Cirque du Macabre 2: Cabaret Sauvage
Chapter 9: Out of the frying pan into the fire (an urban fantasy serial)
Chapter 9: Out of the frying pan into the fire
“You know… it’s just a tent and some carnival rides,” Odry was the first to break the silence. She looked into Bastille’s eyes.
“Your circus is still here. We are Cirque du Macabre and we’re not going anywhere. You can replace everything else.”
“Not everything can be replaced, Odry,” Bastille’s voice was hoarse and emotionless. He stood staring at the firefighters putting out the fire, stomping on the ruins of his circus.
“But you can’t let Tiberius win, sir, Jean-Luc!” Exclaimed Mateo.
“I don’t think it was Tiberius’ idea. I’m guessing Cassio did this on his own. As malicious as Tibbey is, he honours the work of our great grandfather,” Bastille replied.
“Yeah, Cassio’s a fucking lunatic with a gun,” Mateo added, “I’ll go check up on Gina.”
A lunatic with a gun, Odry thought. If it wasn’t for Cassio’s bullet…
Odry clutched her fists; Cassio had taken away two things she loved the most - Linden and her home. He couldn’t just get away with that. He was obviously bailed out of prison, so no point expecting him to rot in a jail cell. Somebody had to do something…
Bastille was settling things with the firefighters. He seemed lost and tired beyond years. Odry had never seen him so devastated. Even Linden’s death hadn’t caused him to lose all strength.
A bleak dawn rose above the smoking ruins. Reporters and fame-hungry sensation scoopers began to lurk around the troupe.
“Vultures! Despicable hyenas!” Bastille grunted. He called two taxis and made the troupe leave the sight, until further instructions. They agreed to meet up later at the Four Seasons hotel in Boston.
***
“I don’t understand. They are fed and clean. Why do they cry?” Rouge said rocking baby Eddy, while he howled like a siren of a fire truck.
“They’re stressed out of their minds like we all are!” Danny tried to out-yell the crying baby Lily in his arms.
The troupe had gathered in Odry’s hotel room. The hotel would be their home tonight and the black credit cards swooshed happily, providing them with luxurious suites. Odry wondered - what if Bastille runs out of money at some point? It’s not like it was never-ending…
Especially now when he’ll have to start everything anew.
“Matty?” Danny begged with a desperate look in his green eyes.
“Sure!” Mateo opened his wide arms and took both babies into his embrace. They calmed down almost instantly, cooing and smiling at Mat.
“Yep, works every time,” he said looking at the twins. Mateo arrived later, he and Bastille made sure Gina was transported to a safe place.
“Hey, Rougie, honey!” Danny embraced Rouge who appeared to be crying.
“What is happening to my eyes?” She hid her face in Danny’s chest.
“Looks like it was too much for you too,” Danny comforted her.
Odry didn’t even know Rouge ‘the living doll’ was capable of crying.
Bastille walked into the room like a shadow. Every eye was raised to him with the same question - what now?
“I’m afraid this is the end. The fire has set us back terribly. I had my doubts whether “Cabaret Sauvage” would be ready for the new season. Now I can assure you - it will not. I… am sorry. This is my fault. If I hadn’t planned this revenge show…”
“Stop! Just stop! That’s bullshit!” Odry exclaimed suddenly. Was it the pregnancy or just righteous anger, but she was extremely emotional.
“Odry, I… don’t think I can go on. I’ve lost my son and my circus.” Bastille looked at his hands. His eyes had no glow in them.
“First, you need a recharge,” Odry said sternly. She didn’t ask him, Odry turned on a floor lamp near them, grabbed onto it and took Bastille’s hand. Everybody watched him gasp and inhale a ragged breath. His eyes began to glow on their own. The lamp went off with a POOF!
“Secondly - do you have the money to buy new circus equipment?”
“Money isn’t the problem, Odry, time is. These things are custom made. You can’t buy a circus tent in a supermarket,” Bastille objected with a new energy.
“Okay… then… then…” Odry paced around the room thinking, “who needs a tent? If the show is… Cabaret Sauvage… and it takes place in a theatre… maybe you can rent a theatre? Or something…”
Bastille squinted his eyes looking at her intensely, but Odry already knew - he was hooked with the idea.
“A theatre? Not a bad idea… I’ll think about it.”
And think he did. They spent the next days healing from the loss of their home whilst enjoying all the luxury Bastille’s money could buy.
Bastille made them come together after some days.
“I must thank Odry. Her spunk revived the hope in me.”
Not to mention the energy I gave you, Bastille!
“I must agree with her. We shall proceed with the show as planned. We’ll work hard, maybe harder than ever, but we will succeed,” Bastille smiled approvingly to their happy murmuring.
“Now, children, you must pack. Our flight is very early tomorrow.”
“Flight? Where?” Odry asked nervously.
Oh, no… don’t tell me…
“To Las Vegas, of course! I’ve found a nice old movie theatre for sale. The owner was more than happy for the price I offered. Brace yourselves, children! ‘Cirque du Macabre the theatre’ shall open its doors in a month with a stunning show “Cabaret Sauvage”.”
Oh, wipe that smug smirk off your face!
“No…” Odry gasped.
“But sir! Tiberius’ show is called almost exactly the same. If he finds a replacement for me, his show will go on!” Mateo objected.
“Tell me, Mateo, is it possible to replace you?” Ridicule shone in Bastille’s eyes.
“I don’t think so, sir!” Mateo laughed.
“Exactly! Let’s see how he gets out of this one. Meanwhile, our show will happily receive the disappointed people coming out of Tibbey’s shit hole,” Bastille chuckled to himself, “the similar title shall work in our advantage - curiosity is a mighty force! People will come just to compare, and when they do, they’ll see our show is better. Is that not a genius marketing strategy?!”
“No, Bastille! Not in Vegas! I bet he’s got a lot of powerful friends; they’ll wipe us out of there!” Odry objected.
“Oh, the local police have an old grudge with Tibbey, and Cassio is out only until the trial. He’ll pay for that bullet. Trust me, Odry! Meanwhile - if war Tibbey wants, war Tibbey gets! But with style,” Bastille laughed deviously.
I almost regret giving him the recharge…
Odry looked around. The rest of the troupe weren’t thrilled either. This was definitely a bad idea, but Bastille was determined to proceed with his revenge. Odry furrowed her brows thinking.
Hm…but maybe he’s right. Revenge is not a bad idea.
“Okay, let’s go to Vegas,” Odry said to everybody’s surprise.
“I’m glad you agree with me. And the rest of you?”
“You’re still the boss, Jean-Luc. Las Vegas, here we come!” Said Danny.
Winnie growled approvingly. Daffy looked at Odry concerned, but still nodded with her blond curls bouncing.
“But what about Gina, sir?” Mateo asked. The twins had fallen asleep in his arms.
“We might have to take her with us. I don’t want to risk that Tiberius gets her again. Oh, don’t worry Odry, this time I’ll make sure we’re safe from Cassio’s henchmen.”
I’ll make sure about that myself…
“Okay, but if we go, I want to learn how to use a gun. And I’ll need one,” Odry said sternly.
“Whoa, kid! Those things are dangerous!” Mateo exclaimed, nearly waking up the babies. He lowered his voice, “your powers are enough to protect you.”
“They were not enough to protect Linden. Or the circus. Bastille?”
“Alright, settle children! Odry will have a gun if she promises to be careful with it.”
Odry nodded.
Oh, I’ll be very careful alright!
With that the meeting was over. All except Rouge and the twins went back to the trailers still standing by the burned circus to pack their belongings.
The sight broke Odry’s heart; the place she had learned to love was no more. The smoke stench rose in the air, reporters and youtubers were still hovering around, filming, taking selfies. The images of Cassio’s grinning face swirled through Odry’s memory. Him standing on the background of the burning circus. His insanely hateful face when he fired that bullet. Linden’s blue eyes full of pain.
Odry felt sick to her stomach. Literally. She ran behind the trailers to throw up.
“Hey, kid! You alright?” Mateo yelled.
Oh, I’ll be alright, Mateo! After I return Cassio what I owe him. I’ll return that bullet where it came from! Odry wiped the vomit off her mouth and straightened her back, looking at the smoke rising into the blue sky.
Huh. I am curious, if I may ask, what was their problem with it?
I am really enjoying following your circus people- love it!