The Night Circus (Short Story)

The Night Circus came one tempestuous October evening.

Beasts of the field, oddities, acrobats, jugglers, strong men and of course iridescent clowns bore down on the village green.

An exultant insouciant green where willow on leather, cucumber lashed on rye and multiple glasses of effervescent lemonade spawn regular appearances.

A paradisiacal place, full of effulgent caprice, childish laughter and irrelevant palaver.

The Night Circus had ulterior plans for the Echoing Green.

Gossgorring the puissant ringmaster blew the magnificent conch. Ahhhhhhhhhhummmmmmmmmmmm.

The silenced hush descended, encompassing the unethical ring.

`My ladies...my esteemed gentlemen… o deleterious children, my name is Gossgorring, ringmaster and proprietor of The Night Circus. A circus filled with wondrous delights of the highest enchantments, incantations, breathtaking scenarios and inconceivable images, your inner eye – I say inner o mortal souls- will nictitate in disbelief.`

Gossgorring, dressed in crimson silk, cravat as white as lightning, stove pipe Satan black, sported by atramentous gods; cuspidated teeth, concealed by death’s autumnal veil, again blew the magnificent conch.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhummmmmmmmmmm.

The crowd –a united insufflate- sat in awe.

`I present for the pleasure of your minds, your hearts, your souls, Absalom the mirth maker and his Legion .`

A devouring angst circled the ring and a melody together with Chorus composed in Oberon’s chamber echoed throughout.

Fetch me that flower; the herb I shew'd thee once:
The juice of it on sleeping eye-lids laid
Will make or man or woman madly dote
Upon the next live creature that it sees.
Fetch me this herb; and be thou here again
Ere the leviathan can swim a league.

 

As Gossgorring blew the troop emerged, clad in rags with painted faces.

Trumpets blasted, pipes were piped and Absalom enthralled the guests.

Bombarding them with blooms rainbow in shade. Unknown to them the treachery contained in each and everyone.

The gasps grew less, the enchantment overcame the audience.

Gossgoring once again blew the magnificent conch.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhummmmmmmmmmm.

The feast was prepared.