An Evening of Success!

The steam driven carriage clattered noisily over the cobblestones of the road as it rattled back to where the Cirque de la Vapeur had set up camp. Inside the handsome wood and brocade interior Alexandra sat in her beautiful velvet and satin gown and fumed at Asmodeus. She couldn’t believe the nerve of him! He had kissed her and in public too! That was what irritated her most out of everything he had done. The fortune teller allowed her anger to continue to simmer as she tried not to remember the kiss itself. It lingered in her mind and she had enjoyed it far too much, despite telling herself that she should stop such foolishness. Wincing, Alexandra remembered how hard she had slapped Asmodeus. Even though he deserved it, she hadn’t meant to hurt him.

The loud clamor of a crowd drew Alexandra out of her thoughts and she turned her head to peer out of the carriage window. A wide smile began to grow on her face as she saw the masses of people heading steadily towards the Vapeur. Asmodeus’ plan to lure people away from the Hirondelle and to Vapeur had worked and the circus tent was almost full to bursting! Jacque would not be pleased at all with the loss of all those customers.

Once the carriage slowed to a halt, Alexandra lifted her full skirts and climbed down the steps, anxious to change back into her usual clothes and rejoin her circus crew. The fortune teller paused for a moment on her way back to her ship to gaze at the enormous red and gold tent that filled half of the forest clearing. Green trimmed the edge of the fabric of tent and purple streamers floated from the copper pipes funneling steam from mighty engine that rumbled underneath the circus ring. As Alexandra watched, the engine roared with the opening of the show and the clouds of steam that perpetually floated above circus thickened. The great lights that illuminated the steam dimmed except for the two at the entrance, signaling to late comers that the show was just starting and to hurry if they didn’t want to miss any of it.

Alexandra smiled to herself as she continued the walk around the tent to her ship. The view of the Cirque with all its colours and lights never bored her and always managed to cheer her up after a long day. With her smile becoming a grin, Alexandra pushed open the door of her ship and got ready for the rest of the night.