Jessica felt queasy still and hastily returned the offensive scrap to its hiding place, nearly getting a paper cut in her rush. The urge to throw the entire volume into the fireplace and light it ablaze was overwhelming, but good sense took hold. There had to be a reason this information had been revealed to her. But why? She was no fool, having read horror stories about side shows and the perpetual abuse those featured often endured, but to her, this event suddenly seemed more personal. This was more than just reading a history of horrid events. She could feel it.

Unable to discern the answer, Jessica took a steeling breath and turned to the final page. It held only a simple clipping:

Volturi Circus Bloodbath!

Owner; Customers Found Dead!

No Suspects! No Clues! Police Dumbfounded!

Stolen Property Found Amongst Ringleader's Gear.

The article went on to account how one morning the troupe of clowns associated with the circus had gone looking for the ringmaster, one Aro Volturi, and instead found him and approximately twenty men from the surrounding towns inside the mermaid show tent, all dead, with no visible signs of bodily injury other than the obvious. All performers were questioned, with the exception of the now missing mermaids, and the case closed, as no valuable information was acquired.

Jessica snorted at the writer's glib statement that since mermaids did not exist, they were just living up to their potential, which is why none were found in the tent.

Suddenly exhausted, Jessica looked around and realized it was well past eleven o'clock, and decided to go to bed.

"Michael?" she called.

"Hmmm?" he responded from the library.

She made her way towards his voice and discovered him deeply entrenched in a book. Dozens of volumes surrounded his chair.

"I think I am going to turn in."

"Ok, dear. I think I'm going to keep reading. Fascinating stuff. It's…"

She held up a hand to stop him. "Maybe you can tell me the Cliff Notes version in the morning."

Michael smiled, knowing how his fascination with the Masen family was not her cup of tea. "Alright, love. Sleep well!" He blew her a kiss and was back engrossed with his book before she could return the sentiment.