Page 28 of Little Doll

“There will be lots of children in there to eat!” she said excitedly.

I pat her back, “Shhhh, Astrid. Careful what you say, my love,” I warned. Fane and I flanked her, and we went inside.

It was a strange show and for some reason, when we stepped into the dark place, I began to hear the scratching. I hadn’t even realized it hadstopped until it started again. I could have burst into tears.

I tried to focus on Astrid, buzzing about from child to child, taking little bites. She didn’t even pay any mind to the strange scene taking place on the rickety wooden stage. It was just as well because the puppets were odd looking, and the show made no sense. Additionally, the puppets were so big, they almost seemed like real people, with strings sewn into their flesh. Their movements were jerky and unnatural, their costumes tattered and torn.

One puppet, a female with a face sloppily painted with clown paint, the colors of which were running and bleeding together, pantomimed the act of throwing open something and looking inside. It seemed to jump down from the stage, drop to its knees, and dig into the dirt with its hands. I couldn’t understand how such a sophisticated movement could even be achieved with a primitive puppet.

It seemed to stare at me while it clawed in the dirt.

Just then, Astrid bit a little too hard and a little girl yelped. Astrid was already back by our side when the child began to cry, and we ushered our sister back out into the night.

I almost used the incident as an excuse to make Fane take us home. The scratching grew louder, and I felt like everyone was staring at us.

The vampires who were therewerestaring at us.

Perhaps it had been reckless to bring our sister here.

Perhaps our parents and Cleo knew best.

But Fane crouched down to remind Astrid that she must be careful, and she promised to do so.

Then I spotted the knife thrower again, and he was watching me with his cold, dark eyes.

Maybe we could stay awhile longer…

Chapter 12

Nova

“Oh look, LittleDoll, a fortune teller!” Fane exclaimed. “Let’s get our futures read!”

I winced, almost unable to hear him over the horrid scratching in my head. Then I smirked. “I already know my secret, live forever, never see the sun again.”

Fane pantomimed a sad face and dramatic crying. “Boo hoo, sister, such melodrama. Come on, let’s step inside the fortune teller’s tent while Astrid has her fun.”

He led me into the small tent. A decrepit old crone wearing a black sparkling cloak with a hood covering her silver hair was seated at a small round table adorned with a blue tablecloth with embroidered gold stars. A crystal ball was positioned in front of her, and it caught the glimmer of the burning candles around thewoman. When she moved, there was a gentle, sweet sound of bells jingling.

The old woman unnerved me and the scent of burning patchouli made my head spin.

Fane produced a silver shilling from his pocket and the woman extended a trembling, withered hand to him. He dropped the coin into her palm and bounced into the chair at the table that was opposite the fortune teller.

“I see a journey in your future, a trip to a distant land. You will encounter a dark-haired stranger who will offer you an unexpected opportunity. Beware of signing contracts, as not everything will be as it seems. Also, your lucky number is 7,” said the woman in a brittle voice.

I rolled my eyes. How did people fall for such things? But Fane grinned and popped out of his seat, only to guide me by the shoulders into the seat across from the old woman. He offered her another shilling, but she had already reached across the table and snatched my hands. I startled and stared at her wide eyed. Her wrinkled face had darkened.

“The bones call to you,” the woman whispered. I gasped and tried to pull my hands away from her. Her weak and wrinkled hands turned into an iron grip on mine. Her skin became hot to the touch. “They call out for justice,” she said before lowering her voice even further. “Listen to the whispers in the walls.”

This time I tore my hands away from her and scrambled backwards to escape the little table. My chair toppled to the dirt behind me and the woman was still staring at me with small beady eyes as I ran from the tent.

“Nova!” called Fane. “Nova are you alright, Little Doll?” he asked, catching up with me.

My body shook and shuddered. I must’ve looked a fright. He pulled me into his arms and held me. “Shhhh,” he cooed. “It’s all just fun and games.”

I tried to focus on his soothing voice and ignore the incessant scratching in my mind, but it was no use.

Astrid appeared at our side and snapped me out of the spell the fortune teller had seemed to cast upon me. I bent over her and examined her face. She looked plump, with a healthy rosy hue to her round cheeks. Her ringlet curls seemed even more luxurious and silky than usual. I used my thumb to wipe away a miniscule drop of blood at the corner of her mouth. “Having fun?” I asked her.

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