"There's no one here," Mia laments, glancing around the empty tent. "There's no one here. Oh...Oh my--."

  Pressing both palms against her face, Mia begins to weep. Joseph wraps his arms around her, drawing her close.

  "Hey...Hey...Let's have none of that. It's okay. We're fine. Come on now. We'll just go back to the car. It's fine. We'll find our way back."

  Mia lifts her head from Joseph's chest, tears smearing the faint hint of eyeliner around her round delicate eyes. She studies Joseph's face as if seeing it for the first time, eyes searching for signs which may--or may not--be there.

  "Will we, Joseph?"

  It is Joseph's turn to study Mia. There is a message behind her words. A message he also feels in his heart. It is written all over Mia's face.

  "Will we what?" Joseph says, searching for clarity.

  "Will we find our way back? Is there a way back?"

  "I don't know," Joseph replies truthfully.

  Shaking off memories of the past, Joseph motions toward the tent's front entrance. He offers Mia his most charming smile. The smile which first made her fall in love with him.

  "We'll never know...If we don't get our unhappy butts back to the car. You've got a job you're already two hours late for and Brian is probably eating your mom out of a small fortune. You know that kid loves to eat. Let's go save your mom's wallet."

  Mia and Joseph are just turning to leave when the ringmaster steps into the tent. She stands at the front entrance, appraising her newest arrivals. Mia puts one hand to her chest. The other hand she uses to offer a tiny wave.

  "Hi. Ma'am...We sort of got lost. Due to all of the construction. We were wondering if you could tell us how to get back on the main road. Uh...Headed toward Blanchard Street. They have Platt Street really torn up."

  The ringmaster doesn't bother with inanities. Bringing up her black cane, she points it at the tent's ceiling. Some days, her patience runs extremely thin. On such days, she wants only the thrill of the game. These two have chosen a bad day to enter her tent. They will be lucky to leave alive.

  Mia and Joseph follow the tip of the ringmaster's cane with bewildered expressions. Two large metal cages descend swiftly from above. Joseph's mouth gapes and he leaps as if to shove Mia out of harm's way. His attempt fails.

  Joseph finds himself slamming into the interior of his own cage. The impact jars his teeth, causing him to accidentally bite down on his jaw. Joseph licks the blood inside of his mouth and curses, spitting the blood onto the ground.

  "Damn. Hey. What the hell is this, lady?" Joseph barks. "We explained why we're here. No one was trying to trespass. There's no need to get hostile. How'd you do that anyway? What is that...A fancy remote?"

  The ringmaster shakes her head, looking Joseph up and down. As a lover, this man leaves much to be desired. He will not do as a new vessel for Percival. At times, the portal lets some of the vilest creatures through. Very few would have stood up to Percival's shrewd powers of observation.

  Mia watches the woman in purple without saying a word. There is no doubt in Mia's mind that the woman is beautiful--but also somehow dangerous. Everything about the woman exudes power and control. From the straightness of the purple woman's posture; to the way she holds her black and gold cane. There is a strongly sensual energy surrounding this woman. Made most evident by her choice of suit, leaving very little to the imagination upstairs. When in full swing, this circus must be quite a show.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Like my husband said," Mia says without thinking. "We weren't trying to trespass. We thought you might be able to help us. That's all."

  Joseph turns to peer at Mia, warmth spreading in his veins. This is the first time in eleven months that she has acknowledged their barely existing marriage. Joseph reaches through the bars of his metal cage and touches Mia's right shoulder. She glances down at his hand and then returns her attention to the ringmaster.

  "You can let us out. We didn't mean you any harm."

  "Any harm?" the ringmaster says with a smirk. "How can you harm me?"

  Joseph is quick to answer. He draws his left arm back into the cage, only to thrust it through the front in a gesture of appeal.

  "Exactly. You don't have to worry about calling the police or anything. We didn't come here to steal or vandalize. We just wanted directions back to town."

  "You will not get them here," the ringmaster says in a sweet, condescending tone.

  Purple haze floats from the back tent flap and moves towards the metal cages. Mia doesn't notice the strange fog until it reaches her feet. The fog touches her flesh and a chill races up her spine. Mia looks down in time to see her ankles disappear in the purple mist.

  "Hey! What is that? Is that gas?" Mia yells, panic in her voice.

  "No, my dear. But it might as well be. It will have the same effect."

  Joseph glances down at his own feet, instinctively drawing up one of his legs--as if that will help.

  "What the hell, lady? What are you doing?"

  "You will see," the ringmaster says, a purple glint appearing in her sparkling green eyes.

  "But for now...Sleep!"

  Mia and Joseph yank on the bars of their cages and scream at the top of their lungs. The ringmaster observes them with an amused grin. When the fog reaches the height of their noses, Mia and Joseph attempt to cover their nostrils with either a hand or a shirt. To no avail.

  The estranged spouses collapse in their assigned metal cages. It is a wonder neither of them is seriously injured. Joseph's left hand rests outside of his cage, lightly touching Mia's right ankle.

  The ringmaster chuckles softly and taps her cane on the ground three times. Mia's cage races backward, as if on an invisible track, disappearing through the back tent flap.

  ======================================

  Mia opens her eyes and sits up. Above her head, birds are singing loudly. She finds herself in a large field covered with enormous purple sunflowers. Almost everything around her is purple, from the birds singing above her head, to the tiny ladybug scurrying across the ground. Mia leans forward and scoops the tiny insect up, inspecting it.

  "So beautiful," Mia gushes. "So strange."

  After releasing the adorable insect, Mia climbs to her feet, dusting herself off. As beautiful as the landscape may be, Mia recollects how she came to be here. This is not a good place.

  Mia puts a hand to her brow and scans the horizon. Nothing but purple sunflowers as far as her eyes can see. Rows and rows of them. At least, she will have something to eat. Mia issues a small sigh before beginning her solo trek through the field of sunflowers.

  ====================================

  Percy watches Mia from his hiding place amongst a particularly thick grouping of sunflowers. For this test, the master has permitted him the opportunity to take on a more pleasing form. She has also given him permission to seek a new vessel for his greatest love--Alice.

  This woman is truly lovely, with her shapely body and pleasant features. Her lips are the most lovely part of her, full and beautifully formed. A tiny mole accentuates her mouth, situated high enough to not be obscured when she smiles. He can imagine kissing the corner of her mouth, above that tiny little mole. Only to let his mouth wander, to settle upon her supple lips. He can imagine doing this for all of eternity. But he knows the master will not permit him an exclusive lover. She craves the attention of her trapped Percival more and more. What will happen to his Alice when the master no longer wishes to share his company?

  The master's distaste for this new woman's husband drove her to present him with a respite from her own cruel attentions. Although, he sometimes craves those as well. The energy from her hate often invigorates him. During such occasions, he is capable of giving as well as he gets, offering the master more and more pleasure.

  This woman will do as a lover, but not as a vessel. Not until he knows the master's true intentions. He will follow this beautiful woman. He will test her. He secretly hopes that all will go according to plan.

  To be continued.........