The next day, Kol found Bonnie levitating silverware and pencils in the kitchen again. He sat down and watched. "You know," he said, "I used to go to the sideshows on Coney Island and none of the magic the magicians claimed to be able to do was ever as convincing as this."

"Well, of course not," Bonnie told him. "It was rare for the people that worked the carnivals to have actual talent. I mean, some of them might have, but it wasn't common." She let a pencil drop.

"I know I'm too god to just waste my talents on a sideshow, but that begs the question of what I should actually *do* with my powers. I want to help people, of course, but I also want to, you know, keep my agency. I don't want to be used anymore."

"Well, of course," Kol agreed. "Who would? But the good thing is that you don't have to decide right now. You can do whatever you want. Give yourself time to think and maybe something will come to you."

"I know what might help," Bonnie told him. "Let's go out and walk around town. Maybe I'll think of something then."

They left the house and drove into town where they noticed that signs advertising a circus coming to town.

"It comes tomorrow," Bonnie said. "I think we should go. It could be fun." She looked at Kol. "Would you want to?"

"Sure," Kol nodded. "It could be fun. Let's do it."

"Are you positive you won't think it's stupid?" Bonnie asked.

"Of course I don't think circuses are stupid!" Kol exclaimed. "Circuses have clowns and clowns are creepy. You don't want to mess with clowns."

"You're scared of clowns?" Bonnie asked, trying her best to repress a giggle. "Who would have thought."

"Don't go spreading it around," Kol told her. "I don't want people to know. I prefer to be thought of as invincible."

Bonnie patted his cheek. "Awww!" She smiled. "I think that's cute. Unbelievable, but cute."

That night, Kol twisted and turned as freaky grinning clowns with glowing eyes danced through his dreams. In the morning, he found himself alone in the bed. "Bonnie?" He called, looking around? Where are you? Are you being sneaky?"

"No," Bonnie replied. "Look down beside the bed."

Kol looked down. "Why are you down there?" He asked when he saw her lying on the floor.

"What did you dream about last night?" Bonnie asked. "You were thrashing around so much, you knocked me out of bed twice and after the second time, I figured it would just be safer to stay down here."

"Are you all right?" Kol asked. "I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"

"No," Bonnie winced, sitting up. "Nothing I can't handle."

Kol gave her his hand and pulled her up to stand. He put his arms around her and then whispered in her ear, "Any bumps?"

"No," Bonnie shook her head. "I promise, I'm fine."

Kol sighed. "All right," he said. "So, what now? Breakfast?"

"Yeah," Bonnie said. "Then get dressed and go into town. It's circus day, remember?"

"Oh, yes," Kol replied, wincing. "It's circus day. My joy knows no bounds."

"If you're too scared to go, we don't have to," Bonnie assured him. "You know I would never force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."

"No," Kol shook his head. "If it would make you happy to go, I'll survive somehow. When the clowns come out, I will slip discreetly to the bathroom and come back when it's all over."

"The circus?" Bonnie asked. "Or the clowns?"

Kol shrugged. "Whichever. It doesn't really matter."

They ate breakfast and then got in the car and drove downtown to the convention center where the circus was being held.

They walked in the airy, high-ceilinged building and were surprised that there weren't more people around. Or at least Bonnie was.

"There aren't very many people here," Bonnie observed. "I wonder why." Kol opened his mouth and Bonnie cut him off. "And don't you say 'clowns'."

"Okay," Kol nodded. "You didn't hear it from me."

Suddenly, one of the performers passed them and Bonnie gripped Kol's arm tight. "Oh, my god!" She cried. "I just saw a friend of mine."

"You have a friend who works here?" Kol asked. "Let's go say hello, then."

They managed to find the woman again and when she saw Bonnie, she didn't seem too happy.

"You shouldn't be here," she said. "It's not safe for someone like you, Bonnie."

"That's what I tried to tell her!" Kol replied. "But she wouldn't listen!"

Bonnie scoffed. "The only reason he didn't want me to come is that he thought the clowns would attack me. Absolutely ridiculous. What's your excuse, Julie?"

"Maybe he's not being ridiculous," Julie replied. "There's something a little different about our circus. Watch and see if you figure it out, then run away from here as quickly as you possibly can."

"Why?" Kol asked. "Is her life in danger? If it is, you need to tell us right now."

"No," Julie shook her head. "I can't. At least not here. Watch the show. Trust me, you'll figure it out for yourselves pretty quckly if you're paying any attention. Now, I've got to go. I've probably said more than I should already. Just one question left. Are you still practicing magic, Bonnie?"

"I wasn't for awhile, but I just started again."

Julie sucked in her breath. "That's bad timing." Then, as another performer came towards them, Julie grinned. "Enjoy the show!"

"Well, that was odd," Bonnie remarked as they got their tickets. "I wonder what she was talking about?"

But as they watched, it became very apparent. "This is a very good circus," Kol commented as they watched the tightrope walker. "Of course, they haven't brought out the clowns yet, but that woman doesn't look like it's taking her any effort at all to balance herself on that rope."

And then the strongman appeared. He claimed to be able to lift an enormous boulder that took up one whole wall of the circus tent. "I don't think he can do it," Bonnie whispered to Kol. "But I'm prepared to be amazed." And she was as the man, with a grunt, lifted the boulder with one hand. Everyone stood up and cheered, but Bonnie stayed seated. "I just don't think that's possible," Bonnie told Kol. "Even the strongest guy in the world couldn't lift a boulder that large."

But the strangest thing was when the clowns were introduced. "Are you gonna go now?" Bonnie asked Kol, her tone dry.

"Yeah," Kol nodded. "I'm gonna take my phone and when it's all over, you just call me, all right?"

"Fine," Bonnie grinned. "But I really think you're being a big baby about this."

Kol picked up his phone, stuck out his tongue and did his best to stride out of the room with dignity.

Once he was gone, the clowns came on. The first one did some rudimentary "magic", rabbit out of a hat and that sort of thing, and then they asked for a volunteer from the audience. He sent his lovely assistant to find someone, and when she reached Bonnie's row, she grinned. "How about you, sweetheart? Wanna come be famous?"

"Sure," Bonnie nodded. "Why not?" She got up to follow the woman, thinking what a shame it was that Kol wasn't around to see her perform.

"Okay," the smiling clown said. "Let's put this blanket over you and I'll say the magic words, whereupon, you will disappear!"

Bonnie did her best not to scoff. She grinned as the blanket was put over her and and then the clown muttered some words and she felt some pain and then she was being shifted in space and landing hard on a cold stone floor. She groaned and sat up, looking around.

"Damn it," said a voice. "I hoped they wouldn't catch you, but apparently, they did."

"Julie?" Bonnie whispered as her friend came toward her. "What's going on? Where am I?"

"In the basement," Julie replied. "This is where they put people until they're ready to deal with them."

"Deal with them how?" Bonnie asked.

"The ringmaster," Julie said. "He controls all of us. Every one is a witch or warlock he's taken. Forces us to work for him. Maybe once he realizes you don't use your powers anymore, he'll let you go."

"You're making all this up!" Bonnie exclaimed. "You really can't expect me to believe that I've been taken hostage at a circus run by a crazy man who wants to use me for my magic!"

"I wish I could say that I was making it up," Julie told her. "But I can't."

"And what about the rest of the guy's act?" Bonnie asked. "Won't it spoil the effect of the illusion if I don't come back?"

"Did you feel a prick before you ended up here?" Julie asked. "That was your blood being drawn. He can create a whole new you from that. Granted, it won't be the same as actual you, but it will be close enough that anyone you came with won't notice until it's too late. You've been trapped."

"That can't be right!" Bonnie protested. "There has to be a way out!" She tried to do some magic, but nothing happened.

"Why aren't my powers working?" Bonnie asked Julie in a panic.

"It's part of this room," Julie told her. "You can't use your powers until the ringmaster comes and questions you."

"And are you sure there's no other way out?" Bonnie asked.

"Yep," Julie nodded, sitting next to her friend and brushing her red hair out of her face. "I'm positive."

"I'm back!" Kol replied, sitting next to Bonnie on the bench and putting his arm around her. "Did you miss me?"

"Yes," she said, giving him a peck on the lips. "And you really missed a lot while you were gone. I was picked out of the crowd and asked to perform!"

"You were?" Kol asked. "Well, damn. I'm sorry I missed that! What'd they have you do?"

"It was a disappearing trick," Bonnie said. "But of course I came back. The guy doing it was surprisingly talented for a clown."

"But no magic anyone can do will ever be as impressive as watching you do it," He said to her.

As they walked out of the circus and to the car, Kol heard his phone ring. He grabbed it out of his pocket and frowned when he saw the number on the caller ID. "That's strange," he said. "It says you're calling me, but you're right here."

Bonnie shrugged. "I have no idea why it would say that. It was probably a prank caller. Best to ignore it."

"Yes," Kol said, taking her in his arms again. "That's what I'll do."

"Damn it, Kol!" Bonnie shouted into his message box. "The me your with is not me! She's a fake! I'm in trouble, please help me!" Groaning, she gave up and turned off her phone.

"No answer?" Julie asked, her voice full of sympathy.

"No," Bonnie shook her head. "No answer. I didn't think it was possible for me to feel this bad."

Just then, they heard cheerful whistling and the sound of plodding footsteps approaching.

"That's the ringmaster!" Julie whispered. "You think you feel bad now, be prepared to feel worse."

"I'm not scared," Bonnie said, standing up straight and thrusting her chin forward. "Let him come in here. I don't care."