Movement No. 15
Yasmeena
My eyes flutter open, and I take in the aromas of my tent. It smells like the floral candle I lit last night, my favorite perfume, and wolf.
Specifically, the lupion snoring in the bed beside mine.
Since Roxanne’s death, I feel like I’ve been in a bit of a fog, but I’m finally feeling myself again. We went another week without practicing, but now we’ve been back to it for a few days and I feel good.
My mind wanders to the feeling of Tempest’s chest pressing against mine, and the sexy citrusy scent she always seems to be wearing. I enjoy the way it feels when our skin brushes against one another’s, and the way we seem to compliment each other’s strengths.
I’m sore and bruised, but good. Grief is hard. I’ve been through so much worse and yet I find myself crying at random hours, worried about who might be victim to this pointless conflict next. Whether it’s felion or lupion, friend or foe, I want the deaths to end.
I stand up, careful not to wake Tempest as I quickly get dressed and make my way towards the hall. It’s early in the morning, in the hours before the carnival really comes to life, but I can feel something happening, like energy festering nearby.
Following this sensation of energy, I keep walking through the tents, out of The Sinner’s Circus, past the rides and stands, and over to the gate at the opening of Hel’s Carnival.
Lamps light the dirt path, with decorative signs and symbols tucked into different corners and sides of tents.
There in front of the iron gates stands a small child. He’s got lupion ears and a tail to match. His eyes are a deep green, ones I recognize. This must be the child that ran out during the food distribution pop-up.
His clothes are dirty and worn, fitting too snugly, and there’s something in his arms.
A cat. A small orange cat.
“Hi, are you alright?” I ask, unsure of what’s going on.
“Do you have more food?” he asks, his voice a little wobbly. He can’t be older than six.
I nod, immediately moving to open the gates. Maybe he remembers us from the food pop-up. “Of course, please, come with me.”
He’s pale and thin, but there’s a sort of spark in his eyes, and a smile lining his face.
“Where are your parents?” I ask, hoping we can reunite them later today, after he’s fed.
“They passed away and I was sent to Haeresis.” My heart shatters into a thousand pieces. I know exactly what it’s like to be him, to be lost, except I wasn’t this young and I had a brother to care for.
This little boy is all alone.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, and give his hand a squeeze. “Who sent you?”
“There was a nice lady. A half-demon. My mommy had sent me from Ira to Luxuria to find my aunt, but I couldn’t find her.
The lady sent me here, but I had some trouble finding it.
She said go to the carnival. I’ve been searching for weeks but I was scared to ask.
” He pulls out a crumpled up slip of paper with words scribbled on in faint ink.
Parents died fighting Legion defectors. Please take good care of him.
-P. O.
“You did so well, kid. You found the carnival!” I say, willing every ounce of joy I have into my tone.
We come up to the hall and I head inside, his little hand still in mine. Most of the other carnies are already sitting at the table, eating their breakfast, and Po jumps up, excited to see another child.
“Yasmeena, is that your friend?” Po asks, looking at the young boy.
“Yes, he’s my new friend I made just outside of the gate.”
Gemma looks over at us with star-like wonder. “What’s his name?”
“My name… is Nico,” he says, and she offers her hands to take his cat.
“And who might this little guy be?”
“Chicken.”
“Chicken?” Gemma is clearly holding in a giggle. “What an adorable kitty! Would you like to give him something to eat?”
Nico nods. “We’re very hungry.”
Gemma takes Nico and Chicken towards the kitchen, and he almost looks like he could be her child if it weren’t for the tail and ears.
Khalid and Draven both stand up at once and cross towards me.
“What is going on?” my brother asks, still in his pajamas, and I shrug.
“I found the kid outside the gates. Tempest and I fed him a couple of weeks ago, but he came with this note saying he was supposed to find the carnival,” I answer and hand Draven the slip of paper.
Draven’s eyes scan the note and nod. “He’s one of us now.”
“What? Who is P. O.?”
“Phaelyn Orzath,” Draven explains. “My sister.”
Though many of the members of the carnival consider each other family, Draven has a biological sister as well. I don’t know much about her, but she works for Zada Morningstar and sometimes attends the meetings we have with the entire Morningstar family.
I nod in understanding. If she sent the child to be cared for by us, cared for by us he shall be.
“I’ll go get Raph,” Baelor says, and it’s one of the rare occasions I’ve seen him act so serious. I think Baelor is a womanizer, absolutely, but I also think he has a soft spot for children and animals.
Chicken crawls out from the kitchen, reentering the main part of the hall and immediately rubs himself on Leo, who is sitting at the table drinking a coffee. He leans down to pet the cat, and the creature jumps up onto his lap.
“Hey, Draven,” Leo yells, his voice booming from across the long table as the cat kneads his legs.
“What?”
“Looks like the cat prefers me” Leo says, and smiles at Draven, who rolls his eyes.
“I don’t even like cats,” Draven says.
Khalid’s face forms a pathetic, exaggerated frown as he points to his tail. “I thought you loved cats.”
“I hate both of you and I hate cats,” Draven whispers.
“That’s not even remotely true,” Gemma shouts from inside the kitchen, her tone sharp. “Now shut your faces, you don’t want Nico to think you hate his little friend.”
It’s nice to see Leo back to his old self, shamelessly teasing Draven and Khalid. I know firsthand how overwhelming grief can be, but I hope he continues choosing joy.
Aida coughs, demanding our attention, and it sends a shiver down my spine. “Has anyone told the lupion that one of her kind is here?”
“No,” we all say in tandem.
“Should I?” I ask, and she nods.
“They are the same species, she might know who the parents were, or at least have a way of advising you of your next steps,” Aida says, ever the wise one, before slithering out of the tent.
The other carnies—including Tempest—enter the tent, and Raph sits down to explain what has happened in the past. They try to contact next of kin, but if no one is alive or available, the carnies take the child in and care for them, raising them as their own.
Draven, Lilian, Absinthe, and Reina were all raised as children or teens by the carnies.
Absinthe shares about her childhood, explaining that she sees Robyn and Quinn as her family, as well as Draven, Lilian, Reina, and Taryn as her siblings.
Khalid and I actually weren’t privy to this information previously. In their defense, I never asked. I always assumed that the person who found the child was responsible, but that would mean that Nico is now mine to care for, a responsibility I’m not sure I’m ready for.
I never really wanted children, especially not any of my own, but I don’t dislike them.
“We will care for the child if no one else is willing,” Quinn says, speaking for The Three Muskets, as they’ve so lovingly been nicknamed.
Quinn has intrigued me since I joined. They walk around the carnival, bouncing about and playing their dulcimodia, but they’re actually a little shy and reserved.
So are Taryn, Leo, and Aida, which is not something I expected from my fellow performers.
Khalid and I are loud and bold, but it’s good we’re not all the same.
Hel’s Carnival is a well-balanced team. A family, even.
“That’s great. You’re all wonderful parents, but I wonder if—what’s his name?” Raph asks, pausing his line of thought.
“Nico,” I say, looking over to where Chicken still rests on Leo’s lap.
“I wonder if Nico would be better suited with Tempest, as they’re both lupion.”
I can feel the energy shift beside me, Tempest’s entire body going rigid.
“No,” she says, firm and finite.
Everyone’s eyes widen. Some in judgement, others in shock. An entire table of mostly golden eyes staring directly at her.
“Would you like time to think it over?” Raph offers, but Tempest shakes her head, playing with the fingerhole of her hoodie.
“No. I am not interested.” There is no softness to her tone, no empathy. Part of me wonders why she feels so strongly about this, and another part of me is proud of her for sticking with her boundary.
I understand that he’s a lupion, but that doesn’t mean she owes him anything.
Raph’s eyes make his way over to where Lilian and Baelor sit, but they don’t say anything, both sets of eyes meeting the floor. Raph doesn’t know that they’re trying for a family of their own, so it’s unsurprising he thinks they might be interested.
“Reina, would you have any interest in caring for the child?” Raph asks as footsteps approach.
“Hi.” Nico sprints into the room before turning back to Gemma. “Who is Draven again?”
Gemma points to her husband, and Nico charges towards him. Draven’s mouth curves into the most adoring smile. “How can I be of assistance?”
“I asked Gemma if I could live with her and she said I have to ask you,” Nico says, green eyes beaming up at the half-demon.
Draven uses his knuckles to scruff the top of the child’s head. “Now, are you sure you want to do that?”
“Yes, I’m really sure. I really like Gemma. Plus, Ms. Phaelyn said you’d be good parents to me,” he answers as he climbs into Draven’s lap.
I think every individual in the room is fighting back tears.
Draven and Gemma haven’t been open about it, but I’ve been quietly wondering if they’ve been struggling with fertility issues, as there have been some signs.
Regardless, this is an amazing opportunity for them to have a family of their own.
Gemma having been raised by her grandparents, and Draven having gone through what he has, they’ll understand the trauma Nico has likely endured more than anyone.