Gifted, A Donovan Circus Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

of
others for a really long time. I don’t want to overestimate myself.”
    “Everyone, no matter what gift,
has different levels of skill and now you can really push yourself. You need to
earn your place before you are accepted. Once people see you can hold your own
and they do not have to support you, it will be fine. You have to understand
that,” Delia said.
    She affectionately yanked my
ponytail. “Look, I will help, and Sheffield is always great with us. That is a
start, no? I will introduce you to my friends and you will love it here, I think.
You are being far too angry on yourself. Stay calm.”
    I was my own worst enemy. I took
a deep breath in and tried to shake the nerves. “Okay, who’s next on the need
to know list?”
    “I thought it might be good for
you to try and meet up with other Firestarters, make sure they know you are
here and ready to learn the ropes. I happen to be good friends with two of
them.”
    “I’m under Sheffield’s request
to train with them, so I better do that soon. I guess you should introduce me,”
I said.
    “He requested you train?” she
asked, brow furrowed. “He wants you in the actual show, then.”
    “Does that make a difference?”
    “Well, people will want to know
what your place is here. It makes them re-evaluate their own worth, take their
own talents into account. If you get a piece of the show, that is great, but I
would not crow about it to anyone yet,” she advised.
    “Got it. Well, keep that between
us then, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to upset anyone. Besides, it’ll be a
good while before that happens.”
    We continued on our path but I
had no idea to where. I tried not to stare at everyone as we passed by their
tents: an extremely obese woman deflated into a skinny, lithe figure, startling
me. Our eyes met.
    “I have to pin back the skin
now,” she said as she disappeared into her tent. I tried not to wrinkle my nose
in case she still watched me.
    A tattooed, bearded man
swallowed swords, including the handle; others were examining costumes,
juggling bowling pins, and fixing their props. I tore my gaze away back to
Delia.
    “Let’s talk about the actual
circus,” I said. “All Sheffield told me was that it was a lot bigger than
anyone around plus the typical schedule.”
    “Well, there are what, eighty of
us or so? There are fewer humans than gifted. My parents helped with the behind
the scene jobs; they ran ticket sales, games and food, helped with the animals,
that sort of thing. There is less chance of someone getting hurt if gifted are
the ones in the show instead of humans. Performances can be a danger. But a few
are artists as well, like clowns. It is obvious to tell the difference, even
though most of us look human anyways.”
    “Wait, are you implying that
some of you…well, don’t look human?”
    “Some of us have physical
differences. It is funny that people pay to see these things and yet they still
think somehow it’s fake or glued on. Or like when they see Jade move objects;
they search for the trick. You know, though—did they not all think your
father was some sort of illusionist?”
    “True. It’s easy to fool them
when they are so eager to ignore what they don’t know. What about the lot
setup? Who goes in which tents?”
    She pointed at the Big Top,
motioning her hands as she spoke. “Well, there is the main tent, of course,
where we all group for the big show at night. But we will run around in the
morning for prep—getting costumes and props, some practice, all that
stuff. Since you are new, you will probably help others with stunts and
performances, small things. We are not really “assigned” to a tent, though we
do have a few designated tents for things like fortune telling, animals, and
clowns. Of course the games and food vendors are out in the open.
    “You will not be with any of the
animals or their handlers; that is a very specific group and without training,
you cannot do it. They are particular