The Carnival of Truth and Deception

Carnival of Truth and Deception

By Heather David

A carnival had arrived on Halloween night at the college. Fun houses had been set up. Booths sold cotton candy, popcorn and every sweet treat known to man. Rides had been set up, and games booths lined with patrons competing for giant stuffed animals. All the occupants of the carnival were dressed in costumes and eating candy by the carload. Bianca saw none of it.

Bianca Pearl Finley walked through the carnival with tears flowing from her sapphire blue eyes. She was dressed like a corpse bride. Her pale golden hair had been wrapped in a braid under a veil. The wedding dress she wore flattered her figure, making her look pure and beautiful. Her tears smudged her makeup, but added to the effect of her costume. Her heart was broken in such a way she was never sure she would heal.

She stopped beside the entrance to the Big top tent. She wrapped her arms around her torso and wept. The image burned like a ball of fire in her mind's eye. The kiss had been romantic, but not for her. How could she have dreamed of such?

“Dear sweet bride, are your tears real, or are part of the ensemble?” a mysterious voice broke the silence.

Bianca gasped and flinched as she looked up. A tall man with long dark hair, pointed ears, and Harlequin makeup stood before her. He was dressed like a dark circus ringmaster. His smile was both mischievous and sympathetic with a mouth that revealed canine teeth as he offered her a handkerchief.

“Who….are you?” Bianca stuttered as she accepted it.

“I am Ringmaster Soren, Head of the Carnival of Truth and Deception,” he said with a theatrical bow. “And you are the lady Bianca Pearl Finley.”

Her grip upon the handkerchief tightened. “How do you know my name?”

Soren gestured toward the back of the grounds with his cane. “I saw you lay eyes upon something which caused you grief. Might I inquire?”

Bianca felt a subtle sensation in her heart telling her she was safe. Going with her gut, she told her story. Her childhood best friend had been a boy named Sampson. How he had always protected her through elementary school and into high School. How Sampson had always been the big brother she never had, while she always helped him study.

“We went to senior prom, but just as friends,” explained Bianca. “I wanted to tell him how I felt, but the fear of things getting awkward held me back. When we graduated, he promised to meet me here at college. I told myself this could be my Cinderella moment.” Her tears fell fresh. “But a few minutes ago, I saw him get on bent knee and offer a ring to Delilah. She's the daughter of the CEO who owns this campus.”

Bianca wiped her eyes again. “I feared losing him for so long, now it's happened. For that matter, what do I have to offer? Delilah is rich. The only reason I'm here is because of a full scholarship. Even then, I still have to go to food banks, and have Mom do my laundry.”

Soren’s eyes held the same sympathetic but subtly mischievous expression as he nodded. “Perhaps then, Miss Bianca Pearl, tonight would be ideal for the truth behind the deception.”

“What do you mean?” asked Bianca.

Soren made a grabbing gesture then handed her a poker card with a joker (the moonlight briefly lit up a strangely familiar scar on his hand). “Accompany me to the Big top tent. It might ease your broken heart.”

He offered her his arm. Shaking, Bianca accepted it and let him lead her inside. Spotlights and lamps decorated the tent. With it Bianca saw an acrobat performing on a tightrope. Gaped mouthed guests watched. Throughout the crowd she noticed various circus performers handing out cards similar to the one she had been given.

“What are these for?” whispered Bianca.

Soren released her hand. “A very special game, which is the very heart of our carnival. Hold tight, and enjoy the show.”

He disappeared in a puff of smoke. When Bianca looked around, she spotted him as he appeared on stage, also surrounded by smoke. The spotlight fell on him. Soren removed his hat and bowed deeply to thunderous applause.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! And a happy Halloween to you all! I welcome you to the Carnival of Truth and Deception.” He walked along the stage swinging his cane. “Yet hear when I speak truth. The deception of this night lies in its mystery. For how does one know the ones who wear a mask from the ones who show their true faces?” His face was a cross between maniacal and mischievous. “For that reason, I ask you to welcome an Inquisitor of Truths. The great Madame Lillith, at your services.”

There was another flash of light and puff of smoke. A woman with dark red hair, wearing a village girl outfit with a corset appeared beside Soren. She curtsied to the crowd.

“Happy Halloween!” Madame Lillith said. “I ask all who were given a poker card to hold it up.” Various hands throughout the crowd shut up, including Bianca's. “Three lucky winners shall have the spotlight upon them tonight. Tell me who has the queen of hearts, the king of spades, and the joker.”

Cries of excitement shot through the crowd as two people jumped up and down. A tall young man in a Hercules costume complete with a lion wig hopped on the stage. He brought with him a beautiful woman dressed like Glinda the Good witch. From her hiding place Bianca blushed; it was Sampson and Delilah.

Madame Lillith however still scanned the crowd. “Where is the guest with the joker card?”

Bianca’s face turned three shades of red. She trembled as she kept looking between the stage, the searching crowd, and the card in her hand. How could she go up there? Two hands suddenly grabbed her wrists and thrust them in the air.

“Found her! Found her!”

The spotlight landed on Bianca, making her heart dance. Soren appeared beside her in a puff of smoke and took her hand. A second later they were both on the stage.

Soren smiled apologetically. “Don't be afraid,” he whispered.

Madame Lillith took the cards from each contestant. She looked at their faces, and costumes. Delilah and Sampson looked as if they had won the lottery, while Bianca wanted to run.

“Hmmmmm,” said Madame Lillith. “Heroes of fiction,” she glanced at Bianca, “and tragic lovers.” She turned back to Sampson and Delilah. “I see tonight is cause for joy. You two are now engaged?” Sampson proudly took Delilah's hand and held it up so the spotlight shone upon her ring. The crowd cheered while Bianca hung her head.

“I congratulate you,” said Madame Lillith. “Yet beneath the truth, I spot many deceptions.”

Sampson raised an eyebrow. “There's no lies here; I love her.”

Madame Lillith raised an eyebrow back. “Then you deny you have broken hearts in the past and forged all your test scores through school so that you could arrive at this college?”

Before he could speak a screen appeared. It showed Sampson’s childhood. Bianca gasped when she saw him getting test answers from other children, sometimes copying them from her homework, or the Internet. Worse still, it showed him having more than one girlfriend. Each one received kisses in exchange for helping him cheat further. When the images stopped, the crowd booed him.

“You people don't even know me!” scoffed Sampson. “That could be AI for all anyone knows!”

Delilah stepped forward and glared at him. “Then explain why one of the girls you kissed was my cousin?!”

Before either of them could speak, Madame Lillith held up the next card. “Now the queen of hearts. Or should I call you the Queen of Heartbreakers? Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”

The images on the screen showed Delilah's childhood. How she was constantly spoiled by her father. Then how he finally cut her off, saying she had to work for anything she wanted. Then revealing how she had multiple boyfriends, each one more well to do than the last. How each boyfriend in return not only fueled her high lifestyle, but bribed her college professors into changing her grades. The last image showed one of the other boyfriends had also proposed. To which Sampson scoffed but glared at her. Delilah's face turned red and she trembled with fury, while the crowd booed her just as loudly.

“So you see,” went on Madame Lillith, “In deception you two are both perfect for each other.” She then turned to Bianca, who stepped away. “Have no fear, child. For you,” she held up the last card, “are no joke, but a pearl among thorns.”

Soren steadied Bianca as images appeared of her. They showed her struggle through childhood to help keep her family fed. How she endured many holidays without gifts, but still felt blessed that her family was near. How she endured bullying, but was then protected by Sampson. How she helped her parents without expecting anything in return. How she worked hard and entered college through her scholarship.

“You see, my friends,” said Madame Lillith. “We have a woman of virtue. A young woman has endured much grief, but still loves unconditionally.” She glared at Sampson and Delilah. “And here she has endured the grief of one friend who broke her heart, deciding she was still not good enough.”

The crowd suddenly froze, going silent, and the music stopped. The circus performers all climbed onto the stage; they had changed. Sharp fangs appeared in their mouths, which they aimed at Sampson and Delilah. The two hugged each other and wept, while Bianca gasped. Even Soren and Madame Lillith had fangs which they used to snarl at the two.

“What shall it be, Miss Bianca Pearl?” growled Soren as he approached the pair.

“Shall we drain every drop of blood from their bodies, so they feel every bit of pain you felt, thus being paid back in full?” snarled Madame Lillith. She approached Sampson, who cried like a little boy. “I shall start with this one!”

Soren approached the weeping Delilah. “This one looks delicious!”

Before any of them could attack, Bianca ran forward and threw her arms in front of the couple. “No! No! Don't do this!”

“Why enough not?!” cried Soren as he gestured at the images. “This boy broke your heart!”

Madame Lilith flashed her fangs at Delilah. “Not to mention this girl has been taking everything from you!”

“NO!” Bianca shook her head as more tears fell. “I could never live with myself if the way I coped with the pain was by having blood on my hands!”

Sampson and Delilah suddenly froze. The fangs disappeared from all the circus performers' mouths as they bowed deeply before Bianca.

“Well done, Bianca Pearl,” said Soren. “Where they have exalted themselves, they have been humbled. You on the other hand, have humbled yourself, now you shall be exalted.”

Madam Lilith curtsied deeply. “An honor to truly meet you at last, Bianca Pearl.”

Bianca lowered her arms. “Who are all of you, really? And how do you know me?”

Soren stepped forward, with genuine love in his eyes. “Twelve years ago, Bianca, a boy with bleeding hands, stumbled into your backyard. You and your parents bandaged him, and called the police. But later you fell asleep, then found him gone. A few years after that, on the eve of your birthday, you saw a family who was hungry. You gave them something to eat, then the next day found a wonderful feast and a pile of gifts for you. Then last year, when you were attacked by a drunk, a man you could not see saved you.”

Soren bowed again. “I was that boy, the family you fed was mine. As I was also your rescuer.”

Bianca looked between them with eyes wide as saucers. “Why have you not revealed yourselves till now?”

“We are elves,” said Madame Lillith. “We needed to see if you were worthy. You most certainly are, Bianca Pearl.” She gestured around. "No human will remember what they have seen, save those who will know the treachery of these two.”

Soren pulled an invitation from his pocket. “If you are willing to accept, we have another show next week. We wish your parents to come. We will provide for you, just as you provided for us. Do you accept it, Bianca Pearl?”

Bianca wiped away her tears, and nodded. “I can't thank you enough.”

When the spell was broken, all was forgotten except by Bianca (and the CEO who knew at last what his daughter had done). Not long after that night, both Sampson and Delilah were expelled from the college, never to be seen again. Bianca invited her parents to the next show. There they met Soren, Madame Lillith, and the rest of the performers.

Bianca became very close to Soren. She learned the secrets of the elves and the fae realm they had come from. It was not long before another invitation was given; one presented with a golden ring. Thus Bianca's heart was healed, and her happiness was at last complete. No longer would it be hurt by deception, but healed with truth, and something more powerful still; love.

THE END