"Jasmine, look...Baby. There's a tent. Up ahead. Looks like some kind of circus setup. There's gotta be somebody there. Pull Daisy on over here. Hurry up. I think we lost that big cat, but I can't be sure."

  Jasmine pulls the jacket, on which the nearly lifeless husky rests, with more enthusiasm. She apologizes to the brave canine the entire time.

  "Daisy. It's gonna be okay. You're gonna be fine. Just a little bit further. I'm so sorry, Daisy. I'm so sorry. You're gonna be okay. It's okay."

  Gerald approaches the front flap of the tent and wrenches it open.

  "Hey! Anybody here?" Gerald hollers. "We need some help! Our dog has been attacked. Anybody got a phone we can use? Hey! Hey!"

  Percy the clown appears from a partition at the back of the tent. In one hand, Percy holds a bucket. The other hand holds a dingy rag. Percy narrows his eyes and glares at Gerald with obvious disdain.

  "There's no need to shout. We are not deaf. Now, what is it you expect us to do? We are not doctors. We cannot fix your animal."

  "I thought you said you're not deaf? I asked you for a phone. You know...A phone. P-H-O-N-E! One you can C-A-L-L someone on. Our dog is dying."

  "I cannot help you. I am here alone at the moment...And I have no phone. However, if you will wait until the master of the circus returns, she may be able to help you."

  Jasmine releases the bloodied sleeve of Gerald's jacket and pushes in front of her furious husband. She tries to appeal to Percy in a kinder way.

  "Mr...Uh. What is your name?"

  "Percy. I am Percy."

  "Mr. Percy...We were attacked by what we believe was a mountain lion or cougar. It nearly killed our dog. She needs serious medical attention. And the authorities need to know that creature is out there. It could kill someone. Possibly even a child. Please...If you can. Please help us. Please. We can't risk trying to haul Daisy all the way back to our car. It's too dangerous."

  Percy lowers his bucket to the ground and sticks the dingy cleaning rag inside. He glances over at Gerald before shuffling toward Jasmine, taking in every inch of her.

  His brief time with the master has satiated his need for pleasure. While this woman is beautiful, she is nothing like his Alice. Or the master. She does not have long hair he can run his fingers through, and her energy is all wrong. The ribbons of color surrounding her head and body are sluggish and mostly of similar color. No vibrant oranges and yellows. Mostly violet and blue. Very boring indeed.

  "I have told you...I have no phone. You must wait for..."

  "I know what you said," Jasmine exclaims, enthusiastically grabbing one of Percy's hands in both of her own. "I'm not asking for a phone. Do you have a medical kit? You know...For First Aid? We can clean her up...Sew her up...Stop the bleeding. And water. Do you have clean water? Bottled water will do."

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  Percy studies this new woman very hard. Something is different about her. The more she speaks, the more Percy is sure of it. He watches the energy ribbons along the young woman's body, noticing how the ribbons flow almost erratically. This woman is ill. Possibly even dying. And she has no idea. Her energy is unbalanced because her life force is slowly dwindling. It could be years, but it is happening just the same.

  "The master will be returning soon. I will get you some water. You may bring your animal to the center of the tent. Do not set it down on any of the benches. They are all-natural wood and very expensive to replace. I do not wish to explain why they have been damaged."

  "Dude. Our dog literally survives being chewed on by a lion-sized cat...And all you can say is 'Don't set it on the benches. They're expensive'? How cold can you be?"

  Percy whirls on Gerald and shuffles quickly to stand in front of the slightly shorter man. He eyeballs Gerald with the hate of a thousand enemies.

  "These items belong to my master. I take care to make sure they remain in good condition. As any good servant would."

  "Servant? Master? Dude you are weird! Talking like you're some kind of slave instead of an employee. Stuff gets messed up...You claim it on your insurance. It ain't that hard. I do it all the time, at my job. It's called business. Why should my wife have to kneel on the stanky-ass ground when there's perfectly good benches right there? I don't care if you bill me."

  Percy's breathing becomes heavy, such is his increasing fury. He scrutinizes Gerald very carefully. Things as not going well. A half-dead woman and a husband with homicidal tendencies. This could spell disaster for the master's game. One has little to live for. While the other may not cooperate. He will have to let things play out to see.

  "You will not place the animal on the benches," Percy growls through clenched teeth.

  "Man, who do you think you're scaring? Ain't nobody scared of you! With your corny looking ass. You about as corny as a bag of corn chips...Dipped in corn syrup...Battered with cornflakes...In the middle of a cornfield...With a side of buttered popcorn. Like I said, ain't nobody scared of you!"

  Percy is prepared to lash out with a spell, forgetting the ringmaster's order to simply feel the young couple out. Jasmine's trembling voice stays his hand--and his mind.

  Jasmine is kneeling in the center of the circus floor. One hand rests on Daisy's snout. The other hand she uses to shut the dog's eyes. Tears cascade down Jasmine's face and she turns to Gerald.

  "Gerald, she's dead. Daisy...She's dead. She's not breathing. She's gone. Oh god!"

  Gerald moves quickly to Jasmine's side. He kneels beside her and brushes a hand along Daisy's still body. The courageous canine's chest no longer rises. She is indeed gone.

  "No," Gerald groans. "Oh no."

  Jasmine begins to sob, without a care for who might hear or see. Gerald draws her close and strokes her hair. Percy's eyes narrow as he watches Gerald's fingers weave through Jasmine's shoulder-length hair. Envy courses through his veins and he considers hurling a spite spell at the undeserving man. Instead of warm kisses at night, the unsuspecting husband would receive cold and bitterness. After a time, his wife might just wander away. Into the arms of one more worthy of her love. If either of the two lovebirds survives the master's test that is.

  The ringmaster chooses that moment to enter the tent. Her appearance is a matter of calculation rather than pure chance. She peers around as if caught off-guard by the presence of strangers.

  "Percy...Who are these people? What is going on?"

  Percy offers his master a knowing grin. The stage has been set. Showtime.

  To be continued...................