"You've been watching those three for hours now, Iliana, which one has caught your eye? Surely it's not the mousy brunette, she doesn't seem to be your...type." Harnaam was sitting across from the Unseelie with legs crossed, fragrant hookah smoke pouring from her mouth as she spoke. She was lazily watching Iliana's prey. Two female travelers and what she could only assume was a young man living pretty off daddy's money; she hated the boy already. "Well?" Iliana's cold blue eyes snapped back to the beautiful bearded lady, they were glittering with annoyance. "The mousy brunette? No. I didn't even notice she was there. Cute but forgettable. The blonde is who has grabbed my attention. Beautiful gypsy girl, don't you think? She'd make quite the fortune teller." She was silently pleased to see the young woman was tightly clutching a glittering black invitation. The only question was if she would accept. The timeless ringmaster hoped that she would. Harnaam leaned over the railing to get a better look at Asha, quickly shrugging as she inhaled the smoke. "I've seen better," Another shrug. "But we'll just have to see how well she does reading tarot cards." "That we will, my beautiful Harnaam. Now go and put Jack and Priscilla to bed. I don't want them running around tonight. Things might get...dangerous." __________ Three black invitations. One for each of them. Asha, Piper, and Felix. The Three Musketeers would be attending a party together tonight, and little Piper could hardly contain her excitement; she had never attended a party before because she had never been invited to one. Of course, she had been invited to birthday parties of the other traveler children, but this was different. Far more different than she could have ever hoped or imagined, as she would soon come to realize and regret. "So are we going to go?" She was practically begging the other two at this point. Asha stared down at the invitation in her delicate hands, feelings excitement and unease filling her like bubbling water. As much as she wanted to say yes she also wanted to say no. What types of parties did traveling circuses have, anyway? It all seemed so strange to her. "What do you think, Felix?" She asked as she began reading the golden stamped words for what felt like the hundredth time. [i]Dearest friend, We request your attendance. Time: Twelve a.m. sharp. Where: The main tent. There is no need to RSVP, just present me at the opening. XXX[/i] "You're stupid if you think we're not going, Asha. A party with the circus freaks. How could you say no to that?" Felix sounded almost appalled at the idea of not attending a party. The third wheel, Piper, was beginning to make the intoxicating Gypsy soft and boring. A sigh escaped Asha's full lips, "Fine, let's go. I don't want to stay all night, though! Unlike you, Piper and I have responsibilities. Got it." The young man held his hands up in mock surrender, "Whatever you say, Gypsy. I'm just here to make sure you and Pipes don't get in too much trouble." [i]And get you so drunk and high I can do whatever I want to you...[/i] *** The outside of the tent was the same, but the inside had drastically changed. The bleachers had been replaced by velvet fainting lounges, and each one was occupied by multiple, naked, writhing bodies. Beautiful, scantily clad women were swinging from the trapeze and one from the gaudy, purple chandelier that seemed to bathe the room in a lustful light. Loud music pulsed through the room, begging you to dance with those around you. Begging you to give in to the party's erotic magic. Asha was in awe of what she saw before her, so much so that she didn't notice her best friends being pulled away by strange yet enticing women. "Asha?" She turned at the sound of her name, surprised to see the circus' ringleader standing before her with the bearded lady. "Yes?" It hadn't occurred to her to ask how the elegant middle-aged woman had known her name. "Are you enjoying your time here?" "Oh, yes! I haven't been here for very long...but there's something magical about it." Iliana glanced at Harnaam and nodded before turning her attention back to the Gypsy. She was a beautiful girl and was sure to cause trouble between the boys. "Can you read tarot cards?" Asha nodded, "I have them here with me. I can read them for you if you'd like?" Why was she asking the ringleader if she could read her cards? It was almost as if she was compelled to do so. She produced her well-worn tarot deck and shuffled them before allowing Iliana to touch them all and pick three. The first, the Devil. The second, the Tower. The third, Death. [i]Not a very promising batch of cards...maybe I fucked up somehow...[/i] "I'm sorry, ma'am, perhaps I've done something wrong? I usually don't see such grim cards." She swallowed nervously and shifted uncomfortably. "No, no, sweet child...you've done nothing wrong." Iliana reached out to caress Asha's sweet face. Her skin was soft and warm. "Will you tell me what you think they mean?" Asha nodded once again, "The Devil, tells us that your ego is what drives you in this life. The Tower shows us that change is coming. Unwelcome and sudden change. Death tells us that an era in your life is coming to an end, and a new one will begin." The Fae nodded slowly, her decision had been made. This girl would belong to her and the circus. "Asha, would you like to join the circus?" "Yes." "Wonderful."