Read Online Freakshow by Jaden Wilkes - Free Book Online Page B

was saying, and I believed it. And it terrified and excited me to the point that I had to exhale slowly as to not betray my shaking breath.
    “Thanks,” I said and smiled, turned away from him and watched the next performers practice. A woman dressed in an exotic belly dance costume began to gyrate and move until she appeared to be liquid energy, undulating across the stage.
    “I thought there would be more...you know...unusual performers,” I leaned towards him and whispered.
    “There are, they don’t generally perform. We have a special entrance section for people to interact with the real stars of the show. Without them, we’d just be another acrobatic company essentially.”
    “How do people interact? Doesn’t that get a little overwhelming for the...” I trailed off, not sure what I was allowed to call the human oddities.
    “Freaks. It’s okay to say freaks. And yes, it gets exhausting, which is why we make the performances the bulk of the public’s time with us, and the meet and greet short and sweet.”
    “You’re a poet and–”
    “Didn’t know it,” he laughed and finished my sentence. “But we are very careful with everyone’s health while traveling. We have a medical doctor and physiotherapist who come along with us to handle any emergencies or aches and pains our people go through. You might not know it, but most of the conditions our freaks have add stress to their bodies. We would hate for them to be hurt because of their work here.”
    I did know about the added stress being a freak had on the human body, I suffered from it myself. I couldn’t tell him though, not yet. Maybe soon, but I was enjoying my role as Miss Normal a little too much. “That’s very good of you, I can’t imagine many other employers who would care so much about the people in their employ.”
    “Some might say it’s just us thinking about the bottom line. Healthy freaks mean healthy ticket sales, but we’re family here and take care of each other. I want you to know that.”
    “I do, which is part of the reason I’m staying.”
    “I heard about that. You’re a permanent resident now?”
    “How did you know?”
    “It’s a small community, gossip spreads fast. Plus, I had money riding on it.”
    “Money?”
    He smiled sheepishly and stroked his beard as if in deep thought. “Well, I don’t know how to say this, but we bet on new hires. We see how long they’ll stick around, most people get hired in the city and decide to stay behind when we leave.”
    “So which way did you bet?” I asked and laughed. I hadn’t realized how obvious, how completely transparent I’d been.
    “I knew you’d stay,” he smiled, “especially after that day with the tigers. I saw how your face lit up when you saw them. You’ve got Cirque in your blood, and it showed.”
    “Maybe I’ll be a performer someday,” I said and turned back to the belly dancer. She was now curved backwards, her head almost touching the floor. She produced a sword and started to work it down her throat. I gasped and added, “Then again, maybe not.”
    “She’s pretty amazing, isn’t she?” Cairo said, his voice full of admiration. He was puffed up with pride. I felt a small stab of jealousy.
    “That she is,” I said and watched the girl extract the sword with a flourish, straighten up and continue to dance.
    “That’s Paris, my sister,” he said.
    “She’s beautiful,” I replied and felt relief wash over me. I had never been the jealous type and couldn’t tell if my recent heartbreaking betrayal lead to my current state, or if it was the knee weakening attraction I felt to him that did it.
    “Cairo,” a voice sounded in the dark behind them, “they need you in HR. Something about our visas.”
    We turned quickly in our seats and found Orion standing behind us in full Ring Master regalia, his legs clad in tight white jodhpurs, his black jacket fitting him like a glove. He carried a riding crop and was wearing a top hat. He