Cirque du Monstre (PG-13, AU, Gwevin)

[dragonelf]

A/N: I've been thinking about writing a long Ben 10 fanfic for a while now, but a combination of laziness and other work has kept me from actually started. Then this idea popped into my head and I liked it too much to let it slip away. So here we go...

Summary: AU. The mysterious Cirque du Monstre travels the country, alluding suspicion from authorities and attracting audiences of all sorts. Its members are all freaks in one way or another: a woman with the ability to manipulate her hair, a man who has breath that can decay anything in its way, a boy who can burst into flames, and so on. One day, the cirque arrives in the small town of Bellwood and a group of friends go to see the performances. When one of the acts, a monster in a cage, turns out to be a familiar boy from the past, Gwen decides to free him from his prison. Thus begins a harrowing journey of action, evil clowns, betrayal, pain, secret deals, and love. Enter the cirque if you dare.

Rating: T

Pairings: Gwevin, Benlie, Mike/Gwen (at the beginning)


"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, they transform."
- Carl Gustave Jung

Chapter 1: Two Worlds Meet

She couldn't believe she had gotten separated from her parents especially after they had explicitly warned her not to get lost in the crowded streets of New York City. The 10 year-old had been dazzled by the large city, her young eyes busy trying to take in all the sights. A particularly bright display had caught her eye, a crowd had hustled by, and then neither of her parents was by her side.

Gwen Tennyson's green eyes scoured the crowds, looking for any trace of her mother's red hair or her father's distinct figure. But there were too many people and they were pushing past her, shoving her further and further away from her parents. She yelled out a few times, but it didn't travel far over the din of the city.

She took a steadying breath. Okay, I just have to think rationally… I should find an open area and then plan my next move. I can go to the police station. They'll be able to help. Of course Gwen didn't know the way to the police station, but it felt good to have a plan and she instantly began walking, no longer adrift aimlessly in the crowd.

Before she got far, a hand wrapped around her upper arm and tugged her to the side. Gwen's eyes widened in panic and she opened her mouth, but another beefy hand slammed down on her mouth. She struggled futilely in the tight grasp.

"Now, now, calm down, girlie. I ain't gonna hurt you." The man chortled, his voice deep and raspy. He pulled her further into the shadows of the alleyway, away from the lights and glamour of the populous streets. Here, her senses were assaulted by destitution, her nose stung from the odor of garbage and smoke.

"What ya got there, Henry?" Another man materialized from the shadows, drawing a cigarette from his mouth. The man's squinty eyes wandered over Gwen's body shamelessly. A thin trail of smoke fled his parted lips.

"A girlie I picked off the streets." Henry answered, retaining his steady grip despite Gwen's increased struggles.

"You know, we ain't lookin' for a girlie tonight. We need to find the punk who trashed our place. But…" The man's eyes gleamed like a shark's as he brushed a hand through his dark curls. "I can't say no to some fresh meat even if she ain't too well-developed."

Henry cackled, "Knew you couldn't resist, Edward. Let's head back to our place. It's trashed, but better than this alley. Less people around to hear the screams." Henry grinned widely, showing off his yellowed teeth.

Gwen thrashed more violently in Henry's grip, but he simply laughed. "You ain't gettin' away from me, girlie. I never let go of my prey."

She wanted to unleash her Taekwondo moves on this man and his friend, but his grip gave her no leverage to do anything. And with her mouth closed, she couldn't even try reciting any of the spells she had recently started learning. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she didn't let them loose. She refused to cry in front of the men.

They marched her through alleyways and deserted streets, going into the seedier part of the city. At first, Gwen attempted to memorize the route, but the winding nature of their travels was impossible to map out and she eventually gave up. She would just have to run randomly once she got away. If she got away.

The thought chilled her. What if she couldn't get away from them? What if this was the end of the line for her? Just as quickly as the despair rolled over her, a fixed resolve set over her. She had dealt with much worse before and she wasn't ready to give up to a pair of perverted criminals. They would release her mouth eventually and then she would make her move. A few magic words and boom! Well, she wasn't quite sure what she would do yet, but she instantly began going over the spells she knew for one that could aid her escape.

"Here we are, home sweet home." Edward announced, tossing his cigarette to the side and stamping it out. "It's a bit wrecked, but it's as good a place as any."

A bit wrecked was a large understatement. The building was a rickety two-story house that had seen better days. Its windows were boarded up and the door hung open. Inside the derelict building, furniture had been slashed, the walls were covered with scorch marks, and bottles littered the floor. There was a strong scent of beer and cigarette smoke as well as something smokier, as if there had been a fire recently. One of the walls had a gaping hole through which one could see the kitchen.

Gwen startled at the sight of a young boy, only a little older than her, standing in the kitchen. He had his back to them as he rummaged through the cupboards. What's he doing in a place like this? He doesn't look like he was forced here… Is he one of them?

Her latter thought proved incorrect as Edward shouted, "It's the punk!" A wicked grin stretched across his face. "We'll see how the kid likes us now."

"Yeah, he'll pay." Henry echoed Edward's sentiments with the same amount of malicious glee. Edward drew a revolver from his belt, prompting Gwen to try and yell a warning to the boy. When that didn't work, she kicked at one of the bottles lying on the ground, sending it into the wall with a clunk.

The boy turned around. He stared at them through the hole, noticed the gun, and then dived to the side, just as Edward fired. The man frowned, disgruntled, before walking warily to the door to the kitchen.

"Now, girlie, you shouldn't be helping the crook. He thrashed our house and you saw him stealin' food from us. Kid deserves to die, way I see it," Henry lectured Gwen, removing his gagging hand to reach for his own gun.

It was all the time Gwen needed. "Ignis tangere," she muttered the words and instantly her skin grew blazing hot.

"Ahh!" Henry let out a holler of pain, releasing his tight grip on Gwen to shake his blistered hand wildly through the air.

Gwen twisted around and ran to the door. She stopped at the frame to look back at the scene. Henry still held his red hand, yowling in pain. Her eyes drifted to the open kitchen door, reluctant to leave behind the mysterious boy. Even if he was stealing food and somehow linked to the wreckage of the place. As she stood contemplating the choice, there was a bright flash and a holler from the kitchen and the boy came charging out.

"Go!" He shouted at her.

"Hey, come back here!" Henry yelled after them, drawing his gun.

The boy, as he ran past Gwen, grabbed her wrist and tugged her along with him. There was a bang as the gun went off, but the bullet missed them both. Gwen, figuring she wouldn't be able to get out of the sprawl of alleys herself, allowed herself to be led by the boy.

As they ran, Gwen examined the boy. He had black, greasy hair and dark eyes. His skin was pale, a stark contrast with his black clothing. His clothing was dirty; his shirt torn at the sleeves, his cargo shorts blackened with dirt, and his boots caked with grime. A lock hung on his chest, swinging as he ran. He didn't look awful, but he looked nothing like any of the kids Gwen knew. There was something about him that said he had experienced more horrible things than most kids their age.

Several minutes after running, the boy explained, "I know a place we can hide. The bastards won't find us there."

She blinked in surprise at that word. Bastards. Sure, she had heard it said on the tongues of adults when they thought she wasn't around, but never from a kid her age. So what was different about this boy that he could say it without any reservation? Curiosity for the kind of life he led and how he had escaped Edward welled up in her.

"I have to get back to my parents." Gwen reminded herself just as she informed the boy. "They'll be worried that I've been gone for so long."

The boy glanced at her to assess whether she was serious before coming to a halt and releasing her. They stared at one another, dark piercing eyes into bright green eyes. Finally he glanced away and then back at her.

"Well," he started slowly, "I suppose I could help you out." Hope jumped in Gwen's heart. "I know these streets pretty well."

"That would be great!" Gwen responded brightly, feeling repentance for any bad thoughts she had harbored about him. Sure he looked a bit scary and sure he had stolen food, but he was offering to help her now. Maybe he was just a golden heart thrown into the wrong circumstances.

"But I'll need a price." The boy finished, crossing his arms with a smirk.

Gwen's shoulders dropped and she glared at the boy. The bad feelings from before returned. "I don't have any money if that's what you want."

"Your parents have money," he replied pointedly.

"So you want ransom money for me?" Gwen asked, disgust filling her tone.

"More like payment for my services." The boy shrugged. Noting her revolt, he added, "Hey, I gotta make a living some way."

Gwen considered his bargain, glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings. It was night; it could take hours to wander around by herself. Not to mention, she was hungry, cold, and tired. Her eyes fell back on the smug boy.

"Fine. You have a deal."

The boy extended his hand and she took it hesitantly. They shook on it and then the boy introduced himself, "Name's Kevin Levin."

She didn't offer her name to him, not feeling like introducing herself to the deceptive boy. When she didn't give her name, he shrugged nonchalantly, "So where you stayin'?"

"Embassy Suites." Gwen answered shortly.

"Follow me." Kevin began walking and she followed after him.

The first few minutes were spent in dead silence. Despite the curiosity eating away at Gwen, she was adamant on not speaking to the boy. Not after he had requested money to help her out. No, he would take her to her parents, she would give him the money, and then they would part ways. Maybe she would even tell someone about him and they could pick him off the streets. Throw him into a correction facility or a juvenile delinquent center, wherever they sent people like Kevin.

Kevin's voice broke into her thoughts. "How'd you get away from the guy?" Gwen glanced at him and he added, "The guy who was holding you."

"I know who you meant." She didn't want to talk about her spells with him, but she had to say something. "I take taekwondo. As soon as he loosened his grip, I fought my way out."

When Kevin spoke again, he sounded impressed. "I wouldn't have guessed a kid like you able to get away from a guy like that."

"Well, I did." Irritated by the condescending way he had said 'kid', she added, "And you're a just a kid too."

"Yeah, but I've got experience in this sorta stuff." His voice was cocky again as he smirked and puffed up his chest.

"In dodging bullets and messing with other criminals?" Gwen asked, voice twisting derisively.

Kevin frowned for a second before the smirk was reinstated. "In taking care of myself. The world's a big, scary hell of a place. You have no idea what it's really like when you're living in a white picket-fence house."

Gwen ignored his gibe, not bothering to answer him. Yet her mind spun. Was he an orphan? Had he just run away from home? Had his home been unbearable? Had his parents kicked him out? Gwen couldn't imagine any of those scenarios, so different from her loving family and comfortable home, but she tried anyway.

Kevin tensed suddenly, glancing over his shoulder. "Did you hear that?" He asked, dark eyes scanning the shadows.

"No." Gwen stopped to turn around. She couldn't see any movement, but she looked warily anyway. "You sure it wasn't a cat?"

He scowled. "I can tell the difference between a cat and – Get out of the way!" The words hadn't even fully hit Gwen before the boy barreled into her, pushing them both to the filthy ground. There was a loud bang; a bullet flew through the place she had been standing.

Gwen felt cold all over. She had been so close to getting hit, but Kevin had helped her. He had shoved her out of the way before the bullet could rip through her and extinguish her life. Even though he had probably only done it for the cash, she felt gratitude towards the boy.

"Come on, get up." Kevin grabbed her hand and pulled her off the grimy ground.

"You ain't going nowhere." Henry muttered, walking out from the shadows. He held his gun out in front of him, pointing the tip from Kevin to Gwen to Kevin again. "After what you did to Edward."

Kevin smirked. "Really? I thought it was an improvement."

"Kevin, now's not the time to be joking around." Gwen whispered to the boy. She still didn't have a clue what the boy had done to Edward, but she didn't like their odds against a man with a gun. Even with her magic.

"Just run ahead. I'll be right behind you." Kevin smirked at Henry. Rather than running, Gwen pulled a pocket-size book out and began flipping rapidly through the pages. She knew she had read something useful, something that could help them out. "You wanna see if you can do any better than Edward?" His hands tightened into fists.

"Why you!" The man steadied the gun at Kevin. "Die, you fuckin' bastard!" He shot and Kevin's eyes widened in panic.

Simultaneously, Gwen held out her hand and muttered, "Celatus!" A wavering, blue shield materialized in front of Kevin and her.

The bullet lodged into the shield, which then broke apart, bullet falling motionless to the ground. Kevin and Henry both stared in awe at where the shield had been. Henry's mouth moved, but no words came out. She wasn't sure what Kevin's face was like, as she was behind him, but she was certain it was similar to Henry's.

Kevin recovered first from this paralysis and Gwen learned a second later why he had recovered faster than Henry. "Looks like you're out of your league," Kevin quipped.

He stepped forwards, electricity appearing around his hands. It was Gwen's turn to be shocked. She hadn't considered that the boy could have powers, but it made sense. How else would he have gotten away from a man with a gun in the first place?

"You're both f-f-f-fr-fr-freaks!" Henry shouted, his gun trembling in his hands. He shot again, but his shot was wild and it hit the wall.

"That really hurts," Kevin replied sarcastically.

"Kevin, don't!" Gwen shouted, but it was too late.

He had shot the electricity out at Henry. It jumped across the man's skin, eliciting agonizing screams. His skin blackened in places as he fell to the ground, writhing like a hooked fish.

Gwen couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight. It was much more pain than she had ever seen on anyone's face and even though Henry had been a criminal, she felt pity for him. Bile rose in her mouth and she nearly retched.

"Why not?" Kevin asked casually as if he hadn't just fried a person.

"Why not?" Gwen tore her eyes away from the man to stare disbelievingly at Kevin. "He was a human being! You can't just go around killing people no matter how despicable they are."

Kevin's dark eyes smoldered. He pointed an accusing finger at her. "He deserved it. You know he did."

Her lips pressed together tightly as she shook her head, "No one deserves to be killed like that. Even him."

"If I had let him go, he would only have tried to kill me later." When he saw that these words had no effect on her, he added, "And he would've just gone back to killing and raping innocents. It would've been wrong to let him go."

"We could've tied him up long enough to get the police."

Kevin laughed. "And if he had escaped?" When Gwen didn't answer, he shook his head. "It was self-defense. He would've killed us. You know he would've."

She sighed, glancing at the smoking corpse. She was too tired to lecture the boy on killing people. "Can you just take me home?"

His eyes softened and he nodded his head. "Yeah."

They began walking once more and once they had left the body far behind, Kevin broke the silence, "Thanks." When no acknowledgement came, he added, "For saving my life. With the blue shield and earlier with the warning. Maybe I coulda gotten out on my own, but thanks."

"It was the right thing to do." Gwen responded. Seeing Kevin flinch slightly at the chill in her voice, she sighed, "And I didn't want to see you die." She had never wanted to see anyone die, but she supposed that wish was gone now.

He smiled. "What was that anyway?"

Curiosity overcoming her, she replied, "I'll tell you if you tell me about the electricity."

Kevin nodded his head, "Deal."

"It was magic." It was as simple as that.

"You gotta be kidding me." She looked over at his disbelieving face. "You mean you're a witch? Like in the movies with the wands and broomsticks?" He chuckled. "Is that why you have a cat on your shirt?"

"No." Gwen responded, bristling with indignation. "It's not like that."

He ceased his laughter and raised his hands. "Okay, no need to get offended. What's it like then? Explain, so I can get it."

"Well, I say words, spells, and just direct the magic to do whatever I'm trying to do." Gwen paused, trying to figure out how to describe it to the boy. No one had really asked her how she did it, just what she could do with it.

"So where does the energy come from to power the spell? It can't just poof out from nothing."

Gwen shrugged, "From inside me, I suppose. I've never thought about it." She glanced down at her hands. Besides the charms she had first used, she had never tried drawing her magic from another source though she had heard of talismans that bolstered magical abilities.

"And you can do whatever spells you want?"

"I have to practice them and some are still too powerful for me, but I can do any that are within my abilities." Gwen paused, watching Kevin from the corners of her eyes.

His eyes were focused on the ground, face scrunched up thoughtfully. Then he glanced at her. "Do your folks know?"

"No," Gwen admitted, her face flushing. She had never gotten around to discussing it with her parents, deciding it was better to keep them in the dark. "Only my grandpa and cousin know. They were there when I first discovered it."

"Don't tell your parents." Kevin muttered darkly.

Gwen looked at him, trying to read the past in the dark glare of his eyes and the grim set of his mouth. "Why?"

"You wouldn't want to ruin your relationship." He replied gruffly.

It seemed like a subject he didn't want to be bothered about, but Gwen had to know. She wanted to know what had happened. Why this boy was what he was… "Did you tell your parents?"

Kevin's smile was twisted as he laughed shortly, "No. My powers came up a bit differently than yours." He glared at the ground. "But all the same, they figured I was a freak and tossed me out."

"I'm sorry." It was the only thing Gwen could think to say. She thought about reaching out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder and ask if he wanted to come with her. Grandpa Max would surely take him in or maybe he could live with her parents. But before she could do anything else, he had sped up their pace and steered away from the subject.

"So you wanted to know about my powers? It's simple." Electricity crackled around the hand he held up. "I absorb energy and then I can dish it out whenever I want." The electricity jumped from his hand to hit the wall. It left a scorch mark.

"Where'd you get them from?"

Kevin shrugged. "I dunno. It wasn't a freak spider bite and I haven't spent any time in nuclear plants. I was normal and then one day I touched an outlet and all this electricity came rushing up into me."

Gwen opened her mouth to ask him if he had been scared the first time, but he interrupted, "Your hotel awaits."

She followed his pointing finger to the large building. Talking to him, she hadn't noticed how they had left the dirty alleyways behind and entered the regular streets. It was disappointing that they had reached the hotel so quickly, but soon enthusiasm to see her parents rose in her.

"Come on, we should go up. My parents are probably worried sick."

"No doubt about that," Kevin replied, following after her.

There wasn't much activity in the lobby although a receptionist sat there just in case, flipping lazily through a magazine. The night watchmen cast them a suspicious look, but didn't stop the two kids from going up to the elevator.

As the door opened and they walked in, Gwen stated, "I didn't say my name earlier, but it's Gwen."

"Gwen…" The name rolled off his tongue as he nodded his head. "Alright, Gwen, what floor do you need?"

"10."

He pressed the button and they waited, each quietly thinking about the other. Once they had reached her floor, they both got out and Gwen led the way to her room. She walked slowly, hoping to talk to Kevin a little more before she reunited with her parents.

She wanted to broach the subject of him coming to live with her, but decided that it would need to come slowly. Anyway, she still had to ask her parents. First things first.

"Do you want to meet my parents? They'll be happy to meet you after I tell them how much help you've been."

"And then I'm sure they'll be delighted once they learn I killed two men today." Kevin rolled his eyes.

Gwen frowned. "We won't bring that up."

"Course not."

They stopped in front of Gwen's room. She knocked on the door and then turned to look at Kevin.

"So do you want to meet them? I don't have any money, but they'll give you what you want."

The door burst open before he could give his answer and Gwen turned around, missing the grim expression on his face. Her father stood there with a tired look on his face, but his eyes brightened when he saw his daughter.

"Gwen! Come here!" He wrapped his arms around the girl and then called into the room, "Lily! She's here! She's back!" Gwen hugged her father back, relief to be where she belonged filling her.

Gwen's mother appeared, tears dripping from her eyes. "Oh sweetie, we were so worried." She embraced Gwen and Frank and then stepped back. "Where'd you disappear to?"

"It's a long story, but there's someone I want you to meet." Gwen turned around to call Kevin forwards. "Kev…" Her shoulders dropped as she looked up and down the deserted hallway. "Kevin!"

Her brow creased in thought. Where had he gone? Disappointment welled up in her along with melancholy. She had wanted to help him, but he had disappeared into the air as if he had never been there.

"Who's Kevin?" Her father asked, following her gaze up and down the hall.

"A friend. He helped me find my way through the city when I got lost." Gwen frowned. "He was right there when I knocked."

"Well, maybe he had his own parents to get back to." Frank patted her back in consolation. "Now come inside. You must be starved."

"I am," Gwen responded distractedly. She took a final glance up and down the hallway before following her parents inside their room.

She wished that Kevin hadn't disappeared. He would be out in the cold now, sleeping on a park bench or in an abandoned building. She had wanted to get him help, to get him off the streets. He could've lived with her and her parents or Grandpa Max. Gwen was certain Grandpa Max wouldn't have objected to helping the boy. They could've stayed friends, but it seemed that Kevin didn't want it. Or maybe he just had other people to go to.

Then another thought entered Gwen's mind, making her smile. Sure, Kevin hadn't stayed around, but he hadn't asked for payment either. That had to count for something.

Later that night, when Gwen went to bed, the last thought she had was whether she would ever see Kevin again. She hoped that the answer was yes.

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A/N: For the sake of the AU, absorbing energy doesn't drive Kevin insane.

[Lady Lasa]

I love it so far. It definitely kept my interest from the beginning. It's been a while since I've read anything to do with the retro series and moving it into AU is working out great for the start. I'd love to see more of it.

[dragonelf]

Thanks. It's actually moving into UA time, at least in terms of age, next chapter. Though I'm still drawing on a few elements from the original series. I'm a little more than halfway done with the next chapter, which should come in about a week (would be sooner if school wasn't starting this week).

[dragonelf]

A/N: I fail. Originally I meant for the title to be 'Cirque du Monstre', but then I typed it in wrongly so it came out to be 'Cirque de Monstre'. I changed it back to what it's supposed to be, but I still feel bad about misspelling it. Reminds me of when I misspelled my name because I was typing too fast.

"The thing about performance, even if it's only an illusion, is that it is a celebration of the fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities."
- Sydney Smith

Chapter 2: Fantasia

6 years later…

"Behind you!"

Gwen twisted around, just in time to shoot a ball of mana into the Forever Knight sneaking up on her. He was sent flying back into the wall. She wrapped two other knights up in mana and smashed their heads together with a metallic clang. Releasing them, she turned around and sent several mana balls flying at a cluster of knights. They fell one by one.

Another knight, off to the side, readied his laser gun and fired. The shot hit Gwen's arm, singing the fabric of her shirt and burning her arm. She grit her teeth against the pain, but before she could fire mana at the knight, a golden blast of energy knocked him off his feet.

Gwen shot a smile at Michael for the assistance before turning her full attention back to the knights. They had regrouped and fled with their proverbial tails between their legs. She considered going after them before deciding it wasn't worth it. The important thing was that they had stopped the robbery.

Ben and Michael approached her; the group's silent consensus was to let the Forever Knights run back to their lair. They had never been a large threat anyway.

"Hey Gwen, are you okay? I saw you get hit." Ben asked, slipping his blaster back into its holster.

"I'm fine. It's just a small burn." Gwen remarked, pulling her sleeve up to peer closer at the burnt skin. It was red and it stung, but it wasn't lethal or even that harmful.

"It's fortunate it wasn't a direct hit. Or a larger weapon." Michael observed, brushing his fingers near the wound. "Come on, there's a first-aid kit in the car."

"Sounds good." She wasn't going to deny a soothing cream to ease the stinging sensation.

The trio returned to Michael's sports car, a sleek, black vehicle. He pulled out the first-aid kit. When Gwen extended her arm, he tenderly rubbed the salve on her skin, sighs of relief coming from the girl. Once he was done, they all piled into the car; Gwen taking the passenger seat and Ben clambering into the back.

"Who wants to do something besides fight aliens tomorrow night?" Ben inquired as the car pulled away from the store the Forever Knights had been ransacking.

Catching the excitement in his voice, Gwen followed with a question of her own, "What do you have in mind?"

"This." She looked over her shoulder as he withdrew a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "Julie already agreed to go." Gwen accepted the flyer from Ben.

The flyer had a black background with a sinister clown face grinning in the foreground. The clown's face was deathly white, his nose blue and his hair a shocking crimson. Gleaming eyes stared out from the back. In the clown's outstretched, white-gloved hands, it read 'Cirque du Monstre' in curly Gothic letters and below that, there was a list of show times and a brief description of the cirque.

Michael glanced over at the flyer before returning his gaze to the road. "What does it say?"

"It says, 'Ever seen a boy surrounded by fire of his own creation? A woman with hair that can move like serpents? Or a real monster? Come to Cirque du Monstre and you'll see all this and more!'" Having finished reading, Gwen turned her head back to Ben. "This sounds like a hoax, Ben."

Ben shook his head. "It's not." When Gwen's skeptical look didn't disappear, he added, "Aliens exist, so why can't people like this exist? Maybe they have alien heritage like us! Aren't you curious?"

"It does sound interesting, Gwen." Michael piped in. "If Cirque du Monstre actually has what it advertises, it'll be an interesting sight. We can learn a lot and anyway it'll be a good show."

Gwen's eyes returned to the flyer. She stared hard into the clown's eyes, trying to discern the truth. "I don't know."

"Gwen, when's the last time we just went out and saw a show? A circus show?" When his question was met with silence, Ben continued smugly, "It'll be fun to see it even if it is a hoax. Which it's not."

"Well, I suppose so." Gwen handed the flyer back to Ben. A cheeky smile flashed on to her face. "But you have to promise not to cry when the clown comes on."

Michael laughed and glanced at Ben in the rearview mirror, "You're afraid of clowns?"

Ben's cheeks reddened. "Hey, I haven't been afraid of clowns since I was little. And you know they can be creepy. They wouldn't have made that scary movie with that clown if there wasn't something off about them." He crossed his arms, pouting as the laughter continued. "I'm not afraid of clowns," he muttered, slumping in his seat.

"Sorry Ben, it had to be done." Gwen apologized in-between her chuckles.

Ben sat up straighter, waving away the apology. "Well, at least you're going. Michael?"

"Of course I'm going." Michael responded. "Something tells me this'll be a good show. It'll be nice to have the night off Plumber duties too."

"Yeah. Things have been a bit slow around here lately." Ben leaned back in his seat. "Max can handle the patrol while we go to the show. It'll be good to have some fun."

Gwen silently agreed with the sentiment. Despite her reservations about Cirque du Monstre, excitement filled her as she thought about the next evening. It could be genuine, in which case, they would be seeing a lot of human-alien hybrids. Maybe even some full aliens. It'd be a non-hostile environment, far different from the battlefields they usually saw aliens in. They could learn something new and even better than that, it'd be an enjoyable experience.

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The next evening, rather than taking the usual patrol route through Bellwood, Michael drove them to a clearing on the outskirts of the town. A large black and red tent had been set up in the field surrounded by smaller tents. Mounted lights formed a pathway to the interior of the tent. Already there was a large crowd of teenagers and young adults clutching tickets.

"Looks like we came just in time," Ben remarked as Michael parked the car and they piled out.

The two couples got into line. Their tickets were accepted by a masked man who then waved them in wordlessly.

Rows of seats had been set up inside the tent around half of a large, open circle. Floating lights illuminated the area. Gwen searched for a string connecting the lights to the ceiling, but failed to find any. The thought that this might not be a hoax and that the lights were actually floating occurred to her, stirring excitement. Men in ivory white masks patrolled the area, directing people to their seats.

They had seats in the second row, a little off to the right. Gwen sat down between Ben and Michael; Julie took a seat by Ben's side.

"Are the lights actually floating?" Julie murmured to the others, brown eyes staring up in amazement. She didn't go out on patrol with them though she had seen plenty of aliens since she had started dating Ben, even fighting alongside the group a few times.

"I think so," Ben replied. He glanced at Gwen. "Maybe they used spells to make them float."

"Maybe. There are plenty of levitation spells." Enthusiasm leaped in Gwen's heart. Could there be magicians here? Even though she knew magic was just another word for the manipulation of mana, it excited her to think about other magicians existing. She wondered if they had Anodite blood as well or whether they were some other sort of species capable of magic.

"It would be fascinating to see someone else use magic." Michael leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "You might be able to pick up a thing or two." He ran his fingers lightly across her hand, sending a thrill down her spine like usual.

"You think so?" Gwen frowned slightly, considering it. "The magic they'd use would be for entertainment purposes. Tricks to wow us, but not really useful in combat."

"I'm sure you could adapt it to help battle aliens." Michael shrugged. "You're smart like that, lovely Gwen."

Suddenly all the lights darkened, plunging the tent into a deep darkness. Someone screamed in alarm at the sudden change in lighting and for a moment, all of Gwen's muscles tensed in readiness. Then she remembered that this was just a show and that the darkness was probably just a part of the show. Slowly her muscles relaxed and she leaned back in her seat.

Sinister laughter sounded from all around, impossible to pinpoint. Gradually dim lights returned, lighting up the stage with a soft glow. A clown, the same one from the flyer, now stood in the center of the ring, black eyes solemnly watching the audience. His crimson hair frizzed out beneath his elegant black top hat. He leaned against a black staff, the fingers of his right hand drumming gently against his left.

A broad grin, stretching from ear to ear, pulled on to his face as he threw his arms up into the air. Purple flames jumped up on either side of him before dying down. "Welcome all!" He crowed. "Tonight you have entered the realm of the dark, the mysterious, the supernatural. You have stepped out of your everyday lives and come to revel at the hidden side of life."

Excluding us. The dark and mysterious is everyday stuff for us. Gwen thought, but it wasn't a bitter thought. Just a mere observation that didn't quell her excitement at all.

"I will be your guide, the ever reliable Zombozo!" He stopped for applause and then continued, "Tonight you will embark on a journey which will leave such spectacular memories that you will never be able to look at anything without doubting its normalcy ever again. Tonight you enter the world of the freaks. Tonight you enter Cirque du Monstre!" At this final grand note, more flames jumped up and the clown vanished in a puff of confetti. There were gasps from the audience, Gwen included.

Maybe this is real. A teleportation spell? She thought as flames blazed up once more, bathing the tent with light. Orchestral music began playing in the background, a sonorous composition of grandeur and clashing rhythms.

Shadowy figures danced into the ring, their bodies swaying to the music. They swung around, tossing arms up into the air, twirling. Body parts almost seemed to fade away whenever one came close to one of the dancing flames. Among the flickering, shadowy figures, there was a more substantial figure dressed in a black cloak. This figure did not jump and lengthen with the fire; instead he moved with a solid tangibility.

The figures moved in a circle, expanding its circumference as the music's tempo became hastier and the volume reached a fevered pitch. A final note resonated in the air with a resounding boom and one of the figures separated, spinning into the center of the ring.

He stopped and dropped to his knees, his hood falling back to reveal a young boy. Gwen was astonished to see such a young boy, but it was nothing to what happened next. For a moment, there was dead silence. Then the instruments exploded into life and the boy burst into flames.

Everyone in the audience gasped even though who considered themselves to have seen plenty of strange things in their lives. As the sudden burst of flames died away, they saw that in the boy's place, there was a creature composed of stone and fire.

"A Pyronite," Michael whispered into her ear just as she thought the word.

"No, a half Pyronite. He's like us," Gwen whispered back, staring in amazement as the Pyronite boy stood up.

With a sweep of his arms, flames shot out. They incinerated the shadowy figures and rose up towards the audience. There were assorted shrieks before the fire died away, so the worst anyone felt was a wave of heat.

The boy smiled at the audience's mix of fright and anticipation. The ground beneath his feet trembled and the fiery patch broke off, raising him into the air. He hovered in the air for a moment before taking off towards the audience. As the music's melodies interweaved, he swept over the audience, letting them bask in the heat.

He made two circuits around the arena before a winged monster flew out from the eaves of the tent to majestic trumpeting. It was faintly draconic in appearance with a leathery, black body and glistening yellow eyes. The creature chased after the boy, snapping at his trail with ivory-white teeth.

"What do you think that is?" Michael murmured. Gwen shook her head, not recognizing the beast from any of the alien databases she had perused. She supposed it could be an illusion albeit a very realistic one.

The Pyronite boy dove down to the ground, which he hovered over. Turning around, he blasted a stream of flames at the monster. The monster twisted away to the accompaniment of instrumental thrills; the flames evaporated. Again, the boy shot numerous fireballs, all of which missed the beast.

The crowd cheered for the boy, encouraging him to try again. Though she knew it was a choreographed fight and the outcome would be favorable to him, Gwen found herself caught in the rush. The music swelled: the melodies became more complex, the playing more passionate, and the tempo much faster.

The monster charged at him; he jumped off his platform, rolling away. Before the monster could turn its sights on him, the boy twisted around and shot a torrent of fire at its face. It howled in rage and charged again. The boy shot flames at the ground, boosting himself over the monster. He did a flip in the air and shot flames down at the beast's back. Nimbly the boy landed on the ground, tossing his arms up into the air to produce pillars of flame, a flag for his victory. The music boomed triumphantly.

Behind him, the monster had crumbled to the ground. Its carcass burned for a few moments before it broke apart into shadowy slivers. All the fires died down, plunging the whole arena into darkness once more. Loud applause broke out everywhere, mixed in with whistling and cries for more.

The floating lights turned back on, one by one. A light piano concerto began in the background. There were now three figures standing in a circle around a steel column, hands clasped. One was a woman in a tight jumpsuit with five orange tentacles of hair, each tentacle topped with a metal orb. The other two were male. One of them was zombie-like with rotting teeth, green skin, and different-sized eyes. The remaining was a muscular man with an oval face and a tuft of jade hair.

Zombozo's voice reverberated through the arena. "Now I introduce to you three of my oldest friends. Frightwig, the woman whose hair can move on its own. Thumbskull, the strongest man in the world. And Acid Breath, a man who redefines the term 'bad breath'." He laughed. "Now we just need a volunteer from the crowd. Don't be shy. You only have to try picking up this column to show everyone just how heavy it is."

A muscular man stood up. Zombozo waved him to come down. "Now just try and pick it up."

Confidently, with the air of someone who knows he can do what he wants, the man seized the column. He tried lifting it, but it remained stubbornly on the ground. The man frowned and wrapped his arms around it. He tried again, putting his back into it this time. The column lifted a few centimeters off the ground before dropping again. The man was panting.

"Now how was that?" Zombozo asked from his hiding spot.

Wiping a line of sweat off his brow, the man replied, "Heavy. It's impossible to lift for long."

Zombozo laughed with pleasure. "Well, you heard it from one of your own, folks. Return to your seat." The man walked back and the piano concerto became louder. "Let's see what our performers have to say about this."

The woman left the circle first, cart wheeling away from the odd group. Her hair spun out around her, flying through the air even when she was standing still. The muscular man picked up the steel column with ease. He hefted it above his head, spun it around a few times, and then tossed it with ease at the woman.

The woman's tentacle-hair whipped out and wrapped around the steel column, stopping it dead in its tracks. She swung it around, spinning it like a baton thrower. A few times, she threw it up in the air, only to catch it again. Gasps and scattered applause sounded from the audience.

She threw it back towards the two males. Thumbskull caught it and gently placed it down. He stepped aside as Acid Breath stepped forwards. Gwen leaned forwards in her seat, curious to see whether the performer's name rang true with his abilities.

Acid Breath grinned at the audience, displaying his decaying mouth. He inhaled and then exhaled a putrid, sulfurous cloud at the steel column. Instantly his acidic breath melted away the metal, leaving a large hole in the column. He smiled once more and let out a larger exhalation over the whole column. It dissolved rapidly, leaving the audience to cheer wildly at the freakish feat.

While Frightwig and Acid Breath broke up into a series of acrobatic moves, Frightwig's especially interesting by the way her hair took part in the spins, Thumbskull disappeared backstage. He reappeared, carrying a van on his shoulders. There was a goofy grin on his face as he chucked the van at Frightwig and Acid Breath who now had their backs to the audience.

People in the first few rows gasped in fear, some even hid their faces from the approaching missile. Gwen's fists curled, an automatic response to something flying at them. She beat down the instinct to set up a mana shield.

All five of Frightwig's tentacles shot out. The orbs at their ends smashed into the van, slowing its progression through the air. Then Acid Breath spewed out more of his acidic breath, which melted the van through the middle. Frightwig tossed the remaining parts aside with a casual flick of her hair.

The trio rejoined in the center of the ring, taking bows to the mad applause of the audience. The piano concerto came to a close, the soft notes ringing in the air. Then darkness fell once more and the crowd settled back to await the next display of fantasia.

Zombozo's voice appeared, echoing through the tent. "Enchantments, spells, hexes: we have all heard these terms thrown around. You have doubtlessly seen peddlers on the street, claiming to have love spells or curses at their disposal, but they're frauds. Now put your hands together to see some real magic." Gwen felt Michael touch her arm, sharing the excitement she felt.

Again, the lights returned with the soft accompaniment of flutes. Mandolins and fiddles joined in with the mystic melody, followed by other instruments. Stone golems inscribed with magenta runes drew their heavy limbs from the ground, pulling away from the earth like creatures escaping their tar prisons. They stood in a quiet circle, bowing their heads to the center. To their master.

Their master was a young woman with flowing white hair and piercing azure eyes. She held a serpentine staff in her hands, smirking at the people around her.

The staff – it's like Hex's! Gwen could still remember the staff although it had been years since she had seen the master magician. She wondered if the staff was the very same as Hex's or if there were multiple staffs. The latter seemed more likely as she couldn't remember Hex having any female relations or even an apprentice.

Well, it's not dangerous if she's just using it to entertain others. With that reassuring thought, Gwen settled back in her seat, eager to watch the magic and learn from it. She wondered how the woman had summoned the golems.

The woman snapped her fingers, calling a golem to her. It moved quickly, belying its hulking size. She jumped up into the air, using her magic to launch herself higher than humanly possible. When she dropped back down, she landed firmly on the golem's shoulders.

Her lips moved in command, foreign words too quiet for the audience to make out. All the golems minus the one she stood on fanned outwards. Obstacles appeared in their paths; they smashed mindlessly through them, displaying their great strength. And then the woman turned on them.

"Eterla Morbulous!" One of the rock monsters crumbled into dust, bringing forth growling complaints from its fellow golems. The golems turned towards their master.

Before they could do anything, she shouted another spell, "Vitalis Eruptum!" Vines burst from the ground, wrapping around two of the golems. The plants constricted their prey, bursting the golems into rocks. The audience watched, enchanted by this display of magic.

One of the golems charged at her and her mount. The woman leaped into the air, levitating calmly as the two golems smashed together and reduced one another into dust. She landed lithely, a jungle cat in her terrain.

Swiveling around, the enchantress yelled, "Sinnyu Invisibis!" Chunks of earth levitated around the witch. She made the boulders soar, weaving them through the air in elegant patterns. Then she brought her hand down and the whole barrage rained down on a hapless golem.

There were three golems left. They walked towards her, arms extended, crying for vengeance. Gwen wondered briefly whether the woman was manipulating the golems to react this way or whether they were sentient enough to care for their fellows. Before she could complete the thought, the witch opened her mouth to say another spell and Gwen perked her ears to hear it,

"Energia Afflatus Calfacio!"

The air in front of the woman shimmered with heat. The shimmer grew from a shimmer into a nearly solid globule of white-hot energy. She smiled cruelly and turned on her heel, completing a tight spin. As she spun, her hands trailed out around her, bringing the energy with her until it formed a circle around her.

"Torre!" The energy circle shot out around, a giant shockwave of heat and power stemming from its epicenter, the witch. The intensity melted the golems; all the energy dissipating before it could reach the audience. The spell took a while to set up, but Gwen committed it to memory.

The woman stood victorious, causing the audience to burst into loud applause, a few catcalls mixed in with the clapping. A smile appeared on the witch's face as she took her bows. There was chanting for an encore, another demonstration of her magical abilities.

Zombozo's voice appeared again. "I'm sorry, but we're running out of time and we've still got a big treat ahead. Something I am certain none of you has even imagined possible. Say good-bye to the beautiful sorceress now!" There were some boos, but most of the audience was too excited by this 'big treat' Zombozo had up his sleeve to be too disappointed.

As if a small cry of rebellion to the clown or perhaps an indulgence for her adoring fans, the woman murmured, "Serpens Proditus!" The staff in her hand became a serpent, twining around her arm and about her shoulders. It hissed at the crowd, eliciting more cheers which continued after the lights dimmed.

"What did you think?" Michael murmured into her ear, already knowing the answer from her animated expressions during the performance.

"It was amazing." Gwen breathed out. "Those weren't cheap magic tricks. They were real spells. She really knew her stuff." Her eyes shone with bubbling excitement. "I want to try some of those spells."

"I'm sure you'll be able to use them perfectly."

A beam of light shone down, illuminating only Zombozo. He stood with hands behind his back and a grin on his face. "Attention all, what I am about to show you is something I can guarantee none of you have ever seen before. Something entirely one-of-a-kind. Something that can only be seen here at Cirque du Monstre. A creature so monstrous and crazy we have to keep him locked up. I present to you our final act!"

[Lady Lasa]

Wow. This is just wonderful. You've been very descriptive with everything. I love it.

On a side note, even when he's supposed to be a good guy, Michael makes my skin crawl. It's the way he always says "lovely Gwen" in the show so that's the tone that comes to mind when I read his dialogue. Very nicely done, though. I look forward to more.

[dragonelf]

A/N: Again, thank you for your review. Michael's a creepy guy.



"You and I will meet again, When we're least expecting it, One day in some far off place, I will recognize your face, I won't say goodbye my friend, For you and I will meet again."
- Tom Petty

Chapter 3: A Familiar Face

"I present to you our final act!"

The floating lights turned back on, casting an ethereal glow on the ring. A large cage stood near Zombozo. Inside it was a creature Gwen had never seen and never would have imagined to exist. It had parts she recognized from aliens: a Pyronite arm, the lower arms of a Vulpimancer, a Kineceleran tail. However, none of these parts looked like they belonged in this horrible amalgam. It was unnatural and Gwen couldn't envision how such a creature had come to be alive.

A wrathful roar escaped the beast, revealing rows of sharp teeth. People had screamed when it had first been revealed and they screamed now too. Despite their apparent fear, people leaned forwards in their seats, eager to take a closer look at this monster.

"I've never seen anything like it." Michael murmured into her ear. "It's got so many different parts. What do you think it is?"

Gwen shrugged and admitted, "I don't know. Maybe it was created."

"It's a possible theory." Michael whispered back, looking thoughtfully at the snarling beast.

Zombozo's voice cut their conversation to a close. "What you see before you is a creature unlike any other. It's vicious, bloodthirsty, and incredibly dangerous. But that's why we keep it locked up." He stopped to laugh darkly. "Now who wants to get a closer look at what this monster can do?" There was a roar of agreement from the audience. "Very well." Zombozo snapped his fingers and the door of the cage opened.

The monster moved forwards, heading straight towards Zombozo. Before it could reach the clown, constricting bands had wrapped around all four arms and its ankles. They held the beast in place despite its frantic struggle against the bonds. Zombozo smiled, gesturing to the sorceress from the act before.

"Thank you, dear."

Gwen glanced around, noticing that the other performers had gathered around the edges of the ring, quiet sentinels to watch the proceedings. Then her eyes shot back to the creature and the grinning clown.

"Now ladies and gents, you can see that it's got quite an assortment of parts." Zombozo chuckled at the messy array and then pointed with his black staff at each part as he named it. "Four arms here: two orange ones with quills, a magma arm, and a diamond-hard arm. Insect wings. A long tail. A large eye and a set of two smaller ones. Gills. I'm sure you're all eager to see what it can actually do besides snarl and snap. We'll see if we can coax it into showing off its abilities."

On cue, the half-Pyronite boy stepped up and shot a river of fire at the creature. It pulled its Pyronite arm forwards, moving against the band's constriction, and countered with a blast of its own fire. The two forces collided and dissipated.

Then, with lightning speed, the monster whirled around and shot off several rounds of sharp crystals at the sorceress binding it. It distracted her momentarily, lending the monster enough time to rip through the weakened chains.

Terrified shrieks rose up from the audience. A glance at Zombozo's stunned features told her that this wasn't how the act was supposed to go. Gwen's fists curled automatically though she didn't call forth any mana. Yet. If the monster made any moves towards the audience, she would protect them but not until she had ascertained that the performers didn't have a grasp on the situation and that the monster was actually going to hurt people.

Right now, it didn't appear like that. It fired flames down at the other performers before jumping into the air. For a moment, Gwen doubted that the wings would be able to support its massive weight. However, they began beating quickly and he was flying towards the roof of the tent.

"Don't let it go! It'll only cause havoc!" Zombozo's cry restored order among the other performers who had been busy extinguishing the fires that been started.

With a muttered spell Gwen didn't catch, the witch erected a shield before the delicate material of the tent. The monster's crystal projectiles smashed into the shield, but didn't shatter it. It snarled and pounded a flaming fist into the wall.

The other performers had rounded up chains and nets to entangle the monster with. They tossed them up, but it evaded every single one. Meanwhile, the sorceress pointed her serpentine staff at the monster and shouted,

"Tempestus Impaetus!"

Lightning shot from the end of her staff, striking the monster directly. It howled and dropped to the floor, body smoking. There was a massive crash as the pitiable creature landed, stopped in its mad dash for freedom. It tried to raise itself from its crater, but the witch's magical bonds had reasserted themselves around its monstrous form. This time they were tighter, burning with energy, as they raised the beast several feet into the air.

Zombozo chuckled, "A feisty fella, ain't it?"

The majority of the audience released sighs of relief and began clapping, fear forgotten over the excitement of the show. Many figured the whole escapade was simply a plot to arouse fear and exhilaration in the audience. Others didn't care, too entertained by the whole thing to wonder whether it was show or not.

Gwen's fists uncurled; her eyes fixated on the monster. Despite its compromising position, its eyes glared rebelliously at its captors, an expression loaded with loathing and outright hatred. A sense of familiarity filled Gwen's mind as she stared at the creature, but she shook her head. This creature was not something she would've forgotten if she'd seen it before. She tried to cast the thought from her mind.

But the niggling familiarity refused to leave her. It was adamant that while she had never seen a monster like this, she had met someone like the creature. Maybe not murderous, though its preference for escape over slaughtering the audience hinted that maybe it wasn't as bloodthirsty as Zombozo made it out to be, but certainly she had known someone filled with the same pugnacious spirit.

She rejected the thoughts. I'm just drawing similarities between people I've known and this creature. It's not like I haven't met plenty of people who'll fight their way out if they were stuck in a cage.

That final thought struck her, filling her with pity for the chained creature. A life in a cage was not a good life; no matter how well-treated it might be behind the scenes. Maybe it deserved to be in the cage, maybe it had murdered hundreds (although she had doubts about that), but that still didn't lessen the pity stirring in her heart.

"Now who'd like to go and face the beast?" Zombozo's voice intruded her thoughts and she shoved them to the side. His eyes skimmed over the crowd, gleaming. "We need brave volunteers who want a closer look. It's an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a real monster up close." He paused and added, "And with all of us watching on, you'll be perfectly safe."

Without thinking, Gwen's hand shot into the air. Around her, a few courageous hands rose hesitantly in the air, a few moments too slow to match Gwen's.

Zombozo had seen the motion and with a brimming smile, he called, "Alright, how 'bout the redhead in the second row and the tough guy in the third row?" Lights fell down to single out his two volunteers. "Come on down."

Gwen hadn't really expected him to choose her, but she rose mechanically from her seat and stepped down to the stage. A man in his twenties with a hard face and a brown buzz-cut followed after her. His eyes fell on to the monster, appraising it with a hunter's gaze.

"Now who do we owe the pleasure of coming down here? Introduce yourselves." Zombozo asked.

"Alec." The man grunted out his name, eyes flickering momentarily to Zombozo and then to the audience. Then his gaze returned to the monster while Zombozo looked at his other volunteer.

"Gwen," she responded.

"Gw-rragh!" The monster roared in pain as the magical bonds sent a burst of energy through it, interrupting whatever it had been about to say.

Gwen stared hard at it, puzzled at the sound. Had it meant to say her name or had it just been a random noise? She frowned.

"Don't worry everybody." Zombozo chuckled, taking in the punishment as if it was an everyday occurrence. "It was about to attack, but we've got it under control. It always makes strange sounds, different from the usual snarls, right as it gets ready to spit up acid. You'd think it would learn by now not to do that, but it's not very bright." He chuckled.

"Well, Alec and Gwen, let's go meet the beast. You can't touch it, but you can come close." Zombozo walked the two of them over to where the monster hung in the air. The audience watched with bated breath.

Gwen peered closely at the creature. Her eyes slid over its body, taking in all the details. Up close, one could see the varying textures of its skin in greater detail. Scars crisscrossed its body along with other wounds. She wondered whether they had been inflicted here or in whatever world the creature had once lived in. Its chest heaved up and down, breathing labored from the pain the sorceress had inflicted.

It stared back at her with careful scrutiny, all three eyes narrowed. Narrowed in anger or thought, she couldn't tell but it unnerved her either way.

"Hmm, this is the quietest I've seen the beast while it was awake." Zombozo observed, laughing. "I suppose the two of you have a calming effect on it. Ever considered signing up for the high life of the cirque? I'd promise good wages if you could keep it like this for every show."

The creature's gaze left her and turned on its master, spiteful and angry. However, it remained silent and soon its eyes had fallen back on Gwen.

"I'm not much for performances," Alec replied gruffly. "Or for calming beasts."

"Pity. Well, what about you, Gwen? Up for coming with us on the road?"

Gwen smiled lightly, more for politeness than for any other impulse, and shook her head. "I'm good."

"Ah well," Zombozo shook his head ruefully before smiling widely, "we've gotten good at handling the beast on our own. Now why don't you head on back to your seats while we put the fella back in its place?" Alec and Gwen began walking towards their seats, but before they had left the stage, Zombozo added, "But first some applause to our volunteers."

The crowd cheered for them as they returned to their seats and then fell silent to watch the performers work the monster back into its cage. It struggled against its bonds, every sound from its throat interrupted by a small blast of pain. Finally they had it back in the cage and Zombozo closed the door with a snap. He gestured at the other performers to wheel away the cage while accepting the thunderous applause of the audience.

"You've been a great audience and we're pleased to have expanded your understanding of the mysterious world we all inhabit. Tonight you leave here with knowledge of the supernatural and an experience few will ever be able to boast of. To come this close to such fantasies is truly spectacular and I am pleased to have been your guide on your trip into our world." All the performers now stepped up in line with Zombozo. "Now I ask that you show us your gratification to satisfy our hungering souls!"

With that, the cast bowed to the deafening cheers, claps, and whoops of the audience. Not many had understood what they had seen; a few even doubted the possibility that such mystical things existed. However, all were incredibly thrilled by the performance and they showed it raucously.

Eventually the applause faded away and with a final flourish of his hat, Zombozo flooded the arena with darkness. Then the lights returned at full power, revealing an empty ring. People began to stand up and head down to the exits, directed by the masked figures from before.

"What did I say?" Ben crowed as their quartet headed out.

"It was incredible." Michael stated.

"And definitely not a hoax," Gwen added. "It was a good show."

"Definitely," Julie agreed with the two. She squeezed Ben's hand. "You chose a great show, Ben."

Ben smiled, "We should do things like this more often."

"Yeah." Gwen glanced around as they went out into the crisp evening air. "Hey, I need to go to the bathroom."

"I think there was one off to the right inside." Michael replied. "Do you want us to wait for you?"

Gwen shook her head. "No, I'll meet you guys at the car." With that, she parted from the group, which resumed chatting about the circus and the individual acts.

Gwen wandered back into the emptying circus tent, skirting around the groups of people heading out. She didn't head back into the arena, instead taking a right to find the bathroom Michael had spoken of. As she walked further into the tent's passageway, wondering if she had gone the right way, she heard the crack of a whip.

She froze, ears straining to hear anything else. The noisy crowd sounds were drowned out now, casting the area into an eerie silence. It was dark; the only lighting came from a few dim orbs hovering in the air. The excitement of the circus had worn off; now the place was creepy and made shivers travel up her spine. Again, the whip cracked and Gwen knew it hadn't been her imagination.

The thought to turn back never occurred to her. She tiptoed in the direction the sound had come from, being wary to not make any accidental sounds. There was a voice now, loud and furious. Gwen hastened her pace, but still retained the same amount of stealth. She reached the end of the passage; a red swath of fabric blocked her way. Tentatively Gwen reached out and brushed it to the side, just enough so she could see beyond it.

Zombozo stood in front of a filthy cage, his back turned to Gwen. The monster from the show glared at him from inside. Its wrists and ankles were bound by glowing blue chains and the cage itself was barely large enough for him to turn around completely.

"Haven't I taught you not to speak during shows?" Zombozo cracked the whip again, striking the creature's face. There was an angry tremor in his voice, transforming him from a jolly clown into a frightening spirit. "Haven't I?" Again, the whip cracked down, drawing blood from the creature. "Answer me when I speak to you!"

A smirk spread over the creature's face as it spat at him, "Go to hell." There was something familiar about the smirk and the way it spoke.

Zombozo shook with rage and Gwen thought he was going to strike the creature again. However, instead he burst into maniacal laughter. "Is that how you want it to be? Well then, why don't we give you a little pick-me-up? I think we've been neglecting you. Yes, yes, this will be good for you, Kevin."

All the little bits of familiarity that Gwen had been picking up coalesced into one grand recognition at the drop of its name. No, not its, his. The creature was Kevin, the boy who had helped her out back in New York City. She had never forgotten the encounter though time had dulled it and shifted it to the back of her mind. However, seeing him here brought it all back. With the memories came the desire to help him now when she had failed to extend a helping hand all those years ago.

But how did this happen? All he did was absorb electricity. No shapeshifting whatsoever. Unless his powers changed as he grew. Mine did. Maybe his transformed him into this… Her head spun from theories on how Kevin had wound up this way, so beyond human that he was impossible to recognize by appearance alone.

Gwen watched in fascination as Zombozo drew out an orb from a nearby chest. The metallic orb was intersected with glowing blue lines. He tapped it once, causing the orb to split open and reveal its contents. A clear barrier stayed fixated around the device.

The device inside the orb looked a bit like a watch except the faceplate lacked hands and numbers. It was bulky and sat on a purple cushion. Zombozo held the orb carefully with a kind of reverence.

"Charmcaster, hold his hands out." Zombozo called out as he stepped towards Kevin. Gwen watched quietly from her hiding spot, wondering what was going to happen.

The sorceress from the show stepped up. With a flick of her wrist, she drew Kevin's hands towards the orb. He struggled against it, but there was no escape in the cramped cage.

"Time for you to take some in. Maybe then you'll learn not to speak so rudely to your master." Zombozo sneered, holding out his treasure.

When Kevin's hands came in contact with the glass barrier, energy shot through. The green glow intensified, so that Gwen had to look away. Howls of pain broke the air, but there was nothing he could do about the situation.

When the glowing stopped, Gwen looked back. Kevin leaned against the cage bars, breathing heavily. There was no apparent change in Kevin's condition except his increased respiration. Zombozo shut the orb and leaned in closer to Kevin.

"Now see here, I don't want you bringing trouble. Talking as if you're human, as if you're not a crazy monster, it's ridiculous. You're not human anymore and you won't be human ever again, so let it go." The clown laughed cruelly. "Embrace your wild side and forget about being normal! It'll never happen."

Still panting, Kevin glared at his captor, his lip pulling back into a snarl. "One day you're going to pay for this." He growled, causing Zombozo to laugh.

"And one day you'll find someone who'll love you." The clown waved his hand in dismissal. "It's not happening. Now I'm going. Stay here and be a good beast." Still laughing, the clown began to walk in Gwen's direction.

She considered revealing herself and fighting to help Kevin out, but she wasn't so sure she could face all the performers. No, she had to do this in a smarter way. Come back at a later time when the circus was sleeping and then free Kevin.

Having made up her mind, Gwen whirled around and ran out. She quickly turned back into the lobby and made her way outside the circus tent. She took several breaths of the chilly air, enjoying the feel after the heat of the tent and the experience of nearly being caught.

I'll come back later. When the others aren't waiting for me. Gwen vowed silently to herself.

"Hey, what took so long?" Michael asked as she slipped into the passenger seat of the car. Ben and Julie watched her curiously.

"I got lost," Gwen quickly lied, looking out the window immediately.

She couldn't explain why she wasn't telling Ben, Michael, or Julie about this. Perhaps it was because she wasn't sure they would go along with her suspicion. They could call her crazy for thinking that, call it a coincidence that a super-powered kid from New York had the same name as a monster in a cage. Or maybe it was because of some internal selfish desire to be the sole one to free Kevin.

Her eyes focused on the circus tent, in which a boy in a monster's body waited, cooped up in a cage. She didn't know what the strange device had been or what its purpose was, but she knew that she wasn't going to let anyone endure torture if she could do anything about it.

The car pulled out and began the drive to Gwen's house. Gwen kept her eyes fastened on the circus for as long as she was able to without having to turn around and reveal her action to the rest of the group. They talked, but she didn't listen, too caught-up with her own thoughts.

There was so much she didn't understand about the situation. She still couldn't comprehend how the human boy she had met had become an amalgamation of so many aliens. She didn't really know how Kevin had wound up in Zombozo's hands though the answer to that question was much clearer than the prior.

Living on the streets, Kevin would have been susceptible to someone picking him up. If Zombozo had seen his talent, he would've wanted that ability among his fantastic repertoire. It made Gwen wonder whether any of the performers were there by force or whether it was just Kevin. She supposed Kevin could've joined voluntarily and then what? Changed into a monster and decided to back out? Or had Zombozo decided a monstrous beast was much more exciting than a humane creature, so he had started mistreating Kevin.

There were so many possibilities to the situation, so many different ways the past could have gone down. She knew that she could ask Kevin the questions once she broke him free, but that didn't stop her mind from speculating.

A warm hand touched her arm, jolting her back to the reality around her. "You okay?" Gwen blinked at Michael's concern. "You're acting spacey." She glanced into the rearview mirror, noting the worried expressions on Julie and Ben.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired." Gwen knew she wasn't a good liar, but the simplicity of her statement was enough to let it slide under their radars. She placed her hand over her mouth, a fake yawn to suspend any lingering disbelief.

"You're telling me you don't feel tired after pummeling Forever Knights, but you're feeling sleepy after watching a circus performance?" Ben asked, quirking an eyebrow. She almost thought her lie had been caught before realizing Ben was just teasing her about it.

Relaxing, Gwen retorted, "It's just built up after all these late nights."

"You should go straight to bed," Michael instructed her. "I don't want my lovely Gwen feeling tired."

She nodded her head, hiding the smile. They had bought it, not that it was much of a stretch to buy in the first place. "I will," she promised as they pulled up to her house. "I'll see all of you tomorrow."

"Bye Gwen," the trio chorused as she stepped out of the car.

She felt bad about having lied to her friends, but she didn't want them involved and she didn't want to give them a chance to stop her. Anyway, it's not like she was going to hide this forever. She'd introduce them to Kevin once she got the boy free from his captivity.

The daunting task ahead took over her brain, her thoughts spinning on how exactly she would go around freeing him. There were spells that could help break the cage itself. Then it would just be as simple as getting the power cuffs off so they could make an escape without his powers being encumbered by the cuffs.

There could be guards and they would certainly complicate matters, but Gwen was confident that she could take care of them. Hopefully they wouldn't have tight security. Despite the clown's malevolent air, he didn't seem like too threatening a figure. As for the others, even with their talents, they were still in the entertainment industry. They didn't see frequent combat except in their staged fights (although Gwen had a feeling they were much more capable than she had initially expected them to be).

No, Gwen was certain that escape would not be tough. It was what to do after that puzzled her. She needed a place for Kevin to hide, but where was she supposed to hide a large monster? It had to be somewhere out of the way, but still within easy reach for her. Grandpa Max came to mind, but she didn't want to bother the old man with this.

Then she thought of the perfect place. It was abandoned and secluded, but close enough that she could get there quickly without hitching a ride. It would give Kevin adequate shelter while she figured out how to solve his transformation or if there was even a way to solve it. Pleased with her plans, Gwen slipped into her bed. She would fake sleep for the moment to fool her parents, but she would stay awake and wait for the perfect time.