The black velvet cloth covering the entire iron cage suddenly burst into countless brilliant golden flames, completely incinerating the murky gray miasma that had settled throughout the circus.
Each swirling streak of fire tore through the oppressive darkness, revealing Adrian's enormous true form as he coiled around the rusted iron bars. Layer upon layer of metallic scales clashed together with an elegant yet crisp clang... clang.... Adrian's proud sapphire-blue eyes stared straight down into the sandy arena, radiating a savage pressure that completely swallowed the stench of rotting death mingled with the sickly sweetness of spoiled cotton candy.
Nick, dressed in a garish clown costume, immediately yanked hard on the trunk's latch. The iron cage door burst open with a thunderous BANG!
Ember did not hesitate. He planted one foot atop a bloodstained iron spike, while the chain wrapped around the leather whip in his hand swept through the air in a perfect arc.
SMACK!
