Beth knew there was tension as she and the rest of the troupe made their way to the big top. Once inside, they started to make their way around backstage. "Places, everyone." Paul shouted. "Salty! Pepper! Move your asses!" The couple made their way around the front of the stage to get to the other side along with the dwarf man, Toulouse, when the music started.
Ethel took center stage while everyone else took there spot around her. Paul had pulled a cushioned chair for Beth to sit in in a suductive manner. she made sure that her wrap was cascaded behind her hip to reveal her leg.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Everything you heard is true. All that has been advertised is here under this tent." Ethel anounced. A singlespotlight shone on her and she turned around in a grand gesture. "Wonders! Curiosities! A plethora of the strange, the weird, the bizarre, the unusual!" She pointed to the right and the light shined on Paul making waves with his interlocked hands and Beth sitting in the chair giving a seducing glance to the two members of the crowd.
"Through jungles untamed to forests enchanted." Ethel poited to the left and the light landed on Salty and Pepper.
"From the dark continent to the spice-ladened lands of India." The light shone on Eve and she pulled a curtain off of a cage to reveal Ma Petit.
"Astounding mistakes of nature. and they're here for your amusement and education. What you're about to see will astound your very senses, and harrow, yes, harrow your very souls. And tonight, for the first time anywhere, the spectacular Siamese
sisters." The light then shone on the twins. The only male member of the audience had seemed to take an interest in them in that moment. "But amongst the terrifying and the tragic, a voice and beauty. Ladies and gentlemen, from the cabarets of prewar Berlin, the enchantress sway all over nature's mistakes, Elsa Mars."
The light then faded as a piano started playing. The stage had been cleared as Elsa had appeared and started sing "Life On Mars". And if Beth were honest, she thought it was beautiful. She decided to get some water for Elsa when she would finish her number, but stopped when she saw the only make member of the audience trying to talk to the twins. She immidiately panicked when she heard him say, "So, how much?"
Beth jogged over and quickly pulled the cigarette out of Bette's mouth and threw it on the ground. "Those can kill you, Bette." She scorned. She then turned to the man and glared. "I don't know what made you think you could come back here, but those ticket you bought were to see the show, not for backstage passes." She then ushered the twins out to the front of the stage. "Elsa, there's a creep backstage."
"I'm not a creep." He whined as he followed them.
"My son must have been curious to see if there were anymore monster hiding in the back." The older woman defended. "Looks as though he found some." She chuckled rudely.
Beth then smirked. "Yeah, I've been known to bite off a few heads when someone is rude." She chuckled when the older woman's sneer fell.
"Mother, I want them." The man said as he pointed to Bette and Dot.
"My monsters are not prostitutes." Elsa interjected.
"You misunderstand. We don't want to buy them for the night. We want to buy them. Period. Five thousand dollars." The older woman offered.
"For one, maybe. But there are two beauties here." Elsa said.
"Okay, ten thousand!" The young man countered.
"Have you any idea what kind of box office they'll bring in over the next year?" Elsa asked. "They're my headliners. Let's ask them." She then turned to the twins. "Do you think ten thousand is a fair price for you?"
"Fifteen thousand and not a penny more. Unless she grows another head." The two shared a laugh at that.
"We're staying right here." Dot said sternly.
"This is our home." Bette added.
The mother and son seemed shocked at this. But Elsa chuckled. "Darlings, that's just what I wanted hear. I knew it . One night in the spotlight, and you've got the bug. You're one of us." She then turned back to the visitors. "You see? We are a troupe of entertainers. A family. And you will not split up our family." Some members nodded in agreement.
"Come, Dandy. I need a long, hot bath." The woman said. Beth's blood ran cold when she heard the name. "Though nothing will was away the ghastly memory of that infernal catterwalling. By far, the most freakish thing of all tonight was your pathetic attempt at singing."
At the end of that statement, Beth started toward the woman, but Paul came up and put his arms around her and whispered, "She ain't worth it, love." So, she relaxed in his grasp and watched the two leave.
Everyone went their separate ways and Paul and Beth went to their trailer. Paul was relieved that no one got hurt. But Beth was still ranting of about the rude lady. "Who the Hell does she think she is?! I mean, honestly!"
Her rants continued until Paul decided to firmly press his lips against hers to silence. He was happy for the silence, but he knew the moment he pulled away, she would go off on him. Once he pulled away, he saw that Beth seemed to be dazed with her eyes closed. Once she opened her eyes, she looked at Paul and whispered, "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, love." Paul chuckled. "We're used to being seen as monsters now."
"Doesn't mean that you should." Beth whispered. She then started kissing him again. Both inked humans were so wrapped in their passionate haze that they never saw the clown pass their window.
A few days had passed with ease. Paul and Beth were more open about their relationship and the twins were more active around the camp. One morning in particular, though, everything was put to a halt when Jimmy was searching the radio for a news station. He got to one and everyone listened. "The town of Jupiter is at a standstill for a second week as four murders remain unsolved and a child goes missing. Schools stand like mausoleums. Their attendants drastically decline as parents keep their children safely home. And we have learned, though this report has not been confirmed, that one of their own, possibly a Jupiter police detective, has, himself, been missing for two days. Reliable sources in the police department have circulated the clarion cry that 'No stone will be left unturned.' The boys in blue are out for blood." Jimmy then turned off the radio as a police car had rolled up. Beth ran to Elsa's tent, knowing she had a phone.
"Elsa, can I possibly use your phone?" She asked.
"Yes, darling. Is something wrong?" The boss lady asked.
"The fucking pigs are here to harass us. And my dad has a lawyer who would love a case like this." Beth explained. She found the phone and started dialing an all too familiar number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Peter. It's Beth."
"Baby Beth? Marcus' daughter?" Came a laugh over the phone. "How are you, sweetheart?"
"Workwise, I've been very fortunate. But, lately, cops have been harassing us."
"Why would the cops harass you?"
"C'mon, Peter. You know there's no justice for freaks in this world."
"Freaks? You mean-"
"Yeah, I'm part of a freakshow now. But some local murders are being put on us because they can't find the real killer. I really need your help Peter. Besides, you know that when you clear us, you could make national headlines."
"Not all lawyers are blood-sucking narcissists." He chuckled.
"Yeah, but your law firm would love the coverage."
"That is very true. How soon do you want me there?"
"Like five minutes ago."
"Be grateful I'm in Orlando. I should be there in few hours."
"Please, hurry. I'm afraid for our safety, Peter." And with that, Beth hung up. She turned around to leave when she saw two cops in cheap suits standing at the entrance to the tent. "Pardon me." She whispered as she tried to pass by them. She then slipped by. Walking back to her seat to finish her eggs, she spotted another car coming down the dirt road. But this one put a smile on her face. She jumped up and ran to car.
Paul tried to see who was in the car and saw an older gentleman step out. He had to admit he was slightly jealous when he saw Beth hugging the man like her life depended on it. She then all but dragged him over to introduce him to everyone. "Everyone, this is my father, Marcus." Hearing her call the man her father both eased and concerned Paul.
"Nice to know my daughter's being taken care of, especially since those murders started." Marcus said. "And now, their talking about a cop going missing. Now, I don't trust the cops anymore than I can throw them, but that spells trouble for everyone who has problems with them."
"You're not like let civilians who come to see us, Marcus." Eve said.
"How so?" The man asked.
"You talk to us like we're normal." Sue answered.
"I was never under the impression that you weren't." He said. "Raising Beth made me learn back when she was a child that normal isn't real. It's a construct built the powers-that-be to make everyone feel as though they have to live up to a specific standard. If I had lived up to those standards, I would never have invented the lie detector."
"You made the lie detector?" Paul asked.
"If you wanna be technical, yes. My best friend in college, John Larson, was the one who came up with the idea, he simply asked me to build the test rounds. Once we had the basic construct of the detector, I was able to put it together. John wanted full credit, and I told him as long as he compinsated generously for my family, he could have it. That's how I earn my living. I get forty percent of every detector purchased. And since John still calls me to make upgraded versions every year, the value increases."
Beth beamed at her father. This was the man she came from and he was the best part of her family. But then she got to thinking about the worst. "Hey, Dad, where's Mom?"
"She's with her sister." Marcus answered. "She said she needed a break from your drama and decided to go to Orlando yesterday to visit Mildred."
Beth shuddered at the mention of her aunt's name. Mildred was one of the worst people anyone could associate with. She constantly gossiped, spread rumors around, she even accused Marcus of having an incestuous affair with his daughter. Someone like Mildred always caused drama because her own sad, pathetic life was too miserable to live without stirring up trouble for everyone else.
"Well, maybe Peter could call someone to keep an eye on her." She said.
"Why can't Peter, watch her himself?"
"Because I called him this morning and told him we would need a lawyer. The cops are suspicious of us just because we're different. I figured Peter was the best person to call to help us." Beth explained.
"Smart on your part, Littlebit." Her father said. "He may be the only person who fully grasps the situation."
"What would some rich lawyer know about defending people like us?" Eve asked.
Beth giggled. "Yes, Peter is a rich lawyer. But he's a lawyer who understands a lot more than you're giving him credit for."
This confused everyone. But Marcus decided to change the subject. "Since you all have been good by my Beth, how about I treat you all to lunch in town. Where ever you all want to eat." That seemed to lift everyone's spirit. This got the group to think that maybe there was hope for people outside the freakshow. Maybe they could be accepted. Maybe, just maybe.