picfor1000 | - Fic: Travelling Carnival (original)

Title: Traveling Carnival
Fandom: Original
Author:

vivien529
Rating: PG for malicious intent with magic by amoral teenagers
Notes: Written for this picture.

Traveling carnivals were lame. Traveling carnivals tucked into the far reaches of the parking lot of the lone shopping mall in Glen Haven were lamer.

“Why are we here again?”

Trixi Martin pressed the lock button on her keychain. “Because I like to torture you,” she said, tucking her keys into her purse.

“Very funny,” Thomas said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You know I despise things like this. Full of common people doing idiotic things.”

Trixi didn’t have to look at him to know he was sneering. She heard it in his voice well enough.

She met Thomas Rowlands in eighth grade. She was a transfer student, an object of curiosity thanks to her dark skin in the pale vastness of Glen Haven High. He was the polite, charming student whom the teachers liked to place new students beside. He put forth a good front. She saw through him quickly.

Trixi was a witch. She had a small gift. What she lacked in raw power she made up with a stillness within her that, when she stopped to listen to it, whispered truths about the people around her.

At fourteen, Thomas had more power, and malicious intent, than anyone she’d met. Magic wasn’t the only thing they shared. They were both smart and bored, and neither of them fit into the cliques at school. Neither wanted to.

At first, they spent most of their time insulting each other and testing each other’s limits. Then they began working magic together. Then they formed a coven. Two years later, she was his – not friend. Thomas Rowlands didn’t have friends, or so he said. She was his respected colleague. According to him. Whatever. Best friends, more like.

They walked towards the entrance of the carnival, passing clumps of teenagers who either avoided them or whispered about them. To the adults around them, Trixi and Thomas were what they seemed - smart, quiet students. The kids knew something about them was off.

She handed money to the gap-toothed carny taking the admission fee. “Two, please,” she said. She paid Thomas’s way for most things. She had plenty of money, and he had none. She never made a fuss about it, and he never brought it up.

As they passed the line of shabby concession stands, Trixi breathed in the smell of bad-for-you foods – suspicious meat on sticks, fried dough, cotton candy. Thomas wrinkled his nose, but she knew he’d help eat the giant pretzel she’d buy later. Bad-for-you foods were part of the fun.

Thomas hissed out an exasperated sigh and ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I’m leaving. I’ll walk back, if I have to.”

She stopped and pointed in the direction of a girl in black headed in their direction. “Hold on. Alyce will tell you why we’re here.”

Alyce dressed the part of a witch, unlike Trixi or Thomas. They hid in plain sight.

“Trixi!” Alyce called. She flung an arm around Trixi’s neck and hugged her. “Thomas,” she continued, beaming, but not moving towards him. He didn’t allow that kind of familiarity. Thomas didn’t care to be touched at all.

Alec, Alyce’s twin brother approached, following his sister. He lived in her wake. “Hi,” he said, hopeful eyes flickering over Thomas before forcing his gaze back to his sister and Trixi.

Thomas nodded at Alec, dismissing him as he always did. “What are we here for, Alyce? I’m not staying a moment longer than I have to.”

“We saw something in the freak show,” Alyce said. “I’ll show you.” She walked towards a series of tents lined with lurid murals.

Thomas followed Alyce. Trixi and Alec fell in behind him. Alyce stopped in front of a tent with a placard that read “The Jersey Devil – Monster from Another Dimension!”

Trixi laughed. “Seriously?”

Alec grinned. “You’re in for a surprise.”

Alyce danced in a circle around them. “Come see what we found.”

She disappeared through the canvas flaps. Alec, of course, followed.

“Well?” Trixi’s raised eyebrow matched Thomas’s.

“She’s insane.”

“Yes, but we knew that. You coming?” She handed the attendant their fee and went inside. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light within, she heard Thomas’s footsteps behind her.

They entered a space with one bright light bulb overhead casting shadows on the dirt floor strewn with hay. In the center, under the light, was a Plexiglas enclosure with barbed wire strung along the top. A creature sprawled out on the wire mesh bottom. It was about the size of a large dog, with mottled green scales and a mouth full of sharp teeth. It seemed to be asleep.

Thomas opened his mouth in surprise, while Alyce covered hers with her hands and giggled.

“It’s a Fifsnir demon,” said Thomas, tapping on the enclosure. The demon made no response. He closed his eyes and opened his hand. “It’s warded, but the spells are old. Weak. I think there’s a sleep spell on it.”

“Can we set it free?” Alyce chirped, a feral light in her eyes. “It would make such a mess of things!”

“Oh, I think we have to, don’t we?” said Thomas, smirking. “Well spotted, you two.”

Alyce smiled and Alec ducked his head, blushing. When Alec looked up, Thomas missed the look of complete and utter adoration on Alec’s face. Trixi didn’t.

“What shall we do first?” Trixi asked, eager to move things along.

“We’ll do the protection spell for us, and Alec and Alyce – see if you can break the ward on the enclosure. Use the Undone incantation.”

“Open, locks, whoever knocks,” Alyce laughed, and she took her brother’s hands. Magic worked best in pairs. Even the most powerful magic user’s efforts were boosted when someone else joined in.

Thomas stretched his hands out, palms up, to Trixi. She was the only one he ever chose to cast with. She placed her palms atop his.

“Shall we wreak some havoc?” he asked, smiling for the first time that night.

“Yes, we shall,” she grinned back.