view, he watched as I lit his companion completely on fire.
When the lump of the boy didn't move, I grinned as I watched the blanket turn completely into ash.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" The crowd member shouted loud enough for my heart to pound, even though I knew already it was a trick.
"What have I done? I have done nothing!" I said as the boy reappeared off the side of the stage, being brought by Ma Petite who continued to smile and wave.
The boy looked petrified.
"Well done!" I giggled as I pressed a passionate kiss against the boys lips (Elsa said I had to seduce the men, so why don't I? After all, the younger was rather handsome). I lead him back towards his seat.
"Were you afraid?" I giggled like a gremlin.
"N-no." The boy replied with a nervous smirk. "What's your name then?" He asked. But I ran off before I could answer; gone without a reply for the boy who I'd managed to burn alive and spare from the grueling flames.