After an encore or two, Alastor was allowed to call it a night and go home with Beth. The girl was extra careful not to let him see the clear bottle she had swiped from Rosie and hidden in her pocket, she felt a little guilty for stealing from someone who had been so kind to her but she figured that potion wouldn't be missed. After all Rosie was convinced that it was nothing more than a natural cough syrup and maybe it was but Beth figured there no harm in testing it out. She would give it to Charlie tomorrow afternoon and then long awaited meeting between her and Alastor would take place.

"Beth the next time you want to see me perform, mention it ahead of time instead of forcing Angel to bring you to the cabaret." Alastor said as they walked to his car. "He was late to his previous engagement and the whole thing ended up called off."

"Good." Beth said. "If you asked me he's better off not getting involved with a married couple."

"Beth!"

"Well you feel the same way don't you?"

"It doesn't matter what I believe. As his friend I must support his choices."

"But don't you also have to let him know when he's making a mistake?"

"I can give him advice and that's it. I don't judge him."

They were halfway back to his car when Alastor felt an uncomfortable feeling go up his spine. As if at that very moment he was being watched by something sinister. Or rather by someone sinister. He recognized that feeling because he had become accustomed to it as a child and just like when he was young, his first instinct was to hold Beth close until he was sure that the cost was clear.

"Al." Beth said confused by his sudden grabbing of her. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer. Instead he looked around quietly and cautiously, like a stag out in the open, checking for danger. He saw no obvious danger but he did see a man stalking his way to them. He was tall, taller than Alastor, with complexion lacked any color save for the red-inked tattoos covering the skin of his body. He wore a typical ring master's outfit but the clothes seemed to be lined with some type of fur and the fabric almost looked like it was apart of his flesh. In one hand he held a cigarette and in the other a cane that he walked with. His face was that of a human male's but both brother and sister could have sworn it resembled that of a goblin.

"Good evening." He greeted with a polite smile.

"Good evening." Alastor replied with an equally polite smile but kept Beth's distance from the man.

"Excuse the sudden approach but when I heard that old Rosie had a new act, I was just so eager to meet you." He said. "Allow me to introduce myself, Valentino. Of Valentino's Circus of Voodoo Tricks and Cajun Freaks."

"I'm familiar with your business. I'm also familiar with the fact that you're a rival of Ms. Calhoun and I don't think she would improve of me associating with you."

"Yes Rosie was never one for friendly competition. Anyway I saw your act from a distance and I must say I am impressed. You have real talent but it's wasted on this cabaret. If you perform here you'll never go any further than this small town."

"And I suppose if I were to work for you I would go many places?" Alastor knew his game before Valentino even started playing it.

"You catch on quick. Talented and smart."

"That's right. I am smart, as well as talented which is why I'm going to have to reject any offer you give me."

"You sure that's really smart? You see I'm no ordinary ringmaster."

"Yes I picked up on that when I noticed you wearing fur when it's been out of style for years."

"What I mean is being employed by me can grant you many benefits."

"Fame and fortune, I know. That's what they all say."

"But I don't just offer fame and fortune. I offer things beyond your wildest fantasies! Things you never thought possible!" He tried to sell. "Tell me boy, do you believe that wishes and dreams do come true? Because they can and I can make it so."

"I'm sure you can."

"Just name it and I can make it real." He took a puff of his cigarette and blew red smoke into Alastor's face. "Come on, there must be something I can tempt you with. For every heart there exists a wish. For every soul there burns a desire."

"True but for every wish there will be a price. For every desire there will be a cost. I do hate to be rude Mr. Valentino but I know how you circus people work and whatever you offer isn't nearly worth what one has to pay for it. I have decided to lend my musical talents to Ms. Calhoun's business and no other. So if you'll excuse me."

"Very well. I can accept being turned down but I would seriously reconsider remaining under Rosie's employment if I were you."

"Why is that?"

"Because she has a heart made of pure ice."

"That's not true!" Beth defended. "She's one of the kindest people we've ever met."

"Yes that's the funny thing about snow. It's beautiful and very pleasant in the beginning but underneath that perfect beauty is a cold, unfeeling, substance that kills any form of warmth. Rosie herself seems pleasant and sweet but she secretly envies everyone around her. She envies them because they live happily while she has to live in cold loneliness. She can't stand the idea of warmth because she can't feel it anymore so she destroys anyone who can still feel it. You two are a family, are you not? In time she'll become jealous of that and she'll try to snuff you out."

"I appreciate the concern." Alastor said not meaning it at all. "But I never listen to gossip."

"It's no form of idle of gossip."

He then threw a newspaper at their feet. The cover story was about several people from Chant de la Mer who had gone missing and their fates were never discovered.

"They were all employed by Rosie for sometime but then one day they just disappeared entirely and if you look deeper into their background, you'll find that they all had a family. She couldn't stand spending everyday with someone who had something she could never have and when her jealousy became too much, she got rid of them."

"This article proves nothing." Beth said.

"And if she is guilty of murder why is she not under investigation?" Alastor asked.

"Because witches don't murder with knives or guns."

Beth suddenly felt very afraid.

"You can't be serious?" Alastor said fighting the urge to laugh. "You honestly think Ms. Calhoun is a witch? That's wacky nonsense! Really, if you're going to try to tarnish someone's reputation at least do it with something logical."

"Yes I'm not surprised by your skepticism. Adults normally are but you're not skeptical are you little girl?" He grinned at Beth in a way that made her uncomfortable. "You know what I'm saying is the truth."

"I'll thank you not to frighten my sister." Alastor warned. "I work for Ms. Calhoun but I will not become a part of your rivalry with her and neither will anyone in my family. Now be about your business and kindly leave us to ours."

Without another word, Alastor put Beth in his car and drove away. As for as he was concerned Valentino was out of his mind. No doubt a con artist willing to do any underhanded method to ensure success and he would avoid people like that if possible. Beth on the other hand was left feeling disturbed by Valentino's words. She didn't want to believe what he said about Rosie was true and logically she had done nothing wrong. But then again there was a chance she wasn't exactly apart of logic itself. And just who in the world was this Valentino anyway? Why did he want Alastor to join his circus when he already had successful acts?

"Beth don't pay any attention to what that man said." Alastor told her. "He's just all talk."

"Alastor you don't think he'd come by the house or anything do you?"

"He won't if he knows what's good for him however he must not be very bright if he thinks he can scam me into working for that pitiful attraction of his."

"What do you think he meant by, he could make wishes and dreams real?"

"Beth that's a crock. Every scam artist says that. He doesn't have any real supernatural powers and he doesn't really grant wishes. All he does is make false promises to the naive and then he turns them into a source of ridicule in order to make money. I've heard hundreds of stories like that on the radio."

"Okay but I don't think he's your typical scam artist. Rosie called him the devil."

"Well he definitely looks the part but I can assure you he's just a man. A man that I want you to stay away from. If he ever approaches you, run or call the police."

"Okay but what about what he said about Rosie?"

"Nothing more than slander spoken by a bitter rival, Beth."

"But what if she really is dangerous? What if she does something to you?"

"Look if it makes you feel better I'll look into those disappearances and see if Rosie has any connection. But she most likely won't."

"Just be careful."

"I will. I'm a grown man Beth. I know what I'm doing."

"In the sense of logic yes." Beth thought. "But in the sense of the supernatural, I don't think so."

Beth didn't say another word about her concerns for the rest of the night but from now on she would be keeping her eyes open for anything mystically dark.