Eden Haus

Excerpt from Part One: Two Coins for Entry,

A well composed man approached the center of the stage, and as he was noticed by the guests, a small cheer of encouragement rang out, and quickly after  the crowd began to quiet down to the eventual silence in suspense.

“Good evening to you,

A short word before the show begins, if you would.”

The man before the crowd smiled brightly, hands crossed behind his back. He began to walk the stage, addressing the crowd directly.

“It has been said that we of Eden are no more than a brothel and a circus.”

A bout of laughter followed this. He raised a single hand, pausing.

“Neither simply a brothel nor circus, this house is full of all things short of God.” 

He continued to pace.

“The Haus of Eden kindly requests you to open your minds from such simple acts.”

He waited expectantly for a moment of pause for the drama.

“Every weeks end, it is both the same and something new.”

“The ladies are covered in rouge, beasts in their costumes, cats, dogs, bears, and otherwise alike.”

“Once the lights go off, it’s showtime.”

“From high dives into small pools to swinging rings of fire or the most daring feats, beasts, or acts.”

“Here in Eden we have done it all.” A Cheshire smile spread wide across his face.

“And every year we hold the most wonderful events!” He returned center stage.

“So it is my pleasure to announce to you, may Eden Haus present; one week only, ‘The Garden of Good and Evil’.”

“Find the lady of the gate, fair miss Viola, before you leave this evening for any inquiry. Buy early, as they will sell out fast.”

“ On the last week of August, we shall welcome you to indulge yourselves like never before.”

“And remember, enjoy the show.” 

He gave a short bow, and with it, the lights were put out quickly behind.

The ring lit shortly thereafter with fire, flames licking the circle of the center stage.

Inside them, a dancing woman began to swing a flaming fire fan, and the show had begun to start.

Excerpt from Part  Two: A Spectator,

Viola watched the performance with such envied fascination.

How lovely, the woman in the ring. How she dared to swing and climb, legs running on air at the strength of her arms holding her life in the midst of this stage.

Viola would sometimes dare to wish that she could be like that. But of course, it would be unacceptable for her to do such a thing. She should not even be inside after working the gate. And although she knew better, tonight her eyes were drawn to the stage like a moth to a flame. 

To wear beautiful dresses and have every pair of eyes in the room on her, for she could never handle such a thing.

Yet Viola cannot help but continue to stare. Mars was beautiful. Kind. Lovely, everything she wished she could be. But Viola felt she could never be as dauntless and daring as her.