"She can't look like an animal," the right twin pressed.
"Yes, that's your job," the left one agreed. They both gave him disapproving looks before shaking their heads. But after they realized Ravin was keeping his ground, they abandoned their mission to go finished getting ready themselves.
"We're on next anyway." And with that, they left.
The show was in the middle of an exchange, this much was evident by the crowd's cheer. But that meant little to Ravin as he turned and finally looked over at Ariel. Their eyes met for a moment, albeit something brief before he moved away. And the little owl would not have time to confront him on the matter when another person came back through the curtain to inform them
"You two are on."
The pair soon found themselves under heavy escort- chains around their necks and leashes held by a series of men. If either tried to fight or look at anyone funny, they were met with a quick smack with a stick.
They were brought now before the main event tent, which was consuming the majority of the town's square. There were so many attending the show in this little town,t he main white housing tent appeared to be bursting from all the activity, and as the back clothe door was opened to them- they would be greeted wiht the stuffy hot confines of the tent- and the sudden roaring cheer of the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls, this is the moment all of you have been waiting for!" Lord Martin announced, face glistening off the torch lights from the sweat that now collected across his face, and even darkly along his back and under arms. He raised his arm after removing his hat and gestured towards the young pair as they were forced forward. "I present to you, for the first time ever- our Beast..." and the crowd gave a cheer, even some whistles at as the handsome, blonde hair boy was presented before them- then Lord Martin went on, "And his true rival- Beauty!"
The crowds applauds were deafening, whistles accompanying it at an even louder capcity and time seemed to slow as Ravin made his way across the dusty carpet of the tent. All eyes were upon them- the people, frothing mad with excitement. And as it was with every show, every man, woman and child all looked the same, faces all dirty and eager with eyes suctioned his way and their calls, nearly splitting his ears in their excitement.
But he knew those cheers would soon turn into screams as he braced himself from where the end of his chain had allowed him some distance. He knew the game well, and glanced over at Lord Martin. As usual, the man stood just outside the area where Ravin's chains could reach- though try as he might when the time came when he would turn into a monster, Lord Martin was always just out of harm's way...
But it was here Ravin noticed something peculiar, and as his eyes traced his own chain link leash, he noticed a second one criss-crossing his own.
Ariel's.
The young girl's chains were within his range, and it was only then Ravin showed any ounce of fear as he stared back at Owlet while Lord Martin shouted out the final words to his monologue,
"And with the power of this magical wand I carry, we have been able to tame the beast seen before you- but what may appear like just an ordinary, young man, is anything but! For below the surface resides a demon- and where this wand can command him to remain in this form- it can also wake him up!"
And the crowd was still applauding, goading the man on as Lord Martin cast the pair a sinister smile, money in his eyes and his eyes on the prize.
"This is the first time, ladies and gentleman, we will turn the boy into a beast to see how he fairs against a maiden. Give them a big round of applause and hold your breaths- for I present to you now... THE BEAST!"
And the crowd roared in unison as Lord Martin struck his wand Ravin's way- and a quick burst of magic was thrust out- and struck the boy down. Ravin collapsed to the dirty floor and went still. Though in those paused moments as the crowds voices began to rise, Ravin begun to seizure upon the floor.
Eyes rolling into the back of his head, he trembled and writhed upont he floor, his skin slicking with sweat. Finger nails were the first to change, as painful claws burst out, breaking out of his hand and bones- while the rest of his arm began cracking and realigning beneath his skin. They shifted and grew and snapped out and reformed all over his body- even his face appeared to split open, as jaws roared out, and transforming, clawed fingers pounded into the ground once, twice, then three time before he threw his head back just as massive, thorn like horns jutted out towards the sky.
Blood gushed from his wounds as spikes suddenly tore out from his back side, ripping flesh and clothing alike, and in a few more seconds of disgusting splits and jerks of his body- suddenly, the blonde haired boy was no more, replaced by a horned human like animal that roared it's saliva filled fangs towards the crowd.
And everyone had gone silent- but the second the young boy turned demon bean to charge their way, the entire crowd screamed in a panic.
