Jasper pulled aside the flap of his large tent, grinning as the moon, just beginning to rise in a darkening sky, greeted him. His head felt clearer than it had in days, his body refreshed – it was time to take the circus back and let the festivities really begin!
But instead of being greeted by a wildly excited crowd of circus-goers, Jasper found himself blinking in confusion at emptiness and silence. Ivy walked by, making Jasper wonder why she wasn’t manning the Scary-Go-Round, and smiled at him.
“Good to see you well,” she said, and walked past to her own tent, obviously in no hurry.
Jasper scratched his head, making Gregory twitch. What was going on? Then he saw a flamboyantly dressed aetra headed towards him, and it took the jinx a minute to realize that it was Archie!
“You dressed the part at least,” Jasper said with a crooked sort of smile.
Archie held back a sigh. He’d be foolish to expect Jasper to ever show so much as a shred of humility. “I’m glad you’re up, Jasper,” he said, “You’ll be glad to hear that—“
But Jasper cut him off. “It doesn’t matter! I don’t have time, Archie; Lanturnacht isn’t far and I’ve been planning!”
It was almost painful for Archie to watch his brother’s enthusiasm. “Jasper, you don’t understand. Lanturnacht is almost a week gone. Your fever must have really scrambled your brain…”
Jasper stopped, as though hit in the face. “Really?”
Archie nodded. “I’m sorry, Jasper.”
“And the circus?” Jasper asked with a sort of grimace. Part of him didn’t want to know what sort of mess Archie had made of the holiday while he’d been sick.
“A success!” Archie declared, suddenly smiling broadly, “It was amazing! I just took some cues from you and the people loved it!”
The jinx felt as though he’d been hit in the gut. He was silent for several long moments, and then he managed a weak sort of smile, patted Archie on the shoulder, turned and walked away. Archie was left staring at his brother’s back.
---
Jasper retreated to his tent and slumped over his table. Well…Lanturnacht had been a success all because of Archie, and it didn’t seem like anyone had missed him at all! He’d saved the circus from destruction, but this year, Archie had taken the spotlight.
“It was good Archie helped. You can do it all again next year,” Gregory broke Jasper’s sullen silence.
Jasper huffed. “Next year! And what’s the point, if I’m so replaceable?”
“Not replaceable. Archie learned from you!”
“Exactly! He replaced me and it didn’t matter!”
Gregory growled. “Next year—“
“Don’t be so patronizing!”
“If you won’t let Gregory speak, maybe Gregory will leave!” The hat snarled, and Jasper actually heard his sharp teeth snap.
“Very well! I’m capable of fixing this on my own!” The jinx shouted back, and a moment later his head felt cold.
Goopy, glowing green tentacles slithered out from underneath Gregory’s bright orange brim, propping the hat up like arms. He leapt to the floor and with one last, scathing look at Jasper, scuttled out of the tent and into the chilly autumn night.
Jasper hadn’t expected Gregory to actually leave. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, considering calling the hat back, but his already wounded pride wouldn’t let him. He slammed his fist into the table, cursing.
He had work to do, once the carnival was closed.
~Mistic Team