Axel
The lights in the oversized tent dim, and the murmuring of the crowd falls silent. You can feel the buzz of anticipation. The excitement is nearly contagious. My eyes scan the crowd, pleased with tonight’s turnout. We’ve been here for two weeks promoting this very night, giving snippets of what the show is about. Little insights into the magic beyond the human eye. Illusions are what many call them. Playing on the mysticisms of the folklore surrounding shapeshifters and the world they can’t imagine because science can’t dictate it.
Science says we don’t exist. If we did, their human minds wouldn’t be able to wrap around the thought process. So instead we use ‘magic’. A much more logical explanation of why normal people can turn into an elephant, a wolf, or even a tiger at the snap of someone’s fingers. Why is it more logical? Well, because science agrees that strange, unexplained things can’t happen. There is an answer for everything, except magic. So it must be magic. Only, there really is no sound logic. No magic to be had in our little traveling gig.
No, we are just a bunch of misfits. Outcasts deemed unworthy, unlovable, the freaks of the very world these humans deny. I have found that in being cast out and being told we don’t exist, there is a balance to be struck in the middle. Being cast out is essentially the same as not existing. So we exist in the shadows. Out of the minds of those who don’t want us, but in the realm of fantasy for those who seek it.
Really, it’s a great way to make a shit ton of money so I can travel the world with this small group of shifters that I call my pack. I know it’s cliche to call them family, but that’s what they are. They saved me when all I sought was death. They clutched me up from the darkness and nursed me back to health. I wasn’t happy at first, mind you, but looking back now. I’m not sure I would change a thing that led me here.
“Axel” Billy whispers
I glance at the large man next to me.
“Think we can head north after this show?” he asks sheepishly.
“You just want to disappear into the mountains again for hibernation,” I chuckle.
“Listen! That was ONE time,” he says defending himself.
“Keep it down. We start in a couple of minutes.” I say to him, trying not to laugh. “But yeah, I’m sure we can head north. Depending on how well we do tonight, we can probably all take a quick break from touring. I know you don’t enjoy moving around as much as I do.”
Emal’s smooth, deep voice echoes through our red and white circus tent, and I peek out around the curtain. It’s game time.
“You’re up, kiddo,” Billy smiles broadly and slaps my shoulder.
I smirk at him, pulling at my vest and saunter out to the center of the ring. I drop my chin and wait for my cue.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, little darlings and daring boys. I present to you the ringleader and Alpha male of this mystical little show, Axel.”
The light floods around me, and I hitch my chin up, a smirk gracing my mauled face. I reach up, grabbing the brim of my top hat and bow with exaggeration and relish the sound of the gasps when I stand straight. The murmurs take over the crowd, the whisperings of my face and its disfigurations. Mothers shush their children, their husbands' gape, and I grin widely.
“No need to be alarmed, I assure you, I am indeed used to this type of reaction.”
Of all our pack members, I am the largest freak. With a mangled left side of my face where my brother betrayed me and a rare disorder where my eyes are two different colors, I have grown accustomed to the stares in both human and shifter circles alike. Comments vary from “How did you survive,” to “why didn’t it heal?” all of which are met with the same noncommittal shrug.
“Tonight, we will show you more than a man with a deformed face and mismatching eyes. Oh, no, Tonight we will bend your mind to the brink of breaking and bring you back again. What you are about to see this evening is the likes of something you have never seen before in your life, that, I can assure you. We will turn skeptics into believers and believers will be proven truth seekers. Every one of us in the show has been blessed and cursed. A wicked witch cursed us all years ago.” I tell them.
All the children cower closer to their parents as smoke surrounds me like a fog. The lights shift to a deep purple and I know my scar looks more menacing. Ginger steps out in her gypsy costume next to me, looking tiny, her red hair glowing under the light.
“It was seven years ago that we stumbled upon an old woman in the woods. Her eyes were as green as emeralds and her hair as white as the wild mushrooms growing in the very yard at your home after a good rain. She was kind at first, willing to offer us a free reading about what our spirit animals were. It was sheer curiosity that made us all sit down that day. The day that sealed our fate.” I say.
I pause, looking around at bored fathers who think this is some ghost story intended to scare their kids. It’s not at all what happened. This is how we hook the kids. The moment we suck them in, they force their parents to stay. Until the moment I shift into my wolf form, from that moment on, every single person sits captivated.
Ginger steps forward, taking over the rest of the speech.
“They went crazy, lurking in the night as the beast the evil witch read them to be. A bear, a family of tigers, even an elephant. They were enraged and had no control over our abilities. That is until I stumbled upon them. Their fury was as red as my hair, but I saw fear in their eyes and gentleness. I realized I could tame them. And it’s with my aid that they can transform. My magic keeps them under control.” Ginger says excitedly.
The lights blackout and Ginger steps up to me, placing her hand on my forehead. I close my eyes and open them slowly. Spinning so they all may see the red glow in my eyes. She then snaps her fingers. The lights flash on and I transform into an enormous wolf. She pats my head and looks at the crowd.
“Tonight, I am pleased to help Axel in showing you all what’s so amazing about This Alpha and His Freakshow.” She grins, holding out a cloth for me, as I transform back into my human form, wrapping it around my naked waist.
I take a moment to survey the crowd. Not a single mouth isn’t hanging open in shock. Oh yeah, we are making a ton of money tonight.
“Alpha,” Emal says bowing. “Emal, for the millionth time. Just call me Axel, you know I hate formalities.” “Maybe one day I will, Alpha,” he says kindly. “I would prefer it to be sooner rather than later. Now, back to your performance. You mentioned to Billy you wanted to add something to give it a little more flair?” “Yes, I was thinking it would be exciting to have Ginger ride on my trunk,” he says, turning red in the face. I smirk at him. Emal is the biggest draw to our show. Not only is he massive in human form but he is a were-elephant. Not just any elephant either, Emal is a rare albino elephant. Ginger however is a quiet petite redhead gypsy who pretends to be a witch t
*Maggie* “Please!” I sob “No m-m-more. It hurts.” Another shock wave ripples through my body, my teeth clench, and my back arches painfully. Every single part of me aches, every muscle feels as though it is ripping and will never heal again. “Mommy! Daddy! P-p-please.” I cry out. I look around the room frantically and Dr. Malcovic walks closer with a needle. I know what is coming, every day since my parents have left me here has been the same. Shock therapy, then their needle of pain. After, they will leave me in a thin patient gown in a padded room locked away in the darkness, waiting for the beast to take me over. Every day I blubber and sob with physical pain, but they feel no sympathy and why would they? I'm a
*Maggie* The man looks over his shoulder a few times and sighs heavily, noticing I am still on his heels. Before coming to the opening at the end of the woods, he whirls around to face me and I jump at his closeness. A sadness flits through his eyes but morphs into a haughty glare as he looms over me, stepping closer, trying to intimidate me. It’s working, and sadly, it has more to do with his scar than his presence. “Why are you here?” he asks, his eyes boring right through my soul. I gulp. “I have nowhere to go.” “You look like a pretty girl.” he sneers, looking me over. “You must have a boyfriend waiting for you. Or a mommy and daddy wanting to coddle you,” I snort out a laugh, trying to cover the realization that him saying I’m pretty is doing something strange to my insides. “Yeah, mommy and daddy don’t want me anymore,” I say, sounding snotty, but I don’t care. This jerk started
*Axel* It is taking everything in me not to laugh at her reaction. Is it wrong to convince her that werechickens are a thing? Maybe, but it’s entertaining, so I’m not sure I care very much. She is clinging to my arm, looking around like a kid being led through a horror house. I sneak a peek at her scared face and I have to mentally slap myself out of the attraction. She is fucking gorgeous. There is an innocence about her. She brings out the desire to just protect her, even knowing she has been protecting herself all this time. Her blue eyes meet mine, and I grumble and turn away. Maybe if she finds me mean I can get her to keep her distance. The poor girl has got to be fighting this bond, just like I am. Though she has it a little easier if you ask me. How hard is it to rebuff an already hideous man as your mate? I can’t help but wonder what she is feeling. Her destined mate is this beast who is dragging her through a new world s
*Axel* My tent flap flies open as Maggie storms in. So much for avoiding her completely. The dim lighting from the tent softens the angry features on her face as she stalks over to me with purpose. Gently, I lay aside my pen and paper and give her my undivided attention. “How can I help you?” “Ticket duty?” She seethes. I quirk a brow. “You have a problem with working for your room and board?” “No, but ticket duty? Really? I’m a shifter too. I can shift and do things and be a part of the show.” “Good for you,” I say, looking back down at my work. “I want to be a part of the show.” She demands. “I’ll think about it.” “Really?” “No.” “What! Why?” “Because you are not a member of our circus. We are helping you out. You aren’t staying, so why would I alter the show to accommodate you for a short time.” “I can’t stay?” she asks. I look up when her v
*Maggie* When I first met Axel, I felt a draw to him, like he would always be my safe space. Even now, with his face that he thinks is so terrible, I can’t help but think about being near him. I want to bask in his smell and be in his arms. I don’t know what it is, but something about him just irritates and calms me simultaneously. But I can’t allow anything to come of these feelings. Not when I’m here on a mission. Admittedly, I feel bad about what I have to do. I hate that after getting to know these people even in a short time, I will have to leave them. It’s been just me for so long that I’ve forgotten what true kindness feels like. But, I have a job to do and for the first in years, I’m so close I can taste it. The quaint life and the protection they have promised me is almost within reach and Axel and his crew are the key to getting me there. My pocket vibrates, and I pull out my small burner phone. Three new messages. Oh, j
Axel doesn’t even bother to look at me as he walks away. My head hurts from the whining my wolf is making and my knee feels sore from the tumble we just took. I wipe my pants off and freeze when I touch an oozy substance. Whimpering slightly, I look down and find I’m covered in egg. I turn to look for any survivors and find three. The chickens cluck around the coop like I’m not even there, so I take the chance and grab the only remaining eggs and sprint for the door, whipping it open and slamming it shut behind me. I breathe a sigh of relief at being away from them. I jump as a bird squawks and I run to the dining tent, clutching my little prizes as I have done so well. “Billy,” I call out, looking for the large grumpy man. There is no response, so I move deeper into the tent, looking around at all the random stuff that sits out. There are ribbons in mounds on the table, a map, and a bunch of random small wood carvings with
*Axel*The chains clink together in Billy’s hands as he stands, trying to convince me that maybe, just maybe, this time, the chains will work. He has tried chaining me four times. The longest time the chains restrained me is a whopping three minutes and fifty-two seconds. Billy knows as well as I do that more chains will only slow me down by a few seconds. I groan and slump down into the plush leather chair in my tent.“Those won’t work and you know it.”“It’s the best I can do. If we had a tiger cage, then I’d put you in it, but we house our tigers in tents like morons,” he says, trying to crack a joke.“Billy, I think I need to leave this time. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”“No! The show can’t happen without you. You have until the moon is at its fullest height to get away from here. It will be fine.”“You always say that and it