Remember when I said Chapter 10 was coming out this Asian Friday/Western Thursday night? xD Had enough free time to write this chapter today. Enjoy! ~Jen
CHAPTER 10
The twins arrived at Fraulein Elsa's Cabinet of Curiosities before twelve noon, just in time to catch the afternoon matinee. Daniella was frustrated, regretting her decision to drive and getting no sleep, and Dandy's droning voice going on and on about why their mother should stop trying to make him have kids of his own was only making it worse.
As soon as she stopped the car, she looked around—it was empty, save from the carnies she saw walking by the tent. "I thought there was a show here."
"There is," He said, his mood dramatically brightened. "It's just us—just like mother and I last time."
Dandy dragged a sleepy Daniella, paid for tickets and dashed into the tent. It's not like you'll have a hard time picking the best seats, she rolled her eyes.
"You sure know how to pick 'em." Next to the lobster boy that gave Dandy the tickets, a pretty blonde watched Dandy run bemusedly. Daniella wondered what was so freakish about her.
"That's my brother." Daniella said coolly. The lobster boy, blonde and quite a looker, grinned at her.
"That's your brother? The name's Jimmy by the way, this here's Maggie." Daniella politely held out her hand to shake his, and for a split second, Jimmy looked like he was amazed someone would want to touch his exposed hands. "You're not from the Tupperware party last week, were you?"
"I just came from a few days ago."
"Oh," He smiled. "You know your brother wanted to join us, right?"
"If you have room for another freak, I'd be happy to sign his release papers." Daniella said dryly, and Jimmy and Maggie laughed.
"You're cool." Maggie said, hopping down the platform. "I see…I see a great sadness in your future, but also it will bring you joy and relief and…I can't tell what the third one is."
"Are you a mind-reader?" Daniella raised an eyebrow.
"Miss Mystic Esmeralda," Maggie bowed. "Enjoy the show."
"DANIELLA!" They heard Dandy's scream from the inside.
"I better go," Daniella rolled her eyes, causing Maggie to giggle.
"Enjoy the show, miss." Jimmy called as she walked on. "It's gonna be a great show."
~0~0~0~
It was a horrible show. The show's starter, a bearded lady, stuttered and struggled to stay still, coughing and wheezing throughout her monologue, and time to time getting her directions wrong. The music hit wrong notes every now and then, the sword swallower choked and pulled his sword only halfway in. The lights were late, and the legless lady fell so much that it was no longer funny. Daniella politely clapped at every act, but took small glances at Dandy, whose face was reddening.
It was when the Siamese twins hit the wrong notes in their song did Dandy scream and ruin the show.
"THIS IS CRAP!" He screamed at the gaping freaks. "IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER LAST TIME!."
"Dandy, sit down." Daniella said firmly, but Dandy kicked the empty chairs to the side to make their way to the bottom of the stage, completely ignoring his sister.
"I HOPE YOU ALL CLOSE DOWN!" He whined, tipping over the music stands and shoving the bearded lady when she tried to stop him.
"HEY!" In unison, Jimmy and another bald, muscled man entered. Jimmy tackled Dandy, pushing him to the ground, and the other man looked in approval. Jimmy got up, grabbing Dandy by the neck. "What do you have to say?"
"Screw you guys," Dandy spat. "I know where I can get more fun with a freak of my own and a bigger audience than yours!"
Yanking Jimmy's arm off, Dandy ran out of the tent, leaving Daniella behind. Without a moment's hesitation, Daniella ran to the bearded lady, seeing her struggling to get up. The rest of the freaks froze, watching the normal, white rich girl help one of their own.
"I'm so sorry about my brother," Daniella said sincerely as she helped the lady up. The woman gasped as this girl brushed a hand on her face, checking for any cuts.
"That's very sweet of you, miss." The bearded lady looked like she was about to cry. "Helping people like us."
"You're people—period." Daniella said firmly. "Who says it's wrong to give you help?"
Behind her, Daniella heard the others whisper. Jimmy smiled gratefully, and behind him, Maggie raised an eyebrow but nodded in approval. The tall woman smiled at her, offering to take the bearded lady—Ethel—to her trailer.
"Thank 'ya Eve, but I'd rather Miss…Mott, is it? Yes, I'd rather have a word with Miss Mott—I think she deserves an explanation for this ruckus."
Daniella nodded, helping Ethel back to her trailer. As she left, she heard the bald man yell to start cleaning up, cancelling the evening show until they can give a better performance. They reached the trailer, a small but quaint space that could pass for Daniella's closet.
"Let me get you some tea, dear." Ethel said quietly, pouring some warm tea from a kettle. "I guess I should apologize for that poor play back there."
"You don't need to explain, ma'am," Daniella said respectfully.
"We're not that bad, we assure you," Ethel pressed on, trying to discreetly pour alcohol from her flask. "We just didn't get that much practice."
"Oh?" Daniella looked around the room, her eyes landing on a photo of Ethel and the lobster boy, Jimmy. That's her son, she noted. "It's fine, really."
"You see, Miss Mott…"
"Danie."
"Danie," Ethel corrected. "Do you believe in ghosts?"
"No, not really," Daniella grimaced. "There's really no proof."
"Not anymore." Ethel said somberly. "You see, Missm'—Danie—we have this legend for freak shows, and that makes us hesitant to practice on Halloween. But Miss Elsa made us perform and well…we're scared.
"Years ago, there was this English noble: he was handsome, intelligent, and was skilled in fine arts. But the thing was…he had this hideous second face on the back of his head, whispered no-good things only the devil could and drove the poor lad out of his wits. He escaped 'te asylum his family placed him in, and found work in a freak show, showin' off all the talent he got and then gave the audience a big ol' whoop showing that other face.
"So what happened?" Daniella knew she should be out looking for Dandy, but entertaining Ethel seemed the better of the two.
"He was mad—killed every single freak in the carnie before finishing himself off. The legend goes that if a freak performs on a Halloween night, he comes to take one of their own…and Miss Elsa performed."
"So you think he is going to attack?" Daniella asked helpfully.
"I don't think dear, I know." Ethel said gravely. "Saw him, right up those stairs over there, asked me to tell my story of…well, it was a shameful story he wanted."
"He asked for a story?"
"Sometimes he doesn't need to ask, sometimes he just gets it out of you." She wailed. "Suzy and Paul, they gave stories even though they didn't want to—Edward made them do that."
Daniella froze. "Edward?"
"Yes," Ethel nodded. "Edward Mordrake."
Daniella felt like an earthquake was consuming her whole body. Edward Mordrake? My Edward? No, that's just a coincidence, of course. "W-w-what did he look like, Ethel?"
"I wouldn't forget either of his faces." Ethel started. "Handsome in the front, long black hair, eyes the color of the sky, a bit less facial hair than yours truly…and he wore an, well, the old thing Englishmen wore back then. And then there was his face—you couldn't miss it because the hat he wore didn't block it off."
At that moment, every waking moment she had with Edward flashed in her mind.
The first time he laid eyes on her, their first date…with his hat tipped a bit backwards.
Yesterday…That fedora.
And last night. It was too dark to see.
And then there was that story of shame. I gave away my dignity by pretending to be in love with a man who cheated on me to win a stupid competition. That's shameful enough. And he didn't have to ask me…
"Something about you makes it easy for me to just tell you everything."
"You can always tell me anything, Daniella, my lovely."
Daniella wanted to hurl.
"Are you sure?" She could hear the sound of her heart breaking.
"Positive, dear."
Daniella wanted to scream. Edward—her Edward, the only man she could ever love—was a ghost.
"There is…is something else," Ethel was too focused that she didn't notice Daniella's reaction. "Something not in the legend but, when he came to me, I saw the pattern and thought it made sense."
"What did?" Daniella asked absentmindedly.
"The last time I saw him, I was with another troupe—took the fat lady for himself." She recalled. "Before that, old Barbra had cancer—incurable type—and was bound to die. I'm not doing so good myself right now, so I thought…I thought he planned on taking those who were bound to die. Y'know, for good mercy."
And then it clicked. Daniella knew. She understood.
She was scared.
"Thank you for the tea, Ethel." Daniella stood up, shaking. "I better get going."
"Honey, are you alright?" Ethel stood up, but before she could take a step forward, Daniella was running out the door.
Daniella walked as fast as she could, past the trailers, past the busy carnies, past the tent. Her hands shook too much and her head was spinning that she couldn't drive properly, and went past her car. She passed the end of where the dirt stopped and the fields of grass started, walking into the forest. She walked, and walked, and walked, until she heard it.
Stop.
"Get out here, Edward." Daniella commanded. "I know you're here."
In response, the wind shook the thin branches and the leaves blew. "Get out here, now." She repeated, her voice stronger, devoid of its sweet undertone.
She saw the green mist, but willed herself not to be scared. Edward appeared behind one of the trees in front of her, his face guilty and sad, back in the "costume" he wore the day they met, though his hat was straight.
"Daniella, my love…" Edward started. Daniella remembered the first time she locked eyes with him, how enchanted she was with him as he stood out against the crowd, how he danced with her throughout a whole song without ever taking his eyes off of her. Now knowing he was a ghost, there was nothing in hers. All Edward could see were anger and tears and betrayal.
He approached slowly. "Turn around." She ordered when he was still a few feet away from her to even touch her.
"Daniella…"
"Turn around!" She yelled.
He looked at her with defeated eyes and looked down. In a different life, I told you and you accepted me. You loved me for me, and not for what plagues me. I still hope you do, my darling, Edward thought. He obeyed and turned, giving her a clear view of the demon face that has—and still—plagued every part of his life.
It smiled at Daniella, but only Edward heard it greet her with a cold sneer.
Hello, Daniella.