The Girls of Ohmer Chapter 11 Torture and the Circus

The Girls of Ohmer Chapter 11

Torture and the Circus

Emilia woke with a start. She had been dreaming of torture. Since coming to this dreadful place she had known no peace, no happiness. There was very little time when she was not being tormented.

The only respite she had was the time she spent with the boy, her boy. Of course she was not the real mother, but when she held that tender innocent bundle in her arms, that didn't matter. All of her woes faded when she looked upon that little face, felt those perfect tiny fingers curling around hers, and suckled the child close to her heart.

She wept of course. That was required. For some reason the monsters who tended this place wanted her to cry as she fed the child. On one occasion she had smiled and laughed as he looked up into her eyes, such a sweet well tempered baby, what mother could resist?

He was snatched from her grasp and held roughly by the ankle. The overseer threatened her. " If I see one more smile I'll dash this whelp on the floor and make you clean up his brains before I kill you! GOT IT?"

She was horrified! She reached for him pleading and crying. "No no no, please I will do anything! Please oh please oh please don't hurt him I beg you!" She fell to her knees and crawled forward, pleading with him. She touched his pants leg and received a kick in the face for her effort. "Don't touch me Wench!"

The overseer stepped back and pointed at the chair she had been sitting in. "Now sit there and shut your face!" Emilia complied, watching the dangling baby through the corner of her eye as she wiped blood from her fattening lip.

If she could touch her magic she would show this dirty brute what's what. She'd strip his skin off as he screamed for mercy. But as it was, she could not touch her power, something blocked her. She could sense it, but it was out of reach, as if it were behind a glass wall.

After sitting down and assuming a properly wretched demeanor, the child was handed back to her. She moaned with grief for fear that her relief would be taken as joy.

After that time Emilia was careful to conceal her joy. The child, the boy, her boy was the only bright spot in the universe, he was her only reason to go on.

Her husband had been killed during a robbery and soon after, her own little baby boy had succumbed to a strange illness. Emelias neighbors had feared a plague, but little Stepheno was the only one afflicted. He just sort of dried up, it was as strange as it was heartbreaking.

Emelia had decided to take her own life when Her father suggested coming here to care for a very special baby. The child was indeed special, but most days she wished she had finished her miserable life before all of this suffering began, before she loved the boy, her boy.

Despite the fact that it was his Idea for her to come here, she still loved her father very much. He was a blundering fool, but he always showed her love and tried his best to provide for her. She hadn't seen him in quite a few days though, and she was starting to worry.

He was a servant to the master of this place. He usually stopped by to give her a kind word and assure her that he would see that she got better treatment soon.

Her worries about her father were cut short as she heard the clanging lock on her door being opened. The morning torture was about to start. She took a deep breath and steadied her nerves for what was going to be an excruciating hour before she was allowed to feed the boy. Her boy.

+++++++++++++++++

The Tinkers wagon was parked in a small valley between two high ridges that radiated from the mountain like fingers. Beside it was a tall pointed tent that looked like a wizards hat. outside the tent there was a small fire where Tom was just preparing breakfast.

The Group had been traveling for days towards the mountain that now loomed on the close horizon. Initially, Nina had protested about the garish wagon and Toms outlandish choice of clothing, But Tom insisted that the best place to hide was in plain sight. Tom had repainted the wagon in bright orange, black, and a shade of yellow that Nina didn't even know existed. It was so bright it seemed to radiate it's own light. Tom called it "flower-essence" yellow. Whatever it was, that color was sure to attract attention.

The side of the wagon now read: "Wentworths Amazing Circus". Tom had gone over a cover story with the rest of the party, explaining that they didn't really have to perform, but if questions were asked they should know what part they would play. Tom was ringmaster, Nina was a gypsy fortune teller, Hilario was an acrobat, Erika was an animal trainer, and Vay was a little clown. Naturally Bear Dog was two of the perspective animals in the act, joined by Wentworth and a very unwilling Popsicle the caticorn.

The journey to the mountain had been largely uneventful. Only two times had patrols from the Black Wind come near. The first time a rider was dispatched to ask them if they'd seen anyone matching the description of the fugitives. Toms jokes and antics soon had the inquiring rider doubled up with laughter, he rode off thanking Tom for free tickets to the show and saying he wouldn't miss it when the troop visited Bargerville the following month.

The second patrol was actually dispatched to demand a performance in their camp that night. Tom assured them that Wentworths Amazing Circus would be there by sundown. Then Tom pointed the wagon west and drove Blue all night and into the next day so they could find shelter in this valley.

Hilario lifted the flap on the tent and walked out into the cold morning. He was hugging himself and shaking. "Oh Tom! It's so cold here. How can people survive?"

Tom Chuckled."Don't worry my friend you'll find it more comfortable after your body finishes the acclimatization process and your metabolism adjusts to compensate for the lack of ambient heat."

Hilario gave Tom an incredulous look. "whatchoo mean Tom? I got no acrimeitzyshun! I'm Wahakan! We are honest people!" He stood proudly and thumped his breast with his fist.

Nina was watching from the back of the wagon. "Hilario! Tom was just saying you'll get used to the cold. Just try to eat more and dress warm." She limped up towards the fire, her ankle had healed much but it was still a bit tender especially in the morning.

"Hey Lady! How you doing?" Hilario grinned and ran to Ninas side. "Can I help you? You want some food? I go get rabbits, or birds, maybe some fruit?" The little man had steadily been growing enamored with Nina over the past few days.

Something that seemed cute at first was rapidly becoming bothersome. "No Hilario." She responded, pleasantly but not overly warm. "I can make it on my own."

Hilario looked deflated then he put a smile back on his face and began talking to her a mile a minute. "Hey lady, you see that mountain? How big is that rock? You know if we gonna go all the way up? I bet we see forever when we get there! Maybe we..."

"Hillario!" She snapped a bit too sharply. Seeing his wounded expression she continued more gently. "Why don't you go find some rabbits after all, Tom can teach you how to fashion boots out of the skins. The mountain is no place for bare feet."

"OK lady! I go now!" Hilario dashed into the tent to get his Flute and darts. Nina sat down next to the fire, warming her hands and pulling her blanket tight around her shoulders. Tom looked up from the porridge he was boiling in a pot over the fire. " He's taken quite a liking to you" Tom commented. "I think he's in love."

Nina rolled her eyes and then chuckled at the thought of being married to a four foot tall tattooed jungle man. "I honestly have done nothing to warrant his attentions." she responded.

"And you've done nothing to prevent them as well." Tom put the top on the pot and moved to sit next to Nina. It seems that not all of your magic has been subdued.

"What are you talking about? I try every day and I am still unable to touch even a smidgen of the light!" The continued absence of her magical skills was starting to wear on Nina.

"Yes, yes," Tom agreed. "You can't touch the light. But the dark power is growing stronger, unchecked"

Nina looked streight at Tom. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Your wicked wiles." he said plainly. "They are a glammer, and do not require the light."

"Ha Ha wicked wiles indeed!" she laughed " I've never even dabbled in that kind of magic!"

"The point is, you have a latent ability that was overshadowed, or maybe overshined is the right phrase, by your goodness. That is to say the light magic in you outshined the dark. But you are a soul descendant of Serendipity, and she did not become the most powerful sorceress by only fostering one kind of magic. She could bring down a foe with a wink, and send him back to slay his master for even thinking ill of her." Tom continued. " Did you ever wonder why so many fall in love with you at the drop of a hat?"

Nina shrugged "I guess I just thought thats how men are, always trying to get a woman to settle down."

Tom chuckled "Oh yes, Princes with harems always stop their caravans to dismount and swear undying love to shopkeepers!"

Nina blushed. "That prince was crazy!"

"No, he was glammered." Tom insisted. "And now it's getting worse. If you don't get control of this, the next patrol to cross our path will be dragging you off to a wedding chapel!"

"Getting worse?" Nina grinned "Tom! Don't tell me it's effecting you too!"

Tom blushed, the red hue rising from his neck to the tips of his ears. He turned quickly and spoke over his shoulder as he tended the porridge."Let's just say it's a good thing I'm twelve hundred years old! Otherwise I'd be foolish enough to ask for your hand."

The sharpness of his response gave Nina pause. "What can be done? I can't control what I don't even notice."

"Meditate." He responded "It will be more difficult without your power, but you can tap into your soul memory without it. Remember how it works and how to control it. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go think!" Tom huffed off to the tent tugging his bushy beard and mumbling about cupids under his breath.

++++++++++

Inside the wagon a little white dog was curled on the floor with a wounded cat and an old grey squirrel.

Bear Dog had been spending less and less time as a girl since her experience as a vampire. Nina had questioned her about it the day before, to which she responded, "Dogs think differently, when I'm a dog, the things that I did to those soldiers don't seem so bad, but when I'm a girl it seems so horrible! I can't believe that was me! I can't believe I was going to do the same to you, to Tom, To Erika and Vay! Being a vampire was the awfullist thing in the world! I don't even want to think about it ever, ever, again!!!" With that she turned and ran to the wagon, transforming into a dog enroute.

The dog opened one eye at the sound of Tom shouting outside. She peeked out of the wagon to see him closing the tent flap. If it had been a door he'd have slammed it, but flaps are so un gratifying when one wants to express anger.

Dog hopped down and trotted over to Nina by the fire. Nina was just stirring the porridge, it was nicely done so she set it on a rock beside the fire. She turned to see the dog approach. "Good morning honey! Are you going to be a girl at all today?" Nina was trying to cheer the girl, once again she missed her power which could sooth the most worried child.

In response the dog growled lowly and sat beside Nina, moving in close for an ear scratch. "Ya know kiddo," Nina said "You can't run from this forever." The dog cocked it's head quizzically and whimpered. Nina sighed.

In times past the girls voice had come from the dog, but now it would only bark or wine or growl. Nina guessed that keeping such a low state of mind helped the Girl hide from the guilt of what she had done and almost done. Had it not been for Vay, the whole party would have been slaughtered by the vampire. Nina knew that as much as anything.

Nina scratched the little dog behind the ears. "It's OK baby, everything is going to be alright, you'll see." The dog barked and looked up at Nina without a care in the world.

Just then Hilario came running up the valley. Nina was astounded at how fast he was. No wonder Wakakans didn't ride horses, she thought, they'd take twice as long to get where they're going.

Hilario skidded to a stop on the soft dirt of the valley floor. " Lady, they come here! Men in the black wind, they come here now!"

"How many?" Nina was hoping it were only two or three scouts. Hilario could no doubt take that many out with his flute, maybe more.

Hilarios response was cryptic. " Mucho!"He said "Maybe seven or eight hands."

Nina was confused. "You mean seven or eight men? Or three men but one is missing a hand?"

Hilario shook his head. " No lady! Seven HANDS!" He emphasized the last word while holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers.

Tom, having overheard the conversation stepped out of the tent and clarified the situation for Nina. "He means 35 to 40 soldiers are headed up the valley. Wahakans use the hand system. After counting to nine there is no ten, but two hands. Then it's all rounded or estimated to the nearest five. Four hands is twenty fingers. Got it?"

Nina was not interested in this alternate system of counting. She wondered what they were going to do when 40 murdering soldiers found them here, camped in this valley with no escape. She asked Tom. Tom shrugged and replied. "I guess we'll have to put on a show for them."

Nina couldn't believe her ears." A show? A show! You expect me to perform for those dirty murdering bastards?"

Tom looked at her with more seriousness than she thought he possessed and sternly replied. "I expect you to do what you must to stay alive and un captured!"

Nina resigned to do her best. Tom told her to get the girls and meet him in the tent then to Hilario he said,"go out and meet them, bring them here and tell them how sorry we are that we got lost on the way to their camp. Tell them we are preparing a special performance just for them."

"We are?" Hilario smiled at the thought.

"Yes my friend. We are going to give the performance of a lifetime! Now go!" Tom pointed toward the mouth of the valley and Hilario turned and ran in that direction.

As Nina lifted the tent flap for the girls to enter she heard Hilario shouting " Come to the circus! Come one come all!" As he ran out of sight.

++++++++++++

Emelia was dragged into the feeding room. Her torture today had been harsher than usual. She could hardly move because of the pain the wracked her body. She struggled to her hands and knees, then stopped to take a breath. She could feel the stabbing pain of her newly cracked ribs as she tried to summon the strength to stand.

"Get your worthless ass into that chair!" Her overseer kicked her in the rear and she fell forward knocking her chin on the floor. Stars leaped into her vision and swirled around as she tried to get her bearings.

"Get up!" He screamed. She was trying her best but first she had to figure out what up was. After the knock on the chin she was woozy and incoherent. She started to fade as her eyes slid shut. She heard the overseer screaming as if from down a deep well. Darkness came, warm echoing darkness.

There was a bright flash of "right here right now" followed by a snapping crackling sound that made Emilia wretch. She opened her eyes wide and tried to scream but the pain in her ribs was tremendous. The overseer had drawn back his foot to kick her again and she instinctively covered her side and tried to roll away. she caught the boot right in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. "l'll teach you what happens when you go to sleep on the job around here ya dirty tart!"

He raised the boot and stomped on her hand as she was trying to stand. Summoning all of her will, Emelia succeeded in standing, limping to the chair and sitting down. She gasped in short little breaths, it was a delicate balance between the pain of breathing and the agony of suffocation. The overseer sat on the edge of the table before her.

He smacked her in the face and said, " Aye, why so glum? Don't ya appreciate fine dining?" It wasn't until then that she realized she was in a dining room, not the usual feeding room. The Overseer grabbed a piece of warm bread and stuffed it in his mouth before continuing. " Ya see the master feels bad about the lack of hospitality you've received, so he's planned this little reunion party with your daddy before you feed the baby today. Now won't that be nice?" Emelia looked up at him. Her ribs were on fire, her jaw was swelling, she felt like throwing up. She didn't see how she could eat anything, but she so looked forward to seeing her father. She tried to sound grateful as she responded,"Yes sir, that will be very nice." but it came out sounding like "Yeshsshherrrr dawooob be bewwy mife." her tongue was swelling too although she could not remember biting it.

"Well then Love! Let me just go get him for you!" The overseer sounded jolly as he headed to the door and disappeared.

What was this all about? she wondered. Maybe her father had finally talked with master Brock and things were about to turn around for her. If she ever got a chance to speak to him she would tell him what a rotten person this overseer was. She would see that he was punished harshly, perhaps thrown in the deep dungeon, not the rooms in the east wing where she was.

The overseer returned dragging somone by the armpits, somone with a bag over his head. Emelia panicked when she recognized the clothing, she had made that shirt for her father. " Father? are you alright?" although it sounded like "Fasha awooo owipe?"

The overseer cackled as he set her father in the chair across from her. "Don't worry miss, he:s as right as rain. Just got a little headache is all. Seems he disagreed with the way we was treatin you and he brought it up to the master. After careful thought, the master replied like so..." with that the overseer lifted the bag from her fathers head like a magician finishing a trick. "Taaa Daaa!" he said.

Emelia could barely comprehend what she saw. It was a grotesque copy of somone who resembled her father but it couldn't be him, it just couldn't be. Her mind refused to believe it. Then the overseer grabbed the dead man by the hair and shook the misshapen head like a puppet. "Now eat up darling, you want to grow big and strong don't you? Ha ha ha ha!" the overseer looked genuinely amused as he helped himself to another slice of bread.

Emelia closed her eyes tight. As best she could she said, " I'm not hungry. Take me to the baby."

The overseer grabbed a handful of roast chicken from the table and slammed it on the plate in front of her. "You'll eat when I tell you or you'll find dead baby on tomorrows menu. Got it?!"

"Yesh" She responded through sobbing short gasps. She began eating. Her dead father seated across from her was blurred by agonizing tears.