Chapter One

Circus Act

A serpent-like lizard dodged and ducked between the cars in a busy parking lot. The dark color of its scales blended well into the night therefore it went unnoticed by the people pouring into a colorful, large tent at the center of the lot. It half dragged, half slithered across the blacktop for it had no back legs; instead, its lower body was muscular and snake-like, thinning out to a tail that was half of its entire length.

The lizard froze as a group of people unknowingly got too close. They chatted excitedly among themselves. Occasionally one would reach deep into his coat pocket, pull out a pink piece of paper, and brandish it to his friends. Once they passed, it continued creeping, alert but hurried. The creature was headed for a flap at the back of the tent, away from the gathering crowd of people. Its ears perked as a young man peered out a back flap and looked around frantically.

“Semaj!” he whispered in a thick Spanish accent. His face was shadowed by the large hat he wore to cover his unruly, black hair. He had a profound moustache and thin beard that didn’t match his fancy outfit.

The creature scurried to answer the call, stopping in the light of a streetlamp just before him. It held itself up with its front legs, tail coiled like a snake’s underneath for support. The man, Alejandro Hernandez, looked instantly relieved. He knelt down and held out his arm for the lizard to climb onto. “Semaj, my friend, there’s a full house tonight, and they’re all here to see you!”

Semaj the lizard-snake flicked its forked tongue in contentment. He balanced on Alejandro’s shoulder, gripping him with his claws and prehensile tail. “What have you planned this time then?” His silky voice purred inquisitively.

“I thought tonight you might put on a longer show. Perhaps a mix of the usual. Fast-paced to keep the audience on their feet.”

Semaj nodded and before he could ask, Alejandro said, “Fresh baked salmon bits. Your favorite.” The lizard bared his teeth, and Alejandro laughed heartily and started in the direction of the stage. “We’re the grand finally again.” They passed several men suiting up for the show—including the trapeze act and jugglers. Most of them paid no mind to Semaj whom they were accustomed to seeing. Alejandro paused at the flap that led to center stage, and he pulled back the bottom corner to glance at the crowd. Semaj stretched his long neck and snuck a peek. The bleachers were packed; the crowd was restless.

Alejandro wolf whistled, clearly impressed with the turnout. “Sold out for two weeks straight. A month ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed it possible. All thanks to you, Semaj.” The creature did his best to shrug in response, not feeling worthy of the praise. Especially because he knew the man still held hopes that he would choose to become a permanent part of the circus when they packed up and left tomorrow. And sure enough Alejandro brought it up.

“Perhaps you will continue to grace me with such good fortune and come with us?” Semaj could tell he was trying his hardest not to sound too hopeful. He wished he could grant the human’s wish; if anyone deserved success, it was Alejandro. He was an honest man, young and working his very hardest to provide for his family. Semaj knew he had to be honest with him.

“I can’t.” He didn’t want to lie so he chose not to elaborate. How could he tell Alejandro that his girlfriend was planning on moving clear across the country, in the opposite direction of the traveling circus? That Semaj planned on following her instead of him? Dare he reveal the disguise he took while wondering the city in which he lived, the form of an ordinary human? No, he didn’t.

Alejandro couldn’t contain his disappointment. He leaned close to a wooden crate so Semaj could climb off his shoulder, and then he disappeared through the flap. A moment later his voice boomed from the speakers. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Hernandez’s Spectacular Circus!” The crowd roared in response. “Are you ready for most amazing show of your life?” The same reaction. “Then please welcome elephant trainers Emily and Eduardo Lopez!” Even louder applause.

Semaj remained where he was, listening to Alejandro introduce and narrate the acts that followed: the jugglers and equilibristic entertainers, the trapeze family, the acrobats, the man who claimed to breathe fire, and the magician. As it approached his time to perform, Semaj mentally prepared himself by reviewing all of the hand signals he and Alejandro had agreed upon weeks ago. To the audience, he was little more than a trained brute—eager to do tricks for fish treats.

“And now for our last act,” Semaj heard Alejandro say. “The Silver Serpent!”

Using his tail for propulsion, Semaj launched himself through the flap and onto stage. He hissed at the crowd, showing his teeth menacingly. Several shrieks followed but most of the people were fascinated, not frightened, by his odd features. Despite his best to look frightening, he was only the size of a domestic cat—hardly a threat to the adult men in the stands. Alejandro would do his best to remedy that.

The ringleader pulled out a piece of fish from a special pouch, showed it to the crowed, and waved it in Semaj’s direction. The lizard pretended to be hypnotized by the prospect of food—turning away from the onlookers and giving Alejandro his full attention. He tapped his shoulder, and Semaj scurried up him and to it. Once he was perfectly perched, he was given the fish bit. As he enjoyed its sweet flavor, Alejandro spoke to the crowd.

“A very rare species,” he praised. “With poison deadly to man.” He gently lifted Semaj’s spike-tipped tail and showed it to the people. “Spikes that could pierce bone!” He tapped the horns atop Semaj’s head. Then, as many times before, he tossed a fish high into the air. Semaj reacted like lightening, leaping from Alejandro’s shoulder and snatching the morsel in his mouth for all to see. The crowd admired his reflexes with a collective gasp, but the show didn’t end there.

Alejandro had him walk a tightrope to demonstrate his balance and do back flips to shows of his acrobatic abilities.

“Have any of you a dog you think is brilliant?” Alejandro asked with his arms wide open as he presented the last part of their act. A decent portion of the people raised their hands. “Well, what would you say if I told you that the Silver Serpent understands English?” There was a mixture of responses, most disbelieving. “Ma’am,” he addressed a plump lady in the third row. “Perhaps you would help me demonstrate?” After some coaxing from her friends, the lady descended the stands. Alejandro removed salmon from his pouch and extended it towards her. “Tell him to do anything you wish. After he does, give him the treat,” he directed her. Semaj hopped onto the floor, staring at the treat like he was supposed to.

The woman backed up, clearly not comfortable being close to a poisonous reptile. She glanced over her shoulder to her friends. The audience immediately started shouting ideas. One stood out from the rest: “Tell him to bring you the entertainment section of a newspaper!” It was clearly a joke, and the woman thought it funny.

“Find a newspaper from today and bring the entertainment section.” She smiled smugly, clearly thinking she was about to embarrass the ringleader. Semaj rushed from the center stage, through the flap, and to a backroom. Alejandro bought a newspaper every day, and Semaj knew exactly where he stowed them. He found the papers—the most recent one on top of the pile—and ripped the designated section from it. With the newspaper in teeth, he rushed back to the stage. The audience gasped and pointed at the paper in his mouth. Semaj held his neck out so that the woman could take it from him, and she hesitantly did.

“Is that the section you desire?” Alejandro inquired when she remained silent in shock.

“Yes,” the woman announced. “It is.”

The crowd roared, most demanding a chance to test the Silver Serpent’s intelligence for themselves. The lady fed Semaj the fish before slowly returning to her seat. Two more guests were invited to challenge Semaj, but he fulfilled each of their tasks with ease. Soon the show was over and the crowd was filling out of the tent. Semaj was exhausted, trying very hard not to fall asleep on Alejandro’s shoulder. As the audience thinned out, a man dressed in a black suit and tie approached him.

“That’s a mighty talented animal you have there, boy,” the stranger said. “Now, I’m going to be straight with you. I want to buy that critter from you. Just name your price.”

Alejandro, used to being approached for such, only smiled politely and said, “Sorry, sir, he is not for sale.”

“A hundred thousand,” the man insisted. Semaj mentally laughed. Alejandro had been offered much more and turned it down; he wasn’t concerned in the least.

“Sorry,” Alejandro repeated. “He isn’t for sale.” To Semaj’s surprise, the man left without persisting.

“Odd,” Semaj remarked, and Alejandro laughed. His smile quickly faded. “Will you visit before we head out tomorrow?”

Semaj nodded. “I will so long as you have that fish.”

Alejandro laughed hard at this. “You are an odd creature, Semaj. A taste for cooked meat. What will you do once I’ve left?”

“I suppose I’ll take to visiting gourmet restaurants,” Semaj replied jokingly, trying to change the way the conversation was headed. He jumped down from Alejandro’s arm and looked up at him. “Well, goodnight.” He started crawling, but Alejandro’s voice cause him to pause.

“You’re sure you won’t come with?”

“Yes,” Semaj said. “I’m sure.” And he left.

That night Semaj assumed his second form, that of a man. He snuck into his own apartment, careful not to wake his girlfriend as he quietly climbed into bed. Tomorrow, he would see Alejandro off and—instead of filling up on fish treats—take his beautiful soon-to-be fiancé out to dinner.

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A/N: Let me know if you dropped by. Was it crap? Was it not all terrible? Feel free to let me know.