Page 44 of Dream in Darkness
Every hair on my body stands at attention. I continue my performance, moving into the pose, and I watch as Tempest makes her way through the crowd towards the half-demon.
He whistles, but I try my best to ignore it.
“C’mon baby, don’t be such a tease,” he yells, disrupting the show.
Rage simmers in my stomach, but I decide there’s a better way I can handle this. Jumping off the lollipop, I give a polite curtsy. “Could I please get a volunteer from the audience?”
Tempest points to the heckler and shouts. “This dude seems to have a lot of confidence! Let’s see how he does.”
Everyone in the crowd turns to stare at him, and then back up at me. I give a small smile and gesture that it’s okay for him to join me. He’s practically salivating at the chance to join me on the platform. His hair is a bright white, his lack of wings reminding me of Draven, but he doesn’t quite have the charm.
“Do you think you can handle it?” I say, hoping he’ll take the bait. “Most people have to train for months or even years.”
“Oh this is easy.” He exaggerates the last word, a cocky, shit-eating grin lining his features, and my heart practically flutters with excitement.
“Demons and half-demons, hybrids, felion,” I start, and look over at Tempest. “And lupion alike, should I give him a lesson on posing?” I ask, and the audience cheers in response.
He looks excited, like he’s fantasizing me as some sexy teacher, but he hasno ideawhat’s coming next for him.
“What’s your name, sir?”
“Patrick.”
“Well, Patrick, consider this your last trick!” I say and wink.
Carefully, I help him onto the lollipop. His limbs dangle awkwardly from the apparatus, and I try not to laugh as I back away from him.
“Show us mermaid,” I yell loudly, and he frowns.
“Can’t I get something more masculine?” he whispers, hesitant to move.
“Of course! Patrick, show us merman.”
He attempts to copy my movements, but fails miserably and falls directly out of the hoop and onto his ass.
Everybody laughs as this absolute dickbag of a being tries toget back onto the lollipop and falls again. It’s so funny it feels scripted, like a comedy special. The way he persistently chooses to embarrass himself for the sake of pride is something I rarely get to witness, but oh is it satisfying.
Tempest and I lock eyes and it’s as if we’re alone together. The crowd fades away, becoming background noise to what can only be described as our moment. Our story.
It’s truly as if we’re the only ones here.
Tempest can be kind of a bitch sometimes. She’s rude and sardonic to people who’ve earned kindness, but this was different. This asshole deserved every vindictive action we took today, and I enjoyed every second of it.
When we work as a team, even if we’re being manipulative and a little cruel, it feels like magic. My tattoo hums to me in agreement.
Patrick falls off the lollipop again, and this time he’s smart enough not to keep trying. I gesture for him to bow, and he does.
“Enthusiasm without skill is just… noise,” I say, and give my own final curtsy. “Thank you for joining us folks, please enjoy your next side show featuring The Scorpion and The Butterfly!”
Tempest offers me a hand, helping me off the platform, and I take it. Walking away from the crowd, I feel a light tap on the back of my shoulder.
“Can I help you?” I say, a bit clipped as I turn to find Patrick standing before me.
He’s a shorter half-demon, with decently sized horns, but there’s something ridiculous about him. I think it’s his hair—white and fluffy, it reminds me of a dog or perhaps a dust bunny.
“Would you like to go out sometime? We could get coffee, or you could show me some more moves?”
Is he a masochist or just too pea brained to realize I was picking fun at him?
