Fourth Encounter
The cloaked figure was, in a word, beautiful. Though she was positive that they were male simply by that way that the shoulders moved, she found herself unable to look away. Mora seemed to be effected just as equally, until the cloak fell away to revel that a long Boa was wrapped gently around his torso. Kit shuddered, and Mora gripped her tighter, her fear obvious as she stared at the black and white scaled serpent.
'Alright, not so beautiful.'
She decided int he next instant, especially when he opened his eyes -which were a startling sea green- and a hint of madness appeared in their depths.
"Welcome, one and all. You will now witness the most amazing feat ever preformed."
His voice rummbled out like a melody, almost musical but manly at the same time -if that was possible. Just how old was he anyway? With those words, and before anyone could even think of muttering a 'what-will-it-be?', he placed a black, glistening flute to his lips and gently started to play. At first, the melody was just soothing, but then she began to feel a certain rhythm to it, and the snakes around them all curled up tight, their hisses ringing out before they rushed the stage and started performing a strange, twisting dance of swirls and bends.
Mora never once released Kit's clothing; if anything, her grip only tightened. By the end of the dance, Mora was visibly shaking, and when Kit glanced to her, the poor girl looked ready to cry.
'Guess she won't be getting over any of her fears for quiet some time.'
Kit though sadly, patting her sisters hand gently. The flute fell from the apparent snake charmers lips, and he smiled up at the crowd. Though that smile faded when he saw Mora, looking terrified and ready to cry. As the rest of the people filed out, and before the sister could do the same, the young snake charmer stepped in front of them and Mora squeaked in shock. The Boa was staring at her, and Kit could tell that her fear had just ramped off the scales.
"Afraid of snakes? You are brave to come here....or maybe just foolish?"
He whispered the last part, eying her up and down before a slow, sensual smile stretched his face.
"Though I have to admit you don't look too bad. Come."
Before Kit could blink or Mora could say 'no', he had grabbed her arm and was dragging her to the platform. Mora dug her heels, her eyes on the Boa that stared at her intently, and shook her head slowly, her mouth floundering open like a fish. Frowning at her, he clucked softly to the snakes behind her and they all hissed helpfully. Kit was thwarted in her effort to try and save her sister by a rattler curling up in front of her and shaking it's little tale in warning.
As soon as the snakes behind her hissed, Mora was spurred forward, and the snake charmer drug her up onstage and let the Boa slip from him. As soon as it was on the ground, Mora seemed to freeze, her eyes wide as she stared at all the snakes around her. The snake charmer chuckled at her, his slightly crazed eyes blazing with some emotion.
Several ushers stepped out onto the stage and placed big wicker baskets on the floor in a circle around the snake charmer and Mora, tipped them so that the opening was closer to the ground, and retreated again into the shadows. Mora stared at the baskets as if there were filled with toxins, and the snake charmers amusement only seemed to grow.
"And now, we dance them back into their nests."
He laughed, taking Mora right hand and slipping his arm around her waist, he tugged her into a patterned dance, on the snakes mirrored before they slithered into the baskets in groups. Kit was very worried; there was a half naked snake charmer forcing her serpent-phobic sister to dance with him, and there wasn't anything she could do. Until the rattler slithered away into a basket. As soon as all of the smaller snakes were gone and Kit had edged towards the stage, the Boa stretched itself out behind the baskets at the back and seemed to be waiting. The snake charmer released Mora slowly -too slowly for Kit's liking, and Mora scrambled away, a tear rolling down her cheek before she tackled Kit, shivering.
The snake charmer looked confused by Mora's reaction, and Kit glared at him over her sisters head before she turned them around and marched out the door. Nothing and no one stopped them from leaving this time, though the snake charmers voice did call after them.
"See you at the show."
Kit didn't bother looking back, and she didn't bother stopping until they were standing in line at the bog tent. Mora was still shaking, even twenty minutes later when they were seating themselves, and Kit held her close, rubbing her back.
"Come on sweetie, lets just enjoy the rest of the night, okay? We can avoid the snakes on our way back, I promise."
Mora nodded slowly, looking lost and terrified before she took a deep breath, accepted the drink that Kit offered, and tried to pay attention to what the ring leader was saying. The ringleader, an older looking man who was still handsome, even in his obvious age, was speaking clearly into a headset.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and children too, I welcome you to my humble troupe, and hope that we succeed in making your night a happy one. I present to you, the first act in our show, the magnificent, beautiful Lady Dawn, high-wire extraordinaire!"
The petite, wiry woman that suddenly appeared in a cloud of silver smoke was the same one who had not only been performing int he street, but the same one who had been standing int he hall outside of Kit and Mora's room. Mora seemed to forget the snakes, her gaze going wide with admiration and her smile stretching over her face happily. She was finally enjoying herself.
The act begun with Lady Dawn swiftly climbing up a knot-less rope to the platform above, her blonde hair looking perfect no mater which way she twisted and turned. Kit found that she was suddenly jealous.
Her hair was a deep chestnut color that looked almost black, but she had always wanted to be a blonde. Sighing in envy, she watched with interest as she show began. Later on, she almost wished that it had never started.
