Red Circus

by Michelle Al Bitar

  “I apologize, Miss Red.”

  “The enemy should be attacked this way and not the one guest you are supposed to protect,” she pointed out and carried on scribbling suggestions for her final words.

  “You are right. It won’t happen again,” he said in a saddened voice and sat by her side.

  Riley turned to him. He wasn’t acting as the usual protective robotic man he had been for the past month.

  “You’re alright?” she asked him and laid her notebook on her lap.

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t seem to be.”

  “I am.”

  “You know what, William? I don’t believe you’ve been asked about your past by your mates in this castle. Am I correct?”

  William did not answer but kept on staring ahead. His brown eyes shimmered under the faint light.

  “Where are you from?”

  “Nowhere in particular,” he answered honestly. His voice was not that of a trained soldier, but that of a broken human.

  “How is that?” Riley frowned.

  “I was too young when my father sold me to the royal guards. The only thing I remember is when I’ve been trained to be a loyal soldier in the king’s guard and everything before is hazy.”

  Riley sighed. She had an idea of what had happened, but she dared not say anything else.

  “I understand. So, you have no family.”

  “The royal palace is my family,” he said robotically.

  “Is it?”

  William turned and looked at her intently.

  “You should be preparing yourself for the feast, Miss Red.”

  Riley smiled gently as if she could read his mind without saying anything and nodded.

  “In other matters…” she said. “Is it possible to access the royal library? I’ve been wondering because reading is some sort of an escape for me and I’ve forgotten to pack my books.”

  “Yes, you can, but you would need a special permission from the king.” He looked down then stood up.

  “Where have you been?!” Charlotte’s voice snapped her out of her trance as if she had awakened from an enchanting dream.

  “Dear God, Charlotte!”

  “I have been searching everywhere for you, but a gentleman told me you were here.” Charlotte smirked. “He looked pretty hot.”

  “What man?” Riley frowned.

  “He looked like a royal or a general. I could not tell.”

  “You mean the man in the military suit?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  He was watching me. Goddamn it.

  “Why were you looking for me?” She turned and started walking towards her chamber, William following behind.

  Charlotte hesitated, but when Riley nodded at her to carry on, she sighed.

  “Okay, look. I have a feeling that you are acting distant,” she started.

  “Aren’t I always?”

  “You are. But I feel like this time is different. Come on, Riley. These couple of months you’ve been living your life separately. We are a family. Marcus and I have hosted you in our home and made you one of us. The least you could do is be honest.”

  “I didn’t lie about anything.” Riley frowned irritated. She hated people meddling in her business but mostly, she hated having to hurt Charlotte.

  “You did not lie. You are hiding the truth.”

  “What truth?” Her heart started beating faster.

  “When we told you we were coming to the palace, you did not look slightly excited.”

  “Shush, don’t you think there are ears everywhere?” she whispered and blocked her friend’s mouth. When she removed her hand, Charlotte swallowed. “I am delighted to be in the Freedian castle. I don’t have to throw a festival to celebrate it though.”

  “It is not just that,” Charlotte insisted. “Even when we first took you in our home, you never told us the reason you were wandering the streets covered in dirt.”

  “Are you questioning my past now?”

  “I only need to know if you’re okay.”

  “I am.”

  “You are not.”

  “Stop that. It’s annoying,” Riley snapped at last as she opened her bedroom door.

  “Stop acting rude towards me, Riley. You are younger than me and I will not tolerate that. I know you are going through some things, but I would love for you not to keep it in. I am your friend and I am concerned.”

  “If you are concerned, you can leave me alone. I am only nervous. I need to do my part well in the show without messing up.”

  “We are all nervous.”

  “I need to rest,” Riley excused herself and closed the door, leaving Charlotte and William waiting outside.

  She needed her space. She needed to prepare herself for the banquet. To let one turn go in the wrong direction could lead to her execution.

  Riley headed towards the closet where the wine-coloured dress was calling her.

  Chapter 10

  Charlotte walked to her own bedroom with more questions than before. Riley had definitely escaped her queries and tried to mask her concerns with indifference. That was her way around everything every time. Charlotte knew something was up, something more important than anything that girl had to face before. It was not anxiety because they were about to perform the biggest show of their lives. It was because of something she was hiding.

  Charlotte made it her mission to figure out the truth, and she would not rest until she did so.

  Her guard, Henry, opened the chamber door for her and stood next to her husband’s guard.

  The beige room, lightened by a spiderlike golden chandelier, came into view. Charlotte smiled at the sight of her husband contemplating the garden, lost in his thoughts.

  “Marcus?” she called and cleared her throat until she snapped him back to reality.

  Marcus turned around with a genuine smile on his face. This had to be the apogee of his tale. He was in the Freedian palace, in this expensive room, with the love of his life, about to perform to the king.

  “Char, come take a look.” He held her by her waist and pulled her towards the window.

  “I was speaking to Riley.” She cut him off, not really in the mood to admire the scenery, but Marcus was unfazed by what she said.

  “Marcus, are you listening to me?” She passed her hand gently over the stubble on his chin.

  “Yes, yes. You said you were speaking with Riley,” he repeated her words with apathy.

  “This is not the point! I attempted to talk to her and make her open up, but she ignored me.”

  “Maybe she really doesn’t want to be disturbed.” He swallowed and shifted his attention to her again.

  “I don’t know Marcus. I have a bad feeling about this. You know me and bad feelings.” She sighed and escaped her husband’s arms to sit on the bed.

  “Char, you have always been the most caring person I’ve ever met. And honestly, I am tired of Riley’s attitude. She does not want to be asked questions. She wants to act all strong and independent. Let her be. Let her do whatever the bloody hell she wants. All you have to think about now is our future. And our future lies in this week or so. Either we return to touring the world, or we will be installed in this castle as one of the Royals.” He knelt before her and laid his palms on her knees.

  When she looked down to meet his eyes, she noticed the glow of hope in them. He was putting all his ambitions in that short time in the Freedian castle. No, he should not plan their future only through the Royals, or through the Royals at all. If their job was to be placed under the surveillance of the higher rank, or their mercy, they would never be free. All they had ever worked for was to be free and live their dream without any concerns of the management. Rufus was the best boss anyone could ever have and that was in all honesty enough for her. But she did not want to break her husband’s soul. He looked elated and optimistic about all of this. She settled for smiling and nodding, disregarding the fact that he had completely ignored Riley’s crisis.


  The hour struck twelve. In the twenty-sixth century, every royal event started after twelve. It was an unofficial rule to wake up late in the morning and slumber late at night. The banquet was set to begin at one in the morning and each one of the circus crew was locked in their own room to prepare themselves until they were presentable in front of the king.

  After discussing the deal offered by Charles Arnold with Mathew, Rufus isolated himself in his chamber and dressed himself with the clothes spread over the bed. They were too expensive and fancy for his own taste. He fixed his collar in front of the mirror and observed his skin wrinkling day after day and his wretched condition harrowing Mathew slowly. The only way to succumb to death yieldingly was through making sure that his family was going to be alright and under its own ruling.

  Mathew Covington was striding down the endless corridor with his guard. She did not frown nor make him feel comfortable enough before descending to the dining room. He was nervous. He wanted to walk back and skip meeting the king. The king had just arrived, and they were already offered a deal. Rufus was doubting everyone in the castle, though Mathew did not understand the reason. If they were to make a show, it would be an extensive advertisement for Cirque Et Feu. He convinced him to take the deal, despite the unease in the old man’s eyes. Mathew took a deep breath and tried to build a shield, a protective wall around his memories.

  The red wine dress slid over Riley’s curves perfectly. Her reflection looked unfamiliar, almost as if it were another woman. The fabric, knit with thin strings of diamonds, covered her chest where her sins collided. Sliding inside her high red heels, she clicked her way to the door and opened it for a new chance.

  In the rectangular hall of dining, extended a prolonged table of black wood and gold. A white laced skirt covered the smooth top and flowed down to wrap around the knees. Food from different cultural backgrounds was gently placed by the servants, letting its aroma arouse the need to start munching. About ten bottles of wine were aligned, each from a different decade.

  Rufus, seated next to Mathew, salivated at the sight of alcohol. He wanted to gulp down all three bottles at once and drop dead from intoxication. Mathew’s eyes scanned the room. Marilyn and Flore murmured something every once in a while and laughed amongst each other. Fay sat back carelessly and did not really care about anything. She gave Mathew a wink every now and then. Charlotte was eyeing Marcus, who was taking in the beauty of everything around him. And there was Rufus. He noticed how he kept glaring at the bottle and wanting to drink it helplessly. If only he knew how much Mathew craved to swallow that bottle at once as well.

  A few gasps filled the room.

  Mathew snapped his head to the right, only to see Riley Red, with all her glory, elegantly walking inside the room. She looked stunning. Her dress hugged her curves perfectly and her hair was done in smooth waves that her red locks blared brighter in the dim light of the chandeliers above them. William seated her on his right and marched to the door.

  “The king certainly has a good taste.” Mathew poked her and chuckled in a low voice.

  Riley smiled briefly but did not add anything in particular.

  “So, what are your plans after the dinner? I was thinking if we could go get sick drunk in some nearby bar, and get laid maybe,” Mathew said and did not look at her.

  “Do you realise how far the castle is from the closest inhabited place? And besides, there are villages here, not cities,” she commented and fixed her bra discreetly. It was too tight for her cleavage.

  “I don’t care if we drive for hours. The more time I spend alone, the more I think of her.”

  Riley turned to him and held his hand. “Matt, we will find a way. But now it’s not the right time. I don’t even think they would allow us to leave. They hardly allow us to watch the telly!”

  Mathew grunted and rubbed his eyes. “Why’re you even dressed up this elegantly? You chose your dress?”

  “No, there is this servant Una. She came in to serve me and picked my dress. I didn’t even want to wear it.”

  Mathew did not respond but turned to look at her intently. She immediately understood what he was thinking about.

  “I’m not sure,” she whispered again.

  “Do you want to?”

  “I don’t know. Stop asking me questions.”

  “Are you sure you’re up for this? This isn’t another one of your clients, Riley,” Mathew warned her. She almost got burned with those brotherly instincts that were taking hold of him. Yet that was her fight. He had no part of it.

  “I will take care of my business, if you take care of yours,” she snapped and adjusted her position.

  “You know what? Whatever. Do whatever the hell you want, Riley. I’m ain’t gonna meddle no more.”

  The silence tensed them both until the music of two trumpets cut in.

  Two guards stood tall next to the gigantic door facing the one Riley entered from. They blew on the horn and the doors slid open. Four royal guards, apparently of high ranks from the way they were dressed marched to the front of the table, then stood next to each other in a straight line.

  “We hereby announce the arrival of King Christopher Freedian. You may enjoy your dinner as his majesty is concerned to welcome you in the palace personally,” the first one with the blond hair announced and slid to the end of the line, making room for the king to walk to the front.

  Two pairs of black as the night eyes looked about the room. The king was much plumper than how he looked on the telly. He had a thick white moustache that covered his upper lip, and grey curly hair combed back, to expose his large forehead.

  The guests stood up immediately and bowed at the same time. Those instructions were integrated inside their minds the moment they stepped inside the castle. Respect for the king was respect for Regitum.

  “Good evening, dear friends. I didn’t want such an introduction but the protocol states so.” He smiled gently making everyone feel at ease again. “Please, be seated.” He gestured to their empty chairs and sat down first.

  Riley dared not look at Mathew for a sign of confusion over the king’s amiability. She desperately wanted to throw her napkin at Charlotte, but that was forbidden. Everyone should remain silent, and the attention should always be on the king.

  “I apologise for the late arrival of my consultant, but he had to go through some things before making it to our lovely meeting. I hope your stay at the castle during my time away was as comfortable as I made sure it would be.” The king smiled again, showing a full set of pearly white teeth.

  Her father’s teeth had been slowly falling with time. He did not have enough money for dental care. Riley held back from a few offensive hand gestures.

  The doors opened once again, this time interrupting the king.

  It was as if Riley had spiralled back into that dreamy bluish night dream. She sucked in a breath unable to procure a word on her tongue.

  The man she had encountered in the Royal Garden entered the dining hall with two royal guards accompanying him. He wore a black tux with a white rose pinned to his right chest pocket. A white rose… as opposed to the one he had given her before.

  “I am terribly sorry for keeping you waiting.” He entered in a hurry and stood tall next to the king’s chair.

  “Jonathan, dear, have a seat. We haven’t begun yet.” The king politely invited him to the table.

  Jonathan.

  “This is Jonathan, my private consultant. He will be our extra guest this evening to discuss something of grave importance. I did not get the chance to tell you all about it, but Rufus has an idea of the situation.”

  Jonathan’s eyes met hers in an intense gaze.

  Chapter 11

  Somewhere between fake cordial gestures and hypocritical comments, Riley diverted her eyes between the guests only to land them every once in a while on that person, that person that had made her speechless ever since he came in through these doors.

  As hard as she tried to cover her interest by o
nly staring at him silently, he noticed her. She was a strange sight to look at. A strange woman with a fire inside of her. Jonathan couldn’t wait for the show. And if everything went as planned, she would be in the palace for a long time.

  “Enough chitchats,” the king finally declared. “Let us hear about your show. I have seen some of them on the telly, but I am sure it is different live.”

  Riley frowned at the king’s words. If he were implying that their show was average then she would have to bite her tongue even more to avoid being thrown in prison.

  “Rufus, would you mind telling us about Cirque Et Feu?” Jonathan spoke up. His eyes were still locking Riley in her place and did not divert towards the addressee. “Why was it named this way? What is your purpose? How was it formed…?”

  Everyone at the table noticed the tension between the two. Riley swallowed and moved her eyes towards Rufus without a word. He knew how he made her feel, flustered and caught off guard. The corners of Jonathan’s lips quirked up in a sly smile as he diverted his attention back to Rufus.

  “Well,” Rufus started and focused on the king, “Cirque Et Feu has always been my home. I led a tough life and now… I’m finally getting my reward.”

  “Everyone deserves that,” the king commented and took a sip of his wine. “How did you come up with the idea for the circus?”

  The gleam of hope and happiness was suddenly back on Rufus’s features.

  “I have always been interested in performing, not personally, but I love directing performances. And honestly, life is a circus. It is unexpected and full of wild beautiful things. The idea came to me when I turned eighteen, but I never had the chance to make my dream come true until a few years ago. I gathered those beautiful beings in one place and formed what is called Cirque Et Feu. It’s the circus and fire that bring warmth to the audience instead of burning them.” He smiled at every single one of the crew. He saw hope and escaped oblivion through them.

  The king’s face lit up at the sight of an ambitious person. That was something very rare to find in Regitum.