Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

*KURTHUNK!*

An arrow embedded itself in the target that was painted onto the board. Alongside it were several other arrows as well and a few throwing knives. Some of the arrows had maroon colored feathers, others had purple feathers. This last one to hit the target had a purple feather.

"Nicely done Clint." Chelsy praised him as she set aside her own compound bow. She was dressed in her circus costume with maroon leather gear and clothes. But her mask was pulled off and set next to her quiver and bow.

A Village outside of Paris, France

10:34 AM, July 13th, 1997

Clint smiled as he thought back on the last ten years. For the first two years he was living in the home the Buckholms owned in Oregon. It was located out in the woods, so he got plenty of opportunities to train using the bow and arrow his mother gave him.

Especially since his new adoptive parents were part of a circus called Tiboldt's Traveling Circus. Which also meant he was eventually part of the act once he turned fifteen, roughly three years ago.

Now he was one of the leanest and toughest eighteen year-olds around. Not to mention he was fluent in English, French, and Spanish. A very mean shot with a bow and arrow, almost to the point of never missing. He was good with other armaments as well, such as a pistol and throwing knives. But he was the best when it came to the bow. Even Chelsy praised his shooting, saying he was better than Artemis and Apollo when it came to shooting a bow.

His mother was still in prison. They often exchanged letters, apparently she became the prison 'mom' at one point. Becoming the key figure within the prison to negotiate and speak with people when there was a problem. Apparently killing her abusive husband gave her a lot of reputation.

She was apparently quite enjoying her life in prison. Even started a book club and sculpting class. She was ecstatic about his progress in using a bow and arrow. Even more ecstatic that he spoke multiple languages and had plans to go to university in New York.

His brother was a different matter though. Once he graduated high school he joined the Army in hopes of them funding his education later down the line. Apparently his adoptive parents completely cut him off as soon as he turned eighteen. But now he was working his way through the military, with a fantastic aim. Not as good as Clint's but still good enough that they made him a marksman.

Now he was god knows where doing god knows what. Last time they exchanged letters he was somewhere in Europe. Apparently he got a chance to watch the show at one point.

Clint nodded in acknowledgment of her words. "Thanks. What does Mr. Tiboldt wants to talk about tonight? I thought it was unusual that he would have us come in out of the blue. Especially since his parents have only passed within the last month."

Chelsy frowned in acknowledgment, "I agree it is weird." Then she smiled at him and started putting away her equipment. "Fortunately for you, Jacques and I plan to go tonight. So you can go out with… what was her name?"

Clint smiled as he glanced at Chelsy before he walked to the target board and started pulling out arrows and knives. "Her name is Anna," he smiled as he thought of something, "and what time are you two going to be home? You know for no reason… at all."

Chelsy chuckled as she glanced at him, "gonna bring her home for a little one on one action?"

Clint chuckled as he glanced at her, "maybe."

Chelsy nodded with a big smirk on her face before she zipped up her equipment bag. "We will go out to dinner after. But do us the same courtesy we do for you."

Clint raised an eyebrow as he looked over at Chelsy. "That would be?"

"Keep all the 'action' contained within your room. I don't want to come home to floors covered in clothes and mystery liquids." Chelsy smirked at him before she walked towards the cabin that they lived in.

Clint chuckled before he went back to packing up their practice equipment.

—-----------------------------

They walked into the circus tent and were stunned by what they saw. More than thirty new people were around. Chelsy did recognize a few old faces that used to work in the circus, but were kicked out due to… behavioral issues.

She glanced at Jacques and he was sporting the same frown she had. "Little Tiboldt is up to something. I have a feeling that stint in 'out of state' private school did not help him resolve his 'issues'."

Jacques nodded as he whispered back, "I agree. It might be time to go into a new line of work."

"Hmm… okay. Let's listen to the little shit and leave quickly." Chelsy walked toward one of the circus benches and sat down.

She then started looking around, taking stock of all the people who were here. There was the circus' young snake charmer who was the same age as Clint. There were the twin acrobats. The cannonball and his wife, the explosives expert. Then there was the current strong man as well as the person he replaced.

The old strong man still looked like he was hopped up on drugs. He got kicked out of the circus due to both his anger issues and overuse of steroids, but it looked like neither had stopped. The only thing that seemingly changed was the amount of scars he was sporting.

The other person was the old knife thrower, he had been replaced by Jacques. She saw first hand how the old knife thrower had psychotic tendencies. Last she saw of him was when he was being hauled off to prison after the police were able to figure out he was a serial killer.

She also recognized several other stagehands and assistants that were kicked out due to behavior issues or because they were participating in one crime or another. Many both her and Jacques recognized but did not like even remotely. Mostly because their list of crimes included murder and rape, or attempted of one or the other.

Then there were a number of others that she did not. But with the costumes they were dressed in he only had to guess that they were here to 'join' the circus so to speak. The costumed ones were located around where Tiboldt was standing, whispering to a few of them.

He then looked around with a look of disdain for a moment before he put on his signature fake smile. He opened his arms wide, "welcome ladies and gentlemen! I would like to welcome you to the new age of Tiboldt's Circus. Or more accurately the Circus of Crime!"

There was a unified chant of the new people and the ones that got kicked out. '"Circus of Crime!"' Tiboldt then turned his attention to the performers that were still a part of the circus. "And what of you lot?"

Jacques and Chelsy glanced at each other and quickly exchanged a silent agreement… to not speak just yet.

"We will pass." Lisa, the explosives expert stated. "We want no part in your-" she looked disgusted, "childish ideas. Now if you will excuse us-"

"Break her legs." Tiboldt solidly declared.

The woman flinched and only got a chance to slightly turn her head when the old strongman, Zandow. Punched her in the shoulder, sending her flying into the arms of a Clown and one of the old stagehands.

"Hey!" Her husband, the human cannonball, yelled and went to help her when Zandow pushed him and pinned him to the ground. "Let go! You bastard!"

"Keep holding him Zandow. Clown, break the woman's legs." Tiboldt declared before he turned to the other members of the circus. "Let this woman be an example. You work for me now, you either get in line-"

"Aarrgh!" Lisa screamed in pain as there was a sickening crack as the one in clown makeup one of her legs and then the other leg. "Aarrgh!"

"Or you get put in line. Of course this is only the more crude method I would use. You all have family or something precious to you. Keep those things in mind." He then smiled with his fake and radiant smile. "Now then, pack your things. We are going on tour in a week. I won't tell you where just yet." He smiled toward the crowd, "it will be a show to remember. So make sure to pack all your good- and lethal gear." He then walked away with a number of his followers coming with him.

Once he was out of the tent, Jacques and Chelsy exchanged a worried look. "We need to call Clint." Jacques nodded in agreement.

But their attention was suddenly grabbed by the stagehands and Lisa's scream, "No! Get off me!" They looked over to see Jackson the Cannonball getting knocked out and a few of the former stagehands and assistants started tearing off Lisa's clothes as she started to try and struggle.

"Oh stop struggling, Tiboldt said we could do whatever we wanted with you so that is what we are-" The stagehand stopped mid sentence as a throwing knife embedded itself in his chest. "Aaaah!"

"Huh!" Zandow spun around but lost unconsciousness as a wood beam smacked him on the head. He kept standing for a moment before he fell backwards and collapsed. Standing over him was Chelsy with a wood beam that was broken in half.

Walking towards the stagehands that were pinning Lisa down was Jacques spinning a pair of throwing knives in each of his hands.

"Walk away now, or regret it." Jacques declared.

"Tiboldt said-"

"I do not care, because there is a line that I will simply not allow to be crossed." Jacques then glanced around at the tent full of people. "Any questions?"

"Aaarrgh!" One of the other stage hands ran forward to attack but he was attacked by the Yemi Twins, the acrobats.

Lisa was crying when Chelsy walked up and started picking her up. She then glanced over at Jacques and the other members of the former circus that were looking to them for guidance. "Come on. We need to talk… somewhere else."

—----------------------------

"Set her down on the table." Chelsy stated as she moved off the few items that were lying around. "Jacques, grab the first aid kit from the bathroom."

Lisa was groaning and tossing about. "Umm… is there a change of clothes we can get for Lisa." one of the Yemi twins asked.

Chelsy glanced at Lisa then nodded. She looked towards the young snake charmer who had recently joined the circus and looked lost in thought, "Zelda darling, can you go upstairs and grab some clothes from my closet."

Zelda flinched and looked at Chelsy for a moment before she walked up the stairs to get the clothes. Something like this would obviously be traumatic for the young girl. Chelsy was just glad that Clint was not there tonight.

She looked around at the other's in the room. Jackson the Cannonball was lying unconscious still on the couch. The Yemi twins were looking worried about what had happened and about Lisa, who happened to be the orphaned twins' godmother. Then there was Moses the Strongman. He had first aid experience so he was looking over Lisa's legs with a frown.

"Even if she recovers she will have a permanent limp." Moses stated as he accepted the first aid bag from Jacques.

"Okay, let's focus on making sure Lisa and Jackson are fine first. Then we will discuss what we should do." At that moment she looked to the stairs to see Zelda coming down with a red face and a set of clothes in hand. "What's wrong?"

"Umm…" Zelda looked nervously around before she seemed to decide on something and walked up next to Chelsy, "I saw your son on the back hill with a pair of twins."

"Oh?" Chelsy let a smile grace her face, "thank you, I will go talk to him in a second." She then turned to Jacques, "I am stepping out for a second to call an old contact of mine."

Jacques frowned but nodded before he turned his attention to injured Lisa and unconscious Jackson.

Chelsy stepped out and pulled on her coat. As she walked out the back door she started walking down the hill. As she walked she stopped by a stone wall where she could hear moans and giggling. She stopped next to it and looked over to see Clint and a pair of twins, french she believes, doing the horizontal dance.

"Clint." Chelsy's voice was like a bolt of lightning as all three looked at Chelsy in shock.

"Mom!" Clint started looking for something to cover himself.

"Don't worry, you three are not in trouble. In fact, it would be better if you three stay out here for a while. I am running down to the telephone box, stay out of the house for a while. We might have guests for a few hours." She then looked over Clint and the twin's bodies and nodded with a smirk. "Have fun!"

She then continued walking down the hill, with a smirk on her face. Then she stopped when she was just about to enter the phone box when she thought of something. She did not see any protection among the trio's things.

She sighed then opened the phone box and stepped inside, spinning the dial a few times. Then a minute later she heard the person's gruff answer, "This is Fury."

"Fury, this is Chelsy Buckholm. I am calling in that favor you owe me."

—---------------------------

Walking back into the cabin, Chelsy looked around. Lisa was now sitting in one of the chairs with a pained look on her face, a pair braces were set up for her legs. While Jackson was holding a frozen piece of meat to his head.

Moses the Strongman was still looking over Lisa's legs. The Yemi twins were standing nearby with sad but relieved looks on their faces. While Zelda was pacing in the kitchen and glancing every once in a while out of the window to where she assumed Clint and the twins were. Chelsy almost smiled when she recognized the jealous look on her face.

She turned to Jacques who nodded at her as he wiped down the table with a wet cloth. "So do you know what we are going to do?"

"We will cooperate with him. Apparently Maynard Tiboldt has his hands in several pies. He is nicknamed Ringmaster because of his hypnosis machine or technique that he uses to control others in order to commit crimes without him dirtying his own hands." Chelsy explained. "He also has a network that keeps him off the police's radar. So there is no point in going to them."

"But you have an idea?" Lisa asked through pained grunts.

"Yes, we need to figure out how he does his hypnosis stuff. After that- we will be able to get out from under his thumb." Chelsy answered with a slight nod.

 "Okay… I assume you have a plan." Jacques asked.

Chelsy answered with a smile.

—---------------------------------

Clint walked down the stairs and entered the living room. Laying on the couch was Zelda from the circus. He frowned but walked past her and into the kitchen. Where Jacques was making crepes.

"Hey Jac. What is with the house guests?" Clint asked as he sat at the kitchen counter. He had come in late at night with the woman and gone up to his room. They were still asleep, but when he came in he did notice a distinct increase in occupants of their house.

"Something happened last night?" Jacques stated before slightly smiling after glancing at the doorway. "We will talk about it after your 'friends' leave."

Clint glanced over to the doorway and saw the twins walking inside the kitchen. "Annaliese and Genevieve, how did you two sleep last night?"

The twins looked at each other before they giggled. Twenty minutes later after both Chelsy and Jacques had a breakfast conversation with them they left.

After he watched them leave he turned to his adoptive parents with a frown, "What happened?"

"Maynard is still a little shit. Except now he is turning his parents circus into a criminal enterprise and he is strong-arming us into cooperating with him. Apparently he also has several police officers in his pocket." Chelsy explained as they walked into the living room where the rest were gathered. She then smiled, "but we have a plan."