Chapter 9 Rafael
Rafael
Rafael couldn't remember the last time he had so much fun riding the exhibits at the park. It had been years for certain.
Exploring with Isaac was the best part of the day. Sharing cotton candy, to which Rafael found Isaac had a sweet tooth, winning game prizes together, like a real-life date he always heard his family talk about but never understood the appeal.
With his mate, Rafael could ‘hang out’ for hours on end. Yet, at the end of the day, all Rafael wanted to do was take Isaac home, snuggle under the covers, and never let go.
However, his mate had other plans; he desperately wanted to watch The Nightmare Show under the Big Top.
Tickets in hand, Rafael stood in line like a townie.
He tried convincing Isaac to go through the back, but he argued that he wanted to experience it as a customer. That he'd have plenty of time to explore the back alleyways and such of the park forever.
“Are you sure we have to stand in line?” Rafael didn't know if he'd ever stood in line for anything until that day. He was just one to never go places that needed lines. His circus family always took care of him, knowing his oddity.
“Yes!” His mate bounced and clapped his hands. “I'll be here forever as is, and I want to at least say I experienced it as a townie,” Isaac whispered, face a hair from Rafael's ear.
“You don't have to whisper if you don't want to.”
“That is so weird. I have enough voices in my head, and now yours too.”
“Voices?” Rafael wasn't sure he heard his mate correctly as the line moved.
Isaac waved a hand at him and turned towards the Big Top. “Aw, it isn’t a tent.”
Rafael laughed at the absurdity of Isaac's disgruntlement. “It's not been a tent for some years now. Yvonne said it was too much upkeep, even with all their powers. This way, climate control.”
“It sure does look like a tent, though. That's neat they painted and designed it to look as though it were real.”
That was right; his mate was a graphic designer and artist. He couldn't wait to see all of Isaac's work. Which reminded him to ask, “When do we need to get your things?”
“Oh,” Isaac jolted like he hadn't thought about his belongings. “My RV is parked at a local camp park. And ” Isaac shrugged and leaned his head on Rafael's shoulder, arm threaded through Rafael's. “I hadn't given it much thought yet.”
Rafael placed a kiss to the top of Isaac's head, and they fell into a companionable silence as they waited in line. Yes, Rafael was a little irked about waiting in line, but whatever his mate wanted, he'd do.
“Thank you,” Isaac murmured.
“For what?”
“I can feel your disgruntlement about the line. Thank you for doing it for me.”
Rafael chuckled, kissed Isaac's head once more, and ignored the line. “Almost there.”
The music changed, and the announcer blared over the radio, introducing The Nightmare Show. Going over the policies, how the park isn't responsible, and that the show was adult-only, Rafael tuned it out.
He had seen Constantine's show a few times.
It wasn't necessarily his thing to witness others' nightmares, but the man was a genius when it came to making his ability look fake when it was, in fact, as real as could be.
The audiences always talked about how high-tech and amazing the theatrics were in The Big Top.
Theatrics played no part in the show's success.
The Nightmare Show was hosted by their very own Boogeyman, more or less.
The Animal Show was hosted by the local wolf pack and various other animal shifters that lived in the area. They always changed it up, creating new experiences. Jumping through hoops, performing tricks, all in good fun.
Cherry's Fire Show was a work of art; they all were, honestly, but Cherry had the ability to throw and project her wyvern powers out and over the crowd.
Maybe he was biased, having traveled with Cherry the longest. She had perfected her performance years ago and had even added more acrobatics to the program.
There were several other acrobatic shows and family-friendly versions of the night shows. Something for everyone. Come one, come all, as they used to shout at the entrance. Now it was jugglers and various performers throughout the park.
“This is amazing!” Isaac cheered once they handed over their tickets and filtered in with the crowd to find seats.
Isaac vibrated with energy as they waited for the stands to fill. While waiting, several single acts performed little side shows to keep the crowd calm and satisfied while low music played in the background.
When the lights faded, all spotlights pointed to the middle of the ring; the noise dropped significantly as well. Everyone insisted they were ready but were never really prepared.
In a flash, wisps of black smoke billowed in the middle of the circus ring before breaking off into several tendrils and shooting out over the crowds.
Screams and shouts sounded as people got their first taste of Constantine's show.
“Oh, my God, it's real.”
Rafael chuckled, gripping Isaac's hand in his. “Yeah, they all are.”
“Amazing.” Isaac sat enthralled completely as Constantine popped up in the middle on a platform, his crows circling him and cawing, swooping out over the crowd.
“Ladies and Gentlewomen,” Constantine called out, always receiving laughter in response.
“Erase your minds of what you know to be real and nightmare.
Nothing is as it seems in the Big Top now.
You're in for a surprise, so stay in your seats and enjoy the ride.” Constantine went on, and Isaac bounced in place.
“So exciting!” He practically squealed, jostling Rafael in his seat. Not that Rafael cared; he loved Isaac's exuberance.
The crowd screamed and screeched with each twisted shadow Constantine tossed out over them. Some laughed and cheered, much like his mate.
Ghosts, goblins, and weres with fangs. All manner of nightmarish creatures Constantine cooked up, magicked, and released. He controlled the shadows as much as he did his crows, except for the one circling above them currently.
Isaac held out his arm, and the crow landed, pecking at Isaac's hair and cawing at him. The brilliant smile covered Isaac's entire being.
“It likes me.”
“It probably feels your magic.”
Isaac's eyes widened, and the crow took off back to its master.
A large cloud of smoke erupted from the middle, drawing everyone's attention. “Where's Constantine? OMG! There are four crows now? How?” Not that Isaac wanted an answer as he went back to oohing and ahhing at the show.
Rafael watched Isaac instead of the show. His expression light and full of fun, until it wasn't. The mask of horror that distorted Isaac's features had Rafael on high alert. As Rafael looked out over the ring, he suddenly noticed the reason.
Constantine's final act. One of mystery and, well, horror. Rafael didn't know how he did it, but his shadow transformed into every individual's nightmare.
And as Rafael kept looking, he could just make out a shadowed carousel with wisps of what may have been flames. Welp, that would do it.
Rafael secured an arm around Isaac and pushed his love into Isaac, who eventually settled. He cast Rafael a reassuring smile full of gratitude, his heart calming.
Did Constantine ever know what his nightmares projected? Rafael doubted he knew the extent, but the man had to have some idea.
But that also made his show a hit. There were some people who wanted to see their horrors. They wanted to see the things that go bump in the night.
It wasn't something Rafael ever dwelled on. Knowing Isaac's fear, though, he knew he could reassure his mate that it would never come true.
Yvonne and her coven not only cast a fireproof spell over the carousel, but Cherry also provided her own fireproof material. If Isaac wanted to know the specifics, he could ask. Rafael did not want to hash that out again.
As the show dwindled, Isaac rested his head on Rafael's shoulder, and they sat until the crowd dispersed.
“That was so neat,” Isaac said in awe. “Horrifying but awesome. No wonder this is a big-ticket item.”
“You'll get used to it.”
“But the crows are real, right?”
Rafael chuckled. “Definitely. They are like his companions; much like Odin has his ravens, well, Constantine has his crows. We've never been able to figure them out, though.”
“I can't wait to meet more.”
“I'll make sure you're well acquainted with everyone. That way when I'm working, you won't be alone.”
Isaac got a glint in his eyes, and Rafael shivered. “Think I could ride you on the carousel?”
Rafael wasn't sure if Isaac meant to ride during the day or in a sexual manner. Although he wasn't above trying either.