Phineas popped his collar up a bit more as he and Tina walked through the streets of Paris arm in arm. Phineas was a tall man with thick dark brown hair combed back, but not slicked down with any product. He also had a matching trimmed beard and light blue grey eyes accented with laugh lines. He wore a dark blue fedora, a black long coat, dark blue closed vest, blue tie, white dress shirt, dark blue slacks, and black leather shoes.

"Do you think this is it?" Phineas asked softly.

"I think so." Tina nodded, looking worried. Phineas reached up placing his hand over hers that was resting in the crook of his arm.

"Then don't worry. We'll get him out of here and somewhere safe." Phineas assured her.

"Thank you, again, for coming with me." Tina smiled up at him.

"Anything for you doll." Phineas winked.

"Doll?" Tina echoed in amusement.

"Something I picked up in my trip to America. No good?" Phineas asked, but Tina just shook her head with a small laugh.

"Come on, this way." Tina led him down some stairs walking up to a beautiful bronze stature of a woman aged green over the years. At their approach the statue started to move, her hand going to her skirt that was draped down the pillar she sat on. The two of them sidled up to it making sure that no one saw them enter the hidden portal under the skirt.

On the other side they were met with music, laughter, and conversation, a stark contrast to the quiet on the other side of the portal. The circus was in full swing with a flashing banner declaring Arcanus: Freaks and Oddities! There were several tents surrounding a big top in the center.

They walked past the street performers working in the open, scrutinizing them. A half-troll performed feats of strength while a few misshapen and particularly downtrodden humanoids known as under beings without powers, but of magical ancestor, shuffled around taking money from the crowd. Horns hidden beneath hats, unusual eyes beneath hoods, and other oddities concealed. Half-elves and half-goblins juggle and tumble for the entertainment of the crowd. Phineas and Tina's eyes lingered on a magnificent Chinese Zouwu, a giant catlike creature with a long, plumed tail, is imprisoned in a cage.

"Newt and Ellie would have a fit if they saw all this." Phineas said under his breath.

"I know it's bad, but we can't get distracted." Tina frowned as they made their way through the crowd as fireworks began to illuminate the sky.

They slipped into the big tent where the ring leader was standing in the center addressing the crowd, many of whom were drunk. Phineas glared off quite a few that got to close to Tina for his comfort not noticing that she was doing the same for him. Luckily their attention was taken by the spectacle before them.

As Skender talked he whipped back the curtains revealing a young oriental woman known as Nagini standing in a snake skin dress looking very uncomfortable. Men whistled and jeered at her like a bunch of animals. Tina glanced up at Phineas when she felt him got tense, his jaw working as his eyes were narrowed in anger. The more Skender talked about her blood curse the angrier Phineas was getting.

Tina knew that Phineas's was a healer who specialized in curses like this. He was trying to find ways to reverse the strongest of physical curses and the blood curse was one of the worst. To see someone suffering from such a horrible fate and having that nightmare be used to someone else's advantage really sat him off. Tina tugged on Phineas's arm regaining his attention and pulled him toward the back of the crowd.

"She is forced to become…" Skender came to the climax of his speech, but Nagini did nothing as she glared at him angering him. "She is forced to become!"

"Phin." Tina said softly nodding over to where she spotted Credence. Together they started to edge toward him trying not to attract any unwanted attention.

"She is forced to become!" Skender hit the bars with a whip. Nagini closed her eyes before throwing herself back and melting into a writhing pile of coils.

"Over time, she will not be able to transform back. She will be forever trapped in the body of a snake." Skender announced.

Suddenly Nagini struck Skender through the bars and utters a cry in parseltongue. Skender crumpled to the ground bleeding. As the back of the tent Credence smashed open the firedrakes cage and they soared to freedom like fireworks. The big top caught fire sending the crowd running in blind screaming panic falling over one another to reach the exit.

Phineas pulled Tina out of the big top as the fire started to consume it. Firedrakes weaved a patter in the sky trailing showers of sparks. The fire terrified and enraged all of the present creatures. A hippogriff is rearing and plunging while its handlers tried to control it.

Everywhere performers are packing up as fast as they can. Elves shutting themselves into boxes which folded smaller and smaller. Tina took out her wand and used it to apparate herself and Phineas the rest of the way out of the chaos.

The Zouwu crate was on fire shaking perilously, the creature within howling and roaring. Suddenly it exploded out of the crate looking around wildly in fear. It had been horrendously abused. Scars covered its face, it was malnourished, limping and was now driven to a frenzy of terror.

"Do you see him?" Phineas called out over the crowd.

"Over there." Tina pulled Phineas out of the crowd. "Credence!"

They tried to catch up with him, but it was no use as he disappeared with Nagini into the chaos. The Zouwu hobbled away as fast as it could into the darkness as Skender watched knowing he could not catch it. Cutting his losses he ran to galvanize his workers and save what he could of his tents.

"Pack it up! Paris is done for us now!" Skender snapped as he pointed his wand at the tent shrinking it to the size of a handkerchief. Stomping on it a few times to squelch the last of the flames he pocketed it.

"I think we need to have a talk with Mr Skender." Tina walked over to the ringleader with Phineas right behind her. "The boy with the Maledictus, what do you know about him?"

"He's looking for his mother." Skender said contemptuously. "All my freaks think they can go home." Skender leapt up into a carriage as all the crates and boxes are reduced to a few cases. "Okay, let's go."

"Well, that was helpful." Phineas grumbled as they watched the carriage clatter away into the night.

"It's a start." Tina frowned then both of them realized they were not alone. Turning the found a well-dressed man wearing a fedora with a feather in it standing behind them.

"Who are you?" Phineas asked bluntly.

"Not here." He replied and gestured for them to follow. Exchanging a quick glance Tina and Phineas cautiously followed the man to a Parisian Café. They took a seat outside ordering quickly before getting down to business.

"I think we were all at that circus for the same reason, monsieur…?" Phineas trailed off expectantly.

"Kama, Yusuf Kama. And you think right." Kama replied.

"What do you want with Credence?" Tina asked.

"The same s you." Kama replied.

"Which is?" Tina pressed.

"To prove who the boy really is. If the rumors of his identity are correct, he and I are…distantly…related. I am the last male of my pure-blooded line…and so, if the rumors are correct, is he." Kama told them. Kama took out a book of the predictions of Tycho Dodonus placing it before them. "Have you red the predictions of Tycho Dodonus?"

"Yes." Tina said as Phineas nodded.

"But that's a book of poetry, not proof." Phineas pointed out.

"If I could show you something better…more concrete…something that proves who he it…would the Ministries of Europe and America let him live?" Kama asked and there was a beat of silence.

"They might." Phineas spoke up.

"Then come." Kama nodded standing to his feet and one again Phineas and Tina followed.