Chapter 94 - Old times

Taking a deep breath, Leonardo tried to stay calm.

For a moment he closed his eyes, pondering the cards in his hand. Diablo wanted to negotiate, since he couldn't kill him just yet.

He didn't intend to hand Dreamland over to him, much less give up on saving his friend. He needed to negotiate in a way that would allow him to leave that mirror with both of them.

The problem was that Diablo seemed to be a shrewd trickster. He would hardly let him win.

Walking round the tent, Leonardo pulled out a chair to sit down. Crossing his legs, he continued to look for an alternative, listening to the sound of his shoes hitting the ground.

— I don't mind you thinking carefully, Evilian boy. But I'm not very patient, you know.

— What a pity.

That monster left no opening in sight. Nor did his expression convey nervousness or anger. Just that malicious, devilish grin that Leonardo definitely hated.

— Humans always favour relationships, you know. That's why I made a proper deal for you, why don't you accept it?

— Why should I hand over the place my father built?

— Your father? Oh, don't be daft to believe that he did it all by himself. You know, the success of your beloved park was thanks to me.

— Would you like some kind of compliment? A pat on the head while you listen to "good boy"?

Diablo frowned in disgust.

— I think I should put you in your place, human.

The snap of Diablo's fingers plunged the entire tent into darkness. Leonardo couldn't tell if his eyes were open or closed, as he could see nothing.

Looking from side to side, he saw nothing and no-one. Getting up from his chair, he began to walk, trying to reach some point without knowing where he was going to end up. Even though he groped in the air with his hands, he couldn't touch anywhere.

— What happened? — The boy murmured, beginning to despair.

— Leonardo — He heard a distant voice calling him — Leonardo, what are you doing here?

— Who's there?

— Did you sleep again?

What?

He hadn't gone to sleep.

Bringing his hands to his eyes, Leonardo closed them, squeezed his eyelids shut and then opened them again. To his amazement, he found himself in a completely different place.

The bright red and white tent, the noise of people chatting, the bright, tacky dressing room cluttered with make-up and wigs? He knew that setting.

— Leo! — Laughed a tall man who entered the tent — If you were tired, you could have told me.

— What...

The man had familiar features, but Leonardo couldn't quite remember. His brown hair with a few greyish strands, his tired features and his caramel eyes full of brotherhood.

The unknown man gently stroked his head, making Leonardo feel like a child.

— I heard that your mates messed with you at school. Were you afraid of them?

Blinking dazedly, Leonardo didn't know what to say.

Had something like that ever happened? None of his friends from college had messed with him, especially after the media published his photo on social media announcing him as the heir to Dreamland.

— It would seem so. Anyway, I'll take you to your parents. Your brother is waiting for you too.

That was the most bizarre thing Leonardo could have heard.

They were all dead, how could they be waiting? Or had Diablo killed him and that was his afterlife?

His body moved on its own. Leonardo readily took the man's outstretched hand. At the exit of the tent, a mirror showed the reflection of a small six-year-old Leonardo.

Had he... Had he turned into a child?

Wait, what the fuck was that?

— Come on, they're waiting for you.

The man pulled him out of the tent, and Leonardo soon realised he was in the Dreamland Circus. The routine of the performers and foremen filled his chest with nostalgia. Unfamiliar faces smiled at him and greeted him with respect.

The place where he was taken was inside the huge circus tent. The public queued to get in. He could see some of the park's rides from a distance, but he couldn't see the food court or the Bluemoon Plaza.

Had he gone back in time?

Inside the tent, he was taken to the backstage. It was much busier there, and Leonardo felt dizzy as so many people rushed past him. Dancers in toy costumes and masks full of ornaments caught his attention and he had to pull himself along to avoid losing his guide.

Those costumes... He recognised them.

— Mr. Evilian! Little Leo woke up.

— Oh, Leo! Finally awake, my son?

That voice...

Turning round quickly, he saw the three people gathered together.

His heart squeezed at the same moment he saw his mother smiling, holding a boy identical to himself on her lap. Her hair was long and wavy, and her make-up announced that she would soon be going on stage to perform.

She was so beautiful!

She looked like a fairy with those glowing expressions.

And when his eyes met his father's, his nose began to tingle. His little eyes filled with tears when he saw the tall man crouch down and hold out his arms, beckoning him to come closer.

— Come here, my boy.

Was that a dream?

It had to be.

The last time he had seen his father, he had been completely wiped out by his illness. He could barely stay awake... Your father was standing in front of you, smiling so happily...

Letting go of his guide's hand, Leonardo ran to hug his father. It was warm and cosy, he felt protected and that nothing in the world could harm him.

Standing there, Leonardo began to cry.

— Oh, my little one. Were you scared to wake up alone? Forgive your father, hm? I was going to pick you up before the show started, I swear.

— Haha, darling. Our Leo wouldn't cry at waking up alone, he's a big boy.

Ah, your mum's voice was like music.

He understood why his father was so passionate about her, and why her absence had affected him so much.

— So... Are you crying because of what happened at school? Your friends were mean, weren't they?

— But I protected Leo, Dad! — Lucca said smiling — I won't let anyone make my little brother cry.

— Why would I be the little brother? We were born together, Lucca!

Eh? What was that voice?

Why did it sound so childish?

Leonardo wouldn't say something so childish, much less stutter...

— Nananinno, I was born three minutes earlier. Right, Mum?

— That's right, my darling. But if Leonardo wants to, he can protect you too.

— Leo's a cry baby, it won't work.

— I'm not a cry baby!

— You're crying right now!

— Haha, looks like the boys are in good spirits now. — Rohan approached his wife, taking Lucca on his lap, cradling the boys in each arm — Let's let Mum get ready, and take our seats in the front row to see the puppet, shall we?

What a warm family he had.

Rohan and the twins said goodbye to their mum and went to the circus where their seats had been reserved. A few minutes later, the lights were switched off and the band began to play, kicking off the puppet show.

Leonardo could feel his heart beating fast, anxious to see the main entrance. Holding his brother's hand, the two of them watched in complete fascination at the magical spectacle.

Leonardo hid his face in Rohan's chest at times, especially when the demon appeared to destroy the toys' happiness. But all was well when the main part arrived.

The puppet appeared on stage and Leonardo simply vibrated.

In his arms, the marionette doll could choke to death if it took a breath, because it was so tightly squeezed by the young boy's euphoria. He lifted it high into the air when the trapeze performance began, vibrating with excitement without taking his eyes off his favourite character.

When the trapeze artist began to spin almost on top of the audience, Leonardo stretched out his arms to reach his idol. For a brief moment, their eyes met and Leonardo had the feeling that this wasn't the real puppet.

His eyes weren't green.

Even so, he followed the show as if for the first time.

— Kids, Dad's going to talk to some people. Then you can go to your mum's dressing room and...

— Mr. Evilian, Mrs Marianne is-!

After that shout, everything around Leonardo went dark again. He felt lost, even though he was still clutching the marionette doll to his chest.

Ah... that's right... His mum had died just after a show at the circus. She knew how to hide her illness so well from her children, but one day her body collapsed.

Tears streamed down his face as he felt alone.

Leonardo didn't want to feel alone again.

It was frightening.

At least... At least he still had his puppet, didn't he?

Raising the puppet, Leonardo saw behind it a trapeze artist in a pirate costume. The same costume as his doll.

— Come on, Leo! Let's play near the railway!

Suddenly Leonardo was pulled away, having to run to catch up with his brother.

— Huh? We can't go there, Lucca. Dad will fight.

— Oh yeah? But we played with him there.

— But Dad told us not to go there alone.

— That's true. So where can we play?

Lowering his eyes to the doll in his arms, Leonardo squeezed his brother's hand and pulled him in another direction. At a small stall in the park, Leonardo used his pocket money to buy a stuffed rabbit.

The toy was cute, wearing a red coat and top hat. Handing it to Lucca, Leonardo smiled broadly.

— Here, for you, brother!

— Why did you spend your pocket money? Didn't you say you were saving it to buy something?

— Yes, to buy the magic rabbit. You like the show "Pandora's Heart", don't you?

Lucca's cheeks reddened with embarrassment, but he still hugged his teddy tightly.

— Even so, I'm not a baby anymore. We're eleven now, we can't play with dolls any more.

— Who says? If you want to play, then play. I'm not ashamed to play with Benjin at school.

— That's why the others pick on you, you fool — Lucca laughed afterwards, stroking his brother's head — But thank you. I really loved the bunny my little brother gave me!

— Oh, so you like the puppet and the magic rabbit?

The voice that came seductively sent shivers through Leonardo's entire body. Hesitating, he turned round to find the guy he'd never want to meet.

— We like it! You're the puppet, aren't you?

— Did you recognise me?

— We've seen you on stage several times!

Leonardo squeezed his brother's hand, who continued to talk as if he didn't realise the shadow on that guy's face.

They had to get away.

As soon as possible!