Two-Headed Dame

Joesphine and Lucinda sat on their stool, staring at their reflection in the vanity. Josephine felt the heart pounding in their chest while contemplated stepping out into a world that viewed them as a freak. She squeezed the fabric of their dress in her left hand, trying to calm herself.

"We can't keep them waiting, Josephine," Lucinda called again. "They paid good money to see us."

"But what if they turn on us? What if they throw things? Or scream?" Josephine's voice trembled with fear.

Lucinda's second head peered around the corner of the vanity. "They won't," she said firmly. "Papa wouldn't allow it."

The mention of Papa steadied Josephine's nerves somewhat. Lucinda was right; their adoptive father would never let any harm come to them. He had saved them from a life on the streets and given them a home and a family.

The two women stood and smoothed down their dress, both heads taking a deep breath and stepped away from the mirror.

"We are beautiful," she whispered under her breath as she walked across the room.

Lucinda held out her hand as Josephine approached, their fingers intertwining like two vines curling together. They shared a look of determination before opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.

As they made their way downstairs, Josephine could hear Papa speaking with someone in hushed tones in his study. She paused outside his door for a moment to listen.

"You understand that I'll do whatever it takes to protect my girls," Papa said sternly.

A voice replied, too low for Josephine to make out individual words, but she recognized it as belonging to Mister Blackwell—the owner of Pennyroyal's Peculiarities, the circus that employed them.