The lights lowered as patrons poured into the circus. Zia's nerves were out of control. She was screaming on the inside. She didn't care how many people attended the circus; she was afraid of what could go wrong tonight.
After her vision of Emrie, she didn't know what to expect. She hadn't seen him since the last performance, and he was not happy. There was no way to see him before they preform and calm him down. Maybe she was overreacting. Everything could be ok. She thought.
Zia made her way over to the side of the arena to peak at the first performance for the evening. She needed a distraction to take her mind off of her upcoming performance.
The show began with Gemini tonight. Gemini was an all-black two headed dog with a mean temper. He was given live chickens for his meals and playtime to keep him thirsty for blood. He was big as a buck with two big heads protruding from his neck. His eyes glowed one red, one green, opposite on each head.
His fangs were elongated most of the time, and his claws were like talons. One scratch from Gemini and you could lose your entire arm. He was not a puppy to play with.
Damien kept Gemini in a separated holding cell with metal bars, to keep everyone safe. He didn't trust Gemini at all, nor could he manage him on his own if he got loose. The only person who could manage with Gemini was Orion.
Orion was a very large man with a calming personality. His handsome face was adorned with a well-groomed beard and smooth, glowing skin.
Orion did not speak much but he did what he was supposed to do and went to his quarters to rest after every show. He would tip his hat to me and smile then kept walking every time he saw me. No one knew much about Orion, not even Ansel and she knew about everyone. He was such a mystery.
Gemini came to the circus separate from Orion, but they quickly developed a friendship no one could understand. Before Gemini came to the circus he was kept in a dark, hidden cell with hardly any food or water. He was skin and bones and skin was dull with mange patched in some areas.
The people who owned him, planned to euthanize him. They felt he was an abomination, so they tortured him and created the monster he became.
With two heads, everyone felt he was a demon born from hell. His parents were both normal large, strong dogs. Their litters were usually after the pups were a few weeks old.
Prior to confirming Gemini's termination date, Damien received a call. The owners heard of the dark circus and felt they could make money from selling Gemini. They were right. Damien was excited at the sight of Gemini and paid a high price for him.
When Damien was finally able to secure Gemini and bring him to the circus, he immediately called Orion to deal with him. Orion saw Gemini and smiled. He took care of him ever since.
The curtain opened and Orion stood in the middle of the ring dressed in all black. He wore a black cloak with leather chest and abdominal covers. Half his face was covered with a mask displaying a skeleton's mouth image over the mouth area. He never showed his face. His gloves were equip with tasers, strong enough to control Gemini if he got out of hand.
Next to him was a covered cage containing Gemini. Orion gave the signal, and the curtain was slowly lifted, revealing a hungry, angry beast. Gemini growled and bark as his two heads bit at the cage bars violently.
Orion fed Gemini a small piece of raw meat to each of Gemini's heads to distract him as he clipped a heavy metal leash onto him. The leash was heavier than me. Orion was the only one who could carry it.
When the leash was secure, Orion pressed the operator to open the cage as Gemini flew out before it fully opened.
Gemini moved towards Orion with both heads sniffing him from foot to pocket. Orion pulled two more small treats out of his pocket and fed it to Gemini discretely. Both heads growled at each other as Orion pulled at the chain to quell him. Watching Orion handle Gemini was fascinating.
A large empty pen was behind the team. Orion guided Gemini over to the pen, opened the barrier door and walked Gemini in. Both heads were growling and biting at each other as Orion released the chain and let Gemini free in the pen.
Gemini ran and shook his heads, enjoying a brief moment of freedom. He stretched his legs while he made a circle in the corral, displaying his large muscles as he ran and jumped.
Suddenly, a door on the other side of the pen slowly opened and a large black and white tiger, equivalent to the size of Gemini slowly stalked into the pen. The Black and white beast glared at Orion with green glowing eyes. He stopped in front of the door as it closed quickly behind it.
The tiger sat in front of the door motionless, then roared loudly. The entire crowed gasped at the echoed sound.
Gemini immediately stopped on the other side of the pen and stared at the tiger. He bared his teeth and began barking ferociously. The tiger got up to all fours and attacked with all its fierceness. Gemini matched the attack immediately.
Both creatures locked onto each other, trying to bite each other with the goal of ending their opponent. The audience gasped and expressed their surprise with each attack.
Orion stood by the opponents on the outside of the pen as an onlooker. He was very confident in his friend. Gemini and Orion had a bond no one else understood. Orion was gentle and Gemini was vicious, but Orion was the only one who Gemini respected.
Gemini barked loudly in the tiger's face as his other head moved in to bite the tiger's neck but the tiger was not easily scared. The tiger elongated its claws and slashed one of Gemini's faces causing him to cry out briefly. The audience expressed their concern.
Gemini leapt away to composed himself as black blood poured out of Gemini's face causing him to stagger a bit.
Gemini shook his heads as blood sprayed everywhere, covering the tiger. The tiger flinched at the burning sensation Gemini's blood gave him. He rubbed his paws over his face to wipe off the poisonous droplets, as he shook his head.
Gemini stood firmly, gazing at the tiger through slanted eyes, plotting his next move as he lowered his heads slightly, arching his back to prepare to attack. He was ready to end this beastlike cat.
The tiger launched its enormous body at Gemini as Gemini raised his upper body, baring his teeth to bite the tiger as the tiger aimed for his neck. Suddenly, the tiger froze as his eyes slowly opened wide. The audience was completely silent.
Gemini's other head had bit a hole through the tiger's chest, ripping out its heart. The tiger slowly fell to the ground, motionless as Gemini ate its heart victoriously. It was done.
The audience stood up screaming wildly at the end of the vicious battle as Orion smiled, walking into the pen. He carefully stood next to Gemini and put his large hand on the top of Gemini's injured head.
"That a boy Gemini, that a boy." Orion said, petting Gemini gently as he clipped the heavy chain on him to remove him from the pen. He reached into his pocket and fed Gemini another treat, which Gemini enjoyed tremendously.
The announcer went on the mic and screamed "Victorious! Gemini is victorious!" The crowed stood up clapping and screaming as the bloody Gemini was escorted to his cage by a proud Orion.
As the curtains began to close, Zia could finally breath. She would never get used to the blood and gore of the circus. Before the curtains closed, an image caught her eye beyond the circus lights. She recognized the form. It was the man from last night. He was here again.
Zia's stomach grew tense at the thought of that night. She needed answers but she couldn't get them now. She was up next to perform. She needed to see the strange man somehow. She needed to know what happened.
Would he request to see her again? She couldn't risk seeing him again tonight. Her plans would be destroyed if something happened again but she couldn't refuse seeing him or she would have to deal with Damien. Her thoughts ran wild.
"You're up Zia!" The circus announcer popped his head around the corner to inform Zia. "I am ready. Where is Emrie?" She asked worriedly.
"Emrie is already in place. You need to get out here, now!" The announcer barked. "I said I am ready." She replied firmly, as she made her way to the stage for the last time.