Mr. Faire's Carnival 2 (complete)

    I have been returning to Mr. Faire’s Children of the Night Carnival every evening since I first visited. I had wanted to see my friend, June, but it has become more than that. It has become about seeing the enigmatic ringmaster, Mr. Faire, himself. Whatever powers that guide me have kept me returning to him, although I cannot go on blaming them forever.

    While he is extremely strange and unlike anyone I have met before, quite possibly not human, either, although I can’t figure out what he would be, Mr. Faire has captured my curiosity. And yes, I guess I cannot go without saying that he has gone and weaseled his way into my heart as well. I am hesitant with this, since I cannot quite say who or what Mr. Faire is. I am reluctant to entirely give in to my feelings, so I return to the carnival each night, if only to figure out the mystery of the carnival and all within it.

    Tonight, the carnival is closed to the public. It is an evening where everyone can have a break and enjoy a day off, recovering from the arduous opening week and preparing for the final week in this town. The front gate is closed and locked when I approach, and my heart sinks a little. I had told June I would be coming by, so I half expected Ballura to be waiting at the entrance as always.

    The carnival is wrapped up by a fence of alternating black and white fence posts all of varying degrees of height. I could understand why they would have it, to keep people out. But it also seemed like they were trying to hide something that was inside the carnival. 

    A cold wind blows and I hug my coat around myself tighter. I fluff up my scarf to block the harsh winds and, as I look behind me, snow starts to fall from above. I look up, watching as the flakes cascade down from the heavens, thick and heavy and clinging to the ground already.

    “It’s far too cold for beautiful gems to be wandering about on their own.” 

    I spin around and see Mr. Faire leaning on the gate. “Come on in. We’ve got it nice and warm already.” He extends his hand out to me.

    “It’s about time you show up.” I take hold of his hand and he laces his fingers with mine. “I don’t do well in the world.”

    Mr. Faire grins. “As you can tell,” he says as he pulls me in close. “I do very well in the cold.”

    I press my palm to his chest as he holds me close. He certainly is warm, but I wouldn’t dare admit that to him yet. “You’re smug, that’s for sure.”

    “Smug keeps the heat in,” he teases as he locks the gate back.

    The heavy padlock falls onto the wrought iron. The key looks old and handmade in a strange, archaic way. As Mr. Faire tucks it into his pocket, I hear whispering from the padlock.

    “You’re home,” it says.

    I turn and look at it with shock and wonder. The carvings on the lock look like a feminine face, but it’s so old and worn, I am not sure. All this time, since I was little, has it just been a lock talking to me? That can’t possibly be right!

    “I have hot coffee and cake waiting,” Mr. Faire replies, turning my attentions back onto him.

    “I thought for sure this place would be wild,” I sigh. “All the performers and staff having a good old fashioned party.”

    “We party every day of the week for the entertainment of the masses,” he sighs. “On our off days, we enjoy relaxing and quiet. We mingle together or we keep to ourselves.”

    “So where are we going?” I ask.

    Mr. Faire squeezes my hand tight. “I have been sharing you all week,” he says with a voice as smooth as silk. “I hope you don’t mind that I would like us to be alone today.”

    My heart skips a beat as the diamond path goes from gold to white, disappearing as we slip between two tents and come to an old fashioned medicine show wagon at the very back. It looks old, but well taken care of. The paint is faded and chipping, but I can read the scrawling and beautiful calligraphy there. 

    “Mr. Faire’s Wonderous Trades,” Mr. Faire says behind me. 

    I glance up at him. “You may be the only Mr. Faire,” I reply, “but you aren’t the first one, are you?”

    “You figured out my wordplay,” he grins. “You’re correct. I inherited the title.” He opens the door to the wagon. “Be careful now, those steps are tricky.” He holds my hand as I walk up and into his home. It smells of coffee and sweets. It’s warm and cozy, filled with twinkling lights and books. 

    Mr. Faire steps up inside, taking off his top hat so it doesn’t graze the roof. “Have a seat,” he replies. “Make yourself at home, because for today, you very much are.” 

    I take a seat in one of the overstuffed armchairs and I sink into it. “Oh, wow!” I sigh as I relax into the comfiest thing I have ever sat on.

    Mr. Faire chuckles. “Do you like it?” He says as he uses a press to make the coffee.

    “I didn’t realize heaven was chair-shaped,” I purr.

    “How do you take your coffee?” He asks me.

    I snuggle into the chair more. “I like it black, please.”

    “My, my,” Mr. Faire plates the cake and comes over, setting the treats down on the table beside me, just underneath a vase full of dried eucalyptus. “I should have guessed though. Your temperament is very much the kind that drinks black coffee.”

    I sit up, seeing that the cake is red velvet with extremely thick frosting. I take a taste, licking the frosting off my finger.

    “I don’t consider myself much of a chef, but I do enjoy cooking for those that I care for.” He sits down in the chair across from me and crosses his long legs. He’s taken off his shoes and is wearing bunny slippers.

    “You’re awfully cute for someone who acts so posh on stage.” I say and drink my coffee.

    “I like comfort, what can I say?” He says with a shrug. “Speaking of which.” He sets his things aside and reaches up, removing the long black wig from his head. Underneath, his hair is pure silvery gray with streaks of pure white. It’s short, but long enough to be wavy and swooped away from his face. He stands up, placing the wig on a mannequin head and then to a shelf on the ceiling, where there are at least a dozen more.

    “Your hair is pretty,” I tell him and he freezes up. “Why do you cover it?”

    Mr. Faire turns, running his fingers through his hair. “Who says this is my real hair?”

    I stretch my arm out. “Let me touch it.”

    Mr. Faire kneels down before me and I comb my fingers through his locks. His hair is soft and downy, and he moans softly as I drag my nails along his scalp and down his neck. I kiss his cheek and he turns his head, meeting my lips and kissing me. He tastes like coffee and icing, so sweet and a little bitter at the same time. I brush his hair from his forehead as the kiss deepens and I feel something sharp on his scalp. I hiss, pulling my hand back to see my knuckles have been scrapped. 

    “You keep razor blades in there?” I huff, my heart pounding from our kiss.

    Mr. Faire takes my hand, kissing my knuckles and licking up the small drops of blood there. I flinch as he does, but I don’t pull away from him.

    “You know,” I murmur. “I don’t usually like to call the people I kiss Mister after the fact.”

    Mr. Faire chuckles. He smooths his hair down, showing me the strange spiky row of horns along his scalp, like teeth, but I really don’t want to call them teeth. “I wear a wig to hide these.”

    “You have enough real hair to hide it,” I whisper. “But don’t change the subject.”

    He looks down and stands back up, moving to his seat. He takes a sip of coffee, downing the entire mug, actually. “Authaire,” he says after much thought.

    “Did you forget?” I ask.

    He turns and looks at me, smiling. “I haven’t had to use that in a while. And even that isn’t the real one.”

    I frown at him. “Then tell me the real one,” I pout.

    He shakes his head. “I’m afraid I can’t.”

    “Why not?”

    “Because I simply can’t,” he says cooly. “I can’t even remember.”

    A shock goes through my body. “Oh.”

    Authaire nods and presses his fingertip to the plate, collecting crumbs from the cake and then licking them off. “Long, sad story. But I brought you here to make a short, happy one.” He says, a smile returning to his face. “So, you kissed me.” He then grins, diffusing the tense situation with no effort at all. “Did you like it?”

    I huff and glance away from him.

    “You did like it!” He gasps giddily. “Tell me everything.”

    “You were there,” I snap at him.

    “It was good, wasn’t it?” He beams radiantly. “I’ve so been wanting to but, well, I wasn’t too sure about the situation or where I stood with you.”

    “You stand beside me, that’s where you stand.” I sip my coffee then look over the rim at him. “It’s a good place.”

    “Even with what’s in my hair?” He points to his scalp.

    I sigh and set my cup down. “I had a feeling you weren’t exactly...right.” I reply.

    “Not human,” he says with a shrug.

    “No one here is, are they?” I tilt my head towards my shoulder.

    Authaire nods. “Well, there are. June is human. Marlene is half human. Ballura is human. You’re human.”

    “What is this place?” I whisper.

    “It’s a home,” Authaire answers with a warm, comforting voice. “For all of us here. It’s safety and warmth and protection from the world outside.”

    “Hence the fence,” I murmur to myself.

    “The people here are my family, my children,” he says. “I took them in when no one else would. That is what I feel I must do while I am here.”

    “Because of your scalp teeth?” I ask.

    Authaire makes a face and shakes his head at me. “Please! Do not call them that!”

    I giggle and hang my head as I grin. I then look back up at him. “So what are you then? An orphanage for wayward boogiemen and ghosts?”

    “We aren’t boogiemen and ghosts, Ruby,” he replies. “We are fae and demons, oni and orcs, shapeshifters and vampires, werewolves and goblins. But most importantly, we are family and we are safe.”

    “Really?” I gasp in disbelief. “All those things...really? All those...really?” I’m flabbergasted and shocked.

    Authaire smiles at me. “You must have had some inkling.”

    “Inkling!” I gasp. “But this is so much more! This is worlds upon worlds all opening up at once for me!”

    “It’s all one world,” he murmurs. “Our world is not so small. It is massive and full of unseen beauty to it. Beauty that is ignored, punished, and hated because of it. I take care of it when it needs me.”

    I shift in my seat, moving so I am sitting a little closer to him. “Alone?”

    “Not really,” he answers with a shrug. “But also, yes.”

    “Do you want to be?” I whisper. “Alone, I mean.”

    “At once, I thought it was enough,” he says with a soft and distant look to his eyes. “I wanted to take care of those here. I thought being father to them was enough-” He closes his eyes and his long lashes fall to his cheeks. “But-”

    I stand up and kiss him again. It is gentle and quiet and, because of the cold and snow, the world seems still and empty. Authaire sighs, opening his eyes as our lips part. 

    “Even knowing I have scalp teeth?” He whispers.

    “Ok, yeah, let’s agree to never say those words again,” I grimace.

    Authaire grins. “You started it, love.” He pulls me into his lap, kissing me as I fall into his arms. He’s so warm and somehow even comfier than the chair.

    I wake up in the dark of the night. It’s all dark and, beyond the wagon, I can hear the wind howling and whipping about. I pull back the curtains by the bed, seeing nothing but white outside. The cold radiates from the glass, so I close the curtains back shut. 

    A light comes on and I see Authaire sitting in his chair. “Awake now?”

    “I can’t believe I fell asleep,” I grump. “That’s so embarrassing!”

    “It was a treat for me,” Authaire chuckles and he rises from his seat. “I got to watch you sleep, like some angry kitten.” He pushes his thumb between my brows. “Did you know you scowl in your sleep?”

    I move his hand away. “Yes, it’s an issue,” I huff.

    “Would you like some coffee?” He asks.

    “Is that all you do? Drink coffee?” I ask.

    “It’s a majority, perhaps,” Authaire chuckles quietly. “But I feel I don’t need to explain myself to someone who scowls in their sleep.” He grins at me. “Now, do you want some coffee or not?”

    I put my arms around his neck, tugging him down into the bed with me and cuddling up beside him. “I’d rather be warm right now.”

    Authaire sighs and puts his arms around me as I snuggle to his warm body. I press my cheek to his chest and, inside, I hear a strange, dulled cacophony of rumbling and rolling. I lift my head and place my head on his shoulder. 

    “I asked you once and you never gave me a real answer,” I murmur as he strokes my hair. “But, what are you?”

    “I can’t even remember my real name,” he says with a soft yet dark voice. “How can you expect me to know what I am?”

    “Oh,” I say quietly.

    Authaire sits up and unbuttons his shirt. He shows me the diamond-shaped burns all over his skin. “This is all I have,” he whispers.

    I touch them, they start as tight-knit as a chain around the base of his neck, growing bigger and farther apart the lower they go. It was like chainmail or some sort of cage on his body of dark, burned diamond marks.

    I feel something wet on my fingers and look up, seeing tears in Authaire’s smokey eyes. I sit up, placing a kiss on his lips and wiping the wetness away.

    “The first Mr. Faire took me in,” Authaire whimpers and nuzzles into my palm. “He was mortal, but not completely human. He was the one who taught me all about Glamours and how to protect ourselves. He gave me a home and loved me in a world that hated me. Together, we started this dream.”

     He sniffles and looks at me. “I do what I do in his honor and because I know how important it is. I know the effects-”

    I press my finger over his lips. “You don’t have to explain it to me,” I whisper.

    Authaire reaches down and holds up his cane. “This is what controls the carnival and everything in it. It’s what keeps us safe and hidden.”

    It wasn’t just the lock calling to me. The magic within Authaire’s cane had been what was speaking to me all this time. It was the guiding voice, the eternal GPS that had been pestering me since I was a toddler. 

    “I think I know them,” I say as I take the cane in my hand. I look at Authaire, seeing that strange creature again. I let go of the cane, pushing it back towards him. “They keep trying to tell me something,” I grunt as I close my eyes.

    Authaire frowns at the cane then touches the top of my head. “What do you mean?”

    “All my life, something has been talking to me, telling me things about the future. It gave me a sense and I could see things in advance.” I look back at Authaire. “It keeps showing me behind your Glamour too, but I don’t want to see it without your permission.”

    “Oh,” he gasps. “I see.” He sets the cane down again. “That’s not very nice of them.” he then knits his brow together. “But why you, of all people?”

    “You killed my grandfather ages ago,” I laugh it off.

    Authaire stares at me, eyes wide and his expression aghast. “I did what?”

    “It was when my mom was little,” I murmur. “She’s told me this story countless times. But she had gone to this very carnival and the ringmaster had asked all the children to make a wish, something that would make them truly happy. Mom said her wish was that her dad would stop hurting people.”

    His brow furrows more and he drops his gaze.

    “He was a drunk and an honest to god piece of shit,” I grumble. “One night, my mom woke up and saw this creature outside her window. She told me it was pure white like milk and had six strong arms. But she wasn’t scared of it. Next day, her dad was found dead. People said he was drunk and got hit by a car, but my mom-” I hesitate for a moment and look at Authaire’s face. “My mom says that the monster saved her and her mom.”

    “I remember that,” his voice is so small and quiet, it feels like it might shatter like glass. “So, that was your mother?”

    “I think it’s sweet that you want to protect everyone like that,” I brush my fingers through his hair, careful to miss the sharp horns beneath it.

    “Whatever I am,” he murmurs, “it makes me want to punish evil like that.” He looks into my eyes. “I see a darkness and a decay in someone like that, something that unforgivable, and I want to end it.”

    “How many?” I ask with a cracking voice.

    “Not enough,” Authaire breathes. “At least, that’s how I feel. I want to do more, I want to be enough, but sometimes that doesn’t feel like what’s right.”

    “It is,” I coax him. 

    Authaire stands up off the bed. “It’s going to be dawn soon. Once morning comes, you’ll see what the magic wants you to see.”

    “So you’re like a reverse Cinderella?” I ask slipping off the bed to stand beside him. “You’re going to turn into a pumpkin at dawn?”

    “I wish I was merely a pumpkin,” he turns and smiles at me. “But I am not something so cute and plump.” He bends over, kissing me. 

    “Is something wrong?” I ask him.

    “It’s far too cold,” he murmurs. “I can’t send you home in this weather.” He takes my hand and squeezes it. “I still have so much I want to tell you.” He takes up the cane and puts his shirt back on. “I’ll take you to the mess hall. They should have breakfast ready.”

    “You really don’t want me to see?” I ask. “Your scalp teeth didn’t scare me, what makes you think extra arms will?”

    Authaire frowns at me. “We agreed never to say that again! And it is not just extra limbs, Ruby! It is more than that. It is a different shape, different eyes. More teeth even!” He scoffs. “I don’t want to scare you Ruby. I told you, I have so much more I want to tell you, but if I scare you away, then they will never get said.”

    “Just because you put a different cover on a book doesn’t change the insides of it.” I say and poke his chest. “Whatever strange thing is beating in there won’t change. You’ll always be Authaire, no matter how many teeth you have on your head.”

    Authaire laughs and shakes his head, grinning as he starts to laugh. He looks at me, bleary-eyed and dreamy. “Appearance is important to me. Especially when I love someone so cute and lovely.”

    My cheeks burn and I bite my lip. I bury my head against his chest. “Why’d you gotta go and say something like that, huh?”

    Authaire chuckles and rubs my back. “Ok, then,” he says. “How about a game?”

    “Huh?” I look up and he suddenly disappears. The wagon vanishes and I’m standing in the center of the mirror maze. 

    “What the fuck?” I snap as I spin around, seeing only my reflection all around me. I then see something move from the corner of my eye. “Authaire!” I scream.

    “Find me,” Authaire replies. 

    “What?” I snap again. “Authaire!” I bark again. I turn around, seeing my reflection dance and warp around me. I huff, slapping my arms down to my side. “How am I supposed to find you when you don’t even want me to?”

    “Left.”

    I turn, and see one of my reflections disappear. I move down the path, hitting a mirror and bouncing off it. But inside it, I see something scuttling around the ground behind me. I take off, running down the hall until I cut myself off. I feel along the mirrors until I fall through one and hit the ground.

    “Ow!” I whine and hold my face. In the mirror beside me, I see a white shape hiding around the corner. He’s watching me, making sure I’m ok.

    “Ow!” I say again. “My nose is bleeding,” I fib.

    “No, it isn’t,” Authaire laughs. “I would smell it if it were.”

    “This isn’t cute!” I snap, turning around and rushing to where I think he is hiding. I slam into a mirror that is tilted and doesn’t show my reflection. “You say you love me, then you pull some sort of game?”

    “Humor me,” Authaire replies.

    “Ahead.”

    “I just went ahead and it hit me in the face,” I grumble. I press my hand to the glass and it slides open. I step through it and stand in a circle of mirrors. The one behind me shuts again. Behind me, in every mirror, I see a white figure with its back against mine. No matter where I turn or look, his back is still against mine.

    “Authaire,” I grumble. “Enough humor! I told you, it’s not your stupid face that matters! It’s your stupid heart and brain!”

    “A package is just as important as what’s inside. You can’t claim that appearances don’t matter. Even if I still love what’s inside you, I love your face and your smile just as much.”

    “I only have one though,” I huff. “You have like, two, maybe three?” I grunt and throw my hands up in frustration. “I don’t care if you’re alien or predator. Of course I like your Glamour too, but I’ll love your other faces too!”

    I feel Authaire’s hand in mine, lacing with my fingers and squeezing. “Are you so certain?” He asks me with a quiet voice.

    “Of course I am certain!” I huff. “Authaire, it’s you! I love all of you.”

    In the mirror, he turns and puts his arms around me, all six of them. I look down, seeing them wrapped around my chest. I clutch one set of hands as he nuzzles to my cheek. 

    “Whatever you are,” I whisper. “I love you.”

    Authaire moves, placing himself before me. He stands on six of his eight limbs. His neck is extremely long, leading into a flat triangle like head with sharp features and long wisps of his silvery gray hair. His ears stick out and flick and his horns have grown out, going a little down his neck and curling upwards. His body is long and thin and his tail curls all around the circular mirror room twice. The black diamond burns are the only other color on his body. I pull him close, kissing him softly.

    “Never trap me in a mirror maze again! You got it?” I snap at him.

    Authaire chuckles, stroking my hair. “I promise, love. I promise.” He nuzzles to my cheek and licks up my tears.

    “I have always wanted a mother for the carnival, but I had always thought it would be too much to ask for.” He touches my cheek with his warm palms. “You don’t have to be.”

    I hold his wrists, keeping his hands smashed to my cold cheeks. “I’ll be with you, what else would I be?” I smile at him. “Can I have some coffee now?” I laugh.

    Authaire chuckles and kisses me again. “You can have all the coffee in the world, my love. From this moment on, all the magic I have is yours. It is ours.”

    “Actually,” I murmur. “I have an idea about where to get coffee.”

    At my house, my mother is awake and making her first pot of coffee for the day. As she’s going to fetch a mug from the sink, there is a knocking at the back door. She steps outside, looking up and staring at Authaire.

    “Oh my god,” she whispers. “It’s you.” She raises her hands up around her mouth as she stares in awe at him. “I knew it-” she gulps. “I knew you were real.”

    “Mom,” I say as I stand beside her. “This is Authaire. Or, uhm, Mr. Faire.”

    He holds his hand out to her. “It’s very nice to meet you again, Abby.”

    “Abigail,” my mother laughs as she shakes his hand. “I go by Abigail now.”

    Authaire nods and chuckles. “I understand you’ve been doing very well since last we met. I’m glad to hear that.”

    “Yeah,” she whispers and then looks at me. “Is he the reason you’re-” she swooshes her hand all around her head.

    “Nah,” I shake my head. “Something else was causing that.” I give her a big hug.

    “You’re leaving with him though, aren’t you?” She whispers as she squeezes me tight.

    “You can always reach me,” I reply. 

    My mom sighs and sniffles. “I had a feeling when that flyer showed up,” she huffs. “I just had a feeling.”

    “I’ll take care of her,” Authaire says gently. “Have no doubt in your mind about that. I will love Ruby until the world comes to an end.”

    “I’m sure,” my mom laughs. She kisses my cheek. “You better keep in touch.”

    “I will.” I then step back over to Authaire. “If anyone understands the importance of family, it’s this guy here.”

    Authaire and I return to the carnival and I am nervous.

    “Don’t worry, they already like you here,” he assures me. “No reason to be scared.”

    “Yeah, but-” I turn to him anxiously. “I’m kind of ‘mom’ now.”

    Authaire kisses my cheek. “They’ve been waiting on you for a long time. Don’t keep them waiting.”