Lorelei climbed through the reverse traffic of carnies and performers in the basement of the big top. A few fixed him with disapproving looks or curious expressions. His unbelonging was evident to all.
At last, he reached a door marked with a yellow triangle. Instinctively, he opened it.
In the small abode, Marrionetta was influcking her hair to create a wild decree of angles. Lorelei’s entrance surprised her. Like a cat, she burst from her plush footstool and gloamed monumental on the ceiling.
“I’ll roast your guts crisp, you wandering grease pig!” She had a knife.
Lorelei smiled. He pulled out his own knife and showed it to her. Then he put his knife down on her polished mahogany vanity. She — however — remained on the ceiling, a dark cloud verving around her.
“Have dinner with me,” said Lorelei.
Marrionetta hovered for a few more moments and then sank back down into her seat. She tarnished him with a frowning once-over. Then she made a show of cleaning all her frontmost teeth with her tongue. Lorelei’s face twitched.
“Tomorrow,” he said.
Marrionetta found this approach interesting. She picked up his knife.
“This looks expensive,” she said.
“It was,” he confirmed.
x9dread 